Fantastic Man, Men of great style and substance
Since it was launched in 2005, men’s magazine Fantastic Man has encapsulated the influence exerted by Antwerp and the Netherlands on contemporary style and spirit.
Each issue of the biannual journal features stand-out photography from big names such as Inez & Vinoodh, Juergen Teller and Daniel Riera, plus interviews with men chosen for their “style and substance”: past cover faces include Rupert Everett, Ewan McGregor, Raf Simons, Bryan Ferry, Tom Ford and Bret Easton Ellis. It is magnificently printed on grainy paper (since imitated by other reviews) and distils discerning recommendations that have made it something of a benchmark.
As well as stunning pictures, Fantastic Man also makes elegant use of words (it is written in English) – words that are whimsical, graceful and often convey more than a hint of humour. Meanwhile, the classic typeset gives it a respectable edge. This book, compiled by Emily King and published by Phaïdon, dips into the journal’s archives as its celebrates its 10th anniversary and is really a compendium of portraits of inspired, powerful, stylish and respected men. These men are not necessarily the first choice for most magazines and media, which is what makes Fantastic Man distinctive – “better than the crowd” if you like.
The anthology is split into several sections and while there is some disappointment in that the text takes precedent, with the images only given a very limited place in the book, overall this bible to male vanity – sometimes so slick that it borders on fetishism – achieves its goal with a certain distinction. In the world of fashion and lifestyle, this would undoubtedly be called class.
40 euros, 288 pages
http://www.fantasticman.com
http://fr.phaidon.com/store/fashion-culture/fantastic-man-9780714870397/
