April 12, 2010

The Long Lost Art Of Italian Sprezzatura

"Sprez. Spret. Spr. What?"
Help us out here, Wikipedia darling (I personify my favourite websites, is that weird?).

Sprezzatura is an Italian word originating from Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier, where it is defined by the author as “a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.” It is the ability of the courtier to display “an easy facility in accomplishing difficult actions which hides the conscious effort that went into them.”

It's the Italian je-ne-sais-quoi and something that comes naturally to some or takes years of indifferent practicing.
I try to keep my boyish enthusiasm at a minimum, but that still comes down to excited glances, heavy breathing and a manic grin when I see something fabulous. 
I try to say "Care?" (or "Currr?") but it's just no use.

When practising the Sprezz I often ask myself, 'what would Francesco Cominelli (Vogue Hommes stylist/ editor) do?'
The man knows how to dress impeccably and has the attitude to match.
"What? This? I didn't spend four weekends scavenging vintage shops on the Rive Gauche to find this jacket, I just tripped over it in my grandfather's attic. Like. Care?"
His secret? A good, high quality man-clutch (mutch)!
Find the proof below:

















He makes it seem so easy! Even a picture of half his torso is chic!

7 comments:

jeune premier said...

great outfit....love them,especially the third one...my only objection though is a man with a clutch!!but then taste is such a personal thing!!

heleen said...

Haha! Fabulous! He brings a whole new meaning to the concept of 'effortlessly chic'.

Nadir H. said...

not bad at all

Taj said...

omg this dude is AMAZing!!!

M'bem di fora said...

Very nice, i love this outfit.

Juanduh said...

i love him

bo Baccarne said...

Yes! Ik hou ook van z'n stijl! Durfde elke man zich maar eens modieus kleden! Ik vind dat soms spijtig dat mannen mode altijd associëren met homo's, terwijl er genoeg voorbeelden zijn van mannen die het kunnen zonder er gay uit te zien! I love your blog ;)