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Ride of Your Life
What could be better than a luxury cycling trip on a sultry Mediterranean island. One where your biggest hero in the sport is right alongside you.
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It’s a balmy afternoon, and I’m riding my bike around an idyllic island in the Mediterranean. I keep glancing at the cyclist next to me—partly to make conversation but also to check that he’s really Geraint Thomas, winner of two Olympic gold medals, three world championships and a Tour de France. I can’t quite believe my luck: I’m wheel to wheel with one of the sport’s greatest living athletes, and to top it off, he has a bruising hangover, enabling me to keep pace with him as if I were a pro. And yet, this extraordinary experience was not that hard to achieve.
Want to shoot hoops with Stephen Curry, have a kickabout with Lionel Messi or face a few fast bowls from Pat Cummins? Get ready to write a sizeable cheque. The opportunity to rub shoulders with your sporting heroes—whether as part of a fantasy-camp afternoon or, for truly unfettered access, by buying the teams they play for—comes neither easy nor cheap.
The exception, it seems, is cycling. Consider my recent long weekend on Ibiza with Thomas. I might also have joined Eddy Merckx, the Pelé of cycling and probably the greatest rider ever to have turned a pedal, or six-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy, or any one of a litany of elite athletes who have rolled out side by side with guests on a LeBlanq tour.
Founded by British former pro cyclist–turned-entrepreneur Justin Clarke, LeBlanq aims to provide superior holidays on two wheels and is part of an explosion of start-ups and buyouts in the multibillion-dollar luxury cycling space. It offers around a dozen itineraries each year, in regions with spectacular scenery—such as the Norwegian fjords and the Scottish Highlands—and particularly those with an oenological link, such as Champagne in France, Spain’s Rioja and Constantia Valley in South Africa. On each trip you’re guaranteed at least one titan of the sport, a luxury hotel as accommodation and a wellness program for those in attendance but not cycling. A superstar DJ may headline the post-ride party, and there’s always a celebrity chef providing nutrition more appealing than the vast quantities of rice that pros typically cram down during a race.
Richie Hopson
Before starting LeBlanq in 2020, Clarke built the Taste food festivals, which showcase the work of the best fine dining restaurants in 19 cities around the world (it has since been sold to IMG), and his contacts run as deep in gastronomy as in cycling: Michelin-starred chefs Nathan Outlaw and Angela Hartnett, among many others, have cooked for LeBlanq guests. And here gluttony is justified, with depleted riders needing to fuel up on all that sensational food after burning thousands of calories on the road and in preparation for the following day’s outing. Plus, assuming you don’t have too bad a hangover, alcohol is useful as an extra carbohydrate.
Cycling has always been a democratic, accessible, mass-participation sport. Its recent surge in popularity around the globe has been driven by its health and environmental benefits; and involvement also flourished during Covid shutdowns, when gyms were largely off-limits. The activity is almost unmatched in its ability to let you sustain a high heart rate and burn more calories for long periods, and its metronomic, meditative qualities have been shown to be good for your mental health as well: riding with friends is social; riding alone brings solace. But while the advantages of the sport are universal—and entirely unrelated to the price of your bike—those enthusiasts willing to spend can majorly amplify what can quickly become an addictive and all-consuming pastime. For example, while you can’t buy a current F1 car, you can purchase a bike nearly identical, save a few prototype parts, to that of a Tour de France winner. Or you can engage a custom builder to create a model tailored to your precise dimensions, colour preferences and specifications—like a Savile Row suit, but far more expensive. (An elite commissioned machine can run from around $15,000 to upwards of $40,000.) You can wear stylish cycling gear created by Sir Paul Smith while riding it (the British designer once aspired to compete professionally, before injuries sustained in a major accident derailed those ambitions and he moved into fashion). Beyond LeBlanq’s offerings, you can book other operator’s trips that let you pedal across frozen Mongolian lakes or the game reserves of Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
A recent analyst report estimates that the market for luxury cycling will increase by a third, to around $29 billion, over the next five years. The poster child for this booming sector is luxe clothing brand Rapha, founded in London in 2004; a private equity firm run by Walmart heirs Tom and Steuart Walton, themselves keen cyclists, bought a majority stake in 2017 for about $395 million. Similar deals continue. Last year, mining billionaire Ivan Glasenberg, another devotee, paid an estimated $383 million for controlling interest in high-end Italian bike brand Pinarello, a name as resonant to cyclists as Ferrari and Maserati are to motorists.
