Teo van den Broeke on his new vision for Esquire UK

The first issue of Esquire UK under the tenureship of new Editor-In-Chief, Teo van den Broeke, arrives on newsstands tomorrow, featuring a triptyque of cover stars: Jonathan Bailey, Colman Domingo and Alexander Skarsgard. Here, we speak to van den Broeke about magazines, masculinity and what luxury means to him today

Walpole: What is your central editorial vision for this new era of Esquire UK?

Teo van den Broeke: When I started thinking about what my version of Esquire might look like, I knew that we needed a clear purpose - a new reason for being in today’s atomised age.

It’s no secret that masculinity feels in crisis right now. I believe Esquire should be a compass in that stormy sea: a magazine that not only shows men how to dress better, smell better, and tell the time better, but also how to be better.

That’s why our new strapline is 'For Better Men'. This is a magazine for men who try - men who push further, aim higher, and strive to do good, interesting things in the world (and to always look their best while doing so).

In our first issue – 'The Better Men Issue' – our readers will find a full toolkit to help you on that journey. There’s useful life advice in The Code, our new manual for modern living; new ideas about dressing in the Style section and in our fashion shoot with model of the moment Kit Butler; and cultural highlights to explore in the new Life section. You’ll also find our list of 101 Better Men: individuals who embody these values and show us what being better can look like. Our cover stars are included in this list.

Esquire was launched in the US in 1933 and the UK in 1991. What is the core of the brand that’s kept it relevant for nearly a century?

 It’s that rare fusion of exceptional journalism and unmatched sartorial insight. Esquire isn’t just a style authority, it’s a cultural bellwether. There’s always been a quiet elegance to the aesthetic we promote; style that speaks rather than shouts. 

Can you share some of the new writers who have joined your roster – and what will they be responsible for?

 Former editor of Another Man and ES Magazine Ben Cobb has joined as a style columnist, Nick Foulkes is our new contributing watches and jewellery editor, Charlene Prempeh is writing on design, Caroline Issa is offering style advice, and we have writers including Lou Stoppard, Raven Smith, Liam Freeman and Philippa Snow who will be writing on features. 

Which feature are you most proud of in this first issue – and why?

I’m probably most proud of our Better Men List, which includes all of our cover profiles. It’s a really thoughtful piece of work and one which took a great deal of time and effort to pull together. It’s not easy to shoot a cover and profile a cover star - and we shot and profiled three of them, so I feel proud of that. 

What does luxury mean to you?

Quality fabric. Really, really high quality fabric that feels fantastic against your skin. And time – it’s a truism, but time is the ultimate luxury.

Which British brand do you think epitomises true luxury right now – and why?

I think dunhill under the aegis of Simon Holloway is doing really fantastic things in menswear. His cuts are impeccable, his fabrics are beautiful, and his world view is just so elegant. 

What luxury is actually a necessity?

Proper tailoring. If you want to be taken seriously in the world, proper tailoring that fits your body and makes you look like a serious contender is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.

The new issue of Esquire UK hits newsstands tomorrow, Wednesday 13th November. esquire.com