History Main / TheDandy

* ''Literature/HowlsMovingCastle'': Howl Jenkins is practically the ''king'' of this trope. This is the man who gets up in the morning and takes at ''least'' three hours to get ready, then goes off and falls in love at the drop of a hat. Who probably owns more cosmetics than Maybelline. Who ''threw a temper tantrum with'' '''''green slime''''' when Sophie accidentally tinted his hair strawberry blond.
** Calcifer predicted that the day Howl forgot to do his hair and face, he might believe he was really in love.

* ''Literature/LadyofGems'': Lord Tethiel prefers to look his best in extravagant crimson and a waterfall of lace at his throat at all times not to mention his use of face powder.

* ''Literature/AMidsummerTempest''L Rupert angrily rejects apologies for giving him commoner's clothing while he's prisoner; he's not a popinjay.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' has Virion, who quite often proclaims that he shall perform something "with style" and referring repeatedly to "magnificence". Most of the time, this involves firing an arrow at high speeds at an enemy soldier.
* Subaki from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' claims in his supports with Hinata that he has ''very'' strict cleaning and grooming routines, and his profile states that he has the cleanest hands in the army. He's also a {{Bishonen}} who seems to be quite proud of his appearance in general.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}

* ''Literature/RoguesInTheHouse'': In this Literature/ConanTheBarbarian story, Murilo. Though we are immediately alerted:

* ''Literature/LittleWomen'': Laurie, during his college and young adult years, is always described as being very well-dressed and fashionable. At one point, Jo criticizes Laurie for spending too much, in her opinion, on his appearance when he could be using his money for more practical things. She brings this up again, when turning down his proposal as one more way that they're not compatible. He later ends up marrying Amy, who herself is TheFashionista.

%%* Literature/LordPeterWimsey, as part of his wealthy idiot persona.
* ''Literature/TheMarvelousLandOfOz'': The Tin Woodman is described this way. Sure, he'll always step up for his friends, but when he's not engaged in some sort of adventure, he enjoys living a life of luxury. His castle is finely decorated, and since he doesn't wear clothes, he had himself nickel-plated and engraved a star over his new heart, so he could always look his very best. He's frequently described as a dandy by the text.
* ''Literature/AMidsummerTempest''L Rupert angrily rejects apologies for giving him commoner's clothing while he's prisoner; he's not a popinjay.
* ''Literature/ThePictureOfDorianGray'': Dorian Gray and Lord Henry Wotton are classic examples. Unsurprisingly, they were created by Master Dandy, Oscar Wilde.

* The Jonathan Green-written branch of Abaddon Books' Pax Britannia series features the character of Ulysses Quicksilver, an agent of Magna Britannia working for the 160-year-old Queen Victoria, who is regularly described as a "dandy adventurer".

* In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''[[Literature/ProsperosDaughter Prospero Lost]]'', Miranda, describing her brother Ulysses, mentions his obsession with his clothing.

* Squire's Tales, Princess, Crone and the Dung-Cart Knight. King Bagdemagus. Good Gog, King Bagdemagus is the man who decides in which room will he receive visitors to his castle "by the colour of his robes". Who was stopped from seeing Sir Kai and Guinevere by his son saying that the queen's orange dressing gown would clash with his bright green robes. Who arranged for his servants, on the day of a trial by combat, to all dress in fake-shepherd's gear. King Bagdemagus is this, but without any taste, making him completely ridiculous and utterly obsessed.

* Suggested on a blue-collar budget in ''Series/TheCosbyShow'' when Theo, following his father's budgeting for life as a "regular person" with TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}} money (and knowing the point is to make sure he completes higher education, as he is not on a path to), actually moves to double the predicted amount for "clothes and shoes" -- "I wanna look ''good.''"

* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'':
** Miles Edgeworth looks every part the dandy, from his ClassyCravat to needlessly expensive burgandy suits. He even keeps a spare cravat on his person should the one he wears be damaged and refuses to wear his prosecutor's badge because it would put a hole in his clothes. However, it turns out this isn't out of vanity, but because he was raised and constantly scrutinized by an insane perfectionist who refused to tolerate anything less. Edgeworth himself seems to consider his appearence merely presentable, always expressing indifference, annoyance, or even confusion when people compliment his looks.
* Florent L'Belle from ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' is obsessed with beauty, primarily his own, and is damn proud of it too. He has his own line of beauty products that major stores are very interested in stocking, but he ''refuses'' to sell them to anyone and wants to keep them all to himself. Yet he still ''advertises'' them on TV and in magazines, just to show off how awesome they are and rub it in everyone's faces that they will never be able to have them. However, even though ''he'' thinks he's the most beautiful person who has ever lived, everyone else considers him a {{Gonk}}.