Despite the enmity that some (erroneously) perceive between those two tribes, the luxury car marques are eager to be part of the cycling surge: smart brands go where their customers are, and these customers are increasingly out on their bikes. Which explains why Aston Martin and Lotus each launched radical, innovative bikes—costing far more than even Geraint Thomas’s Tour-winning Pinarello—at the Rouleur Live cycling show in London late last year. And why, along with Rapha, Marqués de Riscal wine, Laurent-Perrier Champagne, InchDairnie Distillery and Bianchi bikes, both Aston Martin and Porsche have partnered with LeBlanq to provide the “team” cars that follow each group of riders with supplies and spare bikes.
In my 30 years as a journalist, this was the first time I needed to train for a story. I signed up to ride at LeBlanq’s event on the Spanish island of Ibiza alongside Thomas, who at 37 remains a contender for the great prizes of the sport, having only lost his lead in last year’s Giro d’Italia on the penultimate day. Just before flying to Ibiza, he announced that he would compete on billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS Grenadiers team for another two years.
Thomas is a world-class professional athlete performing at the pinnacle of one of the toughest endurance sports. I am, well, not. What on earth was I thinking, agreeing to ride with him? I’m 49. I’ve cycled semi-seriously since I was 12 and was a solid midrange finisher when I competed for a while in my teens; I gave up after realising that racing hurt, and that I was no good at it. Now, even with no trophy or purse at stake, I feared the humiliation of being “dropped”—parlance for getting left behind—not only by Thomas but by the hyper-alpha, ultra-fit bankers and lawyers I imagined to be the clientele at a LeBlanq event.
Andrew Grant
So I trained for three months, shedding more than five kilos and getting my power and pace up slightly. I thought I’d better upgrade my bike, too, so I called German maker Canyon, the Porsche of cycling, whose bikes I’ve owned for years. The Canyon folks saw my predicament, agreed that my eight-year-old model wouldn’t cut it, and instead loaned me an Ultimate CF SL Disc 8.0 Aero. It’s similar to the machine favoured by Thomas’s Tour rivals on the Movistar and Alpecin teams (the Aeroad CFR Di2, priced at about $15,000) and was the Financial Times’s “best race-oriented bike” of ’23, but at around $10,500 costs a lot less than his roughly $23,000 team Pinarello Dogma F. To quote Lance Armstrong, it’s not about the bike, but I figured I should take all the help I could get.
I needn’t have worried. I arrived at the beachfront Hotel Riomar in Santa Eulalia, which LeBlanq had taken over in its entirety, and immediately had the new bike whisked from me and brought to the secure service area, where LeBlanq’s mechanics checked it over, added a race-style plaque with my name and rider number under the seat, and hung it on the racks in the company of what was probably well over a million dollars’ worth of bikes that had been flown in from the US, the Middle East and Europe by the 120 other participants.
Andrew Grant
Inside the hotel I was handed my Rapha x LeBlanq team gear and a bag of energy bars, gels and drinks for the four days of cycling. So far, so pro. But then someone pressed a glass of Laurent-Perrier into my hand, and then someone else topped it up, and I began to realise that for all LeBlanq’s race-ready image, the reality might be a bit more like a fun run through Centennial Park—if you want it to be, anyway.
Riders are split into groups of 10 to 12 each based on ability and likely speed. Each is led by someone very experienced, often an ex-pro, who takes care of the directions and pace, with a support car following. For the short opening jaunt of around 30 km, I decided to roll with the gentlest squad, led by the effervescent former racer Monica Dew, who ensured that the members of her pleasingly mixed group never felt stretched. (The pros trade cohorts over the course of the weekend so everyone gets a moment to bask in their reflected glory.) There were participants of all ages and abilities, some wearing running shoes rather than the clip-in cleats favoured by the more hardcore, and some on battery-assisted e-bikes.
Andrew Grant
A significant part of the appeal of such events is the experience of riding in a peloton. Having others around you deflects headwinds, reducing the effort required to maintain a given speed by up to 40 percent. You find yourself being sucked along by the group, feeling like a pro, going faster than you ever could on your own while comfortably holding a conversation with the person next to you.
And what chats. Wearing the same bib is a great leveller, and the collaborative nature of a group ride means confidences are quickly shared. As well as the expected doctors, executives and pilots, I found myself moving with the founders and funders of tech firms, a world-leading cybersecurity expert, a man my age who’d had a heart attack just a year before, a couple who’d taken a previous LeBlanq trip for their honeymoon, and the arena-filling British DJ Pete Tong, perhaps best known for exporting house music to the world. Another turned out to be Nick Evans, managing partner of private equity firm Active Partners, chairman of Rapha, and the guy who gave luxury cycling its defining moment by brokering that $395 million sale to the Waltons.
