As far as VMAN 23 is concerned, the finish line is today. I have already written a fair bit about the “Archetypes Issue” and its two cover boys, Ford Men’s Matthew Terry and Clark Cord and won’t do much more than offer up a metaphorical Gatorade in the form of this post for a race well run. The finalists were announced back in May and have since gone on to land comp cards on the Ford Men’s board amongst other things. Seeing the VMAN 23 cover story titled “The Contender” by photographer Steven Klein and stylist Nicola Formichetti is a must and you are highly encouraged to purchase the issue with Matthew and Clark on the cover (the “Wolf Man” edition is up to you). Also included in the story are the other VMAN finalists Brayden Pritchard, Cesar Chiang, Joe Graham, and Kacey Carrig. The photo coloring, styling, staging, and inspired use of Magic Marker to write the names of the boys and in some cases their home states is Klein-Formichetti through and through. Drink that Gatorade and go buy your copies of VMAN 23 to celebrate a fine finish.

Please visit VMAN.COM to purchase VMAN 23.

Credits include: Publication, VMAN 23 Fall 2011; Title, “The Contender”; Photography, Steven Klein; Styling, Nicola Formichetti; Hair, Eugene Souleiman for Wella Professionals; Grooming and makeup, Regine Thorre at 1 + 1 MGMT; Coloring, Naomi Knight; Models, Brayden Pritchard, Cesar Chiang, Clark Cord, Joe Graham, Kacey Carrig, Matthew Terry at Ford Men; Photography assistance, Dominick Sheldon, Nico Kern, Sebastian Mader, Pavel Woznicki; Digital operation, Justin Farkas; Post production, Kaita Takemura; Styling assistance, Brandon Maxwell, Hayley Pisaturo, Julien Alleyne, Nicole Rodrigues, Jessica Bobince; Hair assistance, Tamara McNaughton, Yakiko Tajima, Shintaro Teraoka; Grooming and makeup assistance, Yuko Tokito; Manicure, Honey at Exposure NY; Set design, Jesse Kaufmann at the Magnet Agency; Set design assistance, Arthur Gandy; Production, North6; Producing, Tracy Whiting at North6; Production assistance, Kevin Kendrick, Johnny Scalise, Wendell Wilton; Catering, Feast on Us; Location, YMCA Passaic; Printing, Box; Special thanks, B2Pro.