Alternative to GQ

**jopela** · 03-25-2010, 08:14 AM

I try and keep up with style, trends, and general men’s upkeep and at one time had a subscription to GQ. I liked the advice for clothing, accessories, skin care, etc... but the rest of it was a hippie liberal rag. Is there an alternative magazine to GQ out there that has a conservative or neutral slant? I want to stay hip but not read interviews bashing evil conservatives every month.

I try to be an open minded guy and don't mind reading both sides of an argument, but GQ was a bit over the top politically.

**TimmyBoston** · 03-25-2010, 09:19 AM

B&B.

**thecoalition** · 03-25-2010, 09:23 AM

hard to say - gq seems to have become more inhibited each day by the fact that they are catering to college and post-grad aged men. i actually cancelled my subscription about 2 years ago because it became agonizing to read the terrible articles in it.

really i've found that just checking out an occasional fashion website or blog can be helpful and you can often find links on where to buy and similar styles/products.

**mmack66** · 03-25-2010, 09:24 AM

The Art of Manliness

**airplanedoc** · 03-25-2010, 09:24 AM

The brooks brothers catalog

**Cuttingboard** · 03-25-2010, 09:25 AM

Esquire.

**Obsessed** · 03-25-2010, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Cuttingboard

Esquire.

They infuriated me a while back when they ran an article about whether it was worth it to try various daring/stupid things, such as driving at night with no headlights. Although I'm sure they'd say otherwise, there was no doubt in my mind that the article was at least tacitly condoning or giving an aura of coolness to engaging in asinine behavior that could hurt or kill others. That was the end of Esquire as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway, I didn't know GQ was a hippie magazine. Are they for RFK or Gene McCarthy this year?

**Hoofdpijn** · 03-25-2010, 09:38 AM

The Ask Andy about Clothes forum generally has high traffic and good advice. I haven't noticed any particular political leaning either way over there.

**SalvadorMontenegro** · 03-25-2010, 09:49 AM

I don't know about its politics, but askmen.com has a lot of advice for men about many topics.

**Pescara** · 03-25-2010, 10:02 AM

Magazines, like made out of paper? Not many left period. Which pains me to say because I used to be in publishing.

For websites, fedoralounge.com

**rfm2** · 03-25-2010, 12:31 PM

I've read Esquire for 20 years. While I don't agree with everything they write (see above re: stupid activities), I find it to have consistently excellent writing in addition to useful style advice. I only wish I could afford more of the clothes / shoes / watches etc that are featured. Check out their website and if you like what you see there, check out the print version.

Regarding political leanings, Esquire is probably a bit left of center, but I do think it tries to be fair. I would describe myself as 'independent' in my thinking, but in reality I am on the conservative side of most issues. I haven't had any real problems with Esquire's politics.

**David in Boston** · 03-25-2010, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Obsessed

...I didn't know GQ was a hippie magazine. Are they for RFK or Gene McCarthy this year?

**Dennard** · 03-25-2010, 12:59 PM

+1 to art of manliness.

**Johnny_Z** · 03-27-2010, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by SalvadorMontenegro

I don't know about its politics, but askmen.com has a lot of advice for men about many topics.

They don't seem to talk politics a lot there but it wouldn't be a stretch to say they come off as über conservative.

**The Nid Hog** · 03-27-2010, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by Obsessed

They infuriated me a while back when they ran an article about whether it was worth it to try various daring/stupid things, such as driving at night with no headlights. Although I'm sure they'd say otherwise, there was no doubt in my mind that the article was at least tacitly condoning or giving an aura of coolness to engaging in asinine behavior that could hurt or kill others. That was the end of Esquire as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway, I didn't know GQ was a hippie magazine. Are they for RFK or Gene McCarthy this year?

I'm really disappointed in Esquire these days. I used to be a regular reader for years but the quality of writing has declined and it seems like a Maxim clone now. Which wouldn't be a bad thing except it's Esquire and Maxim was the overhyped GenX version of it.

**agent005** · 03-27-2010, 07:02 AM

Men's Health magazine has been my staple....although it is geared more toward health and fitness, it seems to do an adequate job of addressing fashion and grooming. I would say its more of a man's man magazine MMM. I tried GQ and Details but to me I felt a little de-masculinized after reading them.

**Stubblefield** · 03-27-2010, 08:28 AM

Playboy. Or else Field and Stream.

Basically, whatever my barber has laying around.

**C Reed** · 03-27-2010, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Pescara

Magazines, like made out of paper? Not many left period. Which pains me to say because I used to be in publishing.

For websites, fedoralounge.com

Its a bad time for the big houses but never been better for indie publications. I have the spring issues of the following so far:

V man
Another Man
POP
Vouge
Dazed And Confused
Noi:se
V mag
GQ
Another Magazine
Tokion
Metal Magazine
iD
Creative Review
Resource

One of my best friends used to work at Esquire and still writes for them from time to time, I've helped shape a few of her articles.

**Cuttingboard** · 03-27-2010, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by The Nid Hog

I used to be a regular reader for years but the quality of writing has declined and it seems like a Maxim clone now. Which wouldn't be a bad thing except it's Esquire and Maxim was the overhyped GenX version of it.

I've had an Esquire and GQ subscription for 20 years. I don't see the Esquire and Maxim clone comparison but I guess they have to have a few immature articles or it could be that we are getting older and Esquire is still targeting the same audience as when we first began subscribing. I do agree that Maxim is a horrible magazine but its target audience is 25 and under.

Best Life is a pretty good magazine.

**Doc4** · 03-27-2010, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by jopela

I try and keep up with style, trends, and general men’s upkeep and at one time had a subscription to GQ. I liked the advice for clothing, accessories, skin care, etc... but the rest of it was a hippie liberal rag. Is there an alternative magazine to GQ out there that has a conservative or neutral slant? I want to stay hip but not read interviews bashing evil conservatives every month.

I try to be an open minded guy and don't mind reading both sides of an argument, but GQ was a bit over the top politically.

If the fashion/trend side of GQ interests you, can you not read that part of the mag, skip the political-bent articles, and filter out the odd snide remark that pops up elsewhere?

That may or may not make a subscription worthwhile ... but I wouldn't get my political analysis from any fashion mag, just as I wouldn't take style advice from any political mag (even if it's political views were right up my alley.) Horses for courses, as they say.