INTERVIEW: Timeless elegance with Alessandro Squarzi
Words: India Gladstone
Being one of the most pictured men in the men’s fashion and street style world can be a lot of pressure, to say the very least, but Alessandro Squarzi is very much accustomed to the gaze of a photographer’s lens. He’s curated an enviable manner in front of the camera; he’s cool, he’s calm and immaculately put together, sartorially that is. With all these in play, he’s snapped on a regular basis, not least of all by two of the most well known and accomplished street style photographers out there: Scott Schuman, aka The Sartorialist; and the equally respected Tommy Ton.
Squarzi isn’t just a pretty-faced, well-dressed gentleman, either. The Italian entrepreneur set up a consultancy company under his name in 1992 and now has showrooms in Bologna, Ancona, Florence and Milan. He’s also one of the biggest collectors of vintage clothes, cars and motorcycles in the whole of Italy – an impressive feat coming from one of the most fashionable countries in the world. So how does it feel to be one of the most influential men in the world of style? We decided to ask Squarzi himself…
1. Describe your personal style in one sentence
I would call it ‘my classic’: a timeless take on classic.
2. How did you first become interested in documenting your style?
It all started when Scott Schuman published the first photos of me. People liked them, so I started sharing moments of my daily life on Instagram. The big response from the public – and the interest in what I was wearing – lead me to document my style.
3. What excites you about fashion?
Not what is fashionable today, but what will last over time.
4. How often do you travel?
Too much!
5. Where is your favourite fashion city?
Milan, Italy.
6. What are three items you always travel with to stay stylish?
My white Fortela trousers, my Edward Green shoes and my camel coat in winter or Solaro jacket in summer.
7. What’s the biggest challenge you face when staying current in the fast-moving fashion world?
Always being myself.
8. Talk us through your everyday style rules.
I don’t have real style rules. I dress according to how I’m feeling that day and what is on my agenda.
9. What is one fashion faux pas that no gentleman should commit?
Wearing a short-sleeved shirt.
10. What is the one piece of fashion advice that’s stuck with you?
Always make sure you are appropriately dressed for the occasion.
Follow Alessandro on Instagram here.
Follow Alessandro’s brand Fortela here, AS65 here, and Anatomica Tokyo here.
Images by Ko Hooncheol // Main image by Tommy Ton // Featured image by Scott Schuman
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