Cutting His Own Jib: Lorenzo Cifonelli | The Rake

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Maestro Lorenzo Cifonelli has tailoring coursing through his veins. Not only was he born into, and bred by, a tailoring dynasty, with both Italian and French heritage, but he has grown the Cifonelli brand into one of the most coveted houses in the world. So bursting at the seams was the demand for the Cifonelli label to appear in the wardrobes of the well-heeled, he launched a ready-to-wear collection and store on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. It is no surprise that Lorenzo himself possesses the swag and rakishness of a man befitting his role.

Originally published in The Rake Issue 46. Subscribe here to read the original article.

This jacket is made from jersey. A tricky fabric, stretchy and unstable, but no match for our man’s shears, as he has a fantastic bespoke offering with it. It is the perfect travelling jacket because it is not only comfortable, but it also will not crease, so you will always look sharp.

Lorenzo wears bespoke suede boots from Dimitri Gomez. He has found himself with a large collection of suede shoes: “I find them chic and classy.”

Dual citizenship of the two most sartorially accomplished nations on Earth imbues Lorenzo not only with a D.N.A. that you can see in the immaculate finishing of a Cifonelli suit, but also a very specific and unenviable duty to carry forward the long traditions of both nations. He does so with great aplomb.

The pendant is a colourful find from Harpo in Paris. It is a thunderbird, a Native American symbol that evokes “power, strength and nobility”, says Lorenzo. A good summation of the house of Cifonelli.

This gorgeous Piaget from the 1960s used to be Lorenzo’s father’s watch and is his favourite, though he has a small but well-curated collection that includes an Audemars Piguet, a 1972 Rolex and a Patek Philippe, which he wears on holiday.

This ring was designed by Lorenzo and is meant to look tailor-made: “I was looking for an original men’s ring and I figured, Why not design mine?” Now he accessorises less, as he prefers a simpler style.

This navy tie, adorned with a cute dinghy at the end, was a present to Lorenzo from Loro Piana, friends and suppliers of Lorenzo’s, at their regatta in Sardinia.

Eyewear legend Maison Bonnet has created these made-to-measure frames with Lorenzo’s name engraved into them. “I would recommend Maison Bonnet to anybody,” he says.

Contributor

Tom Chamberlin

Published

August 2016

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