A fresh, witty, and sophisticated guide to men’s fashion—from wing tips to wristwatches, from turtlenecks to tuxedos—by John Berendt, bestselling author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. For more than a decade, beloved author John Berendt wrote a series of witty, sophisticated columns for Esquire on matters of etiquette and men’s clothing. Class Act brings together more than fifty of these updated and revised pieces, along with two new additions, each focusing on a particular element of iconic men’s fashion. Whether interviewing the Duchess of Argyll about her family’s connection to a certain pair of argyle socks (“When she came on the phone, the Duchess of Argyll made it clear by the determination in her reply that she had been asked about argyle socks before…”), educating readers on the virtues of French cuffs, or identifying the definitive motorcycle jacket and how to wear it (Marlon Brando in The Wild One), Berendt informs and entertains in equal measure. Packed with surprising facts, unforgettable characters, and funny anecdotes, this fully illustrated collection of sharp, stylish essays is every bit as stylish as its subject. Part cultural history, part handbook, Class Act reminds us that the clothes we wear are not just fabric, but a reflection of our character—and sometimes our sheer audacity. A thoroughly entertaining tour of men’s fashion and its place in our collective imagination, Class Act makes a compelling case that taste and humor never go out of style.
