The Italian Way: Part Three - Suited Up

Over the past week, I’ve waited for the day I could show my new Eidos Napoli suit to the rest of the world.  Last Saturday, I had the occasion to wear it for a work event and noticed the difference that donning formal attire had on my psyche and performance.  While clothes may make the man, clothes cannot wear the man and nowhere is this more true than when he has enough courage to express himself by putting on a tailored suit.

My interests have shifted toward tailoring over the past few months.  I am inspired by other writers who wear suits and separates, not because they need to but because they want to.  I’ve also wanted to purchase a new suit for a while because my go-to charcoal gray get-up and tuxedo were both tailored for a Grant who was forty pounds heavier, five years ago.  Before entering the world of pinstripes, plaids and separates, men need one gray or navy suit (or preferably both) as their default for formal events and fancy nights on the town.  Because almost every other piece of clothing I own has blue on it, I went the gray route.  Plus, Eidos’ basic charcoal suit was 90% off at MartinPatrick3, a buy I couldn’t refuse.   

Though I would have knotted my tie a little smaller in retrospect, I’m pleased with how the ensemble turned out.  I wore a spread collar shirt by Eidos that had a small graph-check pattern.  I like spread collars because they follow the Neapolitan tradition, adding a dash of Italian rakishness hard to achieve through any other means beside age (note that some of the best dressed Italian men are over 50).  The shirt’s subtle pattern went well with the bottle green tie, also by Eidos.  I’ve loved silk knits as long as I can remember and though the weight is more year-round than wintry, the green hue is appropriate for the holiday season without veering into tackiness.  

To let the suit, shirt and tie do the talking, I opted for a simple, crisp white pocket square from Nordstrom (full disclosure: I work for Nordstrom, and in no way, shape or form are they endorsing this post).  That said, the star of the show might have been my chocolate suede Allen Edmonds shoes, the first pair of top-tier dress shoes I’ve owned.  I had a sad experience with a beautiful pair of To Boot New York shoes last year where the soles developed holes within six months of wear.  I learned the important lesson that sleek good looks don’t always translate into timeless quality - and that I need to take better care of shoes.  The Edmonds shoes both look and feel well made and come with a last and silhouette that will look attractive in twenty years.  I hope my suit lasts that long as well, because this is a look I like and want to explore variations on.  Fashion is fleeting; style endures.

Suit, shirt and tie: Eidos Napoli, Shoes: Allen Edmonds

Location: Nordstrom MOA