Held twice yearly at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Pitti Uomo is filled with brands new and old, peddling their wares to buyers from all over the globe. This season featured runway shows from Jil Sander, Telfar, and Random Identities, an interesting modern lot which brought a more forward-facing sensibility to the historic setting. Outside the shows, the style situation was a mixed bag. Effortlessly chic older Italian men were sometimes overshadowed by fellas in their wildest fits (think downmarket Boardwalk Empire extra) begging for the attention of anyone with a camera. Ignoring the attention-seekers, I set out to find some cool guys who caught my eye and asked them a few questions. Here, some of my favorite looks from this week.
Black: Where are you from?
Zhao: Shanghai.
Black: What do you like most about Italy?
Zhao: Pizza.
Black: Do you eat whatever you want in Italy?
Olberding: Yes! There is nothing in the food, no pesticides. My system works very well here.
Black: How long have you been coming?
Olberding: 12 years.
Black: What has changed? More bozos?
Olberding: Actually, fewer bozos, because of the economy.
Black: Incredible name. Sounds royal. I love all this green.
Grabarczyk: My favorite color is navy.
Black: Seeing a lot of green today, love yours.
Coggins: It’s off-trend. Not that I know what’s on-trend.
Black: These pants are giving me a relaxed 70s vibe. A nice contrast to your hair.
Battaglia: These pants are from my dad. They were too colorful for him, and I said, “Don’t return them, I want to rock them at Pitti.”
Black: Cardigan under the blazer. Warmth or style?
Unuetzer: Warmth, it’s just super old four-ply cashmere.
Black: Do you often wear a suit?
Unuetzer: For work, yes, to be honest, I put a tie on just for Pitti. On the weekends I don’t dress like this.
Black: Great hat. Is it Russian?
Tietz: It’s Patagonia.
Black: Would you call this look, “designer Batman?”
Boudet: No.
Black: What would you call it?
Boudet: Bleu Mode look.
Black: BIG PANTS!
Phillip: They are Shinya Kozuka, a Japanese designer who studied at Central Saint Martins. He just collaborated with Dickies.
Black: They are great. Well-loved.
Black: Do you wear penny loafers a lot?
Spasojevic: No.
Black: You have to put pennies in them! Good luck!
Spasojevic: What’s your name again?
Black: You live in Florence?
Risvanoglu: Yes, for school.
Black: It seems like kind of a boring place to live for a cool young guy like yourself!
Risvanoglu: It’s quiet.
Black: I see you mixing the technical pants with the vintage cowboy boots.
Wick: They are 66 North, an Icelandic outerwear brand.
Black: No buttons on the shirt? Safety pins?
Wick: It’s a sample from my line. I didn’t have time to make the buttonholes.
Black: Your whole look is on point, very Liam Gallagher from Oasis with the duffel coat and round shades.
Takayanagi: …
