Naples and Rome

In addition to my work at Put This On, I’ve recently had the honor of writing at A Suitable Wardrobe about Anna Matuozzo and Mimmo Siviglia, two custom shirtmakers in Naples and Rome respectively. Matuozzo is famous the world over for her handsewn stitching, and Siviglia is known for his clean fitting, smooth tailoring. As I noted in the articles, it’s often believed that all things handmade are better than anything machine-sewn, but this is too much of a generalization. Each approach serves a different, but equally beautiful, purpose, and whether one wants something hand or machine made just depends on the kind of product they want.

I’ve also been writing at StyleForum. An article was published yesterday on E. Marinella and today, I posted something about Rubinacci. Since I have more photos than can be published over there, I thought I’d put the “leftovers” here.

The first set of photos is from E. Marinella. There was a lot to be impressed with there, but my favorites included some ashtrays with scenes of Naples’ history painted on them. Since I don’t smoke, I passed on them, but they looked like they would beautiful on a dark wood coffee table. I also really liked their colorful men and women’s scarves. There were Mughal, paisley, and Kilim prints that were all very attractive.

Behind the cut are photos from Rubinacci. Like those E. Marinella ashtrays, they had many accessories celebrating Naples’ history and culture. These included their own line of ashtrays, some women’s silk scarves (which were framed and hung up as art), and a similar line of men’s pocket squares (of which I picked up two). I got a full tour of the place, including the labortorio where all the bespoke garments were made, but the real highlight had to be the back room, where Mariano keeps the original order books from the 1930s, two full walls stocked with cloth (much of which was also from the 1930s and 40s), and some bespoke formal wear. Older tailors, particularly those who make a drape cut, have complained about how difficult it is to add good shape to today’s newer cloths. When you feel how substantial and hefty the older cloths are, you can really get a sense of what they mean.

The last photo is simply of two ties that were displayed in Rubinacci’s store window. I kept waffling on whether to buy them, but in the end decided to pass. Of all the things I regret not buying (there were many), these two sit very high on the list. What incredibly beautiful ties.

To read my full articles on these artisans and stores, head over to A Suitable Wardrobe and StyleForum’s blog.