Dandyism and fashion: From clothes to style

Abstract

In an attempt to examine the phenomenon of dandyism this paper deals with the relation of an individual's freedom and his conditioning by the swings of fashion. Although first set in a certain place and moment in history, dandyism holds a universal cultural significance since it promotes a new understanding of individuality. A dandy exists only thanks to his own judgment of taste reflecting in the clothes he wears, in his forbearing and his manners. Instead of dressing himself according to the customs of his social class, as was expected, a dandy as a modern individual saw an opportunity for self-realization in the free choice of clothes and manners. We owe the credit to the dandyism for the discovery of a possibility to express one's independence and originality so directly and externally. A key question that defines the cultural reach of the dandyism as a phenomenon remains if this behavior can ensure true freedom to an individual or if it only opens up a new field of social manipulation.