THE JOURNAL
All photographs by Mr Marc Richardson
Any keen follower of fashion – or reader of The Journal for that matter – will know that Pitti Uomo, the biannual menswear trade show held at the 14th-century Fortezza da Basso in Florence, is as much about seeing what’s in store for our future wardrobes as it is about observing industry aficionados parading their glad rags. While the flock of gents that usually throng the grounds of the fort haven’t quite returned to their pre-pandemic peacockery, there’s still plenty of sartorial muscle on show to pique our style consciousness.
01.
The sporty-formal mashup
Mixing things up like this might make style purists balk, but this man’s amalgam of a sporty half-zip sweater and velvet peak-lapel blazer displays a modern nous that feels particularly apt with the way we’re dressing now. Half its genius lies in the colour play – the peppy mustard against a rich, inky midnight blue is a combination that draws the eye. The dressiness of the blazer remains unaffected through the chap’s judicious use of a sleek leather pochette. Overstuffed pockets are the ultimate foe of streamlined tailoring.
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02.
The amped-up folksy knit
This guy clearly knows that colour can work wonders for your dopamine levels during the bleakest month of the year. His natty, homespun cardie could run the risk of looking a little old hat. But its tangerine orange inserts – bolstered by a colour-coordinated beanie – brings a measure of contemporary clout to balance out that folksy appeal. It’s a look that chimes perfectly with menswear’s current artisanal mood, as championed by labels from BODE to RRL and looks commendably smart, even with the perquisite FFP2 face mask in plain sight.
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03.
The heavy utility look
These two style comrades are fronting the campaign for modern utility wear, with their functional ensembles displaying a sound knowledge of colour and fabric combinations, from colour blocking to technical quilting. While they’ve clearly utilised their considerable pockets, their sporty carryalls not only provide a convenient receptacle for more substantial items, but display a shrewd aptitude for accessorising.
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04.
The colour-pop champ
Given that this chap is perched on the infamous Pitti wall famed for its horde of style-conscious men and the shutterbugs that follow them, we’re going to hazard a guess that he’s chosen to take a sojourn here for a reason. And why wouldn’t he? His orange socks are catnip for the photographers (it seems orange is the shade du jour at this Pitti) and his carefully head-to-toe colour coordination is framed to full effect by the nonchalantly draped (or painstakingly placed?) sweater.
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05.
The irreverent accent
This Marlboro-emblazoned cap has been used to add a touch of tongue-in-cheek irony to an otherwise classic blazer, denim shirt, olive overcoat and houndstooth trousers. Note the expert layering of textures and neutral colours going on here. Extra style points are awarded for the insouciantly slung analogue camera.