The Italian Connection
In the fashion world, there’s a particular kind of confidence which puts more focus on the details of something as opposed to the loud, logo-first stuff that tries to shout its net worth at strangers.
A fine example of this is Monti Castello. The brand’s thesis is simple: classic men’s accessories, built around texture, finish, and quality, with a bit of pizazz via pattern and colour to suggest you have a life beyond spreadsheets. Start with the Terracotta & Navy Geometric Wool–Silk Tie (RRP $165 NZD), and you understand the brand’s logic immediately. A wool–silk blend changes the whole feel of a tie: less shiny, more tactile, a softer handle, and a bit more depth under natural light. The colour does the rest. A deep terracotta base with French blue tile motifs. The 8 cm width keeps it modern without tipping into skinny nostalgia. Wear it with navy, charcoal and stone. The tie can carry a plain shirt and a simple suit, which is exactly what you want from an accessory: to do the work so the rest of you can get on with the meeting.
Then there’s the Taupe Cashmere Scarf (RRP $325 NZD), which seems to instantly add drama to any outfit. Cashmere is one of the few materials that still feels unarguably luxurious the moment it touches skin, and this one leans into understated elegance rather than trying to be fashionable. Taupe is a smart choice because it’s flexible. It sits comfortably with light tailoring, dark coats, and the in-between palette most men actually wear. It also photographs beautifully.
The Blue Cross-Grain Cufflinks (RRP $149 NZD) are for the return of the long shirt cuff, the subtle signal that the occasion matters. Their strength is in the centre detail: an iridescent blue and grey cross-grain inlay set into an arc-shaped frame. There’s also something satisfying about the presentation: a solid wood box lined with black satin. It’s giftable in the way men’s gifts should be, useful, elevated, and unlikely to end up “accidentally” left at the bottom of a drawer.
Pocket squares are one of the easiest ways to add personality to tailoring, because you can dial the effect up or down in seconds. Monti Castello’s approach keeps things elegant: delicate fabrics and finely rolled edges that sit with a natural, organic finish rather than looking overly structured. The Rustic Paisley (RRP $65 NZD) is a warm, vintage-leaning option that works effortlessly with navy and brown, but the wider pocket square collection also includes clean classics (like off-white satin), more playful, pictorial designs and traditional motifs reframed with bolder colour where you want it.
Men’s style has been through a long phase of comfort absolutism. Sneakers everywhere. Hoodies at events that used to require a jacket. “Smart casual” stretched to the point where it means “please don’t make me change.” The pendulum is creeping back. Not to formality for formality’s sake, but to dressing with intent, the idea that you can still be relaxed while looking sharp. Accessories are the easiest way to do that because they’re small, portable upgrades. A tie, scarf, cufflinks, a pocket square, four decisions that take a standard outfit and make it feel considered. That’s what Monti Castello is selling, really: not product, but polish. And polish, unlike fashion, doesn’t age out next season.