VR: Your age and occupation?

Products from Pukimo Raivio

Kiton, grey sports jacket, size 50EU
Ralph Lauren, Black Label suit, size 52EU

FA: 26. Currently working on my blog www.thebespokedudes.com and as a journalist for a luxury and lifestyle magazine in Milan

VR: Your educational background?

FA: I graduated few months ago from law school at Bocconi University in Milan.

VR: Have you any children or spouse (and how do they relate to your style enthusiasm)?

FA: I am single with no children.

VR: …and your parents and siblings’ reactions back when you were younger?

FA: My parents were and are happy to see me doing things I love.

VR: What other hobbies or passions do you have besides style?

I have a lot of passions, but most of all I love travelling, learning new languages, meeting new people, reading books, practicing sports and writing about the Italian tailoring tradition.

VR: How did you first become interested in clothing, and when did you turn your eyes towards classic style? Why classics instead of fashion?

FA: I’ve been loving clothes since I was a child and every evening used to prepare my clothes to go to school the day after; I believe style is something everyone builds everyday as a result of experiences and personal taste. At first I had a penchant for known brands, while now I definitely prefer quality, regardless of the brand, as far as the garment has been done with a criteria; either by hand in a tailor’s shop or with traditional techniques and fine fabrics. I believe in this distinction: as for classic and sartorial menswear, you decide what to wear; on the contrary, as for fashion and RTW industry, you wear something decided by others.

VR: How have you gathered your knowledge of apparel — from books, in-house training, workshops or somewhere else?

FA: I’ve learned a lot from books, blogs and most of all by interviewing tailors, trousermakers and shirtmakers and watching them work.

VR: How would you describe your own dress? Have you any particular style or cut philosophy?

FA: I like to describe my style as a continuously evolving classic.

VR: Which RTW makers or tailors do you favour?

FA: As for RTW makers: Boglioli, l.b.m., Lardini and Tonello. As for tailors: Santillo 1970, Sartoria Formosa, Salvatore Ambrosi and Sartoria Chiaia Napoli (by Gennaro Annunziata).

VR: Please describe how The Bespoke Dudes was born and what goals you set for yourself in the beginning. How have you been received so far?

FA: I launched it back in 2012 because I was not feeling [that it’s not] fully represented by any Italian blogger at that time; I wanted to bring young people like me closer to the tailoring industry, inform about italian tailor shops, analyze the differences among the styles of the various sartorie of my Country. I must admit things are going quite well so far, because both brands and tailor shops are recognizing my passion and my desire to learn and spread the word about their charming jobs.

VR: What’s your criteria for the content you choose for your site?

FA: Informative and synthetic content that I like, related to style and menswear.

VR: Over the years you must have learned quite a bit about style. Is there something you wish more men would know? This is a great opportunity to make a lasting influence on my younger readers. Most of us aren’t blessed with rakish relatives, which makes learning about style a challenge later in life — and yet another trait men are supposed to master. All tips and thoughts are valuable.

FA: Of course I still have to learn more than a lot, but I insist on saying that the key is to feel comfortable with your clothes, dress for yourself and forget what you’re wearing. It’s not about only what you wear, but how you wear it.

http://www.thebespokedudes.com/

Pictures: © Fabio Attanasio