Page 17 - Dream of Italy - October / November 2021

Silk ties in Como

be deceived by some of the names. Even a husky man with
a large neck size can wear a “slim” (pronounced sleem)
that will fit his broad shoulders and provide high armholes
while tapering at the waist, making him look taller and
slimmer. The shirt material does not billow as most
ready-made shirts do. This attention to fit is a pleasure
that is almost always overlooked elsewhere. Camicissima
Camicissima shop in Milan Linate Airport has sample shirts to try on in all sizes so you can find the O CT /NO V 2021
one best for you.
Puglia. A small pleasure, perhaps, but not an insignificant The store offers shirts for men with many neck
one. sizes who might not necessarily have long arms. These
shirts all come in different weights and weaves of cotton
Made to Fit with collars that are broader (French), longer (Italian) or Drea m of Ita ly
Another small pleasure is wearing an Italian shirt or blouse button-down. The shirts come in numerous colors and
that fits as if it’s made for you. One can go to a shirtmaker patterns, and you can choose between French (cuff link)
in many cities and have a shirt made to order. I did this as or button cuffs. Buying one shirt might seem costly, but
a student in Bologna and the shirts lasted for years. It was prices drop significantly if you buy three or four. For a 17
I who outgrew them, not the other way around. There are small additional cost, you can have your initials sewn into
talented shirtmakers throughout the country who have the left side of your new shirts.
access to beautiful fabrics and patterns. They measure you
and discuss your personal preferences for the cut, type of Accessories
collar, cuffs (button or cuff link?) and how long the tail of During the pandemic, I went for 14 months without
the shirt should be to stay tucked in. Sometimes this can wearing a tie, which can be a means of personal expression
be done at moderate prices, but made-to-order shirts can in which a vibrant color or pattern can enliven a tradi-
be thought of as a luxury item, especially among the finest tional blue or white shirt. Eventually, I started wearing
shops in Naples, a city full of gorgeous shirts. ties even if I had no place to go!
A good alternative, and one affordable for most men, In Italy, I learned to find ties that express my person-
are ready-made shirts found at Camicissima (www.cami- ality. Most Italian ties are made of silk, and the best silk
cissima.com), which has branches in many major cities. in the country comes from Como, an hour north of Milan.
Their shirts come the closest I know to made to order. This lakeside city is a destination for stylish Milanese
They also have a line of women’s blouses, though the who prefer more manageable prices for attire. Como has
offerings are more limited. been the center of the Italian silk industry for hundreds of
In most countries, even Italy, store-bought shirts years and has a museum (www.museosetacomo.com) that
come in standard sizes and are cut wider, with bigger documents that history.
collars and longer sleeves. At Camicissima, shirts come in In Como, it is possible for a stylish man or woman
different lines called regular, slim and extra slim. Do not on a budget to do some elegant accessorizing. Two of