Skip to main content

Unearthing the World’s Best Dressed Men in We Are Dandy

When I am Dandy was published in 2013 (yours truly was honored to be included), most American men were scratching their head asking, ‘WTF is a Dandy?”. These days you can hardly get away from the term!

For the record, a Dandy is a man unduly devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance. If you really want to go deep listen to this NPR segment about Yankee Doodle Dandy.

We see the term bandied about all over the menswear (and even womenswear – can we please just own this one ladies?) worlds. There are nearly 1 million #Dandy tags on Instagram and there have been museum shows from RISD in Rhode Island to the Petit Palais in Paris dedicated to them.

Clearly it is a huge, glorious backlash to the ill fitting, sweatshirt culture men have stewed in for so long and we are very glad to see it alive and well (although enough with the selfies vain men!).

Surely photographer Rose Callahan and writer Nathaniel “Natty” Adams struck a fine silk cord when they published their first book so it is with much pleasure that we find they have worked so hard to publish a second tome.

As they explained to us, “From America to Africa to Asia, dandyism is a way of life. It is fashion in the best sense, self-esteem through style. And in every country, it takes a unique form as dandies draw on the local context and fashion culture to shape their looks. We are Dandy throws open the doors of the wardrobe and explores the dandy as a global phenomenon. With texts as witty as the subjects are stylish, the book pokes between the folds to let us know these exceptional individuals. For them, their dandy fashion is more than a trend or a phase, it is who they are, the outer expression of their inner selves.”

You could really spend hours on each page, observing every waxed whisker combed into place, the perfect fold of a scarf and the tie of a tassel. What is refreshing about this book compared to the last is how far  they flew to find more Dandies. While Tokyo may be expected to stock quite a few flamboyant gents, Africa was even more fascinating. Rose and Natty jetted to Johannesburg where the group met some key players thanks to the help of Daniele Tamagni, author of Gentleman of Bacongo, and Shantrelle Patrice Lewis, who is behind the Dandy Lion project about global black dandyism.

What was so fascinating was the rise of Instagram since the last book only four years ago. Now ‘influencers’ and ‘tastemakers’ were clamoring to be in the book but the authors were careful. You need to speak the speak more than just walk the walk. As Natty explained, “Dandies often describe the joy of finding rare items in unlikely places; these men were our hidden gems, practicing their dandyism for its own pleasurable sake, and — as I mentioned in the introduction to the first book — doing it even when nobody is looking.”

We Are Dandy can be purchased here.

Photography by Rose Callahan, from We are Dandy, Copyright Gestalten 2016

Editors' Recommendations

Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
The 7 Best Men’s White Dress Shirts for All Occasions

If it's been some time since you've unearthed your formal shirts in the recent year, worry not. We've got you. The good news is there are so many fresh and stylish shirts to choose from these days, and we rounded up the best shirts for all occasions.

Across the board, your white dress shirt must have a few characteristics. First, the collar has got to be clean, crisp, and resilient. Material is key, as it should offer ease of movement and cool breathability. Next is the fit. We all know slim is the way to go. However, that doesn't mean it has to hold onto your body like performance wear, especially if you want to wear a t-shirt underneath. You can also partner it with shirt jackets for all occasions. Don't be stuck on slim, your dress shirt can have some room, just make sure it stays tucked so you avoid a baggy mess.

Read more
Cloos X Tom Brady Glasses Review: One of the Best Men’s Sunglasses Collection
cloos x tom brady glasses review bxc sunglasses

However you might feel about Tom Brady from a sports fan point of view, two facts remain undeniable:

He’s pretty remarkable for carrying a pro athlete career (in football, no less) into his 40s.

Read more
Product Review: Are These the Best Men’s Sports Sandals?
chacos z2 product review chaco sandals

Having grown up and lived most of my life in the southeastern United States, I have referred to the current hot and humid weather as the “dog days” of summer. I always assumed that it referred to weather so hot that even the dogs were inactive and resting somewhere amidst the shade. It wasn’t until rather recently that I explored the phrase and discovered that its actual meaning has a more celestial origin. The Greeks and Romans called them the “dog days” as this was when Sirius, the dog star, appeared to rise slightly before the sun. This period, lasting for a month, occurred in late July and usually equated to what was typically the hottest time of the year. 

Regardless, I have always longed for the warmer days of spring and the “dog days” of summer so that I can wear my Chaco sandals until winter ultimately arrives and I must relinquish them until the following season. I first started wearing them over 20 years ago and they now collectively make up the largest single brand of clothing and footwear in my largely adventurous wardrobe. I have worn them while as a sea kayak guide on the North Carolina coast, backpacked multiple days down a riparian canyon where we spent about 90% of our time walking in ankle-deep water, and they are my go-to footwear for just about any occasion, casual or semi-dressy.

Read more