I am Dandy Exhibit Opening Photos

At the I am Dandy exhibit opening, National Arts Club, Nov 18, NYC

For ONE WEEK ONLY (Nov 18-22) 15 prints and excerpts from the book I am Dandy are on display at the National Arts Club Marquis Gallery at 15 Gramercy Park South.  Prints are for sale for the duration of the show in two sizes - 20x30in and 12x18in - both framed and unframed.   Please stop by while you have the chance!

Meanwhile, please enjoy these great shots by Jane Kratochvil of our opening celebration on Nov 18 (more here).  Very special thanks to David Zyla & the National Arts Club Fashion Committee, our drinks sponsors Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur (so good!) & Hendrick's Gin, Matt & Enrique of Fine & Dandy for being THE bookseller for the evening, and Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer for gracing us with his first show in NYC! 

Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer playing for the I am Dandy crowd on his inaugural visit to NYC from London.  Martin Pengelly of the Guardian US wrote about the momentous occasion.  He is also playing the Way Station (Nov 21) and The Slipper Room (Nov 27).

Great to see G. Bruce Boyer and Simon Doonan, both book subjects, some by to celebrate.

Wonderful artist Robert W. Richards showing off his true colors, courtesy Paul Smith.

Raymond Chu and Domenico Spano

David Zyla

Natty and I were honored to have Dr. Andre Churchwell from Nashville join us.

Martin Pengelly of the Guardian US and Mr. B

Enrique Crame lll, Dandy Wellington, and Matt Fox

Matthew Karl Gale, Keith Tritto, David DeLucia, Andrew Yamato

Mister Burton, Daphne Malfitano, Laura Kimsey, Pandora

Daphne in THAT dress.

I am Dandy Exhibit - Mr B is Coming to Town for Opening Nov 18!

Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer (shown here in London 2009) will be playing the I am Dandy exhibit opening Nov 18.  This will be his first time performing in NYC - a rare treat!  

VERY EXCITED to be officially announcing the I am Dandy week long exhibit at the National Arts Club Nov 18-22.  You are all invited to the opening party on Mon Nov 18 from 6-8pm, but YOU MUST RSVP (see announcement below).  Space is limited, so DO IT NOW!

I have been imploring Mr. B to come to NYC ever since I first met him at the Chap Ball in 2009 in London.   I think he is just delightful, and unlike anything you will find in NYC.   The very special performance he give for us at the Nov 18 opening should not be missed!  Be sure to check his website and Facebook page for other performances.

Mr. B at the Chap Ball, London, 2009

I am Dandy - Book Trailer Video

"But I aspire to be the purple stripe, that is, the garment’s brilliant hem.  However small a part it may be, it can still manage to make the garment as a whole attractive.  Don’t tell me, then, ‘Be like the rest,’ because in that case I cannot be the purple stripe."

–Epictetus, On Human Freedom

That is Natty reading an excerpt from his introduction for I am Dandy, along with Winston Chesterfield playing his piano when Kelly and I first visited him in London, Sept 2011.

Enjoy! Share!

I am Dandy Book Party at Fine and Dandy Shop - Nov 7

Congrats to my good friends Enrique and Matt of Fine and Dandy Shop - they just got married!

On November 7 they are throwing a book party for I am Dandy at their beautiful shop in Hell's Kitchen.
The date also marks the 1 year anniversary of opening their brick and mortar shop!

445 West 49th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues

6:00–8:00PM

Space is limited!  RSVP@FineAndDandyShop.com

I am Dandy - Against Nature Book Signing Photos

Nathaniel Adams and Alan Cumming at Against Nature, Oct 20, 2013

We had a grand ol' time celebrating I am Dandy on Oct 20 at Against Nature thanks to owners, Jake Mueser and Amber Doyle.  Natty is the manager there, so it made perfect sense.  They have hosted many a legendary party, and I think this one was pretty top notch;  Alan Cumming dropped by (he gets bespoke from Against Nature), Dr. Andre Churchwell was in town from Nashville, and we kept the place buzzing all evening.  Then right in the middle of it all a whisper went thru the crowd "Bill Cunningham is here".  The iconic New York Times street style photographer rode his bike all the way down to the Lower East Side, and, as he locked up, more whispers kept us updated as to his progress.  It was quite an experience.  What a lovely man...he called us "kids".  More photos here.

