La Dolce Niente: A lesson in effortless Riviera chic

The Gentleman's Journal went all La Dolce Vita on the Italian coast

For the Gentleman’s Journal Summer ’24 issue, we jetted to the famed coastal town of Porto Ercole. Just 1.5 hours from Rome, it was the place to go for the super rich, super famous (Slim Aarons, Sophia Loren and Jackie Kennedy among them), and super tasteful. But in recent years, thanks to destinations like Positano and Puglia growing in popularity, Porto Ercole fell to the wayside. But that's not a bad thing. It's now the hive of in the know Italians and overseas explorers who want the Italian Riviera without the sprawling tourists.

Captured in July, when the area oozes the low-key charm for which it’s renowned, the shoot showcases model Jonas Kautenburger, who is decked out in laid-back riviera style.

GIEVES & HAWKES Elgin jacket, £1,100, gievesandhawkes.com; PAUL & SHARK shorts, £161, paulandshark.com; BRUNELLO CUCINELLI belt, £440, brunellocucinelli.com; CROCKETT & JONES Cannes loafers, £560, crockettandjones.com

DUNHILL polo shirt, £675, dunhill.com; STUDIO NICHOLSON Ossi shorts,£295, studionicholson.com; GUCCI trainers, £700, gucci.com; PAUL SMITH sunglasses, £250, paulsmith.com, FALKE socks, £35, falke.com

SUNSPEL tank top, £95, sunspel.com; STUDIO NICHOLSON Noam Pant, £470, studionicholson.com; TOD’S sandals, £790, tods.com; LONGINES Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve watch, £3,500, longines.com; BRUNELLO CUCINELLI leather briefcase, £3,400, brunellocucinelli.com

LONGINES Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve watch, £3,500, longines.com; BRUNELLO CUCINELLI leather briefcase, £3,400, brunellocucinelli.com

GIEVES & HAWKES Elgin jacket, £1,100, gievesandhawkes.com; HACKETT Savile Row polo shirt, £200, hackett.com; PAUL & SHARK shorts, £161, paulandshark.com; BRUNELLO CUCINELLI belt, £440, brunellocucinelli.com

LOVE BRAND & CO Staniel swim shorts in pink, £130, lovebrand.com

MARGARET HOWELL raglan shirt, £365, margarethowell.co.uk; LUCA FALONI T-shirt, £120, lucafaloni.com; MR MARVIS The Seersucker Swims Trawlers, £99, mrmarvis.com; CROCKETT & JONES Nice loafers, £565, crockettandjones.com; OLIVER PEOPLES Ms. Oliver sunglasses, £382, oliverpeoples.com; IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Oceana, £10,500, iwc.com

PAUL & SHARK striped knit, £299, paulandshark.com; LOVE BRAND & CO Staniel swim shorts in blue, £130, lovebrand.com; P JOHNSON cap, £40, pjt.com; IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Oceana,£10,500, iwc.com

GIEVES & HAWKES Noel polo shirt, £489, gievesandhawkes.com; BRUNELLO CUCINELLI Leisure pleated trousers, £1,370, brunellocucinelli.com; LUCA FALONI crew-neck jumper, £345, lucafaloni.com; LUCA FALONI reversible brown calf leather belt, £140, lucafaloni.com; CROCKETT & JONES Harvard 2 loafers, £450, crockettandjones.com; MOSCOT Dahven glasses, £305, moscot.com

LOVE BRAND & CO Staniel swim shorts in blue, £130, lovebrand.com

LOVE BRAND & CO Staniel swim shorts in blue, £130, lovebrand.com

Styling: Zak Maoui

Photography: Pietro Favaron

This feature was taken from our Summer 2024 issue. Read more about it here.

Now read the Summer 2024 cover interview with Charles Leclerc

Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?

Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?

Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.

Click here to find out more

Further reading