A dandy with a camera in Mexico City
Dressing up the essence of me
This blog is a mirror of its author. If it weren't so, it wouldn't make sense.
I put away all the band t-shirts and all that clothing that made me feel carelessly dressed. And besides, I wasn't that. Never been, really. But in recent years I have conceded a lot to living in a popular neighborhood, often disregarding the fact that I love to dress and I love paying attention to how I dress. But this, at some point, inevitably had to end. I am 48 years old. I don't like it and I don't want to dress like a 16-year-old anymore. And, pardon those who find this offensive, but I find it pathetic to see people 60 and over wearing a T-shirt and shorts.
I love casual with formal hints. I am a Bold Dandy, who has a personal taste in clothing. I love Borsalinos and flat caps. I love a certain 70's style suitable for today. I love to wear a formal jacket and also a leather jacket but always with a certain taste, and now I say stop dressing like a child, embracing who I am: a man. An Italian man living in Mexico.
In Italy last 5 years before leaving for Mexico I worked for the government (Avvocatura Generale dello Stato) and even when I went out on my own I dressed formal/casual. In the cold weather, I wore what I consider to be my all-time favourite, a coat. I was already taking pictures on the street then.
For a while I told myself that a certain way of dressing can expose you more to assaults walking in certain places, but I realize that mine was above all a personal sloppiness that I decided to abandon. Every time I put on a jacket, but even if it's hot and I go with a classic polo, I feel better and this, guys, also reflects in a better experience as a photographer.
It's not even rich man elegance, which I'm not. That's not the point and I don't pretend it is either. But I prefer certain men's items and that's what I'm going to turn to from now on, ignoring certain choices made these last years. There is a way of dressing that allows you to be elegantly casual and personal. This is what I did always. This is exactly how I dress in any important occasion, but now this needs to be the usual.
As I said this influences my experience on the street, as a photographer. I now prefer to go out with the camera secured by a neck strap. Freedom of movement is essential for a positive photographic experience. But this can't affect my style of dressing and accept the compromise of dressing in bad shirts or fool's hats.
When dressing in a jacket and trousers and formal shoes, people's perception changes distinctly. This converts the street photography experience into something significantly different. Maybe being photographed by a gentleman versus someone dressed as a potential thief is different.
But above all it is important to feel good about ourselves, and I feel better by dressing better.
