SIGNAGE OF THE TIMES

To celebrate Esquire’s 25th anniversary, advertisers from our launch year get a look in the mirror, right back to 1991

It’s not just a magazine’s covers that evolve over time. The articles and interviews inside reflect an ever-changing world, fashions reflect each new season, celebrities shine brightly — some fleetingly, some timelessly. And then there are the advertisements. Ads are calls to action, designed to tug at heartstrings (and, of course, purse strings) and, to do that, they have to reflect what really matters to you, our readers. They are signifiers of the mood, culture and desires of the times. Over the following 14 pages, we salute some of the brands who have worked with us throughout our 25-year history and present a selection of some of our favourite advertisers from our first year.