Book Review: We Are Dandy - The Elegant Gentleman Around the World

I reviewed Rose Callahan's first photographic record of the dandy, I am Dandy: The Return of the Elegant Gentleman, here. In the nearly three years since, the world of the dandy has, as Rose Callahan records, 'spread and mutated' and We Are Dandy: The Elegant Gentleman Around the World, is her record of this.

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

She and writer, Nathaniel Adams, have found dandies from a much wider range of countries and the sympathetically written text matches the beautifully shot portraits to perfection. My memory may be at fault, but I felt I learned more about each character in this second book and I laughed or cried with them as appropriate.

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

One darker aspect of dandyism that I don't recall from I am Dandy is how some suffer for their obsession. Sadly there are tales of bullying and even physical violence in the book which left me despairing for humanity.  That there are people who feel so threatened by men who dress differently that they have to offer insults and pain is hard to understand. Sadly, I suspect that such behaviour will increase as bigotry becomes justifiable to those misled by the recent political upheavals in the UK and US. But, looking at a brighter side, here are men who live style, quality and manners. Most not only dress with care, they collect beautiful objects and live creative and inspirational lives.

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

Daring to be different as a dandy takes courage, a refined artistic and historic sense and much hard work. We need to be encouraged by such men, not be afraid of them. If we all become sheep, afraid of difference, we end up scared of everything and comfortable only when we are surrounded by the familiar and unchallenging.

So, this is much, much more than a photographic record of the dandy; it's a book that shows how each of us must preserve that uniqueness that makes us human and stops us sinking into the mindless herd destructiveness of 1930s Germany. This doesn't mean all becoming dandies, it means living our lives true to ourselves as selfless members of society, ever alert to, and celebrating, difference.

Become a dandy yourself or simply trawl through for inspiration in your own search for style. Buy We Are Dandy: The Elegant Gentleman Around the World (published by Gestalten, 2016) from Amazon and help support this blog.

All images in this feature by Rose Callahan, Copyright Gestalten 2016.

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

I am Dandy: The Return of the Elegant Gentleman - a must for your bookshelf

Earlier this week the British launch of Rose Callahan's new book, I am Dandy: The Return of the Elegant Gentleman was held at Gieves and Hawkes, No.1 Savile Row.

I've written about Rose before (see my previous post here) and met her earlier this year in London. Based in New York , she has for a while been documenting the dandy, the man who exceeds in taste and sartorial style. This book collects some of her best images with a vibrant and thoughtful commentary written by Nathaniel Adams.

This is more than street style photography, which tends (with some marked exceptions) to record style and clothing while ignoring the personalities of the subjects. Here Rose sensitively and skilfully brings out the character of her sitters, while displaying the exceptional quality and sumptuousness of what they're wearing.

Rose Callahan - image Grey Fox

She is clearly fascinated by these gentlemen and, more widely, by the meaning and definition of the word dandy. I remember discussing with her whether the word carries subtly different meanings here and in her native US - I think we decided that it did - but in whatever country he is, the dandy has to have courage. Some dress quietly for public display, preserving their more eccentric dress for private or internet display; others feel able to live their lives as dandies. Nathaniel Adam's text nicely complements the images, telling us more about the characters shown in Rose's images.

This is a book to read through, then revisit regularly. It's not the type of book that is bought and then languishes on the shelf. Like dandies themselves, it demands to be looked at and admired. I recommend it to anyone interested in elegance.

Even if you don't dress so boldly, you will learn a lot from the quality of the clothes and the dandy's eye for detail will inform your own search for style, however conservative or flamboyant. I'm learning much from this wonderful book - it's a masterpiece of writing and photography.

Available from all good bookshops and online at Waterstones and others.

Oh, and the Gieves & Hawkes launch party was excellent - although it was easy to feel under-dressed.

Some of the dandies featured in the book gather at the party - Grey Fox image from Instagram. Rose and Nathaniel at back L & R