August 2021 ~ Men's Fashion

Tuesday 31 August 2021

Breitling’s Latest Watch Collection Is A Classic Car Lover’s Dream Come True

August 31, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Breitling might be best known for its connection to aviation, but really the brand is one that appeals to gearheads of all stripes.

Of course, earlier this year, the 137-year-old brand penned a collaboration with Australia's very own Deus, perhaps the world's most famous motorcycle custom shop. Breitling has also enjoyed a long association with Britain's pre-eminent luxury performance car marque, Bentley.

Their latest collaboration? Try teaming up with not one but three of America's most influential car makers to produce a unique collection of watches that celebrate three of the most iconic muscle cars of all time. Meet Breitling’s Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection.

As the name implies, this unconventional trio of racing chronographs draws inspiration from the Chevrolet Corvette C2 'Stingray', the first-generation Ford Mustang, and the Shelby Cobra. Decked out in bold hues of red, green and blue respectively, these fine watches might look old-school, but just as many classic cars boast hefty modern engines under the hood, these Breitlings are anything but antiquated.

Check out the collection below

The 42 mm stainless steel cases of the Top Time Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang house the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 25, a self-winding 1/8th of a second chronograph movement with a power reserve of about 42 hours. Both watches feature a tachymeter scale and three black contrasting subdials, with the Corvette and Mustang badges taking pride of place at 12 o’clock (and also feature on the watches' casebacks.)

Appropriately, considering the Shelby Cobra is a smaller, different sort of car compared to the C2 and Mustang, the Top Time Shelby Cobra features a slightly smaller 40mm case size and different movement: the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 41, a self-winding 1/4th of a second chronograph movement with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. It has a white tachymeter scale and only two white contrasting subdials, with the Cobra logo enjoying a prominent position at 6 o’clock.

All three watches feature an impressive water resistance rating of up to 100m, generous dashings of Super-LumiNova to aid legibility, and comfy rally-style leather straps with a pop of colour – Breitling's signature racing yellow – lined against the wrist.

[caption id="attachment_300550" align="alignnone" width="860"] Behind the wheel of a C2 with the Breitling Top Time Chevrolet Corvette (ref. A25310241K1X1). The red dial of this model is particularly striking – not many watch brands make red dials these days – with the iconic Corvette flags reminding you this ain't no normal wristwatch. Image: Breitling[/caption]

It's a highly appropriate collaboration. Chronographs are inextricably linked to motorsport, and the Top Time itself first hit the market in 1964, intended as a tool for professional pilots and racers. Bringing such an iconic 60s watch together with such iconic 60s automobiles just makes sense.

There's a lot of parallels between classic cars and luxury timepieces, actually. Sure, these machines may be superseded on a technical level by modern developments, but we appreciate and love these things because of their historical merit, aesthetic brilliance, and ability to tell stories. As Breitling CEO Georges Kern has wisely said, “it’s about the journey, not the tempo... that’s true whether you’re tinkering under the hood or hitting the road for a Sunday ride celebrating these beautiful machines.”

Each watch in the Breitling Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection retails for AU$7,590 and are available at Breitling's online boutique here.

American Man’s ‘Callous Act’ Sparks Controversial Plane Etiquette Debate

August 31, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

If the world's a jungle, then the back end of a semi-empty Emirates flight is a bloodthirsty UFC canvas.

A battle for territory. A place where intimidation and scheming ("the flight attendant said I could have it") reign supreme. A place where if you leave your prize unattended for any moment it could be stolen.

A place where, if successful, you could spend hours with your veins coursing with f*ck off vindication – revelling in having outsmarted your fellow passengers, and scored the sort of lie-flat situation that those up the other end are paying several thousand dollars for.

Bliss.

Unfortunately, that bliss can be interrupted if those around you don't respect the "finders keepers" rule (or hate seeing you happy).

Enter: a recent episode of Oops The Podcast.

Speaking about a time he was on an Emirates flight, "on the way back from Greece," co-host Giulio Gallarotti explains how his 11 hours of solitude was rudely interrupted by some kids. Watch him describe the experience in the video below.

"There's usually a middle area and two side areas. No one picks the middle. So if you're on a flight that isn't 100% occupancy you can get a middle row to yourself," Giulio says.

"I had claimed this middle row. There's no one sitting next to me and immediately I laid down to make sure that no one would, like, move their seat."

"I was horizontal for like 3 hours – I finally sit up and then all of a sudden these people from the row behind me, like, put their kids in the row next to me... After I had already claimed the seats."

