DANDY

The dandy is a style of refined menswear that places an impeccable cut, neatness and restrained elegance above showy luxury. Its model was the Englishman George 'Beau' Brummell in the early 19th century: he rejected the lavish, ornamented dress of the previous age in favour of a perfectly tailored suit, clean lines, measured proportion and a flawlessly tied cravat. The dandy is a cult of detail and self-discipline: the quality of the fabric, the fit and grooming matter more than brightness. The style unites aristocratic restraint with a note of intellectual aristocracy and even a challenge to social convention. The modern dandy is a man (and today a woman in an androgynous key) who makes a work of taste out of their dress. It is a philosophy of 'less, but impeccable', where elegance is quiet and the influence immense.