Charles Baudelaire, defined the dandy as one who elevates aesthetics to a living religion, "Dandyism in certain respects comes close to spirituality and to stoicism" and "These beings have no other status, but that of cultivating the idea of beauty in their own persons, of satisfying their passions, of feeling and thinking .... Contrary to what many thoughtless people seem to believe, dandyism is not even an excessive delight in clothes and material elegance. For the perfect dandy, these things are no more than the symbol of the aristocratic superiority of his mind." .... "It is, above all, the burning desire to create a personal form of originality, within the external limits of social conventions. It is a kind of cult of the ego which can still survive the pursuit of that form of happiness to be found in others, in woman for example; which can even survive what are called illusions. It is the pleasure of causing surprise in others, and the proud satisfaction of never showing any oneself. A dandy may be blase, he may even suffer pain, but in the latter case he will keep smiling, like the Spartan under the bite of the fox."
They were the well dressed, witty and elegant... They also believed the taste and elegance of manner and style of person was as important as their dress. As one contemporary remarked:
'The manners of the Dandies were themselves a charm. Their speech was pleasant, their language thoroughbred. Many among them were highly-gifted, doing all that they did well; the less apt, always to the point, letting it alone; with enthusiasm, wihtout illusions - a school of gentlemen, liberal, openhanded; ephermeral as youth and spirits, yet marked with this endearing quality, that they remained, with few exceptions, true and loyal friends, tested through later years of adversity.'
And why a Dandy you might ask? Well there are those of us who do not subscribe to the all too accepted image of machismo in todays homogenised world. Those of us who will not allow ourselves to be defined by popular culture, or influenced by fads or 'fashions'. We walk at our own pace, taking delight in our self-assuredness in style and manner. Our way is not affectation but more a natural gift of refinement with an aesthetic sensibility. We are capable and courteous, athletic and amorous, humorous and humble. Our gift for mutual appreciation is consummate. And if we must be labelled then let us be a 'Dandy' as Dandies have been for centuries past and centuries to come.
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