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Zoot suits, mashers & New Romantics: the evolution of the dandy

Peter Andersson delves into various dandy subcultures that saw men dressing immaculately, from the early 19th century to the 1980s

Published: August 13, 2025 at 7:30 AM

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From zoot suiters and mods, to mashers and Congolese sapeurs, since the early 19th century, fashionable male subcultures have popped up across the globe. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, Peter Andersson examines how the idea of the 'dandy' has evolved over time, and argues that the idea of dressing well was not limited to the elites.

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Peter Andersson is the author of The Dandy: A People's History of Sartorial Splendour (Oxford University Press, 2025)

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Authors

Ellie CawthorneHead of content (audio)

Ellie Cawthorne is head of content (audio) at HistoryExtra

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