What's a ダンディ?
 

ダンディ means "dandy" in English. This word is not used anymore. If I go to Wikipedia I see old pictures of men from 100 years ago.

Yet Japanese still use the word ダンディ. I saw someone say he is going to dress like one. What does this look like? It doesn't look like those pictures I saw in Wikipedia, right?

Someone said that Clint Eastwood was a dandy and 高倉健 was one, but why? They wear different kinds of clothes depending on what character they're playing. Does dandy have to do just with what clothes a person wears? Is there more to being a dandy then just what kind of clothes a person is wearing?

That's a tough thing to answer. In general, yes, it does mean "dandy," and people (even in the US in some circles) still dress like that. But you're right: we hardly ever use the word "dandy" anymore. I think the last time I encountered the word was reading Dorian Grey, written a century ago.

The Wikipedia-JA article for ダンディ mentions that as of the 1900s it's a ladies' fashion that uses the "mannish" dandy style.

As far as these two people being dandies, it's not about the roles—it's about them when they were just being themselves. And maybe a modern equivalent is "pretty boy" or "prep" or something, but I'm not sure. Also, in English anyway, dandyism was not just a fashion choice, but a way of life. Pick up a copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. One of the major characters is a real hardcore dandy.

As for the technical fashionista meaning of ダンディ, perhaps you'll have to check on a fashion board or something. I sure don't know!

maybe they still use it as a part of the expression.
how do you fell?
"fine and dandy" :cool:

No, no one really talks like that anymore :D That's only in old movies. :)

I think you came close when you said, "prep." What do you think about "metrosexual?"

It's used for guys who are dressed like in GQ magazine, am I correct?

We don't use the word dandy in English anymore? Whoops, I guess I didn't get that memo. I've been using it to describe a style of fashion for a long time now.

Next someone will tell me we don't use words like "lolita" or "aristocrat" anymore either.

No native English speaker in America uses that word anymore in daily conversation, at least not in the same sense that the Japanese use it.

I can already tell by what you wrote that English is not your native language. It's like a Japanese trying to sound American.

I'm pretty sure jesselt is an American.

No. "Metrosexual" is not synonymous with the fashion in GQ. GQ is how gentlemen should dress. Not to sound too elitist, but any lawyer or businessman ought to dress like the men in GQ. I would not describe this as metrosexual or dandy, but "dandy" is closer than "metrosexual" to the GQ style.

To my native ear, "metrosexual" involves more than just clothing (which is often quite tight and has a style typically associated with either gay culture or female culture). GQ is about looking traditionally manly (good, "normal" haircut; nice suits, ties, etc.). It's called the Gentlemen's Quarterly for a reason!

I think maybe "dandy" might be the 19th and early 20th centuries' equivalent of "metrosexual." Well, analogue. Not equivalent.

I used to subscribe to GQ, and when I think of metrosexual I think of those images that I see in it.

Word Spy - metrosexual

I think the only people who make a connection between metrosexual and gay are those kinds of people that don't really understand fashion or can't afford to dress well. There's no need for you to defend what you see in GQ as not being metrosexual. :vsign:

I invite you to post a link to a picture of something that you think is metrosexual but would not be seen in GQ.

Excuse me?

If you want to point out which parts of my post specifically make me sound like my native language isn't English, that would be great.

I've heard the term "dandy" used more than once in recent years, but I guess that depends on your level of education and which topics specifically you are studying. The term arose more than once in my 19th Century French History class, as well as several other European history classes as well.

Maybe you were offended by the suggestion that the word isn't as obscure and archaic as you were hoping it was, but don't try and insult my intelligence because of it. Of course the word isn't used "in daily conversation". When did I say it was? The word "Kitsch" isn't used in daily conversation either, but that doesn't mean that it isn't used at all.

Furthermore, "like a Japanese trying to sound American." Really? There are plenty of Japanese people who speak, read, and write near flawlessly and that statement sounds as if you are implying impossibility of the notion. Masaegu and Nagoyankee could write circles around you in both languages.

And I would be able to tell that they're not native speakers just by looking at what they wrote.:mtongue:

"All the pics are real, I assure you, Madam. Camels were brought there for the tourists but the sand dunes are real. Japan is larger than many people tend to think and is geographically pretty diverse."


Oh yeah, look at how choppy that is. And you really called it right with me too!

Aaaand welcome to my blocked list.

All I did was quote someone else? Oh, I get it, you're homophobic.:cool:

Don't worry, your ugly face won't be missed.:ywave:

And... Let`s not turn this into some sort of flame war.

My understanding of the meaning of ダンディ is that it is high-fashion masculinity.
A man with a well trimmed mustache, who is muscular, but who is very fashion conscious would be considered ダンディ in Japan.
I do not believe that the meaning has a really direct link to the past meaning in English.

I will go completely against what KyleGoetz is saying - ダンディ is a lot closer to GQ than "metrosexual". Think fashionable without any femininity. (To me, metrosexual means some embracing of feminine features for the sake of fashion.)
Looking at some random GQ covers on GIS and finding that there are some that are the very epitome of what I would consider ダンディ.

Same. I'm british but I've heard it, used it and in fact know several guys who would be described as such. Who actually use the word to describe themselves.

Around here the difference between dandy and metrosexual is that 'metro' part. Metrosexualism is urban male grooming, essentially. Designer cuts and trips to the beautician. It's a little androgynous, a little... herbivorous. Metro's dabble with makeup.

Dandies tend to go more with the old-fashioned ideals of gentlemen's fashion. It's eschewing designer jeans in favour of a waistcoat and trousers. Metros are usually clean shaven or else have a little designer stubble, Dandies are more likely to rock a good moustache and/or sideburns (neatly kept, of course). And Dandies can lurk in the tiny rural villages.