Esquire's Essentials for Men – American Tribes
Trendy, Stylish, Designer Fashion for Rockers, Suits, and Playboys

From The Powerhouse to The Rocker, Esquire of March 2010 has featured a variety of extremely fashionable looks that bear description and analysis. While most of the garments featured in the issue are of designer manufacture (Brioni, Ermenegildo Zegna, Tom Ford, Cole Haan, Ralph Lauren) – reasonable facsimiles can be found in other locations.

The Powerhouse & The WASP

Both of these styles are very classic in nature, trending towards the dressier and appealing to a more refined aesthetic. The WASP – characteristic of an ivy league graduate student – is an appropriately sly look, especially in the combination of pressed white trousers with a double-breasted navy jacket.

By contrast, The Powerhouse reflects the epitome of corporate strength, the middle-aged model being clothes in an ensemble the bespeaks wealth and influence. Wearing a fine-patterned double-breasted Brioni suit, shirt, and tie and topped off with a fuchsia pocketsquare from Zegna – there's no question about who the true boardroom sartorialist is.

The Workman & The Woodsman

The staff at Esquire really shone in the presentation of The Workman and The Woodsman. A long misunderstanding circulates amongst those who take an interest in men's fashion, assuming that designers don't offer anything that is wearable in less formal circumstances or in more rural settings – these two looks prove that notion to be distinctly false. While the price tag may remain steep – particularly on the blue plaid-layout Etro blazer featured at $1,500 on The Workman – the look itself could be easily replicated for much less.

Consistent blue / green tones throughout these two outfits – and the prevalence of denim and cotton, two staple textiles for most working men – also gestures towards a certain cultural authenticity that has also been missing from the fashion dialogue when concerning everyday fashion.

With these looks, Esquire successfully made an otherwise casual or bland look into something that most men could pull off and draw some attention.
The Rocker & The Roller

Separating The Rocker from The Roller was a really clever decision that paid off in spades – both looks are absolutely fantastic! The Rocker features a classic half-cut black leather jacket combined with slim fitting jeans and a subtly patterned white sportshirt. The Roller, on the other hand, dresses more like the laid back bassist in the band, decked out in a linen blazer, a lightweight horizontally striped sweater, and rolled-over white jeans.

This juxtaposition highlights the two hallmarks of rock n' roll – the sharp, slick rock star getup and the laid-back musician who reflects a completely chilled out and relaxed aesthetic.

While some of the looks contained within Esquire's essential looks fell a little flat (The Trad, The Italiano, The Professional) the spectacular photography and wardrobe co-ordination makes this an issue worth reviewing. Nicholas Morine