The Italian Gentleman

In the world of fashion, Italy is the Mount Everest of men’s style. London may have Savile Row, Paris its luxury industries and New York Madison Avenue, but none possesses the true essence of Italian nonchalant elegance, the sprezzatura. Beyond its global fashion brands, the soul of Italian style is found in the workshops and boutiques of the established masters and artisans who for generations have created the finest menswear on the planet. Author, industry insider and respected sartorial voice Hugo Jacomet is one of Europe’s most knowledgeable commentators on men’s fashion. This lavish guide is the result of more than two years spent travelling across Italy, from the foothills of the Alps to Sicily, to uncover the master craftsmen working behind the scenes to dress some of the world’s most elegant gentlemen. From world-famous Renaissance fabric mills to lesser-known shoe ateliers, more than fifty houses from across the country are celebrated for their unique style and commitment to upholding timeless Italian traditions. Exquisite photographs by Lyle Roblin, commissioned specially for this book, unveil the country’s finest fabric merchants, tailors and shoemakers, and capture the refined gentlemen who are emblematic of Italian style. Filled with portraits of rarely seen producers at work, this richly illustrated journey is essential reading for all those who appreciate the beauty of a bespoke suit, the quality of a hand-welted shoe, the luxury of handmade gloves or the flamboyant panache of a seven-fold silk tie.