British GQ February 2023

FRANCISCO GARCIA Writer Francisco Garcia is a journalist and author. For this February issue, he travelled to Calabria to report on the Italian mafia. “I was prepared for certain things: the ruthlessness and violence, the corruption and despair. But reporting on this very specific story made me realise the sheer scale of the ’Ndrangheta and how powerful this constellation of families and clans from one of Italy’s poorest regions has become over the past half-century.” Office Grails JASON FITTER Senior director, brand marketing, US GQ “With my last name, one must be able to put together an elegant yet simple fit.” CHARLIE JOHNSON Contributing fashion assistant, US GQ “I like wearing things that remind me of vacation.” BRAUNA MARKS Associate visuals editor, US GQ “Don’t let the handmade skirt fool you – I’m very much that person who heckles referees at a sporting…

IT’S A DANGEROUS time of year for bullshit. When one year turns into another, the hucksters make a pretty penny off of our new year’s resolutions: weight-loss fads, exercise miracles, and so on. And hey, it’s also the time of year at which we bullshit ourselves. I will do X by [date]! I’m going to be Y for 100 days straight! I’ve been there. It feels good. But dopamine is cheap and fleeting. Willpower is a powerful thing, but it only throws the afterburners on what’s already in motion – like how having a few drinks can only amplify charisma that actually exists. Another thing that’s dangerous and often bullshit: purchasing books at the airport. That kind of purchase is usually best reserved for pulpy spy thrillers that start at the denouement and…

VEST PRACTICE London-based designer Saul Nash does the fashion end of sportswear, so this vest flies in the gym and gets hypebeasts hot under the collar outside it (£250). SOCK SOLID Make sick sneakers sicker still with ankles stamped by the streetwear kings at Represent (£45 for three pairs). NATURAL STATE Bolstered by rosemary, sage and eucalyptus, and with a little drop of neutralising zinc, Aēsop’s all-natural deodorant is a weight class up from the usual turbo himbo spray (£25). HIGH AND DRY Lululemon knows how to stay fresh at the gym, and this moisture-wicking technical underlayer packs the gym drip you actually want (£98). HIGH ROLLER The swoosh not only catches compliments: it speeds up recovery. The stylish ribbed design on this Nike recovery ball relieves muscle tension (£35 at Mr Porter). SQUAT SHORTS Ever tried squatting in a pair…

FOR KYE WHYTE, winning silver was second place to the actual Olympics. “Japanese ice cream was the highlight of the whole thing,” he says, after listing the endless choices at the athletes’ food hall. “It was bubblegum strawberry, honestly the best.” That admission will come as little surprise to fans of the 23-year-old BMXer. He seems to notice the colours in his life. Whyte’s favourite piece from his first GQ shoot? “I really liked the yellow Dior T-shirt. That was good.” His first bike? “Hot pink. It was supposed to be glow-in-the-dark green, but there was dust in the paint, and that was the only thing they had left.” His most recognisable fit: the red, white and blue Team GB strip by Adidas. Then there’s silver, a colour that feels slightly anaemic…

WARM-UP SET The embroidery on the bottoms says it all: you really will feel Gucci in this princely nylon tracksuit (top, £2,900; bottoms, £2,000). SLEEK SPECS Even when the heat is blazing and the sun is glaring, the reflective lenses on these icy sport shades from LA’s Bonnie Clyde will keep you laser focused on hitting that next PB (£145). TOUCHDOWN TOP Our advice for rocking Diesel’s sheer man-of-the match-worthy American football top? Don’t skip abs day (£90). MUG SHOT The signature cleanser from Hawaiian skin care kings Koa is packed with everything your face needs after a brutal workout: Japanese yuzu for toning, green tea to battle wrinkles, and aloe vera to help prevent UV damage (£23). COPPER COAT The righteous sheen on this boxy Moschino jacket is proof that sometimes taking home the bronze still makes you…

ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT-BLANC Chamonix, France What is it? The toughest and most scenic ultramarathon in the world, it’s a 106-mile sufferfest that takes runners up more than 30,000 feet of elevation and through three countries – France, Switzerland, and Italy – all set amid a weeklong late-summer party in the alpine town of Chamonix. What’s the vibe? “It’s Burning Man meets the Tour de France, plus the world’s best outdoor-apparel expo,” says Topher Gaylord, an 11-time finisher who came runner-up in 2003. Optimise your experience by… Getting to town a few days before the start of the race. Book a stay at the ultra-hip La Folie Douce Hôtel overlooking the town centre for convenient access to views of the race and nightly DJ sets. SURFING AT NAZARÉ Nazaré, Portugal What is it? Simply the best…