Men.style.com Spring Trends

Is this not suppose to be one of the go-to magazines and/or websites in North America? After reading a very correctly worded post on The Selvedge Yard calling GQ, Getting Questionable, I still had some faith in this iconic American publication. I thought they could probably still hold it down online and help men find their way. Unfortunately hope is lost. While there were some spring trends predicted that weren't totally off the mark, like Ralph Lauren. (How is that a trend?) But specifically calling out an ugly D&G boat shoe that costs $500 US? Really? That's a trend? It could have simply been 'Boat Shoes' and then take a picture of 3 different ones, that cost less than a house in Fishtown. Then we come to the full outfits. While the poor fitting D 2squared looks from Italy aren't quite doing it for me, the styled model shots look about half as interesting as an Urban Outfitters mannequin. There were a couple gems in the mix such as Yuketen's mocassin, Supreme's parka and the Cresent Down Works Parka we blogged a little while back, for the most part, the article is, as usual, very uninspiring. The market is getting educated, we know you can do better, you have every resource at your fingertips - sell me something good.

Comments

[david]

i totally agree...found that article uninspiring as well. i think magazines like gq and esquire are losing their relevance. there will always be a market for them, but they are no longer useful to people who want to stay ahead of the game. sites like h(y)r are months ahead...gq is just trying to keep up. theyre still on top of things enough for most people, but not for everyone. i wouldnt be shocked of their writers and editors read blogs like yours.

the internets has changed the game. keep doing what youre doing ryan, it is much appreciated.

[nick]

david - the editors and writers do just that.

Thanks for mentioning the guide to Fishtown, USA!

I was pleased to see my friends from Freeman Transport on the list too.

[james]

just out of curiosity, what kind of shoes are those?

[Jay]

Yeah, the spring trends were not that inspiring and pretty obvious.

I agree that mags like GQ aren't doing anything new or showing new trends, but I still believe in GQ the magazine. The articles are well written and use great photographers and generally styled well. Plus, GQ is a very well designed magazine.

Sorry, I'm biased. I'm a magazine designer and think its sad that mags are going the way of the dinosaur.

[greenjeans]

It's kind of like playboy and the internet. I don't think magazines are losing relevance just because there are a lot of great blogs out there. I think it's because there was a big bias against blogging, like it was pejorative to be labeled a blogger. I think the new wave of magazine editors/designers will simply come from this new space. I gladly pay for a magazine that isn't half advertisements, is well written, and shows me things that although I have seen before, shows me them in a new light or from a new perspective.

[Simon]

I think the days of looking to these major publications for genuine inspiration are long gone. For many years now they've been at the mercy of their advertisers and I think in the current financial climate this will only continue. Sadly many of the people working on these publications do know their stuff but are often forced to feature the brands that pay for the magazine's production.

If you want inspiration look to Japanese magazines like Free & Easy. You can't read a word but the visuals are great and the discovery of new and exciting things is guaranteed.

[AZ]

Couldn't agree more imo UK GQ has been way off for the last 2 years Arena was quite good but now this month is the last edition ! Esquire i would say is slightly better than GQ but still dull.

James - i think they are Yuketen’s mocassin. Ryan will confirm.

[taken root]

they are still trying to cater to the high end fashion heads

yet not fully appreciating whats happening with vintage wear seriously.
high end brands jumpin' on this movement in fashion and it's not working.

i hate GQ noways.

[angelo]

I feel like there's a big disconnect between the Web site, which has to include DETAILS-ish content, an dthe actual print magazine, which is still a quality publication. I've been a subscriber since I was 14 and I've never really been a fan of any men.style features.

[Andy]

AZ and James: I read the article and yes those are the Yukenten's

[Big Kid]

Monocle needs to spin off a fashion pub.

[JP]

Thanks for the mention, Ryan. Sad to see GQ's (and other once great menswear magazines) legacy going down the toilet.

[kristi]

To be fair, "Team America" is the trend (i.e. American-inspired design). Ralph Lauren and the D&G boat shoes fall under that trend, they're not listed as trends themselves. BUT with that said, the article still wasn't very interesting.

[hans]

Some of the presented looks weren't THAT American, I think.
For example the one with the WoodWood-shirt.