Ah Pitti. One of the world’s scant remaining safe havens for the dandy. While the death knell sounded loud for double-breasted tweed tailoring and elaborate moustaches in London at the start of the month, Pitti Uomo sees some of #menswear’s original markers alive and well in Florence. Which makes for a nice change for those of us still not sold on spending every waking hour in a glorified tracksuit. That said, it wasn’t all impeccable tailoring with a twist: we spotted our fair share of heinous style crimes to go with the triumphs. Here are the styles to heed, and the ones to hoof, from menswear’s most important trade show.
1. Checked Tailoring Is Still A Thing
If there are two things Pitti types rate, it’s tailoring and gutsy statements. Put them together and you’ve got something they go pretty much pazzo for. Checked tailoring – whether plaids, windowpanes or Prince of Wales – was (not for the first time) front and centre at this season’s Pitti. And if there’s one thing to take away from the way they wore it, it’s getting your dosage right. Bolder checks are great, but don them head-to-toe and you run the risk of failing (see lesson 6) rather than flexing.
Yu Yang For FashionBeans
Key Pieces
- Selected Homme Exclusive Multi Colour Check Blazer In Skinny Fit
- Asos Slim Chinos In Check Print
- Ted Baker Endurance Regislj Sterling Checked Jacket
- Jack & Jones Premium Check Blazer With Stretch In Slim Fit
- Reiss Epsom Christys Felt Trilby Hat Maroon
- Asos Bee Keeper Hat In Khaki With Unstructured Brim
- Asos Pork Pie Hat In Camel With Diamond Crown
- Larose Grosgrain-trimmed Rabbit-felt Fedora
- Loro Piana Laurence Felt Fedora
- Larose Noir Zip Fedora
5. Mind Your Goddamn Mankles
January, in the northern hemisphere at least, isn’t so much the time to get your mankles out as to layer them in yards of sturdy, pneumonia-deflecting fabric. Not so at Pitti. Despite single-digit temperatures, attendees weren’t shy about letting it all hang out in cropped trouser styles that exposed their pale, turkey-like flesh for everyone else to see. And shudder at. If it’s cold enough to wear a coat (see above), then do yourself (and the rest of us) a favour and put some socks on.
Yu Yang For FashionBeans
6. Some Things Are Never OK
As much as we commend Pitti for its sartorial bravura, it does spawn some looks that should never really have seen the light of day [from left to right, below]: Exhibit A: a man in a hot pink and purple windowpane check suit. Nope. Never OK. Even if he does looks deliriously happy about it all. Exhibit B: Fabio-meets-menswear blogger. Obviously unhappy with his objectively good looks, the usually on-point Mariano Di Vaio seeks to undo all his God-given beauty by wearing one of the most misguided menswear looks we saw at the event. Exhibit C: LOL. Exhibit D: This look made us question whether our photographer was actually shooting Pitti style or surveying Florentine garden ornaments. Exhibit E: If you look closely at this image, it might kind of remind you of Cyclops crossed with Superman. Which is literally the only good thing about a guy wearing a tablecloth as a cape. Exhibit F: “Don’t sleep on the pyjamas trend” – Simone Marchetti.
Yu Yang For FashionBeans
Final Word
And that concludes another chapter in Italian street style. So, has Pitti taught you some valuable lessons? Or are you looking to LCM for your guiding light? Drop your thoughts below.
