Am I Dandy?

Nathaniel Adams, co-author of the book "I am Dandy," discusses the cultural history of dandyism, gives a tour of his personal wardrobe, and examines the way the theatrics of fashion relate to a person's inner character.

[@crestontanner6915]

Thanks for the video! As a teenager in the late 60's early 70's I spent all my extra money on stylish clothes and Music. Later I collected Fashion from different periods in time. Now in my early 60's my wardrobe is a time capsule of Fashion from all periods and styles, all of which I wear. I get great pleasure putting together an outfit for a special occasion and the beauty is in the detail. Most people even my friends don't get it and I really don't care if they do!

[@ingedetroia7189]

👍"Be yourself, no matter what they say..." ('An Englishman in New York') 😎

[@jasonwilkie1369]

I keep coming back to this video, because the one dandy who was not featured in his book “I am Dandy” was himself. To me, he is as interesting as the people he interviewed. I have both books, “I am Dandy” and the later one “We are Dandy” which went more international, showcasing dandies from places like Japan and South Africa. What I like about the dandy is they can take a suit, which one would think would be quite conforming (ie. a banker) or a suit of armor, projecting power (Wall Street) and make it an act of personal expression. I only have a few suits at this point myself, but hope to get more and develop my own personal expression. I really like the look of the three piece suit he is wearing at 1:38 and for most of the interview, a lighter color three-piece suit paired with a blue tie. And, I like the black hat he wore at the beginning. As for a tuxedo, instead of the shawl lapel tuxedo he was wearing I would probably go the path of another dandy, Sven Raphael Schneider of the Gentleman’s Gazette and use peak lapels, a low cut vest, maybe a tiny silk flower, and a Homberg hat. And, I notice that personal expression goes beyond just clothes. Nathaniel Adams (the person in the video) wrote this in “I am Dandy” about the dandy: “The true dandies aren’t selling anything; for them clothing isn’t a job-it’s a divinely-ordained vocation to which they have been called by some unseen force. ... They’re a complete package: clothes, surroundings, personality, behavior, taste, all working in concert to achieve a desired effect.” “What that effect is depends on the individual himself. One thing anyone reading this book will quickly notice is the diversity of the men within. This is not a subculture but a gallery of unique men. ... Some of them see the dandy as the perfect gentleman, well mannered and elegant; others see a tailored suit as the perfect cover for a decadent, confrontational, or debauched way of life. Some of them are nostalgist, finding beauty in earlier epochs; others want to be at fashion’s leading edge. Some are eccentric; others are conservative, so eccentrically so. Some see themselves as educators whose duty is to teach the masses about style; others profess an indifference to the rest of humanity.” Later, he wrote: “Pessimism would be forgivable: enemies of elegance around the world blow up statues, loot museums, and burn books while, closer to home, philistines gorge themselves on a televised parade of mediocrity, espousing an ethos which values speed and quantity over care and beauty. When things begin to look this way, the best things that civilization has to offer need their defenders-people who believe that an extra step or two in the direction of beauty can make all the difference between a life worth living and an acquiescently shrugging existence. The sartorial shock troops, as ever, are the dandies, those unique men who take it upon themselves to embody the beauty of culture while disdaining its inhibitions. The cream of the crop-the high level dandies-are iconoclastic figures, apart from the mainstream, either setting the standards or flaunting them in favor of something more interesting, but never content to simply be like the rest. They exist on the fringes yet are paradoxically the center of attention. They are all possessed by a sometimes ruinous and romantic obsession with appearance, particularly in matters of dress and deportment. And the one common, beautiful, purple thread that runs through their souls is a sincere belief that elegance is paramount and mediocrity a fate worse than death.” He, at the end, is referencing the quote at the start of his Introduction: “But I aspire to be the purple stripe, that is, the garment’s brilliant hem. However small a part it may be, it can still manage to make the garment as a whole attractive. Don’t tell me then, ‘be like the rest,’ because in that case I cannot be the purple stripe.” -Epictetus, On Human Freedom As I said earlier, to me he is as interesting as the people he interviewed.

[@zorkwork3841]

I met Natty Adams on a trainride going north.Not only is he a natty dresser...but he is such a lovely and intelligent man..Good company and kind. To all the dandy's ...be well!

[@seriphone]

My waistcoats were bought from OTC on Brunswick St. Fitzroy. All vintage. Some had damaged buttons so I replaced them with items from the button shop on glenferrie road malvern

[@JoseCruz-ky8fi]

I love Dandys! This is a great film. I want to see more!

[@tedcrilly46]

03:30 - the quotes, now thats a genius touch. Classiest thing Ive seen in some time. No servant boys were beaten in the making of this production. Perhaps one or two.

[@juliushauck3981]

There I have got a different approach of that. If I am asked what kind of human I am, I tell them I am a Dandy, because it's not just my wardrobe, it describes my way of living. But I would never dare to call myself a gentleman. Which is, at t least for me and unlike "Dandy" a title that I am not entitled to claim by myself. Even if I am flattered when somebody else calls me like that. But I really enjoyed video an book. It's a great and inspiring lecture that I am happy to own. Just right for the coffee table.

[@toejib1882]

When I picked up The Art of Seduction I IMMEDIATELY clicked with the Dandy persona, but ever so slightly on the Siren... can you even be a Dandy Siren? XD

[@sm-iy9bo]

Hey Man after reading the book I clicked with dandy with also some coquette And rake tendencies

[@arlenburgin2392]

Fabulous wardrobe, mate!

