The Ferrari Cavalcade rocketed into its third day today. With yesterday’s time trials and hiccups out of the way, we were expecting things to be a little smoother…but just as much fun.

I couldn’t see myself as a Ferrari owner before this trip. It was a symbol of success, but not one I was particularly interested in being a part of. These past three days have undoubtedly converted me.

I’ve watched people line the streets just to catch a glimpse of the 105 prancing horses as they cruise by. Everywhere we go, we’ve been met with cheers and the international sign for ‘give it some gas.’ It’s been not only unforgettable, but an honour to be involved with this experience. Ferrari is Italy, Italy is Ferrari, and the patriotism is truly contagious.

“At one point there were twelve LaFerraris parked in pit lane – at $AU1.7M each, you can do the maths.”

Once again, I was joined by a new co-pilot today. My partner-in-crime was a cool Swiss gentleman – a freelance journalist and avid watch collector, who wasted no time spotting my IWC Big Pilot. He sported a G-SHOCK Gulfmaster in vibrant Ferrari yellow.

Today’s course took us up to Orvieto through 160 kilometres of stomach-churning road and postcard-worthy towns. Our Ferrari California T’s 418 kW turbo-charged power plant dealt with them quickly and easily.

The gearbox in this car is an absolute dream, dropping in and out of Tiptronic and automatic with little fuss. The sound produced may not be as aggressive as its cousins, but it doesn’t matter when you’re driving a bloody Ferrari.

The highlight of today’s agenda was our visit to the Autodrome Vallelunga racing circuit just outside of Rome. Picture it: a handful of the world’s most incredible cars, all on one racing track. Seeing the likes of old Ferrari F40s and even the new 488 in full flight was a sight to behold. At one point there were twelve LaFerraris parked in pit lane – at $AU1.7M each, you can do the maths.

I paid 20 Euro for my rented crash helmet, grabbed my Italian racing driver mate Donato, and made like the wind onto the circuit. After 20 minutes, our time with Autodrome Vallelunga and the Ferrari California’s traction control came to an end.

Tomorrow is our last day here with the Ferrari Cavalcade. I’m sad to see this incredible trip end, but first: tonight’s Roman-themed party. Time to get my toga on.

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Welcome to day two of the running of the horses, where bystanders simply stop in awe as opposed to running for dear life. 

After day one’s schooling, getting a good night’s rest proved harder than first thought. Despite my sleep-deprived state, I rallied to become day two’s co-driver while Herman took over the controls in our bordeaux-coloured Ferrari California T.

Herman is a racing car driver in between being a journalist, so we called our lawyers and topped up the life insurance.

“Today was hands-down the most amazing driving experience of my life, as for about 90% of the time I thought it would be my last.”

At the 8am start time, the Ferrari Cavalcade began the journey up the mountains to the ski village of Terminillo. En route to the peak, we were met with a 5-stage time trial to test our mettle. This was hands-down the most amazing driving experience of my life, as for about 90% of the time I thought it would be my last. The sound of Ferrari engines echoed through the trees as we flew up the tight, winding roads (top down, naturally).

The summit was amazing. I stepped out of the car, thankful for my life, with combined feelings of exhilaration and relief. No doubt there’s a long German word to describe that sensation. The 30 minute pitstop was enough time for the cars to file in one by one and take in the beauty of the Italian hills during summer. With the ski lifts dormant and the grass exposed, it was near impossible not to fall in love with Italy.

The atmosphere changed noticeably on day two. Everyone is more familiar with each other, and new friends are made easily. Guests are wealthy and influential, but down to earth. And most importantly, all share a love of the prancing horse.

One fellow we’ve become friendly with is an American music producer called George. George is based in Berlin and an avid collector of Ferraris. At last count he had fifteen. His ride for this trip is the new AU$1,700,000 LaFerrari in a vibrant and unmissable red, sporting the number 14.

Pitstop completed, we began our descent into the town of Assisi. A pearl white 597hp Ferrari 458A, driven by the wild Tani Hanna and his equally mad wife, challenged us to a toe-to-toe race. We happily complied, noting how cool his wife was with being a passenger on a trip like this. Hang onto that one.

