There’s always one guy in any extended group that loves to push the boundaries. They’re often the funniest, they’re almost always the loudest, sometimes you wish you could be just like them, and most of the time you don’t.

So why hang out with them? This could be a question posed to you by yourself, or a significant other not exactly thrilled at the prospect of you being dragged into a weekend-long bender.

Nonetheless, that “bad influence” friend can have a better impact on your bromance than you’d expect, for 4 key reasons.

They’re Doers

If there’s one thing that self-help books get right, it’s professing the fact that the most successful people in most walks of life are invariably “doers”.

This obviously means one thing in the context of business and professional life, but it’s often something that translates pretty well when determining whether to go and talk to a girl, or take up a new hobby.

While we don’t condone “just do it” turning into “just do that extra shot”, the friend who approaches life with less caution than most can be a particularly strong driving force when you do need to force your way out of a rut.

They Can Help You Deal With Change

There’s a reason every break up film has that one character who’s more wild than the rest. Part of being a so-called “doer” is the ability to adapt.

This means that they’re not only instigators of change, but also have the ability to deal with rapidly changing situations themselves (even if they are a result of impulsive or irrational behaviour in the first place).

This is something every man can use to his advantage when navigating the tumultuous terrain of modern life, love and work. Within this comes a lesson though. When choosing whether a “bad-influence” friend is worth keeping, see how they react when presented with adversity.

If they thrive in change, chances are they can help you thrive as well.

You’re Providing A Mutual Outlet For One Another

It doesn’t matter who you are, everyone needs to blow off some steam at one point or another. Whether you’re getting a little bored with domestic bliss or you’re feeling the pressure at work, there’s no one better to release with than that one guy who sometimes gets a little more outrageous than you’re normally used to.

Often, you’ll find that that friend is often going through exactly the same thing. Doesn’t mean you have to talk about it or even acknowledge it, but finding someone who you can let loose with once in a while can be invaluable for pretty much everyone’s mental health.

Balance, Ultimately, Is Key

Balance is a word thrown around far too much these days, mainly by fitness Instagrammers trying to justify the kilo of chocolate and wine they just devoured.

That being said, everyone needs some semblance of balance in your life, and it’s incredibly easy to assume that you’ve attained a state of balance because you’ve surrounded yourself with calm, like-minded people to yourself.

Ask yourself if this is really the case though, because a little soul searching may find that you need a spot of Yang to bring some harmony to the thoroughly Yin environment you’ve set up for yourself.

It sounds wanky, we know, but adding a little chaos into your life every now and then can do a world of good.

Where To Draw The Line…

20 Signs You May Be A Wanker

The post Why Every Man Needs A Friend Who's A Bad Influence appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

You’ve officially been warned, gentlemen. They’re called dirty shoes and we suggest you cease championing them effective immediately.

The dirty sneaker used in a formal situation is the epitome of a no f*cks given to style, a corny dab to the ‘she’ll be right’ movement which has reverted a many respectable men to slobs. Take these next few examples of celebrity men for example. All of them have potential and some even pedigree (except the guy who opted for no shoes and the world has now forgotten – see what we mean).

Their only crime against acceptable men’s dress sense? Those damn sneakers which look like they’ve gone on a mission to save Private Ryan, failed, and ended up on the red carpet.

Checkout the gallery to see what we mean then see some of the f*ccbois who recently took over Paris Fashion Week.

The post Go From Stylish To Slob With This One Little Mistake appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There’s nothing like a romantic holiday for two or a rager with the boys, but sometimes your wanderlust demands a different kind of adventure. Solo travel is an increasingly popular option for intrepid explorers, a trend that Airbnb found reflected in its user data.

“A growing number of home bookings are for individual travellers,” said the site recently. In the trendiest cities, Airbnb reports that “anywhere from 14% to 27% of all bookings are made by solo travellers.”

