We often associate the concept of the dandy – a man excessively fixated on fashion and appearance – with upper class gentlemen like Oscar Wilde, or Beau Brummell. But what of the working-class and everyday dandies?

Join historian and writer Peter Andersson as he demonstrates that dandyism is far from just an elite phenomenon represented by famous poets and artists. He will show how dandyism as a popular youth subculture grew into an influential cultural movement, from the days of Beau Brummell in the early 19th century to the age of mods in the 1960s. This talk will delve into the history of those dandies who emanated from the less privileged layers of the populace – the lowly clerks, shop assistants, domestic servants, and laborers who increasingly, during the modern age have emerged as style-conscious men about town.

Peter will explore how fundamental aspects of modern culture such as fashion, style, and conduct have been shaped from below just as much as from above. The story of the Dandy shows how the problematic business of young men trying to find an identity is an enduring phenomenon.

The Dandy: A People’s History of Sartorial Splendour written by Peter K Andersson and published by Oxford University Press will be available to purchase in the Museum Shop on the night.