Traditionally, when a boy’s father sees him playing with dolls, he receives a clip behind the ears so firm it sends the scissors sailing across the room; never to play with anything other than Lego again. However, with men as well turned-out as they are today and with wardrobes to rival their female counterparts, a little creative play with paper cut-outs by modern dandies could well be overlooked, if not encouraged.
Four Famous Dandies Paper Dolls is a cute illustrated book by Jim Howard, an illustrator who is now in his eighties. Known for defining the art of fashion illustration during the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, Mr Howard has captured the pioneers of dandyism—Beau Brummell, Oscar Wilde and the Duke of Windsor—and their contemporary New York counterpart, Patrick McDonald, at their sartorial best. At $12, it’s the perfect “just because” gift for the impossible-to-buy-for dandy in your life—and it’s just a fraction of the price of a seven-fold tie.
Published on 12 July 2011 by Agony Uncle