THE JOURNAL
Photographs by The Urban Spotter
Why the men of Pitti Uomo are leading with their heads this season and investing in chic millinery – Panamas and fedoras come out on top.
There are those mysterious instances at every Pitti Uomo when, looking around at the ranks of the ineffably stylish, you suddenly realise that everyone seems to have received the same memo: “Wear pristine white sneakers with your suit”; “Let the back blade of your tie hang conspicuously longer than the front blade” – that kind of thing. This time round, the memo must have simply read “hats”. The stands and walkways were brimful of summer headgear, and the benefits they conferred – stylish shaping, subtle coordination opportunities, protection from UV rays – were a timely reminder that, worn right, this is an accessory that crowns an outfit, in every sense. Here are three peak examples of Pitti’s millinery massive.
HEAD START
Photographs by The Urban Spotter
Tu adore a fedora? No wonder, when you see its crucial role in helping this gentleman cut a singular dash. Not only does it add a strong, dynamic line to the outfit – witness the alignment of the brim’s point with the end of the jacket sleeve – but it also allows him to have a tonal field day, playing off the deep blue of the hat band with the shades of the suit-check, shirt-stripe, tie, bracelet, and even – or maybe that should be especially – the ever-present phone.
Get the look
ALL THAT JAZZ
Photographs by The Urban Spotter
This shot is putting us in mind of Mr Miles Davis in his pomp, and, more pertinently, of one of his most celebrated albums – The Birth Of The Cool. It’s in the measured assurance with which this gentleman has assembled his smart-casual components – the cream shirt with the subtle contrast collar and cuffs and suspenders, the palest blue trousers – and topped them off in lilting fashion with a dandy straw Panama. Just like another of Mr Davis’ albums, this is Miles Ahead.
Get the look
TOPPED AND TAILED
Photographs by The Urban Spotter
Extra kudos to this gentleman for toning down the “exuberance” (as in Haribo-OD) of the usual Pitti palette, and playing a subtler and more rewarding game in contrasting the earthy tones – the burnt sienna of the blazer, the straw fedora – with the airier shades of the shirt and trousers. We also like the formal vs rakish thing going on here, with the hat and pocket square balancing out the unbuttoned, untucked, turned-back raffishness.
Get the look