In the past, men took great pride in their appearance. Beau Brummell claims he took five hours to dress, and recommends polishing his boots with champagne. The original ‘dandy’ Beau Brummell was the arbiter of men’s fashion in the English Regency and a friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV. He established men’s fashion wearing understated, but form-fitting, tailor-made suits including dark suits and full length trousers, adorned with intricately knotted cravats. Beau Brummell is credited with introducing and establishing fashion for the modern men’s suit, worn with a tie. His style of dress is commonly known as a dandy.
Currently, menswear critical again from head to toe. With luminaries such as, Daniel Craig and Clive Owen, men are yet again retaining inspiring fashion icons to look up to. Gentlemen even pull up their trouser legs and take off their shoes to show off their cool and trendy socks. London-based company Gallant & Beau is one brand to watch as they bring the dapper man back everywhere through… socks! With offices based in Los Angeles and London, Gallant & Beau is spreading like wildfire.
The Gallant & Beau collection started in 2012 and is based on the dandy gentleman concept. The English term for a cool man is also known as dashing or beau, specifically a man who prioritizes physical appearance, refined language, and leisure hobbies. The dandy man is chased under the guise of indifference and a cult of self. In the 21st century, the word dandy is now a playful, often sarcastic adjective meaning “good” or “great”. When used in the noun form, it refers to a well-groomed and well-dressed man, but often refers to a person who is also self-absorbed.
Gallant & Beau has been keeping the ‘dandy’ alive and well for the past year. With sales booming at Gilt Groupe (www.gilt.com), it seems that stunning socks are making fashion statements left and right. The brilliant and attractive packaging is the only reason to buy a set of socks ($18.50 a pair). The box set is also perfect for anyone trying to find a gift for the man in their life (3 pairs for $48.50). The Union Jack is stretched across the inner lid of a sturdy and attractive box. The theme for the spring 2013 collection involved fun patterns, such as polka dot and argyle, combined with deep tones to create a slick assortment. The socks from this collection are named after famous London streets, such as Picadilly and Camden Town.
In the works for Gallant & Beau are plaid pockets and cufflinks – the perfect accessories to add to any dashing wardrobe. To buy Gallant & Beau socks, go to www.gallantbeau.com and take a look at the daily updates at www.facebook.com/gallantbeau.
