#obsessed: Top picks from Gucci, Hermès, Clase Azul México, and more

This month, #legend is #obsessed with the latest from Gucci, Hermès, Clase Azul México, Chanel, Patek Philippe, and Dior

Stepping up

Following in the footsteps of Paul Mescal, Xiao Zhan and Kingsley Ben-Adir, Italian actor, screenwriter and director Pietro Castellitto stars in the latest campaign for Gucci’s signature Horsebit 1953 loafer. The series of portraits captures a relaxed Castellitto transitioning between a range of looks, each grounded by the loafer’s stylish presence. First introduced in its eponymous year when the brand launched footwear, the Horsebit 1953 offered a new idea of elegance: equal parts sporty, casual and sensual. With each new campaign, it reaffirms its status as an enduring symbol of Gucci’s commitment to craftsmanship, innovation and timeless style. 

Brought to light

First presented at Milan Design Week, Hermès’ new collections for the home are an invitation “to step out of time – while keeping your feet on the ground – and to create a dialogue between roots and movement, between materials and know-how”. Each of the objects confirms Hermès’ spirit of combining excellence with craftsmanship, featuring a range of motifs drawn from the house’s cultural heritage. The new line of lamps, for example, has a distinctly equestrian identity with a slender stem in braided two-tone leather, a shade in slub linen with leather piping, and a patinated base with a bronze-style finish. 

Kindred spirits

Newly launched in Hong Kong, Clase Azul México combines the finest ingredients (100% blue weber agave) with traditional craftsmanship to create unique, high-quality tequila expressions. With a vision to elevate tequila to an art form, each bottle from the distinguished luxury brand is hand-painted by skilled artisans who reflect the rich cultural heritage of Mexico. Clase Azul México also stands out for having a workforce that is over half female, including its master distiller Viridiana Tinoco – who holds a master’s degree in tequila production and is among Mexico’s few female tequila distillers – and 30% of its artisans from small communities. 

Good sport

Body awareness and movement have always been at the heart of Chanel, ever since Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel distinguished herself with her sporty look and even created a “Sport” workshop within her haute couture house. That spirit is now being celebrated for the first time in high jewellery with a new collection, Haute Joaillerie Sport, by Patrice Leguéreau, director of the Chanel Fine Jewellery Creation Studio. Combining elegance and performance – in aesthetics, technical aspects and the selection of vibrantly coloured gemstones – the groundbreaking collection celebrates the beauty of sport and the elegance of movement. 

Fair and square

Patek Philippe’s latest interpretation of its “elegant sporty” style features a highly original square-shaped case with rounded corners and a dial adorned with horizontal relief embossing. The new Cubitus comes in three versions, each with its own strong character: the Instantaneous Grand Date, Day and Moon Phases, Reference 5822P-001 in platinum, powered by a new movement with instantaneous displays for which six patent applications have been filed; the two-tone Reference 5821/1AR-001 in steel and rose gold with a blue sunburst dial; and the Reference 5821/1A-001 in steel with an olive-green sunburst dial. 

Liquid gold

A symbol of excellence that has stood for 400 years, Château d’Yquem is not only an exceptional vineyard but also home to the extraordinary natural phenomenon that is the transformation of the Golden Grape by Botrytis cinerea into an elixir capable of defying time. The powerful process inspired Dior to unlock the Golden Grape’s secret of longevity, eventually leading to the creation of its most exclusive skincare collection and most advanced skin longevity protocol – L’Or de Vie. As luxurious as it is powerful, the ritual includes a highly concentrated lotion, anti-ageing serum, re-densifying cream and plumping eye contour cream.

Also see: #obsessed: Top picks from Leica, Buccellati, Belmond, and more