Allure of Men

From the frock coats of Gainsborough’s portraits to the city workers’ two-piece suits, the structure of men’s clothing after 1800 seemed to favor uniformity over variety. But a closer look reveals that the language of this uniformity is actually subtly varied in its details—in the cut, proportion and material. Though individually these different elements are almost imperceptible, each makes a vital contribution to the intangible notion of style. This book juxtaposes paintings and photographs of celebrities and lesser-known figures dating back almost two centuries, whose different silhouettes, when placed alongside one another, encapsulate a shared idea of modern elegance and concern with style.