Women we Love

All my life and then some, Esquire Magazine has published an annual "Women We Love" issue. I haven't read it in 15 or 20 years, but was reminded of it when I saw it on display at the local newspaper stand.

In it are the usual, half sensual photo spreads for the movie starlets of the season, and clips and hints of only, what if. Normally pretty boring.

The last issue I read did have a column that has struck with me all these years, "women we are supposed to love but don't". Included in the list were the Victoria Secret girls. I couldn't have agreed more.

The second part of that story was naturally, the women we are not supposed to love, but do. I haven't a clue what any of the candidates then were, but I nominate the Eileen Fisher women.



Maybe it's because the appeal of 14 year old child/women posing as 20 somethings has just about finally lost its appeal for me. Do not misunderstand. I'm not a monk, but most fashion adverts leave me cold.



I probably should have asked, my bride, but didn't where Eileen ranks in the pantheon. I like the look. More importantly, I like the models.

Toad

M Magazine

Clay Felker's sale of Esquire Magazine in 1979 marked the beginning of an on going end to one of the storied magazines in history. The fact that it's still published demonstrates the power of a brand. Much like GM for instance. Both should have died many years ago, but inertia keeps it printing.

Realizing that Esquire's day in the sun had passed onto New York Magazine, in 1983 Fairchild Publications made a valiant effort to capture the hearts, minds and wallets, of America's affluent, and stylish males with M, the Civilized Man Magazine. While the title may have been an oxymoron, each month M would publish what could best be described as a catalog, of the dying WASP culture. Anglophilia never had it so good. Ambassador so and so at the Hunt Ball kind of nonsense. It was all done very seriously, and the many of the better class of criminals were shown as being almost respectable people.

For several years, late 83 until perhaps mid 88 or so I subscribed. There was no magazine like it. It was a great tutorial for we slumming wanna be's. The cover shot above is from the first issue, I still have it. Surprisingly much of the advertisers wares held up pretty well over the years. A lot of Ralph, Tommy, Alexander Julian. Nothing too progressive, need I say.

By the late 80's the Establishment was dead, and most interest in it. M wobbled around until '91 or 2 a mere shadow of its former glory.

There is a bit of a cult following for old copies of the Mag. A younger set, who have only heard of the mysteries to be found, search old book stores, or EBAY for mouldering copies. Currently, there are a dozen or so 1986 thru '88 copies on EBAY. I shan't be bidding. I still have the originals.

Happy Easter!
Toad