The Rake

The world’s preeminent publication dedicated to the renaissance in gentlemanly sophistication and style, THE RAKE recaptures the codes of classic men’s elegance. Inspired by icons such as Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, the Duke of Windsor, Gianni Agnelli, Sean Connery, and their contemporary counterparts, THE RAKE provides incisive, in-depth commentary on magnificent menswear, and the many other elements of gentlemanly living, from manners and ethics, to art and design, tasteful travel, health and well-being, the intellectual and philosophical, to homes, modes of transport, entertainment, food and drink. THE RAKE is the modern voice of classic elegance.

Letter from the Founder

Letter from the Editor

Contributors

THE RAKE

arbiter • CHARIOTS OF FIRE; BARTHOLEMEW’S APOSTLE; THE GREEK GOD; JACK ATTACK; FABRIC OF THE NATION; THE NEED FOR SPEEDMASTER; KRAFT WORK; GOLDEN GIRL; CARIBBEAN CANINE.

OUT OF THE FIRE • Niki Lauda, the battle-scarred racing driver and entrepreneur who died in May, epitomised the ideal of a methodical, ruthless champion. But his legend was forged in flames.

RAKE COMMENDS: ST. BARTHS • The volcanic isle of Saint Barthélemy is the jewel of the Caribbean and a winter-sun hideaway for style connoisseurs and celebrities. ROLAND HERLORY, the C.E.O. of luxury swimwear masters Vilebrequin, gives us a guided tour of his home island.

‘YOU MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE BAD. TO RISK IT ALL’ • John Cassavetes was the godfather of American independent cinema. He was obsessed with intimacy and authenticity, and his style and sense of integrity were ahead of their time. In fact, today’s iPhone auteurs owe him a debt of gratitude…

AT YOUR SERVICE • The British actor Jack Bannon has secured his breakthrough role in the Batman prequel Pennyworth, based on the early life of Bruce Wayne’s famous butler.

SUAVE TO LEAD • Lieutenant Colonel Piers Ashfield, the distinguished Commanding Officer of the Grenadier Guards — and a loyal reader of THE RAKE —takes his off-duty uniform as seriously as his military regalia.

THE OMEGA SPEEDMASTER: THE SARTORIAL CHOICE • The Speedmaster was the original astronauts’ watch, so at Pitti Uomo in June — nearly 50 years after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon — THE RAKE celebrated the iconic timepiece with a little help from our closest friends.

GEMEINKRAFT • THE RAKE’s ambassador Alexander Kraft invited a selection of his globetrotting friends to the third Castle, Cars and Art de Vivre rally, which visited properties from Kraft’s company, Sotheby’s International Realty France, and celebrated the opening of his latest venture, his Provençal luxury bed & breakfast and restaurant, La Maison Bleue. Negronis, cigars and caviar were consumed amid the sound of vintage-car engines, laughter and popping champagne corks. Naturally, THE RAKE was delighted to join the revelry.

HIT AND RUN • Tania Mallet had the perfect record as a Bond girl: one movie — Goldfinger — and one legendary performance. She came, she saw, and then she turned her back on it all…

ISLAND TREASURES • The lovable potcake — sorry, the Royal Bahamian Potcake, a Caribbean-based, mixed-breed pooch — is deservedly shaking off its stray-mutt status.

atelier • INVESTMENT HANKER; BIKER GROOVE; X-RATED; SOFT POWER.

INVEST • Investments can be unpredictable, but not so with these winners, which we have handpicked to provide you with sound and secure appreciation — aesthetically, spiritually and financially.

FIVE GO RIDING • THE RAKE teamed up with the revered bike makers Colnago, alongside Fox Brothers, Sartoria Vestrucci and Stefano Bemer, to make the pursuit of cycling around Florentine hills a life-enriching experience.

THE PROUD FATHER • David Gandy grew up in what he calls a ‘Jag family’. Now he has...