Dandy Style focuses on men’s fashion and image from the 18th century to the present day. The show explores how concepts such as elegance, uniformity and spectacle have evolved over the last 250 years. 

The exhibition highlights a range of examples from Manchester’s collections and will be composed of two main sections: Tailored Dandy and Decorated Dandy. Combining the historic with the contemporary, the provocative with the respectable, the show draws contrasts and comparisons between fashion, art and photography. 

From fashion to fine art, Dandy Style will showcase work from the artists Thomas Gainsborough, Thomas Lawrence, David Hockney and Peter James Field, the photographers David Bailey, Olivia Rose and Jason Evans, and the fashion designers Tommy Nutter, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Ozwald Boateng. 

The exhibition features extraordinary, never seen pieces from our collections, and includes significant loans from other art institutions and private lenders. The show will also launch our new dedicated Fashion Gallery.