Things I like this month - July 2026
'Things I Like This Month,' is a monthly newsletter where I share things I genuinely like or that stood out to me and felt worth talking about.
Everything you read in this article is my honest opinion, and nothing is paid for. I’m always excited to see new quality products and discover new brands or makers, so I’m always very happy when you guys send me suggestions or something you think I might like.
Big Yank x Fortela - "Stakes Shirt"
I would say that Fortela is one of the best brands reimagining Western style, which is not surprising considering Alessandro Squarzi is behind it. This season they released a few amazing pieces, but this sawtooth western shirt, made in collaboration with the Japanese brand Big Yank, especially stands out to me. The large collar and beautiful snap buttons are what set it apart, and the shirts are made in Japan, so you know they are among the best you can get. The shirt comes in 3 colours: red, pink, and ecru.
Métier - Closer Two Day Briefcase
For the past year I have been travelling a lot, and even though I have a lot of tote bags, none of them are ideal for travelling. First, because most of them lack a sleeve to attach them to a suitcase, so you can roll everything with one hand, and second, they are a bit too small to fit a few pieces of clothing together with all my personal belongings, in case the suitcase gets lost.
This Métier Closer Two Day Briefcase checks all the boxes that my tote bags are missing. Plus, its size makes it a perfect bag for overnight trips, because you can fit a few extra pieces of clothing inside - a shirt or two, a pair of trousers, and some underwear. So, technically, in summer this bag could even work for a 3-day trip.
This size is especially handy for short trips when you don't want to take a suitcase and want to travel as light as possible. But what impresses me most about this bag is how well thought out all the details are. It has two large exterior pockets, one on each side - one with a zipper and one with a magnetic snap, making it easier to access with one hand while still keeping your belongings secure. This one also has a zipper on the back that transforms into a luggage sleeve to attach it to a suitcase.
On the inside there is a large pocket on each side. One side fits a 16-inch laptop, while the other has several smaller pockets and compartments to securely store your belongings and accessories, so you can stay really well organised, which is super important when you're carrying everything you need for two days in one bag. Also, this Corfu suede color is beautiful, and the quality of the craftsmanship is really exceptional.
Shibumi Firenze Ties
Even though I don't really wear them often, it seems that the older I get, the more I love and appreciate ties. And Shibumi Firenze are, without a doubt, one of the best tie makers out there. Even though they are still a relatively young brand (established in 2012), their ties are made in Florence by people with a long history in this craft. But what makes Shibumi really stand out is that they have one of the most extensive tie collections available. There is almost no colour or pattern you couldn't find, and they are a really good value as well.
Born at Sea
I came across this brand just a few months ago. It's a relatively new brand established by a husband and wife. They have quite an interesting balance, since Valérie comes from the fashion industry and has a background in design and merchandising, while Stephan is "just" very passionate about timeless, well-made things in general.
They focus on creating timeless pieces inspired by designs from the past, built on the belief that great clothing should outlast seasons, trends, and sometimes even us. They use quality fabrics and work with experienced manufacturers. All of their current products are inspired primarily by nautical clothing, made from some of the best French and Japanese fabrics, and produced in France by manufacturers who have been making garments like these for over a century.
I really like Le Short Bardenas, which is inspired by French military chino shorts from the 1940s and is, in my opinion, a nicer version of classic Gurkha shorts. And La Chemise Bardenas is the ultimate summer version of a chambray shirt, which I would describe as a workwear take on the classic Cuban shirt. Although the Flamingo colourway has less of a navy feel and a bit more relaxed vibe.
La Vareuse Métis is a cool piece, but it's a bit too nautical for my personal style. On the other hand, Le Pull Fréhel, which is a similar style but it’s knitted, is very cool and looks particularly interesting worn over a shirt and even with a tie. And Le Pantalon Métis also look great, they are made from a very interesting Métis cotton-linen fabric, and in combination with a very well-balanced cut, I would call them an elevated version of military chinos.
Serica Ref. 7505
When I saw this watch, I was torn because I knew the size was perfect, but I wasn't sure about a few design details, like the curved lugs, curved spring bars, and cardinal markers on the bezel. But I was able to spend two weeks with this watch, and when I had to return it, I realized how much I liked it. It completely won me over. Before, the Ref. 6190 was my favourite Serica, but after wearing the Ref. 7505 for almost two weeks straight, the 6190 now feels huge. Even though it seems very similar to the 6190, the 7505 wears much more smoothly, has a very different vibe, and really is a joy to wear. It might even be my favourite Serica to date. I prefer the olive dial version, but it's also available with a black or tuxedo dial. And I would really love to see this one with a white dial.
Moonstar x Buck Mason Deck Shoe
Buck Mason has been collaborating with Moonstar on these deck shoes for a few seasons already, and they have previously released a very similar taupe colourway. Back then, the stripe on the sole was tonal, but on this new version it's black, which I think adds a bit of a retro vibe.
I mostly wear white deck shoes, but I also have a navy pair, which I don't really wear often, because I realized they're a bit too much for me most of the time. This taupe colourway is much more neutral, and I think it's a perfect match with white trousers to add some contrast, but not too much. Also, this colour won't interfere with or overpower almost any color you wear on top, which my blue pair often does.
These are some of the best deck shoes on the market, made in Japan by Moonstar - a brand that has been making shoes for over 150 years. They are also available in Natural and Navy.
Slippers with Leopard or Jaguar print
This might be the most specific, or controversial product I have written about so far. I already mentioned velvet slippers in the May edition of "Things I Like This Month". Back then, I was considering getting a pair for summer black-tie events, but I spent too long contemplating it and missed the deadline to get a pair to wear at Pitti, because most of them are made to order and take at least a couple of weeks to be made.
Velvet slippers have been on my mind for a couple of months already, and while I was doing research to put together a list of the best quality options on the market, they grew on me even more, and I started wondering if I would be able to pull them off casually. I came to the conclusion that I probably could, but only a very specific version, like olive or brown in suede or velvet. And even those I would wear only with very specific outfits - I wouldn't wear them with black tie in those colours.
While I was thinking about the very few options I would actually wear with casual looks, I came across animal-print options. At first I skipped them, but the more I looked at them, the more they grew on me. I know these might be too wild, or too feminine for most men, but I think that when done right, they're super cool.
I really like the Leopard Print Albert Slippers by Bowhill & Elliott, but since these are made to order, I would actually prefer them in the shape of their Venetian Slipper. Another option in that category is The Charles Loafer in Cheetah Pony Hair and The Castro Loafer in Jaguar Pony Hair, both by Arthur Sleep. These are even more feminine and might be a bit too much for me for now, but never say never. But if you think you can pull off either of these, do it, because they're both super cool, and life is too short not to. And since these are all made to order, it might already be too late to get them this summer, so I have a few more months to think about if I want to try them next year.
Summer sales
It's this part of the year when it's worth going through your closet and think about any pieces you're missing or would like to add, because with some planning you can save a good chunk of money during the sale season. I would still recommend that during the sale season, you only buy pieces you're 100% sure you will wear, because otherwise you can quickly fall into a rabbit hole of amazing products you mightwear. This can lead to spending a lot of money on something just because it was an amazing deal, when in reality, if you never end up wearing it, that money was wasted.
But if you have a few pieces on your wish list, it's definitely worth checking them out, as you can get some great deals.
Here is my list of the best menswear summer sales.
Is there anything that caught your attention this month? Let me know in the comments.
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'Things I Like This Month,' is a monthly newsletter where I share things I genuinely like or that stood out to me and felt worth talking about.