And why not? You are your own best travel buddy. You know exactly what kind of hotel you like to stay in, what kind of food you like to eat, whether you prefer sightseeing or just visiting local hangs… and you never have to worry about whether your travel habits will end your relationship. It’s a whole lot easier to enjoy mai tais on the beach when you’re not worried a breakup is on the horizon.

Airbnb compiled a list of the most in-demand solo travel destinations based on recent bookings. You’ll find the winning cities in the gallery above.

RELATED: The Top Destinations For Men Travelling Solo

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The covers have been pulled off this year’s latest precious metal from the Goodwood Festival of Speed and it’s only fair that we run you through some of the standout debuts so that you can start saving some chump change.

From Porsche to BMW to Lego (you read right), these are the cars that made a bit of noise at this year’s show.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Another day, another one of Porsche’s most powerful 911s ever breaks cover. This particular one in question is the leaked 2018 911 GT2 RS, which features some serious race car credentials in the form of extensive carbon fibre work, a half roll cage and Weissach badging throughout – the location of Porsche’s fabled test track which hints at the upgraded speed package.

Spec are still under wraps but expect this one to be a serious beast given the body work which is an angrier version of the GT3 RS.

Rolls-Royce Black Badge Dawn

A new chapter in the Black Badge Series has arrived with the Dawn model now joining the Wraith and Ghost in a mission to capture the younger market. Marking this special model will be a special deep hue found on the other two cars which promises to be one of the most intense blacks ever witnessed by the human eye.

Even the Spirit of Ecstasy badge is given the black chrome treatment but its the level of personalisation which the British marque if hoping will attract buyers. The latest Dawn receives a power boost in the form of a 6.6-litre turbo V12 which now delivering 442kW whilst the driving feel has been refined through suspension tweaks and the gear box to deliver a more dynamic driving experience. How dynamic? Try 0 – 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

BMW X5 M & X6 M Black Fire Edition

You know what they say: Once you go black…oh would you look at that, BMW have released two separate black editions of the X5 M and X6 M. The murdered out pair named ‘Black Fire Editions’ feature striking Sapphire Black metallic paint, carbon-fibre mirror covers, black 21-inch forged M alloy wheels and the all-important black chrome front grille.

The interior also receives an update with black merino leather trim contrasted against red everywhere before topped off with an M Performance Alcantara steering wheel. Those looking for a bump in power will be disappointed though with the cars packing the same M-spec 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engines as the standard X5 M and X6 M which is good for 423kW and 750Nm of torque. That’s enough to send the cars to 100km/h in 4.2s.  

Aston Martin Vulcan AMR Pro

The insanely expensive and elusive Vulcan just got even wilder. And that says a lot considering the standard version is a track-only vehicle from the British outfit. The latest AMR Pro variant sees a list of aerodynamic upgrades in the form of bigger downforce body panels for even more grip at high speed and a 5kg lighter front end.

And you’re not seeing things – that rear wing is also bigger now and features a dual plane layout with adjustable angle of attack. So essentially the speed comes from aero rather than the already highly-wound V12 spitting out 612kW of power.

In equally cool news from the brand, they’ve also added a DB11 in a twin-turbo V8 version to the existing V12. See it in action below. 

McLaren 720S Lego Edition

Okay so it’s not exactly a real car but some lunatic at McLaren decided to build a 1:1 scale model of an actual 720S and it’s as insane as it sounds. The magic of it though is that the builders have intentionally left the model unfinished so that Goodwood visitors can help out. In stats that’s 267,300 bricks already used with another 12,700 remaining for guests to contribute. Once finished the blocky 720S which resembles a pixelated 720S will weight about 1.6 tonnes. And no, it’s not for sale. 

Worthy Mentions

McLaren 570S Spider

Breaking cover during the week ahead of the show was the drop-top baby McLaren which you can read more about here. 

Jaguar XE SV Project 8

There was also a similar story with Jaguar who unleashed their most powerful production car to date which you can see more of here.