"That's totally unacceptable," co-host Francis says.

"And the kid was like bashing his pillow watching his little brother play on an iPad," Giulio adds. "And I was like: 'this is f*cked up' so you know what I did?

"You killed them?", Francis jokes.

"I stared at them... and they got scared of me."

Francis then asks, "Did they leave?"

"Yep, they moved away."

"I death stared them... and these kids are like 7 and 5 years old. That's one of those moments they'll never forget."

Francis adds: "The parents are just kicking their problem to you."

Priceless.

In our minds, this story opens the door to two separate debates.

One: to what degree it is acceptable to parent another person's misbehaving children? The answer to this, depending on whether you ask your grouchy granddad or peace and harmony promoting yoga teacher, could range from "giving them a clip around the ear" to "don't under any circumstances get involved."

The other is: to what degree can one claim territory over vacant seats? If other people are near 'your' empty seats too, is it a reasonable expectation that you would share them after a portion of the flight? In a pre-COVID world, we would have said this is a fair ask, potentially (so long as you don't have to share your row of four seats with two misbehaving kids).

However, given the new importance of hygiene in this virus ravaged world, maybe it's completely fair, these days, to keep your feet well and truly up.

Genius ‘Face Mask Hack’ You Need To Learn Before Travelling In 2022

August 31, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Despite its high vaccination rates, America is still far from normal right now, with the Delta strain and all.

In Australia, we're a long way off normal too. And our travel limitations are stricter than those in America: we are still completely banned from jetting off internationally, without a government exemption.

In Europe, Asia and Africa, though many people are now once again going on short domestic trips again, the overall picture is still very different to how it looked in, say, 2019.

But next year, if all goes well, will be different. Though it still won't be 'normal,' per se, there are signs travel could become a lot 'freer' – particularly in Australia – as early as December.

Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce recently commented: "the current pace of the vaccine rollout means we should have a lot more freedom in a few months’ time.”

Australia’s current goal is for 80 per cent of adults to be fully vaccinated by December. If we hit that, we should be able to – government lifting the travel ban permitting – start travelling to countries with high vaccination rates and low Covid risk, like the UK, North America and parts of Asia.

Higher COVID-risk countries like Bali, Phuket, Bangkok, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and Johannesburg will probably be pushed out to at least April 2022.

When you strap yourself in for your first international flight in a post COVID world, however, there are a few things you'll need to learn. The biggest change, arguably, from a passenger's point of view, is the requirement to wear a mask throughout your flight.

If the thought of this is giving you cauliflower ears already, fear not: there is a solution.

Points hacker and founder of Flight Hacks Immanuel Debeer recently took to Instragram to share the following hack, which he credits Private Tour/Travel videographer Ian Agrimis with coming up with.

"This mask hack will save your ears when flying," Immanuel says. Watch the video below to learn exactly how it's done.

The trick? Putting the straps of your mask over the headphones, rather than under them.

"Just need some nice Bose QCs," on Instagram commenter wrote beneath the post.

"This is so handy," wrote another.

"Definitely the best way to cut noise and wear a mask at the same time!" commented yet another.

"Smart! I like it. With my big head I always get very painful ears from the mask."

Another Instagram user commented: "I do it at work all the time while being on Ramp 😂 over the earmuffs!"

There you have it: a veritable ear saver.

Post Malone Channels Frank Sinatra With Dapper Tuxedo Fit

August 31, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Post Malone might not be the first name on your lips when it comes to discussing celebrity style icons. The notoriously grungy rapper/singer/songwriter is better known for his tapestry of elaborate tattoos as opposed to his dress sense.

But in recent years, he's actually evolved into a rather snappy dresser. In particular, the 26-year-old Texan native has a real affinity (and knack for pulling off) rather Southern suiting looks, crafting his own brand of country-inspired cool.

Turns out he can also scrub up rather nicely in black tie when the time comes, too. Over the weekend, Posty (real name Austin Post) shared a photo of himself in a hotel lobby wearing a crisp Saint Laurent tuxedo, cigarette in hand and holding court. His confident pose and dapper look immediately brings to mind the legendary Frank Sinatra...

[caption id="attachment_300522" align="alignnone" width="920"] Images: Adam DeGross / Getty[/caption]

The similarities don't stop there. Both Sinatra and Post are known for their boozy, hard-living lifestyles and love of a few cigarettes (jazz or otherwise...) Indeed, Sinatra was buried with a pack of Camels and a bottle of Jack Daniel's. Hell, like Ol' Blue Eyes, Post has... Well, blue eyes. But that's about where the similarities end, other than the fact they're both immensely successful musicians.

