OB_THE ULTIMATE SUMMER GUIDE_proof2

T H E ULT I MATE SUM ME R S U RV I VA L G UI D E

1

2

END PAGE

3

END PAGE

4

FOREWORD WORDS BY JEREMY LANGMEAD

Rather appropriately, Orlebar Brown began by a pool…

In February 2005, Adam Brown was sat by a hotel pool in Rajasthan. He noticed that all the women looked great in their array of swimming costumes. The men, well, less so. They were wearing a boring mix of briefs, board shorts or shapeless trunks. And when lunch was served that day, Brown decided it would have been so much more convenient if, instead of returning to his room to change, he’d been wearing a smart pair of shorts he could swim in.

When he returned home, he discovered no such thing existed. And nor were there any men’s brands that had swim and holiday wear as their core focus. So, he decided to create one. Despite no experience of clothing or the fashion industry – he took pictures of friends’ dogs – Brown teamed up with a lawyer friend, Julia Simpson-Orlebar, and spent 18 months creating a tailored approach to swim shorts with a unique fit and finish, drawn from the pattern of a traditional suit trouser.

1

In November 2006, he sold his first pair of Orlebar Brown shorts to a friend in Starbucks on Kensington High Street in London. It wasn’t long before the range of four styles in five colours and four lengths began to catch on. Four years later, with five people now in the team, the brand came off the beach and out of the pool with its first tee and polo shirts.

In 2012, Daniel Craig wore a pair of sky blue Setter shorts as James Bond in Skyfall. This was a stroke of luck. By the time of Orlebar Brown’s 10th anniversary in 2017, the brand employed more than 100 people and had 20 of its own stores in eight countries. In 2018, Orlebar Brown was acquired by Chanel. Another stroke of luck. This enabled the company to invest even more in everything it did to make it the absolute best.

When Brown thinks back, just a few years, to when he did a “start your own business” course, manufactured 1,000 pairs of shorts with no business plan, and worked out of a storage unit in west London, what has happened since doesn’t seem possible.

Yet a picture taker who wasn’t a photographer, who became a clothes maker who wasn’t a designer, who became an entrepreneur who wasn’t a businessman, who founded a brand and sold it to Chanel, is a story with a happy ending.

Isn’t that just what you want when you’re lying on a beach?

2

CREDITS? CONTENTS?

3

WORDS BY NAME HERE

PL AC E S T O MATCH Y OU R O U T F IT TO

V illa alladio P�

Villa Palladio, a relatively new hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur, joyously celebrates Rajasthani craftsmanship and colour. It’s a maximalist riot of crimson and pattern where even the pool gets the red-hot treatment.

4

lamingo Estate F�

Alas, you can’t stay here. But this lush private paradise set high in the Los Angeles hills offers a wealth of natural produce that is homegrown and made available via an online store: fresh vegetables, bathroom products, olive oils, flowers and honey harvested by local celebrities are all up for grabs.

Borgo Santandrea � The new luxury hotspot on the Amalfi coast is conjured up from ravishing rock-strewn terraces cut into the cliffs overlooking the striking blue sea. Patterned turquoise tiles and private pools are littered throughout the five-star resort.

5

The first boutique hotel in the Cayman Islands is nestled on Seven Mile Beach and the location says it all. We’re also taken with the yellow and white stripes that casually dot the beachfront and bars. Everything is designed to put you in the best mood possible.

s t gh i e H m al P�

Miami se l Hou oo P �

The latest outpost from Soho House is the group’s second spot in Miami. For members only, the Pool House is a palette of soothing pastels, with plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces to suit any gathering.

6

V illa Mabrouka �

Anything designed by Jasper Conran is going to involve a kaleidoscope of enchanting colours and elegant details, and his new outpost in Morocco won’t disappoint.

The emerald-green pool, pink bougainvillea and limegreen sunloungers are all a feast for the eyes.

7

HOW TO...

G E T A L OUN G ER B Y T HE P OO L (WITHOUT GETTING UP AT DAWN)

Hoping to bag a sunlounger in a prime poolside spot this summer? Common wisdom suggests that unless you’re willing to set your alarm and get there early – we’re talking pre-breakfast early – then you don’t stand much of a chance. But the savvy sunbather knows how to stack the odds in their favour.

8 8

01. KNOW THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

The age-old practice of using a towel to claim a sunlounger may soon become a thing of the past. Many resorts now expressly forbid it, while others limit the time you can leave your belongings unattended before they are removed. Be smart and you can play this to your advantage. Keep your eyes peeled for any loungers that are at risk of being cleared, wait for your moment and pounce.

02. CHOOSE YOUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

If you don’t manage to secure a lounger at the start of the day, all hope is not lost. There tends to be an exodus of sunbathers just before lunch, so spend the morning sightseeing and take an early lunch before returning to the pool for another go. You never know, you might just get lucky.

03. PAY OFF THE POOL BOY

You’ll find that most pool attendants are willing to provide poolside recon services in exchange for a small gratuity.

Just give them your room extension and ask them to let you know as soon as a prime spot becomes free. Sure, it costs money, but ask yourself: what is your time worth?

04. SEND AN ADVANCE PARTY

This one’s exclusively for the parents. If you’re lucky enough to have kids old enough to leave unattended, send them ahead as an advance party. Consider it payback for all those years of them getting you up at the crack of dawn.

05. TRY ANOTHER BEACH

If all attempts to secure a sunlounger fail, you may wish to take it as a sign to go elsewhere.

9

WORDS BY NAME HERE

THE P OO L I S TH E L E A D I N G RO L E

10

LA PISCINE 1969 THE GRADUATE 1967

Romance with an older woman, romance with her daughter and a comedy wetsuit.

