Bulletin Board 39
A Tuscan Wrist Check, Pitti updates, and our latest cover boy's style
WRIST CHECK
The Watch: Seiko 6138-8020
Its Owner: Corso Baccheschi Berti, founder of Capitolo Toscano, an outfitter organizing custom hunting trips in Tuscany.
The Story: I’ve always been keen on watches since I was very young. I loved having a timepiece on my wrist and this is something my father shares with me. This was a watch he had for a long time—it was the first Seiko automatic chronograph—and when I was 18 he passed it on to me.
It actually had some issues, and it’s very difficult to find the pieces. Not even Seiko itself has them anymore or makes them. So I managed to scavenge another Seiko from Argentina. A friend of mine who deals watches in Argentina was able to source the mechanism, and he shipped it over and I managed to fix the watch.
It’s now 14 years that I’ve had this watch with me, and it’s accompanied me throughout many adventures all over the world. I’ve been to Wyoming hunting, I’ve been to Africa hunting, I’ve been to the Alps, to England. I’ve always brought this watch along. So, for me it’s a very special timepiece, because I believe in enhancing the intrinsic value of what I wear by collecting memories with it.
MY UNIFORM
Max Poglia’s face is one you’ll recognize, if not from the cover of our fall issue, than perhaps his Instagram, where he pulls off combinations that might be intimidating to some—smoking slippers and suede truckers, duffel coats and black tie—with effortless aplomb. It helps that the Italian-Brazilian designer has style in his bones, pun intended. Poglia is the founder of the lifestyle brand Poglia that produces beautiful knives and bar tools, often with horn and bone handles, as well as woven blankets and leather bags.
Poglia made use of last week’s Pitti to launch his new footwear brand, Smoked Bone. Between his brand launch and back-to-back events, Max squeezed in some time to answer our questions below. —Eric Twardzik
What is your standard color palette, and does it change seasonally?
I have a deep appreciation for earth tones and whites, often accentuated with a pop of color. Military greens, abundant denim, and rich blues are complemented by blacks and browns from leather jackets during the winter months. I maintain a consistent color palette year-round, embracing lighter hues in summer and finding them equally chic in winter. However, my ultimate “color palette” is the unique patina of vintage clothing.
Wardrobe basics?
Right now, I’m loving this custom-made J.Mueser double-breasted denim suit crafted from Ralph Lauren raw denim fabric from Fratelli Conforti. After sending it to the laundry for a “cowboy” look, it turned out beautifully and has become my new uniform. I pair this with a Super Duper hat and a Poglia bag from our recent collaboration, complemented by the first vintage jacket I find to layer under or over the suit.
Favorites in the following categories…
Trousers: I prefer Fortela trousers and cherish my old RRL pants that improve with each alteration.
Knitwear: I favor vintage pieces for their unique character and timeless appeal.
Footwear: I’m excited to mention @SmokedBone, my new shoe brand, which fills the gap in my wardrobe with the shoes I was missing.
Neckwear: Vintage Ralph Lauren ties and those by Nicola Radano for their distinctive designs.
Outerwear: My collection includes vintage international Barbour jackets and N1 Deck jackets. While I mostly rely on vintage items from my own archive, I must mention Fortela again for their reinterpretation of classics using Manteco fabrics. My Real McCoy Buco J24 leather jacket is another standout—perfect for any occasion.
Travel Kit? I travel with a Poglia bag, FPM aluminum luggage from Milan, glasses from Bottega di Sguardo in Florence, a silk eye mask gifted by a great hotel, and a curated podcast playlist.
WORK IN PROGRESS
Pitti also marked the latest collaboration between Il Bisonte and YOLO. Yolanda has been a fan of the Florentine brand since she discovered them in Florence back in the early 90s, so she was thrilled when they asked her to think of what would be her ultimate travel bag. The result is the Le Laudi YOLO edition—it has a trolley strap, handles that are just long enough to put over the shoulder (with a coat on), just not too long so they don’t drag on the ground. Made from Yolanda’s favorite Il Bisonte finish—untreated leather—it’s intended to pick up patina with use, so don’t feel as if ever has to be babied, as good as it looks. You can find it online (where it’s set to be restocked January 27th), as well as in Il Bisonte’s New York, Florence and Rome flagships.