Seduced by the New...

NxtUp...BBC

Beau Brummell

There was a movie on BBC named 'Beau Brummell: The Charming Man" that I TiVO'd. It opened a new door of interest about a historical figure I knew nothing about. George  Bryan "Beau" Brummell was an Oxford-educated gentleman without any aristocratic lineage or family fortune, but his friendship with the Prince of Wales helped elevate him. Brummell is credited with introducing and bringing to fashion the modern man's suit worn with necktie; the suit is now worn throughout the world for business and formal occasions. He claimed to take five hours to dress, and recommended that boots be polished with his style of dress came to be known as dandy. An independent man of independent means who desired  the best of everything rose to become the leader of fashionable society by his wit and his irresistible personality. His exquisite manner of dressing, disdain of anything vulgar, and his great appreciation of beauty, combined with an extraordinarily cool composure and rare charm, defined him as one of the truly unique characters in English history. There is even a series of mystery novels based on this historical person. I may have to pick one up on Amazon.

http://www.beaubrummell.com/