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GQ
The Editors Desk:
The "GQ look" is synonymous with classic cool and sophistication, and despite a recent outburst of trendy magazines (think Maxim and FHM) vying for the attention of young professional males, the steeped-in-tradition monthly GQ carries on without missing a beat. Yes, there's more décolletage gracing the cover than there used to be, but GQ continues to supply enough cultural commentary, celebrity profiles, features, and style guides to keep the modern man in touch with what's going on in the world from month to month.GQ's ideal reader is probably one who actually might be able to afford any of the high-end suits, shoes, and watches featured among the countless ads packed between the covers. Though the average reader might enjoy scanning a fashion spread about steakhouses entitled "How to Dress for a Porterhouse" and reading articles like "50 Ways to Blow Your Bonus," it's unlikely that such folly holds much practical advice. Literary editor Walter Kirn keeps short fiction on display, and Alan Richman's writing on food and dining out is always entertaining, even when he comes across as borderline cranky. Two regular Q&A; features, "The Style Guy" and "Dr. Sooth," run the gamut from when it's appropriate to wear a straw hat to problems in the bedroom.
--Brad Thomas Parsons
Avg. Customer Review: 
 Postives Far Outweigh Negatives
GQ presents a difficult paradox of a magazine. There are many reasons to dislike GQ: Its pretentiousness, the focus on unobtainable clothing, the holier-than-thou writing.But, there are so many positives about GQ that a subscription is not only recommended, it is almost required. First, and perhaps foremost, Alan Richman's food/restaurant columns. Second, Peter Bart (the once-deposed editor of Variety) writes a great Hollywood column. Third, GQ is far and away superior to its rivals, which I believe are Esquire and, somewhat surprisingly, Vanity Fair. Fourth, the fashion features and celebrity interviews are beyond compare. Finally, GQ generally has one article a month that I would describe as investigative journalism, and these articles can't be missed. All in all, GQ is an essential for any magazine rack.
 GQ: A Stylish Cut Above the Usual Men's Mag
Unlike Maxim, Stuff, FHM and the rest of the new breed of men's magazines, GQ is in a class of its own, with a more style-conscious, upscale leaning than its upstart competitors. [It tends to be heftier than those mags, as well: Special issues, like the 'Men of the Year' annual, weigh in at as many as 500 pages, which- despite an abundance of ads- includes a wealth of interesting stories and photos]. Unlike its more glib offspring, which tend to rely on short, candy-ish items on sexy women, GQ focuses more on men of style and substance. Investigative reports by experienced, skilled journalists also separate GQ from other fashion-oriented magazines, which are often visually appealing but short on journalistic content. With its consistently strong photos, layout and design, GQ is handsomely ahead of the pack. For those less interested in fashion and more interested in journalism, Esquire is a good alternative choice. And readers after flashy, voyeuristic flair might be best served elsewhere, but GQ readers will be rewarded for their restraint with the occasional raunchy- but refined- spread. GQ seems aimed at the over-30 male, but the mag's assortment of model males apparently appeals to women as well, since they seem to be well represented in the magazine's readership. Overall, GQ is a stylish, elegant read that stands apart from its newer, splashier, offspring. A good choice for the style-conscious male reader.
 Actually about 2 1/2 stars
The style in this magazine is incredible; it's expensive and very fashionable, with the occasional cheap item to cater to the peasant reader (i.e., everyone). That said, the magazine is rife with flaws. Snobbish east-coast writing, awful music that is lauded for no reason other than its anonymity, still worse book reviews of Norman Mailer-style authors, shrill articles by naive hacks, and so on. The clothes are great, but buy with caution.
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