It is interesting that, although we might, apparently, expect to be treated to pictures of fat ladies merrily cavorting and models in micro-bikinis stretching their fetching limbs, a reasoned consideration of the Dook's claim to fame as a style-leader is interdit because reflections upon his career smack of 'politics'. I am unconvinced that the shiny jackboot of suppression should really crush reasoned debate in relation to his posthumous claim to fame as the first man of modern style. Tony Ventresca seems able to take care of himself - so why the ring of steel around him and the Dook? I've said before and I say again, that there is a good deal to derive from Wales-Windsor's dress sense (my book mentions him several times and includes illustrations of him and one outfit in the Met. Museum) - but the title of the thread was fated to raise hackles because true style is about so much more than having fine clothes and wearing them well - after all Goering was sartorially resplendent but few would hold him to be an icon of style. Wales-Windsor abandoned his sacred duty as king and emperor; Churchill even had to consider a Court Martial to get him back from occupied France. It is unreasonable to put W-W up as a paragon of excellence without expecting to meet resistance from those who have studied his life. After the Governorship of the Bahamas he did nothing except devote himself to living the life of Reilly and selling his celebrity as the man who had been king; bucked the system and bunked off. Sorry to press the point but locking the thread instead of letting it develop, according to majority opinion of any members who wish to address the actual issue, is just puerile. There is little doubt that the thread would develop into some consideration of his sartorial sense but against the background that there are several members who just don't admire the man enough to vote him in a true style-leader. No one denies the effort that Tony Ventrsca put into scanning the pictures and they do have a great  interest to which I, for one, hope that we might turn. However, why, on earth should there not be mention of others who are just as important as the Dook and more interesting (or admirable) as people? And, for the avoidance of doubt, FU2 is not a reply, is it?

Last edited by NJS (2009-05-21 18:29:04)