Business suits today are a form of corporate armor. But modern day men’s suits are sometimes seen as too stuffy, especially after the dotcom boom. A somewhat relaxed work fashion is now acceptable, but this trend has not been able to displace the suit from its place in a man’s work wardrobe.

A successful investment-banker in a sharp Italian suit, a lawyer about town in an elegant two-piece affair, a politician on television in a formal suit-and-tie: all these members of the upper crust depend on their attire to gain them an instant acceptance in public life. Donning an impeccably tailored suit is already a statement of affluence and impeccable taste. It says a lot about the wearer even before a single word is spoken.

Men’s Italian suits
Not just the smart set, but also those who lead prosaic lives need to wear a suit at some point in their career. For instance, those candidates who would not be required to wear a suit on their jobs are advised to wear one for the interview. An accused on trial wears a suit. A suit is still seen as a way to gain respectability: a man wearing a suit means business.

The better-cut the suit, the better business the wearer is likely to be in. And if the suit is cut well, chances are that it is an Italian suit. Italian suits have today come to represent some of the best quality work in men’s tailoring, and bring prestige to the wearer. But they were not always the most renowned. The history of the Italian suit goes back a long time, and its evolution makes for an interesting story.

The suit as a form of business clothing evolved in Europe, and reached its acme in Britain at the famous Savile Row, frequented by all true gentlemen of impeccable pedigree. But slowly, the skills of suit-making began to filter to other parts of Europe, but notably, to Italy. Some of the best suits in the world of fashion began to be produced in this country.

Castangia, which opened in 1850 before the unification of Italy, was one of the first renowned houses. It triumphantly entered the arena of personal tailoring for men and continues to be an exclusive brand today. Another name of note was the Somma Spa which first started manufacturing exquisite suiting fabrics in 1865 and then moved on to make suits under the name of Vestimenta almost a century later. During this time, the privileged Italian clientele for custom tailored suits were still flocking to Savile Row. This was because despite some very good craftsmanship, Italian tailoring continued to have a sleazy image, usually associated with shiny fabrics and tight fits, mostly worn by dons and gigolos.

Men’s Business Suits in Italy I

* Men Fashion
* Fashion

The Latest and Greatest in Italian Suits

Italian Men’s Suits < Part II

Business suits today are a form of corporate armor. But modern day men’s suits are sometimes seen as too stuffy, especially after the dotcom boom. A somewhat relaxed work fashion is now acceptable, but this trend has not been able to displace the suit from its place in a man’s work wardrobe.
George Clooney Suit

George Clooney Suit

Why wear a suit?

A successful investment-banker in a sharp Italian suit, a lawyer about town in an elegant two-piece affair, a politician on television in a formal suit-and-tie: all these members of the upper crust depend on their attire to gain them an instant acceptance in public life. Donning an impeccably tailored suit is already a statement of affluence and impeccable taste. It says a lot about the wearer even before a single word is spoken.

Men’s Italian suitsNot just the smart set, but also those who lead prosaic lives need to wear a suit at some point in their career. For instance, those candidates who would not be required to wear a suit on their jobs are advised to wear one for the interview. An accused on trial wears a suit. A suit is still seen as a way to gain respectability: a man wearing a suit means business.

The Men’s Suit in Italy

The better-cut the suit, the better business the wearer is likely to be in. And if the suit is cut well, chances are that it is an Italian suit. Italian suits have today come to represent some of the best quality work in men’s tailoring, and bring prestige to the wearer. But they were not always the most renowned. The history of the Italian suit goes back a long time, and its evolution makes for an interesting story.

The suit as a form of business clothing evolved in Europe, and reached its acme in Britain at the famous Savile Row, frequented by all true gentlemen of impeccable pedigree. But slowly, the skills of suit-making began to filter to other parts of Europe, but notably, to Italy. Some of the best suits in the world of fashion began to be produced in this country.
Castangia in house fabrics

Castangia in house fabrics

Castangia, which opened in 1850 before the unification of Italy, was one of the first renowned houses. It triumphantly entered the arena of personal tailoring for men and continues to be an exclusive brand today. Another name of note was the Somma Spa which first started manufacturing exquisite suiting fabrics in 1865 and then moved on to make suits under the name of Vestimenta almost a century later. During this time, the privileged Italian clientele for custom tailored suits were still flocking to Savile Row. This was because despite some very good craftsmanship, Italian tailoring continued to have a sleazy image, usually associated with shiny fabrics and tight fits, mostly worn by dons and gigolos.
Zenga Suit

Zenga Suit

But things began to change once Ermenegildo Zegna opened a textile school in Biella in 1910, and two decades later opened the highly successful textile factory near the district of Trivero. This was also the time Domenico Caraceni opened his sartorias that are now considered some of the most celebrated abodes of the Italian suit, though the name Caraceni is now carried by various agencies that specialize in different categories of suits.

