Surtees isn't wholly forgotten as he started The Field magazine in 1854. It remains the world oldest continuously published monthly magazine.
Beau ties -
Beau Brum wins because he informed modern menswear - But he was far from the first Dandy or the first 'Beau'. All the history is there to be seen.
Brum Dandyism was informed by making a virtue out of necessity. The cat was broke when compared to all the other 'Beaus' so he pared back his style. He just couldn't compete with the other, earlier, more lavish 'Beaus'.
Brum wins because he was London & chummied up to the Royals. He was a careerist and an opportunist. The earlier Beaus looked down on such money grubbing behaviour. The original 'Beaus' were themselves 'Kings' in their own estimation. They didn't give a crap about any monarch apart from their own sense of what was right.
Brummell was lucky. Time he was de-throned. He diminished Dandyism, when you compare him with what went before.
... But all of the Beaus ended badly. Each and every one of them.
I say that Brummell won the Dandy Wars because he offered a Dandyism on the cheap compared to all the earlier Beaus.
He's bargain basement Dandyism.
Deeply middle class - As were all the others, but he lacked their 'aristocratic' poise/pose. Brummell was on the make but couldn't make it (He had no money) so he changed the rules to suit himself. He was too poor to be ostentatious so he ruled that ostentation was 'out'.
Genius.
He was certainly a Dandy, but beyond his self-generated PR there's very little that's Beau about The Beau. ... If you compare him to the original pre-existing conception of a Beau.
His genius was to be Anti-Bling when that's what all the rest were doing. This is just like the stripped down Vespa without it's side panels when compared to the silly Mod scooters with all their mirrors and accessories. Same gig. See what the rest do and do the opposite. Stand out.
Brummell was a MARKETING man !
(... Any good?)
All real Beaus die very broke and very very ill and very very very alone. Fact.
/\ Now there's a thing to explore.
Pourquoi ?
This is really a story that I love.. The broke wannabe Dandy (Brum-Brum) gets to be the hero of Dandyism because he offered an El Cheapo version of the concept ?
Brum was a schmoozer.
Very West End...
I hereby decree that 'George' from Asda is in and Greggs is the only place to dine...
Beau Stitcher.
And I also redeem myself as a poster of worth since I've given you all a few scant grapes from my table now.
An FNB loyalist since 2006.
So let's all dance on The Bishop's grave -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifO7AwBtNjE
Beau Diddely up next.
Topper - what are you on today, old son - as another mere guest at this feast, might I gently and respectfully remind you that this thread is about The Bishop's Finger - and you need to check whether you might have got your tackle tangled when you dressed this morning.
Last edited by Sammy Ambrose (2013-10-21 05:49:55)
Last edited by Sammy Ambrose (2013-10-21 06:01:12)
Last edited by Sammy Ambrose (2013-10-21 06:27:18)
Brontes, Morrissey...the Bishop's Finger was raised just for such.