Esquire's 2014 Spring/Summer Big Black Book

It's finally here! Like a child waiting for Christmas morning! I went to B&N several times looking for this, thinking it would be out earlier since it is already April.

I'm most excited about the possible resurgence of the double breasted suit. It was extremely popular the 1940s and 50s (check on these dates), made a comeback in the 1990s and his been dormant for almost 25 years. Joseph Abboud offers a DB model in its custom suit program, which is only available at The Men's Wearhouse I was going to purchase one last month, but I had to wait. I actually want to purchase three, a charcoal gray pinstripe, a navy glen plaid, and a navy houndstooth with a burgundy windowpane. This edition of BBB has 5 different DB models listed.

Some interesting locales to visit are Cap Estel, Cape Town, and Costa Careyes.

If you have a hankering for a watch that costs more than 15.000 USD, BBB suggests models from Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Blancpain, and Breguet. They include other price points ranging from 10.000 - 15.000 USD, 7.500 - 10.000 USD, 3.000 - 7.500 USD, and less than 3.000 USD. The only TAG Heuer model profiled is the Steel Monaco 24 retailing for 13.500 USD.

The One-Day Apprentice is an article by Richard Dorment. He spends a day at the Caesar Attolini headquarters in Naples to see what is involved in creating a sport coat entirely by hand.  Ninety-nine percent of clothing you purchase today is made in a factory by machines. With so much competition it is the most cost effective way to mass produce garments. Then you have the rarified one percent of clothing that is made by hand and the prices reflect this. Oxxford suits that cost 6.000 USD, Ralph Lauren cashmere overcoats 7.500 USD, John Lobb shoes 8.000 USD, and Kiton sport coats 4.500 USD.

Esquire's Fall/Winter 2012 Big Black Book

Esquire's Fall/Winter 2012 Big Black Book

Just like a child on Christmas morning, I'm excited that it's finally here! The bible of men's high-end luxury goods comes out twice a year showcasing the most impeccable men's clothing and accessories.

BBB makes space for interesting articles as well. This edition has a piece titled, The One Percent Paradox, reveals that even with high unemployment and disposable income not in the budget, luxury goods are flying off the shelves. One would think the opposite hence the "paradox", but the article submits consumers realize the value of luxury.

However, the price of luxury is not for the faint of heart. Some of the items for your consideration are a $250.000 reproduction Porsche 911, $91.000 Patek Philipe watch, $8.000 Leica camera, $6.700 Cesare Attolini suit, and $1.150 Hermes shoes.

In addition to articles and clothing BBB includes a gallery of the best dressed men. You have the usual
suspects, Clooney, Delon, Mastroianni, and Poitier. They keep overlooking me!

Since this is the fall/winter issue a pictorial has been dedicated to formalwear. Not the kind you rented for your prom but unconventional garments such as a velvet evening jacket and a midnight blue tux. Midnight blue looks blacker than black under artificial lights. Some blacks exhibit a green hue under artificial lights. 

The magazine is filled with glossy advertisements of only the best brands, Ralph Lauren (always on the inside front cover and the first three pages), Brooks Brothers, Chopard watches, Chanel cologne, Kiton suiting, and Allen Edmunds shoes.

BBB includes sections printed on paper instead of the usual glossy dedicated to specific topics. In this edition they are Etiquette, Black Tie, and Performance.

The Etiquette section helps you navigate through some of life's conundrums. Which card stock to use for thank you notes, how to arrange pillows on the bed, and what to put in an emergency sleepover kit are some examples. My favorite section is the Doghouse. This will guide a gentleman on what type of gift, of varying cost, to present the woman in his life due to tomfoolery he was involved in. In the event a gentleman arrives home shall we say intoxicated a gift ranging from a $90 candle to a $63.500 diamond and platinum ring is in order.

Black Tie untangles the finer points of formalwear. The complete white tie outfit is broken down, what is the appropriate shoe for your evening affair, a lineup of red carpet formal fails, and how to store your
tuxedo.

Since this is the Fall/Winter edition, Performance looks to find a medium between style and survival. Topics include gloves for any occasion, what essentials are needed for your backpack, the best apps to have in case of an emergency, and the best hiking boot for the terrain.