British Style vs Italian Fashion World's Best Dressed Men
[0:00:00] Straight up, gentlemen, who dresses better?
In one corner we’ve got the Italians.
In the other corner, we’ve got the British.
And, yes, I know I’m lumping some countries together.
British versus Italian style, who’s got more of it?
Find out, gentlemen in today’s video.
[Music] Round one.
Attitude.
Let’s start things off with the English.
If one word would describe English style, it would be reserved.
English style is all about the man shining, not the clothing.
The clothing sits in the background.
Clothing is worn neatly, correctly, and it follows proper protocols.
Also, when it comes to patterns when it comes to colors, very conservative.
In summary, an Englishman’s clothing serves as a neutral background, so that his actions
and his words can stand out.
Now, with Italian style, if we were to choose one word, I would go with flamboyance.
Italian men are peacocks.
They love bright colors, they love for their clothing to stand out and to grab attention.
Southern Italians in Milan, they love vivid colors and edgy styles.
Northern Italians in Rome, they’re going to pull back on the color, but they’re still
going to have amazing style with their simpler cuts and sophisticated neutrals.
It’s from the Italians that we got the word sprezzatura meaning an effortless looking
style that actually required a lot of work.
So, who wins round number one?
It’s tough, it’s like comparing apples to oranges, but I got to give this one to
the Italians.
So, let me ask you a question, what if you didn’t have to choose between British style
and Italian style?
What if there was a company out there that took the best of both to British construction,
British attention to detail, and mix it with Italian flair and Italian fabrics?
Gentlemen, that company is Gagliardi, the sponsor of today’s video.
And, if you haven’t checked out this company, you’re in for a treat.
So, there are three things I absolutely love about Gagliardi.
One is the attention to detail.
They’re using horn buttons, their stitching is immaculate.
I’m looking at the way that these pieces of clothing are put together, they are spot
on.
Next up, let’s talk about their amazing fabrics; Cerruti, Zegna, Loro Piana.
They make sure that they only work with the best manufacturers.
So, as soon as I saw those names attached with them, this is a great company that you’re
going to get quality fabrics.
And, last but not least, gentlemen, let’s talk price.
Gagliardi is a great deal.
If you were to go to a store in New York, London to find something comparable, you will
pay three times as much.
Everything I’m wearing right here, you can find on their website.
If you like the jacket I’m wearing, guys, it’s the [0:02:20 inaudible] navy twill
technical waistcoat jacket.
And besides looking good, this jacket is all about performance.
It’s breathable, it’s crease-free, it’s made from a water-resistant material, and
it’s got a detachable zip upfront to keep you warm.
Other pieces you should check out, check out their Bordeaux flannel jacket.
I absolutely love this thing.
It’s available in slim, in contemporary fit, it’s unique, a beautiful casual sports
jacket you can add to your wardrobe.
And, if you’re in the market for a suit, you want something a bit bold, check out their
Gagliardi suit, absolutely beautiful in this vibrant blue.
This suit is going to help you stand out from the crowd.
Gagliardi also has beautiful knitwear.
Gentlemen, go check out their website.
I’m linking to them down in the description with the best discount code you’re going
to find out there.
Use it or lose it, guys.
It’s a great one.
And, gentlemen, stick around until the end of this video because I’m going to share
with you the Gagliardi story.
I love when a company has an amazing history like these guys do.
Really cool story, but I’ll share it with you at the end of this video.
Round two.
Colors and patterns.
So, starting with the English, they wear a lot of dark neutral colors.
And, one of the reasons is the gray weather would actually wash out a lot of brighter
colors, so they wear these colors to actually look good for the landscape and the type of
weather they have.
Now, in the country and on weekends and for casual events, we do see a lot of olive and
brown.
This historically, again, these are country colors that you would wear when you are out
hunting, so the brown, the olive for camouflage.
When it comes to shirts, solids are going to rule.
White is the go-to, light blue is accepted.
And let’s look at checks, checks are going to be for the weekends or out in the county.
Now, historically where we’re going to see the most amount of color are going to be on
accessories such as pocket squares and neckties.
Neckties especially we’re going to see particular patterns, the regimental necktie perhaps being
the most famous.
In summary, when it comes to color, the English have rules and guidelines they like to follow.
Now, let's talk about the Italians and color.
So, they've got the sunny Mediterranean environment.
They love their bright colors, they love their Paisleys, they love their large prints, and
they love lighter colors in a wide variety of shades because it's going to keep them
cooler in that hot environment.
White, off-white, lavender, you're going to see pink, you're going to see light green
mint.
All of these work great to help reflect the sun, keep you cool and they look great during
that warm weather.
Now, Southern Italian men, they're going to wear a lot of candy colors.
We're talking hot pink, we're talking apple green.
And, gentlemen, these colors are not just reserved for accessories or for shirts, you're
also going to see these in jackets and trousers.
Now, when it comes to colors who should we give it to?
Guys, I'm actually going to give this one to the English.
I like the fact that they've got rules, they've got guidelines.
This helps a man get started and then you could learn to break those rules.
[0:04:55] Round three.
Let's talk fit.
So, when I think of English fit, I think of structure, I think of build, I think of a
suit of armor because it's going to accentuate his shoulders, it's going to build up his
chest, it's going to trim up his torso, and it's just going to make him look great.
We're going to see stiffer materials, we're going to see high arm holes.
