McCall’s Quilting

Niche market magazines, such as ‘McCall’s Quilting’, benefit from a dedicated (often obsessive) clientele, as well as revenue from advertisers specialising in related products. They're the crack dealers of the magazine industry.

Quilting is ingrained in American culture and remains a popular past time. Some families can trace their heritage by the patches on quilts handed down from generation to generation. Facts I recently learnt but not by reading the September/October issue of ‘McCall’s Quilting’.

Art Work:
The art work is not particularly innovative, though it must be said that a lot of hard work has been put into brighten up a somewhat dull situation. The soft colours give the magazine a warm welcoming appearance (much like a nursing home). The quilts themselves are very pretty and the cover gives good examples of the variety available inside.

Content:
This edition offers 18 patterns that I'm sure set the hearts of the quilting faithful a-flutter. It offers nothing for anyone casually seeking a new hobby which is, as far as I'm concerned, a trick missed. “Hexies are hot!” exclaims a cover tagline, “no their not” say I setting fire to my hair out of sheer boredom.

Conclusion:

This magazine should carry a warning accompanied by pictures of people in comas. Then again if you happen to be into sewing pieces of cloth together and (sarcastically) who wouldn't be, this publication is the one for you.

As for me well I cut mine up and made this instead. 

Esquire

A good periodical should be described as three things:

• Informative
• Entertaining
• Inspiring

Esquire UK promises this in two words and an ampersand: “Style & Substance”. A lofty motto if there ever was.

   

The now Art Director, David McKendrick, once came to me in a moment of loss of faith. He looked at the latest copy of the time and said, “Other people save lives and we produce this.” His tone was despondent and questioning in the way that great men often speak when their vision, on quests of the utmost importance, is blurred. The statement resonated with me and a few days later my answer to him was thus “You produce beauty without which, there would be no reason for life.”

In no doubt he has taken these words to heart. I am reading the September issue, subs edition, with Kate Moss on the cover and it is Beautiful.

Pretension is a fearful beast but Esquire UK steers clear by not taking itself too seriously and throwing a few chuckles into everything it does. It is essentially a men’s “style” magazine covering a wide range of topics and products that wet the pallet.

From Savile Row to H&M the issue impresses with its real life solutions to real life man problems. What to drive, where to eat, what to drink, where to travel and generally how to be impressive. Its Art work is startling, well thought-out and deeply detailed on every page.

The main feature is a tribute to their worthy cover model, accompanied by a collection of photography of outstanding pedigree. *Note: Curiously there is no interview with Kate; don’t let that put you off though.

Am I informed yes, am I entertained indeed, am I inspired well let’s just say there’s a Paul Smith coat/Thomas Pink shirt combination in my near future.

Esquire UK is a righteous publication, it soaks up culture, digests it and pours art onto its pages for all to enjoy.