9 Things We Can Learn From Pitti Uomo 2012

Introduction

There’s no denying that as soon as fashion week season starts, things can get a little nutty in the wonderful world of menswear. It’s easy to get caught up in what your favourite look from each runway was, the soundtrack used at Burberry Prorsum or whether Milan really will dominate our SS13 looks, as is the .

It is easy to get caught up in these small details of each show and not what you can take from each week as a whole – incorporating key ideas and inspiration into your own wardrobe and style. The easiest place to do this is at my favourite pre-Milan trade show, Pitti Uomo.

Pitti Uomo

Twice a year, flocks of stylish men descent upon Florence, Italy, for Pitti Uomo – 59,000 square meters of exhibition space filled with everything from suiting to streetwear – a buyer’s dream for all things related to men’s fashion. Not only does it give you a realistic idea of what will be on all of our minds come next summer but is a street style frenzy with every step, corner and walkway containing the very best dressed of the menswear realm.

What We Can Learn From Pitti Uomo 2012

But rather than having to sift through every blog post, sneak peek preview and street style shot yourself, I’ve compiled a list of everything you’ll need to know about Pitti Uomo 2012 that will be effecting us next summer:

1. Plaid Linen Shirts

Normally plaid shirts come in a beefier material such as flannel or oxford cloth but on trade tables and men alike, a new breed of linen shirts are appearing. They come in a dressier cut with a more formal collar, making them easy to wear in a more formal situation.

They came predominantly in simple colours such as blues, greens and browns, often being paired with neutral suit jackets and similar textured tie such as madras, seersucker or linen.

• Reiss Chevy Long Sleeve Linen Check Shirt Forest Green
• Paul Costelloe For John Lewis Men Linen Large Check Shirt Khaki
• Loro Piana Alfred Plaid Linen Shirt

2. Suede Everything!

From tassel loafers to trainers, suede was all over the place and is going to play a huge part next spring/summer. It’s a great summer material because it’s lightweight, durable and looks better the more worn it becomes.

Some of the suede trainers that were making an appearance may finally be the answer to those out there who refuse to wear trainers with a suit – these styles bring a dressier element than normal versions would.

• John Lobb Winner Suede Sneakers
• Asos Suede Tassel Loafers
• Topman Miller Suede Slim Soled Loafers

3. Turquoise

Nothing says summer quite like it and it was everywhere, especially in the Brooks Brothers collection.

• Tateossian Silver Discs Bracelet
• Topman Turquoise Green Skinny Chinos
• Topman Colorado Desert Shoes

4. White Jeans

If you don’t already own a pair and don’t wear them with your blazers then you just don’t get it, do you?

• Peoples Market Skinny Jeans
• Reiss Cruise Straight Leg Coloured Jeans White
• Polo Ralph Lauren White Tapered Straight Leg Hudson Jeans

5. Panama Hats

Is a traditional brimmed hat of Ecuadorian origin that is made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant. It is considered the king of straw hats, and it showed. They were on the heads of many stylish guys this year.

• Topman Cream And Black Panama Hat
• Olney Drop Brim Panama Hat Neutrals
• Dunhill Roll-up Panama Hat

6. Coloured Trousers

Regardless of where you are, a navy suit jacket with a pair of coloured trousers – in anything from pink to yellow to green – will always be summer appropriate.

• Polo Ralph Lauren Yellow Slim Fit Stretch Chinos
• Uniqlo Men Chino Flat Front Trousers
• Reiss Wickham Casual Pressed Trousers Light Blue

7. Unlined, Washed Cotton Parkas

Coming in reds, greens or blues these would have been a God-send for this current English ‘summer’. Super lightweight and shower proof, they add a great shot of colour to your look as well as being practical and easy to fold up and store in your bag.

• SCOTCH AND SODA 10006 Tabasco Jacket
• Woolrich Yellow Mountain Parka
• Selected Lightweight Parka Jacket

8. Seersucker

It’s going to be next summer’s material of choice. Seriously, I’ll eat my panama hat if it isn’t.

• Reiss Oldtimer Long Sleeve Seersucker Shirt Rust
• Austin Reed Red Stripe Seersucker Jacket
• Oliver Spencer Dawnay Striped Cotton-seersucker Shorts

9. The Group Effect

Always have a bunch of well dressed friends to look like an absolute crew of legends together with. You’ll always be stronger together than you are apart.

The Final Word

So there you have it guys, a few things we could all do with bearing in mind for next summer from this year’s Pitti Uomo. I’m sure there are plenty of you out there who follow the event as avidly as I do, so if there’s anything you feel I’ve left off or forgotten, as always, please give me a slap on the wrist and tell me how rubbish I am in the comments section below.

Matt Allinson