While we're sure Post is no stranger to a bottle of Jack, these days he's all about rosé, having launched his very own French rosé brand, Maison No. 9. That's not his only pandemic side hustle, either: he's also branched out into selling PPE and hand sanitiser as well as launching a number of collaborative Crocs models.

Yes, it's been a wild year for the rapper. Not only has he whipped around a NASCAR track in a Rolls-Royce for a music video, but he's also performed at the Grammies, as well as record a feature for DJ Khaled’s twelfth studio album alongside rising rap superstars DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion and Lil Baby. He’s also got an album in the works that we’re likely to see this year, too.

Australian Drivers Foolishly Ignoring This Car Maintenance Essential

August 31, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

There are a few things that come with owning a car in Australia that Aussies simply take for granted. If you live in the country, you'll want a roo bar. If you live in the city, you'll need a deep wallet to pay for tolls and parking. No matter where you live, you'll want to make sure spiders don't nest in your engine bay...

Thankfully, our arid, mostly temperate climate means we avoid many of the bugbears that plague motorists in other parts of the world, such as in Europe and North America. We don't have to bother with swapping between winter and summer tyres or putting on snow chains, and our roads don't get salted in winter – so we don't have to worry about rust in the same way.

Another common problem cold-climate motorists are used to is battery degradation during winter – but actually, this is a problem for Australian motorists, too. Yet because we rarely see the mercury drop below freezing or snow outside, Aussies think it's not something they need to worry about.

The reality is that Australians are losing money hand over foot, year after year, because we fail to properly maintain our car batteries – and the events of the last eighteen months have made what's already a problem among Australia's car population even worse.

[caption id="attachment_300480" align="alignnone" width="920"] Image: autobatteries.com[/caption]

Recent data from JAX Tyres & Auto reveals that a whopping four in ten (41%) vehicles inspected in Australia during the first quarter of 2021 required some battery replacement, of which 34% required immediate attention. On top of this, JAX has seen an increase in battery sales post lockdown due to car batteries failing from lack of regular use, likely linked to the 30% increase in battery failures due to the cool snap during winter periods year on year.

Essentially, the particularly cold weather Australia's faced this winter, combined with COVID-19 keeping people homebound and cars undriven during successive lockdown periods in both 2020 and 2021, has seen batteries go flat across the country. Call it a perfect storm for battery death.

Why does cold affect a car battery? Essentially, the electrolyte liquid in the typical lead-acid car battery reacts to extreme changes in temperature – heat will speed up the battery’s chemical reactions and coldness can slow it down. That's why it's sometimes harder for cars to start when it's cold, among other reasons.

Normally the cold isn't a problem if you drive your car regularly and keep the battery charged: a fully charged lead-acid battery can survive at -50°C (a temperature you'll never experience Down Under), a sluggish battery will freeze at a mere -1°C (entirely possible in the country's cooler areas).

With this year's cold temperatures seemingly not going away any time soon – nor are these endless lockdowns – we Aussies need to be on alert to make sure that our car's batteries don't die an untimely death and leave us stranded during an emergency.

[caption id="attachment_300481" align="alignnone" width="920"] Snow covers a Mazda2 in Blackheath, in NSW's Blue Mountains, during a cold snap in June earlier this year. It doesn't have to be cold enough for snow for your car's battery to be affected, however. Image: AFP[/caption]

What are some solutions to this problem? Outside of the obvious ones like 'remember to turn your headlights off', JAX recommend you avoid parking outside where condensation can collect on the engine and cause current leakage and instead opt for the garage or undercover parking to protect your battery from the cold and rainy Australian winter.

Another way to keep your battery fighting fit is to put it on a trickle charger whilst you're not using it. Most trickle chargers on the market also feature battery reconditioning modes that can resuscitate a weak or discharged battery, too – personally, I got one from ALDI that works a treat.

Lithium-ion car batteries also resist the cold and require less maintenance than their lead-acid siblings, although they remain a much more expensive option – at least at the moment. Elon Musk might help change that...

Sydney’s Richest Residents Decide ‘Screw It,’ Why Wear Clothes?

August 31, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Sweeping views. Stunning real estate. Natural beauty. Big echoing houses (which rival all of Sydney, bar Vaucluse's billionaire's row, for price).

Sydney's Palm Beach has all the ~vibes~ to be the set of the next 'Big Little Lies.'

