(Photo: Davies and Starr)

The Best Bet

Why? Italian dinnerware has been stuck in a design rut for decades. The classic hand-painted depictions of floral arrangements or rural scenes, while charming, can overpower a table, distracting from what’s really important: the food. Match’s new Convivio collection, made in Italy, breaks the mold with rich monochromes, while nodding to its roots with a traditional Mediterranean palette of olive green, mustard yellow, and cobalt blue. The plates, bowls, cups, and mugs mix well with more traditional pieces, and act as a stylish, subtle backdrop to your dish ($40–$90 at Barneys New York).