The annual men’s issue of Surface magazine is now on sale. Surface is an American style and design magazine, based out of Los Angeles. Even by the standards of modern style magazines, Surface is one of the most visually striking and most colourful. So it is an easy and entertaining read.

So, this issue takes an old-school punt at defining what men’s style and menswear will be this year.  So it features colours (lots of greys and cobalt blue), activity (sportwear) and homelife (manly furniture).  Surface manages to fit a lot into eachs issues.  Included in this issue:

• An article about American perfumier Behn Gorham, whose Byredo perfumes use a limited but powerful group of elements to create “minimalist” (I think they mean simple) perfumes.

• An article on Block-cut furniture, heavy solid geometric shapes that suit a masculine sensibility.

• A round-up of men’s sandals.  Good one this, because men’s sandals are frequently overlooked in wardrobe articles.

• A slightly futuristic fashion shoot of modern solid-colour two-button suits from brands like Jil Sander.

For me the highlights are:

• A heavily illustrated article on ten emerging menswear labels, which includes Pudel, the Anglo-Scandinavian casualwear brand, who are producing some very cool stuff for younger men.  Pudel are here and they have an online shop.

• A really good fashion shoot of cotton summer suits, dressed down with t-shirts and knitwear.  Includes some very colourful Gucci summer suits, with some good ideas on how to wear them, accessories etc.

Surface is not widely available in England.  I bought my copy in Magma, at the Covent Garden branch

Enjoy.