It could also play home, if a new petition has its way, to a "designated nude bathing area."

A petition, started by a resident from neighbouring suburb Avalon, is currently circulating on change.org, entitled: "North Palm Beach as Designated Nude Bathing Area."

"North Palm Beach is a tranquil and empty stretch of beach that would create the perfect location to facilitate nude bathing on the Northern Beaches," the petition suggests.

"There is a distinct lack of nude bathing areas on the Northern Beaches, and with these trying times of being confined to our LGA, there has been talk that it would be a great opportunity to consider trialling a nude bathing area from the end of the most Northerly carpark, onwards."

"With the consideration that there will be a trial for a dog beach in that area from the hour of 4pm, perhaps the beach could be a designated nude area from 7.30am-12.00pm. Please support this wonderful incentive in the spirit of our community and freedom!"

74 people have signed at the time of writing.

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When the local paper The Manly Daily shared the news on Facebook ("push for nude beach in Sydney") the response in the comments showcased some of the local attitudes on offer.

Some were doubtful the proposal would get anywhere.

"This is too funny. We can’t get a dog beach," one wrote.

"The prudes will stuff it up like they did with reef beach," wrote another. "You can put it somewhere where these prudes never go or even see, they would still want it stopped."

Other Facebook users were more hopeful.

"Bring it on, can’t wait to get my gear off this summer. If you’ve got it flaunt it!" commented one.

"If there's no steps or long track...sure," commented another.

"What does it matter if you like it do it don't matter," another user emphasised.

The top comment was, of course, a joke.

"Masks on of course lol."

Whether the council will consider the petition or toss it in a blue bin remains to be seen.

There are a couple of things they will have to consider though. One is the principle of "give them an inch and they'll take a mile" – especially after the dog beach trial has now opened the door to more ambitious proposals.

The other is the fact that if the dog beach trial succeeds, dogs will have more liberties (in a sense) than humans.

Oh, and the other is that there is a popular lighthouse walk right next to this part of the beach.

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More broadly, the backlash to this proposal, if there is any, will only further feed the narrative that Australians are a bunch of prudes.

As we wrote in 2019: "Even as body-positivity sweeps Australia and America, when it comes to feeling free to shed our bikinis and boardshorts, we are still lagging behind Greece (and much of continental Europe)."

There are two main reasons for this. The first being, as Liv Hambrett, European correspondent for the Daily Life, puts it, we are brought up to be mortified by public nudity – and to see it through an over-sexualised lens.

“Nude bodies are naughty, sexy when within certain aesthetic parameters, and seeing them is abnormal and alarming."

The second reason is: we have been drilled with beauty standards that are only possible to reach within a narrow age (and size) range.

Has any of this changed? Only time (and the result of the petition) will tell.

Another thing to consider is this: even though well off suburbs like Palm Beach and Bondi are often used as convenient punching bags in the media (see: Psychologist Explains The Mindset Of Living In Bondi) that's no reason to write off every trend that springs out of them (see: Unfairly Maligned Bondi Trend The Rest Of Australia Can Learn From).

Food for thought. But given our experience of how fast councils work, you probably don't need to go burning your board shorts and bikinis just yet.

Bulgari Has Us Dreaming Of World Travel With Its ‘Ultra-Modern’ New Watch

August 30, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

The history of watches and the glamorous world of international travel are inextricably linked.

The development of the marine chronometer revolutionised oceanic navigation. GMT watches were invented to help pilots keep track of time in multiple time zones while flying around the globe. The modern dive watch was pioneered by ocean adventurers, keen to explore the most exotic depths on the planet. Hell, these days, you can even use your smartwatch to check into a flight.

A luxurious complication that also owes its origins to travel is the world timer. Effectively a more complicated precursor to the GMT, world timer clocks and watches had been made sporadically since the 18th century but it was in the 1930s where they really took off, as the era of international travel took off. Traditionally the domain of the world's most prestigious watchmakers, such as Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin, world timer watches are haute horlogerie typified.

But they can be rather stuffy and old-fashioned in their design and execution (and that's to say nothing of their normally eye-watering price tags...) Which is why Bulgari's new Octo Roma WorldTimer is such a refreshing watch. Ultra-modern, masculine, practical and incredible value, it's a watch so good it makes us wish we were planning an international trip we could flaunt it on.

