There’s something about Italian fashion, isn't there? It’s that guy on your train checking the Juventus score, who somehow makes wearing a three-piece suit look like the most casual thing in the world. It’s the dude on the beach in Puglia who’s managed to get the perfect in-seam length on his swim trunks , or the man in front of you at the coffee shop making a plain wool sweater look red carpet-adjacent while ordering his espresso, grazie . And it’s not just your imagination (or rampant envy), either.
It’s a specific Italian thing. They even have a name for it: Sprezzatura , which means to make something difficult look easy, especially in relation to fashion. As model and content creator Gian Maria Sainato puts it, “Italian style is synonymous with effortless elegance, attention to detail, and a blend of tradition and innovation.
” But how do you nail that effortless elegance and attention to detail? What is the key to sprezzatura ? If you’d like to dress like you spend all your time on a sailboat in Como, or drinking negronis al fresco, we asked three stylish Italians to map out a guide to living la dolce vita. One thing you’ll notice in all well-dressed Italians is that everything fits them perfectly. Whether that’s the length of their trousers, the cut of their blazer or — yes — their everyday T-shirts.
If you want to exude a bit of that Italian studied elegance, we suggest becoming good friends with your tailor . First-name-basis friends. Invite-t.