It wouldn’t be summer without watching Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin Braddock in that ill-advised outfit – an unwanted present from his folks, who push him into the family pool on his 21st birthday.

In Mike Nichols’ coming-of-age story, the graduate, who falls for Mrs Robinson and then Elaine, is trying to form his own future, with varying degrees of success.

Watch and conclude that summer is a time to try on the new you (with or without the help of scuba gear).

The glistening pool is the real star of Jacques Deray’s ultimate sexy, summer arthouse film – stunning, if a little on the sleazy side. Romy Schneider and Alain Delon (previously a couple in real life) play Marianne and Jean-Paul, a journalist and failed novelist, who have been lent a friend’s home near Saint-Tropez for the holidays. When Jean-Paul’s pal Harry (Maurice Ronet) turns up with his 18-yearold daughter, Penelope (Jane Birkin), the games begin, in and out of the water.

11

SKYFALL 2012

The pool scene in this terrific Bond is as skimpy as Daniel Craig’s Orlebar Brown Setter trunks (in “Sky” colour, naturally), but all the more impactful for it. Watch the aerial shot as the camera hovers above the skyscrapers of neon-lit Shanghai at night, before it pauses on a rooftop pool and, then, we see 007 on the edge (as ever), before he dives in. Fun fact: it was filmed not in China but in the 20-metre infinity pool at the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Wharf in London (now, the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel).

12

FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF 1986

Who hasn’t dreamt of skiving off school or work on a hot, summer’s day like Ferris Bueller in our favourite, 1980s high-school movie – and the pool scene is the highlight.

As part of the day’s antics, the student slacker Ferris breaks into someone’s garden. At first, his best friend, Cameron, sits on the edge of the pool in a daze, refusing Ferris and his girlfriend Sloane’s invitation to come in. Then Cameron plunges down to the bottom of the pool like a lead weight, to be “saved” by heroic Ferris, only to discover it was all a holiday prank – or was it?

THE SWIMMER 1968

We all love a summer challenge – and Burt Lancaster’s Connecticut businessman has a corker. While at a friend’s house, he realises there is a pool in each property between this one and his own and decides to take a dip in each of them and effectively swim back home. This lighthearted premise morphs into a satisfyingly meaty movie about a man’s struggle for purpose, based on John Cheever’s short story, first published in The New Yorker.

13

THE GREAT GATSBY 2013

A BIGGER SPLASH 2015

A couple of years ago, the estate in Long Island where Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of the F Scott Fitzgerald novel was filmed was put on sale for £68m.

If that exceeds your holiday budget, try watching the movie instead. It may be safer. For the first time, Leonardo DiCaprio’s Gatsby – his eyes matching the turquoise water – ventures into that spectacular, circular swimming pool in his 1920s all-in-one, he is shot dead.

Prepare yourself for this year’s group villa holiday by watching other people’s tensions boil over. Luca Guadagnino’s drama set on the volcanic island of Pantelleria is the Platonic form of summer. This reimagining of La Piscine (see above; it’s better than the Jacques Deray film) shows four self-loving hedonists who use the lapping water of their villa’s pool to reflect their own bloated egos. Ralph Fiennes plays the skinnydipping music producer, Tilda Swinton a rock star, Dakota Johnson a Machiavellian beauty, and Matthias Schoenaerts a bronzed Adonis. The pool is a cauldron for their sexual energy, which, in keeping with the landscape, threatens to erupt messily.

14

BOOGIE NIGHTS 1997

The famous pool scene from Paul Thomas Anderson’s story of a man’s adventures in the 1970s and early 1980s porn industry was filmed in one glorious, gravy-tanned take. Eddie (Mark Wahlberg), still to become porn star Dirk Diggler, asks his friend Reed Rothchild (John C Reilly) to rate his dive. Reed, a sort of mentor, considers his pal’s confidence needs a check, and says he’ll show him how it’s done – then proceeds to make a hash of it. Reed’s mentoring days are over; this one, wonderful moment foreshadowing Eddie’s rise, in all senses of the word.

15

HOW TO...

TAK E T HE B ES T HOL I D AY P HO TO S

ILLO

Our cameras work overtime when we’re on holiday, and for good reason: these are the moments in our lives that are most worth capturing. But how best to ensure that we return home with an album full of lasting memories and not just an endless series of blurry beach selfies?

16

01. CAPTURE A SENSE OF PLACE

A snap of beach sunset or a poolside cocktail might strike a desirable note on your Instagram feed, but it could have been taken anywhere from Dubai to Cornwall. Try to tell a richer story with your pictures by incorporating the unique features of your destination, like the food, the architecture or the clothing.

02. CHOOSE YOUR MOMENT

The golden hour – that roughly hour-long period before the sun dips below the horizon – is your sweet spot for taking the best photos. The sunlight is softer, warmer and more flattering, the shadows are longer and everyone looks that little bit more handsome, so make the most of it.

03. INVEST IN A PROPER CAMERA

Yes, it’s now possible to take fantastic photos on your phone, but there’s a reason why serious photographers still swear by proper cameras, and it’s that the tiny lenses on phone cameras can’t capture depth of field. This is crucial for good portrait photography because it’s what gives your photos that trademark blurry background, and it’s only achievable with a bigger lens.

Invest in DSLR with a fixed focal length lens and a wide maximum aperture – f2.8 is a good standard for portraiture – and see the results for yourself.

04. THE POOL LADDER IS YOUR FRIEND

Be brutally honest with yourself about your upper body strength.

If you think you’re going to struggle to leave the pool in one smooth movement – which is really the only elegant way to do it – then the poolside ladder might be a wise choice.

