Esquire Logo PNG
The Esquire logo is unique and graceful. The emblem represents a magazine with its own firm position and style. It demonstrates the ability to cover important topics for the chosen audience in a worthy and engaging way.
Esquire was launched in autumn 1933, during the Great Depression, by David Smart, Henry Jackson, and Arnold Gingrich. The name came from a letter addressed to “Arnold Gingrich, Esq.” The magazine was first planned as a quarterly supplement to Apparel Arts and as a promotional booklet for men’s clothing stores, with a print run of about 100,000 copies. Its first issue, priced at 50 cents, sold faster than expected.
In January 1934, the second issue changed the plan. Esquire became a monthly magazine with a wider editorial line. Gingrich persuaded Ernest Hemingway to write for it by promising creative freedom and no editorial interference. Hemingway appeared in 28 of the first 33 issues. Early contributors also included F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Dos Passos, and Dashiell Hammett.
The magazine developed a strong visual identity through George Petty’s “Petty Girls” and later Alberto Vargas’s “Vargas Girls.” During World War II, those illustrations became popular among servicemen, but they also led to a legal fight. In 1943, the U.S. Postmaster General accused Esquire of sending obscene material through the mail. In 1946, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment protected the magazine’s access to postal services.
After Smart died in 1952, Gingrich returned as publisher. In 1961, Harold Hayes became editor and turned Esquire into a major platform for New Journalism, publishing Tom Wolfe, Gay Talese, Norman Mailer, and Terry Southern. The magazine was sold to Clay Felker in 1977, then to 13-30 Corporation in 1979, and to Hearst in 1986. In 1997, David Granger became editor and later launched the 2007 Napkin Project with 250 writers.
Meaning and History
The magazine’s word-based emblem is well-suited to a printed publication and a male audience. The logo concept is based on succinctness, precision, and simplicity. At the same time, the inscription has a unique font that adds character and individuality. The sign retained the chosen concept with each rebranding, deviating from the usual image only once.
What is Esquire?
A modern magazine for smart, discerning men who are not satisfied with tabloid sensationalism. It discusses events in politics, sports, and culture. It covers men’s fashion and style. It interviews famous and wealthy men. In 2033, it will celebrate its centenary. Hearst Communications owns it.
1933 – 1945
The first emblem consists of the title written in thin, handwritten lines. The magazine’s founders took a long time to choose the project’s name. The options Stag and Trim were considered. But one day, while sorting mail, Gingrich realized that any respected man is addressed as “esquire,” and that this would be a perfectly appropriate name for the publication.
The word has English origins. In modern usage, the term is equivalent to the concept of a gentleman, although initially it referred to young men of noble birth who served as squires to knights. The logo suggests that the magazine is intended for decent, honest, and worthy men.
The title also spoke of nobility, upbringing, and acquired education. The fine lines of the inscription affirmed the theme of elegant men who respect fashion, style, and art. This was especially true since the new publication was an offshoot of Apparel Arts magazine and remained connected to it for 45 years. From 1934 onward, the content placed the most emphasis on fashion.
The script in the emblem indicated a sufficient level of education and ability to conduct affairs. It hinted at featuring the best literary works.
1945 – 1955
In 1945, Arnold W. Gingrich, the magazine’s chief editor and creative inspiration, left his post to make way for younger, more progressive editors.
The magazine’s logo was updated. It retained the inscription’s overall style but had thicker lines, losing its elegance. This decision spoke of two things. After the war, the perception of men changed. A sensitive and refined gentleman was no longer in vogue. The publication started paying less attention to clothes and style. The death of Henry L. Jackson, who was responsible for this part of the magazine, also contributed to this.
Secondly, in 12 years of existence, Esquire gained significant popularity. Its circulation reached nearly 2 million copies. And the thin lines of the logo no longer reflected the impressive dimensions of the project.
1956 – 1978
In 1952, Gingrich returned to his post, and in 1956, the magazine’s chief illustrator, Petty, left, leading to a style renewal with new staff.
The logo inscription of that year became more grounded, decreasing in height but expanding in width. Its designer was Ed Benguiat. This approach showed that the magazine is closely related to real everyday life. It does not write about high philosophical matters but touches on very live topics. In 1956, it received the National Magazine Award for this.
1978 – 1980
In 1976, the legendary editor died, and in 1977, the publication was sold to Clay Felker. In connection with the new head, the logo changed. This was the first substantial transformation of the emblem, one that was completely different from other emblems.
Felker chose a large Esquire inscription in capital letters with serifs. Below, on a red backdrop, was Fort Nightly. In a single word, it indicates that the magazine comes out every two weeks, which became the main innovation. However, in the logo, the Q’s stroke divides the inscription into two parts, giving it a double meaning. The phrase “Night Fortress” hints at the erotic component of the publication. This approach was supposed to stimulate male testosterone and arouse interest in the magazine. It also corresponds to the introduction of the column “Women We Love.”
However, Felker’s choice proved unsuccessful, and the magazine lost over 5 million dollars in a year. He was forced to sell the publication.
1980 – 1993
The owner who replaced Clay Felker rolled back the previous changes. He returned to the previous logo and publication frequency. However, under his management, the inscription became even larger and bolder. The choice demonstrated the magazine’s weight in public life, its popularity among male audiences, and its worldwide distribution. The approach also signaled an expansion into the female audience by releasing New York Woman as an additional publication to Esquire.
1993 – 2017
In the ’90s, interest in the publication declined, just as the entire magazine industry did. Hearst Communications owns the magazine, and to reboot the concept and attract more young people, David M. Granger was appointed editor, who took Esquire to a new level.
Meanwhile, the logo style changed a little. However, the inscription became more airy and lighter. The heaviness disappeared from the letters, indicating a farewell to the past when the magazine was oriented towards a limited segment of experienced adult gentlemen. The publication’s audience expanded, as did the logo’s font.
2017 – today
The emblem has returned to the 1956 style with a grounded inscription developed by Ed Benguiat. The choice is intended to draw attention to the publication’s relevance. It’s an excellent orientation to the modern world and the problems faced by 21st-century men. The magazine began transitioning to more youthful platforms. The Esquire Network, a television network and internet events, such as Esquire Townhouse, appeared.
Font and Colors
The publication used black in all its logos, which is associated with masculinity and conveys strength, courage, and a firm life stance.
The emblem’s font is unique. It’s handwritten to emphasize the magazine’s attention to the individuality of real men and to highlight a particular lifestyle. Slender letters of the same size demonstrate neatness and attention to detail. They represent the publication as a benchmark of style and fashion.