[caption id="attachment_300431" align="alignnone" width="920"] Close-up detail of the two Bulgari Octo Roma WorldTimers. Bulgari, like many luxury fashion houses, has invested heavily in developing their in-house watchmaking. Bulgari stands out as a particular leader in this department. Image: Bulgari[/caption]

Available in two sporty configurations – stainless steel with a blue sunray dial and integrated bracelet or black DLC with a matte black dial and rubber strap – the Bulgari Octo Roma WorldTimer combines the class and technical wizardry of a classic world timer and imbues it with a sense of youthfulness that few other world timers boast.

Driven by a new Swiss in-house movement, the layout of the watch's dial features a central display of the hours, minutes and seconds combined with a double rotating disc on the outer edge: one for the 24 reference cities (including Bulgari's home and the watches' namesake, Rome, as well as Australia's biggest city Sydney) and another with a 24-hour graduated scale.

Setting the local and reference time is a cinch with the screw-lock crown, which features a ceramic end cap and tactile knurled design. Sans-serif lettering and crisp, clean numerals and indices provide legibility and provide a real modernist spin on the world timer format. The watch's practicality is heightened by its 'sweet spot' 41mm diameter, 100m water resistance and 42-hour power reserve.

[caption id="attachment_300434" align="alignnone" width="920"] The Octo Roma WorldTimer's BVL257 mechanical self-winding integrated movement comprises 261 components, and was developed and produced by Bulgari's manufacture in Le Sentier, Switzerland. Image: Bulgari[/caption]

But the most exciting thing about the Octo Roma WorldTimer is the price. Not to be gauche, but both models are priced at only AU$12,750. That's extremely competitive. For reference, a stainless steel Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time (ref. 7700V/110A-B172) will set you back AU$57,000 at retail – and good luck getting on the waiting list.

Alternatively, you can go out and put your name down for an Octo Roma WorldTimer right now and actually have one on your wrist ready for Australia's borders to open. We know what we'd rather do.

Discover the Bulgari Octo Roma WorldTimer as well as the rest of the award-winning Octo collection at Bulgari's online boutique here.

Important Lesson America Can Learn From Spain’s ‘Lazy’ Attitude To Summer

August 30, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Americans like to think of their nation as a paragon of progress. A place the rest of the world should admire. A place where the most medical innovations occur and a place where start ups flourish.

A place where all you need to succeed is a self help book, wifi and gumption. A place the rest of the world should just shut up and copy.

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Regardless of how much truth you attribute to the above, narrow-minded caricature, what's beyond debate, is that Americans can learn from those who do things differently.

Enter: Spain.

In the land of football and red fury, there is a great story about a famous TV presenter who refused to work in August when his cable network demanded him to, despite being offered much dinero.

[caption id="attachment_300437" align="alignnone" width="920"] A man sunbaths on the roof of a building on May 04, 2020 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Marcelo del Pozo/Getty Images).[/caption]

The rumour goes he took a principled seat on the beach somewhere in the south of Spain, sipped a cold Cruzcampo, and raised a metaphorical middle finger.

The embodiment of the hackneyed phrase: "know your worth."

As Northern Hemisphere summer comes to an end, we thought we'd share this simple tale, to allow our American readers to reflect, and perhaps build the courage to carve out a better work/life balance (something that studies show increases your productivity in the long run anyway), and then perhaps get to the end of next summer a little more refreshed (and with a slightly less intense case of the ~~Sunday~~ Seasonal Scaries).

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Setting boundaries and dedicating time each week (or, in this case, each year) to look after yourself is an important aspect of self-care.

Luke Macleod, mindfulness expert and founder of Soul Alive, Australia’s first live stream meditation platform, told DMARGE learning to property switch off is a valuable skill to learn.

This is something we saw P. Diddy (and others) demonstrate earlier this year with his epic "f*ck it Friday" ritual.

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That said, Macleod also told DMARGE that using drugs to put a punctuation mark on your week is not as healthy (or reliable) a method as traditional meditation.

“I’m not against having a drink or smoking etc. I enjoy a cold beer with my mates now and then. I don’t smoke, but if someone wants to do that, then that’s their choice. I do think celebrities have a responsibility to try and be mindful of what they are sharing online though."

Food for thought. Now go enjoy the last day of summer.

First Class Flyer Slams Nauseating ‘Fake It ‘Til You Make It’ Culture At The Pointy End

August 30, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

First-class flights are all about flexing so hard your biceps pop, right? Wrong.

One frequent first class flyer recently took to Instagram to critique this particular attitude, which he often sees "on Dubai flights particularly."

This insight comes from James Asquith, who is the founder and CEO of Holiday Swap, and the youngest male to visit all 196 countries.

