(Business Lounge Journal – Interview Session) Daniele Zaccone is an Italian fashion and advertising entrepreneur with a social media feed that greatly embodies his passion for classic Italian way of elegance and style. With more than five hundred thousand followers and more than five thousand feeds, it’s easy to spot his distinctive photograph feed: a consistent feed of cropped-out head, and wide lapel suits and jackets with a wide array of dazzling colour combinations and accessories.
Although today, there are many famous Italian influencer that personifies the Italian classic menswear elegance and craftsmanship, as Italy are recognized for their long rich history of fashion, and Italian are especially famous for their willingness to take an extra mile in dressing exquisitely. But Daniele Zaccone is the one that steals the attention of the famous Forbes. In 2016, this famous Magazine put his Instagram profile as one of the top 10 Instagram influencers worldwide. In the interview, he stated that he is “Unaware of the power and reach of Instagram, he simply shared what he calls his “real life.”, and he “Didn’t have the overall strategy in building up a significant following.”
Business Lounge Journal interviewed Daniele Zaccone about his entrepreneurial work that seems to be intertwined with his passion, the definition of elegance according to an Italian, and how to dress elegantly in a tropical heat.
BL: Business Lounge Journal
DZ: Daniele Zaccone
BL: Please tell us a bit about yourself, and also about your advertising agency, the Italian Flair, and Danielre Collection!
DZ: I am an Italian entrepreneur in the field of marketing and fashion, after my bachelor’s degree and later on PhD in 2014, I founded the advertising agency called The Italian Flair Media & Communication, that provides advertising services to companies in the fashion industry through social media.
The success of Italian Flair today puts the agency among the best agencies in the world of social media advertising; as recently in 2016, @Danielre (Zaccone’s Instagram blog username) is surveyed by the American Forbes Magazine as among the 10 most impressive profiles in the world, regarding marketing through social media networks.
Danielre Collection is a collection of tailored clothing that is born from the passion for elegance and style. Designed by me, it was sold to a prestigious company that holds the license. In Danielre Collection, I’m taking care of the artistic direction and the collections’ design.
The Danielre Collection is intended for men of all ages who likes to dress elegantly, as refined elegance is timeless and boundless…We are proud to have recently dressed famous actors and known personalities in every field”
BL: What, and/or who sparks your passion for elegant fashion?
DZ: During my youth I was drawn to elegance, painting, arts and books.
My style is simple, as I’m taking care of two essential things: the fit and the wearing. It is not so easy to be explained since it’s an innate attitude that’s been accompanying me since infancy, and does not parallel with other people.
BL: Italian gentlemen are considered as one of the best in dressing people in the world. How do you define the essence of dressing the Italian way for gentlemen; in your own word?
DZ: Italian dress to look attractive and in us there is a certain degree of exhibitionism, typical Italian. We love being watched with admiration: we want to be the target of the looks for the gentlemen and ladies.
BL: What are the necessary items that every gentleman must have?
DZ: Elegance is based on basic and simple requirements: jacket, shirt, pants, and ties. Those are the essential signs that distinguish the clothing in a man; and I prefer the basic colours.
The difference will be shown in how you combine the colours and how you wear your outfits with class.
BL: In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes that almost every gentleman has done in their effort to dress elegantly?
DZ: The most common mistake is to perceive that wearing a jacket combined with luxury accessories as (instantly) very elegant. It is not the true, authentic elegance. Yet, it must be focused on the the correct combination of fabrics, details, and the prestige of the apparel manufacturer.
Accessories are important, but they must act as secondary role.
Foremost, a really elegant man is known by the beauty of his dress.
BL: Being an owner of a brand and ad agency, what kind of mindsets that are necessary to start a fashion-related business?
DZ: It ‘s very complex to manage two things that were related, but also very different.
The mentality is to face demands and propose the best product of high standard, with enthusiasm and highest positivism.
The job of an entrepreneur knows no relaxation. It is continuous. The perseverance, tenacity, and above all, the personality that lead to success.
BL: What is your favourite kind of fabric? And why?
DZ: Certainly the super fine wool from the 150s to the 200s, these fabrics are usually very bright and shiny, it allows you to build a very beautiful suit, very soft…that communicate the prestige of the wearer.
BL: What are your most favourite suit and jacket style?
DZ: My favorite styles are double breasted and mono breasted. Both are my favourite, in the same way.
In mono breasted, always use a design with peak lapel, this kind of lapel expresses a very chic image on the person wearing it, and shows self-confidence and strong personality.
BL: In your opinion, how is a business suit should ideally look like?
DZ: A businessman must always have these essentials in his wardrobe: navy suits, dark/mid gray suits, pinstripe blue and grey colors; as they represent the dress code and the businessman himself par excellence.
Then, those suits must be combined with white to light blue shirts.
BL: Tropical countries are well-known for its heat and humidity. The climate issue constantly discourages a lot of people, especially businesspeople to wear their suits. In your opinion, what kind of fabric that would be suitable to such climate?
DZ: I am brave to say; that in a hot weather, the best fabrics to wear are the extra-fine wool from the 150s to the 200s, as they are much more of the relatively cool linen fabric.
I invite everyone to try this to see the difference.
About the shirts, fine poplin are always preferable in a hot weather.
Michael Judah Sumbayak adalah pengajar di Vibiz LearningCenter (VbLC) untuk entrepreneurship dan branding. Seorang penggemar jas dan kopi hitam. Follow instagram nya di @michaeljudahsumbek