Assisi is the Pope’s summer holiday residence, an incredible history that dates back to 1000 BC. We were lucky enough to explore the grounds and dining halls of the Pope and his entourage. Can Popes have entourages? They do now.

As the day progressed, I reclaimed driving duties and bid farewell to Herman. My new co-pilot was a cardiac surgeon from Miami, Florida, on his second Cavalcade. He’d joined the 2014 event in Sicily. After stopping briefly in Perugia, we made our way back to Rome on the Autostrade with a top speed of…oh, well, you don’t want to know that.

Tomorrow is another day of horsing around. For now, we’re off to the Vatican to experience it without the hoards of people. Backstage with Ferrari – this is a life in the fast lane you could easily get used to.

Relive The Dream: Ferrari Cavalcade 2015 Day 1

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The 2015 Ferrari Cavalcade had been in my calendar for close to 3 months, so you can imagine my excitement when the day finally arrived.

This year’s event is the fourth Ferrari Cavalcade. 105 cars from 37 countries made the pilgrimage to Rome to take part. By some sheer stroke of luck or goodwill, I found myself piloting the 104th prancing horse on the starting grid.

My co-pilot for the trip was none other than a straight-laced German journalist named Wolfgang, who immediately told me I could talk to him once I’d done Nürburgring in under 10 minutes. Our relationship was taking off like a wrought iron hang glider.

“It was a speed test on a two-mile runway. My friendly German co-pilot and I reached 250km/h before I closed my eyes and gave him the wheel.”

Day one began at 9am. With the actual time of departure in another timezone, we had a chance to inspect the other machines like the mighty LaFerrari hypercar, the 458 Speciale, FF, F12 and our modest (in comparison) but hard working California T. Truth be told, the Australian flag they had stuck on the car tugged at my heartstrings.

The biggest shock of the day came when we were given a navigation book. Yes, a book. That’s when you realise Google Maps won’t save you and you proceed to listen very carefully to the morning brief. Thankfully, Herman the German was on navigating duty today. Got to love German efficiency in times like these.

Navigating Rome traffic can only be described as “challenging” but pedestrians do tend to get out of the way when you’re in a Ferrari. In my case, driving on the opposite side of the car and road meant it’s the parked cars that posed the greatest problem. The constant shouts of ‘nein’, ‘don’t let him in’ and ‘schnell’ were a reminder that whatever I was doing, I was doing it wrong.

Our first stop of the day was an Italian air force base just outside of Rome. We were greeted with salutes and men (and woman) waving us in like they were landing an A380. Once inside, it was a speed test on a two-mile runway. My friendly German co-pilot and I reached 250km/h before I closed my eyes and gave him the wheel. Mission accomplished.

We then ventured a few kilometres down the road to the seaside town of Ostia, where we had a quick lunch before departing for our next checkpoint. That’s the stage where shit got real.

Imagine blasting through the hills with a red 458 Speciale A on your tailpipe whilst trying to catch a silver LaFerrari up ahead. Over 25 kilometres of tight, windy roads led us to the next checkpoint in a small village before a decent into Rome concluded the day.

After jumping out of the car, we immediately made friends with the drivers we had been racing. Praise flowed freely, and there was a real sense that everyone was there to do just one thing: enjoy the Ferrari brand and be part of the illustrious Italian family.

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A ‘Madonna’ in his own right, Lenny Kravitz has been reinventing himself since the Eighties.

Of Caribbean Jewish-decent, Manhattan-born Kravitz grew up in LA where he fed on the rock tunes of the Rolling Stones, and the groovier Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley. Becoming a rocker himself, Kravitz won four Grammys, crowning him as one of the most influential rock musicians of the Nineties.

Still singing today, Kravitz also runs interiors agency Kravitz Design and is rumoured to be designing a motorcycle with Californian retailer Fred Segal.

All this to say, Kravitz has a creative streak, which goes beyond the realms of music, and impedes on his personal style. The question on Lenny’s lips is still – after all these years: “Are you gonna go my way?”

Breaking It Down – Lenny Kravitz Style

Lenny Kravitz style, like his music, has been on a journey. Earlier on, his Sixties stoner vibe developed into more of a denim-doting rebellion, before a penchant for leather jackets crept on down to his pants -and stayed that way.

