Jun
01
Fine and Dandy Shop with Matt Fox | Tucked Q&A Series
I’ve come to appreciate fashion and style in every sense. I enjoy seeing rugged interpretations, casual inclinations, and the most buttoned up of the dapper world. I get invited to events, and asked to write about products – you name it. I tend to be open-minded and geared in the direction of trying before denying. One day, I came across a digital flyer for a pop-up shop on Refinery29’s web site. Next thing you know, the event was in my calendar, and my camera was in my hand. That is precisely how I have come to be a fan of the Fine and Dandy Shop. Fine and Dandy is online shop that aims to blend the beautiful worlds of vintage and vintage-inspired with the polished and detail-attentive world of dandyism. It is really amazing to see men dressed to the nines, and I don’t mean that investment banker hopping out of a black town car walking into Goldman Sachs. I’m talking about a man that truly deserves sartorial attention as his outfit was crafted, imagined, and executed with great thoughtfulness.
Dandyism is something new to me. The best way to learn new things is to jump in head first, and that’s what I did. I decided to hang out with Matt Fox for a little bit to get his insight on what a dandy truly is; not to mention, how he sees the landscape of men’s fashion and style evolving. Check it out, then check out his shop…you’ll get hooked!
Tucked: Tell us a little bit about how Fine and Dandy came to life.
MF: I’ve always fantasized about having my own shop. But with the price of real estate here in New York City (and my unfortunate lack of a trust fund) it has never been an economic reality. About three years ago i saw this explosion of men’s style online: blogs, online magazines, shops. So I decided to give it a try online.
Tucked: Fine and Dandy, in and of itself, is an interesting title for a shop. Can you define a Dandy?
MF: The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a dandy as “a man who gives exaggerated attention to personal appearance.” In the modern world I think a dandy pays particular attention to the details of his dress and makes the extra effort to look his best each day.
Tucked: I think bow ties often get a bad rep, and it may be slightly because many people don’t know how to wear one. What are your thoughts on bow ties and their importance?
MF: Bow ties certainly are having a revival, but there certainly is a stigma. Perhaps Pee-wee Herman or nerdy college science professors are to blame. Guys should think of bow ties as a fun alternative to the necktie. I’m an avid bow tie wearer but I like go in one of two directions: Either dressed up for a formal event or dressed down for a more casual look. I tend to get the Pee-wee Herman comments when I do something in between.
Tucked: Are you a huge vintage buff? What are you favorite stores or places to explore for fashion of the past?
MF: I am a huge vintage buff. But I think it’s tough in this city because I’m surrounded by vintage buffs who are willing to spend more than I am. I tend to do better with vintage shopping when I travel, but I still love checking out the local flea markets.
Tucked: How would you define your style?
MF: New School Dandy or dandy-inspired. I love mixing elements of the past with modern stuff and making it relevant in this crazy world we live in.
Tucked: Do you have any style or fashion icons?
MF: Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Humphry Bogart, and other old movie stars. I’m also a collector of vintage photos of stylish men an find a lot of inspiration from them.
Tucked: What do you think makes you tick?
MF: I’m very motivated and driven. When I have an idea of something I want to do, I can’t rest until I achieve it. I’m constantly thinking about it. I guess that works well for being a small business owner.
Tucked: What kind of things do you do in your free time, when you aren’t running the business?
MF: What free time? I run my own business from home so to some degree I’m always working. But when I do have a few minutes to spare I enjoy exploring my city, vintage shopping, and I’m about to buy a bike. (Don’t you love the idea of a dandy on a bike?)
Tucked: Men’s style has really transformed and grown in the past year, where do you think it’s going in the next year?
MF: In the grand scheme of things, I think we’ll go even further in the direction of men taking an interest in their appearance. It’s no longer considered unmanly for a guy to want to dress well and look good. And our decades long trend of casual dressing will swing even further in the opposite direction.
Please note all photos used in this post were taken by Justin Bridges of Tucked LLC. For inquiries, product submissions, or to send press kits, please contact us at [email protected].
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Justin Bridges of Tucked LLC
