Hereโs a practical primer to understanding sprezzatura and what it means for menswear.
Thereโs nothing quite like Italian menswear. Thanks in part to legendary design houses like Loro Piana and Ermenegildo Zegna, Italians have an almost whimsical fashion sensibility. Italian menโs fashion has become synonymous with a specific kind of laid-back style thatโs classy yet relaxed.
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The Italian approach to menswear is often described as โsprezzatura,โ which is typically translated as โstudied carelessness.โ The term rose to popularity in the early 2010s, and now itโs regularly used in conversations about Italian style.
If you frequent menโs fashion communities, youโve probably heard of sprezzatura before, but it may not have been in a positive way. Like many styles, sprezzatura is the victim of poor execution โ while itโs supposed to be carefree, it can look either messy or pretentious if carried out poorly.
Sprezzatura is great, but itโs often misunderstood, so Iโm here to set the record straight and tell you how you can implement this approach to fashion โ even if you donโt wear Italian tailoring.
What Is Sprezzatura?
The word sprezzatura was first used by Renaissance author Baldassare Castiglione in his work The Book of the Courtier. He defined it as โa certain nonchalance, to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought.โ
In essence, this style is a graceful carelessness that gives one the appearance of being effortlessly elegant.
In many cases, sprezzatura is forced to some degree, meaning itโs an illusion of nonchalance. However, itโs also possible for it to be more natural. Itโs a bit paradoxical โ the more you try to have sprezzatura, the less you actually have.
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The concept of sprezzatura wasnโt applied to fashion until centuries after Castiglioneโs book was published. The word only became a relatively well-known term in the last couple of decades.
When sprezzatura did enter the menswear lexicon, it almost immediately became associated with Italian style (which makes sense โ the word is Italian, after all).
In particular, it came to describe how Italian men tend to wear formal clothing in a more casual way and mix elements of both styles.
Italians mainly stick to tailored clothing, but they approach it in a relaxed manner without being fastidious about making sure everything is neat and tidy.
As such,ย people often associate sprezzatura with a certain level of messiness. Partially unbuttoned dress shirts, loose neckties, and folded collars are all examples of sprezzatura.
Whatโs Wrong With Sprezzatura?
Today, sprezzatura is often a menswear punchline. The reason is simple: the specific Italian casualness associated with sprezzatura is usually achieved by copying others. And, of course, that defeats the whole point of sprezzatura.
At its core, sprezzatura is about nonchalance, but taking pains to make sure your outfit is perfectly unkempt is the exact opposite of nonchalance.
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In addition, many guys make the mistake of thinking that sprezzatura equals sloppiness. While there is some messiness in, itโs not the goal to look disheveled on purpose. Rather, Sprezzatura is haphazard in the โI just threw this onโ sort of way.
Importantly, uniqueness is a crucial part of sprezzatura. Walk the streets of Italy, and youโll see that the men donโt all follow the same stylistic patterns. To put it another way, thereโs no uniform for this style. Of course, uniqueness you lose originality when you copy others.
The Right Way To Embrace This Effortless Italian Style
True sprezzatura canโt be forced.ย
Instead of focusing on copying a specific style, you can embrace the overall philosophy to improve your outfits.
In short, the best way to achieve sprezzatura is by being confident in your personal style.
It is all about nonchalance, and you canโt fake true nonchalance. Itโs the byproduct of feeling comfortable in what you wear.
Think of it this way: The Italian men who inspired sprezzatura didnโt keep their neckties loose or pair suits with beaded bracelets to affect a certain look. They did those things because they wanted to, sometimes out of practicality and sometimes out of preference.
Furthermore, thinking of sprezzatura as a series of stylistic choices also defeats the purpose of the philosophy. It doesnโt take specific forms โ itโs unique to every person.
Someone who embodies this personalized kind of sprezzatura is Brycelandโs cofounder, Ethan Newton. He mixes casual and formal elements in his own way, and itโs clear heโs not just copying the general Italian style.
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Think of sprezzatura as a mindset instead of a way of dressing. Itโs not specific to Italian tailoring, and it doesnโt consist of certain stylistic boxes you have to tick.
Here are some easy ways to embrace this effortless mindset no matter your personal style:
- Get comfortable with your wardrobe. The more broken-in your clothes are, the more nonchalant youโll be about how you dress.
- Observe your outfits. You might be employing sprezzatura without knowing it. Take a look at your outfits to see if youโre deviating from the norm in any unique ways.
- Experiment with putting less thought into outfits. Technically, this is forcing sprezzatura, so it shouldnโt be your default mode of dressing. However, itโs a fun way to discover new combinations and outfits you may not have thought of otherwise.
Sprezzatura: Comfortable Originality
Itโs a shame that so many people misunderstand sprezzatura. The actual concept is a great way to think about style (and life).
In a nutshell, it is about being comfortable and confident. That doesnโt mean you should spend an hour in front of the mirror to make sure your outfit is just the right degree of messy.
Real sprezzatura is feeling like your clothing is a second skin unique to you. With this comfort, you embrace the confidence that naturally comes.ย
Once youโre comfortable with your wardrobe, youโll naturally wear it in a way thatโs unique, and thatโs not something you can fake!
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
Nila says
I just came upon the word โSPREZZATURAโ and you are a terrific writer, describing it nicely. It was fascinating how you were able to create a mental picture of the way it is a nonchalant-style, like you either have it or not, it canโt be pretended. It is interesting, unique & fun. It is a desirable and magnetic style.