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Asquith last week posed in his British Airways First Class Cabin seat and wrote: "Am I doing ‘it’ right? Is this how all the fake balenciaga wearing flexers flying into Dubai do it? Flexing has got out of hand in my opinion."

"As anyone that has known me for a while knows - I laugh at myself more than anyone else could laugh at me, and as a very unmaterialistic guy, my one muse is nice flights as I spend so much of my life on planes - but I’m that peasant in first class."

"Come from nothing, worked hard, and there’s really no need to flex (especially when 80%+ of it is likely fake on social media). Dubai flights are bad for it - the people taking a picture of business class whilst sitting in premium economy thinking that’s a flex?"

"Nothing wrong with where you’re sat - but the faking it is so unhealthy for people. Be honest where you are in life and work hard to be where you want to be."

"This ‘fake it till you make it’ culture is nauseating and so unhealthy for a young generation."

"I see so many people fake-flexing on Dubai flights particularly. Anyway, here I am being a total bellend as always, wearing about $100 worth of clothes (which is high end for my wardrobe!)."

Many commenters on the post appeared to agree with him. One wrote: "truth bro."

Another quipped: "Buddy, you suppose to make a beautiful flat lay of your things on the table!"

Yet another jokingly said: "You supposed to put your feet on the tv."

Frequent Pointy End flyer, Immanuel Debeer, recently took aim at posturing too, calling out people who think you need to spend thousands of dollars on your outfit if you want to fly in business or first class.

Sydney University professor of sociology Robert Van Krieken has previously spoken to DMARGE about posing at 40,000ft, explaining a lot of it comes down to the "performativity of Instagram and Twitter."

"They’re communicating primarily with their social media audience, not with the other people on the plane."

Social media is the driver of a lot of the in-flight controversies we see today. One French influencer demonstrated this to a parfait in June, going viral for posing in business class for a photo on her way through to economy, inspiring a range of responses (from "admire the hustle" to "this is why this generation is a mess").

According to the New York Post, one social media user wrote: “If you’ve ever been out this way, this sums up the culture [in Dubai, where the influencer was allegedly based].”

“A bunch of people pretending to either be rich, a model, or an entrepreneur. 90% of the people in that city pretending.”

The influencer, Oceane El Himer, allegedly hit back (at comments like these), writing: “no shame in traveling in eco class."

“I took several flights to arrive in the south, including one in eco class. Took a picture and I accepted. I fully assume the fact of traveling in eco class, I’m not the type of girl who likes to show her money… Yes I traveled in eco and in business. And so?”

“Much more serious things are happening in life.”

Himer, also posted another Instagram image of herself and a friend in business class, writing: “This time I promise I payed” (translated from French).

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Touché.

Jonah Hill Completes ‘Surf Life’ Transition With Radical New Outfit

August 30, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Jonah Hill continues to be one of the most stylish and refreshing talents in Hollywood.

The 37-year-old comedian and actor might have built his career off the back of playing nerds and schlubs, but these days he’s a different man. In recent years he’s evolved into one of the most fashion-forward male celebrities on the planet right now, working with big-name brands like Palace, Marni and Adidas on campaigns, collaborations and exclusive collections respectively.

His latest look? Californian surfing cool. Hill took to Instagram over the weekend to show off a sun-bleached, good vibes-emanating outfit that demonstrates how slick he really is. Wearing his "favourite shirt" – a neon-patterned, very 90s cotton short-sleeve number – plus some washed-out jeans and Vans, Hill looks every inch the quintessential Californian beach bum (in a good way).

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We almost mistook him for the board builder Bear in Big Wednesday...

[caption id="attachment_300396" align="alignnone" width="920"] Image Credit: A-Team Productions[/caption]

We say 'bum' because of his long hair and scraggly beard... But actually (and rather counter-intuitively), his hair and beard make him look younger than he is. It's just a great look all around.

It seems that the only thing more viral than COVID-19 is male celebrities wearing loud shirts. It's been one of the most consistent style trends of the last eighteen months, with everyone from Kevin Hart; athletes like LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo; and musicians like Justin Bieber all jumping on board the wave. Pun intended.

Jonah doesn't just look like a surfer, either. He's been taking up the sport. While one surf media outlet ribbed him over this, Hill's response, which you can read here, was incredibly classy.

Talk about a Renaissance man.

$2.7 Million Sydney Sale Shows Just How Screwed First Home Buyers Are Right Now

August 30, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

At this point, we're starting to sound like a bit of a broken record when it comes to whinging about Australia's (and specifically Sydney's) problem with housing affordability. But this property sale in the Harbour City's bohemian Inner West really demonstrates just how bad the problem really is.

