FANTASTIC MAN
At the other end of the spectrum from Classic Style is Fantastic Man (FM), a trade publication out of Amsterdam.
Now, I’ll tell you up front that this is a very flamboyant magazine and it took some getting used to. But once I opened it up and started reading, my hesitation was set aside. FM bills itself as “A Gentleman’s Style Journal” and that it is. A broad mixture of art, clothing, style, interviews and photo shoots, it covers more of what I call “classic intellectual avant garde.” The format includes very minimal advertising, mostly black and white photos and untreated, almost industrial paper. Overall, the look is pleasingly functional.
In the Spring/Summer issue, you can find an interview with hotelier Andre Balazs (owner of, among others, Chateau Marmont in LA and The Mercer in NYC), a photo spread of Lanvin’s menswear designer showing off this season’s collection, and a remarkably artistic presentation of white dress shirts.
What really sets FM apart is the excellent writing; it is so detailed and thoughtfully presented that this bi-annual magazine could pass for a literally review that happens to focus on men’s fashion.
Hard to find, expensive and definitely worth the effort.