Speaking as we just were of pricey polos, Riviera Club has a Spring/Summer lookbook to show us. The advantage here is that the boys at the club don’t seem to be suggesting we should drop the cash for the label itself, but rather for the look and vibe of their wares. It is a subtle difference, but is sort of the difference, if you are picking up what we are putting down.

This is not to say that we are bonkers over the entire collection. The green patterned belt that pops up here and there seems a little tacked-on and some of the silhouettes look a bit frumpy, but there’s enough gold to fill our chests—the seersucker blazer, Crosby (not to be confused with Cosby) cardigan, the printed chambray pant and the varsity jacket, for starters.

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A lingering reputation as being a bit fancy pantsed will likely not dissipate in the wake of Lyle & Scott Vintage’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection, with short-sleeved polos weighing in at $130. We’ve also mentioned in the past that they ought consider not sticking that yellow eagle label front-and-center on everything. Even though you don’t see it pictured above on the polo with the dye job we like, it is down on the bottom seam, which seems unnecessary to us—but we don’t really like showy labels on anything.

Those gripes aside, there is a pretty sharp olive camouflage hooded parka that holds the eagle on its sleeve with some austerity. We also like the little pocket on the front of the khaki shorts and some of the socks. Definitely some versatile pieces throughout if you’re so inclined.

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Paris-based designer Damir Doma has been charged with crafting a temporary window display for London’s Dover Street Market for Spring/Summer 2012. The result: a giant stalactite formation made from wood burned by hand, a process you can watch in the video above. “The expansive street-level window display of Dover Street Market will host this impressive structure, which expresses both a living mineral and architectural gesture in this cosmopolitan retail and exhibition space [where] mannequins wearing pale linen and bright golden garments by Damir Doma will be positioned to contrast and complement the flowing lines of the blackened wood forms.”

There’s also a limited edition of 10 clutches made from—WTF?—rare hippopotamus skin tied to the project that will be available exclusively at Dover Street Market.

Classic, smart, casual, American—a few words that come to mind looking over the Spring/Summer 2012 collection from Steve Alan. This is certainly in keeping with the designer’s history of accessibility for the fashionable everyman. The chambray suit with the shorts is a standout, though you might not want to put something so distinctive in heavy rotation. Along with their eminent affability, Alan’s looks for the warming weather also seem to draw on a pastoral, upper East Coast vibe which, frankly, makes us want to eat some lobster.

Photography by Backyard Bill.

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One of the biggest complaints with sunglasses these days is that they’re aren’t fishy enough. SUPER have responded accordingly, introducing the ‘Poissons’ as part of their Spring/Summer 2012 collection entitled ‘Visiva’. Acetate glasses with fish prints inspired by marine illustrator Louis Renard subtly placed on the inside arms. This image is applied to two styles; ‘América’, a dark tortoiseshell wayfarer and the ‘Paloma’, a round frame in a tobacco colour. SUPER. Handmade in Italy, find them at the store. More at French Truckers.

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Part of Buttero’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection are these handsome four-eyed, round-toed derby shoes. Leather-soled fancies, these come in two colorways—taupe suede and black leather—each made with a different vegetable-tanned leather. There is more leather in the laces and the interiors making for a versatile and finished piece of footwear. Did we mention leather? Travel to Por Vocação to get them on your feet.

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A mixed stripe blazer from Thom Browne’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection. Turning something which could’ve been quite ordinary into something a little special, stripes in varying directions manage to come off bold rather than wacky. 100% wool, high fastening, pearlescent buttons and the trademark Thom Browne tab. “The glamour and decadence of early 20th century cabaret clubs were a large influence on Thom Browne’s traditional,American, tailored aesthetic this season.” Find it at Oki ni.

Few things on the streets are as visually arresting as a well-dressed cyclist powering along. The flip side of that being that few things are as ridiculous looking as a cyclist in so much bright, logo-sodden spandex that he or she looks like a piece of NASCAR performance art. These new looks from Rapha’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection fall squarely in the former camp.

From the technical mesh base layer on through the new Country Jersey—a series of super functional shirts that pay homage to the great cycling nations of Europe—everything here is built for performance with a strong eye for stylish simplicity. Now, if you will excuse us, we need to go fix a flat. See more from Rapha.

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We’ve mentioned our love of the Nike x Undercover Gyakusou collection over on our brother site Highsnob with praise reserved for the very best. A collaborative effort between Nike and Jun Takahashi’s Undercover line, Gyakusou very much embodies the spirit of the Takahashi’s design and his love for the sport of running. What makes the collection strong for us is how little fanfare either party gives to this work; Gyakusou flies under the radar while providing a product that elevates itself into a category all its own for the sport.

The campaign for Gyakusou’s fourth collection takes inspiration from “Yin and Yang.” “Takahashi uses this theme to highlight the difference between the Men’s and Women’s collection and male and female runners also placing them in environments that visually represent the essence of yin and yang.” Directed and photographed by Katsuhide Morimoto, the Spring 2012 Gyakusou collection was shot in Oshima (Black Desert) and Nakatajima (White Desert) in Japan.

The collection is available through very select Nike retailers globally.

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The great Rapha delivers their teasers for Spring/Summer 2012. Ride with them this summer. See all of our Rapha coverage here.