MEN’S COVER TREND: TRUE GRIT

Esquire and V Man went with remarkably similar covers in both look and feel for their October and Fall issues.  Javier Bardem, shot by Nigel Parry, Josh Brolin shot by Hedi Slimane, both black and white, no frills portraits of strong, rough-around-the-edges leading men.  Maybe a nod to the popular movement in men’s fashion towards brands, designers and grooming products that put authenticity first.  Red Wing, Billy Reid & Kiehl’s are strong examples.  European men have always cared about how something is made, are American men finally catching up?

Look for Brolin this December in “True Grit” with Matt Damon & Jeff Bridges.  Directed by Ethan and Joel Cohen, the film follows a tough U.S. Marshall as he helps a young woman track down her father’s murderer.