05. OWN IT

Regardless of your body type, there’s something to be said for confidence. Beaches and swimming pools are society’s great levelers, places where the normal rules of modesty do not apply, so stand tall and walk with pride – safe in the knowledge that nobody’s paying much attention to what you look like anyway.

17

18

WORDS BY JIM MERRETT

T H E S U M M ER O F STAT U S S U N G L A S S ES

What do your sunglasses say about you?

Accessories like watches, bags, subtle jewellery and handmade shoes have been integral to aspirational menswear for decades. But, more recently, finding the right pair of Japanese-made shades has become its own form of luxurious self-expression.

19

W

hat do your sunglasses say about you? Accessories like watches, bags, subtle jewellery and handmade shoes have been integral to aspirational menswear for decades. But, more recently, finding the right pair of Japanese-made shades has become its own form of luxurious selfexpression.

As seen on red carpets, Jacob Elordi, who is practically everywhere, and dimly lit New York bars. A thick frame with a slight tint, the sort of thing that can be worn to guard against a paparazzi’s flashbulb or an errant smartphone lens, has become somewhat ubiquitous as a symbol of cool.

At the top of the tree is Jacques Marie Mage, the cult brand set up by Jérôme Mage back in 2014. His frames are designed, in his words, as “collectible objects meant to be discovered not only now but also in 100 years. They are imagined and designed for a second and third generation as heirloom pieces that encapsulate a part of our shared human history.”

They’re also made to stand out. If you see someone wearing a pair of Jacques Marie Mages in person, they are immediately noticeable by the shape of the thick acetate and the way the lenses catch the light just so.

Plus, they’re rare. Each model is serialised, often with only a couple of hundred pairs produced at one time.

“This approach to craftsmanship as a life purpose is fairly unique to Japan,” Mage says. “Which is why our frames are manufactured there. We have developed a nuanced, painstaking manufacturing protocol that extends across 18 months, the result being spectacles that are more than just products but carry the soul of our craft masters.”

20

CREDITS HERE

All of this has made them a must-have if you’re someone in the public eye, or aspire to be. Actors including Austin Butler, Brad Pitt, Jeremy Strong and Jeff Goldblum – the latter has his own eponymous shape – are all notable fans.

“Their frames are collectable and highly desirable,” says Grace Wilson, Accessories Buyer at MR PORTER. “The intricate packaging really adds to the overall experience.”

While Jacques Marie Mages is the biggest name in the everincreasing world of status sunglasses, there are a handful of other equally thoughtful manufacturers out there. Take SATO, who, as Wilson says, make frames with a “futuristic/ mechanical feel” from the best materials around and in highly limited numbers.

They’re also made in Japan, which, as you can probably tell, is the lodestone of highend eyewear. Sabae, located on the main island of Honshu, a few hours from Tokyo, has become the Champagne region of eyewear, its name a byword for master craftsmanship and utilising the best materials.

Of course, you don’t just need to visit Japan to find a pair to set you apart. Cartier Eyewear utilises as much care and quality as the best Japanese labels, while names like Brunello Cucinelli, Thom Browne and Bottega Veneta are increasingly visible. Then there are the likes of Cutler and Gross and Garrett Leight for a more heritage, oldHollywood approach.

Whichever distinctive shape or density of rare acetate you make your status shades, just try your best not to leave them behind at the bar.

21

HOW TO...

PI CK T HE B ES T BEACH SNACKS

A good beach snack should be easy to pack, it shouldn’t melt in the heat – so chocolate and soft, oozy cheeses are out – and it shouldn’t require too much cutlery to eat. Here are five snacks that tick all those boxes.

22

02. JERKY

A salty, satisfyingly chewy protein hit that doesn’t need to be kept chilled, beef jerky is a no-brainer for your next beach picnic. Feel free g to substitute it for biltong, snackin tive rna alte salami, or a vegetarian like soy or seitan jerky if you prefer.

01. SANDWICHES

A big, generously filled sandw ich makes the perfect centrepie ce for your picnic hamper. Tak ea whole baguette, pack it with your choice of cheeses, meats, sal ads, and pickles, wrap it in grease proof paper and slice it up into portions. What goes into a goo d sandwich is a question of per sonal preference, but we’d recomme nd sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, buffalo mozzarella and a scattering of rocket leaves .

04. FRUIT PLATTE

R

Taking a cool box to the bea ch?

Save some space between the bottles of rosé for a fruit pla tter.

Exactly what you choose to include on that platter is up to you, but watermelon slices are an absolute must. And don’t forget the cocktail sticks.

03. GAZPACHO

acho on the Once you’ve tried gazp ppropriate to beach, it almost feels ina is Andalusian have it anywhere else. Th , cucumber soup made of raw tomato s for a ke and other vegetables ma hment, res ref perfect mid-afternoon to make red and if you can’t be bothe le from ab ail it yourself, it’s widely av it in a re Sto .

Spanish supermarkets d. ille ch it Thermos flask to keep

05. ANZAC

BISCUITS

ian from the Austral Taking its name this d Army Corps, and New Zealan vechild lo e th e eat is lik sweet, buttery tr if a flapjack*. And of a cookie and . ill w g in th you, no that doesn’t sell

*To make them, first add to a large bowl one cup of all-purpose flour, one cup of rolled oats, one cup of desiccated coconut and one cup of caster sugar. Then, in a small pan, melt 100g of butter with a tablespoon of golden syrup before adding a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Next, pour the butter mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Finally, divide the mixture into balls and bake them on a lined baking tray for eight to 10 minutes.

