THE JOURNAL
Maybe you know from reading MR PORTER (if so, thank you) or if you’ve spent your summer strolling around Milan. Perhaps you are just in the know, what with being Italian. But here it is – and apologies for stating the obvious – one of the great truths of menswear is that Italians know how to dress.
If there’s a “Made in Italy” label in your wardrobe, you’ll know exactly what we mean. This is how Italian men so effortlessly stand out, with that hard-to-bottle combination of great tailoring, exquisite taste and unerring confidence.
The good news is that while an Italian passport may be the quickest route to self-assurance in the style stakes, it’s not impossible for the rest of us to put a little sprezzatura (local parlance for “effortless grace”) in our wardrobes.
Looking to do this in a way that feels accessible yet elevated, without teetering on pastiche? May we introduce Milan-based brand Eleventy, which lands on MR PORTER for AW25 and not a minute too soon for any man interested in adding a little Italian sensibility to his sartorial rotation this season.
Founded in Milan by Marco Baldassari and Paolo Zuntini, Eleventy takes its name from a particular concern of its creators, that of continued improvement. All the essential ingredients of a classic Italian fashion house are correct and present. Eleventy is all about sustainably sourced raw materials, sharp, accessible tailoring with that touch of elevation to every piece.
They like to call it “smart luxury”. We think of it as the building blocks to natural style. The AW25 collection bears this out: think luxury knitwear, casual shirting and outerwear that cuts a dash in easy, neutral tones.
“They like to call it ‘smart luxury’. We think of it as the building blocks to natural style”
One of the easiest introductions to all this is through knitwear, a smart way to sharpen up your wardrobe without overplaying your hand. With a surprisingly fine handle, the navy wool cardigan can be worn in place of a shirt or polo, while the more substantial grey style with sleek dark horn buttons that run to collar plays with the whole formal-informal thing in a pleasingly relaxed fashion.
Which feels all suitably Italian of Eleventy. And there is a loyalty to all things local here; each piece made in partnership with a network of more than 90 skilled artisans and family run enterprises across the country. You can geek out on this stuff if you like, discovering knits from Toscana or shirts from Puglia. Or you can simply admire the Italian design smarts built into each piece, like a casual cotton shirt that feels tailored and easy wearing.
This is feel-good clothing in many ways. Eleventy prides itself on producing small, curated collections, delivered directly between the brand and their suppliers, which in turn promotes transparency and sustainability.
This dedication to a certain way of doing things also makes the clothes look and feel good, too. A Shetland wool crewneck made using Loro Piana yarns has a handsome aspect and a soft, contemporary feel while the ribbed cotton checked shirt makes the argument for looking handsome as heck even while in off-duty mode.
In a nutshell, Eleventy make this stuff look easy. That’s the Italians for you.