(1) Getting Ready for the Stage
Written by David Kopal, Gustav Vikander, Janne Renvall
Tell us a little bit about yourself
David: My name is David, and I'm from the Czech Republic. Although I come from a small mountain town, I've been living in Prague for some time now and couldn't be happier. You can track me down on Instagram under the handle @tuxedosnob. While my background is in law, I've been working in IT for many years. I joined the Sartorial Club right from the beginning as a founding member. I was so captivated by its ethos that, together with another club enthusiast, I established the Sartorial Prague community.
Gustav: My name is Gustav @gustavvikader, and I live on a picturesque island in Stockholm, Sweden. I have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science and a Master's degree in Health Informatics. I’m currently working as a senior Business Analyst for a Health Tech company. I had previously heard about the club, but decided to join after attending Winter Pitti 104 and seeing the community in action, especially with the upcoming events for Pitti 105.
Janne: My name is Janne, @jmrenvall. I come from Helsinki, Finland. I have a master’s degree in fashion and costume design. For 40 years, I have been working in various positions in the field as designer for both men and women, theater, dance, film, and as teacher and lecturer. For the last ten years, I have worked with stage costumes as Costume Supervisor for the Finnish National Opera and Ballet. For the last two years, I have been Head of Costumes and Make-up for the Swedish Theatre, the Swedish language national theater in Finland. I joined the Sartorial Club two years ago.
Gustav (left), David (middle) and Janne (right) at Pitti 104, Jun 2023
How manty times have you attended Pitti and what do you most look forward to?
David: I started my sartorial journey approximately four years ago. When I first stumbled upon photos from Pitti, I was excited. They presented a stark contrast to the everyday casual and uninspiring reality. The first Pitti I attended was the Summer edition in 2022, coinciding with the founding year of the Sartorial Club.
Arriving at Fortezza on the first day of the fair, I was stunned by all the impeccably dressed people. But the problem was, I didn’t know anyone there. It was Dennise and Ksenia, the founders of the Sartorial Club, who graciously introduced me to fellow members and invited me to the club’s dinner. Since then, I've always looked forward to Pitti because I've met so many interesting people there. To me, Pitti embodies a community of individuals who share a passion for sartorial elegance and are super friendly. I’m just joking, it’s about indulging in cigars and Negronis! I speak from experience, as this upcoming Pitti will be my fourth.
Gustav: This will be my fourth visit to Firenze and Pitti Uomo, as I’ve been attending consecutively since winter 2023. For me, Pitti is so much more than just a trade fair—it's about the community. It's a unique opportunity to meet people from all over the world who share a similar interest, and finally connect in person with those you’ve interacted with on social media for years.
During my first Pitti, I had a health scare in the family back home, and the support and outreach from the community were amazing. Despite feeling lonely and isolated, the kindness and connection I experienced made a huge difference.
I look forward to seeing all my friends again, enjoying the events (such as the Summer Gala), the magical summer evenings, the incredible outfits, and being able to touch someone else’s clothes without it being weird. Hopefully, I’ll be able to attend the Club’s field trip at some point in the future as well!
Janne: As a TSC member, this summer will be my fourth time attending Pitti Uomo. Before this, since the end of 1980s, I have visited Firenze a few times for fabric and material trade fairs, and both Pitti Filati and Pitti Uomo for design inspiration. It was only with TSC during the edition 103 that I experienced the Fortezza da Basso as the center of dandyism. Visiting Firenze twice a year means a lot to me. Professionally, it enables me to network with the actors and influencers in the sartorial industry and get to know the major men’s clothing and accessory brands presenting their latest collections. On a personal level, experiencing Pitti with my TSC family provides an opportunity to explore and express my own sartorial enthusiasm. I enjoy meeting people with passion for clothing as part of culture, exchanging ideas and making friends with other Club members.
Can You Share the Tips of Preparing for the Pitti Week?
