Not a bad hack job that, much better than the Daily Mail's innane/daily dose of tripe & hate house style.

But it is clear, the Dandy is a figure you can project whatever you want on: from interpreter of the subdued cool, to overly exquisite and overtly effeminate work shy f(l)op.

I didn't think Noel Coward's photo was apt, was he really a dandy? He did represent a certain English high-art camp for the stage for which I thoroughly approve. Shame Sebastian Horsley didn't get a mention, I think he did so much more than anyone to reinvent (badly) the Romantic aesthetic and opium.

I think that is pretty valid for the origin of dandyism. I think it morphed to something that became an individually defined concept though, instead of having an outright death. Today, it can cover such a scope, that it really depends on the speakers definition to have any concrete meaning.

Well, true, but still it's the reality of the situation. You can't just say something means "XXX". It's wholly dependent on who's using the word.

Last edited by Reckless Reggie (2013-04-05 07:39:27)

I'm still no nearer to understaning where or what is a modern dandy? A degenerate Horsely type figure living in China town, or a healthy clean living mod like Wiggins?

It's a rare phenomenon, it's someone who is aware and does it better than most others. Clothes that is. If it's become completely about wild flamboyance, it is because half of the mainstream can't understand anything beyond the physical and if it's interpreted as its original blandness it's because the other half of the mainstream can't understand anything but the literal. By definition dandyism cannot be understood or adopted by the mainstream. A dandy is something of a rare, lone wolf. Frankly the vast majority of people on clothing forums have no interest in dandysim per se which is about talent and is extra class. The majority of people on the forums are concerned with status/class and the unearned, untalented variety. The sort that one gets by virtue of birth. That is something most people understand and cant do anything about whereas dandyism takes talent and effort which antagonizes the average Joe.


On a slightly related note, it was amusing having someone visit from London who went mad for my suit/tie/shirt colors/patterns and above all, my jacket lining. He was a football mad (Had a photo of him and Beckham on his mobile!), hard drinker and some of the Americans wedded to fleeces and cheap jeans (who've been on my back for a while about my "fancy" clothing) couldn't believe he went on for an hour about my style (Admittedly somewhat UK). Then his wife arrived and started it all over again. I can only believe the Americans had to revise their opinions that I am frivolous. The final straw was the young blonde sitting a few seats away joining in about my tie.