This Memorial Day weekend, it feels as if we’re not just marking the return to summer, but a return to life as normal. Accordingly, we’ve found plenty of gear for a successful MDW and future summer holidays to come. From minimalist aviators made in Japan for Westward Leaning, updated Jack Purcells created by Todd Snyder and Converse and a very J. Press approach to the polo shirt, this is the stuff summer vacation is made from. Let’s get at it.
The editors of Robb Report scour the globe (and the Internet) for the best of the best and only endorse products we love—and think you’ll love, too. If you purchase a product or service through a link in this story, we may receive a small commission.
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Westward Leaning Malcom No Middle 17
Image Credit: Westward Leaning If you’ve not yet found your shades for the summer of ’21, consider these Japanese-made, squared-off aviators that forgo the traditional lower nose bridge piece for a cleaner look. Though lightweight and flexible, shatterproof lenses ensure they’ll stick around for the summer of ’22 and beyond.
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Freemans Sporting Club Pocket Coat
Image Credit: Freemans Sporting Club FSC tapped Rowing Blazers founder Jack Carlson to design its new collection, which is rich in casual but classically rooted pieces like this safari jacket/chore coat hybrid. A plethora of pockets and a branded patch at the shoulder provide a touch of scouting-inspired appeal without going full Ed Norton in Moonrise Kingdom.
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Sunnylife Carry Me Cooler Tote
Image Credit: Nordstrom Let’s have a moment of silence for all those tote bags whose lives were cut short by a drippy bottle of rosé or a leaky Corona. Now let’s draw our attention to this insulated, leak-resistant cooler tote from Sunnylife, which can be easily carried as it chills the adult refreshments for your next picnic.
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Private White V.C. The Japanese Ripley Shirt
Image Credit: Private White V.C. Named in honor of that enduring source of cinematic style inspiration, V.C.’s Ripley shirt is made in England from 100 percent Japanese cotton. Vintage details including a V-shaped pocket and a breezy fit may help you feel like an expat living off a trust fund on some rocky Mediterranean shore, even if you’re just grilling in the backyard.
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Todd Snyder x Jack Purcell Sneaker
Image Credit: Todd Snyder We’re just as surprised as you are to learn that Todd Snyder and Converse hadn’t collaborated before, but the two sportswear titans have allied at last to produce a Jack Purcell capsule collection. The highlight, of course, is a pair of Jack Purcell sneakers updated with an organic cotton upper in a creamy off-white hue and a suede tongue. Match it to an OCBD and drawstring shorts for a very Take Ivy look.
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Vilebrequin Men Swim Trunks 1986 Memphis
Image Credit: Vilbrequin To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the swimwear brand has debuted a collection of 50 limited edition trunks, each one representing a different year of Vilebrequin’s history. The entry for 1986 sports an archival print inspired by that most ’80s of ’80s art movements, Memphis.
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Amiri Botanical Leaves Short-Sleeve Silk Shirt
Image Credit: Saks Fifth Avenue If floral print shirts are very 2021, this silk short-sleeve from Amiri looks more 1721, as it’s marked by a botanical leaf print that could have been pulled from an 18th-century textbook. While its graphics are vintage, the details are up to date: the shirt features a generous camp collar and a short, no-tucking-required length.
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Polo Ralph Lauren Cotton Cable Aran Sweater
Image Credit: East Dane Uncle Ralph’s taken the Aran sweater from traditional to trippy with a vibrant ombre color scheme. Wear it with khakis and penny loafers to subvert a classic preppy look or toss it over a tee and gym shorts for a taste of art school dropout-chic.
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Loro Piana Seaside Walk Silk-Linen Espadrilles
Image Credit: MyTheresa Originally worn by Basque peasants, the espadrille has humble origins—but who insists that it must stay that way? Certainly not Loro Piana, which crafts its latest iteration from a luxurious blend of silk and linen with rich leather lining.
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PML Chenille Long Sleeve Polo
Image Credit: PML The chenille polo at last gets the long-sleeve treatment, thanks to this Milanese-made piece from PML. We approve of it being worn over woven sandals and cotton trousers or with a lightweight linen suit.
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Mr P. Perforated Leather Golf Glove
Image Credit: Mr Porter If you’ve decided that this will be the summer you discover your inner Phil Mickelson, you might start by purchasing these lightweight, tastefully designed leather golf gloves from Mr P. Through June 6th, all profits from the gloves’ sales will go to charitable funds supporting men’s mental health.
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Aries x Lee Jeans 191 Floral Denim Jacket
Image Credit: Browns All-American denim maker Lee has collaborated with streetwear favorite Aries to revivify its 191 jacket in an orange floral print that’s less flower-power and more fine upholstery. Approach it just as you would any other denim jacket—dark jeans, favorite tee, slip-on sneakers—and benefit from having that extra 10 percent.
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Globetrotter Centenary Leather Passport Sleeve
Image Credit: Globe-Trotter We’re all itching for our passports, and it will soon pay to have a handsome place to store yours. Globetrotter’s Centenary passport sleeves provide such a vessel and can be paired to the brand’s matching Centenary bags to capture some of that golden-age-of-travel romance.
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J. Press Jersey Button-Down Polo
Image Credit: J. Press If J. Press’s signature flap pocket detail was enough to make their OCBD iconic, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work on a polo shirt, either. These new, 100 percent cotton jersey polos sport the characterful detail, as well as a button-down collar, locker loo, and center box pleat for Ivy style extra credit.
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Stubbs & Wootton Negroni Slippers
Image Credit: Stubbs & Wootton Much like the heady cocktail it depicts, Stubbs & Wootton’s Negroni slippers are a classic we never tire of—particularly now that they’ve returned in a delightful bluish-green hue dubbed “peacock.” As always, try to avoid spilling actual Negroni on them.
