Sharp Stylings #59: Claudio De Rossi

We can learn so much from yesterday’s fashion icons.  And living in a post-Mad Men world means we can even enjoy aspects of current male fashions! Every Friday, I’d like to start your weekend off right with a little style inspiration from either then or now. Hopefully, my fellow Mod enthusiasts will find the whole or some detail of the whole to appreciate and maybe even adopt.

Here's a piece of advice: If you're dressed up in your finest Mod gear, ready to hit the town, get your dance on at a soul club, and bird-dog the chicas, do NOT look at what Claudio De Rossi is wearing. It will make you feel like a stone-cold ticket.

Many of you probably know Claudio from his amazing clothing brand, DNA Groove, which features a line of clothing that combines colorful fabrics, Mod detailing, a dandy aesthetic, all with a modern, contemporary flair. (Oh, and just wait until you see the shoes he offers!)

Claudio De Rossi is one of the few who took their love of Mod stylings to the extreme. And by that I mean he wasn't just happy buying clothes from other designers... naw, he became his own designer! And from there, he made a great business out of it, supplying stylish men with a good source of clobber based on his own ideas. Claudio's like someone with a sweet tooth who's opened his own chocolate factory.

And trust me, this guy's got a good eye for detailing, color matching, and fittings. Here he is in a simple outfit that outshines most pattern-heavy outfits I've seen:

Light pink shirt, charcoal trousers with a slight flair, and an off-white suit jacket with a high gorge, lapels that look to angle downward, and sharp side vents. Very muted colors are used with a pocket square that ties the trousers and shirt together. And, again, wait until you see the shoes! Beautiful off-white loafers with  burgundy detailing.

Not only is this all kinds of dapper, but it's versatile too. You can wear something like this during the day as casual wear or during the evening for a social outing (tie optional). Heck, based on the hose in the background, this is how Claudio dresses when he's gardening! Dang... makes me think twice about what I wear the next time I'm at the laundromat.

Seriously, though, Claudio De Rossi is pure inspiration when it comes to clothing ideas. He's extremely creative in his color choices and how he matches certain pieces. He's put out a great clothing label that has reached beyond a Mod base and has gotten the attention of the male fashion world in general.  And, he's a good guy on top of all that.

Personally, though, I'm just glad he doesn't live in my city. Imagine having to keep up with this guy all the time?

For more on Claudio and DNA Groove, check out this ModCulture interview along with this College No. 9 interview. And, if you're on the Facebook and want to keep up with DNA Groove updates, then check out the Facebook group here.

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