The exchanges were so good and the concentration required to keep up in a fast, tight, well-disciplined group so intense that I needed to remind myself to look up and absorb the extraordinary scenery. Ibiza’s rural roads are mostly well surfaced and lightly trafficked. Temperatures in the mid 20s were perfect for cycling, and the air was scented with the pine needles that lay in piles at the edge of the road. There were few serious climbs—just enough to keep things interesting—and they often rewarded with a view over yet another deserted, pine-fringed beach and the azure Mediterranean beyond.
For non-riding partners or those taking a day off, Northern Irish TV sports presenter and former track-and-field athlete Orla Chennaoui had curated a comprehensive wellness program with sunrise yoga sessions, breath-work classes and restorative hikes through the local hinterland. But Ibiza is perhaps better known for the un-wellness programs of its nightlife, and a bit of that attitude permeated the LeBlanq trip, with some very well-lubricated after-ride fetes. My partner, Sophie, not a cyclist and there ostensibly for the yoga, got us on the guest list for the season-closing party at Pikes, Ibiza’s original boutique hotel and still a hedonist’s playground, in whose swimming pool Wham’s “Club Tropicana” video was filmed in 1983. I demurred, extremely reluctantly, as I was due to join a faster group for 160 km with Thomas the next day. My alarm was set for 6:45 a.m., and I didn’t want to wreck three months of training with one night of clubbing.
Richie Hopson
Thomas, however, did not decline. In a later interview with The Times in the UK, he admitted to having been drunk for 12 out of 14 nights during his brief post-season break from racing and training; we were responsible for two of those. He finally rolled back in from Pikes at 5 a.m., and a couple of LeBlanq guests gleefully claimed that they’d not only biked with their hero but shared a drunken dawn cab ride with him.
Despite the colossal respect he commands, he was given an amused, ironic, slow handclap when he appeared well past the start time that morning. But even when you know he has slightly disabled himself, there’s something eerie and disconcerting about standing in your kit astride your bike, ready to set off, when a world champion and Tour de France winner appears dressed in the same INEOS team uniform and those hallmark white shades you’ve watched him wear on television for years. Imagine standing by the side of your local swimming pool, putting on your goggles, and seeing Ian Thorpe appear in the lane next to you.
Again, I needn’t have worried. Usually a very funny, voluble, sometimes indiscreet character, Thomas was unusually quiet in the opening kays, hanging his head over his handlebars every time we stopped. “Oh Ben,” he sighed at one point, “what I did last night… I just don’t know if it was worth it.”
The conversation improved as his hangover cleared. He enjoys the lifestyle of a major sports star—the house in Monaco, fine taste in watches, and a Porsche 911 Turbo his wife bought him as a birthday present—but he remains connected to his Welsh roots and retains a surprising degree of impostor syndrome for a man who has won so much.
“I just take it for granted that I can come along and ride my bike in amazing places,” he told me as we pedalled. “But then you realise that people have paid a lot of money to do this, and it’s weird that they want to do this with me, even though I know I’ve won some stuff. But cycling’s always been accessible like that. You don’t need a ticket to watch the Tour de France. You can just stand by the side of the road and watch us ride past, and even touch us. When I was 14, I went to the Netherlands to watch a race. One of the big teams rode to the start line from their hotel, and me and my mates just rode with them. I’ll always remember that. And the thought of people wanting to do that with me now, it’s mind-blowing.”
Yes, well, same for those riding with Thomas. Even dozens of kilometres into the morning, it was still surreal to see those white shades centimetres away from me, and I admit that I asked for a selfie. I took some pride in the fact that he got out of the saddle when I did on climbs and also dropped down to his lowest gear. But then I noticed that, as we spoke, I was struggling to get my words out between breaths while “G” (as he’s universally known in the sport) might as well have been sitting in an armchair. “You could have raced me if you’d wanted to,” he told me later. “After that 5 a.m. finish, I’d have let you win.”
That night, our last, he’d recovered sufficiently to fully enjoy the long weekend’s premier party, held at a rooftop bar and pool with spectacular sunset views of the sea. Nieves Barragán Mohacho, the Michelin-starred head chef at London’s buzzy Spanish restaurant Sabor, had flown in with her brigade to give the crowd what they wanted: carbs, mainly, in the form of the perfect tortilla (there was one more ride to be done the next day) but also bluefin tuna loin and the most incredible acorn-fed bellota pork, marinated in sherry until it had acquired an almost beef-like colour and richness.
