Esquire the Handbook of Style: A Man's Guide to Looking Good

There are some books on how to dress well -- books like Russell Smith's Men's Style: The Thinking Man's Guide to Dress -- that are heavy on theory, you might say: not only how to observe the principles of timeless style, but why those principles are correct in the first place. I tend to enjoy reading those kinds of books, and was a little disappointed at first to see that this book from Esquire did not really spend a lot of time in explanations and philosophical discussion. But the more I read, the more it became clear that the man who is really interested in learning these things can pick up a lot from "The Handbook of Style." Esquire has packed a lot into this small-ish book, and most of it is quite good. It is, as I say, a small book, and it is quite densely packed. I probably would have preferred a larger format, which would have in turn allowed for larger type, larger illustrations with clearer detail, more white space, and a layout generally more friendly to aging male eyes. But then, maybe this is intended primarily for younger men -- an audience I certainly encourage to study this book closely. The authors embrace the classic and traditional in men's style, navigating by the light from, among others, the holy trinity of Astaire, Grant, and Windsor. (Jay-Z and André 3000 are cited as modern exemplars, and while I don't follow their careers well enough to know, I'll take Esquire's word for it.) For men in, or just out of, college or otherwise looking to define their own style -- a time when guides like this were pretty influential on me -- they or their loved ones could do much worse than to track down a copy of this book and begin studying it. There's a lot older men can take away from this too. I admit I was a little skeptical to begin with, but now I'm convinced this is one of the better utilitarian guides to come along in many years. It certainly deserves a place on many men's shelves.

I love this book. It does not follow trends. If you follow the advice in this book, you will look good today and 20 years from now. Classic styles do not get old. A lot of good advice is packed into this small tome. Everything from choice of cloth and pattern, to color and season, to grooming and closet organization. How to tie several tie knots. Where to find quality garments. If you know nothing at all about style, it will coach you from the very beginning, and it will give advice for different budgets. Even if you know a lot of the tips, it's a great reference work, with guides to finding the right size and even a wallet card to store your measurements. In short, you can't go wrong.

I am a complete sucker for an impeccably dressed man and unlike most people I know, I quite enjoy the British sensibilities and broo-ha-ha that comes along with men's fashion. I bought this book, as a gift for a friend and I spent an entire day reviewing it myself and I was utterly absorbed from beginning to end. Not only is this book simple, clearly illustrated and thorough, but it is extremely relevant to today's world. It has sections devoted to all essentials in a man's wardrobe, each section is highly detailed. Fo eg: Trousers: from the styles of trousers, to folding a trouser, to ironing a trouser, to the kinds of creases, buttons, material, do's and dont's...this little handbook is a must have for every young man. A great graduation present.

If you like to dress up, then this book is for you. It is packed with valuable advice and is fully illustrated throughout. Chapters are intuitively chosen; the book starts by discussing the finer points of buying a suit. It then goes through shirts, pants, even personal care, and ends with a chapter on building a wardrobe. Each page is filled with tips, pictures of fashion icons, and notes for investing in your clothes. I personally found the Accessories chapter to be a fun read, especially since I am a fan of vintage watches and bow ties. Are you old enough to know what the Preppy Handbook is? If so, this is an updated and less-snobbish version of the classic. In fact, this is the new Preppy Handbook, occasionally with a similar tongue-in-cheek approach. There are several other books in the market, but none are as easy to read as this. The focus is on men's clothes in general, not just suits and formal wear as in Alan Flusser's Dressing the Man. And though brands and specialty stores are mentioned, the emphasis is on how to distinguish well-made clothes, not just where to buy them. Unlike other fashion books that will become outdated, this is one is not about trends, but really about style. You will pass this on to your sons in the future, so do them a favor and buy them one each. Give it the day they leave for college, or as an 18th birthday present. If you read GQ or Esquire for their buying guides, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It would take years of subscribing to magazines to come up with all the info between the covers. Overall, an entertaining, informative, and essential guide for any man who cares about the way he looks.