The Dandy Rebels Collection by Joshua Kane

Mr and Mrs Joshua Kane modelling Dandy Rebels outfits

 

Is the Dandy a rebel? 


Absolutely! 


Beau Brummell may have been a model of moderation. 

But his influence on mens' fashion was a revolution in itself.


Within a decade of Brummell's departure to France in 1816 - his unruly successors were all but competing for the ridicule of caricaturists. (1)


Count Alfred d'Orsay became the leading London dandy by the 1820s.

And flamboyance - or fashion rebellion - kept him at the hub of celebrity status for decades.

As did his elan, amidst far more exuberant spectacles. 


Count Alfred d'Orsay depicted in Victorian caricature


By 1850, d'Orsay had returned to his native France. In the debt-ridden manner of Brummell before him. And Victorians slammed the door on the last few Regency rascals in their midst.   


Which is where we return to the scene: as retro-Dandyism meets modern celebrity tailoring.

(via a raid on Vivienne Westwood's 1970s punk-era zips, studs and leathers)


Dandy Rebels takes up themes explored in the recent Joshua Kane collections, Ceremony (2018) and Mythical Creatures (2019).


A catwalk male model in a Dandy Rebels suit by Joshua Kane



Whilst this time round, up to a quarter of the Dandy Rebels outfits take to the realm of red and black.

A visual siren, rather redolent of departed Soho dandy, Sebastian Horsley. 

Himself a former punk and rebel: right down to publishing an "Unauthorised Autobiography" in 2007. (2)


Sebastian Horsley on a catwalk wearing a black suit and top hat with a red waistcoat while making a traditionally offensive 'V-sign' with his fingers to the camera
"Dandyism is a shield and a sword and a crown - all pulled out of the dressing up box in the attic of the imagination."               The Chap issue 48



There's an echo of Sebastian Horsley's attitude in Joshua Kane's outlook:

"I think that's the beauty of dressing up - it's just kind of pretending to be a different version of yourself or someone else completely, and I think that's really magical and really fun." (3)


The Joshua Kane independent design house was established in 2014. Fulfilling the young tailor's skills acquired at the Jaeger, Burberry and Paul Smith fashion design companies. 

In 2016, the Joshua Kane showroom relocated from Spitalfields to Great Portland Street in central London.

Line artwork by Joshua Kane depicting 3 Victorian dandies, idling - one is looking through a telescope
                           "Rebellion is part and parcel of dandyism; one of its objectives is outward appearance."                                                              French Philosopher, Albert Camus - 'The Rebel', 1951



And in 2019, Mr Kane became a UK Ambassador for Arts, Fashion and Sports.

(well the dude's a former footballer and keen skateboarder, so...)

Tailor Joshua Kane in an elegant suit posing with needle and thread
The finer points of needlework behind the catwalk sensations



Famous clients include Tom Holland, Russell Brand, Zahvia Ward, Alexander Vlahos and Rod Stewart. While Joshua Kane costumes have featured on several Film and TV sets.

Even Love Island's presenter Laura Whitmore sports a truncated Dandy Rebels number in the latest series! 


Joshua Kane has described his approach to tailoring as "the art of making beautiful sculptures for humans to wear".

While 'sculpture' so often seems to influence the mode of modelling on most catwalks. 


At least Dandyism shines and smirks across the centuries in this new collection!


So let's sit back and see what the fuss is about... 




                                                                        Joshua Kane Store



1) 'Monstrosities of 1822' by George Cruikshank 


Monstrosities of 1822 cartoon by George Cruikshank




2) 'Dandy in the Underworld', Sceptre Publishing 

Among Sebastian Horsley's own select specimens of dandy rebels was the young John Lydon: 









John Gilheany is a Freelance Copywriter at: 'A dash of Tonic!' 



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