* Saul from ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'' dresses well, and despite the high-stakes nature of all of his jobs in law, has a relatively laid-back attitude. He also has refined speech patterns that are full of big words.

* ''Series/{{House}}'': Dr. Foreman has a sharp dress sense—much sharper than the other male main cast, with the occasional exception of Wilson. His suits are always perfectly tailored, and the color combinations and patterns on his shirts and ties are always interesting but tasteful. He also usually dresses in bright and bold colors (e.g. the light-blue-tie-on-light-blue-shirt combo he’s so fond of in the early seasons), which work well for him both aesthetically (setting off his dark skin color) and personalitywise (identifying him as a sophisticated man who cares about his appearance).

* The title character in ''Series/{{Castle}}'' is something like one of these, having been called a 'metrosexual' by numerous people in the past. He once spent the entire time during a crime scene investigation gushing over the decorative tastes of the owners. Another time, the investigation was briefly sidelined while he introduced ThoseTwoGuys Ryan and Esposito to the victim's range of heated male body products, particularly the shaving cream.

* ''Literature/AMasterOfDjinn'': Fatma refers to herself as this in her internal thoughts, a GenderFlipped version of course but it fits since she's basically the female counterpart to a SharpDressedMan, loving to wear very nice Western men's suits along with a bowler hat and a {{sword cane}}. Even when she tries to dress down Fatma acknowledges that it's a failure given her suits remain quite colorful and flamboyant. She enjoys flaunting her clothing for others.

%%* Percy Blakeney's UpperClassTwit ObfuscatingStupidity personality in ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel''. The real Percy is nothing like that.

%%* Kojiro/James of Team Rocket in the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime.
%%** Unbelievable as it is, the ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'' manga contains an even more obvious example... Ruby.

* The [[CampGay very effeminate]] Hair Eater from ''[[VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}} Onmyōji]]'', who gives us this line after the BossBattle against him.

-->-- '''Thomas Carlyle'''

** Jonathan Raikes gets a massive wardrobe upgrade once he moves from solo legal practice in sleepy Doylestown, Pennsylvania to Manhattan and takes up a job at a law firm there. It's heavily implied this is to support his attempts to enter New York high society.

* The Website/TwitterX account of one [[https://twitter.com/dieworkwear Derek Guy]], handle @dieworkwear, a.k.a. "Menswear Guy", is devoted to the advancement of classic menswear--i.e. dandy--style in the 21st century. Per [[https://www.gq.com/story/dieworkwear-interview-menswear-guy a January 2023 interview]] with ''GQ'' Magazine, his name really is Derek Guy and he is as weirded out as anyone else why the Twitter algorithm promoted him. And yes, he does dress this way himself.

* The Website/TwitterX account of one [[https://twitter.com/dieworkwear Derek Guy]], handle @dieworkwear, a.k.a. "Menswear Guy" is devoted to the advancement of classic menswear--i.e. dandy--style in the 21st century. Per [[https://www.gq.com/story/dieworkwear-interview-menswear-guy a January 2023 interview]] with ''GQ'' Magazine, his name really is Derek Guy and he is as weirded out as anyone else why the Twitter algorithm promoted him. And yes, he does dress this way himself.

* Creator/CharlesBaudelaire was another dandy. He developed a reputation among his friends for his elegance of taste, dress, and expression.

* Poet Charles Baudelaire was a self-proclaimed dandy, spending tons of money on clothes despite being in debt most of his life.

* Played for Laughs in ''Manga/TokyoGhoul''. An information box reveals that [[RatedMForManly Mougan Tanakamaru]] is the reigning champion of the annual CCG Dandy Contest. He is noted for his pompadour, neatly-waxed mustache, and fondness for bowties. ([[SharpDressedMan Houji]] is apparently the runner-up.)

[[quoteright:319:[[Theatre/TheImportanceOfBeingEarnest https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/untitled_4_017.png]]Wear something ill-fitting? Or worse, out of style? AS IF!]]

%%* Leonardo from ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' as a [[{{Foil}} contrast]] to the more pragmatic [[TheHero Sosuke]]

* In ''Animation/MavkaTheForestSong'', Frol (the assistant to the BigBad Kylina) is very flamboyant, foppish and fashion-obsessed, and he has PeekABangs when no one else in the film has.

Being male is not a strict requirement, especially for {{Bifauxnen}}, but the trope ''is'’ very likely to overlap with GentlemanSnarker or UpperClassTwit. Also compare and contrast with SharpDressedMan. Many of these fall under InTouchWithHisFeminineSide because of the widespread perception that VanityIsFeminine (again, not a connotation that “Dandy” would necessarily have had in its original usage).

