Style, eternal charm, and Italian refinement – “Gianni Agnelli” the book (2007)

Dear readers, how many of you have heard the quote: "Books showed me the way of life," attributed to Emperor Hadrian? I stumbled upon this phrase only recently in the Fall-Winter 2025 campaign of the Italian luxury cashmere brand, Brunello Cucinelli, where the founder was surrounded by towering stacks of books forming an overwhelming "book wall". To me, this image and the quote brilliantly captured the deep connection between knowledge, history, and the refined art of timeless clothing, style, and family legacy, especially within the Italian luxury fashion world. Believe it or not, this very ad felt like a sign that cast a magical spell between Italian style and me right before Christmas, which led to my recent encounter with some precious vintage books on the subject. Today, I am glad to share with you one exceptional volume that I have found and that has now become part of my book collection, titled “Gianni Agnelli”, a visual memoir of the legendary Italian industrialist and men’s style icon.

Published by Rizzoli Libri in 2007, with an introduction penned by Henry Kissinger, a close friend of Gianni and a revered American diplomat, this book offers a sophisticated glimpse into the life of this Italian titan through monochrome archival photographs, evoking graceful nostalgia. The book cover is elegantly minimalistic: crisp white and adorned with a solitary photograph of Gianni above the book title, which caught my eye at first glance. While I have long been intrigued by the story of his glamorous wife, Marella Agnelli, an iconic noblewoman, socialite, and one of Truman Capote’s famed swans, my knowledge about Gianni himself was very limited. Although I was aware of him as both a major style icon and the head of Fiat, this distinctly focused volume intrigued me instantly.

Gianni Agnelli was born in Turin, Italy, in 1921, to Edoardo Agnelli, a prominent industrialist, and Princess Virginia Bourbon di Monte, daughter of a noble family in Perugia. Named after his grandfather, Giovanni Agnelli, the founder of Fiat, Gianni endured the loss of his parents at a young age and was raised by his grandfather until 1945. Despite these early hardships, he excelled academically, earning a law degree from the University of Turin. During World War II, he fought on the Eastern Front and served as a liaison officer to American occupying forces, thanks to his fluency in English. In 1966, Gianni became president of Fiat, overseeing an era of remarkable expansion from the late 1960s through the 1980s. His leadership solidified his status as one of Italy’s wealthiest and most influential men, extending his renown internationally, including in the United States. In 1991, he was named senator for life and received prestigious Italian honors, such as the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit in 1967 and the Order of Merit for Labour in 1977.

Beyond his business accomplishments, what captivates me most about Gianni is his distinctive personal style - an effortless blend of classic menswear infused with a rebellious spirit. From his youthful days, he mastered the art of dressing with understated elegance in his own way, sometimes considered quirky but always positively so, from wearing comfortable and slightly rebellious double-breasted suits to impeccably formal business attire that spoke of intellect and the charm of his Italian high-society roots. His eccentric touches, like wearing a wristwatch over the shirt cuff and tying his tie with a shorter front blade and longer tail, remain iconic; such stylish evidence can be found throughout the photos in this book.

Moreover, this volume beautifully documents key phases of his life and style, enriched by intimate photographs of the man himself amid his elite circle of business magnates, politicians, and his glamorous wife, Marella. It traces his transformation from a privileged youth to a globally recognized style and business icon. Although the book’s text is entirely in Italian, its visual storytelling speaks volumes. Sometimes I think things happen for a reason: about a decade ago, I acquired a beautiful coffee table book titled “Marella Agnelli: The Last Swan”, a deep exploration of his wife’s style and life; now, having this vintage book at hand and placing the two volumes side by side, it feels as though their legacy has finally come full circle in my book collection, illuminating the true essence of effortless Italian "old money" elegance.

While many may imitate Gianni’s style superficially, true elegance resides in the intangible qualities cultivated day by day, year by year, an inner refinement born of privilege, discipline, mastery, and timeless commitment. For those aspiring to embody such enduring Italian sartorial grace, Gianni Agnelli remains a profound source of inspiration, revealing a bygone jet-set lifestyle and style legacy that still echoes today.