Today, Kravitz offers a melange of the past with his different shades of black. And he even embraces tailored pieces (blazers mostly) over rock-ish, streamlined outfits, which are never without a pair of shades and killer boots.

It took Kravitz years of hair frustration (dreadlocks, buzzcuts and afros) before deciding on a shorter-length fro; his easy hair letting him play around with the finer things in life – accessories. And for Kravitz that means rings, chains, bracelets and a signature silver nose ring.

Molten Rock

Kravitz’s currently on tour for his new ‘Strut’ album, which is something he likes to do a tad when attending Paris fashion week. Seen here outside the Saint Laurent show, Kravitz reworks glam rock into his lower half, working his signature leather ‘jeans’ and gold metallic Chelsea boots for a glisten-y, molten look.

Kravitz cherishes the pinstripe blazer or one in solid black, opting for a sheeny, satin shawl lapel to match the oil-look of his pants; the latter sat over a scoop neck sweater in cashmere. For a more streamline finish, Kravitz wears a plain tee (always low-cut) layered with an open, collared shirt.

As a rockstar, the most important component is black, which is kept interesting by mixing up the fabric and textures: leather, satin, cotton, suede and wool – all worn in one outfit.

Post-Rastafarian

Keeping true to his Caribbean roots, Lenny Kravitz style is blended with a reggae look into his rock-ish repertoire. The key piece here is the slouchy beanie (not to be confused with grandma’s tea cosy). It creates an immediate take-me-to-the-Bahamas vibe, but is modernised by the singer’s leather jeans, suede biker boots and unstructured blazer – all in black.

Aviator shades and lightweight silk scarf rock-up the casual hat, as do Kravitz’s tasteful use of pendant chains. The look is comfort-meets-chic and for Kravitz, works for casual strolls in the street or when attending a down-played music event.

Militant Grunge

Kravitz is big one basics: black jeans, plain tees (sometimes sheer and longline) and flat-sit sweaters. When winter calls for insulating outerwear, the rocker looks to the military. Kravitz was named after his killed-in-action uncle, Leonard M. Kravitz, which is perhaps why he favours top coats with war-uniform details.

A fan of the double-breasted Chesterfield, Kravitz works a brass-buttoned, navy version over clean, minimal layers – his beanie and shades never far from reach. Firing up the military canon, a camel-coloured pea coat remains on-guard with shoulder lapels and a sweeping, flared collar – popped up under a messily tied scarf to emulate Kravitz’s carefree demeanour.

Plaid Hard

Pretty in plaid doesn’t roll right with Kravitz. Leather and plaid, now that’s more like it. The animal skin jeans return under a loose-fit flannel, unbuttoned at the neck and wayfarers that mask last night’s escapades.

For a chic-er approach to the grungy Nineties print, Lenny Kravitz style focuses towards a more refined tartan blazer with black satin lapels and trimming. Metallic zip details on the leather pants carry on the anarchy from the printed blazer, which is soften by a large paisley print scarf in black and white silk. Shades be staying, day or night.

Can’t Fight The Midnight

Appearing in films of late (Cinna from Hunger Games?) and the Met Gala in New York, even Kravitz has had to invest in something a little less rock, more dapper for the red carpet. Black is too-stuffy a colour for the more outlandish Kravitz, so his choice of hue is midnight blue.

A subtle pinstripe brings some business-chic to the Met, reading a little dandy-fied with a silk bow tie. Chelsea boots base out the London-look, proving Kravitz never takes sartorial dress codes super seriously – but he always looks good.

Key Lenny Kravitz Style Items

Suit

Richard James offers a midnight blue pinstripe suit in luxury-sheen wool and Tom Ford offers a dark blue, peak satin lapel tuxedo.

Blazer

Look to Paul Smith for a black blazer with subtle white pinstripes, and Yohji Yamamoto for a silky, cotton sheer blazer that is unstructured and light.

Pants

Saint Laurent is Kravitz’s go-to brand for leather jeans, and Balmain and Dolce & Gabanna for biker-inspired black denim varieties.

Shirts

Any basic v-neck tees in black and dark grey including those from lighter cottons from Balenciaga, Sunspel, Astrid Anderson, Alexander Wang and Lanvin.

Shoes

Kravitz exotic skin, metallic and suede boots come care of John Varvatos, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Mr Hare.

