Dandyism Gone.. Political?
From Strolls to Music Videos
When I first started doing dandyism back in 2008, that which was beyond what existed in my head since childhood, I believed that it only existed for me to look
"pretty", well, "dapper", "dashing", and whatever other Victorian/Steampunk terms would apply to describe me. I didn't think that it would, or could, go past the
surface level of platitudes to something more, well, revolutionary. Back then, my looks were rather simplistic: Victorian style black and red, western cut
waistcoats (vests), a tailcoat worn by day (shudders), etc. Mind you that there is nothing wrong with this in theory, but do understand that this is where I personally
felt that my dandyism was beginning, but only beginning.
Fast forward to Everyone's Favorite Year: 2020. My dandyism has radically changed since 2008; I am wearing all kinds of waistcoats (vests), and while I still love black
and red, I wear a myriad of compatible color choices and combinations (I mean, see for yourself). But the most important change, in my
own estimation, to my dandyism, is that I have changed my reasons for doing my dandyism. Yes, I still enjoy looking "pretty", "dapper", whatever other platitude you
care to use, and, of course, I also enjoy the near-narcissistic thrill of seeing my pictures obtain influencer-level status (one look alone,
this one in particular, got over 1000 likes in a Steampunk Facebook group alone, and helped me win Best Dressed 2020 at
Trade), but, most importantly, I wanted to, and continue to want to, use my looks to advocate for vulnerable and
marginalized people, to promote feminine male energy, to promote the idea that Black Lives Matter, that gender is a social construct, that immigrants
make America great, and that all women, cis and trans, deserve full bodily autonomy. I want my looks to be a pictorial illustration of my views on the
need to root out systemic racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, ableism, ageism, body shaming, and all forms of social hatred that don't ultimately allow for
a black gay gothic steampunk dandy with feminine male energy to wear makeup, flowers, feathers nor jewelry, either in 2008 or in the present.
In short: my looks are political.
The weekend before Election Day I was invited to participate in a music video for #DragOutTheVote, an incentive to encourage people to vote, especially in these very
tumultuous times. Our prominent local drag queen, K.C. B. Yoncé, invited me, along with drag queens, drag kings, gays, POC and QPOC, to stroll down Black Lives
Matter Plaza here in DC towards the White House to make a bold statement on the importance of our vote, and, yes, I absolutely dressed up for it
(see for
yourself here), and I feel that it was one of the most important things that I could ever do with my dandy art, and it's far beyond "pretty", and, yes, it's
political, but, more accurately, it's about morality, standing up for people who need our support and our advocacy.
With every stand there is a cost.
I know that there are many among my old friends and fashion influencers that are offended by my strong and vocal political (moral) stance, and they have decided to
distance themselves from me due to my refusal to revert back to 2008 Dandy ("just post pretty pictures", as one former friend told me earlier this year). I'm sorry
that I can't measure up to your standards of what I am supposed to be for you, and, more importantly, I'm sorry that you don't want to hear about, much less act upon,
the need for vulnerable and marginalized people to have advocacy and support in these times of a very divided and hostile society, but my dandyism message, like my
dandyism style, continues to evolve and grow, and it continues to get better, more colors, more patterns, more failed and successful looks, more outlets to drive
people crazy with my looks, and more of the important messages as I mentioned above to be beautifully, well, hopefully beautifully, illustrated with my art.
Psst.. Dandyism has always been political BTW..
Resources:
Political Dandyism in Literature and Art
Black Dandyism: When dressing got political
Political Dandyism in Literature and Art: Genealogy (book)
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