A Selection of Looks and more from Esquire's Big Black Book Fall 2010

 

I recently got around to reading Esquire's Fall 2010 Big Black Book. As usual, a good read, but not the hub of information that I've grown to expect from the magazine. I really appreciated some of the advertising from staple brands that, in the past, weren't as exciting in this space.

After a long overdue renovation and the arrival of designer Eric Wright, Facconable is once again becoming the unique gentlman's brand that it once was when it opened it's doors in the South of France years ago. The classic layered look stands out in the issue and makes a strong statement that the brand is back.

Everything that Hermes is doing these days is stylish, creative and unique. Their website is whimsical  and manageable, and their advertising is simple and impactful. The rooftop setting for this ad along with the tag line, "Life as a tale," evokes imagery of Peter Pan.

In one section entitled, The Best Places on earth, four tastemakers are asked to comment on their favorite destinations. David Lauren, son of Ralph Lauren and marketing chief for the brand nails it with his selection of, "New York in Winter." He highlights one of the city's quintessential saloons and burger joints, J.G. Melon's. P.J. Clarke's usually gets most of the press (it does serve a solid burger), but Melon's has some of the best atmosphere in the city and the juicier burger of the two locations. Their bloody bull shot along with a bacon cheeseburger will subdue any hangover. If you're feeling lucky, the chili is some of the best as well. Just don't plan on a long afternoon out with the guys.

There is a great pictorial towards the end of the issue that features an 'Italian approach to clothes.' It's photographed in and around Florence, with Florentine gentlemen and features such brands as Zegna, Cucinelli, Ralph Lauren, Brioni, Kiton, Church's, and Tom Ford. These are are some of today's quintessential gentlemen's brands and they really come to life in this spread.

No quintessential gentlemen's publication would be complete without some instruction on cocktailing. Esquire, within its etiquette section, gives a complete, yet rather dry instruction on how to stock a well used wet bar.