Esquire September 2013

In the March issue, we asked 11 men's style experts to assess the sartorial shift of the previous decade. Six months later, that shift continues at an even greater pace, which we address in detail starting on page 157. But first, a few words from our impeccably dressed style department on the progress they've observed since just last season: > NICK SULLIVAN, fashion director: The one thing that struck us was this very strong division between a modern, contemporary vibe and this funky-but-chilled-out classic vibe. That's why we did two portfolios this month ("Just Another Day in Kick-Ass City," page 158; "The Dark Suit Rises," page 172). > RICHARD DORMENT, senior editor: It's sort of fragmented. There are so many different things going on, but that's symptomatic of the overall…

Lunch, Cafe Cluny, Greenwich Village, New York. SCOTT RAAB: I'm a little worried because the last time I was here, I was with Philip Seymour Hoffman and within six months he was in rehab.1 ANDY SAMBERG: Oh, no. Was it you? SR: I can't rule it out. AS: Oy yoy yoy.2 SR: Were you ever bar mitzvahed? AS: No. My father says he regrets me not doing it. When I was younger, it was a choice between getting bar mitzvahed or playing soccer. And he was the coach of the soccer team. SR: I don't understand the choice. AS: Saturdays. SR: You have a bris?3 AS: I remember it fondly. SR: Any tattoos? AS: No. SR: Planning any tattoos? AS: No plans. SR: Have you set a date for the…

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE THE NETWORKS JUST MIGHT BE GOOD AGAIN For the last few years, you were smart to avoid new broadcast TV shows until at least November. By then, the blatantly ridiculous (How to Be a Gentleman) had been canceled. The disappointingly mediocre (The Mindy Project) had had time to shake off the burden of expectation and turn into something surprisingly watchable. And inexplicably supported drivel—like 2 Broke Girls or The Neighbors—well, it was still around, but at least you knew to avoid it. This year looks to be different. If there's anything you can say about the new shows on NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox as a whole, it's that they're all … not bad. In fact, some are downright good, like The Blacklist, NBC's pleasantly…

First, some qualifications: Two years ago, Milano launched her own line of female-focused NFL apparel, Touch. Her father-in-law has worked the chain gang for the Giants for 35 years. Plus, her TV father, Tony Micelli on Who's the Boss? was a retired baseball player. And she's currently hosting the new season of Project Runway All Stars, which has nothing to do with anything except for the fact that it premieres around the same time as this year's football season. On this year's favorite: I would like to think it's the Giants, but the Broncos will be very tough to beat. On this year's least favorite: The Jaguars. On the Ravens' odds to repeat as Super Bowl champs: Somewhere between not happening and no way. On the new scariest player in…

TECH SCHOOL By now you know most of the acronyms and misleading specs that go into selling you a TV. But what you might not know is which of them are actually important. Or how much you'll actually need to spend to get a good set. If that's the case, we're here to help. For the really nerdy stuff, we even consulted Gary Merson, editor of hdguru.com and one of the few people who gets excited about things like pixel density and refresh rate. With his input, we put together this guide to navigating your shopping experience the best way we know how. PLASMA VERSUS LCD Among plasma, LCD, and LED LCD, your best bet really seems to be plasma (unless you're looking for something smaller than 42 inches). Although…

In the first few pages of Doctor Sleep (Scribner, $30), Stephen King's sequel to 1977's The Shining, the fear takes no time rushing back. Here's eight-year-old Danny Torrance—just that name can give an entire generation of sleepless children goosebumps—listening to his mother still choking on the injuries she'd received at the hands of her husband, Jack, that terrible winter at the Overlook Hotel. Danny has to pee, and when he creeps into the bathroom in the night, he sees Mrs. Massey, the woman from room 217, sitting on the toilet, leaving stains in her bloated wake. That's page 3. I'd started reading Doctor Sleep in bed, and I decided to close it right then, hoping to delay the inevitable nightmares. I read The Shining when I was a kid, and…