Accessories

Need More Inspiration?

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Oliver Cheshire – aka David Gandy‘s model BFF – is one of Britain’s biggest of-the-moment style icons.

Now 26-years-old, Cheshire was scouted age 15, whisked straight off to New York, and became an overnight success as the new face of Calvin Klein.

His Adonis face has since fronted Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni and Abercrombie & Fitch, before pictures of Cheshire in M&S swimwear went viral; the model’s eight-pack physique and olive skin making the trunks look so good the retailer’s sales rose by more than 50%.

Men want to look like him, and women want to be with him (ignoring the fact he’s indeed dating Pixie Lott). But Cheshire, like the flamboyant cat from Alice In Wonderland, is a man of cryptic qualities, hidden behind one mischievous grin. Luckily for us, his style is a little more readable. But, just who cuts his incredible hair?

Breaking It Down

Cheshire favours the look of the timeless gent – think James Dean, Paul Newman and Marlon Brando – meaning he is forever working simple, retro-looks that most guys wish they had the charisma to pull off.

From the tonal blue outfits to shearling coats and Chelsea boots, most of Cheshire’s slick combinations are more accessible than you think; especially due to the fact he mixes high-street brands with more luxury labels.

His suiting is minimal and classic and doesn’t boast modern eccentricities, so it’s a win – whatever the occasion – from the office to weekend wedding. Clean and polished, Cheshire returns the man to his masculine heritage with classic good-looks and pared-down essentials.

Oh, and his hairdresser’s name is Larry (true story), and he works at London’s Daniel Hersheson. Book in.

All-Blue Everything

Blue makes the boy. And Cheshire blends the signature masculine colour into a superb tonal look. It’s an incredible way to address tailoring, starting with the indigo chambray shirt or powder blue Oxford and working outward from there.

Layering works with a cashmere blue cardigan or blue tweed waistcoat, followed by a midnight blue Harrington and matching trouser.

For day suits, take a micro-check greyish blue suit, add a blue tee (stripes or not) and whack on a pair of shades for a summery suit feel. Brogues in tan pop lively on the blue and lose the belt to retain the chilled attitude.

Retro Prints

Mr. Cheshire has a taste for bold, all-over prints – styling to create an attractive focal point as part of his casual ensemble. Retro stripes, fern motifs and architectural geo’s are common patterns and – just like Cheshire – aim to pick just one stand-out piece to for patterning like the button shirt. In short sleeves, the Fifties ‘work shirt’ boasts a sprawled collar for a pared-down elegance, that needs a print for it to feel complete.

Let the shirt do talking, opting for neutral wardrobe staples to accompany the chatter. Khaki chinos, and indigo or black jeans offer casual timelessness. Or, work the shirt into a casual and formal combination, opting for a light grey suit and open neck, for easy matching that feels a touch vintage. Now, chuck on some retro sneakers or loafers (no socks) and roll the pant cuffs for that extra kick.

Slim & Single

Tailoring is effortless for the man with the perfect bod. But Cheshire still proves he knows what he’s doing, keeping things slim and simple; back to basics. Reneging on bold prints for suits, follow Cheshire’s line with a classic neutral colour palette sticking close to grey, navy and camel. The most adventurous the model gets with colour is blue, never deviating for the cobalt or slight electrics that are on trend right now.

Accessories are more bold in comparison, opting for silk knit long ties (never a bow) for texture against the sleekness of the single-breasted woollen. The white handkerchief is his go-to, as opposed to an outlandish pocket square, sitting pure and crisp like the sleeve cuff of his neatly pressed Oxford shirt. Leather Derbies are everything in brown and tan, with the odd sneaker bouncing on in for an athleisure take on tailoring.

Rock N Roll

A style rebel, Cheshire is all about the rock and the roll. Cheshire takes the smooth Seventies high-neck knit and slots it under an aviator jacket in suede for a night and day look that boasts rockstar finesse. The fine-gauge knit drips sophistication, with Euro-chic neutrals such as tan, black or grey.

Now to the coat. Shearling collars and lining, which offer a fleecy, plush look for winter, are super on trend and Cheshire models well the versatility of this look. A pair of tailored trousers and double-monks are a smarter version of the rock ‘n’ roll, but nothing beats the slim-fit black denim and Sixties Chelsea boot with matching leather belt to carry you through into the musical night.

