When an event doesn’t have a dress code, it can either lead to panic or great inventiveness. Every year as Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference approaches, we receive a handful of emails from first-time attendees asking: will the gala dinner be formal? Would it be wise to pack a tie? Are shorts permissible on the city tours? Returning delegates are old enough to know what suits them best, and from São Paulo to Manila, they simply reach for trusted favourites in their wardrobes.
This year’s gathering – which ran from Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 September – was hosted in Lisbon. Perhaps everyone wished they had packed some shorts when, at the welcome cocktail, the mercury rose to 37C. Instead, most of our delegates managed to finesse a look featuring some combination of a linen jacket, a fine T-shirt and a smart pair of sandals as they attempted to be cool (in both senses of the word). And as for our speakers, they nailed it.
Across the arc of the three-day event, from auditorium to farewell brunch, it was impressive to see how well people pack. Things were a bit easier for the home crowd, of course, not only because they had their entire wardrobes to choose from but also because there are so many summer-ready Portuguese brands to choose from, such as La Paz and +351. It explains why team Portugal – from Lisbon’s mayor Carlos Moedas to designer Pedro Oliveira – stayed looking sharp throughout.
Here we spotlight a few of our favourite looks at the conference that embody what Nicolas Gabard, founder of Parisian label Husbands, explained on stage: dressing up should be fun and show who you really are. Oh, and we also reveal what our editors packed.
Nicolas Gabard, founder of Parisian fashion brand Husbands, wearing his own lean suiting line. And great hair.
Verbal, the Japanese rapper, entrepreneur and fashion designer, took to our stage in sunglasses, trousers and loafers from his own brand, Ambush, and a jacket from Post Archive Faction.
Founder of Gait Happens Dr Courtney Conley wore clothing from LA-based Ripley Rader on stage and, across the conference, footwear by Notace and Be Lenka.
Tatiana Bilbao, one of Mexico’s great architects, in a shirt by Maison Margiela and trousers by Galician brand Cordera.
Otávio Suriani, the man behind São Paulo’s Pulso Hotel, donned a shirt by Working Title – which is based in his home city – and trousers from Brazilian brand Handred, plus sneakers by Japanese brand Flower Mountain.
Pedro Oliveira, founder of Lisbon’s Hotel das Amoreiras, sporting a gilet by Le Prince Jardinier, a shirt from Camisa d’Ouro (Lisbon’s oldest surviving made-to-order shirtmaker) and grey trousers from Denís in Madrid. His look is almost unchanged in 25 years.
Yü-Ge Wang, director and global auctioneer at Christie’s, in an emerald-green Issey Miyake dress and silver trainers.
Paul Sirisant, CEO of Bangkok’s creative campus Cloud 11, in a shirt by Yohji Yamamoto and trousers by Jil Sander. Sharp.
Global foresight strategist Joanna Lepore chose a future-proof top from Singapore’s GG<5, a skirt by Australian fashion brand Saba and shoes by Jo Mercer.
Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus says that this has been his uniform for years: “a simple white shirt, light blue jeans and Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 shoes”.
Josh Fehnert, Monocle’s editor, in a needle-stripe shirt from Engineered Garments, wide-legged Gramicci G-Pants and a military-green blazer from Japanese firm Steteco, matched with Tyrolean suede shoes by Tep_p x Monocle.
Monocle host Rob Bound in a suit from Ascot Chang, a rayon shirt from Bryceland’s and a pearl tie pin from Mikimoto.
The stakes are high when you are the editor of Konfekt. Sophie Grove settled on a Max Mara linen gilet, a silk camisole by Joseph and soft suede flat pumps by Le Monde Béryl.
Nic Monisse, Monocle’s design editor, rocking a very on-brand Monocle travel suit, blue-capped moccasins by Mallorca-based Camper and a colourful Swiss halstuch to add personality.
Andrew Tuck, Monocle’s editor in chief, in a Barena Venezia jacket, plus an MCR shirt and trousers from Trunk, of course.
Fiona Wilson, Monocle’s senior Asia editor in Tokyo, packed an impeccable look courtesy of Uniqlo.
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Image courtesy of Unsplash
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