The Italian Way: Part Two
In my blog about Cossetta yesterday, I mentioned how Italian clothing is now available in the Twin Cities thanks to the likes of MartinPatrick3 and Askov Finlayson. I bought an Eidos Napoli suit from the former store last week and picked it up last night. As I hoped, it fit like a glove and flattered my form after alterations. I was so smitten with the suit that I bought an Eidos dress shirt and tie to round out the outfit.
Eidos is owned by great Neapolitan tailoring house Isaia, yet it functions independently of its parent brand. Founder Antonio Ciongoli has stated “I don’t want to make a stupid product.” Based on my experience with Eidos so far, he has succeeded on all fronts.
I first learned of Eidos two years ago when my interests shifted from fashion to style and tailoring. As a broke college student, I dreamed of the day I would own an Eidos suit and perhaps a shirt or sweater to go along with it. I liked Ciongoli’s devil-may-care styling and his garments seemed befit a worldly Italian playboy, someone who plays as hard as he works. Like the discovery of my Tuscan heritage, the purchase of my Eidos suit once again proved that dreams do come true.
Beside my charcoal gray suit I’ve bought a white-and-brown checked spread collar shirt, a bottle green silk knit tie and white trousers from Eidos. Of the four, only the trousers need any extra attention. The leg hemming came loose when I did a photoshoot at an abandoned mill near my house, and I acknowledge I was foolish to take such nice pants into a place with many sharp objects and corners. Otherwise, the fabrics are a significant upgrade from standard trousers, shirting and suiting. Eidos makes garments that feel like a second skin and because of their variety of colors and textures, wearing the brand head to toe won’t make you look like a mannequin.
At full price, Eidos costs a pretty penny. Thanks to seasonal sales at MartinPatrick3 and similar shops, their garments can be had for a steal. I won’t go into specifics, but the four pieces I own retail for a sum that would make my mother faint - I paid less than $600 over the course of four months to purchase them, tailoring included. The discounts are not due to poor quality but because the average American man doesn’t understand how Italian tailoring is more flattering and refined than the classic sack suit. Thus, they’re hesitant to pay the initial outlay that the construction demands.
The sleeves on my Eidos shirt are getting shortened as we speak, but I’ll be wearing it for an event I have this weekend. Stay tuned for part three of the Italian Way, where I’ll review the full ensemble after putting it all together.
Shirt and tie: Eidos Napoli
Location: MartinPatrick3