Filippo Sorcinelli is a charismatic tailor to the pope. A Renaissance man, he is not only gifted in the art of tailoring but music, design, and perfume, too (https://www.departures.com/fashion/filippo-sorcinelli-tailor-to-the-pope). At one point in this interview, he makes an astute point.
Benedict’s high regard for papal fashion is well-known and contrasts with Francis’s modesty. Sorcinelli points out, however, that the Baroque ornateness favoured by Benedict subsumes the man in the office of the papacy. Francis’s interest in simple, modest coverings means that the man himself in visibly present in the clothes. It is a powerful insight and might make us wonder which papal style is the most vain.
As with the lead picture to this post, here is Sorcinelli and the interesting bottles his perfumes come in:
