2020 ~ Men's Fashion

Thursday, 31 December 2020

Porsche’s Controversial SUV Overtakes Iconic 911 As Brand’s Most Popular Model Ever

December 31, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Porsche, one of the world's most well-known performance car brands, has been an unlikely success story from day dot.

Its founder, Ferdinand Porsche, has had a huge impact on modern motoring. Not only did he create the world's first hybrid car back in 1901, but he was responsible for designing the most successful car of all time: the original Volkswagen Beetle.

After WWII, Porsche's firm sought to escape its Nazi past and instead turned to building sports cars. Their first production model, the sleek 356, was an immediate success, and their second production model, the legendary 911, has become one of the most famous car models of all time.

But the 911 is by no means the most successful model the brand has ever produced. That honour instead goes to the Cayenne, which as of 2020 has reached one million models produced – overtaking the 911 as the real gem in Porsche's crown. It's an interesting turn of events, to say the least.

The Cayenne, since its introduction in 2002, has been one of the most controversial vehicles Porsche has ever produced (and that's saying something, considering ol' Dr. Porsche designed tanks for Hitler). Yet the luxury SUV has been one of Porsche's biggest sales successes, handily beating the 911 to the million-car mark: the 911 hit one million in 2017 after 54 years of production, whereas the Cayenne only took 12 years, according to the firm.

[caption id="attachment_279812" align="alignnone" width="920"] The 1,000,000th Cayenne rolls off the production line in Bratislava, Slovakia. Image: Porsche[/caption]

When the Cayenne was first unveiled at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, many commentators scoffed at the prospect of a Porsche SUV. It seemed incongruous, like the automotive equivalent of a McDonald's salad or Gucci flip-flops: it didn't make sense for such a performance-focused marque to be making Toorak tractors.

But it was actually a characteristically savvy move for the brand. Porsche saw which way the wind was blowing well before most other car brands in regards to SUVs, and got ahead of the curve. On top of that, the Cayenne was no slouch; the car far and beyond what else was on the market performance-wise. Not only was the first-gen Cayenne the first V8-engined vehicle built by Porsche since 1995 (when the Porsche 928 was discontinued) but benefitted from all-wheel drive: it weren't no soft-roader.

It was an instant sales success, with the first-gen Cayenne clocking up over a quarter of a million sales alone. It couldn't have come at a better time for Porsche, too. Since the late 80s, the company had been in dire economic straits, like many other sports car brands at the time. The Boxster, which hit dealerships in 1996, was by no means a flop, but Porsche knew that they'd need to do more than sell two-seaters in order to survive. Their gamble with the Cayenne paid off and saved the company.

[caption id="attachment_279813" align="alignnone" width="920"] A Cayenne prototype undergoing off-road testing in Canada in 2000. Image: Porsche[/caption]

Over a decade later, the Cayenne is now in its third generation and is faster (and more handsome) than ever before. These days most luxury marques have an SUV in their lineup, and have faced similar lines of criticism to what Porsche endured at the turn of the century: the Bentley Bentayga, the Jaguar F-Pace, the Lamborghini Urus...

Porsche haven't sat on their laurels when it comes to the Cayenne, however, and have used the SUV as a testbed for some of their technical innovations. For example, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid was the first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment, and the Macan – basically a smaller Cayenne – was one of the first luxury crossovers. The Macan too has gone on to be a huge sales success for the company, and Porsche is in a good place as we enter 2021.

What's next from the Stuttgart brand? SUV sceptics will be glad to know that they're not the only cars Porsche is busy making. Porsche have been spotted testing the yet-to-be-released 718 Cayman GT4 RS extensively in recent months, and the new "gloriously naturally aspirated" 992 911 GT3 is poised for a 2021 debut, Carfection reveals.

But don't mind us: we're still buzzing from our 992 Turbo S experience at Sydney Airport last October...

Bondi Rescue Star’s Sage Advice To Help Improve Physical & Mental Strength

December 31, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Placing yourself somewhere outside your comfort zone is a hurdle many of us face. Whether it be for necessary reasons such as having to relocate for a new job or slightly unnecessary (but equally important) reasons such as throwing yourself off a high bridge attached to a bungee rope, summoning up the courage and mental strength is often easier said than done.

Other than just psyching yourself up and seeing others complete a task to great success, one way you can help to alter your way of thinking lies with the way you breathe. The practice of breathwork is hardly new, and we've seen high-profile names such as Joe Rogan and Laird Hamilton singing its praises (it's also earned Dutch athlete Wim Hof earn himself the nickname 'The Iceman').

However, it could be argued that these people have the time to focus on such practices, what if you're someone who is completely new to the topic but are curious about its benefits? DMARGE spoke to Dean Gladstone, one of Bondi Beach's most famous lifeguards, qualified personal trainer and Wim Hof coach – he was also the man enlisted to help SAS: Australia star Shannan Ponton to overcome some major hurdles during the reality show – to dig a little deeper into breathwork and to find out how beginners can get started.

Dean starts by pointing out that we could have all been practising breathwork to some degree, perhaps without even knowing it.

"I count swimming as breathwork", he begins, "and I have been swimming since I was 5, but I started yoga at 22 and about 12 years ago as a health coach, I was focusing on how breathing mechanics have an influence on the nervous system."

To this, Dean is referring the role the diaphragm has one our entire body. A 2018 article by Bordoni et al. says, "The functions of the diaphragm do not stop locally in its anatomy, but affect the whole body system."

"It can be called systemic breath."

The report goes into great detail (which may not make complete sense to those without biology majors) but it goes on to say that "reduction of oxygen caused by the diaphragmatic dysfunction affect the patient's cognitive function", ergo, healthy breathing can help improve the way our brain works.

Back to Dean. He goes on to say that "there is always room for improvement" when it comes to breathwork and that nobody can ever truly master it and for anyone looking to try their hand at it, it can always be difficult to put a time scale on how long until you can be considered competent.

"I work holistically with people, so it's hard to say exactly how long things will take but I do see great improvements in 4-10 weeks with most people."

So what are the first steps we can take into improving our breathwork? It can be as simple as spending a few moments just focusing on how you're breathing in your day to day life.

"We breathe all day so improving this is functional breathing", Dean relates, "it's something I'm very passionate about within breathwork training, when we consciously breathe slowly, deeply and lightly, this influences how we breathe for the rest of the day."

"Subtle exercises can be done hourly in some cases to improve breathing for dysfunctional breathers."

"One of the great things about breathwork is that it can be done anytime, anywhere. You can do it when you are injured to improve recovery and if you do the right breathwork it can help maintain fitness."

Indeed, recovery breathing can have multiple benefits on the body, whether you're recovering from an injury or just want to reduce the amount of time it takes to recover after an intense workout.

Bill Hartman, owner of IFAST Physical Therapy says,

"When it comes to optimising movement and recovery, the two most crucial pieces of the performance 'puzzle', nothing is more important than breathing mechanics."

"Respiration is the most underutilized and overlooked aspect of movement and recovery because it is the foundation that allows all other subsystems to thrive."

He cites Dr Karel Lewit as saying, "If breathing is not normalised, no other movement pattern can be."

We've already written about how Joe Rogan works to improve his breathing and how it allows him to rid himself of his "inner b**ch", thus improving his mental strength.

"Then when it starts to suck I take the AirPods out and I start breathing. 6 seconds in deep and 6 seconds out. I get my rhythm and I try to think of nothing but my breath."

If you want to engage in the practice of breathwork, Dean has created an online course which also helps to break down the various aspects of breathwork training, some of which may be more applicable to you than others.

"In the course, we do yoga breathing, functional breathing, high CO2 work and intermittent hypoxic training and more."

"It all depends on what people want and need, for example, I work with athletes and I also work people that are suffering from stress disorders and the breathwork for each is extremely different."

One Of A Kind BMW B3 Alpina Lands In Australia

December 30, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Performance cars are kind of like burgers. They're tasty, can be quite bad for you (well, your wallet at least) and you can add all sorts of toppings to them if you really want to pig out. Is an Audi not enough for you? Why not get the S model, or the RS model if you're feeling extra hungry for horsepower?

Even more performance car delights can be found if you leave a brand's showroom, too. While most performance marques have their own in-house 'go fast' divisions (Fiat has Abarth, Mercedes-Benz has AMG, Nissan has Nismo, etc.) some are also served by tuning companies who specialise in their brand's vehicles. Ford has Shelby, Honda has Mugen, Porsche has RUF... You get the idea.

BMW is easily the most complicated when it comes to this sort of thing. Not only do their have their own in-house performance tuner, BMW M, but then they're also looked after by multiple tuning houses, such as AC Schnitzer and G-Power, who add their own brand of special sauce.

But the absolute cream of the crop; the burger with the works when it comes to BMWs (or tuning houses in general) is Alpina. Rare as hen's teeth even in their home country of Germany, it's always exciting when we hear of one of these insane cars making its way Down Under.

Which is why we're here today: in a rare piece of good news to cap off 2020, BMW Sydney has just brought the very first – and so far only – Alpina B3 Touring to Australia.

[caption id="attachment_279799" align="alignnone" width="861"] Those six letters make all the difference. Image: LinkedIn[/caption]

For those of you not in the know, Alpina is one of the OG German tuning houses, and arguably the most respected. In their 55-year history, they've only ever worked on BMWs – a real point of difference which speaks to their BMW expertise – and have a particularly unique relationship with the Bavarian brand.

Despite being a separate company, Alpina's processes are integrated into BMW's production lines, which also means that they're classified as a manufacturer instead of just a motorsports tuner. In fact, a weird quirk about Alpina cars is that they have two VINs: firstly, BMW makes the donor chassis, which is given a VIN, and then Alpina modifies the car, crosses out the old VIN, and stamps in their own. Alpinas also have their own unique badging which replaces the BMW badge on their cars: a crest with a carby and a crankshaft, a nod to their motorsport heritage.

Basically, BMW M models and Alpinas get made on the same assembly line... But then they go in very different directions. Where BMW's M division, which is just a subsidiary of BMW itself, has a track-focused philosophy, Alpina likes to do things a little differently.

They put more emphasis on luxury, higher torque, and often come to different conclusions about how to achieve power gains. All Alpina models are turbocharged (not all M cars are), and Alpina likes to install their own manumatic transmissions. Despite their more luxury-focused direction, Alpinas regularly outperform their M brothers – so you get all the spice as well as all the creature comforts with an Alpina. They're simply the ultimate BMWs. And we'd argue the B3 Touring is the best car Alpina's ever made.

[caption id="attachment_279800" align="alignnone" width="920"] Check out the Alpina-exclusive rims and the subtle Alpina graphic that frames the B3's silhouette. Image: LinkedIn[/caption]

Look at this handsome devil. It's based on the seventh-generation BMW 3 Series but makes 55 more kW compared to BMW's hottest in-house version of the car, the M340i Touring (340kW vs. 285kW) despite using the same powerplant, the twin-turbo 3.0L B58 inline-six.

Sure, BMW M's new M3 (and its coupe version, the M4) are more powerful than the B3 Touring (the standard M3/M4 making 353kW and the Competition models making 375kW). But the B3 beats them hands-down in the luxury department, benefitting from a hand-stitched Lavalina leather and wood-grain interior. More importantly, it beats them when it comes to practicality – there's no M3 wagon being sold Down Under, or anywhere for that matter. At least, not yet...

Hell, the M340i Touring that we compared the B3 Touring to just before – which commentators have called 'the closest thing to an M3 wagon' – isn't even sold in Australia. The best we get is the 330i Touring which only makes 190kW from its turbo four-cylinder. Thankfully, the B3 fills that fast wagon void in BMW's lineup.

In short, the B3 Touring is more comfortable, more practical, and faster than the competition, while also being far kinder on the eyes (not only do the Alpina graphics and badging look great, but the B3 Touring doesn't have the divisive 'nostril' grille the upcoming M3 wagon will be cursed with). Hungry yet?

[caption id="attachment_279802" align="alignnone" width="900"] A peek under the hood. Image: Autocar[/caption]

This rare beastie has already been delivered to what we can only imagine are some very happy customers, so don't go running out to try and pick it up. But the fact that one even made its way Down Under is good news.

We're big fans of fast wagons here at DMARGE, so getting even one of these cool cars on our streets is a win. Fingers crossed it's the first of many that BMW Australia will bring to showrooms in the new year – or, if they can't get enough Alpinas to meet demand, they'll start offering their hotter 3 Series wagons to fill the void... It's called optimism, people.

In the meantime, we'll gaze on lovingly and be very happy on behalf of its new owners. Viel Glück.

Conor McGregor Works Up A Sweat In ‘Over The Top’ $1,500 Robe

December 30, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

For such a rough-and-tumble kinda guy, Conor McGregor dresses surprisingly well.

While the Irishman certainly has a penchant for gaudy luxury brands and lavish spending (particularly when it comes to his watch collection) he holds his own when it comes to fashion. Case in point: this slick double denim fit – or his consistently stylish suiting game.

But just like his fighting record, he's by no means undefeated. Sometimes he lets his worst impulses get the best of him, like with this "Billi no mates" Gucci ensemble he decided to wear to the pub earlier this month.

His latest style move has got fashion fans divided, too. As part of a social media storm ahead of his next fight, the 32-year-old self-described "face of the fight game" shared a photo of himself inside an MMA octagon, wearing a $1,500 Versace 'Crete de Fleur' cotton robe over the top of some Under Armour compression shorts, his hands all strapped up, ready to brawl.

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A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma)

Wearing a Versace robe in the ring is the clothing equivalent of dabbing away your sweat with a bundle of cash. It's one hell of a statement.

It's not the first time McGregor has indulged in some big-ticket casualwear. Earlier this year he was spotted casually traipsing around Monaco in a $3,400 David August tracksuit and unironically donning Dolce & Gabbana for a gym session. Must be nice being a millionaire...

McGregor's social media blitz, of which this Versace flex is a part, is all part of the mindgames and preparation the brawler is known for ahead of a tumble. McGregor is hard at work training for his first fight in over a year, scheduled to take on American brawler Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 on January 23.

In other news, social media star (and professional sneaker ruiner) Jake Paul has also challenged 'The Notorious' to a boxing match, offering him $50 million to step into the ring against him – but McGregor’s yet to comment on that prospect.

Cristiano Ronaldo Officially Passes On His Million Dollar Taste In Watches To His Son

December 30, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Football is filled with big stars and even bigger personalities, but none come close to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo is arguably the greatest football player of all time, a lofty claim that many football fans would be quick to dispute. What's harder to argue with is his bank balance, as he is undoubtedly the highest-earning football player in history.

Indeed, Ronaldo's real treasures aren't the trophies in his gigantic cabinet or the value he brings to any team he plays on... No, it's the frankly outlandish purchases he spends his billions on. In particular, he's got a decidedly 'unique' taste in watches – and by unique, we mean unbelievably gaudy.

Now it seems he's passed that taste in timepieces on to his son, 10-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo Jnr. Father brought son along to front the cameras at the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony in Dubai yesterday – there to pick up the gong for 'Player of the Century' – both Ronaldos showing off some rather expensive wrist candy while they were at it.

Senior once again chose to rock his 1 of 1 Franck Muller Cintrée Tourbillon (worth around 1.5 million USD), but Junior joined The Flog Watch Party with an iced-out Rolex GMT-Master II (worth about half a million USD as well).

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A post shared by Superwatchman (@superwatchman)

Now, a father buying a nice watch for his son is one of those heartwarming, time-honoured traditions; a special part of growing up. Indeed, one only has to think of one of the most successful marketing slogans of the last two decades – "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation."

Ronaldo has taken this idea to a truly unnatural conclusion, though. Who on earth thinks giving a 10-year-old a watch worth half a million big ones is a reasonable idea? Most of us would be quite happy with a Tissot, thank you very much. Or a Patek, if we're really going to live up to the slogan.

But with great power comes great responsibility. Or tacky, expensive watches, in this instance. If Ronaldo Jnr is really going to live up to his father's name, he needs to start cultivating a taste for the 'finer things' alongside his football skills.

While Ronaldo Snr's watch is decidedly more expensive than his son's, both pieces are made from 18ct white gold and feature baguette-cut diamonds. Oh, and because a watch covered in diamonds wasn't enough, Jnr also rocked a diamond chain. No such thing as spoiling someone for love, apparently.

‘Outrageous’ American Alcohol Loophole Australians Will Never Get To Enjoy

December 29, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Americans think of themselves as hard-drinking, hard-partying people, but the reality is far more sedate.

According to the World Health Organisation, the United States sits at #48 in the list of world's biggest drinkers, below countries like Canada (#40), the UK (#25), Germany (#23) and even Australia (#19). At least they beat China, who sits at #89... Russia comes in at #4, however.

But if you break it down by US state, things get more complicated. Utah, which drinks the least out of any US states, would place at #111 if it was a country, below even Muslim-majority countries like Albania, Côte d'Ivoire, Lebanon or Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to federal statistics. On the other end of the spectrum, America's biggest drinking state, New Hampshire, would unseat Belarus as the world's #1 alcohol consumer per capita if it too was a country.

That's surprising considering how tough alcohol laws are in the US. Not only do you have to be over 21 to purchase alcohol, but many states still have 'dry counties' where you can't purchase alcohol at all (such as Moore County in Tennessee, which ironically is home to top-selling whiskey distillery Jack Daniel's) as well as strict open container laws...

Except for Louisiana, which benefits from a bizarre loophole that's created a unique drinking culture in the partying Southern state that doesn't exist anywhere else in America, and we're sure would be quickly adopted by Australians if the laws let us.

Enter the drive-thru daiquiri: basically, an alcoholic slushie that you don't even have to leave your car to buy.

The New Orleans or Louisiana 'daiquiri' has little in common with the style of cocktails that it shares a name with. Usually, they're a vibrant mix of fruit flavours and strong neutral spirits, with creative names like 'Swamp Juice' or a 'Booty Call'.

Cheap, potent and tasty, there's daiquiri bars all over the state, and it's quite common for people to buy them by the gallon for parties or street gatherings. The drive-thru takes the convenient nature of the daiquiri to the next level, by offering fast-food-like service for the party-starting drink.

"It’s generally accepted that the first drive-thru daiquiri stand opened in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1981," The Kitchn relates, as Louisiana had no laws against drinking and driving at the time. (It's still legal to walk the streets with an open drink container, as long as it's not made of glass or metal – styrofoam and plastic is okay).

"Luckily, Louisiana has since caught up to other states on the whole 'no drinking and driving' thing, and you’re no longer allowed to have open containers of alcohol in a moving vehicle... [but] the law doesn’t apply to 'any bottle, can, or other receptacle that contains any amount of frozen alcoholic beverage unless the lid is removed or a straw protrudes through the lid.'"

"In other words: the drinks have to be frozen, and the straws must be provided on the side, meaning that the containers are technically 'closed' as long as they have lids. If that seems like a fine line, well, it is. But given the enduring popularity of the drive-thru daiquiri, it’s a line that probably won’t be going anywhere any time soon."

[caption id="attachment_279624" align="alignnone" width="600"] Perfectly legal in Louisiana. Image: The Battalion[/caption]

Louisiana, and particularly its biggest city New Orleans, is well-known around the United States and the world for its unique culture which blends 18th-century French, Italian, Haitian, Spanish, French Canadian, Native American, and African influences.

New Orleans in particular has a reputation as a party town, thanks to its thriving musical and cultural scene, as well as the aforementioned laissez-faire approach to alcohol consumption. Indeed, the unofficial state motto is "laissez les bons temps rouler" (a Cajun French translation of the English phrase "let the good times roll") reflects the carefree attitude of the city and the state.

Drive-thru daiquiris then can be seen as a natural extension of the wild, good times-focused culture of the area, as well as a novel solution to dealing with the humid Southern heat.

Australia is also a bloody hot place, and we Aussies are similarly carefree (plus we love a drink). Another American warm-weather alcohol trend – the rise of hard seltzers – has also found its way Down Under, so it would be easy to imagine drive-thru daiquiris really taking off here, if only the law allowed it.

Indeed, the drive-thru daiquiri stand might not even survive much longer in Louisiana, thanks to the devastating effect of the COVID-19 crisis this year. As Vanity Fair reports, The Bat Kiss has crippled the local economy, which relies on hospitality and tourism. Naturally, drive-thru daiquiri stands have had to close down too, as they're an obvious vector for disease transmission.

Even in 2020, Louisiana and New Orleans have yet to get back on their feet from 2005's Hurricane Katrina. COVID-19 has only made things difficult, and it's hard to see how drive-thru daiquiris – vulnerable small businesses – will survive this year.

Fingers crossed this unique facet of American culture will survive this year. Worst case scenario, we can start spiking our 7-11 Slurpees.

Emirates Gives Australian Business Travellers Something To Look Forward To In 2021

December 29, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

2020's been a grim year for Australians when it comes to travel.

Not only have we been prevented from travelling internationally, but domestic travel has also been severely curtailed thanks to border closures and the prospect of hotel quarantine deterring travellers. While there's a light at the end of the tunnel for some states, the recent Sydney COVID-19 cluster has got us feeling like we've taken one step forward, two steps back.

According to Health Minister Greg Hunt, the Australian overseas travel ban is expected to be in place until 17 March 2021. On top of that, our national carrier Qantas has also announced that they'll be requiring passengers to have a COVID-19 vaccine if they want to board an international flight – and seeing as the vaccine rollout hasn’t started yet, things are still up in the air.

