The Dopest Style Risks Taken During Pitti Uomo 88

It's certainly true that we've seen plenty of the Pitti Uomo peacocks; dudes who dress up in wild, crazy gear to catch the photographers and editors alike. While they definitely have their place within the confines of Florence's Fortezza da Basso, there are plenty of style risks that are well of the beaten path (or cobblestone street)—usually combining contemporary style with classic Italian flair.

We're not saying you should discard everything you know about getting suited up, but next time you're pulling out your two button formalwear, these risks may be worth a chance in your closet. Here are The Dopest Style Risks Taken During Pitti Uomo 88​.

First and foremost, Italy is hot. The Tuscan sun casts a beautiful shade over all of the Pitti Uomo proceedings, but it also keeps the mercury rising. Sure, guys may be compelled to wear suits (or at the very least, layers), but that's where more of the formal wear requirements end. Wearing light colors like white and pale blue is arguably one of the most practical ways to stay in classic Pitti form—especially in items like lightweight suits and cotton shirts, while keeping as cool as possible.

Remember when we said that Florence is really warm? Well, no matter what you're wearing, guys like to take it one button further when the sun is beating down. Most guys are down to leave the topmost button undone (and others stay completely buttoned up). But if you're going to be rolling around Pitti (or just the Florentine streets) you're going to see plenty of dudes showing more of their chest—but not too much. Who can blame them? If you're wearing a three piece suit, you're going to need to get the cool air flowing somehow, just keep it tame by leaving three buttons max undone.

At first glance, Pitti is filled with plenty of fedoras and Panama hats. Like much of the stereotypical Pitti Uomo style, this is more a sign of Pitti's old school brands and Italian OGs. More than anything, dudes are wearing a variety of headgear—especially cycling caps. Like a tighter, more streamlined version of the five-panel, an elastic crown and super breathable upper make these caps ideal for cooler temperatures. Besides, Italian names like Bianchi, Cinelli, and Giro already sound like designer labels. Flip up the bill for extra attitude. The bicycle however, is still sold separately.

Like Florence's Erno River, walking into the Fortezza da Basso is to be washed over in a rush of blue—but in this case, we mean blue suits. It's understandable, the color is mix of functionality with classic style. Naturally, while the blue suit is great, it can get a touch boring when seen at the volume of something like Pitti Uomo. This is likely why patterned suits really stand out. It's not just subtle pinstripes, or glen plaids either. Guys are peacocking, but instead of cut and shape—which certainly works too—they're using wild colors, and printed fabrics.

Florence is an old ass city, and you can bet that paved roads are more of recent development when you consider the age of the city itself. Part of Florence's charm is the uneven cobblestone streets that thousands walk along every day, but understandably, this is supremely uncomfortable after you've been walking around for even just an hour or two. Even better, as streetwear's influence grows larger in the overall fashion consciousness, even the most traditional of guys are rocking a pair of Nikes or (probably more likely) adidas, especially Superstars and Stan Smiths. Functionality and comfort? Guys are happy to walk the line.

Short suits aren't for everybody (hi Pharrell!). If we're honest, it's a hard sell for most dudes. But whether it's a way to deal with the heat, or simply a different way to catch the eye of the cameras, short suits are a risk worth considering. It's fairly simple: if you're going to wear a short suit, choose a simple color like grey, blue, or khaki—you don't want to overdo it with a pattern of wild color. This doesn't excuse suits with capri pants for bottoms though; we're sorry, those are always going to look terrible.

As with any of the accessories that guys are rounding out their full looks, function needs to go toe-to-toe with style. If London is embracing weird sneakers en masse, Florence proves that statement-making eyewear is also a certified "thing." Considering that Tuscan days are filled with plenty of sunshine, nearly every human inside the Fortezza has a pair of sunglasses on the moment they're leaving the covered convention spaces. But it's not all Wayfarers and aviators, sunglasses are probably one of the weirdest accessories that guys are toting in tote bags and ticket pockets. Certainly some guys are going with crazy shades that look to let in more sun than they keep out, but we'd say go with something more subtle—like a brightly-hued polarized lens—to make the best use of this poppy detail.

For all of the suits that Pitti Uomo is known for, rarely does anyone actually wear a tie. Sure, we've talked about how dudes go one button further down their dress shirts, but if guys are staying buttoned up, rarely does someone ever have neckwear that resembles your standard tie. From safety pins to absolutely nothing at all, Pitti's masses are proof that being buttoned up doesn't mean you need to throw on a tie to tie the look together.

It's not that much of a stretch to imagine guys tacking on military touches to their Pitti Uomo looks. Considering all of the technology that the military has informed—not just in menswear, but apparel in general—there's a trove of inspiration to play with. Any herb can pull off a conservative solid M-65 or M-51-inspired piece, but designers like Off-White and Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply have been offering up bolder takes on surplus staples, and stylish men of the world have been embracing them, mixing them into otherwise quiet looks. Maybe they're heeding the style advice of Angelo Flaccavento?

This shouldn't be a surprise. As streetwear's influence gets bigger and bigger in the overall fashion consciousness, it makes sense that the NYC icon would penetrate even the most sprezzed out dudes within Florence's Fortezza da Basso. Whether dudes are repping the box logo T-shirt, or just wearing one of the brand's many five panel hats, Supreme adds a dose of contemporary cool to just about anything (and anyone). Rocking the brand in a place that's not only known for classic tailored looks, but also where it's not available in stores is a way of saying "you ain't got this," and isn't that what stunting in menswear is all about?