23

DRINK NAME HERE

INGREDIENTS

ICE CUBES ��������������������������������������������������������������� TO SERVE BOURBON ������������������������������������������������������������������������60 ML ANGOSTURA BITTERS ��������������������������������������������� 2 DASHES GINGER ALE ������������������������������������������������������������������ 120 ML

GARNISH

MARINATED OLIVES METHOD 1. SQUEEZE JUICE FROM LIME HALF INTO GLASS 2. ADD GIN, THEN FILL HIGHBALL GLASS WITH ICE 3. TOP UP GLASS WITH TONIC WATER, TO TASTE 4. GARNISH WITH A LIME WHEEL AND SERVE WITH A STRAW

The tall, cool G&T is a matter of personal taste, so consider this a template for building your own version. However you dress it up or down, the two titular ingredients remain: astringent, botanical gin and quinine-spiked tonic for refreshingly bitter bite.

The remaining accoutrements are entirely up to you.

24

DRINK NAME HERE

INGREDIENTS

ICE CUBES ��������������������������������������������������������������� TO SERVE BOURBON ������������������������������������������������������������������������60 ML ANGOSTURA BITTERS ��������������������������������������������� 2 DASHES GINGER ALE ������������������������������������������������������������������ 120 ML

GARNISH

MARINATED OLIVES

METHOD 1. SQUEEZE JUICE FROM LIME HALF INTO GLASS 2. ADD GIN, THEN FILL HIGHBALL GLASS WITH ICE 3. TOP UP GLASS WITH TONIC WATER, TO TASTE 4. GARNISH WITH A LIME WHEEL AND SERVE WITH A STRAW

The tall, cool G&T is a matter of personal taste, so consider this a template for building your own version. However you dress it up or down, the two titular ingredients remain: astringent, botanical gin and quinine-spiked tonic for refreshingly bitter bite.

The remaining accoutrements are entirely up to you.

25

DRINK NAME HERE

INGREDIENTS

ICE CUBES ��������������������������������������������������������������� TO SERVE BOURBON ������������������������������������������������������������������������60 ML ANGOSTURA BITTERS ��������������������������������������������� 2 DASHES GINGER ALE ������������������������������������������������������������������ 120 ML

GARNISH

MARINATED OLIVES METHOD 1. SQUEEZE JUICE FROM LIME HALF INTO GLASS 2. ADD GIN, THEN FILL HIGHBALL GLASS WITH ICE 3. TOP UP GLASS WITH TONIC WATER, TO TASTE 4. GARNISH WITH A LIME WHEEL AND SERVE WITH A STRAW

The tall, cool G&T is a matter of personal taste, so consider this a template for building your own version. However you dress it up or down, the two titular ingredients remain: astringent, botanical gin and quinine-spiked tonic for refreshingly bitter bite.

The remaining accoutrements are entirely up to you.

26

GAMES SECTION

27

GAM SECT 28

MES TION 29

GAM SECT 30

MES TION 31

1 4

2 5

3

6

7

10 11

12 13

14

15 16 17

18

19

20

21

22 23

24

25 26

ACROSS 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 22 23 26

ACROSS: 6 splash; 7 Miami; 8 sandal; 9 Rio; 11 Montauk; 12 lido; 13 sand; 14 fly; 16 pool; 17 Riviera; 18 SPF; 19 ice; 22 canoe; 23 hola; 26 swimsuit

9

DOWN: 1 seafood; 2 ball; 3 ship; 4 umbrella; 5 fish; 6 sun lounger; 10 Bulldog; 15 flipflops; 20 Ibiza; 21 Capri; 24 beach; 25 Ios

8

DOWN

Small hot pools contain dramatic entry (6) 1 I am imagining a new start in a Florida city (5) 2 Lad’s an oddly arranged open shoe (6) 3 Brazilian trio that’s missing its tea (3) 4 French peak and diving bird: where the Hamptons end (7) 5 Open-air pool found with a lid on (4) 6 Beach material discovered within island (4) 10 A stylish insect that travels by air (3) 15 Loop reversed for shared resources (4) 20 21 I arrive rearranged on the Cannes coast (7) 24 Letters to block rays – at the start of serious pale fear (3) 25 Cool reception from frozen water (3) Ocean rejigged for a paddle craft (5) Spanish greeting hidden in shoal (4) 32 A tuxedo you can wear in the pool (8)

Ocean dinner found in sofa ode (7) Dance event to get around (4) Send by sea vessel (4) Hesitate before barbell mix up for Rihanna cover (8) Angle for a catch (4) The star is laid back on this beach furniture (10) Canine found in Orlebar Brown’s famous shorts (7) Changing your mind on beach footwear (4,5) Island retreat – AI biz rearranged (5) Italian isle hidden in the constellation of the sea goat (5) Shoreline found in ice cube ache (5) Greek island operating system? (3)

WORDS BY IAN RUSSELL-HSIEH

W H AT T O R EA D T HI S S UM M ER (AND WHY YOU SHOULD)

Ben Lerner’s first novel in seven years is a slim masterpiece. An unnamed writer arrives in Providence, Rhode Island, to conduct what will be the final interview with Thomas, his 90-year-old mentor. There’s one snag: he drops his phone in the sink and has no way to record the interview.

He is, of course, too embarrassed to confess, and so the interview begins. In just 144 pages, Lerner says more than most writers manage in 400. Read it in an afternoon, think about it for considerably longer.

33

People falling in love with AI chatbots – adopting children with them, using them to resurrect deceased partners, confiding in them as therapists – this is an episode of Black Mirror, right?

