WTI Magazine #65    2015 July, 24
Author : Elda Buonanno Foley      Translation by:

I always surprise foreign people when I mention that I married an Irish man. "What about a lovely, passionate and sexy Italian man?" would be the usual comment while obviously thinking of the "typical" Italian man. Thus, here is the focus on one of the best known (and not always for the best reasons) Italian stereotypes: the male population in our Bel Paese, is always seen as a bunch of Latin lovers always ready to capture their preys like hungry vultures. Is this a real compliment or an old and a bit retro' conception of a seducer?

I would start by saying that the image of a Latin lover, the lovely, elegant man very kind and noble in his gestures and in his approaches to women has been colored and often exaggerated by our golden cinema of the 60s, 70s and 80s that, with the roles played by great actors such as Marcello Mastroianni, Vittorio Gassman, Giancarlo Giannini, and Gian Maria Volonte'( just to name a few), has contributed to create the image of an Italian man always being a perfect gentleman , caring , loving but passionate and a bit childish in his gestures. Since then, the love for Italy and all its charming items and symbols has transmitted this iconic idea of what a seducer should be and why an Italian man is the answer to love!

Well, let me address the features of this stereotype by doing a quick Q&A.

Are contemporary Italian men all Latin lovers?

It depends on what the expression "nowadays" means. Does it mean that a typical Italian man is charming, loving, generous, and a bit of a narcissist with a soft side for women? Absolutely! Italian men have always been known for their passionate appreciation for women and for over the centuries they have sang of their love for their lovers. Think about Dante and his famous lines Che dentro a li occhi suoi ardeva un riso Tal, ch'io pensai di toccar cò miei lo fondo De la mia gloria e del mio paradiso(La Divina Commedia) or Petrarca, Boccaccio, and all the glorious Italian writers, poets and singers (I could list thousands of examples from modern and contemporary artists).

Are contemporary Italian men elegant like a "modern Dandy"?

Much better than a typical "Dandy". The image of the British Oscar Wilde and his flower buttoned to his jacket does not embody what elegance is for a typical Italian man. A proper Italian man is a bit of a narcissist in his care of his appearance: every detail needs to be perfect, in style and suitable for the occasion. Suits and accessories are often handmade, echoing an historical tradition in craftsmanship for men clothes. Marinella, for example, is the best-known tie shop in Naples that started its production of shirts and ties since 1914. To have a Marinella Tie today means to be "in style". And what about the shirts that need to be custom made with initials either on the chest or the cuffs? Or pants and jackets that have often a tailored feature?

In sum, are the contemporary Italian Latin lovers a product of a "Made in Italy"?

I would definitely agree with that. Italian men are the symbols of a passionate, generous, and a bit formal Italy, overly eager to please, focused on the status symbol for a better appearance that is not superficial but rather a search to maintain a proper image. Men who are a bit of macho but refined and mondaine, always looking to maintain a dignified behavior with the female genre (sanctified in a few occasions- let's not mention the devotion of Italian men for their mothers and sisters) and never afraid to appear too polished and courtly. Thus, what is not to love in an Italian man?!