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Playboy.com: Reviewers often talk about the construction and craftsmanship of your clothing. We'd like to know where this attention to the engineering or architecture of your designs originated -- does it go back to growing up in the household of an architect? Or are there other sources for this focus?

Tomas Maier: Growing up in an architect's household taught me to respect construction and the relationship between design and function. I also spent a lot of time outdoors, and I think that affected my sense of design a great deal. I'm always striving for an organic quality in my work, looking for solutions that are simple and elegant and intuitive.

Playboy.com: Some of the other characteristics associated with your designs -- the monochromatic color schemes, for instance, or the barely-there construction -- also seem to mirror architectural modernism. Did forward-thinking industrial design in Germany exert an influence on your aesthetic ideals?

Maier: I was undoubtedly influenced by my upbringing. Everyone is born with likes and dislikes; some part of my aesthetic is probably innate. And my sense of design, or rather, my understanding of design, evolved over the years I spent training and working in Paris.

Playboy.com: Are there other sources of inspiration -- specific artists, designers, musicians -- who sparked your creativity or pulled you in a certain direction? We've read about David Hockney's Big Splash-era work inspiring you, for instance.

Maier: I'm inspired by painting, photography, music, architecture -- all kinds of culture, really, both high and low. I've designed a women's collection inspired by the villas of Palladio and a men's collection that grew from a photo of Burt Reynolds in the 1970s. But there is never just one idea. You can start with a tangle of thoughts and images, or alternatively with just a single color, and from that the design process begins.

Playboy.com: Your background -- stints in Germany, France, Italy, Miami -- seems to mirror the lifestyle trends of the current era. Does your ability to see the world through such a global lens allow you to design items to fit in many places and scenes? Is there anything specifically international about what you are aiming for, or in how you approach your work?

Maier: It's not conscious. I don't think to myself that I want to design something "international." But I've lived a kind of global existence -- born in Germany, trained in France, at home in the United States, working for a company based in Italy. And I'm always traveling. Many of our customers have similar backgrounds, or travel extensively, so my experience helps me understand their needs.

Playboy.com: Are your clothes best suited for glamorous locations such as Palm Beach (where we shot this feature), or can they also work in more pedestrian settings? And are there elements to the designs that make them work in urban settings but also in more idyllic settings?

Maier: Bottega Veneta isn't designed around a specific lifestyle or for any one environment. The idea is that a man buys the pieces that work for him, the things that he can wear wherever his day or his week takes him. The clothes should work for the man, I think, not for his setting.

Playboy.com: In a similar vein, are you thinking of your customers transitioning from day into night in your designs, or can a luxury brand expect people to have specific items for certain types of settings and other items for different kinds of settings?

Maier: Well, a tuxedo is for a certain type of occasion. And swim trunks are for another. But in general, Bottega Veneta is designed to be versatile and individualistic, so you can wear any piece any number of ways, however it fits your personal style and your way of life.

Playboy.com: How specifically can an American man train himself to see the differences between BV and other labels? That is, can you explain the unique aspects of your cuts, your fabrics, et al?

Maier: I don't think that's necessary. You don't need to be a connoisseur of fabrics or an expert on tailoring to dress well. I think a man should learn what suits him -- what he feels good in and how to find the right fit. Beyond that, he should wear what he likes. Self-assurance and personal style are more interesting than a wardrobe of flawless clothes. With confidence, you'll learn very quickly to recognize what suits you -- the best cuts and the right fabrics.

Playboy.com: Where do you see men's style heading in the 21st century? For instance, BV press releases talk about casual elegance. Will this continue to be the way forward?

Maier: Men have more freedom to dress the way they want than in the past. I think the trend will continue -- towards casual, functional clothing and more individual style. But there will always be moments when we want a beautifully tailored suit or an impeccably tailored tuxedo. There's a richness and elegance to traditional men's wear that I love, and that I hope is always appreciated.

Playboy.com: At Playboy, we are attempting to define for the American man the meaning of the good life. Can you tell us what the good life means to you?

Maier: My idea of the good life includes a piece of property with a view of the horizon. It makes me happy even when I'm not there, knowing what I'm going home to. As for other things, one of my most satisfying recent purchases was a Bang & Olufsen sound system for the whole house. I think you should always get the absolute best quality you can afford, whatever it is you're buying. I also like cars -- I have a G55 wagon and a Porsche Carrera. And I love to buy art, especially photography. I recently bought a photo by Philip-Lorca diCorcia. Of course, for me, being able to do work that I love and find exciting is at the heart of loving the good life. The rest is pure fun.

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