Jean Baudrillard said that dandyism is "an aesthetic form of nihilism". La Sape, a linked cultural trend also described as dandyism, involves wearing flamboyant clothing. Pitti Uomo is credited with making dandyism acceptable to a wider audience. A gold- or silver-topped cane can express social standing (or dandyism). Throughout the novel, dandyism is associated with "living in style". In Japan, dandyism has become a with historical roots dating back to the Edo period.