Key Cheshire Fashion Items

Suit: Something British like Hackett London and Hawkes & Gieves for custom-made. M&S and Topman for something very affordable and off-the-rack.

Outerwear: H&M for casual jackets, suede shearling coat from Coach and Burberry trench. Grab a Chesterfield coat for Aquascutum.

Tops: River Island and Zara for white button-downs and Paul Smith for retro print shirts. Denim shirts and cardigan from Uniqlo.

Bottoms: Swimwear are Orlebar Brown, chinos are from J.Crew and Uniqlo, and trousers are from Topman. Jeans come from Dr Denim.

Shoes:  Leather lace-ups from John Lobb or Grenson and sneakers from Jack Purcell.

Need More Inspiration?

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Take a look around your bedroom. Yesterday’s suit is slung over the back of a chair. Shoes are piled haphazardly on the floor. An unidentifiable mountain of clothing has taken up residence in a corner.Now look in a mirror (the screen of your iPhone will do). Does a gentleman of your calibre treat his clothing that way?Absolutely not. Your carefully curated wardrobe deserves to be carefully stored, ideally in a closet befitting Christian Grey. You’ve sorted your masculine bed, now peruse our gallery of closet ideas and inspiration for your next home improvement project. Whether or not you take any other cues from Mr. Grey…well…that’s up to you.

The post 21 Amazing (& Masculine) Closets & Dressing Room Ideas appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Not many can claim the title “The King of Cool” in their lifetime; unless you’re Steve McQueen.

Born in the Thirties, Steve McQueen was one of the highest paid actors of the mid-century. From race cars to motorcycles chases, the ‘anti-hero’ film star even did his own stunts, often seen screaming down the bitumen on his 650cc Triumph TR6 Trophy bike in hot pursuit.

With a penchant for ‘nice things’, luxury oozed from his pores; spilling over onto the fast cars he drove (and owned) and of course, onto his clothes. Far more than a film icon, McQueen set a standard for men everywhere some sixty years ago. And, he’s just as relevant today. So, let’s play catch up on scoring Steve McQueen style.

Breaking It Down – Steve McQueen Style

With blonde hair and tanned skin, Steve McQueen was blessed with Nordic-colouring from the start. And considering the fact the actor weight-trained and ran for two hours each day, everything looked good on him. But McQueen knew how to dress classically masculine but with a punch of edginess; rocking a tee and denim one day or tweed blazer over chinos the next. 

Working a wide range of looks – both on and off-screen, in typical Steve McQueen style he accrued a plethora of female fans, while leaving behind in a cloud of road dust, those jealous Hollywood types who feared his reign.

Weekend Motoring

Smart casual attire for McQueen was often inspired by the Sunday drive. While you may not own a 1957 Jaguar XKSS Roadster, McQueen’s motoring look can be attained much easier with a changing of the clothes.The actor wore what many men would classify as an essential separates combination today – the tweed blazer and chino.

The tweed blazer in natural hues, such as grey or brown, was flecked and textural over the smart casual pant. Paired over a red knit and button shirt, the tweed coat ruggedness was matched by the brown suede on his shoes; Steve McQueen style was always purposeful with matching elements of fabric and feel across his multi-faceted outfit.

Alternatively, a black rollneck sweater looked cunning under brown, set-off again with smooth suede shoes.

Denim Dude

McQueen set the pace for denim; taking it from American workwear attire to a fashion staple. This season’s trending double denim look all really took off with the actor; effortlessly blending dark denim with chambray shirting or vintage-wash bottoms and raw denim tops – sometimes wearing just the slightest change in indigo-hue to separate each item.

A fitness fiend, McQueen had the arms to model the fitted, white-tee – which he did in both the v-neck and crew varieties. Over a slim, sometimes scuffed pair of jeans, fashion was all about attitude with McQueen, and a pair of leather biker boots (or sneakers for days-off) completed the rebel look.

Heritage Sports

In classic Steve McQueen style, his signature casual look was something of a mix between heritage and sports. Long before sportsluxe was a term, McQueen donned the Baracuta Harrington jacket – a collegiate-shaped, cropped jacket in a lightweight cotton/poly fabric.

