Gaetano Savini the man who was Brioni | Assouline

In the age when Savile Row was synonymous with men’s style, an innovative Italian, Gaetano Savini, put his country on the map, forever reinventing menswear. From the first men’s fashion show at Florence’s Palazzo Pitti in 1952 to his craftsmanship influences still evident in today’s styles, Savini was truly a creator on the cutting edge. His legacy as the visionary and designer extraordinaire behind the Brioni luxury brand is celebrated in this spectacular illustrated edition. Highlighting examples of Savini’s innovative cuts, bold colors, and the psychedelic patterns that led the Peacock Revolution of the 1960s, The Man Who Was Brioni includes sketches and newspaper articles illustrating how the man became the legend. Replete with letters, photographs, and personal anecdotes from Savini’s daughter and Brioni heir, this volume details the brand’s far-reaching influence, and how it came to be known as “the Dior of menswear.” Gigliola Savini is the daughter of Gaetano Savini Brioni. After classical studies, she attended KOEFIA Fashion College in Rome, from which she graduated cum laude. She then began working at the family company, following her father as coordinator on his business trips to present the various collections. She is married to Ettore Perrone and has three children: Giorgia, Andrea, and Francesco. Michelle Finamore is curator of fashion arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She was also curator at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and fashion specialist at Sotheby’s auction house. She has curated a range of exhibitions, including Think Pink at the MFA in Boston, Cocktail Culture at the Norton Museum of Art, and Driving Fashion: Automobile Upholstery from the 1950s at the Museum at FIT. Finamore recently authored Hollywood Before Glamour: Fashion in American Silent Film and has written for publications such as Fashion Theory, Architecture Boston, and Gastronomica. Lea Della Cagna, PhD, is a professor of English