Neapolitan Designer Gianluca Isla Gives Tips on Men’s Fashion

Gianluca Isla is the head of his own eponymous Neapolitan tailored clothing house, so you can imagine that he has a few unique ideas about men’s wear. Something of a maverick, Isla is the type of person who favors a solid shirt and jacket to a tuxedo for formal occasions. He recently gave Details Magazine some of his own personal style tips, ranging from how to pick the right men’s suit to how to eat mozzarella cheese.

One of the highlights was his opinion on choosing items such as business suits. In his opinion, men are too swayed by what’s currently in fashion and need to be more concerned about what they think works for them. In fact, he says that the “biggest fashion mistake men make is to follow the rules of other men. Make your own rules—don't follow mine.”

Keeping with this belief in bucking trends, Isla also rejects the notion that men have to dress either “fashiony or traditional” and that dressing in the middle is “indecisive.” He argues that it’s possible for people looking to buy sports coats, slacks or suits to take elements from different fashion styles to create their own, unique look.

One item where Isla disagrees with fashion trends is in footwear. Rather than having to always wear wing tips with suits, Isla said he personally wears sandals with suits in the summer to make his suits look “less dramatic.”