Oscar Wilde famously said one should either be a work of art or wear a work of art.

The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw a rise in men who were developing a certain style.

On one level, it was a new level of dress, tailored waistcoats, more finely cut pants, along with stylish cravats,

elegant canes, lapel pins, and solid gold accessories. And as the 19th century progressed,

their style became, for some of them, quite outrageous with velvet capes, hats with plumes,

and silk stockings.

From Beau Brummel to the famed Mr. Wilde himself, these men were called dandies.

Many of these men expressed art not only in what they produced, but in what they wore and how they wore it, sending a clear message of liberation to their

sometimes restrictive societies. Depending on how you define it, we can still find dandies today,

elegant men of style, passionate in their flair for fashion, and meticulous in their appearance.

But wait, wasn't it?

Isn't it?

More than that?

Who were these men from history who pushed traditional limits of dress as well as

challenged accepted philosophies, social rules, and contemporary opinions about gender

and sexuality?

In today's show, we'll take a look at just what a dandy was and is today, how it differed

from being an eshete, or just making sure your shirt was tucked in, your bow tie properly

tied, and your shoes brilliantly polished.

Some social critics have said that being a dandy isn't a style, it's a condition.

My guest today will help us sort it all out and take a look at some of history's most famous dandies

and see how they match up to men of a certain style today.

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