David: When preparing for Pitti, I drew upon my previous experiences. I had attended the Summer version twice before – once in scorching heat and another time with temperatures around 25 degrees. However, these variations didn't significantly affect my outfit choices, as I always anticipate hot weather. I consistently go for summer fabrics such as linen, high-twist wool, cotton, and seersucker (most often cotton-made).
Whenever I attend Pitti, I strive to create new looks, often debuting a few garments for the first time. There's a unique pleasure in wearing a crisp new jacket at Pitti. To me, it’s important to prepare a couple of looks in advance and pack garments that are versatile, so I can combine them with each other. Careful outfit preparation is crucial due to limited luggage space.
I'd love to share with you a couple of my outfit ideas for the upcoming Pitti, though I might end up pairing them differently at the fair. I suppose you'll have to attend Pitti to see for yourself!
When thinking about an outfit, I often start with the jacket and then consider potential pairings. This time, I'm bringing my new gray and white striped double-breasted seersucker jacket, which is incredibly versatile. I'll probably keep the look simple, pairing it with a cream knit polo and blue linen/cotton trousers. You can feel how light and comfortable this look is. I think it will be a perfect candidate for a day at Pitti, and I can also imagine sporting it while strolling through the streets of Naples during our club’s field trip.
Gustav: Summer Pitti is always a bit trickier than winter. While winters in Florence are quite mild and even warm by Swedish standards, allowing for playful layering, summers in Italy can reach quite high temperatures. To be honest, there have been times I've thought about skipping just due to the heat—I prefer a swimsuit at the pool over a full suit in the city. But alas, the allure of Pitti is too strong.
The key to surviving the Florentine heat is fabric choice. For me, the most obvious is linen. It’s breathable, comfortable, and a bit more casual, which fits my style perfectly. Another great option is high-twist wool, which I often travel in. Summer makes it easier to wear colorful pieces, as they fit the season's palette. However, I prefer playing around with more muted tonal outfits but with interesting fabrics. While Pitti is an opportunity for many to experiment wildly, I tend to stay within my comfort zone, admiring the colorful creations of fellow attendees with a bit of jealousy. Being a glutton for punishment, I might even bring a black piece or two this year.
I use my iPhone notes to plan my outfits for Pitti. Throughout the year, if I see something on social media that I want to put my own spin on or randomly think of a combination I love, I add it to the notes. I have a header for travel outfits, events, such as the clubs Summer Gala, then day and evening outfits for each day of the fair. This also makes it easier for me to see which pieces function for multiple outfits. With that said, plans can change last minute—last summer, I added two shirts and removed a jacket right before heading to the airport. It's important to have an agile mindset when packing.
Pitti often inspires me to show off something new and exciting. It's easy to get pulled along with the “madness,” and sometimes I'll commission a piece specifically for Pitti. Versatility and adaptability are crucial for these new pieces. For example, I've commissioned a new linen suit to debut at Pitti this year. However, the color, cut, and styling allow me to break up the suit and pair both the jacket and trousers seamlessly with many other pieces in my wardrobe. Other times I'll reuse old pieces in new combinations. We must always keep sustainability in mind.
Janne: Analyzing my clothing, my designer background can be detected in my concept of dressing. On one hand, I see my wardrobe as a collection that serves my needs as the pickiest client. This is reflected in my desire for high-quality materials, appreciation of balanced and well-proportioned cutting, and respect for skilled craftsmanship. On the other hand, I see myself as the main character in the staging of the story of my life. I create outfit ensembles as if they were compositions, but at the same time, I manage to build a versatile wardrobe that work together in style and color. This timeless outfit that I am going to wear during the daytime for the Napoli Field Trip shows this thinking well. The navy basket weave mohair wool jacket and the off-white wool silk linen trousers could easily be combined for other outfits.
We trust you'll find great value in the Pitti preparation insights shared by David, Gustav, and Janne. Stay tuned for the next episode, where Gustav will delve into his experience of attending the TSC Summer Gala, marking the exciting start to the week ahead.