The Baracuta became synonymous with McQueen; easily recognised for its British red-and-blue checked lining, which onlookers caught a glimpse of as McQueen strode on by.

The star knew the importance of layering and opted for the very-English Aran sweater or cable knit under his coats. On their own or with the Harrington, the textural wool in cream or navy felt nautical and masculine and fit snugly under McQueen’s iconic sunglasses.

Sartorially Crowned

McQueen’s tailoring in The Thomas Crown Affair saw him transition from bad-ass racer to elegant millionaire. Steve McQueen style for corporate wear was never stuffy, sporting often a grey three-piece suit with square-based waistcoat.

Other times, the star could be seen in a Prince of Wales plaid three-piece, with all the trimmings; pocket handkerchief, tie and of course, a pocket watch.

But the eccentricities never looked dandy on McQueen, who had an air of masculine confidence that was far from braggadocio. Luxury wool suits came as a single breast jacket with shoulders set broad and sharp, in a not-too-slim fit, notch lapels and a 2-button front.

The pleated trousers weren’t super slim, but were tapered with a short leg break.

Key Steve McQueen Style Items

Suits

Savile Row’s Douglas Hayward provided McQueen with his three-piece suits. Other British greats are Hackett London and Gieves & Hawkes for traditional luxury. As do Australia’s M.J. Bale and London’s Paul Smith for made-to-measure.

Coats

Baracuta’s G9 is the definitive, authentic Harrington Jacket for a McQueen look. For overcoats, in wool and simple lines, go Acne Studios and hit-up Lanvin and Belstaff for your racer biker jackets in leather or suede.

Tops

V-neck tees from Hanro and crew neck tee from Calvin Klein are McQueen-inspired. Meanwhile, get cable knit sweaters from Jil Sander or Brunello Cucinelli, and shawl cardigan varieties from Charles Tyrwhitt. His powder blue suit shirting can be sourced from Canali and Gucci.

Bottoms

Levi’s Vintage Wash or 501 Cut for denim, as well as the Jean Shop classic washes. J.Crew chinos in one their colour-blocked neutrals are great for the weekend McQueen look.

Shoes

Biker boots from Balmain or heavy duty leather ones from Alexander McQueen. For sneakers, go Converse lo-cut Chucks or Jack Purcell’s canvas hi-tops. Smart casual comes with leather Chukka boots from Cole Haan, and black monk shoes from Tod’s.

Accessories

Need More Inspiration?

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Post-war Japan was a place that welcomed technology with open arms and often fostered a penchant for oddball inventions. Inheriting this particular trend was also Japan’s motoring industry which produced some seriously quirky cars ranging from tiny ‘Kei’ cars, to a series of sports cars that reflected a bygone era.

Take a ride with us on this sushi train as we explore the weird and wonderful rides from the land of the rising sun.

#1 Mazda Cosmo 110-S

This sleek and elegant coupe was based on the design of a Triumph Spitfire and appears completely textbook classic coupe to the untrained eye. Where it slaps history in the face however is under the bonnet as this was Mazda’s first Wankel rotary-engined car.

Its significance in motoring history is undeniable as it brought the twin rotary design of engineer Felix Wankel into the mainstream, setting the standard for all future rotary cars in the world. Mazda had only built 1176 between 1967 and 1972 with the car mustering 130hp from its 982cc power plant. It was considered unorthodox at the time, but without it there would be no way for modern high-powered rotaries like the RX-7 to exist.

#2 Autozam AZ-1

This diminutive little two-seater was built by Mazda in the early 90s and called the Autozam AZ-1. Falling into the popular Kei car category (cars that can avoid a certain tax due to their minor emissions and size), the AZ-1 packed a three cylinder, 657cc, turbo engine mounted behind the driver, complete with gull wing doors and weighing in at less than 725kg – making it lighter than a Lotus Elise.

Designed to be a fun handling car, the AZ-1 packs a mighty 64hp with tuners extracting more out of it over the years to make it go faster. The doors look pretty thin too so you’ll likely be maimed in a side-on collision.

#3 Toyota Sera

One of the more interesting designs to come out of the Toyota camp in the early 90s was the Sera – a gull-winged Corolla of sorts if you will. Reflecting what was considered cool of the time, the Sera featured a sweeping glass roof that formed the curved doors to give the car a very unique and futuristic look. It even managed to amass a small cult following around the world, selling around 16,000 cars over its 5 year production run.

