The aimless march of the dandy returns to London after a two-year break.
I’m aware that some Reprobate readers are what we might call dapper chaps – indeed, dapper chapettes or dapper persons of indiscriminate gender – and so we would expect all of them to be interested in The Grand Flâneur Walk, an event organised by The Chap magazine that takes place tomorrow – that is May 14th 2022. While The Chap is not what it once was – inclined these days to have decidedly none-Chappish cover stars for one thing – this event certainly seems the sort of thing that we should all be supporting.
To quote the press release:
“The Flâneur is a personage rooted in fin-de-siecle history, as an aimless wanderer of cities motivated by nothing more than curiosity. Closely connected to the dandy, the Flâneur is usually clad in clothing that attracts attention, and if there is any purpose to his or her walk, it is to be seen by as many people as possible. Without plan, strategy or appointment and armed only with curiosity, an open mind and unlimited time, the flâneur walks among the crowds, oblivious to the ceaseless chattering around him. The flâneur bypasses all tourist sights and monuments, seeking their own particular set of archaeological points of interest, to which he or she may, or may not, return to one day.”
So basically, it’s a well-dressed amble to nowhere – and who doesn’t approve of that? You might argue that an organised event goes against the very nature of the thing, but as far as we can tell, the only level of organisation is at the start, where the flâneurs gather at midday at the statue of Beau Brummell on the corner of Jermyn Street and Piccadilly Arcade in London and then go on their merry way until 6pm when those not attracted by Eurovision will gather at The Camden Watch Company, 31, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, London NW1 8AH for what is described as ‘a grand party’.
This year seems set to be especially celebratory, given the lack of flâneuring during the last two years for reasons that should be obvious. Weather and energy allowing, The Reprobate will be there, possibly with camera in hand – feel free to come and greet us.
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