All things Fine and DANDY

  DANDYISM may be minimal or maximal: discrete - or a flamboyant flourish on the horizon! What distinguishes the Dandy from the mere fashionista, or exhibitionist (among several subtle traits ) is a tendency to bestow words of no small wonder... The brilliant bon mot. That delightfully inventive portmanteau. And if we're really lucky; a little Library of wry thoughts on this, that and the other. Dandies and Men of Letters Not so many decades ago, a couple of celebrity fops began to amuse and bemuse Britain. Quentin Crisp succumbed to stardom upon reaching retirement age. And lost no time in ditching London for New York. As the 90s grew dark and decidedly boorish with the brothers Oasis looming large: British TV was suddenly blessed by the elegant airs of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Nature simply wouldn't exact upon British society the baneful absence of its National Fop - whatever the era. Both Mr. Crisp and (the curiously, as-yet-un-Sir-ed...) Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen - could have...

  Bemused by Baroque at City Hall, Cardiff There are limits to Time Travel - so they say. At least in terms of physics and what have you. . . so this is as good as it gets. And as bad, as I'll explain. I was reminded of the occasion by this week's gaff celebre in UK politics. Courtesy of prospective Prime Minister Liz Truss. After her speech about leading the nation (and so on) - Mrs. Truss proved unable to exit the press gathering without basic supervision. Or at least that was the social media narrative, 'no more of a clue than Boris Johnson'. Only worse: being clueless beyond the scope of her chosen style! Anyway not to dwell on politics. For Quentin Crisp has declared that activity "the art of making the inevitable appear to be a matter of wise human choice." And besides, Lizz Truss's modest meander implied no more than a touch of ADD (of which it takes a master practitioner to know a novice). So back to my encounter with Oscar. . . when his Trials w...

What is it about human attire that beckons the fullest form of self-expression? Yet so seldom reveals itself. Through the likes of Beau Brummell –  Oscar Wilde, Quentin Crisp, Sebastian Horsley and other jewels of their generation. An  'aristocracy of mind'  will often manifest itself through distinctive dress. Along with assured flair. And even memorable turn of phrase. All of which distinguish the dandy from a clothes horse for fashion designers. Or a simple peacock – seeking attention for its own sake. So let us explore the enigma… delight in sartorial splendour. And marvel at the intriguing manners that maketh – the Dandy! "Life was a funny thing that happened to me on the way to the grave."                                                                              'The Nak...