Italy’s Men in Pink
I used to think it was a fashion statement, but I’m now convinced Italy has been infiltrated by a mysterious secret society. While the UFO community has its anomalous “Men in Black,” I’ve been witnessing a curious phenomena here in Naples that I’m calling “Men in Pink,” or MIP, for short.
As a woman, I’m unable to penetrate their ranks, and while I don’t see dead people, I see MIP agents everywhere:
- Casually handing off packages on lively shopping streets. Footlocker, my ass!
- Conducting important meetings in crowded public areas. In order to avoid being bugged or overheard, obviously! Click here to
- Loitering in shady doorways. Red on orange just screams subtle, doesn’t it? Of course, only in Italy would “screaming subtle” be anything but an oxymoron.
- Recruiting kids. Sure, playing ball in the local piazza looks innocent, but I think we all know better.
- Waiting by payphones for further instructions. Plus, that upturned white collar surely sends an important signal to other MIP operatives.
So what exactly is going on here? I have a theory. Back in World War I, the English developed a unique style of camouflage called Razzle Dazzle. The idea was to paint warships in flamboyant shapes and colors so that they wouldn’t look like ships from a distance. Seems counterintuitive, but it’s effective and looks snazzy. Rather than blend in, objects “disappear” by standing out.
For example, if this French ship painted in Razzle Dazzle style reminds you of a zebra, it’s because the same principle is at work. Those impractical-seeming stripes break up the shape of the ship, making it harder for enemies to identify from a distance, just as similar stripes make it harder for predators to see a zebra in the brush.
And while my gender prevents me from going completely undercover, inside sources have revealed that not only do the various shades of pink, orange and red worn by the MIP serve as a distraction, these bright colors also covertly communicate the wearer’s position in the organization. Ironically, it’s these loud colors that help this powerful agency keep such a low profile, unlike the mafia.
It’s also claimed that that the Men in Pink have primarily political motives. Some have likened it to Yale’s secretive “Skull and Bones” club and the lesser-known cadre of weirdness known as “Bohemian Grove,” whose members have included several presidents, including George W. Bush.
In any case, many speculate that it is only because of covert projects by the Men in Pink that Silvio Berlusconi has been able to maintain his reign as Italy’s Denny Crane. (I swear, I didn’t mean for that to rhyme!)
So next time you are in Italy, keep your eyes out for the mysterious Men in Pink - they’re everywhere!
This entry was actually inspired by a post entitled The Expat Snapsnot Contest: The Expat Snapshot Italy over at Career by Choice. It’s a really fun post, in which Expats are encouraged to finish the sentence “You know you are it Italy when…”
There’s a huge list over there that is so apropos - check it out! And, as you may have guessed, my first thought was, “You know you’re in Italy when you see men strutting their stuff in bright orange pants and pink shirts.”
OK, two things:
1. I secretly love the cherry red pants on Italian men. Only the cherry red, though, not the other ones.
2. Dude, Old guy in red and orange? AS ROMA, SCEMA!
OK, I’ll confess, too. Hot pink can really set off a man’s tan, in my opinion. Thanks for stopping by! :) ~Tui
Great post! Great links!
LOVE the retro-60s colors on guys…
I popped over to the Expat link in your post and had a question for you: One of the items on the list of ‘you know you’re in Italy when…’ included ‘finding figs on your doorstep’. Is there a significance to that, or do people just anonymously leave fruit, specifically figs, on doorsteps in Italy?
I have no idea about the figs. In fact, I wondered about that one when I read it, too. All I can say is that it’s never happened to me here in Naples. I have eaten some yummy, fresh figs here, but they were not left on my doorstep. As for those retro colors: it’s certainly festive! ~Tui
I kind of like Pink on guys - if they can pull it off. Especially men with a tan, like you said.
