Men s Casual Chic style inspiration from Florence

Casual chic is a way of taking elegant and formal clothes and toning them down to make it clear that they are being worn for personal leisure, not to be presentable in a corporate setting. Casual implies that there is room to break conventions, have fun with style and trust your gut; chic implies that it is also about looking sharp and elegant. This dress code is most commonly used in the summer, in the winter the melange between formal and cool is more often referred to as Cocktail Attire. When it comes to cool and elegant summer style, no place is more pertient than Italy.

Enter Pitti Uomo, perhaps the world’s most famous menswear trade fair, held in Florence, Italy.

The summer edition of Pitti Uomo takes place every year in June, and Florence is pretty hot at this time of year. It’s no surprise that lighter, breathable fabrics such as linen, tropical wool and seersucker are in the spotlight, but let’s delve into the standout colours and pieces we spotted.

It’s a great place to get a feel for emerging trends, meet potential or existing partners and catch up with friends in the industry, which is why we make it a point to attend as often as possible. During our trip, we took photos of the impeccably dressed gentlemen at Pitti to show how playful and varied casual chic can be.

We attended the fair to identify emerging trends, and in the evenings, it was time to mingle and socialize at the hip events that attract the best-dressed men. One such event is the Plaza Uomo cocktail party, hosted at the stunning Palazzo Budini Gattai, gathering style enthusiasts from around the world. Another show-stopping event was Mr. Kraft’s Tailgating Party, where we also saw some impeccably dressed men. Scroll down for more inspiration.

Perhaps the most classic and expected colour for summer. White, off-white and cream effortlessly capture the essence of summer and create a clean, crisp look. White definitely plays on the chic side of casual chic, and indeed almost every classic formal outfit contains some form of white, most commonly the shirt. However, when white is used in excess, as in a white suit like the one shown here, or as a single detail, such as a white tie or pocket square, the colour is used in such an unconventional way that it is no longer associated with classic formal wear. And this is a basic exercise in casual chic style – take something that is used in a formal setting and play with it until it is yours.

Navy blue once again proved to be a hit, even for summer suiting. The colour may seem a little too corporate for a style like casual chic, but when you think of the nautical and resort associations, it becomes clear that navy is an excellent choice for men who want to dress elegant and laidback. We spotted navy suits in linen, seersucker and tropical wool that effortlessly cut down on formality and looked great.