Developing Taste: How Knowledge and Experience Shape Men’s Style

Last week at Pitti I saw so many people dressed in very nice clothes, and even though many of them had amazing fits, they didn’t feel comfortable in them. This got me thinking: why is that? Why do so many people there seem like they are wearing a costume?

It seems that many go there trying to be something they are not, trying to create a persona of who they want to be, trying so hard to show that they have great style. They put on these “costumes” as camouflage, but their body language gives them away. 

But we can notice this in many other environments and occasions as well, especially on events that require a dress code. I think this happens because people are aware of what is expected, but since this type of dressing isn’t to their taste and they don’t have enough knowledge about dressing, they just copy a style they like and think is appropriate for the occassion. That’s why you can see someone wearing the finest garments but still looking completely off.

Wearing my beige flannel 6×1 double breasted made-to-measure suit with ecru rollneck

This is what I noticed at Pitti, not just one person, but it was consistent throughout the week, which is why I decided to write about it. It was interesting to see the contrast between some locals on the street, who looked effortlessly stylish, and people wearing the most expensive garments, trying so hard to look well-dressed that it felt forced. There were too many people whose costume and body language signaled that this is not how they usually dress.

It actually all comes down to personal taste. I think it shows when you genuinely care about style, the type of clothes, and the actual garments you wear, versus wearing something just to show status or fit in.

So here it is: a debate between style and taste. What’s the difference between the two? Style is visible; it is how we express our taste on the outside, it’s the clothes and accessories we wear, and it’s shaped by our personality, body, and lifestyle.

Taste is the ability to recognize and appreciate quality and beauty. It's internal and is shaped by our experiences, what we’re exposed to, and what we’ve learned. In clothing and style, taste isn’t about following trends, but about the individual, their lifestyle, values, culture, and understanding of context. Good taste comes from knowing what works and what doesn’t in terms of proportion, silhouette, colors, texture, and most importantly, context - when and where something is worn, because how we dress is shaped by society and we will always be judged by others. It’s about knowing what works, what doesn’t, and what’s appropriate and what’s not. It’s important to learn and understand in theory, but it’s impossible to develop our taste without also trying things out in real life. We might appreciate and like something, but we have to try it to see and understand if it works for us. This can be a white linen suit, a gold watch, a leather sofa for our apartment, or even something as simple as food.

A lunch and dinner in Florence. Different people, different conversations and new experiences.

While style is what people can see - it can be learned, it’s flexible, and it is influenced by images, words, and the people around us. Taste, on the other hand, is personal and emotional, guiding our instincts in everything we do. We all have style, but not all style reflects our true taste. Taste might come naturally to some extent, but it still needs to be developed by paying attention, learning from others, and gaining experience. The key is to trust your own instincts instead of just following trends, or what someone else is doing. In the end, your style should naturally reflect your taste, even if real-life situations sometimes make it complicated.

*In short: taste is understanding what looks good, and style is how you show it.

So it kinda makes sense why people in some parts of the world naturally have better style than others, or, if I put it differently, why some people have to work harder than others to develop their taste and achieve good style. I’ll use London and Milano as an example. If you grew up in these two cities, they are obviously very different, but both are full of tradition, beautiful architecture, rich culture, and plenty of people to observe - among whom you can always find well-dressed individuals. You are exposed to all of this daily, which shapes your taste without you even realizing it. That’s why you dress a certain way when you go to school and so on.

When you’re 20, your taste is very different compared to a 20-year-old who grew up in a village on the other side of the world and wasn’t exposed to any of this. This doesn’t mean that person can’t have good taste, but it will take more effort, because they will have to intentionally learn about things that came naturally to someone who grew up in those two cities.

Products on the table in the Peplord’s pop-up shop.

You can copy style, but you can’t copy taste. Taste is something you keep developing throughout your life. Your taste is a collection of all the things that genuinely matter to you - it’s what you’ve spent your time discovering and learning about, and what you care about and understand is usually what you feel most comfortable in. I think your style and how you carry yourself always reflect that, and that’s why so many people don’t seem natural in their clothes.

Let me know what are your thoughts on this topic.

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