I am Dandy in Chicago!

I’m very excited to be visiting Chicago for events surrounding the opening of the exhibit

Dandy Lion: (Re)Articulating Black Masculine Identity

at the Museum of ContemporaryPhotography, on view from April 6 thru July 12, 2015.

This remarkable group photography exhibit is the brain child of curator Shantrelle P. Lewis, a brilliant mover and shaker who has always been a supporter of the Dandy Portraits.  I first met Shantrelle as she embarked on her dandy journey with the original incarnation of the Dandy Lion exhibit in Harlem in 2010.  I’ve been a fan of her ever since!  

The Dandy Lion exhibit has had many incarnations since, most notably in Amsterdam and Washington DC, and it has only grown and become more relevant.  I’m very happy to be exhibiting seven portraits and participating in the symposium for this incarnation in Chicago! 

Here are the events not to be missed in Chicago:

April 8 - I am Dandy book signing party at Richard’s Fabulous Finds 6-9pm - RSVP event page

April 9 - Opening of exhibit at MoCP 5-7pm - RSVP event page

April 10 - Symposium for exhibit at MoCP 2-6pm - RSVP event page

Here I am inspecting one of the prints...of none other than Dr. Andre Churchwell of course!

I am Dandy Panel at FIT - March 5

A unique opportunity to geek out on dandyism, menswear, personal style vs trend, and if there really is a "return of the elegant gentleman".  Love it or hate it, let your viewpoint be known!

RSVP:  https://museumatfit.secure.force.com/ticket#sections_a03G000000k1XdUIAU

Artist/Rebel/Dandy at RISD - Last Chance!

Patrick McDonald at the opening of Artist/Rebel/Dandy, April 2013

The wonderful Artist/Rebel/Dandy exhibit at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum is up only till Aug 18, so I implore you:  GO!

It is a very special exhibit years in the making, the likes of which we won't see again any time soon.  Anyways, make a little road trip to Providence - it's a great town!  Have some clam cakes and a Narragansett beer, then go enjoy the amazing array of suits and artifacts collected to celebrate the history, style, and character of dandies past and present.  You will see three prints there by me!

Enjoy these photos of the opening weekend festivities!  There are a lot more here.

Waris and Natty in front of their ensembles at the exhibit opening.  Suits by Against Nature, naturally.

Tom Wolfe makes a cameo

I looked longing for most of the time at Fred Astaire's white tie and tails.

The gala dinner took place at the historic Providence Public Library

Natty finally got to meet Dr. Andre Churchwell

Favorite photo of the night:  Churchwell's oyster colored dinner jacket. Wow.

Ignacio Quiles and Iké Udé chat after the gala dinner.  

After the tweed ride, out front of the RISD Museum

My portrait of Doran graces the entrance to the main exhibit hall.

Guy Hills and Dashing Tweeds were prominently displayed in this section devoted to tailoring and craftsmanship.  Notice my portrait of Hugo Jacomet on the far right (and below).

And to find out more about the Artist/Rebel/Dandy exhibit check out this great video Andrew Yamato made for A Suitable Wardrobe.

Dandy Portraits in The Rake - Boulevardier

I'm very excited to see this layout!  It's for the upcoming issue of the Rake magazine, which should be hitting news stands as we speak.   Good way to start the new year, don't you think?

Autumn in New York...Churchwell Style

Dr. Andre Churchwell in Central Park, Oct 20, 2012

Well look who came to visit right before the big storm - before all the leaves were blown away? Why it was Dr. Churchwell, of course!  He could be called the flaneur of Central Park here.  

Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting?  The song by Vernon Duke performed by Ella Fitzgerald is our soundtrack today....

What I most enjoy about Dr. Churchwell's well developed style is that he's bold with color and comes up with the most wonderful combinations...and he has so much fun with it.  It takes a creative eye to see color this way.



Clothing notes:

Hat:  custom made pinch crown pork pie styled after Fred Aistaire
Suit:  bespoke maroon window pane by Len Logsdail, in a hacking style with turn back cuffs and slanted pockets
Shirt:  custom shirt from Turnbull & Asser
Tie:  Drake's from FM Allen in Nashville
Pocket Square:  Drake's for Alan Flusser
Vest:  with lapels in suede
Shoes:  Northampton by Stephen Kempson
Glasses:  Ralph Lauren

Portraits de Dandys

Dandy Magazine, a French publication, recently did an article on me, and when I received the copy I was blown away at how beautiful it was printed.  Gorgeous.  Also, my name is on the cover (!) - yep, lower right.  Of course I immediately put the text thru google translate, which was hilarious.  Must learn French.  {UPDATE:  see Nathan's translation below!}

Soooo, they asked me to send over a few more portraits for the next issue also!  Look out for upcoming issues, which also include articles by my friend Hugo Jacomet of Parisian Gentleman.

Seersucker Summer with Dr. Churchwell

Dr. Andre Churchwell, NYC, May 2012

Phone rings

Me:  Hello...

Voice:  Hi Rose, it's Andre Churchwell....(insert niceties)...I'm coming to Manhattan for the weekend with the family, and it would be great to see you again!  I'll be wearing a really marvelous pink seersucker DB with a straw boater to the symphony on Saturday....

Me:  When and where?  I'm there!

This is the life of an exquisite gentleman...causing a stir in with the rarely-done-because-thoroughly-impractical double breasted seersucker.  Almost as impractical as the three piece seersucker worn by Natty Adams.




Outside the Plaza Hotel...quite the classic Hollywood look.



Striking color combination on this Mogador tie Churchwell helped design with Anthony T. Kirby



Then we snuck some photos inside near the gorgeous Palm Court...




First Look:
Hat: Brooks Brothers Italian straw boater
Suit: bespoke pink/white seersucker double breasted suit
Shirt: Steve Kempson NYC
Tie: Bruer
Shoes: Peal white leather wingtips
Socks: Paul Stuart

Second Look:

Hat:  Worth and Worth porkpie coconut hat with the wide linen band - "Frank Sinatra’s – Cavanaugh Hat model of the 1950’s"

Jacket:  Len Logsdail houndstooth jacket with leather covered buttons attached by a shank - "coat done in 1930’s sport coat model"

Shirt: David Mercer and Sons

Tie: Anthony T. Kirby

Trousers:  bespoke full cut cream garbardine trousers

Shoes:  Polo/Ralph Lauren two-tone spectators, white buck with brown leather cap toes

Bag:  Bergdorf Goodman :)

Dr. Churchwell takes Manhattan

Dr. Andre Churchwell, the esteemed cardiologist from Tennessee, recently visited NYC, and Bruce Boyer thought we should meet.  I think he was right!  Here you see Dr. Churchwell sporting his "mill suit" inspired by the Duke of Windsor, and tailored by Leonard Logsdail.  This suit makes a terrific impression, and it seems to have become quite legendary - I mean, it has it's own name!  He likes to add vintage touches - like these bright yellow felt braces and tie bar - but prefers bespoke suits, as do his two brothers whom I have yet to meet (but you know I will!).




The frames he wears are bespoke, too, inspired by glasses Cary Grant once wore.  This detail goes only part way to describe Dr. Churchwell's fine-tuned fascination with classic films, and the clothes worn by those legends of style.  And as we walk we talk about how being a gentleman is not just in how a person dresses, but in their actions - or as Dr.  Churchwell puts it - in their civility to each other.



Stopping in for a visit to his longtime tailor, Len Logsdail.



I just love these amazing embroidered vintage braces!  The suit and colors are classic and a bit understated, and then open up the jacket and voila!  Having fun, but always the gentleman.