GQ SPECIAL EDITION: THE STYLE GUY
One of the wisest and wittiest men on the planet, Glenn O’Brien, has just released “The Style Guy” – a special edition magazine from GQ now available on newsstands. Promising “Foolproof solutions for looking your best and succeeding in the world,” the magazine goes well beyond the inner workings of your closet, covering everything from home design with “The 10-Step Guide to a More Stylish Pad,” to sex: “The only advice I feel qualified to give on sex is pretty basic: Stay out of trouble.” As GQ Editor-in-Chief Jim Nelson (more…)
ONE TO KNOW: TAKEHARU SATO
Monocle Men’s Fashion Market Editor Takeharu Sato is a good person to know of. His work for the incredibly informative and always spot-on international digest covers many emerging brands you have yet to hear of, but should definitely keep an eye on. There is a smart functionality to Monocle’s fashion portfolios, with Mr. Sato largely responsible. Here is a lighthearted and brief interview with Mr. Sato, from the J.Crew website that includes some interesting tidbits, like his favorite city and the 5 things he loves (more…)
A LEADING VOICE: JAY FIELDEN
When it comes to expanding your knowledge of what it is to be stylish – and that means more than just looking the part, but actually living it – Jay Fielden is at the very top of the list – someone to read, emulate and follow. I had the pleasure of meeting Jay many years ago in Milan while he was Editor-in-Chief of Men’s Vogue, and I the Director of Men’s PR for Prada tasked with coming up with three new front row seats for his team. Of course this was not a problem, anything with Vogue attached to it is well placed at the table. Following the magazines retirement in 2008 there was a quiet period, but fortunately for those who enjoy living well, or at the least like to daydream, Mr. Fielden returned this past summer to a perfectly suited position: the lofty stewardship of Town & Country. Since he took over, the magazine (more…)
GARDEN & GUN: SOUL OF THE SOUTH
This is a publication that unabashedly goes after every demographic in the south. Both men and women can read and appreciate this magazine, kind of like the Vanity Fair of Charleston. Love the smell of soil and fresh cut grass? Check. Have a 12 point buck in your gun site? Check. Garden & Gun, “The Soul of the South,” is a real magazine, and it looks pretty damn good upon first read. Great food, top hunting locations, images of spectacular estates, reader-submitted lovable dog photos and yes, plenty of gardening. There is a pureness and honesty to Garden & Gun – like an attainable, less stodgy version of Town & Country. It is routed firmly in the spirit of the south, as this story would make any mom in Brooklyn choke on her chai latte: (more…)
ESQUIRE AUGUST 2011
A closer look at the August 2011 issue of Esquire:
Cover: Actor Daniel Craig shot by photographer Nigel Parry, wearing a Ralph Lauren Purple Label shirt and sweater, Scotch & Soda jeans, Ralph Lauren boots and Omega watch. Being on the cover of a major magazine is huge PR for these labels, especially a lesser known like Scotch & Soda. (more…)
DETAILS AUGUST 2011
A closer look at the August 2011 issue of Details:
Cover: Actor Shia LaBeouf shot by photographer Matthias Vriens-McGrath, styled by Matthew Edelstein, wearing Hugo Boss (more…)
TOP MAGAZINE: MONOCLE
If you’d like to be a more well-rounded person with a truly global outlook on life, start reading this magazine. We put Monocle at the very top of our list because it consistently delivers intelligent content, great fashion and retail coverage, and insightful city survey’s each month. The look and feel of the (more…)
ESQUIRE’S BIG (RED) BLACK BOOK
Esquire’s Spring 2011 Big Black Book is a great resource for any guy looking to amp up his style. There’s nothing cheeky or glib about this issue, just straight up fashion, style and tons of helpful advice. It’s refreshing to have (more…)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: CLAD.COM
It’s all very hush hush at the moment, but at last weeks WWD Menswear Summit, Esquire’s David Granger boasted about the launch of their new men’s style and e-commerce site, CLAD.com. JCPenney is the major muscle behind the financing but claims you’ll find a wider selection of brands available and their role is strictly financial. We like the name of the site, but this major trend of blending editorial with sales is troubling. The ballyhoo and big roll outs of sites like Gilt Man, Mr. Porter and now Clad have created an environment that editorial purists have successfully avoided for the past century. Editors recoil at the thought of ‘selling out’ or placing products in their magazines because of the huge amount of ad pages coming in from said advertiser.
