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Luxury fashion by destination — Style by Destination
What to wear in Dubai, Zanzibar, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the mountains: the Elite Luxury Real Estate guide to a quality wardrobe, designed for the place.
Luxury fashion: style changes with the destination
Luxury fashion for those who live between several homes and several countries is not a question of logos but of context. Every destination has its own visual code, its climate, its social setting and its aesthetic language: bringing the wrong wardrobe to the wrong place is a mistake that shows more than any out-of-fashion piece. Style by Destination was born from this idea, as a natural extension of Elite Luxury Real Estate’s work between villas, travel and way of life.
Those who buy a villa in Dubai, spend two weeks in Zanzibar or celebrate New Year in the Caribbean do not choose their wardrobe on a whim. The humid heat of the tropics calls for precise fabrics, the codes of Dubai differ from those of Ibiza, evenings on a yacht in Greece have an aesthetic of their own. In this guide we gather the principles, platforms and pieces we recommend for each setting.
Quiet luxury: quality before the logo
The common thread of this luxury fashion guide is what is now called quiet luxury: excellent fabrics, clean cuts, neutral colours, no need to show the brand. It is the style that has always belonged to great Italian tailoring and that pairs naturally with the architecture we propose: real materials, the right proportions, few elements chosen well.
In practice it means investing in a few pieces of the highest quality rather than many trend pieces. A cashmere coat, an unstructured jacket, linen shirts, tailored trousers, a well-made loafer: these are the foundation of a wardrobe that works in almost every destination and lasts for many years.
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Would you like a wardrobe and a walk-in closet designed for your villa?
Contact usThe reference platforms for luxury fashion
For those who live on the move, high-end online platforms are often the most efficient way to build a wardrobe. We point to three, chosen for selection, service and reliability. Prices, availability and terms are those shown by each website at the time of purchase.
Mytheresa
Mytheresa, born from a boutique in Munich, is one of the most highly regarded luxury fashion platforms in Europe. Its editorial selection favours brands such as Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, The Row, Bottega Veneta and Loewe: a line consistent with those who prefer quality to conspicuous logos.
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Net-a-Porter
Net-a-Porter was founded in 2000 and created the category of online luxury. For its most loyal clients it offers a dedicated service, called EIP, with personal shoppers and early access to collections. It is a reference for womenswear and for the great international brands.
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Farfetch
Farfetch, founded in 2007, connects a network of independent boutiques around the world. Its strength is access to rare pieces and to the selections of local boutiques that no single shop could offer, useful for those looking for something less obvious.
Transparency: at the date of publication Elite Luxury Real Estate has no commercial agreements with the operators mentioned on this page and receives no payment for the links. If an agreement is signed in future, it will be stated here. Prices, availability and contracts are always those confirmed in writing by the operator.
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A style guide by destination
Dubai: the code of Middle Eastern luxury
Dubai has a style code that is formal but not rigid, luxurious but practical, international but respectful of the local culture. For men, linen and cotton of the highest quality are the basis of the day: tailored trousers and a linen shirt in neutral tones such as white, sand and light grey work in almost any setting, with a lightweight suit for formal engagements. Reference luxury fashion brands: Kiton, Brioni, Loro Piana.
For women Dubai is more conservative than its international image suggests: midi or long dresses and covered shoulders in public places, freer codes in resorts and private villas. Discretion is always appreciated. Major malls such as Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates house the boutiques of almost every luxury fashion brand; in the Emirates VAT is 5% and tourists can claim a refund under local rules.
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Zanzibar: tropical minimalism
Zanzibar calls for a wardrobe that balances the equatorial climate — hot and humid but cooled by the ocean — with the cultural sensitivity of a mainly Muslim island, especially in Stone Town. Natural fabrics such as linen, cotton and light silk are essential; the best colours are those of the landscape: white, ecru, sand, ocean blue.
For men, soft cotton or linen trousers for the evening and quality swimwear from brands such as Vilebrequin or Orlebar Brown for the sea. For women, a long silk or cotton kaftan is the perfect piece: elegant, comfortable, respectful of the setting. Here too luxury fashion is discreet. Accessories: handmade leather sandals, wide-brimmed straw hats, raffia bags.
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The Caribbean and yachts: fresh, elegant, never formal
In luxury fashion, the style of the Caribbean and of yacht charters has a precise aesthetic: fresh, elegant, never too formal nor too casual. The palette is that of the sea: white, light blue, coral, turquoise. For men, quality swimwear and cotton polos by day, ivory linen trousers and a shirt for dinners, leather loafers without socks. For women, cotton or silk cover-ups, light dresses for dinners on board, rope or wooden sandals.
On board there are practical rules too: no heels on the teak deck, shoes with light soles, pieces that do not mind wind and humidity. We also discuss this in the guide to luxury yacht charter.
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The Mediterranean: the European version of the luxury summer
Portofino, Capri, the Costa Smeralda, Ibiza: the Mediterranean summer has the most recognisable code in European luxury fashion. Each place has its own nuance, but the common thread is Italian elegance, never too formal and never careless.
For men, white and ivory linen, light knit polos, suede loafers, classic sunglasses and a linen blazer for important evenings. For women, cotton and light cashmere by day, flowing dresses for the evening, a straw hat for the boat. Reference luxury fashion brands: Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, Valentino, Etro.
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The mountains: St. Moritz, Cortina, Courchevel
In the mountains luxury fashion becomes functional without losing elegance: layers of cashmere, quality technical down jackets, leather boots that stand up to snow and salt. In the evening alpine elegance is warm and discreet: roll-necks, velvet or tweed jackets, earth colours. The rule is the same as for the other destinations: a few excellent pieces, chosen for the place.
