Pitti Immagine Uomo 108, a great summer of style

The best of the styles from the world

Here we go again! For the tenth year running, I packed my camera bags and headed to Florence to cover Pitti Immagine Uomo, the trade fair that turns the whole city into one giant open-air catwalk. Every June, style lovers, buyers, and dandies from every corner of the world show up looking their absolute best. This edition was no exception. I spent four full days wandering the fairgrounds and the streets of Florence, shooting for a few of my long-time clients and, honestly, having a blast doing it. So grab a coffee and settle in, because here’s my full report from Pitti Immagine Uomo 108, day by day.

Monday, the first day

Monday has quietly become the real “day one” of Pitti Uomo, even though the fair technically opens later in the week. Most of the crowd rolls into Florence the evening before, so by Monday morning the streets are already buzzing with familiar faces, old friends, and plenty of people I can’t wait to photograph. This year was no different, and the evening capped off with the opening party at the St. Regis, one of those nights that instantly sets the tone for the whole week. Truly memorable, and a perfect way to kick things off.

Street style portrait on the first day of Pitti Immagine Uomo 108 in Florence.

Attendee style captured on day one of Pitti Immagine Uomo 108, Florence.

At Pitti Immagine Uomo fair

Now let’s get into the fair itself. There’s always so much great style to catch, and this edition didn’t disappoint one bit.
What made this round extra special for me, though, was the gear: this was the very first fair I shot entirely on my new Nikon setup, the Z8 and the Zf, paired with a couple of Nikkor lenses. I’d been wanting to make the switch for a while, and I can already tell it’s paying off. These cameras are fast, and when you’re trying to catch someone mid-stride or mid-laugh before the moment slips away, that speed makes all the difference. Long story short: it was a much-needed upgrade, and I couldn’t be happier I finally took the leap.

Menswear look photographed at the Pitti Immagine Uomo 108 trade fair, Florence.

Attendee style at the Pitti Immagine Uomo 108 fairgrounds in Florence.

Hockerty Summer Lookbook

Just like the past few editions, I had the pleasure of teaming up with Hockerty again to bring their summer lookbook to life, and it’s always one of the highlights of my week. We spent a couple of days shooting around the fair and through the streets of Florence, chasing good light and even better outfits. Day one threw a bit of rain our way, but nobody let that slow us down; we simply adapted and kept the session moving until we had everything we needed.

The real showstopper, though, was the party Hockerty threw at the Student Hotel. That rooftop terrace, with its swimming pool looking straight out onto the Duomo, is honestly one of the best views in Florence. Shooting up there was a treat in itself, and things got even better when one of the guests decided, out of nowhere, to jump straight into the pool. Priceless moment.

Hockerty Summer Lookbook shoot at Pitti Immagine Uomo, Florence.

Model styled for the Hockerty Summer Lookbook during Pitti Uomo, Florence.

Events of Tuesday evening: Sartoria Caracciolo and Plaza Uomo

Tuesday evening meant double duty for me, two parties, back to back. First up was the Sartoria Caracciolo event, always a great excuse to catch up with familiar faces and see some sharp tailoring up close. From there it was straight on to the Plaza Uomo party at Palazzo Budini Gattai, and if you ask me, this one is hands down one of the most beautiful events of the entire week. The summer edition is my favorite, mostly because it means we get to spill out into the garden of this stunning medieval palace as the evening cools down. We wrapped the night, as we so often do, at Gilli Cafè. Over the years it’s basically become the unofficial meeting point for everyone at Pitti, especially once the sun goes down, and there’s something really nice about ending the day surrounded by the same crowd you started it with.

Guests at the Sartoria Caracciolo party during Pitti Immagine Uomo, Florence.

Evening at the Sartoria Caracciolo event, Pitti Uomo week, Florence.

Wednesday evening event at Sina Villa Medici

Wednesday brought another beautiful evening, this time at Sina Villa Medici, hosted in collaboration with Wm Brown Magazine. Honestly, this was one of those nights where everything just clicked: great people everywhere you looked, a genuinely warm atmosphere, and a live band keeping the energy up well into the night. It’s the kind of event that leaves you smiling the whole way home, camera full of good shots and head full of good memories.

Guests at the Sina Villa Medici party with Wm Brown Magazine, Pitti Uomo week, Florence.

Evening party at Sina Villa Medici hosted with Wm Brown Magazine, Florence.

Thursday evening with NoChaser in the heart of Tuscany

If I had to pick just one event to look forward to all week, it would probably be this one. The NoChaser evening takes place at “Tenuta d’Arbia”, a gorgeous spot tucked right in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, and the view alone is enough to make you fall head over heels for this region all over again. We spent the evening at a relaxed pace, sharing dinner, good conversation, and plenty of laughs with everyone there. And then, completely out of nowhere, a few of the guests decided to start a game of bocce right there in the field. I was not expecting that at all, and it turned into one of the funniest, most unforgettable moments of the whole week. 🙂