Image via Complex Original
With Pitti Uomo in full swing, the small city of Florence swells with the influx of people from every corner of the fashion world; from major designers, to street style photographers. While it's very easy to focus exclusively on the beautiful imagery coming from within the Fortezza da Basso, it's even more illuminating to hear from the personalities that make the festival as bright as the clothing on the tradeshow floor.
We spoke to just a few of the personalities within Pitti Uomo to get their perspective on contemporary dressing, their respective design work, and how peacocking at Pitti is "beyond played out." Here's How to Dress Better: Useful Style Advice From the Pros at Pitti Uomo 88.
Remix the same piece into different outfits.
Expert advice from: Angelo Flaccavento, menswear writer extraordinaire
“You can wear anything from any stage in your life and reshuffle it into new combinations and still look great—as long as you have one idea of what you want to look like.”
Don't take dressing up too seriously.
Expert advice from: Tommy Ton, your favorite street style photographer's favorite street style photographer
“I've been coming for five years now, and you see a lot of the same thing over and over again… I like it when it's not so serious; not so done up. When someone really does stand out though, it just feels perfectly right.”
Trust your gut when you throw something on.
Expert advice from: Pierre-Louis Mascia, creative director at Pierre-Louis Mascia
“I hate when people explain how to wear something. If you have a good feeling with fabric and color, then go with it… be out of the trend.”
Start with the classics, and branch out from there.
Expert advice from: Nick Wooster, street style superstar and all-around menswear gawd
“I'm not as serious as some of the more serious guys here, and that's OK…. but it does all comes from the same place, it's all based in something classic. Hopefully I turn that on its ear.”
Sneakers are never a bad footwear choice.
Expert advice from: Tommaso Sani, sales manager at Buttero
“Now with sneakers, you can wear them for the street; with jeans, with a suit. And now, it's for a big age [range] of people, even in their 30s or 50s.”
Dark, slim-fitting denim is always a good choice.
Expert advice from: Andrew Chen, co-owner at 3sixteen and certified jean-ius
“There is place for jeans and casual clothing in the wardrobe of a guy who dresses more seriously…none of this stuff is going out of style, and if you're willing to put in the work—like keeping denim dark, and clean, and comfortable—that's always going to work.”
