In a time when blogs oftentimes receive more attention than major news publications, we thought it was fitting to catch up with a mastermind behind German men’s fashion. David Roth, an eccentric fashion blogger for DandyDiary and an editor at BerlinFashion TV, can be spotted around Berlin either sporting a suit or looking rather homeless; two styles that Mr. Roth genuinely enjoys.

More interesting than David’s style is the name chosen for the blog.  Not quite sure if David knew the impressions of picking such a profound name for a blog at the time of inception, but he certainly picked a winner with DandyDiary.  Dandyism, a late 18^th century term originating in Britain, was coined in regards to men who placed great importance upon their physical appearance, refined language and leisurely hobbies.  These men pursued interests with a nonchalant approach in a cult absorbed with oneself.

The first noted dandy was George Bryan Brummel.  Brummel was not from an aristocratic background, although everyone thought he was.  In fact, his greatness was based on nothing at all; other than his appearance, that is.  Making his mark on the fashion world, Brummel was never without perfume or caught underdressed.  Immaculately bathed and shaved, he would dress in perfectly fitted linens and trousers with elaborate knotting, called cravats.  He was the earliest known self-made celebrity whom eventually died alone once all comrades and acquaintances found out the real truth; that Brummel was no more than an average man from a middle-class family.

Where are you from?
I grew up in a small village in Germany called Grebenstein, which is not fashionable at all.  It is famous for sausages.

When did you start DandyDiary?
I started Dandy Diary 2 ½ years ago.  Back then, I googled the term “men” and “fashion.”  The first 20 hits were gay porn sites; a clear sign that there was not enough good content in regards to men’s fashion on the internet.  This is how the inception of Dandy Diary began.  Now I am working together on the blog with close friend, Jakob Haupt.

Where did the name for the blog come from?
The original idea for the blog was to create a virtual diary.  This is why I chose the term, “diary.”  In general, dandy is a good way to sum up men’s fashion, even though it is a term that describes a certain look or type.  Furthermore, DandyDiary sounds really nice together, which is very important for the blog presence on the internet.

Is your background in fashion?  Who is David Roth?
I studied fashion journalism and interned at both Dazed & Confused and FHM Collections.  Now I am working as an editor for BerlinFashion.TV, which is an online TV encompassing Berlin fashion.  Who am I?  I am just a boy that dreams about clothes and tits!

Where do all of those cool DandyDiary graphics come from (ex. Banner)?  Did you do them yourself?
No, I can’t draw in the least.  My mum made them.  She is an artist.

How do you think German fashion differs from the rest of the world?
I don’t think one can make a universal judgement about German fashion because in every large city of Germany, there exists a different style.  For example, in Munich I would say that the “chic style” dominates and people tend to dress up during the evening hours.  This is a very classy environment.  As for Cologne, there exists tons of wannabes.  They try way to hard and end up looking like a bunch of weird fags.  Lastly, I would say that the style noted in Berlin is similar to that of London but maybe a bit less progressive.  However, the style witnessed is still creative and rough-edged.

Is it possible to make a living as a blogger alone?
Yeah, sure.  Just ask Bryanboy.

I see that you have received a lot of press from the media.  How did you accomplish this?  At this point, are you successful enough to utilize advertisement on your site as a means of earning additional money as a blogger?
Yes, we are earning money with DandyDiary.  I can’t afford a Porsche or high-end prostitutes, but you never know what the future may hold.  I’m not quite sure how the press came along, but they did and started asking for interviews.

Describe your personal style?  What designers are you impressed with and what trends do you foresee in fashion?
I would describe my style as an “ongoing-innovative-style” because I don’t possess a certain look or fit within a certain category.  I enjoy dressing up differently, whether that be as a homeless guy, adorning a suit or as an ethno-boy.

I love Asian designers such as Wooyoungmi, Juun J and Miharayasuhiro.  Besides them, I like Damir Doma and Rick Owens.  Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada are both very strong, really unique and quite progressive.

As for trends, I particularly like shoes with very, very thick soles, bold colours and crazy headpieces.  In general, hats are having a huge comeback right now.

What is the concept behind DandyDiary?  What are you looking for when you write articles?
We don’t have any concept to speak of.  We say what we like and what we don’t like surrounding the world of fashion.  A real opinion is uncommon in the fashion industry, so I’d have to say that this is our strength.

Do you feel that only focusing on men’s fashion limits you from a broader audience or do you feel that specializing in one genre has allowed for great success of your blog?
Our focus is only on men’s fashion.  I honestly don’t have the feeling that this limits us in any way, shape or form.  Actually, we have loads of girls following our blog.  In my opinion, it is really important to specialize in a certain genre to have success.

David failed to mention the importance of beards in men’s style.  In fact, it looks like bearded fellows are setting quite a trend on the fashion forefront.  Whether unkempt or neatly trimmed, David Roth, sporting his infamous beard, understand fashion from a refreshing, man’s perspective.  Be sure to check out his dandy of a blog at www.dandydiary.de.