Tod’s Throws A Pool Party
Creative concept and on-set art direction for the Tod’s x Mr Porter collaboration. Read an abstract from the article, below:
Tod’s is synonymous with the Italian summer. It’s practically impossible to imagine one without the other. The brand’s iconic Gommino driving shoe, named after the 133 rubber pebbles or “gommini” embedded in the sole, has become something of a wardrobe staple for well-heeled Italians, many of whom will invest in a new pair every year, wear them through the warmer months and retire them when the leaves begin to fall. To step into a pair of these exquisitely soft suede loafers is to buy into la dolce vita, that idyllic, carefree way of life that is so redolent of Italy in the summer.
Tod’s is synonymous with the Italian summer. It’s practically impossible to imagine one without the other. The brand’s iconic Gommino driving shoe, named after the 133 rubber pebbles or “gommini” embedded in the sole, has become something of a wardrobe staple for well-heeled Italians, many of whom will invest in a new pair every year, wear them through the warmer months and retire them when the leaves begin to fall. To step into a pair of these exquisitely soft suede loafers is to buy into la dolce vita, that idyllic, carefree way of life that is so redolent of Italy in the summer.
The Gommino, launched in the late 1970s, was just the first element of the Tod’s vision of a man at leisure. The brand soon turned its expertise to bags and accessories, and three years ago launched a sumptuous ready-to-wear clothing line characterised by the same dedication to craftsmanship and timeless style that made its loafers such a hit.
Tod’s has always made a point of treating the words “made in Italy” as an all-encompassing design philosophy, rather than just a promise of provenance, and its first forays into menswear were a case in point.
Tod’s has always made a point of treating the words “made in Italy” as an all-encompassing design philosophy, rather than just a promise of provenance, and its first forays into menswear were a case in point.
Slipping into one of the brand’s butter-soft suede jackets, it was quite easy to imagine oneself sipping a spritz on the terrace of the Belmond Splendido as the sun went down over Portofino Harbour, or putting a vintage sports car through its paces on the coastal road to Positano. The whole thing just fizzed with Italian spirit.
Mr Murphy is dressed down in his civvies, which include a blue woollen hat, a blue shirt, a blue knit jacket and blue jeans. “Yeah, my wife gives out a lot about all the blue,” he says. “It’s just safe, man. You can’t go wrong with navy. My taste is very much: a good pair of jeans, a good jacket, a good pair of shoes. Well-made things that fit. I’m not adventurous.”