Performance was typical Toyota fair with a 1.5-litre engine driving the front wheels in fury.

#4 Nissan Figaro

An icon in the world of strange Japanese cars is the Nissan Figaro. It looks like it rolled off a 1960s production line but actually hails from 1991 where it saw production for just one year. The demand for the vintage looking Figaro at the time was so high that production had to be doubled and a ballot set up to select the buyers. It’s powered by a 987cc turbo four cylinder to give it some blistering grandad-spec performance.

#5 Dome Zero

One of Japan’s first ever supercars that never saw the light of day was the Dome Zero. Dome was the Japanese racing company that designed countless race cars from 1975 for open-wheelers and categories including F1. As Japan’s burgeoning fortunes as an automaker reached its peak in the 70s, the group decided to build their very own Japanese supercar.

In 1978 the Zero was debuted at Geneva motor show, featuring a wedgy Italian shape, swooping canopy that would make Homer Simpson weep and cues that could only be described as Back to the Future before it was even made. Powered by a Datsun inline six, the car offered optimum performance with the power to weight ratio of the Porsches of that era.

#6 Daihatsu Midget II

Another in the list of crazy-cool Kei cars is the aptly named Midget II from Daihatsu. This second generation cult car hailed from the 90s and packed a tiny 660 cc engine. It came in either a one seater or two seater and was noted for its unusual design with a spare tyre mounted on the front of the car. We’re not too sure what the load rating on this car is, but we don’t recommend you drive this one onto a construction site to impress the boys.

#7 Subaru 360

Leading the Kei car charge for the people mover category is the Subaru 360 of 1970. Yes you will stand taller than it and yes you will garner a many surprised looks. In a good way of course. Weighing in at just 498kg with a length just shy of 3 metres, the 360 van was designed by Subaru for Japanese work duties. Its mighty two-stroke, two cylinder 360cc engine enables it to hold an amazing payload of 362kg – that’s about 70% of its own weight. It’s also considered one of the world’s cutest vans. 5 star safety rating? Dream on, dweeb.

#8 Honda Vamos

The modern Honda Vamos is a rather bland and boxy affair. The original though was an entirely different beast. It shared a similar design to the Midget with its front facing spare tyre which was a trend in the 70s around when this car was released. The open top Kei car also features a sweet removable canvas roof and a 354cc two-cylinder engine for the serious lead footers out there. A perfect companion for beach hoons, you can think of this one as the least practical Jeep ever made.

#9 Mitsuoka Orochi

One of Japan’s weirdest and arguably ugliest offerings is the Orochi from Mitsuoka. Ceasing production in 2014, the car’s name is taken from the mythical 8-headed Japanese dragon, hence the reptilian-like body lines, googly headlights and intake holes. Mitsuoka have categorised it as a “Fashion-Super Car” and adds that “Orochi is the car to ride to gather attention from everyone”. We definitely agree with the latter.

Performance is derived from a Toyota Camry 3.3-litre V6 in a mid-ship layout driving the rear wheels. International reception has been lukewarm at best with Jalopnik voting it the world’s ugliest car.

#10 Isuzu VehiCross

Yes, the truck manufacturer Isuzu once tried to build a sporty off-roader and the VehiCross was the rather stunning result. With the fluid lines that are rarely found on 4WDs nowadays let alone ten years ago, the VehiCross became available on Japanese shores in 1997 and was powered by a 3.5L V6 with full time all-wheel-drive and Torque On Demand (TOD).

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Jared Leto’s talent is like a diamond – brilliant and multifaceted.

The lead singer of rock band Thirty Seconds To Mars, Leto’s held a steady acting career since his teens, before taking out an Oscar in 2014 for his transgender role in Dallas Buyer’s Club. 

But in recent years, Leto has become incredibly known for his eccentric style. With outlandish suits, animal skin and leather worn confidently under a mane of luscious hair, Leto is the only man to attempt both a man-bun and blonde-tipped ombre hairdo on the red carpet in two consecutive years.

Having said that, his next role as Joker for the upcoming movie, Suicide Squad, has seen the Louisiana-born star, chop it all off. Luckily, Jared Leto style remains.