So it seems most Aussies won't see the inside of a plane for a little while. Thankfully, Emirates has come in clutch with an exciting new announcement that'll give us something to look forward to once international air travel becomes a reality once again.

The Dubai-based airline just revealed their overhauled Airbus A380 in-flight experience, unveiling a new premium economy offering as well as enhancements across every cabin offering. Emirates has never offered premium economy before, so it's a big move for the well-regarded airline.

[caption id="attachment_279765" align="alignnone" width="920"] The classy wood features in premium economy.[/caption]

Their new premium economy cabin, which offers 56 seats in a 2-4-2 cabin layout, is sure to be an absolute paradigm shift. Not only do they boast a generous pitch of up to 40 inches, but Emirates’ premium economy seat is also 19.5 inches wide, and reclines 8 inches into a comfortable cradle position with ample room to stretch out.

The premium economy seats are supercar-level luxurious – a somewhat appropriate aesthetic for an airline from the supercar capital of the world. The luxurious cream-coloured anti-stain leather seats have stitching details that almost evoke a Bentley Continental GT or Genesis GV80's comfy buckets, the lashings of wood panelling only heightening the luxury car comparison.

Business class on Emirates' A380s has also seen an aesthetic refresh in line with the business class on Emirates’ Boeing 777 Gamechanger planes, but considering how good premium economy looks, we wonder if it's even worth splashing out for the upgrade. There's no details on the pricing for premium economy yet, so we'll reserve our judgement until then.

They didn't forget about first class, with the 14 private first class suites on their A380s becoming slightly wider with taller doors, for even more privacy and comfort. Cabin detail and finishes have also been refreshed with new motifs and colours, from the sweeping stairs that lead from the main deck to the upper deck, to refreshed design trims and modern fittings in their famous Shower Spa – a lavish offering that Emirates has become famous for.

Finally, Emirates' already quite respectable A380 economy offering has also seen a subtle upgrade, with new ergonomically designed seats that come with full leather headrests and flexible side panels. All cabin classes are equipped with the latest generation of Emirates’ award-winning 'ice' inflight entertainment system, too.

[caption id="attachment_279767" align="alignnone" width="920"] Emirates' A380 onboard lounge. Wonder if he knows how to mix a Swift...[/caption]

"The Emirates A380 is already one of the most sought-after travel experiences in the skies, and now we’ve made it even better," Emirates Airlines President Sir Tim Clark relates.

"While others cut back, Emirates is working hard to restore the products and services that we’ve had to suspend or adjust due to pandemic precautions, and introduce new offerings and enhancements. True to our fly better promise, Emirates continues to invest to offer our customers the best possible experience."

It's a bold move for the airline. While Emirates has garnered praise for their approach to COVID-19 safety this year, they – like virtually all airlines – will have no doubt had a rough 2020. Fingers crossed this new premium economy will help them bounce back into 2021.

Emirates has a particularly strong presence in Australia, serving airports in our five biggest cities and flying to over 120 destinations across the world from the Land Down Under. That means we're better served by them than other big tourist destinations (and sources) such as France, Germany, Italy or Japan.

While we'd love to get our bums in their new premium economy seats, we're just looking forward to travelling anywhere. Even Air Koryo would be tempting at this stage...

I Tried A Fake $9 ‘Fitbit’ For 7 Days With Very Surprising Results

December 29, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Today, we have unprecedented access to technology. With screens, buttons and microphones quite literally at our fingertips, we're not left wanting when it comes to daily, automated assistance.

A huge sector within the technology industry as a whole is fitness wearables. These small devices are worn on the wrist in place of – or as well as – a regular wristwatch, fitness wearables have the ability to tell us how fast our heart is beating, distances we've travelled, and can even provide messages of encouragement to keep us going when times get tough. While much has already been said of the ubiquitous Apple Watch (and its Android-toting rivals), one of the most recognisable names in the fitness wearable landscape is Fitbit.

Boasting a string of devices that offer accurate heart measurement among countless other features (including incredible battery life), if you're only concern is to track steps, your daily run or your heart rate, there aren't many better devices on the market for a similar price. Or are there?

Becoming increasingly smitten with online marketplace Wish (which we have previously used to source a convincing Richard Mille knock-off and an $80 smartphone), we once again perused the pages and found a $9 fitness wearable that looks alarmingly similar to the aforementioned Fitbit, yet had a price tag that seemed too good to be true (even the postage cost more). So, in the name of ~~masochism~~ journalism, we clicked buy and awaited our new purchase with vigour.

[caption id="attachment_279561" align="alignnone" width="920"] Pulling the strap apart reveals the USB connector and an easy way to change bands. Image: DMARGE[/caption]

First impressions were good. For a $9 device, the 'Wishbit' felt surprisingly well-made, rocking a silicone rubber strap (in our case, a red one) and a solid-feeling central unit. We needed to charge it before the first use and, assuming it charged in a similar way to the Fitbit (by way of a separate cable that housed a charging plate) we were a little confused since there was no such cable in the box. This is where the 'Wishbit', in our opinion, shines. The strap is removable, and upon pulling away the top portion, you're presented with a USB-A connector, meaning you plug the central unit directly into a USB plug to give it some juice. No more instances of mislaying cables around the house is incredibly good news in our book.

Like Fitbit, the 'Wishbit' has a companion app. We're not sure why, but we weren't able to create an account to sign into it (perhaps English instructions would have helped instead of the default Mandarin). However, you're still able to perform the majority of functions without. The app was still able to track our daily movements and workouts, and you can set a step goal for each day, and the device will vibrate once you reach it. Elsewhere, the app is surprisingly helpful and intuitive. You're able to make adjustments to settings on the device, such as choosing which apps can have their notifications mirrored, which hand you wear it on, and you can even use it as a remote to take a selfie from a distance. It works, too.

[caption id="attachment_279562" align="alignnone" width="920"] Fortunately, we consider ourselves to be tech-savvy and were able to figure out how to use the 'Wishbit' without too much instruction. Image: DMARGE[/caption]

The 'Wishbit' continues to belie its bestowed name by not only offering heart rate measurement – which, while never produced the same figures as our Fitbit Inspire 2, was never far off (we can't be sure which one is more accurate) – but also by monitoring your blood pressure level. This is something not offered by all Fitbit devices and again, while we can't quite vouch for its accuracy, does enough to provide some sort of greater indication of your overall health. If $9 could be the difference between knowing when you may need to go to the hospital sooner than anticipated, and keeling over, then it's money well spent if you ask us.

We did encounter a few minor niggles during our time wearing the convincing-from-a-glance device on our wrist. Firstly, it's not as comfortable as a Fitbit. While a rubber strap may be soft and flexible, it's cheap-ness does come into play. The buckle isn't nearly as soft as the one on our Fitbit, and it digs into the wrist a little too much to the point where we had to keep taking it off to offer our wrist some respite. Also, the screen itself isn't that amazing. Not impossible to see at all, but at the same time not entirely clear, not being able to quickly see the number of current steps at a glance proved to be one #FirstWorldProblem too far.

But, of course, you have to remember that this thing did cost just $9. Even a basic pair of passive headphones would set you back more than that, and they don't have a microcomputer inside, the ability to tell the time, track your steps and even monitor your heart rate. If you've been wanting to get yourself a fitness companion but don't yet want to dig deep to get yourself a Fitbit or any other device from the likes of Apple, Garman or Suunto, you can't really go wrong.

While those devices can effectively become personal trainers, offering encouragement and daily reminders to get up and get moving (the 'Wishbit' only has daily alarms and reminders to let you know when you've been sitting for too long) and they may be a little quicker to use in operation with much clearer screens, the 'Wishbit' offers plenty for a bargain price. For near-as-makes-no-difference step-tracking accuracy, a handsome design, solid battery life and features you would only expect of a more expensive device, we can genuinely recommend it.

Now we just need to think of a new nickname for it.

Shia LaBeouf Taunts Paparazzi With Yet Another Confronting Jogging Photo

December 29, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Fashion is a fickle thing.

There's so many unspoken rules – like which blazer buttons you're supposed to do up, how you shouldn't wear a patterned tie with a patterned shirt, how you're supposed to remove a suit's sleeve tag before you wear it... Or that you should never wear compression tights without shorts over the top.

Now, if you're a member of the fairer sex, then it's not so bad. Women can get away with it (although it doesn't mean they should – everyone knows an 'activewear mum' that ought to quit while they're ahead).

For men, though? It's arguably the ultimate men's fashion crime, worse than even socks with sandals. No-one's told Shia LaBeouf, however, who's somewhat of a repeat offender when it comes to compression tights sans shorts.

But like any habitual criminal, LaBeouf can't stop. He's addicted to this life of crime, and indeed he's doubled down with the distasteful exercise getup, spotted on the streets of Los Angeles with his girlfriend Margaret Qualley last week wearing the very same Nike compression tights as before – without shorts – plus rocking a greasy mullet and 'speed dealer' Oakley sunglasses.

[caption id="attachment_279752" align="alignnone" width="833"] Image: Getty[/caption]

Let's be honest here: he looks like the kind of dude who owns a jetski or would come up to you at a bus stop and ask you for $2.

But that's entirely the genius of his outfit: Shia just doesn't give a single f*ck any more. (Although maybe there are some things he really should care more about...)

It's also worth putting things in context. He's going for a run around the block, not attending a red carpet. Sure, if it was us, we'd probably ditch the sunnies and throw some shorts on, but to each their own, we suppose.

New Research Reveals Real Reason Your Attempts At Dieting Keep Failing

December 29, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

We feel pretty safe to say that if you think about the words 'Americans' and 'dieting' in the same sentence, the outcome will almost always be negative. Large portions, fast food takeaways and a nonchalant attitude towards exercise is the (stereotypical) American way, so it may not be all that surprising to learn that many Americans who attempt to put themselves onto a diet, fail.

The world isn't short of dieting fads, whether it be a ketogenic, carnivore or even a Mediterranean diet, we're not exactly left wanting when it comes to being told what we should or shouldn't eat in the pursuit of weight loss.

Now, new research conducted by OnePoll has unearthed some of the reasons why that is the case. A participant group of 2,000 Americans who had all admitted to going on a diet within the last five years uncovered the fact that many of them had, in fact, attempted four diets in that time period "and quit prematurely during half of them."

The biggest dealbreaker? "Restrictive eating."

Naturally, with many diets, you have to either limit the amount of food eaten or completely change the foods you already eat with much healthier options. Seemingly unaware of this, 37 per-cent of the survey group failed at their attempt to diet because cutting out favourite foods 'drove them crazy'.

73% of the 2,000 said giving in to the temptation of junk food, in general, was the main cause for them not sticking to their dieting goals, while 69 per-cent said they called it a day because they weren't seeing results soon enough.

I’m going on a diet tomorrow. So I have to eat all the junk food in my house tonight.

