The people are lovely, animated, full of warmth. The city may be chaotic and frenetic but on a Sunday morning, things slow down, so enjoy the day with the rest of Naples.
The Neapolitans have a particularly civilized habit of closing the seaside road to cars on Sunday mornings and giving way to the city’s good citizens; here you will see large extended families out for a bit a fresh air and socializing, gelato and gossip.
What more wonderful feeling for you than anticipating your next fitting, while enjoying the Mediterranean warmth and a cold beer in a café on Naples’s corniche. With nothing more strenuous to do than watch the world go by and think about where to have lunch today as you let your thoughts meander. But if you’re of a mind to make plans, what better plan to think about than visiting with Maurizio Marinella tomorrow to help you pick out some luscious silks to have a tie or two made which will be ready in three days, just in time to wear with your spanking new suit.
Or perhaps have a new shirt made!
Just around the corner from Marinella, the sweet Gabrielle De L’Ero of Merolla and De L’Ero, shirt makers extraordinaire, is waiting for you in her tiny shop in the Palazzo Calabritto, with a wonderful selection of the finest Riva fabrics, all of which you’ll ofcourse be tempted to buy.
But don’t; do like the Neapolitans and choose blue, blue and blue again.
But Riva blue and Riva cloth is unlike any other you already own; you must try it to understand.
And if you want to be an honorary Neapolitan, dressing is simple: it revolves around the plain blue shirt, the very simple tie from a master like Marinella, Rubinacci or Cappelli , and a beautiful bespoke suit from your choice of 50 splendid tailors, in any of 50 styles. That is all.
Then you can make your passeggiata through Naples with the best of them, the newly minted, resplendent Neapolitan man!
Let Gabrielle help you and she will make you a smashing shirt. Her seamstresses share an intimate space with you, the changing room is right next to their sewing machine, as you try on your basted shirt, separated by a thin curtain, they will certainly peak in at you anxious to see how their work looks. If it’s not right, come back in an hour and it will be!
In Naples, you will come to understand and respect the critical role of women in making your clothes. Shirt making is a woman’s world. Their hands are fine, delicate and nimble; women are Naple’s secret in making the finest handwork in all of Italy. For all of your button holes, handstiching, lapel seams that we love and is admired around the world…..thank the ladies of Naples.
For those of you lucky enough to be off to the Naples area this Summer, consider dropping in on Gabrielle. I hope the pictures of her convey her warmth, the small artisanal nature of her work and the intimate collaboration involved in having a shirt made in Naples.
and what a blue sky!
