Check list
Anthony Teasdale on this month’s must haves
Monocle/ Aspesi jacket
While Monocle magazine keeps us up to date with cool city living, their retail arm is starting to produce some seriously good clothes. This collaboration with Italian coat manufacturer Aspesi is a great example of this. Made of three breathable waterproof layers, this sleek coat also boasts a double zip and detachable hood – ideal for football terrace and yacht deck alike. Just the smarter side of casual, it’ll look great with a pair of Japanese denim jeans and smart pumps. £390, http://shop.monocle.com
Smart travel
Louis Vuitton European City Guides box set
Useful and beautiful, the latest incarnation of LV’s city guides are really something to write home about – especially for those of us who spend a significant part of our existence checking into hotels in far-flung corners of the continent. Revised for 2010, this nine-book box-set highlights 7,000 restaurants, shops and secret neighbourhoods in the likes of Paris, Geneva, Malaga, Tel Aviv and London. And even if you never intend to go any further than the local shops, they’ll still look good on your shelves. £85, www.louisvuitton.com
Maurice Lacroix Pontos Automatique watch
Now that we can all tell the time with our mobile phones, the primary function of a watch is that of a piece of jewellery. With this in mind, Maurice Lacroix’s gorgeous Pontos Automatique is something any man would happily show off on his wrist. From its stainless steel and crystal case to its thick leather strap and black face, the piece has class in spades. The fact that it’s water-resistant up to 50m means that even the most relaxed of holiday swims can be infused with a touch of Swiss elegance. Dive in. Around £2,000, www.mauricelacroix.com
Geneva Lab Sound System Model S
While the iPod has been the undoubted symbol of music reproduction in the Noughties, this beautiful speaker unit harks back to the groovier days of the late 1950s and early ’60s. Despite its diminutive size (it’s only 28cm high on its stand), the unit delivers a powerful, bass-heavy punch, thanks largely to its sealed wooden chambers. Compatible with every model of the iPod, it also has a stereo audio input, so you can connect a CD player or even that old record deck which you refuse to throw out. Available in black, white and red. £290, www.smythson.com
Hitachi Short Throw Projector
A good projector often makes a snappy presentation, yet the high prices and relative fragility have put many would-be users off. However, Hitachi’s new range of short throw models offer robust and affordable alternatives that project a shadow-free image on to walls, whiteboards or projector screens up to 82cm away. Simply the business. From £726, hitachidigitalmedia.com
