August Wish List: 12 Things I'm Coveting Right Now
Wish lists are the one format on this site I don't overthink. This isn't a "best of" ranking or a buying guide with a rigid framework behind it — it's just what's actually caught my attention this month, across every price point, with no obligation to make them all make sense together.
August's list leans toward the last stretch of summer. Here are a few pieces to see out the season properly, a couple of things I'm already thinking about for autumn, and one genuine splurge I'm still deciding on.
1. Luca Faloni Linen Shirt (in the colourway I haven't bought yet)
I covered ten linen shirts worth owning in this post earlier this month, and Luca Faloni topped that list for good reason. I already own one. I'm coveting a second, probably in brown.
Shop Luca Faloni Linen Shirts→
2. Baltic HMS 002/003
Featured in The Summer Watch Rotation, and it's stuck with me since. There's something about the dial treatment on the Baltic HMS series, and the fact there are several colours. At that price, you could be forgiven for wanting to get two. They have a wide variety of colours to suit a number of outfits and occasions.
Shop Baltic HMS→
3. A Genuinely Good Panama Hat
Not the tourist-shop version — a properly woven, structured Panama hat is one of those items that instantly looks either considered or costume-like, with very little middle ground. I'm hunting for the former before summer's out.
Shop Panama hats →
4. Bleu de Chauffe Leather Travel Bag
August is city-break season, and my current weekend bag is on its last legs. Looking at options that split the difference between a proper leather holdall and something light enough for a budget airline's carry-on rules. The Bleu de Chauffe Zoom bag exactly what I'm after.
Shop Bleu de Chauffe Zoom travel bag →
5. Ecru Jeans
Something I've always wanted but never fully committed to. Ecru jeans look great and I think I've amassed a wardrobe that it can work with. Regular fit all the way as well. Perfect for summer, and can carry over into Autumn easily, complimenting earthy tones and bright coloured knits in equal measure.
Shop Ecru Trousers →
6. Horace Exfoliating Solution
I've already covered a couple of Horace's products in this Summer grooming post, but their exfoliating solution is the one I keep going back to. I took a punt on it last year, adding it to my grooming regime and it's been paying dividends. This is great for when you get dirt and sweat on your face from long hot summer days and clean up those pores.
Shop Horace Exfoliating Solution →
7. Summer Friendly Footwear
A summer shoe if there ever was one, the boat shoe can be worn with jeans, chinos, fatigues and shorts. Go with a smart option like the brown suede Sandhamn from MYRQVIST which has a refined design, with a velvety soft upper, moc‑toe stitching, and features a flexible rubber sole and a secure heel that provides all‑day comfort.
Shop MYRQVIST Sandhamn Boat Shoe →
8. Linen Trousers from Cavour
The natural companion to a linen shirt collection, and the one piece I keep meaning to add and keep putting off. Looking for something with a slightly wider leg than my current chinos, to actually let the fabric breathe the way linen's supposed to.
Shop linen trousers from Cavour→
9. A Field Jacket for the Season Ahead
Getting ahead of the trend piece I'm writing, a field jacket is the piece I'm most likely to actually wear on repeat once the weather turns, and I'd rather buy it now before its sells out.
Shop field jackets →
10. A Proper Steamer
Prompted by writing about selection of linen for summer, a good steamer is required for proper linen care. My current steamer is small enough, but it's more frustrating than useful. Looking at a slightly more powerful handheld option.
Shop garment steamers →
11. Sunglasses I Haven't Talked Myself Out Of Yet
I go through this every August, convinced I need a new pair of sunglasses, then unable to commit to a shape that isn't just a slight variation on what I already own. This year's contender is a rounder frame than I'd normally reach for. You can read on some other best alternative sunglasses to buy here.
Shop sunglasses →
12. The Splurge: A Proper Chronograph
Not a impulse purchase, and probably not an August purchase at all — but I've been circling chronographs since starting research for a buyer's guide I'm writing, and this is the one that keeps winning the argument in my head. The Breitling Navitimer Chronograph is steeped in rich history and looks amazing no what dial and bracelet combination you go for.
Shop Breitling Navitimer Chronographs →
The Final Thought
Nothing on this list is urgent, which is rather the point of a wish list — it's a running note of what's earned genuine attention rather than an impulsive cart. A few of these (the linen trousers, the field jacket) will likely turn into their own dedicated posts before the season's out.