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Not getting the results you want on Tinder? The company announced today the release of its most exclusive service to date, giving users another reason to swipe right on paying for the app. Meet Tinder Gold, now testing in Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Mexico.

With Tinder Gold, users receive a full suite of Tinder’s enhanced features: Passport, Rewind, Unlimited Likes, five Super Likes per day, one Boost per month, and more profile controls. The app is also launching a brand new feature for Gold that allows subscribers to see who has already swiped right on their profile, allowing you to decide immediately if you want to swipe left or match and message.

“Tinder Gold members are interested in taking advantage of all the features Tinder has to offer,” said Brian Norgard, Chief Product Officer at Tinder.

“They’re using the app to meet new people, and Likes You makes that easier and more efficient than ever by letting users know when someone is interested. Likes You builds on previous features like Boost to help users optimize their time – and go from matching in app to getting together in the real world,” he says.

Likes You matches will appear on the same screen as regular matches, in the first circle before matches’ individual profiles. The circle, which is rimmed in gold, will also display how many Likes you have. Tap it and you’ll be taken to a new screen that lays out all the profiles in a grid. From the grid you can swipe left or right on them, or tap to view more information. Those who have already liked you will have a gold heart icon by their name whether you’re in the grid or swiping through Tinder the standard way.

Tinder has not yet released pricing info for the members-only service. For existing Tinder Plus subscribers, it will reportedly only be a small additional fee beyond what they’re currently paying. Free users will also be able to upgrade to Tinder Gold, and as with Tinder Plus, the premium tier will be offered at a discount for those who opt to subscribe for longer periods of time.

Tinder Gold will roll out to the beta countries in the “coming days”, and if all goes well, should reach the rest of the world soon after.

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Picture a museum and odds are you imagine the Louvre – its glittering glass pyramid, the coy expression of the Mona Lisa – yet that iconic museum is no longer the world’s most visited. After four consecutive years with the Parisian institution on top, the 2016 Museum Index, which ranks the most popular museums in the world, has a new number one.This is the fifth year of the Museum Index from the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM. Museums face a tough competitor – as technology becomes ever-more ingrained in modern lives, entertainment and culture are increasingly available at home, with just a click of a button or a touch of a screen. Yet despite that accessibility, the top 20 museums hit a new high this year of 108 million attendees, exceeding the previous record by over one million guests.Leading the charge was the National Museum of China in Beijing, which saw nearly 7.6 million visitors and a 3.6% jump in attendance. The report attributes the increase to population size, free admission, and the museum’s location in the major tourist destination of Beijing.Washington, DC’s National Air and Space Museum also topped the Louvre, ranking second in attendance figures with 7.5 million visitors. The Louvre claimed the third spot with 7.4 million. Rounding out the top five are the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC (7.1 million) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (6.7 million).For the full list of the world’s 20 most popular museums in 2016, check out the gallery above.

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Yes, as in the sartorial suit. And the lining? Tactical. Okay, whilst it might not stop a flurry of bullets like John Wick’s attire, the Italian car maker’s first foray into fashion does come with some functional pedigree.Alfa Romeo teamed up with British suit company Hawes & Curtis to develop their all-weather high performance suit which is directly inspired by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The suit is made from a technical blend of Italian wool coated in water repellant to give it the ‘all-weather’ credentials.RELATED: 8 Coolest Vintage Alfa Romeos Of All TimeThe reasoning behind this unorthodox move into fashion comes as homage to the vehicle’s all-weather mode drive system which comes standard in the car alongside its ‘Natural’ and ‘Dynamic’ modes. The suit makers hope that their advanced suit will easily brave the eclectic London weather during the warmer seasons with rain still possible on hotter days.Alfa Romeo’s most dapper will also be treated to a host of accessories and suiting details including red contrast stitching, carbon fibre buttons, Alfa branded pocket square, cufflinks, lapel pin and tie bar.The bad news? It’s only a concept suit for now and Alfa have no plans to make it an off-the-rack item. Sad face-Italian hand gesture.Would you buy the Alfa Romeo suit? Watch the promo below and let us know.

