NYC Actor And Chef Emilio Vitolo Dishes His Style Secrets

This tastemaking toque proves that the secret recipe for style is a magical mix of heritage with an ample dash of personal pizazz.

EMILIO VITOLO

Actor and chef, Emilio’s Ballato

Emilio Vitolo at Emilio’s Ballato in a J.Lindeberg suit jacket and pants, Rolex Yacht-Master II from Bhindi Jewelers and Gucci shoes.

“It’s the man that wears the suit and makes it look good, not the suit wearing the man,” says Emilio Vitolo. The actor and chic chef behind southern Italian hot spot Emilio’s Ballato has earned a celebrity following for his Old World-meets-modern approach. The tastemaker is spotted in looks that reference a bygone glamour. “I do love to dress up come winter wearing threepiece suits and wingtip shoes— Saint Laurent, Tom Ford is one of my go-tos along with Ferragamo, Alden… Or herring cap-toe or wingtip shoes,” he says. “I would say I get my style from my father. He is always wearing the creme de la creme and taught me a lot about fashion and watches.”

Emilio Vitolo at Emilio’s Ballato wearing a J.Crew shirt, Casablanca pants and Gucci shoes

“Nobody dresses up anymore, so I’m trying to bring that back with the new spot having a dress code—and having a spot for people to dress to the nines,” he says of his superstylish spot in the works slated to open early next year. “My favorite time period is the 1920s—love the fashion back then. I want to bring that back alive with this speakeasy called Da Milio. Hopefully it will be done by February with all design and construction.”

When he is not in the kitchen, Vitolo is steaming up the screen with his acting work, with three films starting up in the new year and a packed schedule. “The film business always is a long journey,” he says of some projects still in development. “Once production starts, I will let you all know—as of right now everything is on the hush.”