Expecting to find a slightly more upscale version of MAXIM or STUFF, I set about reading Esquire magazine. The adage, don't judge a book by it's cover applies greatly to this magazine.

Upon seeing a copy of Esquire magazine, ones immediate judgment of this magazine is it is a sleazy magazine geared towards those who aren't old enough to buy porn yet. Now what in the world would give someone that kind of idea?
BOOBS!

Well, usually boobs anyway. It has been the norm to regularly see scantily clad babes on the cover of Esquire magazine. I still can't forget the cover from back in February I think it was, that had Heather Graham on the cover, it looked like her chest was going to explode it was so pushed up and crushed together, with clothing that barely covered nipples, one could easily conclude that this magazine catered to the lowest common denominator. (Not that there is anything wrong with that)

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find very interesting interviews, articles and commentary. Instead of the pompous, self importance we will find in Maxim, Esquire actually takes an educated approach to both the articles, and topics it selects in general. These well done articles managed to hold my interest. Not an easy task for someone who regularly leaves his car radio on scan.

Esquire also has included short stories in it's publication. Expecting to find some barely interesting gibberish, I was held captive by this interesting story, which not only was entertaining, but it was deep too. It actually had a meaning of some sort. In fact, the story ended better than most movies I've seen this year.

Sexy Babes in States of UNDRESS all over the pages?
Unexpectedly no. Although recently I do recall a model nude, except smeared in Caviar. (This must be how the rich have Fun with Food)

Esquire's topics range from science, humanity, celebrities, health, new things, and far to many advertisements.

Esquire seems to be geared towards the person with far to much money on their hands. In fact, it bills itself as "man at his best" I beg to differ. It would be more like, Man, spending so much money on his clothes, that we must question his sexuality.
Esquire is full of more male models than sexy women.
You begin Esquire with about 6 pages of ads for clothes. Not just any clothes either, ridiculously over priced clothes. In fact, most people don't make enough in a month to buy one of these stupid outfits. To give you an example of the absurdity of it all, on the August 2001 issue, Sigourney Weaver is featured on the cover, dressed in a white sleeveless T-shirt, Much like the one she wore in the film ALIEN, and pants. If you turn to the table of contents, we see this is no ordinary shirt. Rather it is a "$465 cashmere top, by Gucci" a T shirt for almost $500??

It doesn't stop there. On a feature on NASCAR and the fans of the races, Esquire seems to have gathered a handful of drivers, outfit them in over priced clothes, and just shot pictures of them posing, AS IF these are the clothes the drivers would ever be caught in. Maybe the Formula One European guys would wear this stuff, but homegrown NASCAR boys? NEVER. For example, on Steve Park, driver of the number 1 Pennzoil car, Lambskin jacket, $5,200, by Hermes. Not only does the jacket look STUPID, I am 100% certain you could by a plethora of lambs for $5,200 and you could no doubt have enough lambs or sheep, whatever lambs turn into, to make yourself 50 jackets.

Then, the outfitters for Esquire are dumb enough to take these fashions to the fans, and outfit them. A suede jacket for $2,595 on a guy who looks to be about 23, next to his beat up early 90s Camaro, and what looks to be where he camped out over night. No, WRONG! Race fans are NOT wearing suede jackets that cost $2,595, why? that is money they could have stuck in their cars to make them go faster. The ONLY person in this entire spread they did featuring NASCAR that looked like he was wearing what he should be, and belonged in the pictures was Tony Stewart (#20 Home Depot Pontiac) His leather Jacket is under $500. Perhaps they put that in there to make him look poor. Maybe Esquire doesn't like Tony Stewart.

This clothing NONSENSE doesn't end here. We also get a spread of other celebrities who have nothing really in common except they have been dressed in expensive clothes. One guy even has a leather coat that cost $8,900. For $8,900 that coat better have sex with you!

Overall, Esquire Magazine is good reading, and subscriptions are dirt cheap for a magazine. It's drawbacks include the cover. It wouldn't be hard for someone to mistake you for some pervert out looking at porn in a public place, and the other negative is the stupid fashion shows that pass for part of the magazine. If the publishers want to use up film, at least use it on ladies.
Guys generally don't care to look at other guys in expensive clothes.

Recommended: Yes