Founded in 1933 by American Arnold Gingrich as a racy men's magazine, today Esquire is a highly regarded, refined periodical owned by the Hearst Corporation. Most known for its men's fashion coverage, it is also revered as a literary publication. During the 1940s, the magazine featured the famous "Varga Girls," centerfold illustrations by pinup artist Alberto Vargas. Esquire also is known for their "Dubious Achievement Awards," which poke fun at news events of the previous year. A distinguished list of literary contributors, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gay Talese, Tom Wolfe, Norman Mailer, William F. Buckley, and Truman Capote, have been featured, as well as emerging writers often promoted.
Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Francesca Sterlacci and Joanne Arbuckle.