Not quite. In a spectacular example of life imitating art, sociologist James Muldoon approaches the subject of romantic human-machine relations with genuine warmth and serious academic rigour. What emerges is equal parts urgent, unsettling and unexpectedly moving.

Three lads in a white BMW bombing down Manchester’s Curry Mile on a single surreal, increasingly chaotic night. Winner of the Merky Books New Writers’ Prize, Blackburnborn debut novelist Sufiyaan Salam has written something that owes a debt to both Joyce and Jay-Z, while sounding like absolutely no one else.

A blistering coming-of-age story about masculinity, love, violence and what it means to be young and brown in Northern England.

34

With his 18th novel, one of British literature’s greatest living authors has written what he describes as science fiction “without the science”. Set in 2119, in a UK battered by climate catastrophe and partially submerged by rising seas, it follows a literature professor on a quest to find a poem that was read aloud at a dinner party a century earlier – and never seen since. Part literary thriller, part love story, part elegy for the world we are living in right now.

35

Winner of the 2024 National Book Award for Translated Literature and the 2026 International Booker Prize, Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi presents a nesting-doll of a novel. A Chinese-language text written as if it were a rediscovered 1939 travelogue by a fictional Japanese writer, Aoyama Chizuko, who journeys through colonial Taiwan on a culinary tour and falls, helplessly, for her emotionally distant Taiwanese interpreter. A powerful meditation on the legacy of empire, disguised as a slow-burn love story.

36

Rebecca Perry is best known as a TS Eliot Prize-shortlisted poet. Her debut novel bears that sensibility on every page and in the construction of every sentence. The premise: a contemporary curator takes a commission to dress the rooms of a medieval palace. She becomes so absorbed in the story of the reluctant king who once lived there, that the line between her life and his begins to dissolve. Strange, expansive and unlike anything else published this year – as befits a poet with an original mind wading into the waters of the novel for the first time.

True story: in 2019, a 19-year-old named Zac Brettler died after jumping from a luxury apartment building on the banks of the Thames. When his parents began digging, they discovered that Zac had been living a double life – posing as the heir to a Russian oligarch’s fortune and getting tangled in London’s shadowy criminal underworld. The author of Say Nothing and Empire Of Pain uses the tragedy as a prism through which to examine the city itself – its dirty money, its gilded rot, its spectacular capacity for self-delusion.

37

HOW TO...

P RO T E C T Y O U R S K I N F RO M T H E S UN

BY DR DAVID JACK

ILLO

On sunny holidays, our skin is subjected to various factors that can have a significant impact on its health and appearance. Increased UV exposure can lead to sunburn, premature ageing and an increased risk of skin cancers later in life. The combination of sun exposure, heat and humidity can also cause our skin to become dry and dehydrated. In addition, prolonged sun exposure can make the skin more sensitive and prone to inflammation, often exacerbating conditions such as rosacea or hyperpigmentation. Good times.

However, all is not lost. Adopt a comprehensive skincare routine that includes preventive measures and post-exposure care and you can protect and nourish your skin while enjoying your summer break. Here are six ways how.

38

PREP

HYDRATE

VITAMINS

SPF (NEEDS SUBBING DOWN)

Prepare your skin for a day outdoors with a good, gentle cleanse using an acidic pH cleanser, ensuring impurities and excess oil are removed prior to applying active skincare products. Consider incorporating products with ingredients such as lactic acid or other AHAs if you’re prone to breakouts. Avoid anything too harsh or stripping during the summer months, particularly if you have sensitive skin.

Hydration plays a vital role in prepping your skin for sun exposure.

Ensure your skin is well- hydrated by applying a lightweight moisturiser.

Look for products containing humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which attract and retain moisture in the skin.

Additionally, consider taking supplements with omega-3 fatty acids, which can help improve skin hydration and overall skin health.

Incorporating antioxidants into your daily skincare routine can provide a crucial first line of defence. Antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E, work in synergy to help neutralise harmful free radicals generated by UV radiation, reducing oxidative stress and minimising the risk of inflammation. They also may have a protective effect on the skin as well as boosting collagen levels.

To protect your skin from UV damage, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF (preferably SPF 50+) is essential. Apply it at least 15 minutes before going outside and remember to reapply every two hours or so if you are exposed to the sun, particularly if you’re swimming or sweating.

Opt for a sunscreen that suits your skin type and offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA light is present year-round and causes

AFTERCARE

After a day in the sun, it’s crucial to repair any damage that has been done. Certain products can help calm inflammation early, provide support as your skin repairs itself overnight and help nourish your skin’s supportive microbiome. Look for products with soothing ingredients such as vitamin E and aloe vera to calm and hydrate the skin, as well as ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide and azelaic acid which help repair the skin’s barrier and reduce inflammation.

MOISTURISE

Combatting dryness on holiday requires special attention. Opt for hydrating cleansers that again won’t strip the skin of its natural oils.

Look for products with gentle surfactants and moisturising ingredients, such as glycerin or ceramides. Additionally, choose a richer moisturiser that contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to provide extra hydration and minimise dryness. Throughout the day, facial mists can be helpful to maintain hydration with you and spritzing it on your face as needed.

39

M R P ORT E R’S TR AV E L I N S I DERS 40

My favouri te destinati on for summ er holiday s is the islan do the low-key f Ponza, d favoured b estination y the Rom ans.