— Areola Grande (@uhhhhhoksure) September 30, 2018

Of course, dieting by its very definition means to restrict eating or to change your eating habits in order to lose weight. But you can't always expect to see major results overnight. The rate at which you lose weight will vary from person to person. If you have a low BMI (your body mass index derived from dividing your weight by your height to give a result that determines if you're underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese) then you'll start your diet with a low weight in the first place.

This means you have less weight to lose, so you're unlikely to see huge differences on the scales in the first few weeks of your new eating regime. If you're on the larger side, however, your body will react more drastically to the sudden change and you should start to see the pounds drop off at a much faster rate.

At least, that is if you're actually able to stick to a diet – and considering 67 per-cent of the survey group said that as soon as they failed to stick to theirs for a brief period, they became so frustrated they gave up – it's likely this trait is shared by many other aspiring weight losers.

Indeed, this frustration can lead to stress, which, as we've written about before, can also be a deciding factor in one's ability to lose or maintain weight. High stress levels can inhibit weight loss, whilst lower stress levels can aid it.

Dieting alone won't provide all the ingredients for sustained weight loss either – and that is even if you're able to stick to your meal plan, which can become 'boring' after some time – as it would need to be followed in line with an exercise program. You may find that a reduction in carbohydrates will make you appear slimmer, but you're more likely to be losing water weight as opposed to body fat, something working out can certainly help with.

But, as the OnePoll study found, a new eating regime is more likely to be followed if calorie intake is tracked (53%) which, understandably, is easier said than done – something I can personally vouch for – but many of the respondents agreed that using a calorie tracking app made the process much easier.

Ultimately, committing to losing weight is just as much of a psychological battle as it is a physical one. If you have the strength to rid your life of junk foods for a consistent amount of time, you will overcome one of the biggest obstacles and will find losing weight to be a much more enjoyable experience.

Forgotten 1990s ‘Mad Men’ Airline May Hold The Solution To Australia’s Aviation Crisis

December 28, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

2020 is almost over, but we're not out of the woods yet. With The Bat Kiss (and the economic devastation it's heaped on us) still ravaging the world, the start of 2021 is looking to be just as uncertain as the rest of this year gone past.

While virtually all industries and sectors of the Australian economy have suffered this year, a particular loser has been the airline industry. Australia has some of the toughest travel restrictions in the world: not only are Australians virtually forbidden from leaving the country right now, but even domestic air travel has been severely reduced thanks to border closures and the prospect of hotel quarantine deterring travellers.

With Qantas' international fleet still grounded and Virgin Australia still on shaky ground, the industry is holding its breath. Clearly, some blue sky thinking is required to help the Australian airline industry get back on its feet – and there's one bizarre aviation story from the 90s that, if we look past its superficially absurd nature, could be a shot in the arm for Australian airlines.

In the 80s and 90s, airlines and transportation agencies around the world started seriously clamping down inflight smoking, something that previously used to be common on both domestic and international flights. Two Florida businessmen, frustrated by domestic smoking bans, decided to do something about it, and started an airline imaginatively called Smokers Express.

The airline originally intended to fly to 11 different US destinations including Houston, Las Vegas and New Orleans, and as you can probably guess, would allow you to smoke as much as you like on flights. On top of that, they even planned to hand out free cigarettes, ashtrays, headphones and lottery tickets; serve "real food for real people", such as proper hamburgers, pizza, and steaks; and promised no screaming babies by restricting flights to only those 21 and older.

But focusing on the almost cartoonish, 'Mad Men'-esque pitch of Smokers Express would be to miss the real genius of the airline, which was in their business model.

[caption id="attachment_279743" align="alignnone" width="920"] Image: Florida Today[/caption]

In order to get around the Federal Aviation Administration's restrictions on inflight smoking, Smokers Express was intended to be a membership-based airline, technically making it a sort of travel club instead of a traditional airline. Customers would have been required to join and pay a $25 yearly fee, which would have funded the airline.

That's the kicker: the idea of a membership model for airlines. It's a novel concept and one that could be a gamechanger for struggling Australian airlines.

Picture it: you pay an annual membership fee to an airline in return for cheaper airfares. It's a win-win: the airlines get money up-front (which might help them weather industry-destroying events like a global pandemic) and you don't have to spend countless hours messing around on airfare comparison websites in order to find a cheap ticket.

So why didn't Smokers Express succeed? In the end, they went up in a puff of smoke because they didn't spend any money on advertising and weren't able to secure enough membership money to get them off the ground... But if an airline that's already properly established started their own yearly membership or subscription program – and supported it with advertising and capital – it could actually work.

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This sort of funding model is hardly alien when it comes to the travel industry. Timeshares have been a gamechanger for money-savvy holidaymakers ever since they became widespread in the 60s and 70s, and ridesharing businesses like GoGet also operate on a membership model. Hell, Qantas already offers an airport lounge yearly membership program. Why not do the same for flights?

Another good comparison is Costco, the world's second-largest retailer and largest warehouse club. The lion's share of Costco's profit margin actually comes from their annual membership fees as opposed to on the goods they sell. It's a business model that could work very well for airlines: keep overheads down, lock customers in, and benefit from word-of-mouth advertising.

Of course, Smokers Express didn't succeed, but the idea could work if you focused more on cheap airfares than skirting anti-smoking laws. It's a pie-in-the-sky idea for sure, but if 2020 has taught businesses anything, it's that you need to be innovative.

The other idea that Smokers Express had was to offer advertising on the sides of their planes, like buses or Formula One cars. But that's a whole other discussion...

