Dandies Online: Lookbook.nu

Some more dandy photos from Lookbook.nu.

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Vintage Dandy

I love this photo. The shape, the guys' style, the matte. Perfect!

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Dandies Online: New York Mag Look Book

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Our Dandy Lookbook - The Shoot

Yesterday we shot our first ever lookbook for FineAndDandyShop.com and couldn't be more pleased. We extend our gratitude and admiration to Patrick, Cooper, Gavin, Jarrod, Camilla, Veronica, Ashley, and Michael and anxiously look forward to sharing with you the results from this incredible team in the coming weeks.

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Haberdashery Finds: LaMode Button Card

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New School Dandy Profile: Giuseppe Timore

Over the past several months we have been introduced to many amazing people in the virtual world of blogs and social networking. With this post we continue a regular series of profiles of New School Dandies. This week we feature Giuseppe Timore of An Affordable Wardrobe.

Where did you grow up? Just outside of Boston.
Where do you live now? Same place. In the house where I grew up, in fact.
Where did you go to school? I haven't finished college yet, but I had plenty of learning at the hands of Catholic nuns and Jesuit priests. My education may have been a bit strict, but it also taught me a lot, like how to present oneself and dress properly.
What’s your occupation? I sell fine wine and imported cheese in a local wine shop.
When did you establish your personal style? Was there a pivotal moment? How has it changed? I was always around it. My grandfather was a tailor, and always sharp as a tack, and my dad was a clothes horse too. My grandmother lived for fine clothes and fine food in her younger days. Plus, I'm Italian, and you how seriously we can take our clothes.

I think I really got into it in high school. At that time, I started watching a lot of old movies, taking my cues especially from the 1940's. I was also at the age of choosing my own stuff. I got a job in a men's shop in the city, and it all took off from there. In the old days, I was a fixture at the original Filene's Basement, hunting for bargains on designer clothes.
How would you describe your style? Classic Eclectic? Or something. I lean towards the standards, striped ties and button down collars, but I love color and off-beat pattern mixing.
What are your sources of inspiration? Lots of things, really. Anybody who is cool and independent, who dresses in a way that expresses who they are without regard to what's "in style" or what others might think, those are my people. Sure, I watch a lot of old movies and spend way to much time looking at stuff online, but it's the regular people on the street who really get me going.
Who is your style icon? Jazz musicians of the early 1960's. Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis when he shopped at Andover Shop....those kind of dudes.
What are your preferred dandy reading materials? The usual suspects in blog-land.
Do you have a favorite website? There are a lot of fun ones these days. Tin Tin, Heavy Tweed and Maxminimus are doing a particularly good job. None of them can hold a candle to "An Affordable Wardrobe", of course.
What is your favorite personal item (non-clothing/accessories)? My grandfather's Gillette safety razor. I use it every morning.
What is your favorite clothing article or accessory? My Barbour Moorland jacket. The older and more worn it gets, the better I like it. It has a way of making any outfit underneath it look better.
Where is your favorite or dream vacation spot? Northern Italy, or "the old country" as it was called when I was growing up.
Tell us the best kept secret in your city. The Boston area is loaded with thrift stores, and the thrift stores are loaded with fine menswear if you're persistent. But any good thrifter knows that it's a cardinal sin to reveal your spots. Nothing ruins a thrift store like popularity.
What would you be doing ten years from now? Probably trying to figure out how to loose ten pounds so I can still fit into my Barbour.
What is your current obsession? Long Playing Microgroove Phonographic Records, and giant wooden speakers for listening to them. Always has been.
Currently inspired by? The fact that more guys seem to be at least trying to take an interest in appearance these days.
Currently annoyed with? Guys who wear neckties with an untucked shirt, sloppy jeans with frayed bottoms that get caught under the heel, and white college boys with nasty dreadlocks.
What else do you want to tell us? It really only takes a couple of extra minutes to get dressed well in the morning, but the attitude improvement it can give a guy is huge. After a day or two of feeling like a million bucks, any guy is bound to be hooked. All you out there who are scared of good clothes, don't be. Give it a try and see what I mean.
C.H.

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Vintage Dandy

Is this Ray Frensham's long-lost ancestor?

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Dandies On The Runway: Michael Bastian

Some of the dandier looks from Michael Bastian's Spring/Summer 2010 show.

photos: men.style.com

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Haberdashery Finds

In honor of our new bowler hats, here's another photo from our package of dandy images which appeares to be a kit for salesmen of men's suits.

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Dandies Online: nytimes.com

"Check Please", another photo editorial in the nytimes.com men's fall 2009 fashion section, featuring the fall favorite Glen Plaid. We love fall, the season of the dandy!

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Vintage Dandy

Written on the bottom: 2 College Bums. Purchased today at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market.

