After years of reading magazines, I’ve started to notice quite a few patterns. September issues are almost always the thickest because of fall-related features and the attendant advertising. (Lately, however, it looks to be the other way around: fall-related advertising and its attendant content.) March magazines, shining the spotlight on all things spring, comes next as far as heft is concerned, followed by December or November. And the slimmest? That distinction goes to January editions that is, if they’re fortunate to be left standing on their own and not bundled with December.
It’s a fact that all those beautifully shot editorials and cleverly written articles cannot exist without ads. Most companies take a wait-and-see stance when it comes to advertising placements, reserving the big guns for the aforementioned seasons. Thankfully, that isn’t the case with the titles I still bother to read in paper form.
The January offering of Nylon Guys, with Ewan McGregor, for instance, is as dense as any other issue. Editorially, it wasn’t as if the staff were running short of ideas and the piece on 12 start-ups “changing the world” is a favorite. Monocle’s December/January copy is likewise consistent. Tyler Brûlé, the magazine’s creative director, does run a tight ship and I get the impression that the publication’s premium content well, most of it is independent of advertising and is therefore not as beholden to economics unlike its more commercial counterparts. Speaking of commercial, American Vogue seems to finally be reading the tea leaves and joining us the in 21st century. Putting Meryl Streep on the cover, after all this time, is a sign that Condé Nast’s flagship glossy is starting to embrace diversity. On the other hand, it’s too bad that the Iron Lady and The Devil Wears Prada legend was awarded the thinnest issue of the year. You can’t have it all.
Sartorial shifts
New year, new inspiration. While I’m not one to follow fashion trends slavishly, I do like keeping track of them as these novel ideas from unexpected color combinations to interesting silhouettes often act as a springboard for bigger sartorial shifts.
The Spring 2012 menswear shows may have been filled with familiar motifs you can always count on designers to trot out the ever-reliable ikat print for the warmer months, as Christopher Bailey did at Burberry Prorsum but there was one proposition I found mildly intriguing: looser clothing. A relaxed fit dovetails nicely with the mood of the season, though like the double-breasted suit jackets at Oliver Spence’s London presentation, roomier trousers only tend to look good on the reediest of frames. Maybe I’ll warm up to this laidback look soon; in the meantime, I’ll stick to slim and tailored. At least there are options.
Teaser tracks
As far as music is concerned, the first few months of 2012 can’t come soon enough. Swedish electronic trio Miike Snow is set to release “Happy To You,” their sophomore album, in March. Andrew Wyatt, Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg crafted some of the most exquisite songs on their self-titled debut in 2009 Cult Logic is one of my most cherished house party tunes and hopefully the follow up, led by the teaser track Devil’s Work, breaks even more ground.
It’s always a great day when new material from Róisín Murphy finds its way online. Since leaving the electronic duo Moloko in 2003, the Irish singer-songwriter has forged a respectable career as a solo artist and fashion darling. 2007’s “Overpowered” was her last proper record and if the sultry deep house groove of Simulation is anything to go by the recently released track is nine minutes of high-hat-heavy bliss fans should be in for more stylish sounds next year.
I’m not one to make resolutions as I believe in gradual changes, not hasty makeovers. That point-of-view, of course, also applies to how I search for and consume pop culture. So instead of overwhelming yourself with all the things you want to accompish in the new year whether they’re places to see or books to read why don’t you take it one tiny upgrade at a time? If you think about it, every day is a new year and each new morning is another chance to make yourself better.
That said, I’d like to wish all of you the best of 2012! Stay Supreme.
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