Fashioning the Dandy: Style and Manners

The book explores the dandy as a cultural type across Europe and Russia from the eighteenth century through the present day, offering a unique view on dandyism as a cultural tradition based on fashionable attire, lifestyle, and conceptual approaches to dress. It covers topics such as clubbing manners, virtual aristocratism, urban flâneurs, and the correct way to examine people, as well as strategies of subversive behavior, practical jokes, noble scandal, dry wit, bare-faced impudence, and mocking politeness. It also examines representation of dandies in fiction and contemporary dandyism, including African sapeurs.

Format: Hardback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2023
Publisher: Anthem Press

The book delves into the dandy as a cultural phenomenon across Europe and Russia from the eighteenth century to the present day, presenting a unique perspective on dandyism as a cultural tradition that extends beyond mere fashion and encompasses a distinct lifestyle characterized by specific standards of behavior, bodily practices, and conceptual approaches to dress. The author, Olga Vainshtein, offers a comprehensive exploration of dandyism, highlighting its historical development and its enduring influence on modern culture. The dandy is portrayed as the archetypal hero of the contemporary celebrity culture, with Vainshtein delving into various aspects of dandyism, including clubbing manners, virtual aristocratism, urban flâneurs, and the art of visual assessment at social gatherings. Readers are introduced to strategies of subversive behavior, such as practical jokes, noble scandal, dry wit, bare-faced impudence, and mocking politeness. Vainshtein also examines the representation of dandies in nineteenth-century literature, providing insights into the literary portrayal of this cultural phenomenon. Furthermore, a significant portion of the book is dedicated to Russian and Soviet dandyism, exploring the unique characteristics and influences of this cultural movement. Additionally, contemporary dandyism, including African sapeurs, is discussed, providing a contemporary perspective on the enduring appeal of dandyism. Overall, the book offers a rich and insightful exploration of the dandy as a cultural type, shedding light on its historical roots, cultural significance, and enduring influence on modern society.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839984440