Introduction to pitti uOmo ​

SETTING THE STAGE FOR FASHION WORLDWIDE
The era where the ideas of Da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo were becoming well known influenced the world and led to the idea of the “modern man”.  The fashion capital of the world, Milan, Italy, gave birth to the menswear fashion event now known as Pitti Uomo, that encapsulates the very idea of the modern man that was inspired by these artists.  For the majority of the events history, it has been held in different cities throughout Italy, but attracts fashion enthusiasts from around the world to view the runway and trade shows as well as huge installations from various menswear brands.  The event acts as a showcase of mens fashion on a global scale, while also allowing many nations and cultures to join together and create a seamless industry and style through fashion.
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       "Fashion is linked to the image of Italy."
           Carlo Calenda, Vice Minister of Economic
                           Development in Italy

At the Forefront 

What makes this event different from any other is that trends that are presented in the exhibition set the tone for fashion across the world for the rest of the year.  This illustrates the impact of "avant garde" in the fashion world.  The concept of avant garde asserts that artists of any kind should pursue the goal of being at the forefront of their sphere of influence, and should aim to constantly create new and cutting-edge pieces that push the boundaries of artistic expression. Pitti Uomo does just this by allowing the attendees and influential figures in the industry to come together in unity and intermingle with the actual designers, giving them have the once in a lifetime opportunity to whisper their ideas
into the ears of those designers, and also have their own clothes custom created and tailored.  This allows new pieces and trends to be created continuously, while also taking into consideration the concepts of other cultures, as seen in the 20th century in the time known as Expressionism.

The influence of Expressionism

​The event also resembles the period of Expressionism that spread throughout Europe during 1905 to 1920. during this period non-western art had a strong influence on the works of famous artists such as Picasso.  This period signified a time during which new standards for analyzing and interpreting art accompanied new modes of creation.  Pitti Uomo uses this concept and takes it to a whole other level for fashion by incorporating non-western ideas and designs into its exhibitions and designs created by designers and brands , as well as influencing other cultures by what is presented every year.
No. 1

Trends 
​“The mission of Pitti is to develop the best brands and manufacturers, and select for the buyers the best, not only in Italy, but in the world”. Because Pitti showcases the best fashion in the world, it subsequently exposes the world to many new and exciting trends, as well as many modifications that have been made to preexisting trends.
No. 2

Universality 
Fashion is an art form that is constantly changing, and is highly influenced by the cultures and regions of its origin. It is clear that the menswear that is presented at Pitti Uomo is able to be translated to include the cultures of all that attend the event. 

trends  
Due to its reputation as the culmination of modern men's fashion, Pitti Uomo encourages representation of many international brands and designers. The fashion industry is constantly changing and Pitti Uomo is proof of that. In fact, one could use the photographs from each of the semi-annual Pitti Uomo fashion conventions to observe how fluid the men's fashion industry is has become.

From the classic sartorial style, to casual everyday wear, certain trends have withheld the test of time and remained fashion staples across the world.  On the other hand, other trends have either died out or been modified to conform to modern standards of fashion as art.

TRENDS  IN FASHION AND HOW THEY IMPACT SOCIETY  

SARTORIAL STAPLES

This is a timeless and classical style that is most often characterized by well-fitted suits. Because of this, styling one suit into many different looks that change with the seasons is a sure way to create a timeless outfit that epitomizes the spirit of classical menswear. In recent times, there has been a resurgence of replicating 1920 styles and classical fashion. Throughout the 1950's, a lot of bold, boxy, and preppy looks were seen among students.  In the 1960's, the aberrance of what was considered the classical man was seen again where being slim and sharp was the desired look. This can be observed in the cinematic industry at the time as well. 

1950 preppy 

1920 classical man 

1960 sharp and thin

DESERT STYLE

The desert style is a color palette composed of soft tones like dusty rose, sand & olive.
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"From motorcycles and Cessnas to rows of cacti and sand-covered floors, the desert theme dominated at Pitti this year"

use of earth tones 

Earth Tones in mens' fashion gained popularity in the early 1970's following the Civil Rights era, when African American men started becoming more aware of their heritage.
It has since remained a staple color palette in men's and women's fashion alike.

pleAted trousers 

Pleats are often confused with creased pants. Creased pants are characterized by a crease that runs down the length of the pant leg. Pleated trousers are created when the fabric of the trousers is folded over on itself and secured with stitching.
For over 2 millennia, Salwar pleaded pants have been worn in India and were introduced as a solution to increase hip and leg mobility in men's trousers.
Initially gaining popularity in the 1930's, pleated pants became the go-to trouser style for Western men's suits in the late 1940's and 1950's.​
After virtually vanishing from the men's fashion world in the 1960s, they regained popularity in the 1990s.

UNIVERSALITY of fashion 
“The selection that they are making of the brands is very sophisticated and very advanced. Sometimes it gives direction to fashion. The Japanese market, which is in my opinion the most sophisticated for menswear, looks a lot to the Pitti selection of brands”.

​“The mission of Pitti is to develop the best brands and manufacturers, and select for the buyers the best, not only in Italy, but in the world” .

The amazing thing about the fashion that is presented during the event is that it's timelessness transcends gender.  Although Pitti Uomo is an exhibit of menswear, females are also allowed to participate in this awesome showcase of art.
The main component of Pitti Uomo is the universality of menswear, and how traditional fashion pieces can completely transform one-dimensional pieces into versatile ones. The majority of these pieces include scarves, hats, watches, socks, and shoes. Especially in our Post-modernism society, the menswear presented at Pitti is not only applicable to those who lead more sophisticated lives, but also to anyone who wants to participate in the event. There has been an influx of men and women who transform certain garments to be worn in various settings. They also exhibit a variety of cultures through the integration of their traditional cultural fashion. Because men's fashion is universal, it has drawn inspiration from African, Russian and Italian culture many times in the past, not to mention the rest of the world. Although the designers and brands presented in Pitti are widely regarded as "high fashion", they are still derived from everyday modern fashion. Similarly, innovative designers and brands that are showcased serve the function of inspiring everyday, consumer brands.
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