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I want to like Monocle magazine – the new publication from cool Canadian publishing svengali Tyler Br\u00fbl\u00e9<\/span>, but here we are five issues in and it still has much to do to win my affection.<\/p>\n For all it’s pretensions as a ‘serious’ magazine it is essentially a style bible for the well heeled and well travelled. It sit’s there on the shelves in my local Borders amongst the likes of Newsweek and the New Statesman, like a rookie banker on his first day at Goldman Sachs – self conscious in new suit and shiny shoes, with nothing much to say.<\/p>\n Whilst creative director Richard Spencer Powell has in my view done a splendid job on layout (sorry Eye magazine – have to disagree with your conclusions here<\/a>)<\/span> the magazine lacks depth editorially. It can’t be too long before it starts to publish features along the lines of ‘Grooming Essentials for the War Zone’ – Alan Johnston could give a few pointers on “losing that just kidnapped look”..!<\/p>\n Current issue number five does make some good points in it’s survey of the world’s most favourite cities to live in, regarding why London didn’t quite make the grade and I love it’s use of photography and art direction, it’s just a shame that the depth of reporting doesn’t live up to the production values of this very slick package.<\/p>\n