DANDY STRATEGY IS SUBVERSIVE AND RADICAL

By Nii B. Andrews

A dandy elevates dressing to an art form based on a cultivated and refined personal style anchored in classic menswear.

Often s/he will lace this with a dash of eccentricity and a colorful/interesting and caring personality.

For people of African descent, by employing the dandy strategy (dressing as an art form), we subvert prejudices and knee jerk perceptions while simultaneously fashioning a sense of pride and self worth – and enjoying ourselves by cavorting in a style that defies the stereotypes of the woefully uninformed.

It is radical and subversive to be properly dressed and with a dash of style- as channelled by MLK, Malcolm X, Kwame Nkrumah, W.E.B Dubois, Nelson Mandela, Nehru.

In order to do all this effectively, you must be fairly conversant with the guidelines (not rules) and important aesthetic reasons that govern classic style.

And of course, the guidelines include the color wheel.

Now, all of this requires some effort, but should be great fun as a personal aesthetic project or program for self-improvement.

Possibly an easier route is to pay attention to the style of well dressed grandfathers and fathers……or early nationalist leaders.

For the avoidance of doubt, taking your cues from the attire of current “celebrities” both local and foreign will lead to multiple faux pas.

More often than not, their sense of style (not fashion!) is atrocious.

And the same goes for the “Sapeurs”- who only dress up to play the part ( the less than charitable would read that as caricatures).

How many find it irritating that the “Sapeurs” are so insatiably highlighted by certain pundits as an example of African elegance?

I heard the T- word!

Perhaps, a few random guidelines are in order here; all tongue in cheek of course…..but the message should still come through;

• Cargo shorts are a no no.

• Only wear shorts/ flip flops when you are heading towards water, or standing in water.

• Avoid black trousers in the daytime unless you are attending a funeral.

• No gentleman should own a black shirt or admit to knowing anyone who does.

• Wearing a shirt and tie without a jacket makes you look like a tied up garbage bag; it does not work.

• The only black shoes worth owning are a pair of black oxfords.

• Pretied bowties are for toddlers only.

• Get a real hat; no baseball hats or trilbies please.

• Hem your trousers to a no break or half break only; no cloth puddles at your feet please.

• Calf length socks at all times ensure that no portion of hairy leg/ bare skin is visible when legs are crossed.

• African attire looks best when it has drape; no “piase”/slim fit please; it looks awful.

• Your tie and pocket square must never be identical; that is gauche.

• Get a solid leather bag (preferably brown) with handles; do not use a haversack unless you are going hiking and or camping.

In my view, if we focus specifically on how our parents used to dress, we will find an integrity attached to their stylistic expressions of individualism and independence.

The images will communicate both the African past and the elegance of vintage clothes.

When combined intelligently with our present, it will assist us in breaking down stereotypes of what Africa is, thereby making life much more pleasant and enjoyable.

In conclusion, we choose our items of clothing and accessories just as we choose our bearing or our words or figures of speech.

It is based on personal choice; it is an art form.

All these are elements that we choose for impacting the world we live in; making it better or worse.