Esquire email designs from top brands
1. The Most Dangerous Man on TV
Objective
To engage readers with compelling cultural commentary and curated lifestyle content while driving traffic to Esquire’s digital articles and promotional offers. The email aims to reinforce brand authority through provocative headlines and diverse topic coverage.
Why this works
Esquire masterfully balances bold, attention-grabbing headlines with substantive storytelling, creating immediate intrigue while delivering depth that rewards the reader’s curiosity and keeps them scrolling for more.
How to implement
By blending high-profile celebrity features with niche pop culture deep dives and practical lifestyle tips, the email positions Esquire as both a cultural curator and a trusted guide for modern masculinity across multiple interests.
Pro Tip
Add a secondary CTA button like 'Shop Now' or 'Explore Deals' near the J.Crew sale section to reduce friction for readers interested in commerce, aligning with the email’s implicit goal of driving conversions alongside content engagement. • Introduce a subtle visual hierarchy, such as varied typography or color accents, to distinguish editorial content from promotional sections, helping readers quickly identify what’s news versus what’s a sales opportunity without feeling misled.
2. Barry Keoghan Is Different in Every Way
Objective
This email aims to engage Esquire’s audience by spotlighting culturally relevant stories and personalities, while subtly integrating sponsored content and product recommendations to drive clicks and brand loyalty through curated editorial value.
Why this works
Esquire masterfully balances editorial depth with commercial intent by placing high-profile celebrity features alongside product integrations that feel organic rather than intrusive, creating a seamless reading experience that builds trust while driving engagement.
How to implement
The email leverages emotional storytelling, like Yusef Salaam’s journey of redemption, to connect with readers on a human level, proving that even in a media-saturated world, authentic narratives still command attention and encourage deeper content consumption.
Pro Tip
The primary CTA 'Read More' is overused and lacks differentiation; replacing it with context-specific CTAs like 'See How He Nailed the Role' or 'Discover the Retro Sneaker Revival' would better guide user intent and increase click-through rates. • The layout lacks visual hierarchy between editorial content and sponsored sections; adding subtle visual cues like 'Sponsored' badges or color-coded dividers would improve transparency and reduce user confusion while maintaining editorial integrity.
3. Post Malone Loves Guns, Bud Light, and Country Music
Objective
This email aims to engage readers with culturally relevant, personality-driven content centered on Post Malone while promoting Esquire’s 90th anniversary campaign and encouraging membership sign-ups through curated storytelling and lifestyle coverage.
Why this works
Esquire masterfully leverages celebrity personality, Post Malone’s raw, unfiltered charm, to anchor a broader cultural narrative, making the email feel less like promotion and more like a curated conversation with the reader.
How to implement
The email blends highbrow editorial depth with accessible pop culture references, creating a tone that appeals to both intellectual curiosity and everyday entertainment, which keeps the audience engaged without alienating either group.
Pro Tip
The CTA 'JOIN NOW' appears only at the bottom, buried after multiple content blocks, consider adding a sticky or mid-page CTA button to capture attention earlier, especially after the emotionally resonant Post Malone feature. • The Fisher Investments ad interrupts the editorial flow and feels disconnected from Esquire’s brand voice, replace with a native-style sponsored story or align ad creative with the magazine’s aesthetic to maintain tone and trust.
4. Harrison Ford Finally Opens Up
Objective
This email aims to drive engagement by leveraging Harrison Ford’s star power to draw readers into Esquire’s premium content, while also promoting brand partnerships and a luxury giveaway to boost subscriber interaction and time-on-page.
Why this works
Esquire masterfully leads with a celebrity-driven narrative that feels personal and revealing, turning a simple interview into a must-read moment by anchoring it in Ford’s humble beginnings and unexpected casting breaks, which humanizes him for the reader.
How to implement
The email strategically intersperses high-value editorial content with native advertising and sponsored segments, making financial partnerships feel organic rather than disruptive, this maintains editorial integrity while still monetizing reader attention without breaking immersion.
Pro Tip
The CTA 'Enter' for the Costa Rica giveaway is visually underwhelming and buried at the bottom; it should be larger, more colorful, and repeated above the fold with urgency language like 'Limited Spots, Enter Before Midnight' to boost conversion. • The two identical Fisher Investments ads disrupt flow and feel repetitive; replacing one with a personalized content recommendation (e.g., 'Based on your interest in Harrison Ford, you’ll love this deep dive on Indiana Jones’ legacy') would increase relevance and reduce ad fatigue.