As fashion enthusiasts anticipate for the MET Gala 2025, and The Costume Institute's spring exhibition themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, interest is surging around one of the most refined, flamboyant, and rebellious fashion archetypes in history: the Dandy.
What Is Dandy Style?
Photo by Rose Callahan
A Dandy is someone who places great importance on fashion, refined appearance, and sophisticated style. Dandies are known for their elegant clothing, meticulous grooming, and expressive individuality, often using fashion as a form of self-expression, rebellion, or cultural commentary.
But Dandyism is more than tailored suits and silk cravats. It's a cultural movement, a political gesture, and a personal philosophy—one that has influenced generations of style icons from Beau Brummell to André 3000. With roots in 18th and 19th-century European society and branches that stretch across the globe today, the Dandy represents an ongoing conversation about masculinity, identity, and the power of self-presentation.
A Brief History of Dandyism
Dandyism began as a rebellion wrapped in refinement. The term "Dandy" emerged in the late 18th century, but it was Beau Brummell—the original minimalist in a sea of aristocratic excess—who defined the look and ethos in early 19th-century Britain: crisp tailoring, perfect grooming, and elegance as self-mastery.
More than fashion, Dandyism became a philosophy. As Monica L. Miller explores in her book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, it offered a way for individuals, especially those excluded from traditional power structures, to assert identity through style. Figures like W.E.B. Du Bois used clothing to counter racist imagery with dignity and poise; Duke Ellington brought sartorial precision to the stage, reflecting the sophistication of Black cultural production; and Grace Jones, with her androgynous edge, redefined gender expression through the Dandy’s lens.
Across generations and geographies, from Harlem Renaissance writers to contemporary artists like Yinka Shonibare, the Dandy has evolved into a global symbol of resistance, intellect, and self-invention. Always dressed to disrupt.
The Style Code of a Dandy
So, what does Dandy fashion look like?
At its core, Dandy style is all about meticulous attention to detail. Expect sharp tailoring, lavish fabrics, layered accessories, and a sense of play that toes the line between tradition and flamboyance.
Key Elements of Classic Dandy Style:
- Tailored suits: Think slim cuts, perfect fits, and a deep appreciation for structure.
- Statement accessories: Scarves, glasses, gloves, brooches, canes, and socks.
- Impeccable grooming: Hair, facial hair, nails—every detail counts.
- Confidence and flair: The Dandy dresses not for function, but for performance, self-expression, and aesthetic pleasure.
As author Nathaniel Adams writes in I Am Dandy: The Return of the Elegant Gentleman, the Dandy is "someone who uses clothing as a form of communication"—a living, breathing work of art.
Dandyism Across Cultures and the Rise of the Black Dandy
While often rooted in European contexts, Dandyism has taken powerful new forms across the African diaspora. Books like Slaves to Fashion by Monica L. Miller showcase how Black Dandyism reclaims tailoring and elegance as a tool for subverting stereotypes and asserting identity.
Whether it’s Congolese sapeurs, Harlem’s jazz-era dandies, or the Afrofuturist tailoring of today’s designers, Black Dandyism brings powerful cultural and political layers to the style, turning fashion into a form of liberation and self-empowerment.
This rich evolution is at the heart of this year’s Costume Institute's spring exhibition.
The Modern Dandy: 2025 Style Icons to Know
oday’s Dandy defies definition—unbound by gender, race, or tradition, yet united by bold tailoring, refined rebellion, and a sharp eye for detail. From red carpets to runways, these cultural figures embody the Dandy spirit in fresh, unexpected ways.
Musicians & Cultural Icons
Dandy Wellington
A modern embodiment of jazz-era elegance, Wellington is a bandleader, vintage aficionado, and sartorial historian whose three-piece suits, pocket squares, and spats revive the golden age of Dandyism with precision and purpose.
Dapper Dan
The Harlem fashion legend who brought high fashion to the streets, Dapper Dan redefined luxury through remixing logos, silhouettes, and swagger—transforming tailoring into a form of cultural resistance and pride.
André 3000
Effortlessly eclectic, his velvet suits, florals, and love of tailoring redefined hip-hop style with Southern charm and flair.
Harry Styles
With his love for pearls, ruffled shirts, and Gucci tailoring, Styles blends romantic nostalgia with confident gender fluidity, redefining masculinity for a new generation.
Janelle Monáe
Known for her signature black-and-white tuxedos and futuristic tailoring, Monáe uses fashion as a platform for Afrofuturism, queerness, and artistic resistance.
Lino Ieluzzi
With his signature “7” ties, sunglasses, and boldly coloured suits, Ieluzzi is a Milanese icon whose playful bravado defines the Italian Dandy’s panache.
Hamish Bowles
Vogue’s international editor-at-large, known for his flamboyant suits, historic references, and love for embroidery, brocade, and dandyish detail. A walking encyclopedia of style.
From crimson cravats to crystal-studded brogues, these modern Dandies prove that tailoring is not just fashion—it’s storytelling.
Why Dandy Style Still Matters
Dandyism persists because it is so much more than fashion.
It’s a philosophy of presence, a refusal to blend in, a way of asserting individuality and intention in a fast-paced, often chaotic world. As Shantrelle P. Lewis’s Dandy Lion explores through photography and personal narratives, the Dandy is an artist of the everyday—a master of elegance with a mission.
As we lead up to the MET Gala 2025 and its “Superfine” theme, expect to see Dandyism take centre stage—not just as an aesthetic, but as a conversation.
Final Thoughts: Embrace Your Inner Dandy
Whether you’re a lifelong lover of classic menswear, new to the world of tailoring, or simply drawn to the beauty of style with meaning, Dandyism invites you in.
It doesn’t demand a three-piece suit or a top hat—just a sense of care, curiosity, and bold self-expression.
So this year, in the spirit of the MET Gala’s 2025 theme, ask yourself: What does elegance mean to me?
You might just find your answer in a well-cut lapel, a thoughtful accessory, or a quiet sense of pride in standing out—superfine, sublime, and entirely your own.
