The Man of Fashion: Peacock Males and Perfect Gentlemen

This volume puts male sexuality on the catwalk. It is a designed and illustrated celebration of men throught the ages who have dressed extravagently in order to show their power, to express their sexuality, to set themselves apart from the conformist herd - or simply out of joie de vivre. The author charts the male's stylish and self-confident course through history, from the medieval knights, with their lavish heraldic dress, to the stuffed and codpieced Elizabethans, the fops, incroyables, bucks, dandies and swells, to the aesthetes, zooties, mods, hippies and punks of the 20th-century. McDowell discusses the influence of sport, class, movies and popular music on later generations and focuses on figures such as royalty, cowboys, sportsmen and screen idols - who have provided role models for the 20th-century. The metamorphosis of the late 20th-century fashionable man is considered, with reference to the influence of fashion photographers and the influence of gay culture. It also looks at the new generation of menswear designers - Versace, Armani, Ralph Lauren and Gaultier.


Review Product


I picked up a signed copy of this while living in London and was thrilled to finally find a book that addressed exuberance in masculine attire. Since then, I have discovered the extensive exuberance of male costume throughout the World and this book seems less impressive. It covers male clothing from Christian cultures, and is heavily influenced by the anti-luxury and anti-sex stance of Christianity. In other words, much of the clothing in this book comes across as naughty and scandalous rather than fun and life-affirming. There are some interesting pictures, but the overall feeling is one of cynicism.


The Man of Fashion: Peacock Males and Perfect Gentlemen