Packing for Pitti
We are back - happy, tired and ready to report on our trip.
There may or may not be better time to sum up Pitti Uomo 108 we’ve just been to - sorry we won’t do that today, but yesterday’s strikes in Italy proved to be a very tiring experience after an already exhausting week - so we would rather leave you with some actual usable tips and our insights instead of another photo gallery and trendspotting.
This edition was a first time for Suzan, second for Łukasz and Mateusz, and just another (5th, probably?) one for Kamil.
Of course we all needed to look the part… surviving the 35*C degrees heatwave.
What we’ve packed (and actually used)
Kamil - Everything (almost). This time I took a moment to think about the outfits and I knew what I wanted to wear and when. For me it was a little bit stressful, because I usually just pack the things I like and figure out how I want to look on the go. However, with Pitti Uomo I wanted to go the extra mile - not just because it’s an opportunity to actually try some new combinations and test them, but also because the heat was sometimes unbearable and I had to count shirts, T-shirts, and underwear to be sure that I would be comfortable for the whole trip.
Spoiler alert - it’s almost impossible to be comfortable all day in 35 degrees heat, but when are you going to test if a linen jacket really works, if not at Pitti?
Łukasz - I tried to keep it simple and do not overpack, so I’m happy to say I’ve used the vast majority of the things I’ve brought with me. As it was certain we’re going to change outfits at least once during the day (for two reasons - it’s super hot in Florence in July so it’s nice to freshen up mid-day and I wanted to wear something more party-oriented in the evening) the point was to be able to mix easily everything I’ve chosen. With three suits, a blazer and two additional pairs of trousers I’ve managed to create various sets for every day and I didn’t feel like I should have taken anything more.
If I was to indicate what I’ve worn the most, without a doubt I’d say shoes, as I took only three pairs with me (well, four if you’d count in the running shoes as well) and one of those pairs I intended to wear for travelling only. This gives us two pairs to actually wear for the fair and they are both loafers - Alden 3558 and Alden 987. Color 8 for the day and the black ones for the afternoon. Luckily these both fit me well so I’ve managed to avoid bad blisters despite the heat, and that’s with over 15km of walking daily!
Mateusz - I wasn’t sure whether I should rather mention what turned out to become my favourite casual jacket (a black western shacket from Life Revival I often show) or a favourite tailored one (a pearl linen double-breasted from Poszetka that did not get much wear before), so let me include both.
Honestly, I could have worn just these two all week, if it wasn’t for the Pitti’s ways. One for the day, one for the night; in rotation. Still, even with all this dressing up and showing off, I wore each one twice… and hardly resisted wearing them more, since I had few more ideas I could use if needed.
Suzan - I decided to pack very light and managed to fit everything into a carry-on suitcase. It’s summer, so I was confident I could make it work. I packed 3 suits, but in colors that don’t really work well together, so I wasn’t able to mix and match them. My idea was to wear each suit twice, once very casually and once more formally - probably with a tie. And since I mostly wear light trousers during summer, I knew I would wear two of them without the jacket at least once.
Tank tops! I packed 2! And wore both - one with a suit and one with a camp collar shirt.
What we’ve packed and DID NOT wear at all
Kamil - Ties. I brought three ties because I forgot to pack them for the last Pitti and really wanted to wear them with more formal attire to some late evening parties. However, I felt much better with kind of a “bad boy” energy, leaving the shirt unbuttoned, and I was more comfortable leaving the ties in a bag. Nevertheless, I’m happy I had them because if I hadn’t, I would probably have overthought whether my elegant outfits would look better with something under my neck.
Also, did I mention the heat already?
Łukasz - As I’ve written above I tried not to overpack, so there is not much to write about here. Only some of the accessories I’ve brought with me ended up unused. This is because I tend to choose particular accessories for the outfit based on the current mood. If I only have some space left in my luggage, I pack some additional pieces to have a better selection available on hand.
What changed in the way I dress in the last couple of years is how often I wear braces, and this week I haven’t worn them even once! I still think they offer greater comfort and stability than belts, but in such high temperatures I would sweat even more while wearing braces. What is more, belt can really change an overall feel of the whole outfit, especially if you skip other accessories like ties or pocket squares.
Mateusz - Of course I overpacked, so there are quite a few strong candidates for this part. The honourable spot has to go to my baseball caps - I took FOUR. I thought I would be using them everyday, since the sun can be merciless and they could just serve as an accessory… but I did not really feel like wearing them at all this time. I avoided putting the cap on as much as I could, although I had to carry one as a backup every day, for when I had no option but to walk or stand in full sun. It was out of necessity, not out of willingness. None of the four made it into the outfit. Three are going home completely fresh and unworn on the trip
Suzan - Polos! I got two because I was sure I’d wear at least one with a suit, but I really wasn’t feeling them this time.
I took a couple of extra shirts because for some of the outfits I planned to wear, I had two different shirt color ideas and wasn’t sure which one I would be feeling more that day. I did the same with ties, since I wasn’t sure if I would feel like wearing them.
I also took brown and navy knitted T-shirts to wear casually with a suit or without a jacket. I wore the brown one without a jacket on the first evening for our team dinner, but I haven’t worn either of them with a suit. On the day I decided to go very casual, I was feeling the tank top look a lot more.
What we haven’t packed but wish we’ve packed
Kamil - Maybe - just maybe - I’d have liked to wear one more pair of trousers with belt loops and my Scott Fraser snake belt, just to pump one of the evening outfits. All in all, I think I packed pretty well and wasn’t short on anything, but adding this small touch could have been an option for one of the days. Also I have to confess - I did forgot the toothpaste.
Łukasz - As much as I’m satisfied completely with my clothing choices, I wish I’d packed some antibacterial hand gel for washing my hands during the day. It would be much easier to have something on me rather than searching for a place to do so. Another thing, also from cosmetics would be… a moisturizing cream for feet, as it can really bring you some ease after a heavy day of walking in the sun.
Mateusz - A pair of white silk braces. It could be the only time I wore them for the next year or so (and the first time I wore them since my own wedding, probably?), but I totally forgot about them when packing. That’s sad because I don’t really like not to use the stuff I have… and this time I could make use of something special.
Oh, and another thing would be my 35mm film camera. I did not take it this time since I barely used it in January - there was too little time during the day and too bad lighting at night. However, it turns out it would work much better in June as the day is looooong and I could easily capture some pics at the evening parties. Will do next time!
Suzan - More shoes! It turned out I was too optimistic. I decided I will dress a bit more elegantly this week since I’m a very casual guy most of the year. I thought dark brown tassel loafers would cover all situations, but I also had the new sand pair in case I wanted to go with lighter shoes. Unfortunately that was too optimistic and I was very wrong. Now I’m paying the price (I got two blisters, but it’s probably partly because I was always wearing loafers barefoot). It also turned out that I don’t really feel comfortable in very light shoes, like sand suede, so I only wore that pair once, even though they were very comfortable. I wish I’d taken at least one extra pair, like my dark brown suede Alden LHS loafers to wear with outfits when I wasn’t wearing a tie.
I also wanted to bring different tote bags to better match the vibe I wanted to create with each outfit, but since I limited myself to a carry-on suitcase, I knew it wouldn’t be possible.
I learned that a carry-on suitcase can be enough for a summer Pitti, but to be honest, I wouldn’t do it again. It’s much more comfortable to pack more and have extra stuff than to wish you had it.
Wow, been waiting for some Fortezza da Basso content from you guys, hope more to come because this is a nice appetiser! Take care!