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Dandies Online: Gatsby Summer Afternoon On Dandyism.net

Dandyism.net posted some photos from the Gatsby Summer Afternoon in San Francisco last weekend. It gets us excited for the Jazz Age Lawn Party next weekend on Governors Island.

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New School Dandy Profile: Winston Ma

Over the past several months we have been introduced to many amazing people through our Facebook fan page. With this post we continue a regular series of profiles of New School Dandies. This week we feature Winston Ma of Freshly Educated Men.



Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in the T dot O dot (aka Toronto).

When did you establish your personal style? Was there a pivotal moment? How has it changed? My personal style really began when I was in grade 7. When I was younger and growing up, I was more concerned about school and hitting up the libraries to read up on random topics (ie. Ancient Egypt or the Titanic). So I guess you could say that I was a nerd back then. But grade 7, everything changed. Puberty hit and the school atmosphere was different. I had previously worn thick glasses as a child and no one paid much attention to me back then. So I decided to switch over to contact lenses at 12 years old. The first day of me wearing contacts in school was something else. People actually paid more attention to me in class and I would notice the difference when walking down the hallways. From then on, I realized that by way of fashion, it alters people’s perception of you (as shallow as that sounds). So I started wearing “proper clothing” (back then it was all about the GAP and CK Jeans) and the rest is history. I give credit to my aunt (who’s the fashionista on my mom’s side of the family) for introducing me to the world that is the fashion industry. And as for my style evolution, it’s been a diverse journey to say the least. From the early years of, well let’s just say wearing platform shoes (it was the 90’s anyways) to now conveying Chukka’s and patent lace-ups, it’s been interesting. My style is still evolving…

How would you describe your style? Paris meets New York. Luxury fused with street wear. The left bank mixed in with Savile Row. Jordans laced with Oxfords. It’s really a combination of various styles. I see style as a portrayal of who you are as a person, your passions in life, and of course, the mood you are in that day. There are times when I feel like I want to convey elegance and dandyism, so my bow ties, suits, button ups, lace-ups, pochette etc animate that feeling. But then there are times when I want to be more rugged, so my Jordans, sneakers, t-shirts etc would convey that mood. I have a deep appreciation for the world of “luxury”, yet I also have a respect for street wear as well. So I try to bring the best of both worlds and incorporate them to my dressing. Think GQ infused with Complex.

What are your sources of inspiration? Well, there are a couple of style inspirations that I relish in on a daily basis. The most important one would be people. For me, it’s the best way of being inspired, fashion-wise, as everyone has their own unique twist on style. It still amazes me that I can sit and people watch at the corner of, let’s say Bay/Bloor, and still be inspired from how others wear their clothes. It’s almost like a daily runway show for me. And sometimes I’d be in utter shock at certain ways others have worn a particular piece of clothing; and I feel as though I should take a picture and try to reproduce it myself.

Look books (from the store or a magazine) is another major inspiration. It’s a great way to see how a certain stylist put together the clothes. The look book is also a visual representation of the brand or store itself, and their idea of what a man should convey.

Who is your designer icon? The late and great Yves Saint Laurent. Don’t get me wrong, from the avant garde persona of Hedi Slimane to the new age dapperness of Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders (sidebar, his fall/winter 2009 collection is the epitome of what Paris meets New York is), they are all great. But YSL for me is on a whole new stratosphere. He innovated refinement and modern elegance in menswear, and fashion in general. He was the one that rendered ready-to-wear as a reputable collection in the industry back in the 60’s. He single handedly democratized fashion and represented multiculturalism in his shows by way of being the first to utilize black and Asian models. He introduced the safari jackets for both men and women, and the most famous, his Le Smoking suit in 1966. The man was simply brilliant and fearless. The brand itself, even after his passing, from Alber Elbaz (of Lanvin fame), Tom Ford and now Stephano Pilati at the helms is still, in my personal opinion, the perfect example of Parisian Chic. YSL stores are like shrines to me. There’s a certain mystique attached to each collection that continuously furthers my deep love for fashion. YSL can do no wrong in my eyes.

What do you find eternally stylish? Simplicity. The look of Parisian chic, one that is effortlessly put together, with no fuss, yet it still conveys a strong message to others. Trends come and go, but in menswear, it’s the classic and simple pieces that will last a lifetime.

What are your preferred dandy reading materials? From l'Uomo, GQ (and GQ Britain) and Complex to just lookbooks from Ralph Lauren, Lanvin, YSL, Hermes, J Crew and etc, it's pretty much varied from one style to the other. Web-wise, definitely The Sartorialist and what's becoming my new favourite, lookbook.nu.

