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Here’s Why Cifonelli Suits Command a Premium Price

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With prices starting at €6,700 for a bespoke two-piece suit, one might wonder: what justifies the eye-watering cost of a Cifonelli creation?

As seasoned observers of the luxury menswear scene, we’ve had the privilege of examining Cifonelli’s craftsmanship up close.

Let’s delve into the factors that make these suits so expensive – and whether they’re worth the investment.

Cifonelli’s Unique and Rich Heritage

Cifonelli’s story began in 1880 when Giuseppe Cifonelli established his atelier in Rome.

His son, Arturo, moved the business to Paris in the 1930s after studying at London’s prestigious Minister’s Cutting Academy.

Arturo Cifonelli
Arturo Cifonelli, son of Giuseppe Cifonelli, who created Cifonelli’s signature shoulder structure – Image courtesy: @cifonelli_official

The unique blend of Italian passion, French refinement, and English structure forms the bedrock of Cifonelli’s approach.

Today, cousins Lorenzo and Massimo Cifonelli helm the Parisian house, maintaining its reputation for uncompromising quality.

Lorenzo and Massimo Cifonelli
Lorenzo and Massimo Cifonelli – Image courtesy: @cifonelli_official

Cifonelli’s Unparalleled Craftsmanship

Stepp into Cifonelli’s Parisian workshop on Rue Marbeuf, and you’ll find a hive of activity that seems frozen in time.

Over 40 skilled artisans work tirelessly, employing techniques honed over generations.

Each suit requires a staggering 80 hours of handwork spread over several months and multiple fittings.

Cifonelli’s painstaking process allows for precision and customisation that’s simply unattainable in mass-produced garments.

Consider the humble buttonhole. At Cifonelli, each is meticulously hand-stitched, taking up to an hour to perfect.

This obsessive attention to detail sets Cifonelli apart from even other high-end tailors.

The Signature Cifonelli Silhouette

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of a Cifonelli suit is its unique shoulder construction.

Known as the ‘cigarette shoulder’, it’s a marvel of tailoring engineering that Karl Lagerfeld once claimed he could recognise from 100 metres away.

Cifonelli cigarette shoulder double-breasted suit
Cifonelli’s iconic double-breasted 6×1 suit with ‘Cigarette Shoulder’

Slim and slightly sloped, with a high armhole and a subtle roping effect, it creates an elegant and dynamic silhouette.

Beyond its aesthetically pleasing silhouette, Cifonelli’s shoulder construction allows for unprecedented freedom of movement.

Achieving this effect requires an almost sculptural approach to tailoring, with precise padding and canvassing.

The technique is so complex that Cifonelli has had its ready-to-wear manufacturers sign contracts promising never to replicate it for other brands.

Luxurious Materials and Exquisite Details

Cifonelli’s commitment to quality extends to every element of their suits.

They source the finest fabrics from renowned mills like Vitale Barberis Canonico, Loro Piana, and Holland & Sherry.

We’re talking about super 150s wools, rare vicuña, and even fabrics woven with 24-karat gold and pure platinum stripes.

The internal construction is equally luxurious, with hand-stitched canvas and the highest quality horsehair interfacing.

Even elements typically an afterthought, like linings, receive the Cifonelli treatment.

Their signature striped sleeve linings are a subtle yet unmistakable mark of quality.

Bespoke Experience and Personalisation

Buying a Cifonelli bespoke suit comes with a unique experience.

The process begins with an in-depth consultation, where your preferences, lifestyle, and body type are meticulously noted.

Cifonelli Bespoke Experience

Measurements are taken scientifically and recorded on Cifonelli’s distinctive embossed measurement cards.

Multiple fittings follow each, refining the suit to your exact specifications.

Cifonelli’s level of personalisation extends far beyond fit – every aspect of the suit can be customised.

Want a secret pocket for your vintage pocket watch? Or are lapels cut to a precise angle? Cifonelli can accommodate even the most esoteric requests.

Exclusivity and Prestige

Let’s be frank: exclusivity is part of what you pay for with a Cifonelli suit.