Bill Cunningham posing Jake Mueser, Domenico Spano, and Amber Doyle

Flash bulbs all a flitter to capture sock details on Richard Aloisio.

Nathaniel Adams, Bill Cunningham, and me looking quite happy in my Against Nature suit.

Dr. Andre Churchwell and Mimmo sign our special copies of I am Dandy.

Richard Aloisio looking dapper in a Domenico Spano creation.

Lovely ladies like Laura Kimsey and her friend appreciate well dressed men also!

I am Dandy book subjects Michael Arenella and Andrew Yamato.

I'm sorry I didn't get this chap's name - he had a great look.

I am Dandy book subjects Michael Salerno and Matt Fox of Fine and Dandy Shop.

Theodore Crispino of Rifle Quality

New found use of the work room?

I am Dandy Book Signing at Against Nature - Oct 20

AGAINST NATURE

159 Chrystie Street

Sunday, October 20, 1013

6:00–9:00PM

Books will be available for sale

Dress your Dandy Best

I am Dandy: NYC Launch at Bergdorf Goodman Men's Store

I am Dandy: The Return of the Elegant Gentleman had best of all possible launches in New York City on Oct 10, 2013 at Bergdorf Goodman Men's Store.  Bergdorfs partnered with Brioni, Gestalten, and the New Yorker to make the evening a resounding success!  Special thanks to Balvenie scotch.   Dandy Wellington and His Band - including Michael R. Davis - created the perfect mood as hundreds of us mingled and toasted.  I sat at the table with Natty and signed book after book while friends, book subjects, colleagues, fans, and good looking strangers all came by to say congrats and to pose for a photo.  I wore a custom made teal silk gown made by my sister, Mara Wagner, and Natty wore his beautiful velvet smoking jacket by none other than Against Nature.

Read about it in the Wall Street Journal and Women's Wear Daily.  Natty's press round up here.

Photos by the very talented Jane Kratochvil, and Neil Rasmus of BFAnyc.com - more photos here.

More NYC event dates for I am Dandy open to all:

  

October 20 at Against Nature 6-9pm

November 7 at Fine and Dandy Shop (times to come)

November 18 at the National Arts Club - the opening to a week long exhibit of prints!

Nick Sullivan and Wendell Brown of Esquire have a moment with the book.

Natty and I with Peter McGough

Natty and Glenn O'Brien, who wrote the brilliant preface to I am Dandy

Sasha Weiss of the New Yorker talking with Thomas Crowley, Matt Fox, and Michelle Coursey

Nick Wooster

Patrick McDonald

Todd Barrato of Brioni, and Domenico Spano

The servers all wore Brioni, of course!

Dandy Wellington and His Band, with Michael R. Davis on the coronet

Fyodor Pavlov and Lawrence Gullo dancing in the halls of Bergdorfs 

Nick Wooster and Ignacio Quiles sign our special copies of I am Dandy

Mr. Burton signs his pages in I am Dandy

Cator Sparks makes a splash with Fergus in his arms

John Vizzone, Jeff Lederer, Fabrizio Capigatti 

Longtime collaborator, Tyler Thoreson.  I got to meet Gay Talese, Nick Wooster and Nick Sullivan, and many others while on assignment for Tyler at Gilt Manual.

Ed Hayes, my husband Kelly Desmond Bray, and Andrew Yamato

My dear friends Matt Fox and Enrique Crame lll of Fine and Dandy Shop

The Brothers Mueller

Curator extraordinaire Shantrelle Lewis, who has curated several different incarnations of her Dandy Lion exhibit, and is now working on compiling a book on the same subject.  Watch out!

I finally got to meet Baron Ambrosia! 

Domenico "Mimmo" Spano and Ignacio Quiles

Michael R. Davis and MAtthew Karl Gale

Then off to the after party at Cafe Tallulah!

Exhausted but oh so happy!