Written by Rakelle Maurici in Events on the 1st July 2015

Whist witnessing the stylish men and women amongst the Fortezza da Basso at Pitti Uomo 88, it was time to make our way around and visit some of the exciting brands at the fair to see what to expect in the next coming months and these are the ones which caught our eye.

Lardini 

This season Lardini have taken their inspiration from the French Rivera, so a lot of blue and sandy beige is apparent, while jackets are relaxed with shawl lapels and shirts with Breton stripes. Following the previous two seasons Lardini are involved in another collaboration with Nick Wooster. For spring summer this season we see bolder patterns and mix and match patchwork in brighter colours or neon oranges and pinks. Lastly, with the popular RVR Lardini range, they have their reversible macs again this season in a beautiful aquamarine shade but with super lightweight materials for the warmer months.

Geox 

We caught up with Patrick Cox at the Geox stand to speak about his collaboration for his ‘Capsule Collection’. With a humble personality and a very hard working attitude the range is relaxed and perfect for everyday wear with all breathable styles. Materials are all Italian with styles taken from Patrick’s daily inspirations - he creates styles that he would want to wear. From a neutral suede loafer style to a grey jersey material sneaker, the shoes are stylish without compromising on comfort.

Cuoio Di Toscana 

With a luxurious and seductive lounge, we were welcomed in to enjoy wine and a put our feet up. Have you ever seen a shoe that has an electronic chip to tell you the shoe’s history, manufacturing information and what to wear them with? Us neither. The Tuscan ‘Made in Italy’ sole leather maker (Cuoio Di Toscana) have a very innovative design and feel. The brand has a rich craftsmanship which in Italy is important and valuable - leaving them something to boast about worldwide.

Antony Morato 

Aside from the fact this brand had the best stand at the fair – they had a swimming pool on a rooftop, it was a great way to relax between the mahem with a mojito and to cool off. With a relaxed everyday style, the denim and leather items are always popular season after season. Something Antony Morato does rather well is the combination of tailoring with casual wear, for example we see blazers with t-shirts and relaxed sweat pants.

Drake's 

The British born brand boasts some of the best scarves and ties in the industry. Drake's have a big market over in Italy and Spain and this season’s popular items are their striped pastel linen shirts and pop overs which give the collection a really relaxed Mediterranean feel. As well as these beautifully made shirts, their classic hand finished ties with 'no lining' are a top pick too. This unusual feature gives them the ability to hang lightly without being too stiff.

Scotch & Soda 

At their stand at Pitti located centrally we were greeted by an array of trees and a garden to relax with refreshments. We were taken through the history of the brand - Scotch & Soda really do hold onto their Amsterdam heritage and take inspiration from their travels worldwide. While their travel archive is back at their HQ we were lucky to see some of it at Pitti 88, with items from as far as Asia to Peru in South America in their wonders of seven loves. Their latest collection is seventies inspired with vibrant patterns and textures, with the hint of their classic pieces for an outdoors-esque vibe.

We feature Scotch & Soda, Lardini, Geox and more in our roundup of the Standout Brands of Pitti Uomo 88 2015.