What is style vs fashion? - Interview with Andrea Gabrielli
Introduction
This article draws from an insightful discussion I had with Andrea Gabrielli, Italian born and now a London-based content creator and style connoisseur. We delved into the timeless debate of ‘style’ versus ‘fashion,’ exploring Andrea’s unique perspective and the principles that guide his approach to dressing with purpose.
Adam, Thomas Bird
Adam: I'm with Andrea Gabrielli, in Battersea Park in London, to ask a few questions.
To start:
What does style mean to you?
Andrea: Style is basically about investigating who you are, rather than trying to be somebody else. It's often underrated and mostly confused with fashion and elegance, but it’s not the same.
What’s the difference between style and fashion?
Andrea: That’s a very important distinction. Style is who you are, whereas fashion is what you’ve been told you should be.
In fashion, you follow rules set by other people—people who don’t know you and don’t care about you. Style, on the other hand, is about saying, “This is me.” It goes beyond what others dictate.
With fashion, you belong to something or someone—like the fashion designers. But in style, you break free from that and focus on being yourself.
Do you have any tips for someone trying to find their personal style?
Andrea: Tips and advice are always hard to give because we’re all different. But because of those differences, style is really about listening to yourself, understanding who you are, and figuring out what you genuinely like—regardless of what others think.
Sometimes you might feel underdressed or overdressed, but there’s no such thing. Just be yourself. Your style is a reflection of who you are.
Listen to yourself, and don’t worry about the opinions of the crowd or the herd you might feel pressured to belong to. Otherwise, you’ll end up chasing fashion instead of discovering your style.
Work on understanding what you truly like and build from there.
What do you consider when putting together a new outfit?
Andrea: There are no rules, but being true to yourself means following your own. Personally, I have a few rules.
For example, I like blue—a lot. One of my unwritten rules is to stick to no more than two colors in an outfit, including shades.
Take today, for instance: I’m wearing a Prince of Wales suit with a thin blue lining. That blue dictates my pocket square, socks, and even my shoes.
You use the word “sprezzatura” on your blog and Instagram. What does it mean?
Andrea: Sprezzatura (not to be confused with "spazzatura" which in Italian means "trash") is a way of explaining fashion without rules—but it’s still fashion.
Sometimes sprezzatura involves making an unnecessary effort to look cool by imitating someone else. But true sprezzatura is natural. When it reflects who you are and has harmony, it becomes part of your style.
What do you like about Thomas Bird shoes?
Andrea: When it comes to shoes, they need to be comfortable, stylish, and match my outfit. Sometimes I’m formal; other times, I’m casual. If a brand can deliver on all these fronts—boom, bingo!
What’s also crucial is the shopping experience. We don’t always have time to visit physical stores, so online shopping is convenient. However, the risk with online shopping is customer service.
You don’t want problems, but if something goes wrong, that’s when customer service becomes critical.
I’ve found that Thomas Bird offers outstanding customer service, especially during the pre-sale phase—helping you find the right size and the best product.
It’s not just a transaction; it feels personal. Even though you’re shopping online, you’re dealing with real people, and that makes all the difference.
People buy from people—even online.
