Pitti Uomo: The Liberation of Mens Wear

Every January and June over  30,000 members of the international fashion industry ranging from Buyers,
exhibitors, press to street style photographers head to Florence for Pitti Immagine Uomo 81 the event that opens the international fashion fair season every year. 

Fashion Becomes a Spectacle

With each passing season we have witnessed a real change in men’s attitude. As many take time to dress up to attend the fair notably the famous Peacocks of Pitti Uomo setting the bar higher every year.
This shift in attitude towards mens fashion represented in the widespread acceptance of the dandies, has managed to reset the industry’s forces where the mens wear segment is out spacing the womens wear segment. 
 
Since the past few years there has been an even bigger shift in the behavior of people attending Pitti. Recently they are putting much more effort in carefully picking out their outfits for each day of the fair. The rise in amount of fashion street style photographers around the fair, has played a role in this because many peacocks are waiting to get their picture taken hoping it turns up on a popular blog or site. Pitti has managed to achieve a global impact, expressing each man’s individuality and personality, having an instantly recognizable Pitti look.  
 
This Pitti Look consists of a man wearing a tight fit buttoned up tailored suit being striped, polka dots, or checks paying close attention to details from their shoes to the necktie and hat. They are here to
express themselves to see and be seen in the way they behave, pose or talk. 

Ping Pitti Pong

The inspiration behind this seasons fair was sports, especially Ping Pong, linking the world of sports with fashion. Everything followed this theme from Ping pong tables next to some buildings to ping pong racquets and huge installations.  Another big theme was the return to tradition where a special pop up shop grabbed everyone’s attention, a barber shop with an impressive line of men waiting for their turn to get a clean shave.

Prints, Prints and more Prints!

As for the trends showcased in the fair, they reflected the overall liberation brought by the dandies. We have seen a lot of fun prints everywhere, bright colors, ranging from swimsuits to tailored jackets and suits. Espadrilles and colorful sneakers in different materials were huge this season. Accessories were made with silk materials and vegetable tanned leather in bright colored prints. Once classic blazers are now colorful and printed. A rise in luxury niche swim wear brands for men was seen influenced by the culture of surf and beach games. 
 
Magic of Firenze 
 
Florence was buzzing day and night with the countless of events held during the Pitti show. Starting from Pitti’s opening ceremony with Andrea Bocelli, then a special lighting of the famous Ponte Vecchio, with Gucci’s public museum in Piazza del Signoria, and Ferragamo’s “equilibrium” exhibiton, to Emilio Pucci dressing the Baptistery in Piazza San Giovanni with a signature scarf print. Florence came alive with the countless night outs, store openings, private parties that kept the city buzzing till early morning hours. 

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