Breaking It Down – Jared Leto Style

Not one to follow, Leto walks to the beat of his own style drum; swathed in animal prints and leather one day, followed by an ultra sleek blazer and trilby hat the next. His has a fondness for layering (a look that assimilates the flow of his hair), channelling his not-so-forgotten inner rockstar as opposed to anything preppy or traditional. Eclectic and eccentric, we’ve categorically tamed Jared Leto style as best we can.

Nirvana Grunge

The singer wouldn’t be authentically rock without myriads of darkness infiltrating his wardrobe. Leto’s off-duty look is typically black-on-black with violent splashes of red. The hero piece is the leather jacket, cropped sharply at the waist, with all the metallic trimmings – big zips, silver plugs and an asymmetrical closure that rides reverently with the Fifties biker look.

Taking inspiration from Nineties music gods, flannel shirts with tartan red and black are often tied around the waist, paying homage to the generation of Leto’s cultural influences, Kurt Cobain and Anthony Kiedis.

Powdered Tux

The red carpet looks forward to seeing what Leto will bring to its crimson floor each and every season. From the Oscars to the Golden Globes, Leto likes to look ultra dandy in powdery pastels. Lilac and creamy whites are his go-to – both in dinner jacket style with shawl lapels in satiny contrast against the matte of the suit fabric.

Feeling matchy-matchy, Leto often blends his shirting and bowtie, pairing the white hues with tonal Derbies. He is a fan of separates for formalwear too, going contrast white-on-black with marsala red accessories popping on the muted outfit. Add a boutonniere or flower lapel and you’re Leto doing formal.

King of Coachella

Animal stripes and bold prints crown Leto ‘King of Coachella’ every Californian festival season. Reigning over all the crazy festival thematics, Leto doesn’t hold back with zebra-print skinnys, a white statement logo singlet, and his favourite plaid flannel for an ultra glam-rock vibe.

Other years he’s been more vintage Americana, with a Seventies Hawaiian shirt and tinted aviators, paired with Nineties drop crotch jeans. He keeps things tonal with sky blue shirting – again, wrapped around the waist for stylish convenience.

Dine-Out Metallics

For stylish nighttime looks, Leto dines-out in blazers cut sharp. Like his tuxedo, the dinner jacket is updated with sheeny, satin lapels and contrast button details. But the biggest trend here is his fondness for metallics; the sparkle worked subtly as a silk thread into the blazer, creating brassy gold and gun-metal greys for a luxury finish.

Next, accessories (of a more a refined nature) tarry onto the scene; classic trilby hats in black rabbit fur and a splash of pink on pocket squares, lifting Leto (again) above the stylish antics of most men. And he makes it work.

Statement Scarves

Leto wouldn’t be a transient New Yorker without his accessories swag. Whether he’s more refined in snug-fit blazer, slim trousers and leather embroidered loafers, or rocking his biker chic leather and denim, the blackness of both outfits permits the actor to create somewhat of a statement with his neckwear.

The statement scarf, in violet or turquoise blue, is a favourite of Leto’s. The following Jared Leto style rules apply: keep it long, slightly frayed and keep it textural or micro-printed for added interest. And, no other colours on the outfit are permitted, or required.

Key Jared Leto Style Items

Suits

Givenchy provides Leto with his custom-made Oscars tuxedos, while his dinner jackets can be picked up from Saint Laurent.

Jacket

Allsaints, Balmain and Belstaff offer unrivalled biker jackets with variety of black shades and styles. Leto’s fur-lined, hooded parka is made by Moncler or Canada Goose for something North American.

Shirt 

Enfants Riches Déprimés (Depressed Rich Kids) is Leto’s favourite tee and singlet brand. Plaid shirting is rockier from Neighborhood and super punk-ish in tartan from Fear of God and Vivienne Westwood.

Denim

Always in black jeans, drop crotch varieties come from Public School NY and Fear of God; while slim fit cuts are J Brand and Mastercraft Union. Tap Saint Laurent for animal print – anything.

Shoes

Go for Son of Mars Velcro high-tops for kicks; Gucci or Mr Hare for suede loafers; and for monochrome leather lace-ups look to Ann Demeulemeester or Tod’s.

Accessories

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