Magazines in the spotlight: 10 Men

Following on from our post on Tuesday regarding these troubling times facing magazines we would like to continue to celebrate our favourite publications. I'd like to turn your attention to 10 Men.

10 Men Spring 09 Issue

From the power of the Internet I have known for some that the the Spring issue of 10 Men has been on sale but try as I might I just couldn't find it anywhere....I was missing out and I knew it. I will tell you a little tale which shows my love (bordering on desperation) of magazines. Ordinarily, after having my ear to the ground I stumble across a bounty of copies at Borders in Charing Cross so of course i went there first this time...but there was nothing. I went back a further three times and even extended my search taking other branches, throwing in a visit to my favourite newsagent on Old Compton Street and the stand opposite Liberty's. In short, whenever I walked past a newsagent, my hands became a little clammy,my heart beat a little faster and in I strode full of excitement, only to leave downbeat and wanting. How sad am I? Thankfully, my quest ended in an unlikely place, a tiny newsagent close to my flat. I now have 10 Men in my hands and am loving this issue.

The 'Ten people you should meet' feature is frequently my favourite facet of each issue and it doesn't disappoint here, in fact it is the best yet because these are the people I love. Within the feature we are reacquainted with Paul Smith, Gordon Richardson, Kim Jones, Patrick Grant, Margaret Howell. Carlo Brandelli, James Long and Richard James whilst being informally introduced to Graeme Fiddler (Head of Men's Design, Aquascutum), James Shaw and Alastair Rae (The Proprietors, Albam). These men should be known and I quite simply love this feature.

Oh Paul, how I'd love to sit and chat with you...

Lanvin is dealing with the pressure of being one of the best, if not the best, menswear collections shown in Paris and beyond quite beautifully. The Lanvin vision for the upcoming season is now my vision for the months ahead. Over fourteen pages 10 Men catches up with Lucas Ossendrivjer whilst creating a spread of looks photographed on my favourite piece of green space in London, Hampstead Heath.

Lanvin on the Heath...if only I looked this this good when I go off walking!

One of the main editorials asks that often recited Shakespeare question what's in a name and thankfully gives us a few answers rather than digress with talk of flowers. Here they opened fashion with first names by giving the various meanings of the fashion photographer's name.

Jacob's editorial

The hunt for images to accompany this post led me to the revamped site for 10 Magazine, complete with a look inside both magazines and a frequently updated blog. If you've not had a look recently you have to check it out because it is a huge improvement on what was available before.

The trouble is now that I have 10 Men in my possession, the unrelenting itch for Fantastic Man Issue N 9 takes over and will no doubt become unbearable...thankfully there isn't too long to wait...yet the world still waits.