Things are still looking grim for Australian airlines. According to Health Minister Greg Hunt, the Australian overseas travel ban is expected to be in place until 17 March 2021. Qantas has also announced that they are requiring passengers to have had the COVID-19 vaccine if they want to board an international flight – and seeing as the vaccine rollout hasn't started yet, things are still up in the air. No pun intended.

‘Good Bloke’ Russell Crowe Answers The Question On Every Watch Geek’s Lips

December 28, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

Australia has a habit of claiming other countries' citizens as our own, especially when it comes to actors. Sam Neill, Mel Gibson, Hugo Weaving... But one man we're particularly shameless about claiming is Russell Crowe, who might just be the most Aussie non-Aussie on the planet.

Not only has 'Rusty' lived most of his life in Australia (indeed, he lives in Sydney and owns multiple properties across the country) but he's given millions of dollars to Australian charities and owns a substantial stake in the NRL's South Sydney Rabbitohs. He even had a short stint on the iconic soap opera Neighbours – how much more Aussie can you get?

Something else that makes him quintessentially Aussie (although you could just as easily argue it's just as much a Kiwi trait as well) is his down-to-earth nature. Case in point: this heart-warming interaction he had with a fan on Twitter yesterday.

After writer and watch nut Daniel Gullotta guessed what timepiece Crowe was wearing in 2020 action thriller Unhinged – a Shinola Runwell Chrono – Crowe jumped in to confirm Gullota's call, sparking off a wholesome exchange that's delighted fans all over social media.

I’m not crying, you’re crying! pic.twitter.com/fF8JnSTTKo

— Daniel N. Gullotta (@DanielGullotta) December 28, 2020

Celebrity watch-spotting is an underappreciated, thankless art. To have the celebrity in question chime in and confirm one's educated guess, as well as actually have a bit of a conversation with you, is a truly rare occurrence – and one that speaks volumes about Crowe's humble character. He's just a good bloke.

Founded in 2011, Shinola is a Detroit-based watch and luxury goods brand that was created with the intention of reigniting the American tradition of watchmaking and bringing jobs back to Detroit. While their watches are assembled in the United States, they use Swiss movements provided by Ronda (who also provide movements for brands including Baume & Mercier, Eterna and TAG Heuer).

The Runwell was the very first model Shinola ever came out with and is available in a wide variety of sizes, materials and complications. Crowe's is a 47mm chronograph model that almost looks like Shinola stuck an IWC Big Pilot and a Chopard Mille Miglia in a blender.

Unhinged tells the story of a single mum (played by Caren Pistorius) who is terrorized by a seemingly mentally-ill stranger (Crowe) following a road rage incident. Crowe seriously packed on the pounds to play the antagonist, Tom Cooper – a role that he absolutely nails, quite ironically. Ol' Rusty used to be known for his short temper, so the fact that he's happy to play such a role shows that he's got a sense of humour. Very meta.

Crowe is also set to appear alongside fellow Aussie-ish actor Sam Worthington (born in England!) in horror film The Georgetown Project, which is currently in post-production.

LeBron James Snapped Wearing Controversial Louis Vuitton Men’s Accessory Because 2020

December 28, 2020DMARGE, fashion, mens fasionNo comments

In Australia, we have the Boxing Day Test. In the US of A, they have the Christmas Day NBA game, which this year was between the LA Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks at the Laker's home turf, the Staples Centre.

While it's been a topsy-turvy year for the NBA – the last eight games of the regular season and the entire playoffs held at a specially-designed ‘NBA Bubble’ at Walt Disney World in Florida – something that's stayed consistent is how stylish the league's been.

Players both in and out of the bubble have been treating the pre-game tunnel walk-on like an impromptu catwalk and has been a potent source of style inspiration for fashion-starved men across the globe. Some notable outfits this year have included the Houston Rockets' P.J. Tucker flexing full Issey Miyake, the Washington Wizards' Russell Westbrook's rockabilly steez or the Lakers' Anthony Davis and his expert take on smart casual.

Another thing that's stayed consistent is LeBron James' prodigious basketball skill – and iconoclastic wardrobe. The Lakers phenom and candidate for GOAT status is also the GOAT when it comes to style, his Christmas Day ensemble no exception. James suited up in Tom Ford, with Lanvin sneakers on his feet and a Patek Philippe watch on his wrist, but topped off the fit with a surprising accessory: a small Louis Vuitton 'Volga' bag.

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James has steadily grown bolder when it comes to fashion over the years, and this small, clutch-sized bag marks another point not only in the evolution of his personal style, but in celebrity style more broadly.

It's no surprise that this bag is part of current LV creative director Virgil Abloh’s "Patchwork" Fall-Winter 2020-21 collection. Since joining the illustrious French brand in 2018, Abloh has had a huge effect on the fashion and luxury world. His tenure at LV has seen the brand go from strength to strength; his influence seeing the once-disparate worlds of streetwear and haute couture blend together seamlessly in a way that's never been done before.

Part of Abloh's genius has been injecting the highly masculine, po-faced world of streetwear with the levity and gender-blending impulses of haute couture. Ten years ago, you wouldn't see an NBA player dare wear Lanvin, let alone carry a clutch into a game.

Social media aren't entirely fans of LeBron's 'purse', but the fact that he's out there taking a risk stylistically speaks volumes to his character and style – as well as Abloh's influence on modern celebrity style. Personally, we're all for it.

Something social media have found harder to argue with was the Laker's convincing 138 - 115 takedown of the mavericks, with James alone scoring 22 of those points.

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