164 Belmont St, a modern four-bedroom terrace-sized home in Alexandria, went under the hammer at an online auction and sold for an unprecedented $2.68 million to a young couple from Paddington who happened to be first home buyers, Domain reports.

It's a big sale, considering the property last traded in 2017 for $2.275 million and that the median Alexandria house price sits at $1.85. But it's not necessarily the price tag that's interesting – it's the fact that it was first home buyers who ended up securing the place.

Okay, it's possible that the young couple had 'The Bank of Mum and Dad' backing them (if you're from Paddington these days, you're probably not too hard up for cash) and Alexandria is hardly Sydney's most affordable suburb, that's almost irrelevant. The sale just goes to show how far first home buyers occasionally have to go in order to get into the property market.

[caption id="attachment_300330" align="alignnone" width="920"] 164 Belmont Street from the street. Admittedly, it's the nicest house in the nicest complex on the street. Image Credit: Domain[/caption]

According to Finder's 2021 First Home Buyers Report, which came out in May, the average first home buyer in Australia takes out a loan of $431,525. A buyer with a typical loan-to-value ratio (LVR) of 80% would pay an average deposit of $107,881. Since 2019, this figure has climbed 15% nationwide, comfortably exceeding inflation over the same period.

Unsurprisingly, that increase has been greatest in New South Wales at 20%, with the ACT not far behind at 18%. Western Australia has seen the smallest increase at 'only' 9%, but we're singing the same hymn across the country.

[caption id="attachment_300328" align="alignnone" width="920"] The view from the garden. Image Credit: Domain[/caption]

At the same time, average incomes are not keeping up with house prices. Real home prices have increased by a whopping 150% since 2000 while wages have grown by less than a third, and at the same time, home ownership levels have fallen from 70% to 65%. You can see we've got a problem on our hands... But this is just the start of it.

"While first home buyers are increasingly dropping out of the market in droves, the same rocketing prices forcing them out are enticing investors to throw the dice on entering the market, to chase the outsized capital gains currently on offer," news.com.au's Tarric Brooker relates.

[caption id="attachment_300338" align="alignnone" width="920"] An auction in Erskineville, a neighbouring suburb of Alexandria's in Sydney's Inner West, at the start of 2021. Image: Ray White[/caption]

It's the same old story: first home buyers and owner/occupiers get the short end of the stick, whereas investors benefit from the golden safety net that is negative gearing and Australia's record-low interest rates. It's a win-win situation for investors and a lose-lose for everyone else. Brooker continues:

"If interest rates were to rise significantly, resulting in more investors finding themselves staring down the barrel of losing money on their property, the federal government will effectively foot part of the additional cost through negative gearing tax deductions..."

"Consistently losing money week in, week out may seem like the exact opposite of what an investor would want from an asset. But for Australian property investors, losing money in the hope of strong housing price growth has become a way of life."

Negative gearing, low interest rates and ever-increasing property prices don't seem to be going away any time soon – so things are going to continue to get worse for first home buyers who are just desperate not to be renting for the rest of their lives... And their parents, who are forced to help them out financially, further exacerbating the problem.

Yep, we're all screwed – except the banks, of course.

Make Café Quality Coffee At Home With One Easy Switch

August 30, 2021DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

We've got the boot of a deadly disease on one cheek, and the boot of lockdowns on the other.

Welcome to 2021 in Australia.

One silver lining, though, is that we can shove a fantastic range of high-quality coffee down our gullets.

And wouldn't it be such a waste if we didn't make the most of it? After all: high-quality coffee is more accessible than it's ever been.

To make sure you're not spurning this opportunity, DMARGE got in touch with 2019 Australian Barista Champion Mathew Lewin to get his top tips.

Mathew gave us a number of surprises (believe it or not, the machine you use to brew your coffee isn't that important). He also confirmed a couple of rumours we had heard but weren't sure were true (a good grinder really is essential).

Kock yourself up a brew, settle in, then read what you're doing right (and wrong).

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A post shared by Matthew Lewin (@matthew_lewin)

If you're not drinking filter coffee, you're missing out

You may associate it with Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas or American Gas Stations or Terrible 90s Diners or The Hangover or Scummy Dish Liquid... but you'd be wrong.

In 2021, filter coffee is so much more.

It's convenient too. As Matthew told DMARGE, even though filter coffee is something "a lot of people don't talk about" it's an easy, trending, way to get your morning jitters.