My favouri te hotel is in Rome, how ever – the Hotel de Russie, near the S panish Steps. And , ha favourite re ndily, my staurant is a 14-minute cab ride aw ay, Roscioli, fo r the best local food and drink s.

afari Elli J� GLOBAL HEAD OF THE ST ANDARD PERFORMANCE HOTEL GROUP

the My dream destination is on other side of the planet from London. There’s not a single here luxury hotel to be found anyw near it. And it’s not a place in s which anyone particularly care about what you’re wearing. go But Raja Ampat, an archipela en in Indonesia, is as close to heav sail as it gets for me. By day, you white between jungly islands and gently sandbanks and at night, rock in a cove under the stars, your edible dreams full of that day’s incr and rays ta man from s, ting sigh t birds of paradise to iridescen . nudibranchs. Take me back

r e ng i a r G a is L � EL EDITOR

DEPUTY TRAV ZINE 41 THE TIMES LUXX MAGA

Jalakara – it’s a magical boutique hotel, hidden away in the treetops, a perfect little sanctuary on a remote, fairytale island. Think Jurassic Park mixed with Robinson Crusoe – it’s a bucket list entry.

rd

imon Blackfo S� CO-FOUNDER ELLIDORE

The remot eC Chile’s Sout hacabuco Valley in hern Patago Park. Only nia Nationa just l its wild land opened up to visito rs scape of m ountains an , valleys pepp d er makes it on ed with cobalt-blue lakes e of the m ost stunni places I’ve ng ever explor ed. For da you won’t ys, see anothe r human an only soun d the ds you’ll he ar are the of wind, bi rush rdsong an d th your feet on e crunch of paths that wind thro forests and ugh over peaks. pumas, ea You’ll see gles and A ndean deer I did. Stay .W at the rece ntly opened ell, Explora L odge, loca ted in the of the valle heart y and form er home to legendary The philanthrop North Face founde r and ist, Douglas Tompkins.

42

Tom Marc hant � CO-FOU NDER ACK TO MATO GR OUP

THE BL

et Suns t the . a r le a e b g s ower os An et The T Hotel in L es as suns al r g ic Towe light chan hing mag et e ay h d m t o e s s h A ches, You see t e your a o r p ap for ere. ens h change be r seat by happ e y t n i r c o c e e t h and t ag a velve o and, onc d e B w p t . s lo r e fo ey nve indow u’re e in the w t goes, yo iest room x , gh the li arkest, se y martini d e a h t r dr and look e in d r ist, ty. O e. the ci with a tw one’s ther n ry e e k v a E h . s d you aroun

en dd a M d r a R ich� OR

ACT

My n e Febru w favourit e a so ea ry destin Novemb er at sy choo , peacefu ion is Uru to l, se g beach from the chic and f uay. It’s u c Chih and small hilled vib n. You can es ua c wher hua, 114 oastal com of the k e beach there is a m from M munity of g o try Jo bar with t reat gay/m ntevideo, h s town é Ignacio e same na ixed ,t me. O a coast nother 45 he buzzy r b . m there Friendly, c inutes o each r so u is con ool a nd un p the delicio sisten d Santa us places t surfing a erstated, t n o T best p eresita, w eat. Try d endless M la h I’m a ce for lun ich has t ostrador o be t lread ch. I y he loved much plann it so m grey longer in ing to go uch order back gloom for to of Lo ndon escape th e in Ja nuary .

Adam Brown �

43

CO ORL -FOUN D EBA R B ER ROW N

HOW TO...

PAC K NE AT A N D L I G H T

ILLO

It was the modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who coined the phrase “less is more” but the principle applies just as well to packing a suitcase as it does to designing a building. There is a limit to how little you can get away with – having too few clothes can be restrictive, especially when it comes to dressier occasions – but as a rule, travelling light is travelling right. Here’s how to do it.

44

01. DOWNSIZE YOUR SUITCASE

The bigger your suitcase, the more you will be tempted to put in it. Thus, the simplest way to avoid overpacking is to choose a smaller one. If you’re able to manage with just a carryon case – it’s entirely possible for a shorter trip – then all the better, as you’ll be able to skip the baggage carousel.

02. PRIORITISE VERSATILITY

Why pack two items of clothing when just one will do? Instead of packing swim shorts and shorts, opt for a single pair that does the job of both. Orlebar Brown’s smartly tailored, mid-length Bulldog swim shorts are a fail-safe choice, covering everything from beach days to casual lunches and poolside cocktails.

03. USE EVERY INCH OF AVAILABLE SPACE

Use clever tricks to eke out every inch of space in your case, like rolling up your socks and underwear and stuffing them inside your shoes. It’s not only a smart space-saving measure, but it also ensures your shoes retain their shape while in transit.

04. EMBRACE THE MIDWEEK LAUNDRY RUN

If you do find yourself running low on clothes, don’t panic. Unless you’re leaving civilisation behind, there will almost certainly be laundry facilities at your destination.

And while valet services aren’t cheap, it’s a fair price to pay for the convenience of travelling light.

05. WEAR YOUR BULKIEST ITEMS

Save precious space in your suitcase by wearing your largest and heaviest items, such as any jackets, trousers or hard-soled shoes, on the journey. You may feel overdressed, but you’ll be thankful for the extra layers when you’re being forced to wait in the aggressively air-conditioned departure lounge.

45

WORDS BY HAL RUBENSTEIN

HOW T O D R E S S F O R S U MM E R I F Y O U’RE NO S P R I N G CH ICK EN SEASONAL SARTORIAL ADVICE FOR THE SEASONED MAN

Dressing for winter is simple. Just pile on one chunky layer after the other. But summer is all about taking clothes off.

Now, if you’re a 22-year-old guy, slipping on a shirt and pair of jeans, two silver bracelets and a pendant can hold sway about 75 per cent of the time. But when you’ve recently received an invite to your 40th-anniversary school reunion, may I suggest you dress with a commitment to more strategy and flattery.