Now, with English trousers were traditionally going to see a higher waist, we're going to
see more use of heavy material, we're going to see double pleats, and we're going to see
cuffs.
Now, when it comes to the jacket gorge on the English suit, we're going to see a lower
gorge with the placement of the button being lower.
Now, historically they had a bit of a looser fit.
We're not talking sack suit looseness, but we are talking a little bit of room.
Now, the pendulum had started to shift and we are seeing a closer fit especially on shirts.
Now, let's talk about Italian fit.
So, when I think Italian fit, I think no structure.
I think a work of art that is made to fit onto the body.
We're going to see soft shoulders, we're going to see a full floating canvas, or we're going
to see a front jacket that actually has no canvas and is simply made to lay on the body,
but it's cut in the way that it looks and fits amazing.
Trousers are going to have a tapered waist, no break no cuff.
Now, with the Italian jackets, we're not only going to see them cut shorter, but we're also
going to see the gorge raised up because they're going to make the placement of the button
a bit higher.
All right.
So, who wins when it comes to fit?
This one is tough, gentlemen.
I'm going to give it a draw.
Round four, gentlemen.
Fabric.
In general, when I think about English fabrics, I think heavy and durable.
This is all about the environment.
You want a fabric that's going to protect you from the rain, from the elements, from
the cold weather, from the wind.
The fabric that's the King of England - wool.
Why?
Because wool can take on about 30% of its weight in moisture and still feel dry still
keep you warm.
So, we're going to see wool being used in a wide variety of garments predominantly in
jackets and in trousers, but you also see it in shirts as well.
Some of the most famous fabrics to come from the British we've got tweed and there's a
wide variety of different options here.
Perhaps the most famous we've got Harris Tweed.
It comes in a wide variety of different colors and with different patterns.
Other great English fabrics, we're going to see corduroy, we're going to see moleskin,
we're going to see gabardine.
Now, over in shirts as I said we will see some wools, but in general we're going to
see heavier weave cottons, we're going to see twills, we're going to see broadcloth,
we're going to see oxford, and we're going to see flannels both in shirts and in jackets
in trousers.
Now, with Italian fabrics, it's all about being lightweight, breathable, and having
a nice flow in drape.
Similar to the English, wool is going to be very strong, but we're going to see a tropical
weight weave wool and sometimes mixed with a cashmere or even a mohair.
So, the suit fabrics that they mill from these yarns, they are amazing.
They've got a very nice drape to them.
When you touch them they feel incredibly luxurious.
Let me give you a little bit of history here.
The Italians have been doing this fabric thing for a long time.
We're talking many of these mills have been in business for well over 500, 600 years.
Now, when it comes to particular weaves and types of fabrics, we're going to see jersey,
we're going to see hopsack, we're going to see a gauze weave oftentimes that allows the
air to go in and out.
Now, with shirts of course we're going to see cotton and we're going to see a wide variety
of weaves, we're going to see a basket weave, we're going to see poplin.
But, when we look at shirts we're also going to see silk, but you'll also see linen.
Yes, it takes a bit more ironing, but very breathable because of the weave and the way
the fiber is actually made.
So, who wins when it comes to fabrics?
Again, gentlemen, I got to give this one a draw.
Both countries are kicking butt here.
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Round five.
Let's talk about the reasons, the why men dress sharp in each of these countries.
Now, I know I'm about to make a big sweeping statement, but when I think of an Englishman
getting dressed thinking about the reasoning for wearing what he does, it's all about society
and where does society and what do they expect what is the uniform.
If he wants to fit in at one level fit in at another one and there's a system there's
a set rule set layout of how you need to dress to look that part.
Now, with the Italians, it's all about the individual.
You can wear a wide variety of pieces.
Yes, people are going to make judgments depending on what you were if you were really something
outlandish, but in general you're going to see a lot more the peacocking a lot more of
these guys wearing things that they feel and they want to look great.
A lot of this comes down to history.
The Italians didn't really get into the suit-making game until the 1940s and so we see that the
suits over there are not so much constrained to class in order.
All right.
So, who wins this round?
I got to give it to the Italians.
All right, gents.
So, it looks like the Italians just barely edged out the English, but I know a lot of
you guys are going to disagree, so let me know.
Down in the comments, I want to hear from you guys get down there let me know what did
I miss, what should I have talked about, what did I completely forget in today's video.
And, gents, if you want more, go check out this video right here, I compare Italian versus
English shoes really talking about the Goodyear welt versus the Blake stitch.
All right, gents.
So, as promised, here's the amazing story about Gagliardi.
So, apparently Salvatore, the founder, he actually served in World War II with the British
military and after he got out he decided to join as a sailor merchant traveling around
the world, spent a lot of time in Italy, developed taste for the finer things in life.
So, here's a guy that it actually gone on Savile Row.
He checked out higher-end tailoring, knew what -- he really appreciated the attention
to detail and then he's looking at the flair the fabrics with the Italian and he wanted
to mix it together.
And so, in 1964 he started this company with this vision this dream of actually bringing
these two countries and this style together which was a big concept in that time period.
And, what I really love, gents, is it's a third generation family-run company.
So, Salvatore, his son Peter came in, and now his grandson Sam is working with them.
So, I love stories like this.
And, if you go check out the website, guys, tons of great reviews, free worldwide shipping.
And, again, guys, an amazing discount.
I'm going to be linking to him down in the description.
That's it gentleman.
Take care.
I will see you in the next video.
[0:10:50] End of Audio