Then Pete Tong, who opened King Charles’s coronation concert and whose Ibiza Classics orchestral tour later played London’s O2 Arena, spun a private set for the hundred or so of us still up and boogying. For fans of Ibiza’s sun-soaked electronic dance music, this was a moment as seminal as riding with Thomas. I just couldn’t work out how, with all the cycling and dancing, I stepped on the scale when I got home and found I’d put half of those five kilos back on again.
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The 9 Best Daily Supplements, According to Renowned Longevity Doctor Peter Attia
These nine options cover the healthspan gamut, from heart health to anti-inflammatories.
If you’re interested in increasing your healthspan to extend your lifespan, Dr. Peter Attia is likely on your radar. The longevity physician has studied years of extensive research on how we can live stronger, better, and longer—much of his plan for prolonging youth is outlined in his best-selling 2023 book Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity—but a query Attia routinely fields is what’s in his supplement and vitamin stack.
It’s a question Attia finds odd—“Why do people care what supplements I take?” he mused on a recent episode of his The Drive podcast. His rationale is that what works for him may not work for you; your body chemistry differs from his, naturally, and the efficacy of each supplement or vitamin will thus differ.
Another caveat: supplement stacks and vitamins can’t overcome a subpar lifestyle or diet. There’s no magic pill—or sequence of supplements—to optimize and invigorate your health if you’re not actively eating sensibly, exercising regularly, and getting ample restorative sleep. Before taking anything from the below list, it’s a great idea to talk to your doctor first.
Still, if you want to adopt Attia’s supplement and vitamin regimen, all his options are tried, true, and tested—and bolstered by years of research. A fair amount of these supplements are aimed at improving cardiovascular health, since Attia posits a healthy heart is a core pillar of longevity. Here’s what Dr. Peter Attia takes daily.
Vitamin D
Attia describes the risk with vitamin D as “insanely low.” Vitamin D is responsible for helping the body absorb calcium, in turn bolstering bone strength, and aids in getting extra phosphorus into our system. It can support muscular strength, and acts as an anti-inflammatory. It’s a little powerhouse of a vitamin, though regular sunlight exposure can help boost your vitamin D levels, too.
While he suggests your intake of vitamin D varies based on your individual health condition and diet, Attia personally takes a supralogic dose, around 5,000 IU, or about 125 micrograms (“mcg” on the bottle’s label) per day. Is 5000 IU of vitamin D excessive? It can be, per Harvard Health, which says doses that high could cause other health risks and obfuscate the vitamin’s actual benefits.
Omega-3 Fish Oil Capsules
There are two basic Omega-3 fatty acids that are excellent for increasing heart health and bettering your cholesterol, EPA and DHA. These fatty acids, which you can get naturally from including heaps of leafy greens, fatty fish such as salmon, and a variety of nuts, also may combat inflammation, ramp up glutathione levels, and modulate cortisone.
“I’m taking four of these capsules a day,” Attia reveals, and at 1200 mg per capsule, “I’m taking roughly two grams of EPA a day and probably a gram and a half of DHA.” Attia looks for the highest EPA concentration possible, found in the likes of Nature Made Fish Oil Softgels.
Attia’s closely monitoring the science around daily baby aspirin ingestion, saying “I’m always happy to reevaluate the use of this, and any supplement for that matter, in the presence of new data.”
Athletic Greens
Attia’s transparent about his connection to superfood powder supplement Athletic Greens; he serves as an advisor and he’s also an investor. He uses one scoop of AG1, the supplement company’s halo product. That’s a green powder consisting of more than 75 nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and digestive enzymes.
That green goodness doesn’t come cheap; it can start at $79 per month and notch up from there. Joking that he “knows how the sausage is made,” Attia believes AG1 has precisely what he needs, and adds a scoop of this to water daily.
Glucose Control Probiotic
Attia takes two of these capsules each morning, alongside his AG1 scoop. “That’s kind of the first thing I consume,” he says. His trial of Glucose Control by Pendulum is a few months in, and he’s testing to see if the probiotic can help regulate his blood sugar levels when lab-tested.
