Sprezzatura: my observations...

[Luca]

The more I read and reflect about '"sprezzatura", the more convinced I become that, like modesty, the false variety is rather nauseating.

...that unfastened button on the cuffs of the chap standing in front of me...having working buttons on their sleeves ...keep the buttons fastened.

At the risk of seeming mean-spirited, I confess to having taken some pleasure, in recent months, at pointing out in a faux naive manner to people who leave a single cuff button undone that they forgot to do their button up.

Some interesting blushes. One rather thin-lipped Frenchman, who fancied himself something of an exquisite, was reduced to a chocked response and flight.

[Costi]

Luuuuucaa....
I seem to remember from an earlier posting that we had to be more accepting of others' whims...?

[Luca]

I know... I shouldn't have.
It would have been better to be inspired by "the better angels of our nature" than tempted by sarcasm.

[Costi]

Now don't blame yourself - I am just relieved to know it's not self-hate...
Who knows, you might even get your chance to make up for it if the French gentleman proves to have been a fellow LL member (not too unlikely in this small world of surgeon-cuffed non-surgeons... )

However I agree with you in that I fail to see the sprezzatura in such a dress marotte as leaving a cuff button undone.

[Frederic Leighton]

Gloves should be nice, but not too nice. A dark tan glove always looks well in a man's hand, but there is too much of a suggestion of a linendraper's shopman about spotless lavender kids.

[Luca]

...if the French gentleman proves to have been a fellow LL member (not too unlikely in this small world of surgeon-cuffed non-surgeons... )

I doubt it, he was a bit too "fashionable" for LLounge.

[NJS]

...if the French gentleman proves to have been a fellow LL member (not too unlikely in this small world of surgeon-cuffed non-surgeons... )

I doubt it, he was a bit too "fashionable" for LLounge.

Do you mean that he wore Ralph Armani?

NJS

[Luca]

Nice PoW check suit in a ever-so-slightly sage-grey light tint (one cuff button undone.. did I mention that??). Off-white shirt with spread collar. Petrol-blue tie and.... soem veeeryyy pointy, light tan lace-ups with a sort of in-built patina effect. BIG-ass watch.

[NJS]

Luca - I like the expression ''BIG-ass'' - and will surely adopt it. However, owing to different spellings amongst the various people who speak English, it could mean either ''BIG-bum'' or ''BIG-donkey'' and I should like to know which is the primary meaning. I suspect that it is the former.

NJS

P.S. If we are in the mood for amusement, I knew a sometime cavalry officer who was fond of the expression of doing something at ''a split-arse gallop'', meaning at great speed. A nice one to share.

NJS

[Frederic Leighton]

Manolo Blahnik's way (here and here).

[Costi]

So where is the sprezzatura in this very precious attitude?

[hectorm]

Sleeve turn ups, unbuttoned cuffs, ticket pocket, buttonière, pocket square, garish glass frames....
Don´t know about sprezzatura, but I see massive overload.
By the way, are those shoes supposed to be worn with that kind of look?

[Costi]

Good eye, hectorm! I had not noticed any of it.
All I noticed was a look in the eyes saying "Well, what do you think about it? "
And I was wondering "About what?!"

[Luca]

We seem to revert to defining "sprezzatura" as the display of idiosinchratic / quirky touches.

[Miles Messervy]

Eventually, I ended up considering a much higher example of sprezzatura -- a lesson I want to learn and an example I want to retain -- the one offered by those who don't make a point of having working buttons on their sleeves or, having working buttons on their sleeves (..which is undeniably beautiful), keep the buttons fastened.

I still remember my dad trimming the grass of the huge garden in the 38C of an Italian summer. My mum shouting from the window of the living room - "Go get changed! Do you need to trim the grass in suit, white shirt and tie?!" I was too young then.. now, 15 years later, I live in a different country, speak a different language and am filled with respect for my father and the example he effortlessly and silently provided for many years.

Che bellissimo esempio fornito dal vostro padre, Signore Leighton!

Indeed, such quiet dignity in your story. And I totally agree with the image of the gentleman not fussing about the details of one's working buttons (having long repented from my past rakish ways, myself! )