Do you have a favorite website? I have a plethora of sites that I frequent on a daily basis. I'm not going to list them all but sites such as rap-up.com, concreteloop.com, nahright.com, freshnessmag.com, slamxhype.com and highsnobiety.com keep me in the know for the entertainment and fashion worlds.

What is your favorite personal item (non-clothing/accessories)? It would be my iPod. Music is one of my passions in life. Listening to music is a form of release in life, and a form of inspiration. It further accents the mood that I’m in that day. So, I always make sure that my iPod is with me at all times and at my disposal when I need it. For me to forget my iPod is like leaving a piece of my soul at home when I’m out.

What is your favorite clothing article or accessory? Ha! That’s like asking a mother of 5 to pick her favourite child. But if I had to choose, it would be my Uniqlo jeans…and more specifically the khaki coloured version. They are hands-down the best fitting pair of jeans that I have ever worn. I had seen them in the NY Uniqlo store a year or two ago, and tried the khaki ones on, and to my amazement, they required no alterations, at all! And that’s a rare occurrence for a man my size and height. So, eventually, I bought them in all the colours, and the best part of it all…they each cost me $50 US. Goes to show that sometimes, designers aren’t necessarily the end and be all of fashion. But the khaki ones, they just go with everything; and they can switch from casual Americana to an elegantly dressed man.

Where is your favorite or dream vacation spot? Favourite vacation spot: New York. Actually it's really not a vacation for me when I'm there; it's more of a home coming. New York is like my second home, I feel at ease in the city and relish in the way of life there. It's really, in my eyes, the capitol city of the world. But since I don't "officially" reside in NY, I guess technically speaking I’m really on vacation there. Dream vacation spot: *sighs Paris, then head to Italy, then Spain and end back in Paris again. Paris is just one of those cities that have this certain mystique to it. To be able to sit at an outdoor cafe in the St. Germaine district, munching on an authentic croissant, sipping café au lait and people watch is a goal of mine. And this dream could’ve come true earlier this year, but due to unseen circumstances it was never realized. Oh, well. there's always next year!

Tell us the best kept secret in your city. The family-run, small and sometimes dive-in-the-wall restaurants in the 200+ neighbourhoods we have in Toronto. Because of our multiculturalism, we are lucky to have these restaurants because we are able to indulge in dishes from literally around the world. From Mongolian to Ethiopian, for us Torontonians, the world is our oyster.

At which establishments would you consider yourself a regular?
I'm a self-professed shopaholic so I frequent many many shops in the city. But the ones I would consider myself to be a regular: Courage My Love and Badlands for my vintage fix. These two stores have some precious treasures hanging on the racks. Jonathan & Olivia for their cool and non-fussy atmosphere (and of course for their selection of Band of Outsiders, Hyden Yoo, rag & bone and A.P.C). Nomad for their streetwear meets luxury demeanor, and Ransom for their urban Canadiana look. And I can't forget Holt Renfrew, our version of Barneys.

What would you be doing ten years from now? 10 years from now? I would like to think that in 10 years I would’ve made an impact in the lives of others in Toronto. I know that sounds extremely pretentious but it’s one of the reasons why we started FRESHLY.EDUCATED.MEN. To be able to make men in this city think differently towards fashion, Toronto and life is an achievement unto itself. In 10 years time, I would like to be working more closely in the fashion industry and being part of its evolution. Especially in menswear, to be able to witness the full potential that it has.

What is your current obsession? Americana + dandyism.

Currently inspired by? My city. Everyday at any spot in Toronto, I get inspired by something or someone. Whether it be fashion wise or a stranger helping out another stranger, my city constantly reminds me that I have it good in life, compared to others in the world.

Currently annoyed with? Opposition towards health care reform in the US. It's perplexing for us Canadians. Really, is the notion that universal health for all as a basic right that hard to fathom? I mean if we Canadians have access to universal health care, surely you Americans can too!

What else do you want to tell us? I am ½ of FRESHLY.EDUCATED.MEN. FRESHLY.EDUCATED.MEN was founded on the simple premise of evolutionizing Toronto men through fashion, arts and culture. My best friend, Sharad and I had realized that there wasn’t really a men’s lifestyle site that was specifically dedicated to men in Toronto. The majority of men in Toronto seem to be…well, left in the dark in some respects, when it came to fashion and the how to’s in menswear. So we began this journey back in June 2009 (seems like it’s been an eternity) and from then on, we quickly realized that not only were we devoted to educating men in various aspects of life, but we were also promoting Toronto as a whole. The whole notion that our city has little to offer is one that we strive to dispel. Our aim is to let our readers (and the world itself) know that Toronto is an extraordinary city, bursting with so much talent and culture. Although 50% of our content is fashion-related, the other half is devoted to the sheer talent, culture, events, music, politics etc that our city has to offer.

