Dandy Lion

Shantrelle Lewis is a curator and researcher specializing in African diaspora style aesthetics. Her book Dandy Lion: the Black Dandy and Street Style is a follow-up to a highly acclaimed traveling exhibition by the same name curated by Lewis. Black dandyism has its roots in the Enlightenment period of England’s slave culture, thriving for generations across black cultures around the globe. Black men with an affinity for polished fashion and bold colors, whether new or vintage, have gained popular attention in recent years, influencing mainstream fashion. Dandy Lion celebrates contemporary dandyism’s factions, its distinct dandy personalities, events, designers, and tailors. Lewis’s carefully curated selection of photographs convey self-expression through personal style, clothing, shoes, hats, and swagger; challenging stereotypes about masculinity while embracing rebellion and individuality.