Probiotics, generally, propagate a healthy gut microbiome, meaning your stomach inflammation is decreased. When you’ve got chronic gut inflammation, your body can become more resistant to insulin, the hormone that controls how your body processes sugar. This can, in theory, stave off diabetes.
Glucose Control is a pricey bottle, costing between $165 and $215 for 30 pills—meaning Attia’s two-capsules are running him around $10—and is billed as a clinical grade probiotic aimed at managing type 2 diabetes. It’s got an extra strain of probiotic bacteria in there (clostridium, for the curious), which is noteworthy, as many probiotics merely contain one strain.
A Blend of Protein Powders
The aim, per Attia, is to ingest as much protein without overdoing the fat and carbohydrate calories. If you want to hear his exact approach, check out this AMA on his podcast where he talks about testing four different protein powders—two sweetened or flavored, and two unsweetened.
Attia combines 25 milligrams of flavored protein powder with 25 milligrams of unflavored protein powder to reduce the sugars and calories over the overall shake he’s drinking. Sure, that Fruity Pebbles-flavored protein powder sounds delicious—spoiler: it is; we’ve tested it—but to get a flavor profile reminiscent of childhood breakfasts, it’s hiding additives that inflate the carbohydrate and fat amounts, appreciably.
Attia doesn’t get into specific brands of preferred protein powder, though he notes he chooses quality whey isolate that doesn’t contain a significant amount of sucralose or other non-protein components. As for how much to take, that’s more a personal diet calculus. If you’re aiming to increase muscle mass, for example, you’d want to aim daily at around one gram of protein per pound of bodyweight.
Magnesium
There are three magnesium types Attia takes: magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, and magnesium L-threonate. Magnesium, elementally, benefits bone health, helps with muscle and nerve regulation, and may play a part in blood pressure control and reducing blood sugars. It also can aid cells reaping the maximum protein from whatever you’re eating, and turn that into energy.
Why the mixture of three magnesiums? “All in, I’m trying to get a gram of elemental magnesium in my system per day,” he says. And each magnesium variation is absorbed differently, and also affects your body in unique ways. Magnesium oxide is poorly-absorbed, though it can help with digestion. Attia takes 400 to 500 milligrams of magnesium oxide daily, when not fasting.
Attia also wants a more efficiently-absorbed magnesium, so he turns to SlowMag’s Magnesium Chloride pills, taking two or three each day. (The salt helps the absorption.) Attia fasts frequently, and this tablet raises potassium and sodium levels, both of which mitigate cramping associated with fasting.
Lastly, Attia backs magnesium L-threonate. Early research indicates that L-threonate ushers magnesium through the blood brain barrier, readily elevating magnesium levels in the brain. Once in our brains, some studies show magnesium may help cognitive function, treat cognitive impairment, and better our sleep. Attia prefers two capsules of Magtein.
Methylfolate and Methylated B12
Our body needs folate to prevent heart disease. Naturally, folate can be found in the likes of leafy greens, peanuts, sunflower seeds, eggs, beans, and more. But if you’re not getting enough from your diet, it’s a solid idea to supplement with methylfolate. Methylfolate has an advantage in that it helps the folate enter the blood-brain barrier, and, once inside, it can help modulate the homocysteine amino, just like vitamin B6. Additionally, if you’re on antidepressants, methylfolate has been proven to elevate the efficacy of that SSRI. Attia’s preference for methylfolate is from Jarrow.
Methylated B12 also positively affects our homocysteine, in addition to helping thwart anemia, in folks with B12 deficiencies. While we can extract B12 from foods—animal meats, yoghurt, milk, etc—our ability to absorb correct amounts decreases as we age, so a supplement is often recommended. Methylated B12 is also easier on the kidneys, per Attia. His pick for methylated B12 is again from Jarrow.
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Upcycle Your Vacation
For merging serious riding with high-end hospitality, Le Blanq isn’t the only game in town. Here are a few others to consider.
When it comes to merging serious riding with high-end hospitality, LeBlanq isn’t the only game in town. if you are up for unapologetically indulgent weekends of eating, drinking and riding we have collected a few other travel operators to consider for your next cycling holiday abroad.
The Slow Cyclist
The reassuringly named company was founded by British author Oli Broom, who spent 412 days riding—via 23 countries—from London to Brisbane to watch a few games of cricket (and raise money for charity). The company is part of the “slow travel” movement, which aims to minimise your impact on local communities while maximising your engagement with them—and what better way to do so than arriving by bike. The Slow Cyclist will put you on two wheels in locations you might never have considered, from the mountains of Transylvania to the volcanoes, lakes and gorilla-filled wilds of Rwanda.
