Written by Arthur Magnin

For the second consecutive year, the Sartorial Club hosted its highly anticipated Masquerade Ball at the breathtaking Palazzo Portinari Salviati in Florence. This event, which seamlessly blends history, artistry, and camaraderie, serves as the perfect prelude to the vibrant week of Pitti Uomo. With the Palazzo’s Renaissance charm as its backdrop, the evening showcased the vision of the Sartorial Club within the sartorial community.

A Grand Return to Palazzo Portinari Salviati

The Palazzo Portinari Salviati once again set the stage for an unforgettable evening. From the intricate Renaissance decor inspired by Dante and the Medici family to the inviting courtyards adorned with elegant furnishings.

The Palazzo's historic significance was depicted in great details by Simon’s last edition article, and reinforces the Club’s commitment to celebrating heritage and craftsmanship.

Cosimo I de Medici statue at the center of the court yard

Few tips for choosing your Mask

The only dress code for the evening is to wear a mask - without it, wouldn’t make a masquerade after all. Besides traditional, creative black tie and elevated dressier evening ensembles, let me share with you a few tips I’ve learnt for the choice of mask.

First thing is, a real papier-maché mask is both expensive and fragile, which makes it a dangerous endeavour to travel with to the Pitti - if not lost. If you don’t have a way to secure it during your flight, you would be better off purchasing on the day you arrive.

Also : think about practicality. Last year, I was running late and got one quickly, but I did not think about it thoroughly. It was a full mask, which makes it absolutely terrible for chatting and drinking the fine wines and cocktails served during the night and if you’re wearing glasses like I do, you can easily imagine the hassle.

But there is a third and final lesson: you can cheap out a bit, but not too much. This time I went for a simple one, however the first time I tried to put it on the strap snapped out immediately.

Thankfully, my roommates had double sided skin tape, so I had the mask literally taped to my face the evening, but it was more comfortable than it sounds like. Even though it was actually quite elegant in a simplistic strapless way, I would not recommend the stress right before the evening.

If you wish to purchase in Florence, you can sgo to the San Lorenzo Mercado or Edera Maschere via Panicale. These two also happen to be located next to each other so you’ll have a wide range of choices.

The Essence of the Evening

This year, the Masquerade Ball embraced the Sartorial Club’s ethos of "Network, Explore, Co-create," weaving these principles into every aspect of the evening. The event not only celebrated sartorial elegance but also served as a testament to the Club’s values and its growing global impact, fostering meaningful connections and creative opportunities among members.

The beloved speed dating activity made a triumphant return, offering attendees a chance to mingle and meet 24 new people in just one hour. This dynamic and inclusive format ensured that members, both new and returning, could form genuine connections in a relaxed and engaging environment.

True to its commitment to exploration, the Sartorial Club continues to offer its members unique opportunities to delve into the world of craftsmanship. Following the success of past field trips, the Club has planned visits to Thomas Mason in Bergamo at the end of this Pitti Uomo. Exciting future excursions are already in the works, with a trip to Mexico scheduled for April and another to Geneva in September. These journeys provide members with an intimate look at artisanal excellence and innovation.

Aaron of La Buena Hechura will lead the Club’s activity in Mexico city this coming April

Preview of the field trip #012 with Thomas Mason

The evening also celebrated the spirit of collaboration that defines the Sartorial Club. In 2024 alone, the Club partnered with 24 members (yours truly included!) to produce nine unique series, each highlighting remarkable stories within the community. Amongst these initiatives, the TSC Accolade awards recognized standout contributions, such as Simon’s coverage of last year’s Masquerade Ball and Iris’s thought-provoking piece on "Challenging Gender Norms."

Simon Brockbank, a winner of the 2024 TSC Accolade award

Iris Gagneur, a winner of the 2024 TSC Accolade award

But also in 2024, the Sartorial Club went even further than events solely and launched the TSC Club Cloth, a collaboration with House of Tengri utilizing a luxurious sustainable Mongolian yak — adding yet another layer to the Club’s legacy emerging years after years. In the new year, the Sartorial Club will be launching a new color way, with an exclusive collaboration with an Asian tailoring powerhouse Coller. Stay tuned for more exciting annoucment coming soon.

Florence city lead Monia Matteucci and co-founder Dennise Yeh showcase TSC club cloth in two different styles

Meet Jaden Chen, Managing Director of Coller, our new partners based in Hong Kong. Together, we will launch an exciting new color way of the Club cloth

A Musical Highlight

No Sartorial Club gala would be complete without an unforgettable musical performance. This year, our member and opera tenor Dresden Ramos returned to captivate the audience, accompanied by Florentine pianist and composer Andrea Portera. Their performance, which included a stirring rendition of a song from The Godfather, was particularly poignant in this italian setting, echoing under the arches of the Palazzo. The duo’s exquisite talent and cinematic nostalgia elevated the evening, leaving a lasting impression on all in attendance, a true staple for the night.

Tenor Dresden Ramos returns to grace the Masquerade stage for a second year.

Andrea Portera: a Florentine master of piano and composition

Our Growing Community and Vision

The Sartorial Club’s influence continues to expand, both within the sartorial world and beyond. With new initiatives spearheaded by members like Aaron from Mexico and Julio in Switzerland the Club is fostering connections that span continents. The synergy among members is driving ambitious projects, including the upcoming TSC global tour, which will feature events in Chicago, Mexico City, and Geneva.

For first-time attendees of Pitti Uomo, the Sartorial Club offers an invaluable sense of belonging and direction. As someone who experienced this firsthand, I can attest to the benefits of being part of a group that provides both structure and camaraderie during the bustling week of Pitti. From expertly planned events to shared experiences, the Club ensures that members are not only well-prepared but also deeply immersed in the vibrant sartorial culture.

Meet the Geneva crew! Julien, Loic, Julio, Romain, Yoann, and Philippe are working hard to bring you the September Geneva edition of TSC

Looking Ahead

As the Sartorial Club continues to grow and evolve, its commitment to its core values remains unwavering. The 2025 calendar is already shaping up to be a milestone year, with plans to highlight the Club’s ethos and deepen connections within the community. With each event, the Sartorial Club reaffirms its place as a beacon of sartorial elegance, innovation, and collaboration.

The Masquerade Ball at Palazzo Portinari Salviati was not merely an evening of opulence and elegance; it was a celebration of shared passions and collective vision. As the curtains closed on this unforgettable night, the anticipation for the year ahead was palpable. The Sartorial Club’s journey is far from over—it is only just beginning and new projects sprout in its path.

It's also only the beginning of the Pitti 107 week awaited by many of our members and sartorial enthusiasts around the world, the next episode of this series being written by my dear friend Johan for the very exclusive TSC Black Tie dinner with the best of what italian cuisine has to offer, who will also ravish any fine wine amateur.

(2) The Return of TSC Masquerade