In the process of bringing discussion of sartorial arts to these pages, the notion was suggested that being well dressed was something appropriate only in limited opportunities, and that following the Rules of Style as opposed to the Trends of Fashion stifled individualism. After consideration of the argument, my interest was piqued in the direction of dandyism and the individuals who practice it, as they serve as living proof to refute the claim by dressing within the conventions of style daily while perfectly forming their own individual look.

Photo by Lord Whimsy.com

Lord Breaulove Swells Whimsy in his natural habitat.

My search led me to purchase The Affected Provincial's Companion, Vol. I, a beautiful hardbound volume by Lord Whimsy. Whimsy's book is part satire, and part primer on dandyism, but it fully oozes with the essence of what it means to live your life with the aim to be pleasing to yourself and others. Now, I'm not advocating for everyone to drop their lives and spend time contemplating the art in a moth's wings while lazily reclining in a velvet chaise lounge, but I'm suggesting we simply accept our own eccentricities for what they are and bring them out for display in a manner pleasing to ourselves and amusing to others.

A lot can be learned from a dandy. Few embrace life like they do, as they try to fuse living with art. If one is so interested in learning more, it would be worth their efforts to acquire the above tome.