“Not having much financial resources when I was young, I used to buy vintage a lot. And every time I bought something, I always asked the seller to tell me their stories. From that time my passion was born.”
And that’s the appeal, to this day: the story. “The fact that the vintage garments have a story to tell. Sometimes I want to know their entire history in detail,” he says. It’s all about narrative, whether that’s to do with a specific style of jean, or military bag, or design of watch.
As he talks about his three favourite watches it becomes clear that vintage pieces are a way for him to capture memories and connect with history, and his story.
“I have 6,000 vintage clothing pieces in my archive,” he reveals, and much of it he wears. He also uses it for inspiration for the collections that he designs. He describes it as “my classic male wardrobe”. In other words, a closet full of the best-in-class representatives of what stylish men have been wearing since the middle of the last century.
If you ask Squarzi who his style icons are, he will put “The King of Cool” McQueen up there in his top three, along with Marcello Mastroianni and Paul Newman. Top four, actually, as the list has to include his father, Luciano, too.
“I never followed fashion but I always wanted to dress up in a certain way”. It’s an eclectic look, but speaks of a man with personal style who values not the latest release from this or that global label, but instead a sense of the timeless items that men can wear season in and season out. Just put together with confidence and character.
And don’t take my word for it: in 2017, sitting at the top of Esquire magazine’s “The 40 Best-Dressed Men In The World” list was… you guessed it.
