"I found my gender. It is this book.
More seriously, this is a really wonderful historical and cultural
overview of an enduring style, with a mind toward analyzing the ways
race, gender, sexuality, and culture influence how we dress and present
ourselves. Also, the pictures are absolutely gorgeous."
Publisher Aperture
Publication Date 2017-05-30
Section African American Studies / Photography / All Staff Suggestions / Nonfiction Suggestions / Read D.
Format Hardcover
ISBN 9781597113892
Suits that pop with loud colors and dazzling patterns, complete with a nearly ubiquitous bowtie, define the style of the new “dandy.” Described as “high-styled rebels” by author Shantrelle P. Lewis, black men with a penchant for color and refined fashion, both new and vintage, have gained popular attention in recent years, influencing mainstream fashion. But black dandyism itself is not new; originating in Enlightenment England’s slave culture, it has continued for generations in black cultures around the world. Now, set against the backdrop of hip-hop culture, this iteration of dandies is redefining what it means to be black, masculine, and fashionable. Dandy Lion presents and celebrates individual dandy personalities, designers and tailors, movements and events that define contemporary dandyism. Throughout the book, self-expression is communicated through personal style, clothing, shoes, hats, and swagger. Lewis’s carefully curated selection of contemporary photographs surveys the movement across the globe in spectacular form, with all of the vibrant patterns, electrifying colors, and fanciful poses of this brilliant style subculture.