Luke Day appointed Man About Town editor to reshape title for a 'new era'
Part of the Visual Talent group, the independent British publishing and media company said his appointment is part of the title's 'ongoing strategy to break new ground in the fashion and lifestyle publishing landscape... focusing on untapped opportunities and redefining what it means to lead in the world of print and digital media'.
With tenures as fashion editor at Arena Homme+, fashion director at British GQ and editor at GQ Style, Day 'is a significant figure in luxury fashion media', the publisher said.
It added that Day 'will draw on his wealth of experience with globally recognised menswear publications to develop and execute a brand new editorial vision for Man About Town in 2025 and beyond, across print issues and a revamped digital platform that launches in July'.
Visual Talent CEO Carl Tallents added: 'I'm excited for this new era of Man About Town and to see its evolution in digital and live events. Luke has an unrivalled eye for all things sartorial and I've no doubt he will take Man About Town to new and exciting places.'
Day said: 'With over 20 years in men's fashion publishing, print is in my DNA. I intend to evolve Man About Town 's legacy to push boundaries in print, digital, and beyond.'
He added: 'Expect a bold, luxurious vision: delivering zeitgeist talent, cultural heat, and fashion that defines the modern man about town.'
The first issue under Day's editorial direction will be AW25, launching in October.
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Frontman David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) began life as a sketch for a 1979 comedy show, with their debut single 'Rock and Roll Nightmare' featuring folk legend Loudon Wainwright III on the keyboards. They're also due to crank things up to 11 once again, with Spinal Tap II: The End Continues due out in September. Bring earplugs. Stillwater - Almost Famous (2000) In Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical tribute to music fandoms, Stillwater are the up-and-coming Southern rock band that teenage writer William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is sent to profile for Rolling Stone. Channeling the swagger and soul of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Eagles, their sweaty anthems exude the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll energy of the early '70s. The tracks were written by Crowe and his then-wife Nancy Wilson of Heart, with Peter Frampton and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready also contributing. 4*TOWN - Turning Red (2022) Pixar's Turning Red introduced us to puberty as a big red panda - but also 4*TOWN, the boyband obsession of teen protagonist Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang). Despite the name, the group actually has five members. This is due to four being considered an unlucky number in Chinese culture, according to the film's director Dommee Shi. Styled in the fashion of '90s to early '00s pop groups like the Backstreet Boys, their tracks were written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell - and perfectly capture the squeaky clean studio sound of teenage millennial nostalgia. Josie and the Pussycats - Josie and the Pussycats (2001) Adapted from the Archie Comics and Hanna-Barbera cartoon, this 2000's staple follows bandmates Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Melody (Tara Reid) and Val (Rosario Dawson) as they become pawns in a corporate mind-control plot. From the antsy pop of '3 Small Words' to the melodic melancholy of 'You Don't See Me', their songs were written to reflect the studio-controlled, manufactured feel of music at the time. "We were coming out of an era with Nirvana and Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth, bands that really encouraged dissent and individuality. It was like the music industry suddenly decided we need to course-correct," co-director Deborah Kaplan told BuzzFeed in 2017. "It was kind of a reaction to that.' Sing Street - Sing Street (2016) Thick eyeliner, ruffled shirts and teenage yearning - Sing Street are the Irish 80s amateur band at the heart of John Carney's award-winning musical rom-com. Formed by struggling teen Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) with a group of his schoolmates, fame and fortune were never the goal - just impressing his crush, Raphina (Lucy Boynton). Almost every track is addictively good, from the high-energy, Hall & Oates-inspired 'Drive It Like You Stole It', to the mellowing ballad 'To Find You'. It's the sound of nostalgia that feels both old and new, charged with the naivety and buoyant energy of youthful escapism. School of Rock - School of Rock (2003) They've got guitars in their hands and rock in their hearts! School of Rock is the student band founded by Dewey Finn (Jack Black), a failed musician posing as a substitute teacher in Richard Linklater's beloved comedy. While they ultimately lose at the Battle of the Bands competition, their final song, 'Rock Got No Reason', remains an absolute banger. It has epic guitar solos, groovy backing harmonies, and some feverishly funky keyboard playing. And to their encore of AC/DC's 'It's a Long Way to the Top'? We salute. Freakier Friday is out in cinemas now.
