Issue Preview: Introducing the Winter 2021 Issue of Gentleman’s Journal
Starring the best modern British musicians, our seasonal issue turns up the noise to herald the long-awaited arrival of the New Roaring Twenties…
Words: Jonathan Wells
Here they come; The Roaring Twenties — one hundred years on, and two years late. But, thanks to our latest cover stars, the much-anticipated halcyon days to come will have one hell of a soundtrack. There’s Zak Abel, the happy-go-plucky pop-bopper. There’s Xhosa Cole, a man with one saxophone and scores of character. There’s classical pianist Cyrill Ibrahim, blues-infused pop-rocker Dan Owen, rapper Che Lingo and the tunefully introspective Rhys Lewis. Together, they’re the future of British music. And you’ll meet them all within our latest pages.
Elsewhere, we’re diving deep into our winter wardrobes to bring you the best Chelsea boots, dress watches and cold weather coats. There’s a whirl around the esteemed hotel bars of Mayfair — complete with secrets and stories from the Italians who run them. And there’s a look at the darkest days of the Gucci fashion house; the subject of Ridley Scott’s latest drama. Add in interviews with Max Verstappen, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Jean Pigozzi, and it’s our most riotous, resounding issue yet. Take a look…
As ever, our trusty Portfolio section kicks things off. From cufflinks to dress watches, we’ll ensure that you’re sufficiently suited and booted for a return to formalwear — and will even spritz you through the latest sumptuous Floris aftershave for a final black tie touch.
We’ve also found the most charming winter travel prints for your home, fine modern ports for your drinks cabinet and the most wonderfully wicked candles for modern men. We talk through the fifth generation Range Rover with the man who designed it, flick through the favourite books of Sir Ranulph Fiennes and meet Bridgerton’s tour-de-force in-waiting, Luke Newton. Wrap this up in some of the warmest coats on the menswear market, and it’s a Christmassy cracker of a Portfolio.
Serving up similarly seasonal confections is our House Notes section. Brimming with wit and bursting with talent, there’s a delectable recipe from Russell Norman to sink your teeth into — before you root through the desktop detritus of Esquire USA’s Creative Director, Nick Sullivan. Even Guillaume Bonn, the celebrated photographer, has shared his latest project with us; a photographic series of other photographer’s cameras.
Elsewhere, there’s an ode to the humble half-bottle, a sun-soaked history of the jet-setting golden age of Lebanon and an introduction to comedian Josh Berry’s signet ring-wearing alter-ego, Rafe Hubris. Capped off with a selection of Chris Kontos’ best photographs and an interview with ‘the Michelangelo of ski slopes’, and it’s another wintry treat.
Our indomitable Features section is where things really get into their swing. Or rap. Or folksy pop-rock. Because, at the harmonious heart of this issue is our cover feature — a series of interviews with the six young British musicians ushering in the New Roaring Twenties; Xhosa Cole, Zak Abel, Rhys Lewis, Che Lingo, Cyrill Ibrahim, and Dan Owen.
But that’s not all. We’ve also got a deep dive into the cultural history of The Sopranos, a gripping retelling of the Gucci assassination story and interviews with Jean Pigozzi, Billy Magnussen, Ben Francis and the man who has rocked the world of Formula One this season, Max Verstappen. Couple these with features on Bordeaux’s bad year and the legacy of JFK Jr., and you’ve got your Boxing Day reading sorted.
While our cover stars may be bedecked in black tie, our Style section in the Winter 2021 issue is an altogether more understated affair — as we take to the backstreets and boltholes of London in textured jackets, heavy coats and high-necked sweaters.
From Barbour to Belstaff, Sunspel to SIRPLUS, Cheaney to Charles Laurie London, we take a look at some of the finest fashions for modern men to wear during the cold snaps and frosty spells of wintertime — from the pubs and chip shops of Ladbroke Grove to the canals around Maida Vale.
And so we come to the Society section: rounding things off like the last glass of port after a long, rich meal. And drinking is the order of the day within these handsome pages — as Gentleman’s Journal takes a tour of London’s finest hotel bars to profile their characterful Italian bartenders and hospitality managers.
There’s also a report on the shenanigans of the Oxford Union, a trip to the cluttered hillsides of Positano to check in at Le Sireneuse and a flashbulb-lit foray into the history of the freshly re-opened Langan’s Brasserie in Mayfair. One more drink — an interview with actor and Crystal Head Vodka founder Dan Aykroyd — and that’s it; an issue as intoxicating as it is interesting. Subscribe below.
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