Attention to Detail... At Celtic Manor and in Outerwear

One thing I've been impressed with all week is the level of quality and attention to detail that went into the preparation for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. The concessions, the merchandise tent, the pavilions - save for a 10 minute lapse in TV coverage when things were really getting tense in the morning matches! Haha - were all top notch, in my opinion.

The merchandise tent featured small pop-up shops from both Rolex and Canali - two sponsors of the event - and the Canali shop featured some pretty cool logo'd and non-logo'd merchandise like a  beautiful quilted vest with a cashmere lining and hip pockets with flaps. Can't imagine a better layering piece, given the intermittent weather of these 2010 matches. Another lusted after piece was a travel blazer in tan nylon with soft shoulders.

Why do Italians do transitional and movement-oriented outerwear so well? I know that's something that Peter Millar founder Chris Knott consistently pays attention to, even partnering with outerwear and cashmere powerhouse Loro Piana to utilize its' patented "Storm System" technology.

The attention to detail and Italian sensibility can be found on a piece like this Bruno jacket - check out the hand-stitching, the tone-on-tone elbow patches and the suede under collar. (Pardon the wrinkles, it's been in my travel bag, but at least we're authentic, here.) This jacket is 100% percent waterproof.

Making natural materials weather-proof so they can look good year round? Leave it to the Italians... and now, Peter Millar...