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The night was set for a fine showcasing of the latest timepieces from TAG Heuer earlier this week at the watchmaker’s Sydney boutique store.

2017 Baselworld flagship pieces including the TAG Heuer AUTAVIA, the Connected Modular 45 and the Carrera Heuer-01 were the stars of the night as guests were shown the distinct relationship between watch and lifestyle. This included looking at the multitude of different case sizes and materials that wearers could choose from across different models.

The event also allowed guests to understand the intricate nature of watchmaking with TAG Heuer specialists on hand to demonstrate their craft and patience for the art. To find out more about the TAG Heuer 2017 Basel collection, head over to the watch section of D’Marge.

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Garden space is a luxury few of us are lucky enough to have in 2017. The dream of a quarter-acre block is all but gone thanks to our big city’s outrageous property prices. So if your backyard is lacking, consider a lush courtyard oasis instead.

With a few insider tips and tricks you can turn a vacant back lot into a secret garden just outside your door; a place to chill with mates on a Friday night, or romance that special someone on a balmy summer’s evening.

However you envisage your dream courtyard, we’ve got some advice every guy needs to read before planting a single seed. With less and less outdoor space to enjoy, it’s important to utilise every available inch. Here’s how to engage in your courtyard courtship.

Flooring For your Taste

When designing a courtyard, one of the first things to consider is what ground covering you prefer. The most commonly used are wood decking, grass, tiles and brickwork. The final decision should take into account the style you want to replicate.

Etch Out A Path

Every good courtyard deserves a path. Whether it be winding, straight or zigzagged, we love old-school pebbled pathways, modern decked thoroughfares and straight brick lanes.

The Only Way Is up

Courtyards tend to be on the small side in terms of square footage, so think smart and use hanging hooks and vertical garden walls to make the most of whatever space you have available. Staghorn ferns are incredibly popular at the moment and they help add a masculine edge to your pretty garden wall.

Go Big Or Go Home

Your courtyard might be small, but that doesn’t mean your plant choices need to be. A few large plants in oversized pots will add dimension and interest to the space. If you are worried about damaging tile work or chipping the bricks, always buy fibreglass reinforced concrete pots, or concrete finished pots at the very least.

Courting With Sexy Furniture 

A functional courtyard demands at least a couple of chairs and a small table. Benches positioned along a courtyard wall tend to work best, as they will get more bums on seats than traditional settings. Wood bench seating performs best when teamed with bright cushions, floor rugs and outdoor throws.

Consider Accessory Placement

Clustered pots are more appealing than singular ones. Place groups of pots against a side or back wall, or cluster to create the outline of a path in the middle of your courtyard. As well as outdoor furniture, you’ll need some furnishings to soften the feel of the area, and add individual style to al fresco proceedings.

Outdoor rugs are one way to inject some textured personality into the courtyard, and look great under natural wood tables. Unique and quirky raised planter beds are a nice touch for the experimental man. Think old bathtubs and vintage wooden wheelbarrows for authenticity.

Get On That #PondLife

Be the ultimate courtyard boss with a koi pond tucked away in the corner, or show it off in style and position it smack bang in the middle.

Keep It Private

Bamboo and fern pines are fabulous screening plants. They grow with little encouragement and keep prying eyes out. Plant along the courtyard boundary for screen-saver success.

Courtyard-Friendly Plant Species

Hit up your local greenery for these plants to give your courtyard the gift of life.

• Jerusalem artichoke – this one looks and tastes good
• Passionfruit – perfect for warm Aussie conditions.
• Rosehip
• Thyme
• Bamboo (in particular, the Bambusa multiplex)
• Portuguese laurel
• Pencil cypress
• Port Wine Magnolia
• Climbing plants like the Flame Vine, Coral Pea Vine and Azores Jasmine
• Shrubs like lavender
• Perennials such as lilies

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