October 2012
Features
HIP-HOP'S QUEER PIONEERS
For decades, rap has been notorious for its homophobia. But thanks to out-and-proud (and undeniably talented) rhymers like Mykki Blanco, Le1f, and Nicky Da B, gay artists are migrating quickly from the edgy margins to the mainstream. Is this the Frank Ocean effect?
BEN AFFLECK
How many lives can a Hollywood star have? There was Early Ben (an Oscar winner for Good Will Hunting), Big Ben (blockbuster busts Pearl Harbor, Daredevil), Bennifer (the Gigli-J.Lo phase). And then the Real Ben, the actor-director who resurrected his career with Gone Baby Gone and The Town. Now he's back with Argo, a genre-bending 1970s-style political thriller-comedy that ensures you'll never underestimate Ben again.
DEATH ON THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT
In ever-greater numbers, Westerners are heading to India to seek inner peace and spiritual fulfillment through yoga, meditation, and devotion. Many find the experience edifying, but for a noteworthy few, these odysseys can lead to feelings of persecution and megalomania—with tragic, even deadly, consequences. Inside the rise of India syndrome.
Fashion
SHADES OF GRAY
Muted tones work brilliantly on these sleek, minimalist briefcases.
BASIC INSTINCT
Sometimes great clothes require no embellishments.
Last Call
BRANDON FLOWERS
The Killers frontman maintains that rock and roll and clean living really can go hand in hand.
Know + Tell
THE OBSESSION
Au revoir, Beaujolais—there's never been a better time to drink American wine.
AUDIO
Tired of those tinny iPhone earbuds? Boost your mobile-music experience with these four upgrades. Plus: the top cloud-based streaming services for on-the-go audiophiles.
AUTO
A vintage car isn't necessarily about the price tag. Prove your street smarts with these five stylish (and attainable) classics.
TRAVEL
The signature cocktails and complimentary spa treatments at these luxe airport lounges will make you consider missing your flight. Plus: three fall weekend escapes.
DRINKS
From the best wine bars to unsung grape-growing regions to rock-star sommeliers, a complete guide to American-made red, white, and bubbly.
DESIGN
This unique graphic encyclopedia includes I ♥ NY, Andy Warhol's banana album cover for the Velvet Underground, and many more iconic designs. Plus: five must-have coffee-table books.
Culture
THE BREAKOUT
Lizzy Caplan deadpans her way from sidekick to leading lady with four wildly different roles.
TREND
Don't throw out your tape deck yet—the classic cassette is back.
INSIDER'S GUIDE
Abstract art is bigger than it's been in half a century. Here, the three shows to see this fall.
THE CULTURAL DIET
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon on stoner TV for kids, his love of James Bond books, and why architectural modeling is like writing.
BOOKSHELF
The world according to Pharrell Williams. Plus: three A-list authors on life in the big city.
THE YES LIST
Five things in culture we emphatically endorse this month.
WISEGUY
Billionaire Russian oligarch and Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov explains his differences with Vladimir Putin and his similarities to Jay-Z.
Style
THE PURCHASE
A surprising new lace-up with lots of sole from Bottega Veneta.
TREND
Forget that fussy rule about what color not to wear after Labor Day and slide into a pair of white jeans this fall.
ENDORSEMENTS
Everything we love right now, from the 30th anniversary of Calvin Klein underwear to a gorgeous shoe by two legendary British designers.
ESSENTIALS
The spread-collar shirt doesn't always have to be formal. Wear yours sans tie, with the top button open.
UPGRADES
A fresh crop of waxed jackets add contemporary flourishes to the iconic outdoorsy British garment.
GROOMING
Eyebrows are the most overlooked part of most guys' regimens. Here's everything you need to know about keeping them polished—without overplucking them.
RULES
Award-winning menswear designer Billy Reid—the first name in Southern style—shares his sources of inspiration.
The Body
HEALTH
Good sleep isn't a luxury—it's essential for a well-oiled body and a focused mind. Here are all the expert strategies you need to get better z's. Plus: sleep myths debunked, the art of napping, and the best sleep aids.
TREND
Hollywood's hottest hookup is the energy-boosting vitamin IV drip. Find out if the needle is right for you and where to get the treatment.
WEIGHT LOSS
Slim one month, soft the next? Stop yo-yo dieting (and wrecking your metabolism for good) with these stay-lean rules.
THE REGIMEN
An explosive jumping workout that will burn more calories and tone your core and legs.
NEWS & NOTES
All the trends, stats, and tips to make you fit.
