Book Club - Jeremy Langmead
Book Club - Jeremy Langmead
Jeremy Langmead is an editor and writer. He is the former brand and content director of MR PORTER, the online men’s style destination, as well as a regular contributor to The Times. Previously he has been the editor of Esquire, Wallpaper and the Sunday Times Style magazines. We caught up with Jeremy to discuss his new book 'Vain Glorious'.
Congratulations on your new book, Vain Glorious – we can’t wait to read it upon it’s release in May. Can you tell us a little about the book?
Hopefully, it’s a witty, informative walk through the trends and insecurities that shape how men dress, look and see themselves – peppered with honest and practical advice for all those who have woken up to the fact that taking care of themselves is no longer taboo. Vain Glorious is a guide to help men feel comfortable in their own skin.
The ethos of Vain Glorious is ‘a shameless guide for men who want to look their best’. What inspired you to write this?
Over the years, because of my jobs at Esquire, Mr Porter and The Times, many men have asked me questions about how to look less tired, hair transplants, Botox, eyebrow tinting, what’s suitable to wear off-duty, age-appropriate sneakers etc that they wouldn’t normally ask other men. There’s been a taboo about men wanting to look good, or caring too much about their appearance; it’s almost as if self-care is something to be ashamed off. I wanted to write a book that takes away the stigma, shares the tips and tricks that will help, shows you how various treatments work and, along the way, pepper in some amusing and honest stories about my own journey of rejuvenation. Today it’s okay to want to look your best. And no-one should make you feel bad about that.
Can you tell us about your writing process?
I left Mr Porter to write the book a week before lockdown began and so the timing was quite good. It was the perfect lockdown task. I’d write all morning in my study in our house in the Lake District. The study window overlooks valleys and fells and so was very inspiring. The afternoons I reserved for research.
Do you have a quick styling tip from Vain Glorious that you could share with us?
Grow a beard. It gives you about 30% less face to worry about and can hide a multitude of sins (and chins). The more wrinkled your face, the more important it is to wear a freshly-pressed shirt. One counteracts the other.
How do you think men’s style will adapt in future with a more sustainable conscious focus and after a year of COVID restrictions?
There’s already been a huge move to outdoor wear becoming more popular: hiking clothes, waterproofs, and fleeces. We all want to escape to the mountains and the great outdoors. And as it’s likely to be staycations for many of us for the next year or so, a cashmere beanie not a pair of flip-flops might be a better vacation investment.
At Begg x Co, our accessories, interiors and knitwear pieces are woven using the finest noble fibres, here in our mill in Scotland. Do you have a favourite piece from our collection?
So many lovely things at Begg x Co. My favourites are the Bi-colour Beanies, that offer a nice twist on a classic piece; and the Camo Sweaters. They’re perfect for climbing the Cumbrian mountains.
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading Revelations by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swann. A brilliant biography of Francis Bacon.
And a book called English Pastoral by James Rebanks. It’s a Sunday Times bestseller written by a shepherd up here in the Lakes about his and his family’s relationship with the land that they farm and the changing landscape.
You can pre-order 'Vain Glorious' by Jeremy Langmead here.