Severin, 62-year-old retired forester and sapeur for 42 years, in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. He wears suit by Jean Courcel, shirt by Daniel’s, hat by Knox, walking cane by Chaplin, watch by Hall Mark, lavaliere, handkerchief, suspenders, cummerbund and socks by Giorgio Armani and shoes by Asakusa Comoe.

La Sape, Socíet́e des Ambianceurs et des Personnes ́Eĺegantes (Society of Ambiance-Makers & Elegant People). Its followers are known as »Sapeurs« (»Sapeuses« for women). Most have ordinary day jobs as taxi-drivers, tailors and gardeners, but as soon as they clock out they transform themselves into debonair dandies. Sashaying through the streets they are treated like rock stars – turning heads, bringing ‘joie de vivre’ to their communities and defying their circumstances.