As for the figs on your doorstep comment…I believe it came from Bleeding Espresso. Check out her post on it here: http://bleedingespresso.com/2008/09/whatever-you-do-dont-eat-the-free-figs.html
How odd - I posted a reply to your comment ages ago, but it seems to have disappeared! Well… Here we go again, then. I like pink on guys, when as you say, they can pull it off. It takes some fashion confidence, especially in America, and I like that. Thanks for the figs link! I had been wondering what that was all about. And thanks for stopping by my blog. I really enjoy yours. Ciao! ~Tui
Just yesterday a friend and I were talking about how Italian men take colour risks that no-one else does. Great post.
I enjoy how the men take pride in their appearance over here and choose to wear interesting clothes - greatly improves the people watching. :) ~Tui
’ included ‘finding figs on your doorstep’. Is there a significance to that, or do people just anonymously leave fruit, specifically figs, on doorsteps in Italy?
I think that neighbors are just friendly and when certain crops come in (ripen) people that have more than they can possibly use share their bounty with their neighbors. We rented an apartment while we vacationed in Scauri last Summer and husband of the owner spoke English. One evening he was telling me that he had to go check on his crops on a piece of land that he farmed in the country. The next evening his wife gave my wife a container with figs, tomatoes and a cucumber. My cousins neighbor has a few peach trees and when the peaches ripen he shares some with my cousin and the other neighbors.
Thanks for stopping by, Gil, and leaving a comment. :)
I think the “friendly neighbors giving fruit” is matter of rural folks vs. city folks, and not an Italian phenomenon per se. No one’s ever left fresh produce on my doorstep here in Naples. However, when I lived in the countryside of the USA, I had plenty of friendly neighbor folk who were more than happy to share their garden fresh produce with me and my family. Still, it was never figs… ~Tui
interesting…I have a feeling this goes deeper than we know.
You haven’t received any hot pink sweaters or cherry red pants from your Italian relatives lately, have you? ;p ~Tui
Hah! Love this! I’m with Miss Expatria–the red pants look kind of fun, but other than that, well….in shirts, anything goes, that’s cool, but I’ve seen way too many pairs of orange pants. NEVER on P, mind you. He thinks he’s being daring if he wears light blue ;)
As for the rural/city thing, a lot of things on the list are definitely more likely to happen in one area than another…but that’s why it you know “you” are in Italy when…we’re all talking about “our” Italy :)
Angelo has yet to break out any MIP gear, but I’m sure it will happen! His dad wears a lot of pink, and it looks really good with his white hair and tan.
Good point re: “our Italy.” Certainly keeps all of our blogs interesting, doesn’t it? :) ~Tui
This is awesome! Did you take all these undercover pics yourself?!?!
If so, i’m very impressed!
I enjoy the bold splashes of color!
Oh, yeah. I can be blamed for nearly every photo on this blog! I still haven’t perfected the art of taking people’s photos in a sneaky manner. Something to work on before I apply to spy school, I guess. Thanks for stopping by, Eryn! :) ~Tui
LOL! Great undercover photography, Tui! Actually, one of the first things I noticed about Italian men is their fearless (or rather, colour-blind) approach to fashion, esp. jean fashion. My husband, however, only wears classic 501s but pairs them with god-awful loud shirts he’s saved from the 80s. Well, it could be worse. At least they’re not the “Frankie Say” shirts.
Hehe… Your hubby’s fashion sense sounds playful and fun! Maybe you need to post some undercover pix of him on your blog? ~Tui
[…] I’m a sentimental person and it doesn’t take much for me to get teary-eyed. I’d like to think that I hide this fact really well from people, but I probably don’t. It’s hard to know. (For instance, I sometimes avoid good-byes with loved ones so they won’t see me tear up.) The older I get, however, the more I realize how much of ourselves that we think is hidden is utterly obvious to those around us. Perhaps our very attempts to hide certain aspects of ourselves merely calls attention to them, kinda like my favorite type of camouflage, Razzle Dazzle. […]