His Vanity. Until the 60s, the only jewels allowed for men were cufflinks and the wedding ring. At most the tie clip, some used to wear the gold chain received for the first Holy Communion. Jewels became a trend for men in the 70s: young people drew inspiration from the rockstars, so the first silver bracelets started to peek out. Later there were the yellow gold bracelets, in form of rectangular plates matched with leather strings. From the years of minimalism on, the inspiration was punk and its symbologies. And from Slimane for Dior Homme and Margiela, to the funny creations by Paul Smith, and the jewelry collection by Dolce&Gabbana, many designers have indulged the most hidden side of men’s vanity.

May 1997: the concept of unisex fashion had already been strongly adopted by young people, but Shalom Harlow, photographed for Versace Jeans Couture adv by Steven Meisel, was there to remember how a denim men shirt could be feminine.

T-Shirts, Versace, s/s 2018.

The eclectic knight. “A Fornasetti item has the power of changing the vibration of any place. A room can be very beautiful, but also rooted in real life. Place a Fornasetti in there and the room acquires a completely different aspect”. This is how, in 2005, Philippe Starck described the dreamlike side of the masterpieces of Piero Fornasetti, (Milan, 1913/1988). His son Barnaba continues the research started by his father and contributes to the success of an artist that revolutionized the interior design concept; a “style changer”, Fornasetti, that “for a long time was ostracized. Far from the strict rules of modernist rationalism, bearer of a narrative and theatrical design that reached the highest peak of modernity, recovering at the same time the classical codes. Piero Fornasetti was put on the borders by a system that didn’t forgive his eclectism”: this is what Silvia Annicchiarico writes in the book Citazioni Pratiche, edited by Electa and curated by Barnaba Fornasetti. If Piero Fornasetti had been a director he would have been Fellini, if he had been a band, the Beatles, and if he had been a modern artist he would have been Damien Hirst. And if he had been a fashion designer?

Champions in style. Muscles and brain. Brain and muscles. Talent, exorbitant fees. Sportsmen like Hollywood stars; only footballers in the past, all the athletes today. Fashion chases them, and sportswear has been an important reference point for decades, particularly for menswear: today this relationship is more delimited on mensfashion. There are lots of collections oriented towards a combination of sport and luxury. From easy-wear to “for few”-wear. They are very expensive items. And if the trend will stop? Don’t worry, it will last for long. The choice is up to you.