Co-owner of one of the world's most renowned bespoke fashion houses, Lorenzo Cifonelli was destined for sartorial greatness. The eponymous house is under the direction of the fourth generation of the family and is arguably the most distinctive and easily recognizable house thanks to its iconic shoulder. Lorenzo is no stranger to Instagram: his feed is a superb selection of inspiration on how to dress, whether it's contrasting patterns with plumb or elevating couture to new pastures of untraceable excellence. Not surprisingly, Omega has always played a key role in how he accessorizes his personal aesthetic. It was and still is his first love of watchmaking...
What is your first memory of Omega?
I've always known about Omega. When I was a kid, my father was an Omega addict, so he inevitably passed the virus on to me.
Tell us about your watch and why is it special to you?
It is a vintage Omega Dynamic automatic. I bought it when I was 18 in Paris with my own money and when I saw it I fell in love with it. For me, the most important part of a watch is the look and the blue dial is beautiful. But, it is also very light and comfortable to wear. It's very chic too, and it's my favorite design of all my watches. Plus, at the time, Omega's prices were affordable for me. I was young, after all!
Tell us about the suit you're wearing?
It's a classic Cifonelli double breasted jacket that I made about four years ago. I made it from a vintage flannel, which is probably about 20 years old. I much prefer vintage fabrics to new ones because it takes me a while to appreciate and love a certain fabric. My shoes are custom made by John Lobb. I have four pairs in the same style because they are so versatile. I can wear them with everything from dress pants to denim.
What makes a good tailor?
A good tailor has to be discreet to be in control. That's why I check each jacket five or six times as it's being made. But also, the key is consistency. It doesn't matter if it takes you six months to make a jacket. A good tailor is not someone who makes one nice suit, it's someone who makes 20 to 30 suits, all of equal merit. Consistency is super important. That's why I don't work with tailors outside my shop. All my workers are in-house, and every jacket is checked by me personally five or six times.
If you were stranded on a desert island with only three things, what would they be?
I would take my guitar, of course! I started playing when I was about 15 and I try to play every day. I have a guitar at the office, so at lunch I sometimes play a little. I would also take a Cifonelli travel jacket, because with Cifonelli it's very casual and versatile. And I would take my first love, my Omega of course.
What does The Rake mean to you?
The Rake is probably the Bible of tailoring and I will never forget the cover we did with my cousin Massimo a few years ago with the legendary title 'The Gospel According to Cifonelli'. I still love to browse the magazine and it is definitely a huge source of inspiration for me.
