Held twice a year in Florence, Italy, Pitti Uomo is considered one of the most important platforms for menswear in the world.

The entrance to Pitti Uomo is through the 14th century walls of Fortezza da Basso.

On the surface, Pitti Uomo may seem like a typical industry-only trade show that brings together brands, retailers, journalists and menswear enthusiasts from around the world. But Pitti Uomo is anything but run of the mill - it can be compared to what E3 is to gaming, or the Frankfurt Motor Show is to cars - that is, the event that sets the barometer for its respective industry, and establishes industry trends for the months to come.

Pitti Uomo is split across several buildings within Fortezza da Basso, with each building having its own theme.

While Pitti Uomo may evoke thoughts of showcasing Italian brands, the show actually brings together an unbelievable collection of exhibitors from around the world, ranging from legendary Italian brands like Brunello Cucinelli to an endless stream of upstarts and established brands from Japan, the Scandinavian nations, the Americas, and everything in between.

Brunello Cucinelli's booth at Pitti Uomo 96.

Some brands, such as Tiger of Sweden, hold private events throughout Florence during Pitti Uomo.

Many exhibitors at the show put a lot of time and money into their displays, such as this booth, made to look like an old-fashioned shoe shop.

The show itself is staggeringly large, taking up multiple themed buildings scattered throughout Fortezza da Basso's 100,000 square meters of space. Booths range from simple displays to elaborate, expensive spectacles that are as much experiential as they are about displaying new products.

Over 30,000 people typically attend each edition of Pitti Uomo.

So what can you actually expect to see at Pitti Uomo? The one consistency amongst the exhibitors is an unrelenting focus on premium quality and style. Don’t expect to find much in the way of low cost, fast fashion brands, but do expect to see plenty of tailored clothing, contemporary fashion, athletic wear, and unique takes on traditional looks from global brands. You'll also find plenty of new, practical technical innovations making its way into clothing, making them more comfortable, durable, or other great benefits like sweat resistance.

Several exhibitors go above and beyond to showcase their products, including booths like this, where shoe shining was offered to attendees.

Oh, and expect to see a lot of Pitti Uomo's famous (infamous?) "street style" on display, wandering around the event. A quick Googling of "Pitti Uomo Street Style" will yield images of guys dressed up ranging from exceptionally stylish to over-the-top, taking Instagram-ready photos against the postcard caliber Florence backdrop. While most attendees generally aren't dressed up to this level, do expect to see a good number of trendsetters there, showing off their style and stopping for photo-ops every couple of steps.

Expect to see a lot of people with their own photographers taking pictures throughout the show's grounds.

It's not just clothing and shoes - there are many exhibitors focused on showing the latest accessories as well.

The next Pitti Uomo event, Pitti Uomo 97, takes place between January 7-10, 2020. Be sure to keep an eye out for it, as it is pretty much certain that what you see there is what you should be wearing in the months to come.