Even though hormones, protein synthesis and natural hydration are no longer on your side, looking put together at your age has never been more accessible or mattered more. All you need is a bit of guidance.

46

01. THE SHORTS For most men, the most flattering shorts length is from mid-thigh to just above the knee, depending on your height (cropped higher for shorter men). There are exceptions. If you’re buff like Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey and you have quads like lamb shanks, hike ’em up and show them off.

The leg should boast a slim fit. Choose a lightweight fabric, such as a cotton twill or cotton-twill blend. The shorts should be flat front and curve around your butt. It is vital for your ego you don’t walk around looking like gravity has won.

02. THE POLO SHIRT A properly fitted polo shirt will take you almost anywhere. However, the wrong fit will make you look like a golf caddy. The ideal polo is in breathable piqué or Sea Island cotton. Jersey looks smooth, but the fabric often pills after numerous washings.

The polo should fit sharply at the shoulder, graze – not hug – the body, have seams crossing squarely on the shoulder and the sleeve should be no longer or higher than mid-bicep, where it should caress the muscle. Banding is preferred. Rolling the banding up is fine if you have the brachii to show off.

Note that it’s not uncommon for men over 50 to experience a more noticeable nipple-areolar complex. If you are determined to wear white, try to find where your wife keeps her nipple tape.

03. THE SUNGLASSES Get the best sunglasses you can afford. Buy a pair with polarised lenses and solid craftsmanship that fit your face without sliding down the bridge of your nose.

47

04. THE SPORT JACKET A sport jacket can be the easiest grab-and-go item to elevate whatever you already have on.

And don’t think of it as just a blazer. With its lightweight, unstructured, unpadded, slightly cropped and often unlined construction – the first four are prerequisites – the jacket can wind up a savvy substitute for a windbreaker. It provides an instant upgrade to any simple daytime summer outfit, even when worn over a T-shirt.

Linen is a good option. My preferred fabric is cotton; I like the feel of it better.

The most versatile shades are ivory, stone, khaki or indigo. A bold colour will get you noticed but it will cut down how often you’ll reach for it. Patterns are “cute”. My belief is that, at your age, if someone says what you have on is cute, you should reply “thank you” and when you get home, burn it.

Seersucker is such an unappealing fabric to the touch. And even if you think seersucker feels cool, you look as if the rest of the quartet went ahead without you because you lost your straw boater. Please don’t.

05. THE TROUSERS Regardless of your weight, size, age or shape, nothing beats white jeans in the summer. They get dirty fast, of course, so buy a few pairs. However, during the apex of a heat wave, even white jeans can feel like unwanted second skin. In such situations, flat-front, mid-rise, tapered cotton, cotton-linen or tropical wool trousers are not only comfortable, they are also an easy upgrade when paired with nothing more complicated that a T-shirt. Any colour works, but sherbet shades are a fun seasonal option without being as conspicuous as a red blazer.

48

06. THE SWEATER Summer knits can look elegant and feel so sensually gratifying, especially when you have a touch of a tan.

But select your knitwear carefully. You want weaves that are open, though how much so depends on how confident you feel about your body. The sweater should drape, not hang and move with you, nor should it cling to your skin. Necklines should be open, round necks should be wider than a crew neck, while V-necks may sit slightly deeper – and consider boat-neck styles.

07. THE SHOES The right shoe will instantly raise the level of sophistication of your outfit – suede shoes, a Venetian loafer, a woven leather slip-on. In other words, shoes without height atop a thin leather sole in light colours or nubuck effortlessly radiate refinement.

As for sandals, it’s time for a caustic assessment of your toes. Get a pedicure first. Then be honest about how much of your feet you can show with pride.

There is only one acceptable kind of sneakers for summer: all white. The brand is of no consequence. It must be all white. That’s all.

Flip-flops are never to be worn more than 30ft from a pool or shoreline. And definitely never wear them on a city street. That’s just unhygienic.

08. THE HAT Never wear a baseball cap turned backwards. Anywhere.

Ever. You look desperate, not cool. And people are laughing at you behind your visor. Especially me.

49

HOW TO...

LOOK GO OD S T EP P I N G OU T O F T HE WATER

ILLO

Rarely do we feel more self-conscious than when stepping out of the sea or hauling ourselves out of a swimming pool in full view of strangers. But while we can’t all hope to look like Daniel Craig, who did all men a disservice by setting the bar so unrealistically high as a buff, bronzed James Bond in Skyfall – wearing a pair of Orlebar Brown’s Setter shorts, we might add – there are a few things we can do to ensure a relatively graceful exit this summer.

50

01. ADJUST YOUR SHORTS

When you’re leaving the sea or the swimming pool, the water in your pockets can drag your waistband down, leaving you in a state that’s at best unflattering and at worst indecent. A well-fitting pair of swim shorts will help to avoid this, but you should always flatten your pockets and adjust your waistband beforehand just in case.

02. PEBBLES ARE THE ENEMY

It is physically impossible to appear graceful while walking barefoot on pebbles, so avoid shingle beaches if you can. If you do find yourself on one, your best bet is to invest in a pair of wetsuit boots or beach shoes with thick, grippy rubber soles.

03. BE WARY OF WAVES

Nothing ruins a stylish walk out of the water like getting wiped out by a wave, so keep an eye out behind you and time your exit to avoid the breakers. If you see that a wave is about to crash onto your back, stand sideways with your feet wide apart and brace for impact before continuing towards the shore.

04. THE POOL LADDER IS YOUR FRIEND

Be brutally honest with yourself about your upper body strength. If you think you’re going to struggle to leave the pool in one smooth movement – which is really the only elegant way to do it – then the poolside ladder might be a wise choice.

