I Am Dandy: The Return of the Elegant Gentleman Hardcover – September 13, 2013

I AM DANDY: THE RETURN OF THE ELEGANT GENTLEMAN by Nathaniel Adams and photographer Rose Callahan is an exquisite hardcover coffee table book that profiles some of the most incredibly dressed men in the world.The book is made up of chapters devoted to a single man who is considered a "dandy" or one who dresses in the most elegant way -- some wearing nothing but custom made suits, while others only wear vintage turn-of-the-century clothes -- as they describe their fashion style and what makes a man a "dandy," and why they started dressing like this.I like that there are men of all ages, races, nationalities, and locales featured in this book. The full color pictures show the clothes, and sometimes the interior of their homes and closets, and I found it fascinating to read about each one and why and how they started dressing this way. There are so many men in this book that some only get a two page spread, while others get more, but it's interesting to see how diverse these guys are.Although I've never heard of this resurgence in being a "dandy," I'm glad that there are men who are pushing the male fashion envelop further with these new interpretations of clothes; they see dressing as not just some item to cover up the body, but as a statement of how they feel about themselves and about life in general.Definitely buy if you enjoy men's fashion, style, or fascinating subjects and photography.

I pre-ordered this book as soon as I heard about it! I am glad that it is largely pictorial and more on personality. Too many "dandy" guides focus on only cut and clothing. That said, this book is a compilation of vignettes of modern men purporting to be dandies. Some are more in the spirit of the 19th century dandy, frequenting Savile Row to buy their suits and interested in tailoring and traditional menswear. Others push the definition of the dandy to the extreme, bordering on camp and pop culture cosplay, a Japanese "English" portmanteau of "costume play." These dandies are theatrically eccentric. But are they dandies? This book goes to show that the definition of "dandyism" depends on the dandy in question. Some dandies consider their clothing as a part of self-presentation while others regard their clothing as part of playing dress-up, complete with posturing and artifice. The dandy is as much clothing as the lifestyle and attitude. It's fun to see each man in his own expression of dandyism which, even in its 19th century roots, is an expression of the individual. If one wants a scholarly history of the dandy, one can read Ellen Moers' classic inquiry from 1960 or the modern updated analysis by Nigel Rodgers from 2012. "I Am Dandy," has funny and pretty pictures.

A beautiful coffee table book. Each page is a delightful surprise, beginning with the (spoiler alert!) fuchsia inside-cover. I love that the book is divided by its dandy characters: Each section is a short-story unto itself,worlds with their own histories, supporting characters and inspirations. The photographs offer a glimpse into these worlds, the dandies in their own element--surrounded by details like housecoat pockets, buttons and bookshelves. This book is both wonderful to read and have on display. I have the added bonus of having this book signed by the photographer!

Informative. Worth the purchase

The photographs and copy are enlightening and entertaining--to say the least. Perhaps the best compliment one can pay to any work is that you don't want it to ever end. Consider that said. This is truly an amazing book and should be paramount on the shelves of every "clothes-wearing man, whose trade, office and existence consists in the wearing of clothes." (Also guys who like to dress up). Buy this, make the authors wealthy, they deserve it.

I saw this book on CBS Sunday morning and knew I had to have it... just to look at the pictures and imagine what kind of lives these dandy fellas are leading!! A nice throwback to a more elegant time.

Not a book on how to dress fashionably, but a book on men, (mostly gay) and how they like to dress flamboyantly.I am very disappointed in this book as I was looking for help on building a distinguished wardrobe and there is no advice to be found here.

A terrific book about a certain type of man. Men who take the time to present themselves to the world in an individual, entertaining and delightful way. Their obsession with habadashery and grooming is impressive.

O livro perfila com entrevistas e fotografias inúmeros homens incomuns e de estilo peculiar. Pode parecer algo fútil à primeira vista, mas a realidade de que a imagem destes dândis é apenas a expressão mais óbvia de ideias e filosofias de vida bem elaboradas, já fica clara logo na introdução:"Dar estilo à própria pessoa — uma grande e rara arte! É exercitada por aqueles que veem toda a força e fraqueza de suas próprias naturezas e então às compreendem em um plano artístico até tudo parecer arte e razão, e até fraqueza deleitar os olhos..." Friedrich Nietzsche

Des photos splendides, le choix des dandies est varié mais toujours pertinent ... Bel objet. A conseiller aux adeptes de l'élégance.

What a wonderfull book. An explosion of individualism arising from within the grey goo of social conformity.Purporting to be an examination of style as opposed to fashion, which it amply achieves, its true nature is gradually revealed as an exploration of the power of magical transformation.My only criticism, and its a forgivable one, is its limited geographical axis. An abundance of American dandyism, a little British and a smattering of European, but where are the other world wide dandys, from Africa, Asia and Latin America? Perhaps an idea for a 'follow up' - please.

Non è un vero libro sul dandy. Vengono presentati molti personaggi, con parecchie foto, e il loro stile di vestire. Interessante perchè utile per idee ma non per chi cerca qualche cosa strettamente legata al dandismo.

Das Buch ist toll gemacht, wunderbar verarbeitet und ein breites Sammelsorium englischer Herrenmode mit zum Teil sehr exzentrischen Persönlichkeiten. Großartig.Seit Jahren habe ich schon einen Faible für englische Mode und englischen Kleidungsstil. Jetzt bin ich fündig geworden.