10 classic Italian brands you should know

classic Italian menswear brands

For spring and summer, Italian menswear is always in fashion. There is a special elegance that characterises Italian style and makes it great to wear for the summer months. Here we highlight the classic Italian brands you should know.

We have previously looked at British menswear brands. For spring and summer, however, we often want lighter garments and Italian style is more appropriate. Italians are renowned for their ability to dress elegantly. Something that has led us to use the term Sprezzatura to describe the genuine ability to dress stylishly without it looking forced.

As early as the 1930s, Cesare Attolini (image above) would introduce the unconstructed jacket. It is also a hallmark of Italian elegance today.

Italian men’s fashion has become popular around the world in recent years and we have become more aware of the brands available on the market. Here we highlight the brands you should be aware of when searching for Italian menswear online.

Where to find classic Italian brands online?

There are two online stores in particular that we can recommend for those looking for quality Italian clothing online. Mr Porter is the world’s largest online store for premium men’s clothing, where you can find most of the world’s most famous Italian men’s brands.

best classic menswear online

At Farfetch you will also find most Italian brands, both in the luxury segment and at the mid-price level.

best shops online for quality menswear spring summer 2022

Classic Italian menswear brands

There are some Italian brands in men’s fashion that are, above all, synonymous with Italian elegance. Some have a long history while others have come in the last few decades.

Here are some of the ones you’ll want to keep an eye on if you’re looking to build an Italian-style wardrobe.

1. Lardini – Simple elegance

classic italian brands

Unconstructed jackets and trousers with a high waist and double front pleats are the hottest thing in classic menswear right now. If you’re looking for this type of menswear, there’s one Italian brand above all others. With a history dating back to 1978, Lardini is a brand that combines traditional craftsmanship with innovative production methods.

For spring and summer 2022, Lardini has developed a range of men’s garments that are a must for men who want to dress stylishly this season. High waisted shorts and trousers with double front pleats and stylish waist details. Knitted, unconstructed to give the perfect drape. These are some of the must-have pieces if you want to dress in Italian style this spring and summer.

2. Brunello Cucinelli – Italian lifestyle brand

classic italian lifestyle brands menswear

Cashmere master Brunello Cucinelli from Solomeo could almost be considered Italy’s equivalent of Ralph Lauren. Wearing Brunello Cucinelli is a way of life and a showcase of how to dress up elegant clothes of the best quality both for everyday and more formal occasions.

It started from cashmere sweaters in bright colours in the 1970s, but nowadays everything from suits to home furnishings can be found in Brunello Cucinelli’s range. The hallmark of the Cucinelli look is earthy, neutral colours where you can easily combine garments from the collections to create a stylish whole.

3. Acqua di Parma – Classic Italian perfume house

classic italian perfume brands

Anyone who has visited Italy has most likely come into close contact with the classic Acqua di Parma Colonia. This classic fragrance was launched back in 1916 and has held its position as one of the most popular classic men’s perfumes on the market.

It also became widely popular with major Hollywood stars in the 1940s and 1950s, with users including Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. In recent years, Acqua di Parma has launched a wide range of unique and stunning fragrances, all of which are the epitome of Italian elegance.

4. Incotex – The world’s leading trouser manufacturer

great italian makers of trousers

Incotex has a reputation for making the world’s best trousers. Not entirely unjustified if you ask us. Trousers from Incotex are the closest thing you’ll get to bespoke if you’re shopping for chinos. Founded in 1951 in Venice, the brand initially produced trousers for Ralph Lauren and Ermenegildo Zegna, among others. Since 2003, however, Incotex has been an independent brand.

A pair of trousers from Incotex has great detail and quality that guarantees longevity. For anyone who values quality, this is always a good buy.

5. Boglioli – Italian style in a nutshell

best italian menswear brands

There is hardly another Italian brand on the market that emphasizes the typical Italian style in men’s fashion more than Boglioli. Boglioli are specialists in unconstructed jackets and have a long experience in craftsmanship.

Here you will find lots of jackets in innovative materials. A knitted jacket with the same elegant look as a regular unconstructed jacket, but with the feel of a knitted sweater is our hottest tip for the colder weather of autumn and winter.

6. Persol – Sunglasses that stay in style

best italian brands for sunglasses

There are several Italian brands that make stylish and elegant sunglasses. However, few can match Persol when it comes to history and heritage.

In fact, Persol is one of the first sunglasses manufacturers in the world, producing models such as the PO 649 seen in the 1962 film Divorce, Italian Style starring Marcello Mastroianni.

7. Canali – Italian luxury since the 1930s

best italian luxury brands

There is no shortage of luxury brands in Italian menswear. Brioni, for example, has a long history and was also the brand responsible for the suits in the Bond films before Tom Ford took over that role. Loro Piana is also one of the classic Italian brands synonymous with luxury.

When making our choice in the luxury category, however, it is Canali that we choose. Family-owned tailoring company Canali has been synonymous with Italian luxury ever since it was founded in 1934. Only the finest materials are used and, combined with excellent fit, suits and other garments from Canali have appealed to statesmen and other profiles in the world of entertainment. Every step from design to sewing takes place in one of their Italian factories.

8. Herno – Manufacturer of outerwear

best italian brands jackets

If there’s one thing Italian fashion is known for, it’s the art of combining function with sophistication. No one does it better than Herno, known by the Italians themselves as one of the best in the field.

Here you’ll find outerwear in figure-hugging cuts and waterproof fabrics of the highest quality. Herno is also a brand that constantly develops new jackets with new product technology to better meet the requirements of functional garments.

9. Tod’s – The world’s most famous car shoe

best italian shoes

Tod’s is the brand behind the world’s most famous car shoe Gommino. It’s hard to believe that the brand doesn’t have a history that goes back further than 1978 given how famous this shoe model is. It was style icon and businessman Giovanni Agnelli who put the shoe model on the map by starting to wear them early on.

Nowadays, you can find a wide range of different shoe models as well as accessories from Tod’s. But it is Gommino that has come to be most associated with Tod’s.

10. Ermenegildo Zegna – Italian premium brand with a long history

iconic italian luxury menswear

Ermenegildo Zegna was founded back in 1912 by the man of the same name and is also one of the oldest Italian men’s fashion brands on the market. Over the years, this family business has made a name for itself as both an exclusive fabric producer and a luxury brand of the highest quality.

Ermenegildo Zegna uses exclusive fabrics such as silk in its suits and here you will find sharp cuts and well-crafted hand-sewn details.

Finally – classic Italian brands

There are other Italian brands worth mentioning besides the ones mentioned above. L.B.M. 1911 is a brand worth taking a look at if you’re looking for unconstructed jackets. The same goes for Aspesi, which has managed to produce a stylish spring and summer collection for 2021.

If you’re looking for loafers for summer, we recommend taking a look at the range of handmade shoes available at Santoni. Among sneakers, the Buttero brand is one of the world’s best with its calfskin sneakers.

Last but not least, Altea has a variety of stylish picket sweaters for summer.

So there is no shortage of stylish, quality pieces for those looking for Italian men’s clothing for spring and summer. Here we have picked out some of the top classic Italian brands that will definitely take your style to new levels this season!

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