Under the golden Tuscan sun, the city of Arezzo has once again affirmed its unique ability to blend elegance with soul, memory with modernity. The ninth edition of Dandy Days, held from 31 May to 2 June 2025, was a living tableau of refined “nostalgia”, a celebration of the art of being, breathing, and dressing with intention.
As the echoes of Oscar Wilde’s wit drifted through the air, the sagrato of Arezzo’s Duomo became a sanctified catwalk for the final défilé. This moving homage to Wilde, precisely 125 years after his passing, crowned a three-day festival that turned the historic city into a theatrical stage where style reigned with dignity and quiet splendour. For those who witnessed it, the experience was not just about fashion, but about embracing a cultural identity woven with literature, design, human connection and silent rebellion against the mundane.
The organisers, Alessio Ginestrini and Stefania Severi of “Impero Progressivo”, together with Sandro Sarri of Casa Thevenin, curated a celebration that was both intimate and grand. With grace and vision, they honoured the tradition of the dandy not as a relic of the past, but as a timeless prism through which to explore elegance, irony, and solidarity. From the vintage cars that gleamed like memories reborn, to the historic bicycles whispering of distant rides, every detail was choreographed to offer both aesthetic pleasure and emotional resonance.
This year’s Dandy Days intertwined itself with the 57th anniversary of the city’s “Fiera Antiquaria”, further grounding the festivities in the rich soil of Arezzo’s heritage. Culture was not a backdrop, but the very spine of the event. One of the most anticipated moments was the presentation of Chiara Boni’s autobiography, “Io che nasco immaginaria”, offering an introspective dialogue on fashion and identity.
Equally engaging was the talk show devoted to masculine style and taste, a space of refined debate rather than spectacle. And yet, behind the beautiful tailoring and well-coiffed beards, a deeper purpose pulsed. All proceeds from the event were generously donated to Casa Thevenin, an organisation dedicated to providing shelter and support to those in need. In this sense, Dandy Days walked a deliberate line between pageantry and philanthropy, proving that true elegance is inseparable from empathy.
Among the many names that lent their presence and grace to this year’s gathering were Chiara Boni herself, as well as Niccolò Cesari, Aldo Farinola, Luca Fiocca, and Thierry Mouele, to name only a few.
The international spirit of the gathering was reinforced by the attendance of elite clubs, such as Club New Sheridan and Frenchfoxsilversquad, which bridged traditions across borders with the shared language of refinement.
With the patronage of the Comune di Arezzo, the Provincia di Arezzo, ACI Club, and the support of the Fondazione Arezzo Intour, Dandy Days has matured into more than a cult event; it has become a cultural lighthouse.
It invites visitors to dress differently, to think differently, to move more slowly, to admire details, and to live life as an art form. As the final bow was taken and the city slowly returned to its quieter rhythm, one thing was certain: Arezzo had, for three luminous days, reminded the world that beauty is not frivolous. It is revolutionary.
And in the lingering air, one phrase echoed like a well-tailored promise: “Qua la mano e diamoci del dandy.”
Photo Credits: Marco Rappo Photographer
Article edited by Massimo Basile
Editorial Director