2025 is the year dedicated to Giacomo Casanova and the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia is preparing for the first chapter of an investigation dedicated to the famous writer, poet, adventurer, and diplomat, with a deep look into his time, on the aesthetic and social changes that redefined the concept of elegance and seduction in men of the 18th century: with the exhibition The Seducer. The Renewal of the Male Image in Casanova's Time, which explores the evolution of men's fashion in the 18th century, a century in which the modernity of men's clothing was born. At the Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo - Center for the Study of the History of Textiles and Costumes from March 7 to July 27, 2025. 

Through the setting in the evocative environments and scenarios of daily life at the Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo, with prestigious specimens from its rich collections alongside loans from the Stibbert Museum in Florence, the exhibition highlights how men's clothing underwent a progressive transformation: from an expression of power and strength to a symbol of refinement, culture, and sensitivity. The fashion of the time, which is mainly codified in the three-piece suit - tailcoat, waistcoat, and breeches - becomes more refined and simplified, abandoning the redundancies of previous centuries and anticipating the discreet elegance that still characterizes men's attire today.

A journey into the fashion and society of the 18th century

The exhibition is divided into different thematic sections, each dedicated to a crucial aspect of the transformation of the male image. 

Society life, the 18th century as a century of conversation, salons, and worldliness. The male figure, once characterized by sumptuous and symbol-laden garments, adapts to a new model of seduction: no longer a display of strength, but wit, culture, and gallantry. 

The tailcoat: towards a reassuring charm: the influence of the Enlightenment leads to a simplification of men's attire. The tailcoat loses its rigidity and lavish decorations to take on a more essential and sophisticated line. The weapons of seduction: colors, silk. Venice, like other fashion capitals, plays a key role in the production of refined fabrics, with silks featuring innovative designs and bold colors that define the male elegance of the time. 

The waistcoat, or the unveiling of personality: this clothing item becomes the distinctive detail of individual taste, with embroideries and patterns that reveal the personality and inclinations of the wearer. The splendor of the court. The court's clothing and accessories were expressions of power and social status. The magnificence of the fabrics, the abundance of gold and silver embroideries, and the use of precious stones characterized the attire of nobles and high dignitaries, emphasizing their role in the elite of the time