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Luxury fashion and business: the wardrobe for meetings
Those who travel to invest, view properties or meet partners need a wardrobe that conveys reliability without ostentation. Luxury fashion for business is sober: navy or grey suits in lightweight wool, white or light blue shirts, silk ties with discreet patterns, well-kept lace-up shoes. In hot climates an unstructured jacket in fresh wool or a linen blend replaces the full suit.
For women, a clean-cut trouser suit, structured midi dresses and a few important pieces of jewellery work in any business capital, from Milan to Dubai. The rule is to adapt the level of formality to the place: in Dubai and London the tendency is formal, while in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean a more relaxed register is accepted even in business meetings.
Accessories: watches, jewellery, sunglasses
Accessories are the most personal part of luxury fashion and the part that travels from one destination to the next. An important watch, chosen to last, comes on every trip; jewellery adapts to the setting, more present in Dubai and at formal evenings, more discreet by the sea and on the islands. Classic sunglasses, a quality leather belt and a bag without logos complete the wardrobe.
We dedicate a specific section to watches and jewellery: Time & Jewels, with the houses, the selection criteria and advice on keeping them safe in the villa, from the safe to the dedicated drawers in the walk-in closet.
The capsule wardrobe for those who live between several homes
The key to travelling between different climates is the capsule wardrobe: a few pieces of the highest quality that combine in many ways. The ideal suitcase for a Dubai, Zanzibar, Maldives trip includes natural fabrics in a neutral palette, a few coloured pieces for the evenings, two pairs of versatile shoes and a warm layer for planes and air-conditioned interiors.
For those who own several homes, the most convenient solution is a basic wardrobe in each residence, suited to the local climate, so as to travel light. That way the suitcase holds only what is personal and seasonal, and every home is ready on arrival.
The suitcase: what must not be missing
A quality hard-shell suitcase, fabric bags to separate shoes and delicate pieces, a garment bag for the jacket, a clothing care kit. Luxury luggage brands are recognised by their durability, not by their logo: a good suitcase accompanies many years of travel. For private flights soft bags are preferable, as they are easier to stow on board.
Pre-owned and conscious luxury fashion
A growing share of luxury fashion goes through the pre-owned market: bags, watches and archive pieces resold by specialist platforms that verify their authenticity. It is a choice consistent with quiet luxury, because it rewards quality that lasts, and it makes it possible to find pieces no longer in production. Before buying, check the platform’s authentication and returns policy.
The same goes for garment care: a good tailor, a specialist dry cleaner and suitable spaces at home extend the life of an important wardrobe more than any new purchase.
The villa's walk-in closet
A luxury fashion wardrobe deserves a designed space. A villa’s walk-in closet is not a storeroom but a room with its own rules: indirect natural light that does not fade fabrics, interior lighting that switches on when opened, ventilation to prevent humidity, woods and finishes that protect the garments. Long dresses, jackets, folded knitwear, shoes and accessories each have their own dimensions.
In the studio’s projects the walk-in closet sits between the bedroom and the bathroom, in a sequence that makes dressing natural: a central island for accessories, a full-length mirror with good light, a corner for packing the suitcase. It is one of the spaces where architecture and way of life meet most closely.
Details that make the difference
Drawers with fabric dividers for watches and jewellery, sloping shelves for shoes, rails at different heights for long and short garments, an area for ironing and garment care, closed cupboards for out-of-season clothes. These are details decided in the design that make the walk-in closet a space to live in, not just to fill.
How to choose where to buy
Three criteria apply when buying luxury fashion, both online and in boutiques. First: the selection, meaning how closely the platform or boutique reflects your taste. Second: the service, meaning returns, tailoring, personal shoppers and delivery to the destination where you are. Third: reliability, meaning certainty about the authenticity and provenance of the pieces. Physical boutiques in the destinations remain irreplaceable for pieces you need to try on, such as tailored suits and shoes.
Luxury fashion: the principles in brief
First: the right luxury fashion depends on the place, the climate and the cultural setting. Second: the most elegant luxury fashion is the quiet kind, made of excellent fabrics and clean cuts. Third: a few luxury fashion pieces that last many years, combined in a capsule wardrobe, are better than many trend pieces.
Fourth: luxury fashion is bought from reliable platforms and boutiques, checking authenticity and service. Fifth: a luxury fashion wardrobe deserves a home that protects it, with a walk-in closet designed for light, dimensions and materials.
Frequently asked questions about luxury fashion by destination
How does personal shopping work on luxury fashion platforms?
The main platforms offer their most loyal clients a dedicated service with a personal shopper, early access to collections and priority delivery. The terms can be requested directly from the platform’s customer service.
Is luxury shopping in Dubai worth it?
Dubai is home to the boutiques of almost every major brand. In the Emirates VAT is 5% and tourists can claim a refund under local rules; prices should be compared with Europe case by case.
How do you manage a wardrobe for different climates on the same trip?
With a modular capsule wardrobe: natural fabrics in a neutral palette, a few coloured pieces for the evening, two pairs of versatile shoes and a warm layer for planes.
How do you design a walk-in closet in a villa?
With indirect light that does not fade fabrics, ventilation against humidity, different dimensions for garments, knitwear, shoes and accessories, and a position between bedroom and bathroom.
Designing the walk-in closet
The most beautiful wardrobe needs a home to welcome it. The studio of Federico Cappellina designs bespoke walk-in closets and sleeping areas for villas: natural and indirect light, fine woods, space for suitcases and seasonal clothes, in dialogue with the rest of the house.
Do you own a luxury villa?
The walk-in closet is designed with the house: light, dimensions, materials.
Discover the whole UHNW Lifestyle
Style by Destination is one of the Luxury Living sections: watches, yachts, private jets, cars and wine complete the way of life.