We have 3 mandates that we abide by on our site:
Educate Toronto men about fashion (whether it be high-end or street wear), arts and culture. Tell Toronto’s story while championing it as a city that prides itself on innovation, diversity and culture. We also aim to inspire Torontonians through the various stories that come out of our city.
Change old stereotypes that men in Toronto seem to have about certain issues and cultivate them to the 21st century.

So while we keep the men in Toronto “FRESH” through fashion and its various topics, we also keep them “EDUCATED” in various forms by way of discussing about politics, social issues that affect our city or even inspiring them through our Home Grown Talents’ stories.

Check us out and join Toronto’s evolution: http://freshlyeducatedmen.wordpress.com/.

C.H.

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Dandies Online: Close Up And Private II

It was just last week that we posted about Close Up And Private, a Danish photo blog of men's style. We're a little obsessed and love some of the new photos they've added since our post. Here are a few more favorites.

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Dandies Online: Henry Herbert

Via twitter, we stumbled upon the website for Henry Herbert, a bespoke tailor in London. We can't speak for their work but the graphic design of the site is amazing. Very dandy!

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New School Dandy Profile: Mark Davids

Over the past several months we have been introduced to many amazing people through our Facebook fan page. With this post we continue a regular series of profiles of New School Dandies. This week we feature Mark Davids of The True Gentleman.




Where did you grow up? The Hague, Netherlands. I was born in 1972.

Where do you live now? Amsterdam.

Where did you go to school? I went to school in The Hague, and finished my studies in Amsterdam. At the moment I’m doing a part-time study in Utrecht of "Integral Security Management".

What’s your occupation? Senior and Trainer of Security in Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.

When did you establish your personal style? Was there a pivotal moment? How has it changed? In 1996 I started to collect antiques for my house and slowly over the years my house changed into kind of a living museum in the style of 1880 -1940's. Most things are 19th century. At the moment I have almost nothing modern, only a tv for old and historic films and a computer for working and to keep in contact with friends who have the same lifestyle. In about 2001 I started to dress in older clothes as well. Daily I wore a hat and I started to dress like the 1930's. At this moment I have quite a collection of clothes from 1860 until about the 1950's and I wear them daily.

How would you describe your style? Nostalgic and old fashioned.

What are your sources of inspiration? Old books, old movie's, old photo's. And my "bible", Roetzel and Beer’s The Gentleman.

What are your preferred dandy reading materials? dandyism.net.

Do you have a favorite website? Yes: http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/gentlemans.php, http://www.swingstyle.com/,
http://timewarpliving.ning.com/. And of course mine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/retro_mark/ and http://www.thetruegentleman.nl/.

What is your favorite personal item (non-clothing/accessories)? My telephone at home from 1910.

What is your favorite clothing article or accessory? One of my favorite clothing articles is a complete Victorian suit from the 1860's. I wear this for very special occasions only.

Where is your favorite or dream vacation spot? London, just in the Victorian streets of Earls Court.

Tell us the best kept secret in your city. I know many shops where they have old fashion clothes and accessories and they always keep it a part for me and hide it from the public, because they all know my style and what I am looking for and I am the only one in Amsterdam who dresses like this as far as I know.

At which establishments would you consider yourself a regular? Very regular at the Waterlooplein antique market in Amsterdam.

What would you be doing ten years from now? Probably still the same personal lifestyle. For work I hope to be the head of security in a large museum.

What is your current obsession? The Sherlock Holmes series by Jerry Brett.

Currently inspired by? Lifestyle of the 1890's.

Currently annoyed with? Bad etiquette, mobile phones, uninspired fashion.

What else do you want to tell us? My website, "The True Gentleman", is all about how a proper old fashioned gentlemen should behave, how he should be dressed, and how he should interact with other people. I think that being a true gentleman is a lifestyle to be lived 24 hours a day, it is a behavior, a passion to oneself, to other people, as well as a way of thinking and dressing.

C.H.

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Dandies Online: The New York Times

Photographer David Slijper's photo editorial "The Randy Dandy" inspired by Italian dandy Gabriele d'Annunzio in the fall 2009 men's fashion supplement for nytimes.com.

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Haberdashery Finds

Another photo from a package of dandy images which appeared to be a kit for salesmen of men's suits.

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Dandies In Print: The New York Times

In the Times today is an article about the fashion of bicycles and fashion companies getting into the bike-making business. I love the image accompanying the article (below). There is something about a guy in a suit on a bike that makes me smile.

C.H.

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Vintage Dandy

A newly acquired tintype.


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Dandies Online: Close Up And Private

Via the blog To The Manner Born I stumbled upon Danish photographer Sergei Sviatchenko's Close Up And Private "an on-going project which looks to capture the spirit of modern style, as seen through the subtle shades of the individual." Here are a few favorite images:

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