Class Act

A fresh, witty and sophisticated guide to men’s fashion – from wing tips to wristwatches, turtlenecks to tuxedos – from bestselling author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt.

For more than a decade, beloved author John Berendt wrote a series of smart, sophisticated columns for Esquire on matters of manners and men’s clothing. Class Act brings together over fifty of these updated and revised pieces, as well as two new additions, each focusing on a particular item of iconic men’s fashion.

Whether interviewing the Duchess of Argyll about her family connection to a certain pair of argyle socks (‘When she came to the telephone, the Duchess of Argyll made it clear by the resoluteness of her reply that she had been asked about argyle socks before…’), educating the reader on the virtues of French cuffs, or identifying the definitive motorcycle jacket and how to wear it (Marlon Brando in The Wild One), Berendt informs and entertains in equal measure.

Full of surprising facts, unforgettable characters, and amusing anecdotes, this fully illustrated collection of snappy, elegant essays is as stylish as its subject matter. Part cultural history, part handbook, Class Act serves as a reminder that the clothing we wear is not simply fabric, but a reflection of our character—and sometimes our sheer audacity. A wildly entertaining ride through men’s style and its place in our collective imagination, Class Act makes a strong case that taste and wit will never go out of fashion.