Give the gift of timeless menswear this Christmas, courtesy of Luca Faloni

Although widely reputed as the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas can frequently turn into a miasma of mess – an entropy and whirlwind of activity whereby you’re nonstop swinging from deadline to party to wrestling with the yuletide crowds during their last-minute shopping run. But, of course, with a bit of preparation, it doesn’t have to be this way, especially when it comes to foraging for presents. 

Indeed, gifting for a husband, brother, uncle, friend or colleague can seem like a sure thing, in the sense that you can always fallback on some failsafes – a bottle of fine-aged wine, perhaps, or a candle for the home office – but, with a few weeks of buffer time between now and the big day, we recommend you consider a more evergreen present, a timeless piece with a degree of craftsmanship that breathes an air of elegance and will last for years to come. 

To help you during these months of giving, we’d usher you towards the direction of Luca Faloni, the master of Italian menswear whose ‘Crafted For You’ ethos this season highlights its luxury cashmere knits and meticulously crafted accessories – gifts of warmth and comfort that all lovingly arrive with handwritten notes and ribbon-tied packaging. 

Founded on a slow-fashion ethos, Luca Faloni is a specialist in the timeless, with its designs never falling victim to trends, offering wardrobe essentials that not only work throughout the seasons, year after year, but are also all made with the most premium of materials sourced from traditional, storied Italian artisans, whether it’s full-grain leather from Santa Croce, in Tuscany, or piqué from a historic mill in Veneto, which sits between the Dolomites and the Adriatic.

The ‘dolomiti’ grey scarf and chunky-knit beanie, for example, are both crafted from fine yarns from Cariaggi, whose six decades of weaving experience creates a material that guarantees supreme softness and durability, making these accessories ideal to pack away for the après ski. 

For further colour coordination, pair them with some ‘Cortina’ trousers in ‘elephant’ grey, which has been produced in northern Italy from luxe cotton twill, and whose tapered fit will adapt to your silhouette from the moment you put them on. There’s also the option of a navy version, which might prove to be more versatile, from boardroom to bar, once you’re back from the black runs. 

Padding out the rich knitwear options are a cable-patterned half-zip sweater in a white-Christmas-friendly ‘Ivory’ hue; a well-fitted ‘hunting’ green hoodie that can either be layered under a coat or worn as your main piece of outerwear on warmer days; and a chunky shawl-collar cardigan, that quintessential winter staple made with ribbed cuffs and handles that secure in warmth.

With the party period in mind, a period that will extend into the new year (and maybe even beyond, if the festive break rejuvenates you enough), we suggest buttoning up one of the brushed-cotton shirts on offer – perhaps in a season-friendly tone of burgundy or forest green – which’ve been handmade in Bergamo and created with a soft and silky texture that secures in heat while remaining breathable, as well as mother-of-pearl buttons that provide a premium, classic finish. If you’re thinking of something with a more off-duty edge, but is no less refined, perhaps reach for the luscious ‘lava’ red jumper whose rollneck will add a casual sophistication to your eveningwear ensemble, especially when worn under a velvet blazer. 

With regards to stocking fillers, a pair of nubuck-leather gloves, handmade by artisans who’ve lined the interior with cashmere, is a bijou option that works equally well in the countryside as it does in the city – or, for a larger accessory that’ll last for the decades, try the durable and stylish ‘Weekender’ holdall, which has been handcrafted in Florence from vegetable-tanned full-grain leather and can be used for a quick winter getaway to Manhattan, or a sojourn on the Amalfi Coast,

So, to assuage your gift-giving worries in the coming weeks, we recommend you consider any one of Luca Faloni’s finely crafted items to send to your loved ones – or, simply, to yourself. 

For more cashmere, read about Luca Faloni’s AW’22 lookbook, which pays tribute to the enduring appeal of Italian craftsmanship…

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