(2) A Masquerade Ball in Florence
By Simon Brockbank
For a few years now, the first day of Pitti Uomo has been preceded by the Sartorial Club gala. This evening event is the occasion to kick off the week with a sumptuous atmosphere and meeting old friends. If this is your first time at Pitti Uomo, it is perhaps the best opportunity to meet new people in a more private setting without the masses from the fair, all the while making new acquaintances with whom you can hang out with for the rest of the week (and years to come).
While the previous years were focused on black tie evenings, this gala had quite the proposal : a masquerade ball in Florence. In this piece, I will share insights about the venue, the event and the general atmosphere of that wonderful evening.
A new proposal : the masquerade ball
Masquerades traditionally take place in Venice during the annual carnival at the end of January. The Carnival of Venice usually features some elaborate costumes and masks with a strong historic background. Initially, masks were worn as a disguise to escape rigid social norms. For the sartorial club, the masquerade is the occasion to showcase unique outfits elevated by a mask. While black tie would be the obvious choice for that evening event, there was no dress code requirement beside wearing a mask. The club members did not disappoint : Ascots, scarves, fancy shirts, velvet slippers, intricate neckwear and gorgeous gowns filled the Palazzo.
A thing very much worth mentioning was getting to the masquerade ball. The Sartorial club had an interesting proposal : putting the mask on before making it to the venue; walking the street as you would in the carnival of Venice. Beyond the extra attention you get from doing so, I believe it really sets the mood before entering the room. After a few weird glances, some people asked me where I was going, to which I answered : “A masquerade ball”. Doing so gave me a feeling of being fortunate; having a unique opportunity. After all, most people do not get invited to masquerade balls, even less in Florence, Italy. That really sets the mind to celebrate and enjoy the evening.
The ball took place in the Palazzo Portinari Salviati, which was home to two of the most influential families of Florence : Portinari and Salviati. It features a strong renaissance influenced decor, inspired by both Dante’s work and the Medici Family. The Palace courtyards and noble floor are home to unique historic suites and works of art.
When the curtains dropped
Once inside the Palace, it was hard not to be awed by the sheer beauty of the room. It was originally built as a house in the 13th century, then transformed into a palazzo in the 15th century. Jacopo Salviati, husband to the daughter of Lorenzo Medici, purchased the palace and modernized it. The building was owned by that family for over 200 years. Jacopo’s daughter gave birth to Cosimo 1 de Medici, the duke and Grand Duke of Tuscany. His statue is displayed in the center of the courtyard since he is both central in the palace setting and history.
There was also a hall in the back tastefully decorated for Christmas, which added a touch of modernity to the otherwise renaissance inspired decor. The room being a courtyard, the space was perfect to walk around, sit, discuss or otherwise enjoy the event without feeling stuck in a crowd. Elegant furniture was spread all around the, as nine sitting areas.
One of the sitting areas was dedicated to the sponsor of the evening : The merchant fabric Drapers. Luca Malatini, the european sales manager, was there to present Vitale Barberis Canonico’s latest collection on 21 micron. Fabric books and rolls were displayed in the room, which gave members the opportunity to see first hand what that fabric was. So while one could enjoy the cocktails and discussions around the palace, one could also discover the fabrics and learn more about the craft.
A TSC gala would not be one without speed dating. This activity splits the attendees in smaller groups of six to ten around a table. These groups are perfect to discover members you haven’t already met. That format is also great to make friends for the next few days at Pitti Uomo, since common interests come to the conversation very quickly. The groups were already determined by the hosts and changed three times throughout the evening, a great balance of meeting new people and having enough time to discuss.
A few lucky members (including me) had the chance to be assigned to the draper table during the speed dating. This was a great opportunity to learn more about drapers and the new collection. Blending learning opportunities and pleasant evenings is very typical of the sartorial club galas. Luca shared that 21 micron fiber originally comes from Argentina and Uruguay. Once weaved, the 21 micron fabrics are exceptionally resistant while also allowing a variety of configurations, which were available to see through the sample books. Luca further explained three particular ones : Ascot, 21 micron flannel and Montecarlo, which will be discussed in greater detail in a future piece.
Another highlight of the evening was certainly the singing performance of tenor and club member Dresden Ramos. Accompanied in a minimalist setting by a piano played by Andrea Portera. Their joint performance elevated the atmosphere of the palace. With the exquisite venue, the elegant outfits and the acoustics, it was a scene to be remembered. Dresden is a professional opera singer that toured the world and he currently performs with Danish National Opera all over Denmark including the Det Kongelige Theater in Copenhagen. He has worked with prominent conductors and opera singers such as Teresa Berganza, Francisco Arraiza, and Raina Kabaivanska. Andrea is an accomplished pianist who have won multiple titles at international competitions. His works have been performanced by prestigious orchestras all over the world including: Tokyo Philharmonic, Rai Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, among others.
The masquerade ball in Florence was an exceptional evening and a perfect start for the Pitti Uomo week. The setting, good company and hosts made the event a most memorable one. In my opinion, it was the best event of the club so far, hopefully becoming a yearly tradition.
That evening set the table for the member private dinner, which I will cover in the next piece.