[@maxdominate2481]

@3:15 - I have that same Richard Ellman book on "Oscar Wilde": what a magnificent command of the English language Mr Ellman possessed.

[@steveansell3981]

a further six waistcoats bought today - Dandyism alive and well in Melbourne, Australia

[@st3v0s]

Where from?

[@steveansell3981]

st3v0s dunno what happened here ...? I responded to your question shortly after it was posted but it appeared as a separate post ... hope this works now - My waistcoats were bought from OTC on Brunswick St. Fitzroy. All vintage. Some had damaged buttons so I replaced them with items from the button shop on Glenferrie road Malvern 

[@st3v0s]

Steve Ansell Ah I see. I'm from Brisbane and no doubt it's harder to buy such things up here let alone seeing people wear them (but to be fair the heat does play a small part in that).

[@keshavrao212]

@@steveansell3981 What about now? How is dandyism working now?

[@Seriph1]

@@keshavrao212 still going strong but of course, lockdowns etc. reduce opportunity to promenade 🤡🤡🤡🤡 Last night I drove down to melb and wore ultra black suede boots, charcoal pinstripe trousers, navy tight T shirt with the Porsche logo made up from a collage of every model variant Porsche ever made, Porsche belt, and black Bell & Ross watch with tan leather strap. Got nice compliments from my fellow diners … not that it mattered. I dress for me and for fun.

[@patriciabrun8649]

Miroir oh mon miroir dit moi qui est mon âme. ❤️

[@Tambura330]

You sir, are a dandy!

[@appetite4chic878]

Here after reading The Art Of Seduction. Next I’m studying jedenna lol

[@alternateunreleasedshellac505]

0:43 Explain Diogenes

[@larrywilcox5282]

A very nice video. However, having southern roots a real man would never put his hat on the table!

[@nadiako3522]

I'm a dandy woman😀😀😀

[@steveansell3981]

cool as shit man ... I am trying to find the best large format coffee table books on Dandyism - any recommendations? Oh WOW! The combinations you elect to wear!!!!! Brown wool three-piece suit, white-collared pink shirt, blue and yellow (!!!!!) tie and red hank .... brilliant - you're a living breathing exemplar of "if you think you can .... you can!" stunning

[@TreeHuggerLifer]

Are only men dandy? who is ostracizing? is the word ostracizing ostracizing? Was queen Victoria a Dandy? Is Beyonce a Dandy? 🦖

[@TotalDeathGuy45]

Now...how would dandyism work in SPACE?

[@silkscreens9154]

I understood that reference

[@Reub3]

Two kinds of men in the world. Ron Swanson type & The Dandy. I prefer to be the Ron Swanson type of man. Its way more fun and enjoyable.

[@asturiasceltic3183]

First of all dandies don't have NO Five O'Clock shadows

[@AidanTheLoverBoyOhDwyer]

lose the feathers

[@Freedomboy006]

i would have to make at least 50 million after taxes to spend that kind of money on clothes.. i just dont get how someone with normal means can spend that kind if money on clothes.

[@momotheelder7124]

well you obviously don't have that 'bug' to primp and preen like these guys do. At the same time, we don't know exactly what their means are and how much they are spending on clothes, they are spending a lot clearly, but probably not as much as you might think.

[@albertogutierrez8653]

Freedomboy006 As an aspiring, dandy, you look for deals. At some point, retail clothing stores want to move inventory as quick as possible. Many items will be marked down 50 to 75%. Other item are sold to other outlets and sold at a discount. I recently bought two sport coats marked up at 300 dollars. I bought them for $25 each. $40 dollars extra for the adjustments. They also shop at used clothing stores. You need to know what you like, and know how to shop for deals.

[@jr8573]

David Bowie

[@thedrewster8800]

Lost me at the Four-in-Hand... Pratt all the way!

[@jr8573]

Jaden Smith is the modern dandy.

[@besteverepicmillennial5927]

I never believed "clothes make a man" a man who has a good face and hair (John Stamos) can wear anything. With that the only other thing is yes dress great but if you sit in a cafe all day drinking expresso with no job then youre just tacky and people can tell youre just a yahoo

[@gilbertorangel4127]

Then that man is not a dandy is a man who seeks elegance all his life but to passersbys it seems as if his quest is in the background. A dandy will play out "normal" he is not a peacock he is a lone dove that is overlooked

[@ToaSirian]

Dressing up in suits doesn't make one dandy. One is dandy or one is trying too hard. This is trying too hard.

[@Caucasiancookingadventures]

Like you would even know.

[@candacen7779]

Hmmm, you seem to be the one trying too hard.

[@timothyfreeman97]

he would rock those outfits better if he was more slimmer. A lot of the up and coming aspiring Dandies nowadays wrongly misconceive that because they're not big or portly and their stomach doesn't portrude that they automatically fall under the 'slim' category of men, but that just isn't the case. if you're not under at least 15% body fat, your lack of muscle tone and definition will be quite visable - ESPECIALLY, as is evident with this gentleman, along with most of the other featured men in this video, around the facial region. The shape of your face and it's features says a lot about your body condition.

[@roberthonan3492]

Dear, we get that you are only attracted to gym bunnies, but they rarely dress well unless paid to do so.

[@isabellaassasin4452]

He looks handsome and healthy

[@numbereightyseven]

Who gives a shit, you superficial self-obsessed narrow-minded judgmental fool.

[@Reub3]

I think your idea and perception of a dandy is way off. Compared to past dandy's it just doesn't fit.