Cycling for Softies
As its name suggests, Cycling for Softies focuses unabashedly on the luxury hotels and Michelin-starred dining that punctuate its easy trips (e-bike optional)—“a gâteau in every château”, in the words of author and client Kathy Lette. The company operates in five European countries, with itineraries traversing the regions with the best comestibles, whether Provence or Portugal’s Douro Valley. Your bags are transported between hotels each day, and you ride at your own pace, following an app that even details the best cake stops en route.
Sportive Breaks
If you want to go harder than even LeBlanq can offer, Sportive Breaks will fast-track you into the most sought-after events of the year. From L’Étape du Tour, in which “civilians” take on a hard mountain stage of the Tour de France, to the roughly 314-km-long Mallorca 312 and other spectacular closed-road, mass-participation events (known as sportive rides), this specialist eases the logistical pain, if not the physical. Our pick? The slightly gentler annual Strade Bianche, whose 87 and 142 km routes over the white-gravel roads of Tuscany are bucket-list stuff for many.
Butterfield & Robinson
Established nearly 60 years ago, Butterfield & Robinson is the OG of the luxury cycling world. A coterie of loyal and well-heeled clients has followed the Canadian company into new fields, from safaris to superyacht charters, but bike trips remain its beating heart. Don’t bother packing energy gels or even your wheels: the aim here is seamless, stress-free travel, with itineraries curated by a firm with more experienced hands and likely a broader range of destinations— covering Europe, Asia, South America and Africa—than anyone else.
Trek Travel
The travel wing of the behemoth Wisconsin-based bike maker is your go-to for North American trips, with itineraries in 18 US states, Canada, Australia, Chile and Japan, and can organise custom private vacations for as few as one rider. As an official affiliate of the Tour de France and a team sponsor, Trek also offers excursions that follow the greatest race at a gentler pace: for around $17,000, you get six nights in top hotels in Nice and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, with VIP access to the final stage of this year’s event.
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The 10 Best Fitted Hats to Make Your Outfit Worthy of a ‘Succession’ Scion
Look like a billion bucks and channel Kendall Roy by wearing a sleek cap.
Hats are the unsung hero of a wardrobe. Not only do they protect your face from the sun and hide a bad coif, but they also make a statement in their own right. Just look at all the fuss caused by Loro Piana’s luxurious toppers on Succession: The show has been off the air for over a year and it is still inspiring would-be Kendall Roys everywhere. His fitted hat, also known as a baseball cap, from Loro Piana offered the right mix of sporty and stylish, becoming a core characteristic of the quiet luxury trend that overtook the fashion industry.
Suffice it to say, Roy wasn’t the first billionaire—imaginary or otherwise—to wear a fitted hat on his private jet, but the attention Succession has brought to this distinct style has positively spurred a renaissance in the world of headwear. Myriad colors, patterns, and materials: There’s never been more fitted hats available.
Personally, I love pairing a classic baseball cap with a wool overcoat—the tension between a refined Chesterfield with a seemingly unpretentious chapeau feels modern. It’s a combination that works for the office, as well as for happy hour with your colleagues. Basically, you’ll get a ton of mileage out of a good fitted hat.
If you’re new to the trend and are looking to partake in the fitted-hat revival, or are a card-carrying member of the cap club and are looking to add to your collection, we’ve rounded up the best options, styles that’ll have you looking like a billion bucks.
A Brief History of the Fitted Hat
The modern fitted hat draws its origins from the world of 19th-century baseball, when the Brooklyn Excelsiors used to wear caps with a long, rounded brim that featured a button on top. Over time, MLB teams began to emblazon their own distinctive logos on these toppers, eventually becoming coveted by fans who wanted to show their support. Then, in 1920, Ehrhardt Koch founded what became New Era, an American hat company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, that sold these styles to the masses. Flash forward to today, over a century later, and the label holds over 500 different licenses in its portfolio. It is the exclusive cap supplier for Major League Baseball.
Of course, the history of the fitted hat goes beyond just sport. Many pop-culture icons have turned baseball caps into fashion moments—from Mark Wahlberg to Princess Diana to hip-hop legends like Jay-Z. This style of hat has been seen on designer runways numerous times over the last decade at brands such as Burberry and Balenciaga. But it wasn’t until Loro Piana’s perfectly placed Succession cameo on Kendall Roy that a certain style of baseball cap truly became a symbol of luxury.