By the 1930′s Italian clothiers began to be respected, and this only increased with the opening of the house of Canali. Canali stood for cutting precision, a completely canvas-supported construction, hand-rolled collars and sleeves set by hand, which put this house at the forefront of Italian men’s quality suit makers. Other names like Vincenzo Attolini, who invented the “rag” jacket, the boat pocket, and the closed sleeve, as well as the discreet couturier Corneliani emerged in this decade. The Italian suit was here not only to stay, but to rule.

Events took an even better turn for the Italian suit despite the hard years of war when Zegna entered the suit-making market. And by the time the war was over, the master tailor Nazareno Fonticoli who was trained in Savile Row got together with Gaetano Savini to launch Atelier Brioni. Brioni revolutionized the world of suits by putting men’s fashion on the ramps in 1952, and subsequently conquering New York with its impeccable tailoring and high quality standards.

Suit tailors in Italy flourished, much more than those in France or Britain, throwing up more suit-making houses like Kiton in 1956, which has since made history in the ready-made suit market. Then came Armani in 1975 with his lower buttoned, unstructured jackets that still looked elegant. These took the world of men’s work wear by storm. Italian suits today come with a long heritage of illustrious creators, and the term, Made in Italy on a suit is mostly seen as a guarantee for its fit and quality.

As the weather turns colder, a man’s thoughts turn to outerwear. If they don’t, then perhaps they should. In this article we’ll be taking a gander at some fantastic Italian-made coats and jackets for the male of the species. Hope you enjoy them!
Alberto Aspesi gives us the warm, four-pocket, corduroy jacket. May I mention the pockets again? They’re huge, so they’re perfect for carrying wallets, small gifts, gloves and so much more.

There is also an internal pocket for a cell phone and other private gear. The interior is detachable so you can get more wear out of this piece throughout the year. It’s simple and understated. Perfect for wearing with jeans, khakis, corduroys and more. It retails for around $300.00; but, with the versatility and durability of the piece, it’s really a major bargain!

Giovanni Verucci’s chestnut brown, polyester jacket has a zip button entry. The piece contains four outside pockets, two of which are zippered, and three interior pockets (two are buttoned; one is secured with Velcro). You can snap button the cuffs on the ends of the sleeves as well. It’s made in China but designed in Italy. Just so you know.

This herringbone coat from the Armani Collezione is truly a wintry delight. The fabric is soft to the touch. The interior is lined to keep you as hot on the inside as you’ll look on the outside when you wear this fashionable piece of gear. There are two external and two internal pockets. The double-breasted buttons are fantastic. They flatter broad shoulders so well, don’t they? The coat retails for around $850.00; however, if you’re looking for a bargain, you can find one either off-season or on the internet.

For the athletic man, we have another Aspesi piece. This jacket is perfect for snowboarding, skiing or just a casual day out on the town. I like the simplicity of the design and the fabric. It’s 100% nylon which makes it easy to wear with anything. You can also layer your look to keep yourself extra warm. The jacket is versatile enough to wear in winter, fall and even spring so you’ll get a lot of use out of it. There’s an elasticized waist just in case you overdo it during the holidays. All in all, this is a great jacket for a very reasonable price – under $300.00.

R.E.D. Valentino offers you this wonderful hooded full-length jacket. It has a zip enclosure, a drawstring wais, hemline and stitch detailing. It’s not lined so you may not want to wear it on the coldest day of the year – at least not without some serious layering underneath! This Valentino piece is made of 100% polyester so you know it’s durable. The price is so nice at around $100.00 too!

Finally, from Gigli, we have this high-fashion take on the pea coat. I love the double-breasted enclosure. As I’ve no doubt said before, it shows off a broad chest to perfection. If you don’t have one, well, it can give the illusion that you do. So it’s a win-win, guys! The tweed wool is so warm. You can wear this in the worst weather winter has to offer. There are external pockets which are enclosed by buttons. You have a belt attachment to the piece if you wish to use it. To me, this may be the most perfect men’s winter coat. It’s absolutely fantastic, and affordable at under $100.00!