Gianni Agnelli

What made him the Godfather of Style?

Sprezzatura. Making the difficult look easy. That’s what the multi-billionaire industrialist and uncrowned King of Italy Gianni Agnelli had created with his personal style, many referred as “relaxed-elegance”. Agnelli changed the game of personal style and created a movement of styling that still echoes into the ideological of dressing beautifully today, according to Brooks Brothers Wardrobe Consultant Thomas Davis that had looked after Agnelli’s wardrobe collection — “He never liked to look too neat; always a little jaunty, a little rakish”. This post is dedicated to exploring three of Agnelli’s most distinguished styling traits and see if his legacy still lives.

• Tie with a shorter Back Blade Than the Front Blade

When Gianni appeared on the ABC show he appeared with his Tie styled with the back blade (slimmer side) longer than the front blade( Larger side), was it a result of just being sloppy on Agnelli half? One has to ask when first glanced however for those who knew Agnelli this was not an accident but a philosophy of Sprezzatura — “Making it effortlessly stylish”. Recently this trend has made its comeback on the sartorialist word and many of our InStitchu stylist themselves can be seen rocking the look.

2. Watch on Top of the Cuff

One of Agnelli’s most spotted styling traits is his wristwatch on top of his shirt instead of it traditionally on the wrist. The reason for this as quoted by Agnelli himself was that he just didn’t have the time to adjust his shirt sleeve down as he was just too busy being an industrialist. Practical as it sounds another tale that floats around which may be more convincing is according to dear friend Taki Theodoracopulas, Agnelli always worn shirts by Brooks Brother, however, he had also stocked up on evening shirts by Battistoni in Rome which was too tight on the cuff, this then led to Agnelli placing the watch over cuff.

3) Slippers, Loafers, Mocs & Hiking Boots with a Suit

Traditionally the suit is combined with your Oxfords or Monks however for Agnelli he experimented by wearing casual loafers, slippers or even mocs and just to add more into the mix Agnelli would also sport hiking boots with his suits, usually with a grey flannel suit, though the boots were merely there to stabilise his foot from a truck accident. Nonetheless the loafers then were adopted by the Duke of Windsor himself and lately many Stylist and Sartorialist are styling the double-breasted with casuals loafers creating a trendy modern finish with a mix of classic traditions.

Even though Gianna Agnelli passed away in 2003 his way of life is still transcending and timeless through his philosophy on style. The man was the embodiment of elegance but also made the elegance his own and this should be noted by all men that are in the pursuit of personal styling.

Written by David Nguyen