The Anatomy of a Fitted Hat
Fitted hats are typically sewn in six sections and topped with a fabric-covered button on the crown. They may or may not feature grommets or fabric eyelets for ventilation, and they tend to have a bit more stiffness than the more casual, athletically minded baseball chapeau. They also differ from traditional baseball caps in that fitted hats—as the name implies—come in various sizes to, well, fit the wearer’s head. Read: They aren’t usually built with an adjustable strap. But nowadays, fitted hats and baseball caps are interchangeable terms.
New Era Authentic Collection Low Profile 59FIFTY Fitted Hat
Here’s the alpha and omega of fitted hats, updated for today. Even if you’re not a Yankees fan—heck, even if you’re not a baseball fan—a New Era fitted Yankees cap is an enduring, timeless style statement. It features the embroidered logo of the Bronx Bombers, a classic six-panel construction, and a gently curved bill. It definitely pairs well with camel coats and private jets.
Date of Brand Origin: 1920.
Loro Piana Logo-Embroidered Storm System Cashmere-Felt Baseball Cap
The hat that launched a thousand lookalikes: If it’s good enough for Kendall Roy, it’s good enough for every man. Crafted from the brand’s luxurious Grade A Mongolian cashmere, it features a discrete tone-on-tone embroidered logo that whispers—never screams—luxury. And though the hat is made of cashmere, don’t assume that it’s delicate; it’s treated with the brand’s water-resistant and windproof “Storm System” technology. Because you never know what conditions will be like when you step off the company helicopter.
Date of Brand Origin: 1924.
Varsity Headwear Active Tech Baseball Cap
The adjustable strap in the back makes this Varsity Headwear number categorically more of a baseball cap than a proper fitted hat, but the overall sleek silhouette and six-panel construction stays true to the fitted MO. Plus, it is made of a moisture-wicking, breathable tech fabric, allowing you to have the snuggest fit for your next jog.
Date of Brand Origin: 2013.
Stone Island Econyl Regenerated Nylon Metal Hat
If eco-consciousness is something you value in your purchases, take a look at this Stone Island fitted hat. It’s made from Econyl recycled nylon fibers—the same luxe stuff that Prada uses in its Re-Nylon collection. Not to be outdone is the elasticized contour drawstring in the rear, which ensures that the hat won’t fall off as you run around town.
Date of Brand Origin: 1982.
Brunello Cucinelli Cotton-Blend Corduroy Baseball Cap
Brunello Cucinelli, the king of cashmere, knows a thing or two about texture. If other quiet luxury hats are a little too, well, quiet for your taste, turn up the volume (slightly) with this textured corduroy cap. It’s made from a plush cotton-cashmere blend with just a hint of stretch for a reliable fit.
Date of Brand Origin: 1978.
Paul Smith Suede Baseball Hat
Nothing exudes style quite like the fine texture of suede. Paul Smith offers his take on the fitted hat by making the six-panel construction in a supple, soft suede—finished with the brand’s signature multi-stripe adjustable band in the back.
Date of Brand Origin: 1970.
The Row Caspian Cashmere Fitted Hat
Leave it to the Row to create something so quintessential, so luxurious that it makes even a baseball cap feel like an investment piece. This sleek style comes in a decadent midnight cashmere, with a curved brim and covered button.
Date of Brand Origin: 2006.
Todd Snyder x New Era Red Sox Nubby Camel Cap
We love Todd Snyder for his modern updates on all-American style—and this collaborative cap with New Era is no exception. It is made of a nubby camel hair fabric that looks just different enough to be visually interesting. But it’s still low-key enough that it won’t detract from the rest of your outfit.
Date of Brand Origin: 1920 (New Era), 2011 (Todd Snyder).
Supreme x The North Face Trekking Soft Bill Camp Cap
If you’re wearing your fitted hat for outdoor pursuits—trail running, hiking, kayaking, and so forth—you may appreciate the functional properties of this style. A collaboration between Supreme and the North Face, it’s made from a lightweight, water-resistant nylon, and features a drawstring fastening for the cozy fit. Rest assured, this one will keep you looking cool, feeling cool, and won’t go flying off at the first gust of wind.
Date of Brand Origin: 1994 (Supreme), 1966 (The North Face).
Eton Wool Six-Panel Baseball Cap
If you know Eton for its signature shirts, you’re fully aware that the brand’s attention to detail and quality is fantastic—and this hat fits the bill. It’s made from a sturdy wool felt that’s perfect in colder weather, and it’s finished with a contrasting piped trim at the brim—a slight and cool flourish that we’ve come to expect from the label.