05. OWN IT

Regardless of your body type, there’s something to be said for confidence. Beaches and swimming pools are society’s great levelers, places where the normal rules of modesty do not apply, so stand tall and walk with pride – safe in the knowledge that nobody’s paying much attention to what you look like anyway.

51

(OB SHORT STORY TITLE) WORDS BY JEREMY LANGMEAD

T

his was the first time James had gone on a business trip, the first time he’d be spending time with his new – slightly scary – boss, Fiona; and the first time he’d been to Ibiza. The company he worked for, Priority Guests, was handling the marketing for a large luxury hotel chain that had just opened a property there. Sadly, the trip was only for 48 hours and the schedule they had to adhere to was all work and no play.

As James unpacked his overnight bag in the room, with its tantalising views of the parasol-strewn beach and a small but lively bar already pumping out house music at 11.00am, it seemed a little cruel that he would be stuck inside preparing for a PowerPoint presentation he had to give early that evening to the hotel group’s executive committee. He was to meet Fiona at 3.00pm and talk her through the slides. He unpacked his laptop, took a bottle of water from the minibar, and began to edit the section on guest profiling. He paused for a moment and stared out at the sparkling blue sea gently caressing the golden sand below. Would it be so bad if he popped out for 30 minutes just to dip a toe in? You could argue it was research – putting himself into his customer’s shoes… Well, into their sandals.

52

Before long, James had snuck out of the hotel, dashed across the road, bagged a sunlounger near the water, ordered a glass of Sauvignon blanc (with ice, to water down the alcohol) and stretched out in the sun. He kept his underwear on (you could argue they resembled swim briefs) and laid out the rest of his work attire (cotton shorts, long-sleeved shirt and lightweight blouson) on the back of the headrest – he needed to look the part if anyone saw him making his way back through the hotel lobby.

Ah, this was the life. He would work out in his head what he needed to do to finish the presentation, nip back at lunchtime to update the slides and still be ready to meet Fiona at 3.00pm. It needed to be good; he needed to make an impression on his new boss. He’d shut his eyes for five minutes first and then be good to go.

James awoke with a start to discover he was now in the shade. And he could hear what sounded like water lapping around his sun-lounger. Wow, he thought, the tides move fast in Ibiza. He picked up his phone to check the time. It was 2.40pm. The 6.00am flight from Stansted had clearly wiped him out. He’d zonked out for nearly two and a half hours. James jumped up from the sunlounger, grabbed his clothes and began to get dressed. Except there was sand all over his feet and legs. He splashed water on them and then wrapped his shirt around his waist so he could take off his now wet and sandy underpants and pull on the dry shorts.

Balancing in an inch of seawater while trying to remove and add an item of clothing is no mean feat. He risked accidentally exposing himself to the young family nearby.

He sat down to perform the task instead. Still not easy. He dropped his underpants into the water as he pulled them off. The next obstacle was pulling the shorts over feet that were covered in damp, muddy sand. With that finally done, albeit messily, he grabbed the rest of his clothes and paddled to the bar where he would try to shake off the remaining sand. He patted down his hair, ignored the fact that his skin

53

felt a little tight (he hoped it didn’t look red) and shoved his wet underpants into his pocket. Within seconds he could feel the damp pants infiltrating the shorts. He took them out of his pocket, looked desperately around for inspiration and then threw them into the bin beside the bar.

He was meeting Fiona in eight minutes. There would not be time to go up to his room and fetch his laptop. Not to worry.

He would meet her as arranged in the reception area and tell her he hadn’t bought the slides because it would be good practice to recite them from memory in preparation for the presentation. That always made a good impression with clients. Hopefully it would with her, too. He could do this.

It would all be fine. He just needed to keep it all together.

As he entered the reception, he could see Fiona was already seated and waiting for him. After one final brush down of his hair and his clothes, he joined her on the suede banquette.

“Are you alright?” she asked. “You look a little frazzled.”

“Oh, it’s just the early start,” James laughed hollowly.

“And what you were doing outside?”

Jesus. She didn’t miss a trick. But then neither did he.

“Ha, yes, I was seeing if there was anywhere nearby I could buy a plug adapter. I stupidly packed the wrong one.

Annoyingly, there wasn’t.”

He could tell that Fiona was looking at him rather oddly. He was sure he could see her eyes glance down at his shorts.

“Well,” she said, “let’s go through the slides. Where’s your laptop?”

“I thought it might be a good idea to do it from memory at this stage,” James said. “Good practice for tonight.”

54

“James, it’s a presentation not a school nativity play. Go and get your computer and I’ll wait here,” Fiona retorted.

This was not entirely going to plan. He could, of course, go and get the laptop, but then the slides weren’t finished.

Nevermind. He’d say they’d somehow been deleted en route from London. He slowly stood up and, as he did so, felt his damp shorts sticking slightly to the sofa. He then saw Fiona’s eyes narrow as she stared at the space on the banquette he’d just vacated. There, in vivid detail, was a damp outline of two seated buttocks. He’d made an impression, for sure. But not the one he’d hoped to make.

He’d been found out.

“Have you heard of a brand called Orlebar Brown?” Fiona asked nonchalantly. “They make shorts you can swim in.

The quick-dry fabric lets you dry off as you walk from the beach to the bar, or even the boardroom. You could do with a pair.”

“Oh, right, thanks. Um, I’ll buy some for next time,” James stammered.

“No need,” Fiona replied. “There won’t be a next time. I’ll get you a pair as a leaving gift.”

In some ways, you could argue, it was a happy ending.

55

MRP SERVICE INFO 56

END PAGE

57

END PAGE 58

59