Sprezzatura with Lapo Elkann- Style Icon

A definition shameless lifted from Wikipedia:

Sprezzatura (Italian pronunciation: [sprettsaˈtura]) is an Italian word originating from Baldassare Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier, where it is defined by the author as “a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.” It is the ability of the courtier to display “an easy facility in accomplishing difficult actions which hides the conscious effort that went into them.” Sprezzatura has also been described “as a form of defensive irony: the ability to disguise what one really desires, feels, thinks, and means or intends behind a mask of apparent reticence and nonchalance.”

The word has entered the English language; the Oxford English Dictionary defines it as "studied carelessness."


Sprezzatura. I would describe it as unstudied elegance. Of course this is a myth, it is apparently unstudied elegance that is the hardest to perfect. I think that one man who embodies a sense of sprezzatura is Lapo Elkann. He has perfected a certain nonchalance that makes what he is doing look easy, when in reality a lot of thought has gone into each outfit.

Elkann pulling of one of his more classical looks with his usual flair. Note the 

open shirt cuffs.

Elkman is heir to the Fiat car company and is currently Fiat's Director of Marketing. His look is defiantly that of the rich international heir apparent.

A double breasted suit is usually statement 

enough these days, even without the eye catching colour.

Elkann is not afraid of colour and frequently sports unconventional suits. He also favours the double breasted style which is enjoying a renaissance at the moment.

Get the Elkann look.
The Key Ingredients are:

• The knit tie
• The double breasted suit or blazer
• The overflowing silk pocket square
• The light blue double-cuff shirt.

Introduce a little Sprezzatura into your life with this most Italian of tie knots, from the excellent GQ rules series. To see more of Elkann and my other Style Icons and Influences click here!