Date of Brand Origin: 1928.
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Gut Samaritans
Other top clinics around the globe are also offering microbiome-oriented remedies. Here are four to book.
ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS India
Using a more natural approach, Ananda in the Himalayas heals the gut, among other problem areas, through ayurvedic treatments and medicine with a holistic program overseen by a senior ayurvedic physician specialising in gastro health and metabolic disorders. The spa is ensconced in a former palace in the foothills near Rishikesh, making the location just as relaxing. From around $1,235 per night for seven- or 14-night programs
LANSERHOF SYLT Germany
On the weathered island known as the Hamptons of Hamburg, the year-old Lanserhof Sylt boasts a team of medical experts specialising in cardiology, neurology and dermatology, among other fields. Its gastrointestinal package includes a sonogram of the entire abdomen and comprehensive stool examinations. From around $6,940 for a one-week program, not including accommodations, which begin at around $1,145 per night
RAKXA Thailand
This integrative wellness retreat in Thailand has a seven-night gut-health program that blends medical technology with traditional regimens. Treatments include colon hydrotherapy and chi nei tsang (a form of abdominal massage); guests also undergo a food-intolerance test and leave with a month’s worth of supplements. From around $16,890 for a seven-night program
ARO HA New Zealand
The Revive & Thrive program here nurtures vibrancy with gut-focused, detoxifying plant-based meals. Guests enjoy nutrient-rich plates that support the gut-brain connection, enhancing overall wellbeing from the inside out. From around $6,950 for five nights.
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Follow Your Nose
Embark on an olfactory adventure with these location-inspired scents.
At the end of a memorable visit to the Dominican Republic, Robert Gerstner decided to commission a souvenir. He’d been fascinated by the aromas of cigars being rolled and boxed during a factory tour, so he asked his friend and travelling companion, the perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, if he could bottle the scent.
“I didn’t really think there were any great tobacco fragrances out there,” Gerstner says, and he would know. For nearly 30 years he’s run Aedes, a New York City perfume shop that offers exclusive scents, including an in-house collection called Aedes de Venustas. The newest, Café Tabac, debuted last December and is the product of Duchaufour’s efforts. It’s named for the Big Apple’s long-shuttered supermodel hangout, but the scent is redolent of the Dominican Republic’s key export.
Since then, a raft of houses have launched scents that are either directly evocative of, or otherwise inspired by, specific destinations—a trend that makes sense given our near-insatiable thirst for visiting new places. “Locations are one of the main things fragrances stir up in you,” Gerstner says.
“It just happens that you get inspired by travelling.”
Arquiste A Grove by the Sea
Lopud, Croatia
This small island in the Adriatic Sea has forests of pine, cypress and some of the tallest palms in Europe. The scent, created with perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, captures the sea air that blows through their leaves and fronds to combine with the crisp aroma of locally grown thyme, rosemary and figs. Around $330 for 100 ml
Louis Vuitton Lovers
Virginia, USA
Pharrell Williams asked Vuitton’s in-house master perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud to capture the energy of sunshine. The result—named in reference to Williams’s home state, Virginia (which, they say, is for lovers)—is a bright, lively blend of galbanum, cedarwood, sandalwood and ginger. $535 for 100 ml
Perfumehead La La Love
Los Angeles, USA
Consider this an olfactory ode to the City of Angels creatives who work as hard as they play. Perfumer Constance Georges-Picot’s gourmand concoction smells like a cocktail you could easily have one
too many of, with boozy Cognac notes mixing it up with vanilla absolute, incense, sandalwood and musk. Around $645 for 50 ml
Memo Paris Cappadocia
Cappadocia, Turkey
Turkey is among the world’s foremost saffron producers, and the spice’s earthy, tea-like scent takes centre stage in this effort by nose Gaël Montero. He balanced it with sandalwood, benzoin, myrrh and jasmine to create a warming scent that’s perfect for the cooler months but still works all year. $460 for 75 ml
Krigler Lindauer Löwe 08
Lindau, Germany
Bavaria’s answer to Capri, Lindau is a colourful island-resort town on the eastern edge of Lake Constance. Perfumer Albert Krigler loved it here so much that he dedicated a scent to the destination in 1908. His great-grandson Ben recently re-released the juice—a combination of green tea, geranium, amber and cedarwood—just this June. Around $960 for 100 ml
ILLUSTRATIONS BY Peter Oumanski
