Fashion weeks have long been a fount of inspiration, as street style photographers jostle to capture the best shots of models, it-girls and influencers. The phenomenon, which happens biannually across the major fashion capitals, highlights the best of womenswear. Menswear has its own equivalent with Pitti Uomo, where industry insiders gather in Florence.
But while fashion week is often driven by trends, Pitti Uomo celebrates the best of timeless menswear styles and the undying appeal of classic suiting. Dressed to the nines in their best threads, many of the event’s attendees have perfected their personal styles. The phenomenon has been so noteworthy that a satirical documentary, The Life of Pitti Peacocks, highlights the nuanced ways that these men have refined and perfected their appearance for the camera.
Central to the style at Pitti is the idea of ‘sprezzatura’, an Italian term loosely defined as ‘studied carelessness’. Applied to menswear, it means looking immaculately polished without appearing as if one has tried too hard. This definition may seem vague, because it undoubtedly is. In fact, it is more of an art rather than science, dependent on some basic principles, mixed with personality, confidence and the bravado to break a rule or two in the process. Here’s our take on those principles.