Validating any jokes you may have heard about art gallery owners, Philippe Daverio, the man in the photos, is an Italian who's promoting himself as a dandy. Many men might be hesitant to walk around in the clothes he's wearing in these shots but there are some things to appreciate once we get past the matching bow tie and pocket square. 
Considered for an ensemble for a Saturday afternoon, the bow tie works for me and the solid brown trousers and waistcoat go a long way towards balancing the combined checks of the shirt and jacket. The socks relate to the shirt without repeating anything but the color. The gunboat sized bluchers are good shoes that couldn't be worn with anything more formal than what he has on. Overall I give the ensemble a B+.
Daverio is not a handsome man, however his dress consistently draws my eyes to his face and that is the objective. I'm still trying to decide if this is a case of clothes making the man or whether the look of the man makes it more difficult to appreciate the clothes.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
An Italian Dandy
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9 comments:
What I have discovered through personal trial and error is that socks like this are great when worn with lighter colored shoes and lighter colored pants and when the viewer can get just a peek or hint of them. But when sitting and more of the sock becomes exposed, they become unsightly especially when the top of the ensemble is busy. Too many things flying around here.
Each and every morning I look forward to my coffee and this blog.
He's quite a dandy. I would love to be hanging out at the local coffeehouse with him, an indulgent smile on my face.
I like him, he's a bow tie fanatic, I saw him in the street once.
The socks with the circular stripe kill the picture of the man in the chair. Combined with the humped up look of the jacket - a very ill concieved photo op. Colors are fine - just should be up and down as in the several photos of many socks will has shown.
The standing picture shows a good combination of color and pattern. Then he ruins it by causing his jacket to seem ill fitting as well as distorting the fit of the vest by pulling on it. The left hand in the jacket pocket - a la Prince Charles - would have been much better. The pull on the jacket from the right hand at the lapel and the left hand in the pocket would keep it in proper alignment And also make it a bit slimmer. Gentlemen of a certain body type should not try to make themselves more bulbos.
I forgot to add, He should be able to control the blowing up of the shirt above the vest. Note that "blowing up" also describes his body type. He should do a better job in having the clothing be more conforming to his body. In both pictures, even though the colors and patterns are very complimentary, he ruins it. His way of causing distortions in the clothing only emphasise the overweight condition.
Being a bit overweight is not a real problem. Wearing clothing that also balloons and puffs simply makes it look very unkempt.
...but he is absolutely perfect in his job as an art expert. He run a series on the italian TV which was a real pleasure to watch.
I agree with Charley - the socks are the killer. Too much.
But, the rest as a fashion sense describing the man's personality as he goes about town is superb. Sure, he might not fit into a black tie event, or be first past the velvet rope at the kiddie club, but if you met that guy at a book store, coffee shop, or sex emporium, you would never forget him. It says 'hello' without quite going over the edge into saying 'goodbye.'
Refreshing to see people with a style that is individual yet not tastelessly ostentatious to the point of being narcissistically blaring.
Whether or not he is a "dandy" is secondary to the fact that his hair is grotesque. Hideous hair — and extra pounds — can ruin an ensemble as sure as a suit with cuffs to your fingertips. Blecchh.
I like the hair. And, I think he is a handsome man, actually. Looks like he's lived, seen things, indeed, been through things, processed those things well, and become more ably humane for it. My definition of handsome.
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