Dandy Lion: The Black Dandy and Street Style

 

My first review of a non-fiction (by which I mean not a novel or biography - I'm sure there's a proper term for the type of book this is but I don't know what it is! Reference book maybe??!) book!

I first heard of this fashion movement/style in a documentary about Africa. Might have been the Ade Adepitan one or maybe the Rita Ray one. (Both were excellent and I highly recommend them!) The documentary focused on the Sapeurs (or Le Sape) in the DRC and I was immediately fascinated! It's stunning. Basic explanation - people dress in stunning suits and outrageously gorgeous formalwear. I'm a bit biased but I love it!

There's seriously not a single page in this book that isn't gorgeous! Every photo is just beautiful. One day I want to do a dandy photo shoot myself, you know except for the fact that I hate having my photo taken or dressing up (I am not including ridiculous fancy dress - obvs. Fancy dress is my raison-d'etre!) but anyway ...

I don't want to turn this in to a lecture of the contents of the book (seriously, buy the book folks!!) but here's some highlights from each section with some links if you want to find out more and look at some awe inspiring images!

Movements, Destinations and Happenings

The movements include the UK's Rude Boys and the Congo's Sapeurs. The South African Sartists have a great blog. Khumbula, a collective of vintage clothing enthusiasts in Johannesburg. Street Etiquette is beautiful, based in the Bronx. But my favourite is the DC Tweed Ride. It was set up by Eric Channing Brewer, co founder of the Dandies and Quaintrelles movement to combine his two passions; cycling and fashion. And now they meet annually for a bike ride, whilst wearing tweed! How cool is that?! If you're interested and in Washington, this year's ride is on 7th November.

People and Personalities

Highlights - Baloji, a Congolese / Belgian Rapper with gorgeous videos as you'd imagine, Loux the Vintage Guru, "financial auditor by day and a fashion designer and style influencer by night", and the needs-no-introduction Janelle Monae! I mean there's not an uninteresting person in the whole book but these particularly caught my eye.

Designers

Again, I mean everyone in the book is irritatingly talented of course. The most famous in there is Ozwald Boateng. I mean, even I've heard of him so I know he's massive. But my favourite is the Flamekeepers Hat Club in Harlem. One day I will go back to New York and I will go to the Flamekeepers Hat Club and I will get myself a hat and this will be my new thing.

Photographers

I'm so glad I did take time to read through this section or I would never have stumbled across Osborne Macharia tale of Kenya's League of Extravagant Grannies. This photo series tells the (sadly) fictional tale of three high-powered government officials who retire and travel across Africa in the most visually stunning way possible. I so badly want it to be true. If anyone wants to join me in a reenactment at some point in the future, let me know... Osborne Macharia has an absolutely incredible instagram account, really stunning.

Other photographers that really caught my eye included Hassan Hajjaj (really bright, somewhat sort of pop arty - I'm sure there's a closer art movement that it resembles but it escapes me, with a totally joyful energy), Omar Victor Diop (all very regal and giving of a sort of "I'm way above you" attitude - his instagram has a wide variety of photos but if you scroll to the africa ones you will see what I mean!), Jody Ake (uses an old photography method to create "ambrotypes", a stunning selection of photos with a feel of eras gone by - his insta has a huge mixture of images not just dandies at all).

Love, love, loved this book. If you've got any interest in clothes or fashion, I can't recommend it enough!