"You don't need an espresso machine to explore a whole new world of coffee. There are filter coffees that have a relatively cheap set up."

"It's something people don't talk about enough in cafes and also at home."

"It's kind of the go-to I think. If you don't have a filter coffee set up at home I reckon you're missing out on a huge world of coffee."

You don't need a fancy espresso machine to make professional quality coffee

Whether you have an Aeropress, a French Press, or a Moka Pot, if you buy high-quality ingredients – and one other crucial thing – then you can make professional-quality home coffee.

"Think American diners – that idea, that method, hot water poured over coffee that's ground then it drips out," Matthew told DMARGE.

"We've just modernised it through a current climate of amazing specialty coffee – great beans and great roasting and that all just makes that diner coffee or Moka Pot even better."

These modern techniques with better equipment are akin to good wine, scotch or tea. Just like all those products, you can get really good offerings or really bad.

Regarding the kinds of high-quality coffee currently on the market, Matthew says they lend your cup of Joe a "nuance of flavour" and a bit more "of a journey" in your mouth (compared to the aforementioned diners).

"Grab some paper and stick some water on some ground coffee and you get this nice big cup of coffee compared to a little espresso and you enjoy it over 5 or 10 minutes or whatever and it takes you on a bit of a coffee journey."

Variety can help, too

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A post shared by Matthew Lewin (@matthew_lewin)

Matthew, who works with @onacoffee, says "we offer about 15 or more every month. We're one of the roasters that offers the most."

The single most important thing you can do is buy good coffee

"The most important thing you can do is obviously buy good coffee," Matthew told DMARGE.

"There's so much good stuff around, people are roasting better stuff now – from the farm to the cup – just better product."

The second most important thing is to have a good grinder

"It's crucial to have a good grinder," Matthew told DMARGE. "It can be a hand grinder (you can get a really good one for 100 bucks) or an electronic one for 200 bucks."

"You can get them for 500 but the 100 one is amazing."

"It's like a chef having a sharp knife."

If you, like us, rely on buying pre-ground coffee, then perhaps this is the time to reconsider your life choices... and discover a new world in the process.

Making coffee is like baking a cake

[caption id="attachment_300341" align="alignnone" width="920"] Image Credit: Medium[/caption]

Matthew told DMARGE: "When you're making a filter coffee you're thinking: 'how much dry ingredients and flour do I have?' and 'how much water or liquid am I adding to my cake.' Get that ratio right, brew it for a certain amount of time, and your going to get the most delicious damn coffee every time."

"Buy great ingredients and follow a simple recipe. Thinking about it this way you're going to make the most delicious cafe quality filter coffee; it's going to blow your mind."

"You can do it in your Moka Pot, French Press, an Empty Coke Bottle; doesn't matter, brew it, keep it warm while it's brewing and filter it out."

"I've made coffees in the weirdest hotels with the weirdest equipment but with me I had a good grinder and I just used my simple 'cake' or coffee recipe and you're just brewing 'gansta' juice all the time."

Don't be afraid to experiment... though the results will be on you

Matthew is no snob. In fact, he's been known to leave his filter coffee in the car overnight and have another crack at it in the morning.

So when we asked him how many times it was acceptable to reheat your coffee in the microwave, he didn't fall over with apoplectic rage.

"Reheat the shit out of that stuff," he said. "Drastic times call for drastic measures."

He did warn us though that you shouldn't expect the same results.

"Making coffee is all about cooking stuff – you've kind of cooked that coffee so if you reheat it you're cooking it again."

If you reheat anything enough times - could be in a pan on the stove or in the microwave – "you're going to break it down."

"Test it and find out."

"If you're buying good coffee and investing in that and know how to do it pretty well then if you want to reheat the thing and you like it then go for it."

"I think speciality coffee is awesome; it doesn't need more wankery around it and, at home, you've got a bit more licence to live how you want to."

"If it tastes like shit reheating it for a second time then brew a smaller coffee and drink it more often or just make a fresh one."

Something to mull over as you watch your Soy Flat White rotate in the microwave for the umpteenth time, globules of soy metastasising like hideous goo...

Tuesday 31 August 2021

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If you're not drinking filter coffee, you're missing out

You don't need a fancy espresso machine to make professional quality coffee

Variety can help, too

The single most important thing you can do is buy good coffee

The second most important thing is to have a good grinder

Making coffee is like baking a cake

Don't be afraid to experiment... though the results will be on you

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