The only lesson to learn from this evolution, is that where there is money, the magazines are sure to follow. Mr. Granger so conveniently labels this move as part of “becoming a 21st Century medium.”
REVIEW: T MAGAZINE MENS SPRING FASHION
THE DETAILS
Cover: Shot by Richard Burbridge, Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants, wearing his own hat and tee shirt. Why you wouldn’t put him in something great, is a mystery.
Total Ad Pages: 74
Opening Spreads (in order): Louise Vuitton, Hermes, Calvin Klein Collection, Giorgio Armani, Bloomingdale’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Canali, Bergdorf Goodman, Jack Victor, Tallia Orange.
Biggest Category After Fashion: Watches (6)
Back Cover: Chanel
Best Section: “Remix” – A great blend of photography and short pieces, although we could do without the “Leopard Lace” trend.
Biggest Obsession: Rock Stars – From the “Face” grooming piece featuring The Strokes to the “Ballad of a Thin Man” story featuring skinny, (and wrinkled) “Godfathers of Glam:” Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Dave Gahan, Ray Davies, Brian Ferry and Michael Stipe. Going black and white on this shoot was a good call. The issue ends with a piece on Lil B titled “Back to Cali.”
Late to the Game: “Model Fight Club” – this story has been around forever. New York Magazine reported on it way back in May of 2009.
Best Fashion:“Gangs of New York” – fashion you can relate to, shot on great looking guys. The graphics and fonts could be spruced up a bit.
Worst Fashion: “Leaping Lapels” – Four guys described as “Laid Back Dudes” – jump around LA looking anything but. The jumping in the air thing should be reserved for an in-studio shoot for Vogue, and even then it can be painful. Whether they’re hopped up on energy drinks, taking part in a Ken Kesey’s acid test reunion or just high on life, the fashion and clothing gets lost.
Best Article: “Expatriate Games” – fascinating story on Josh Winters by Josh Winters.
Overall Thoughts: The issue speaks to a narrow group of men, we’re unsure who they are. Fashion insiders? Rockers? West coast surfers? Quite possibly editors, wanting to be edgy. You can only wonder what Miuccia Prada’s reaction would be upon seeing Iggy Pop twisted up in one of her incredible suits. Probably appreciation, as she is a patron of the art world and gets it, but you still have to wonder.
STORE REPORT: BARNEY’S BROOKLYN
The new Barney’s CO-OP outpost in Brooklyn feels like a men’s-only shop at first glance. All three of it’s massive windows feature racks of well edited, hip brands from Shipley & Halmos to Rag & Bone & Alexander Wang. Placing menswear front and center is now an expected strategy for building a smart retail environment. It’s the opposite of nature; women will hunt for clothes, while men casually forage.
The design of the store is clean & minimal, allowing the clothing to shine. “Back to the Start” by Lily Allen played from speakers on the ceiling, exposed lighting reflected off the floor painted a high gloss gray acrylic. There is no stroller friendly ramp, underestimating Brooklyn’s well deserved label as “The Baby Borough.”
The big question will be how men react to the higher prices and thinner silhouettes. Will they pay $160 for an Alexander Wang hooded sweatshirt when a similar looking one sells for $46 at American Apparel around the corner? A Shipley & Halmos gray suit jacket ($550) & matching trouser ($325) & beautiful charcoal gray top coat ($795) were all well priced. While a Thom Browne rugby shirt for $325 may be a bit too high for the neighborhood. The downstairs features an impressive denim shop with top brand Raleigh ($295), and an imposing winter parka from Spiewak Golden Fleece ($495).
Rounding out the mix is a rather small collection of accessories – there are only two watch brands sold, the gigantic Nixon and slightly smaller Eleven Eleven. A pair of Nixon leather headphones look good from afar but when tested they sit uncomfortably high and aren’t as snug as high-end expensive DJ headphones should be.
The final verdict: great clothes and lots of buzz; a few blocks down, a woman in her 80’s in a wheel chair asked “Do you know where Barney’s is?”