** Batman's non-heroic persona, Bruce Wayne, is [[DependingOnTheWriter sometimes portrayed]] as this. It's usually depicted as ObfuscatingStupidity: "There's no way that fop dandy could be a dreaded vigilante."

*** The Riddler, unless the artist chooses to put him in question-marked spandex, generally wears a (green, but oh well) business suit and a bowler hat (also often green).

*** Honorable mentions: Ra's al Ghul and Vandal Savage (who is more of a generic JLA/JSA villain) are generally well dressed by the standards of ''some'' era, it's that... since Vandal is OlderThanDirt and Ra's is at the very least OlderThanSteam... it's often not ''this'' era. Neither Ra's nor Vandal are too concerned about getting their clothes (or hands) dirty when it comes time to fight, though.
* Captain Wiggins from ''{{ComicBook/Grendel}}'' even sported a ponytail to effect and lip gloss. This is saying a lot since Wiggins was a New York cop, albeit in [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the not too distant future.]]

Being male is not a strict requirement, especially for {{Bifauxnen}}, but is very likely to overlap with GentlemanSnarker or UpperClassTwit. Also compare and contrast with SharpDressedMan. Many of these fall under InTouchWithHisFeminineSide because of the widespread perception that VanityIsFeminine (again, not a connotation that “Dandy” would necessarily have had in its original usage).

** Batman is one of the few superheroes whose Rogues' Gallery tends to adhere to a dress code. They also, in general, prefer traps and elaborate schemes to straight-up fisticuffs. The ones who ''do'' like to mix it up physically (Bane, Killer Croc, Clayface) mostly avert the trope.
*** The Penguin is the last scion of a family (the Cobblepots) that was at one time as rich as, or richer than, the Waynes, and is generally ''immaculately'' dressed in a tuxedo with top hat, monocle, and (in the old days) often a ''cigarette holder''.
*** In low light, or if you're colorblind, The Joker is quite the SharpDressedMan in his tailcoat and gloves. The fact that it's ''purple'' does diminish the effect a bit (and live-action versions tend to reduce or eliminate the "well-dressed" aspect of the character).
*** Two-Face used to be a politician/attorney. He generally still dresses the part, though unless you happen to be looking at him from the right angle, one side of his suit may be made of fabric with an unusual color or pattern. One example has orange (which, as bizarre as it would be to see in RealLife, seems to be a perfectly unremarkable color for a business suit in comics) on the "good" side and purple on the "evil" side.

* Captain Wiggins from the ''{{ComicBook/Grendel}}'' series. He even sported a ponytail to effect and lip gloss. This is saying a lot since Wiggins was a New York cop, albeit in [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the not too distant future.]]
* The title character of Creator/GrantMorrison's miniseries ''Sebastian O'', as well as much of the supporting cast.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'': James the Red Engine.

** Although it might seem as though Yumichika is the biggest dandy in [[SpiritWorld Soul Society]], he's not. Eighth Squad captain Shunsui Kyouraku dislikes fighting to the extent that he'll even try and disobey a direct order from the [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking captain-commander]] himself to escape it if he can. He far prefers making friends, napping and drinking. If he does go into fights, he likes his [[BadassBookworm vice-captain]] to shower him with flower petals as he makes his entrance onto the battlefield and he wears a pink, flowery [[RealMenWearPink woman's]] kimono everywhere. In fact, [[TheCoatsAreOff taking the kimono off]] means he's finally [[LetsGetDangerous getting]] serious. The Bleach Character Book of Souls confirms that he is indeed considered the biggest Dandy in Soul Society.

* In ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'', Prince Adolin Kholin is the heir to the Kholin Princedom, intensely fashion conscious, and a lover of fine clothes to the point that he keeps folios of the latest outfits to wear and order from the capital even while in the middle of a warzone. He even makes sure to wear cologne during his brief stay in [[spoiler:prison]]. Of course, [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking in accordance with his position]], he's ''also'' a [[PoweredArmor Shardbearer]], one of the [[MasterSwordsman best Duelists in the world]], and [[AgentPeacock an excellent battlefield commander.]]

** Batman's non-heroic persona, Bruce Wayne, is [[DependingOnTheWriter sometimes]] [[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob portrayed]] as this. It's usually depicted as ObfuscatingStupidity: "There's no way that fop dandy could be a dreaded vigilante."

%%* Literature/LordPeterWimsey, as part of his RichIdiotWithNoDayJob persona.

%%* Percy Blakeney's RichIdiotWithNoDayJob ObfuscatingStupidity personality in ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel''. The real Percy is nothing like that.

* Comedian Paul F. Thompkins. Part of his schtick is fancy, somewhat old-fashioned outfits and mannerisms, like a turn-of-the-century gentleman dropped into the modern age.