Spot the Dandy

Posted in General, Trivialities | Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | 18 Comments » Trackback

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 Sunday School in Lancaster, PA, 1941.

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18 Responses to “Spot the Dandy”

  1. Ian Says:
    January 16th, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    If only young men in Lancaster still dressed as well. The boy with the plaid tie, notable sock, and simple tie pin must be who you’re referring to, no?

  2. M Says:
    January 17th, 2009 at 11:21 am

    The bored one.

  3. Alexander Aubrey Says:
    January 17th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    I am inclined to believe it is the young man second from the left because of the ring on the little finger of his left hand. Although, my first inclination was to say the young man second from the right sitting very effeminately…

  4. santy567 Says:
    January 17th, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    slicked back hair, plaid tie. he looks just like me.

  5. Constantine Says:
    January 17th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    Now I understand why he’s so bored.

  6. retropian Says:
    January 18th, 2009 at 1:27 am

    I wonder what became of these young men. How many joined the Military? How many returned home? How are they today? The Dandy I would say, is the young man revealing some sock. His attire and grooming is a little crisper than his classmates. He may be as bored as they, but he maintains an elegance they do not.

  7. retropian Says:
    January 18th, 2009 at 5:47 am

    On second thought, the young man in the dark suit, in the back, against the wall, intrigues me. Which raises a question; would a Dandy sit in the front row, or the back? I am inclined to say front row. A Dandy would never arrive to class early, and frequently the only seating available would be in the front row. So many seem to have an aversion to sitting in the front row of a class. A Dandy would never hesitate, unless of course the lecturer was a spitter.

  8. Mr Thompson Says:
    January 18th, 2009 at 11:14 am

    I know! I know!…It’s the chap in the back row, leaning against the wall. No self-respecting dandy would sit in front: you can’t gauge people’s reactions to you that way. :)

  9. RKM Says:
    January 18th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    The Dandy isn’t there. He’s still in bed, sleeping off his adventures of the night before.

  10. Matt Fox Says:
    January 18th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    Amazing photo. Today, a room full of young men dressed so smart, all of them would be dandies.

  11. Darcy Says:
    January 26th, 2009 at 8:05 am

    I was tempted to nominate the chap with the waistcoat, which his classmates appear to have forgotten. Then there is the fellow far right with the dreamy expression — but no dandy, realizing a camera was present, would neglect to remove his left hand from his waistband. No, on closer examination I side with the others who suggest the young squire with the visible sock. Reasoning: Although a dandy might arrive late, he would not be sitting in the back row if a camera were present. While all the young men appear bored, this young man has contrived to look thoughtful as well (not sleeping, like the two on the left). And while we have no way of knowing if ALL these students sport flash anklewear, our nominee has contrived to LIFT his leg into camera so as to show off not only his sock but a bit of his shoe. This is a dandy.

  12. Archibald Says:
    March 26th, 2009 at 4:46 am

    Plaid tie, displaying his socks. Fully aware of the camera, just not showing it noticably (for others than fellow dandies). Looking, seemingly caraless, slightly in another direction, still showing a favourable side to the photographer.

    A young man that wears his suit with elegance, unlike the others wearing the suits because mum or dad made them.

  13. Robert Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 10:10 am

    i love this picture

  14. Lance Miller Says:
    June 25th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    Great photo!!!

  15. Staggo Lee Says:
    October 12th, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    When the man had the calm to match his tie to his socks and then forget about it. . . .

  16. Pugilist Says:
    July 15th, 2010 at 1:14 pm

    I assume it is the young man in the back with the black suit and with a look of awareness.

  17. Kelvin Says:
    July 15th, 2012 at 10:11 am

    This photograph presents no challenge because the dandy fairly leaps out at one and he is the one most of you have pointed out: the young man with plaid sock that picks up plaid tie without strictly matching, which would be stultifying. His pose suggests a bored and slightly disruptive presence (due to the elegance of the crossed legs, a pose not considered feminine in those times when good male friends were sometimes seen walking arm in arm, at least in England), and so one who could conceivably bend sartorial rules without breaking them. Finally, he looks adult and dresses like one.

  18. Kelvin Says:
    July 15th, 2012 at 10:22 am

    Forgive my un-dandyish, because obsessive, observations and allow me one more: the arrangement of the young man’s fingers of the hand on which his face leans is unique, and every true dandy aspires to inimitability. Each finger is elegantly curled and separated, a somewhat precious and decidedly dandyish pose. Enough said from me. I too love this photograph and concur with the comment that all of these young men would be considered dandies today in this world of ubiquitous sportswear.

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