@mikemonnette “Drip is material, steeze is spiritual” If you really want to get technical about etymology, sprezzatura dates back to 1528 and was used to describe the way Italian courtiers were so nonchalant about everything and it’s come to represent the Italian approach to good style, especially among older gentlemen. “Steeze” first showed up in rap lyrics in the 80’s but was really made popular in it’s current form by extreme sports athletes and California teens in the late 90’s and 2000’s. #menswear #mensfahion #style #steeze #sprezzatura ♬ Pictures of You - Drugdealer & Kate Bollinger
There’s a difference between looking good and being stylish. Drip is material—your clothes, your accessories, the tangible things you put on. But steeze? That’s something deeper. It’s spiritual. It’s effortless. It’s the thing that turns a well-dressed man into someone with undeniable presence.
The concept isn’t new. In fact, different groups have coined their own terms for it over the years. Old Italian gentlemen call it sprezzatura. Skaters and surfers call it steeze—a mix of “style” and “ease.” No matter what you call it, the idea is the same: the art of making something difficult look easy. Whether it’s pulling off a perfectly disheveled outfit or landing a technical trick with zero hesitation, true style isn’t about trying too hard—it’s about making it look like you’re not trying at all.
It’s no wonder this concept has been popping up in conversations about fashion and personal style. Everyone wants that secret ingredient, that sauce that makes an outfit feel like you rather than just a collection of garments. And while expensive clothes might give you drip, they won’t give you steeze. Steeze comes from within.
If we’re getting technical, sprezzatura dates back to 1528, when it was used to describe the way Italian courtiers carried themselves with an air of studied nonchalance. Over time, it became the hallmark of Italian style—especially among older men, who make tailoring look impossibly cool without seeming like they tried too hard.
Meanwhile, steeze first appeared in rap lyrics in the ‘80s but found its true home in extreme sports culture in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Snowboarders, skateboarders, and surfers used it to describe athletes who had a smooth, natural flow—something that couldn’t be taught or bought, only developed through experience and confidence.
And that’s the key: confidence. The ability to throw on clothes and not overthink it. To own your look without needing constant validation. To develop a personal style that feels as natural as breathing.
Drip can be bought. Steeze has to be earned.