The atelier produces only about 900 suits annually – a fraction of what larger luxury brands churn out.

Cifonelli’s scarcity, combined with its illustrious client list (including everyone from Cary Grant to François Mitterrand), adds to the allure.

Celebrities Who Wear Cifonelli

Wearing a Cifonelli suit signals membership in a very select club.

It’s a subtle flex that speaks volumes to those in the know.

Cifonelli vs Luxury Tailoring Houses

To truly understand Cifonelli’s high prices, we must consider its peers in the upper echelons of tailoring.

Savile Row stalwarts like Huntsman or Anderson & Sheppard command similar prices, starting around £5,000 (about €6,000) for a two-piece suit.

Italian powerhouses like Brioni or Kiton can be even pricier, with some suits crossing the €10,000 mark.

In this context, Cifonelli’s pricing seems less outrageous – it’s simply the cost of entry for this level of craftsmanship.

What sets Cifonelli apart is its unique blend of influences and innovative approach to classic tailoring.

While a Huntsman suit exudes British aristocratic flair, and a Brioni embodies Italian sprezzatura, a Cifonelli offers a more cosmopolitan elegance.

Are Cifonelli Suits Worth the Price?

Whether Cifonelli suits are ‘worth the price’ remains a highly subjective question.

If you’re looking for a well-made suit, there are more affordable options that will serve you well.

But if you appreciate the finest craftsmanship, crave a truly personalised garment, and have the means to indulge, Cifonelli offers something truly special.

In an age of fast fashion and disposable luxury, Cifonelli is a bastion of true craftsmanship.

Cifonelli suits are beyond clothing, they are a work of art, a testament to centuries of tailoring tradition.

It’s an investment piece that, with proper care, will last for decades and never go out of style.

Moreover, for those in circles where such things matter, a Cifonelli suit communicates success and discernment in a way few other garments can.

Style Like A Pro

Before you go, here’s one of the best-kept secrets in men’s styling circles, a secret that only a few expert image consultants know or are willing to share:

First and foremost, professional styling requires knowing your unique body shape and seasonal colour palette, as the main factors in choosing perfectly fitting clothes in colours that complement your skin, eyes, and hair.

Only then can you be styled by occasion, location, season, and time of day, with garments, footwear, and accessories from heritage fashion brands that depict an old-money style gentleman of high confidence and success.

Best part? You can find your body shape, seasonal colour palette, and ideal fashion style in less than 5 minutes thanks to our 3 simple steps below:

1. Know Your Body Shape

Different garments flatter different physiques, so knowing your body shape is the first step in dressing like a confident man – free body shape quiz for men.

Once you know your unique body shape, take the second free quiz to discover your unique colour palette.

2. Find Your Unique Colour Palette

Remember, fashion comes in various colours, but not every hue complements your natural colour.

Take our free seasonal colour quiz for men to find the most suitable colours for you.

3. Find Your Ideal Fashion Style

By now, you should already know your body shape and unique colour palette; the next step is to discover your ideal personal fashion style.

The fastest and simplest way is to take our free fashion style quiz for men; it includes your ideal style, outfit ideas, relevant fashion brands, and much more.

Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU

And if you want to style like a professional – by occasion, location, season, and time of the day – contact our expert image consultants and fashion stylists.

Our styling services for men are the most comprehensive and detailed on the market, backed up by leading stylists who will guide you step by step in creating looks that communicate affluence, elegance, and endless accomplishments.

Remember, owning luxury clothes isn’t enough; to look stylish, confident, and successful, you must first know your body shape and colour palette and only then style by occasion, location, season, and time of day.

Contact us today and save headaches, time, and money; the first styling assessment is on us!

It’s time to show the world the confident and successful you, a gentleman of exquisite fashion taste.

With years of expertise in high-end fashion collabs and a PhD in Sustainable Fashion, Ru specializes in curating eco-luxe wardrobes for the modern gentleman seeking understated refinement.

With over twenty years of front-row fashion and styling events, collabs with haute-couture houses, and a PhD in Luxury Fashion, Laurenti is an expert in crafting personalized looks that depict old-money sophistication.

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