From the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco, you can look down on the famous hairpin bend, the most ponderous corner on the Formula 1 circuit, where racing cars break from high speeds to around 30 miles per hour to successfully navigate the 180-degree turn. The corner sits at the entrance of the Fairmont Hotel and is known as the Fairmont Hairpin, and on a particularly warm summer’s day, this was our very apt rendezvous point to meet a man who knows this challenging location well after repeatedly taking it on during the Monaco Grand Prix in his Ferrari. We are talking, of course, about the infallible racing driver Charles Leclerc.
Though he is talking to us on Ferrari business, it is not motor racing that we are here to learn about but fashion. Because since 2019, Ferrari has had Ferrari Style, a division headed up by creative director Rocco Iannone, which has developed an aesthetic language for clothing and accessories derived from the motoring brand and its design studio and factory in Modena.
Its latest adventure is a collaboration with driver Leclerc on a collection of casualwear inspired by the Monégasque driver’s off-duty personal style of loose fitting, casual elegance. The Montecarlo Collection fuses relaxed hoodies and comfortable denim with cool outerwear pieces and accessories for men and women in white, blue and beige colourways that reflect the spirit of Monaco, Leclerc’s home country.
‘Fashion has always been one of my passions, I’ve loved the way of trying to express myself with how I dress,’ says Leclerc, who lauds his colleague Iannone for giving him the opportunity to collaborate on a range that reflects Leclerc as a perso n rather than Leclerc the F1 driver. ‘We went through what was important for me and what message I wanted to send with this collection – and I am super happy with the result.
‘The beige hoodie with the zip is my favourite piece,’ continues Leclerc. ‘I’ve always felt particularly comfortable with hoodies. Since coming onto the global stage with F1, I find the hood is a way for me to be a bit more discreet and the colour is a palette I love to wear.’ The collection is available at store.ferrari.com
Photograph of Charles Leclerc by Michael Bailey-Gates; model image courtesy of Ferrari
Jackson Ford is a journalist covering travel and menswear
