Battle of the Style Guides – Via Image Granted LLC
Most of us either get Esquire, GQ, or both. And for the last few years, Esquire has bi-annually published their “Big Black Book
GQ finally got smart this year and decided that they should offer their own competing style guide
Grant Harris, the head of Image Granted LLC stumbled across the new GQ Style Guide while attempting to pick up Esquire’s latest edition of the BBB. His breakdown of each is a must read for anyone considering shelling out the $10 to $15 to pick one of these up. He even declares a winner at the end. Give it a look, and may the best style guide win.
(Thanks to Jeff H. for the tip. And thanks to Grant Harris for giving the a-okay to link to his review. If you’re still undecided about which guide to go with after reading his breakdown, go with Esquire’s BBB. It’s bigger, cheaper, and the GQ version seems to re-purpose their photos from the past year of issues.)
I’m not a big magazine reader but I can just pick one of these up at a stand?
In any competition between GQ & Esquire, I’m going to be inclined to choose Esquire. I think the writing is better (both the essays and product features) and their overall style direction seems much more manly, refined, and steady than what I consider GQ’s fashion-of-the-month approach. I’ve turned a couple of my GQ-reading friends into Esquire devotees and that makes me proud.
Is there a way to purchase the BBB without having to renew your subscription to Esquire?
I do not read Esq, so I cannot comment on the BBB. The GQ style guide just seems like they have cut’n’pasted all of their fashion spreads into one book. Every example that was shown in that blog, I remember seeing in GQ. And seeing how I keep my GQ’s for at least a year, this would be a good waste of $16.
I want to say that I’ve seen the Esquire BBB at most bookstores in previous years, so you might be able to pick one up without getting the whole year’s subscription.
@Brian See the link just below Dappered’s article that links to Amazon? That’s where you can buy the BBB. No subscription required.
You can buy the BBB or GQ Style Manual at any bookstore. No subscription required.
I’m looking through the GQ Style Manual right now and I’m appalled at the misfires and mediocrity of the whole thing. That they chose for a celebrity model the hardly-model-looking Shia LaBeouf sums the whole enterprise up. (“O.C. Weekly’s” review of WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS says, “LaBeouf’s wholly inexplicable celebrity suggests he has compromising photos of God.”)
OK, a couple of things.
1. I just found this site. It looks like it will be fun.
2. I have both books already, and GQ’s style manual is much better, to me.
When I buy a style “guide” or “manual” or anything related (like “books of style”), what I want are actual tips, guides, checklists, ideas, how-to’s, etc. on style, wardrobe, fashion, etc.
What I don’t want are lengthy articles about some random person or aspect of fashion that delve into history, theory, biography, etc. If I care enough to want to really engage and learn the theory behind men’s fashion, or learn about its rich history as told by one random person, I would go and buy a book about it.
But when I pick up a “guide” to style or a “manual”, I want education in a quick and simple format.
By this view, the GQ Style Manual is far superior to any of Esquire BBB’s from the last 4 years. I own all 4 of them, and over half of each one just filler and fluff. For those somewhat familiar with them, the only parts that really educate at all on style and fashion are the matte-print, black-and-white pages in each issue. Don’t get me wrong– the stuff in those pages is absolutely great, informative, and entertaining. But it’s usually less than half of the publication.
GQ was smart and focused entirely on that side of content, and beefed it up.
I was just thinking about this yesterday, and I’m very glad to have an appropriate audience for this. Thanks!
– Drew