Finally, here it is; my review of the 2007 edition of Esquire’s Big Black Book (BBB). Several folks over at Esquire are fans of Off The Cuff and were kind enough to send me an advanced copy of the BBB to review.
Regardless of how it arrived, rest assured that I read it cover to cover with an independent eye. After last year’s issue I was a little apprehensive. Could they do it again? Would lightning strike twice or would this year’s instalment reach the pinnacle of averageness like the second issue of Men’s Vogue (long since recovered of course; it’s a regular favorite of mine)?
I’m afraid that the 2007 issue of the Big Black Book does not meet my expectations.
It exceeds them.
OK, sorry for the cheesy run up, I couldn’t help it. I really was a little apprehensive as the first installment of this yearly tome was just so good. I can actually say that this one is better; not that last year’s had any real faults but this issue feels a bit more directed.
Overall Impression
Up front my verdict is pretty straight forward: buy it, read it, keep it.
You know when you get a new magazine and after leafing through the pages and reading the articles, you decide that most of it can be tossed? What do you do? You tear out the stuff you want and recycle the rest. If you’re like me you also organize and archive the pages you did keep for later reference – but that’s another story. Well, in the case of the 2007 BBB that’s not really the best approach because I did not find one uninteresting thing in there.
First off, they’re being cagey this year: it’s not actually black, it’s red. Second, at 207 pages it’s a bit longer than last year’s 186. Also, the general feel is much more along the lines of an actual guide as opposed to a magazine’s special edition. In fact, the cover’s design vaguely reminds me of a stripped down, modern Preppy Handbook. Maybe I just need some more coffee.
There are a lot of advertisements, but I didn’t even notice most of them. It appears that the ad sales staff made a point of telling their clients that the readers of the BBB want information, not just pretty pictures of cool stuff. Many of the ads actually included specs and useful information – very refreshing and helpful. As a result of this approach, I might actually look into some of them. It seems to work as Esquire noted a full third of last years’ BBB readers actually bought a product featured in the book.
Editorial
As I have said, last year’s edition was great; none the less, this year’s is better for a couple of reasons. With a good balance between short and longer form articles it’s easy read “The Incredible Shrinking Suit” on page 63 and quickly move on to “The Bespoke Life” on page 130. Both are well written and you defiantly feel a little smarter having looked them over.
The guide portion of the BBB falls into four areas: Maintenance, Formality, Informality, and Etiquette. As with last year, this section is contagious and printed on an untreated, industrial paper, giving it a practical field-manual feel. The four major photo spreads each follow a particular theme: classic hunting clothing; commuter style; the clean, modern “less-is-more” aesthetic; and the influence military gear has on fashion.
Interspersed throughout the book are short photo essays, like “The Essentials” starting on page 32. I was particularly happy to see that my purchase of a Montblanc 149 about ten years ago was indeed a good investment (page 44); even adjusted for inflation that thing is expensive.
One last thought, a particular favorite of mine is “The Little Things: A field guide to personal effects,” starting on page 75. As a lover of detail and practical functionality when it comes to luxury goods, this collection of vignettes – the personal possessions of four fictional yet stylish men – is excellent. I find myself going back to it for inspiration and finding something new each time.
It’s not so much the actual items presented, but rather the implied personality of each guy that I find so interesting. It fits my belief that a man’s most personal possessions truly tells you who he is and what he values. Check out my recent post on the topic.
Final Words
What Esquire does better than most style magazines falls between the ears. It’s smart, not just fashion-y; when I go though a publication like the the Big Black Book I don’t get hit with only what’s in or what’s stylish or what I should want. I learn something about classic elegance and timeless style that fits seamlessly with the modern world.
As someone who tries to help men find their own style and appreciate the value of quality and personality, I want to thank the folks at Esquire. The hard work is appreciated, you did a great job.