Freckled and slim, Eddie Redmayne isn’t your typical celebrity beau. Working his rakish quirks, the model first made a name for himself as a clothes horse for Burberry, more than acting. But, after a series of killer roles (Les Miserables, Birdsong, My Week With Marilyn) came his way, it became clear that the redhead could act and dress.

Redmayne’s deserving Oscars win in 2015 cemented it all, and brought his professional capabilities on par with his incredible English style. The bright lights of Hollywood haven’t taken the ‘classic’ out of Redmayne just yet. So let’s take a look at what makes up the style estate of Mr. Edward Redmayne, Esquire.

Breaking Eddie Redmayne’s Style Down

“I am most comfortable wearing a suit,” Redmayne told The Telegraph, in an interview back in 2008. As the actor continues to climb his way to the top, his English heritage, played out in the way he approaches formal looks, makes his style masculine and traditional. But, ingenuity is paramount to Redmayne, and his wardrobe is no exception.

Taking classic blazers, slim separates and suits, the actor changes things up, opting for off-beat fabrics sometimes instead of wool and cotton, while ensuring the jacket is always razor-sharp. Redmayne likes to experiment with colour and pattern too on formalwear – bold hues and checks appearing far more often on the red carpet than the average penguin black. A parrot with colour, Redmayne is bold with his tints and shades. Did we mention he was colourblind?

Not-So-Sucky Seersucker

Eddie Redmayne killed it over the summer, tailored in seersucker for warmer weather. An all-cotton fabric like linen, seersucker is lightweight with a crimped or puckered surface. It made a huge resurgence in 2014, lead by Redmayne himself. The British lad went dandy in pastel blue and white-stripe, perfect for a day at the races, on a yacht or with gin and tonic in hand by the pool.

Blue Boy

Redmayne’s go-to color is blue, so he often goes all-in with monochromatic suiting with metallic blue jacket, pastel shirt and navy knit tie. He has a penchant for iris and cobalt too. And his blue-boy look isn’t exclusively formal. Midnight blue knitwear goes organic over tweed brown trousers and a soft blue button-down – just in time for the ballet premiere, Redmayne.

Smooth Like Velvet

Because he doesn’t like to be like everybody else, Eddie Redmayne – at both the Les Misérables and Theory of Everything premieres – sported an eccentrically brilliant velvet suit. The plush fabric even hit his trousers (there are other celebrity gents who go velvet blazer occasionally, but never a complete suit).  And incredibly, velvet reaches new heights on Tom Ford low-top sneakers. Redmayne finds any excuse to wear his two fashion loves – velvet and Ford.

Mr. Coloured Coat

Traditional outerwear gets a re-dying with Redmayne. Snubbing classic black or token grey, mustard yellows get a look-in with flare-collar pea coats. Meanwhile, this green mac in felted-wool is mighty luscious. Paired with black-wash jeans, it beats-out any risk of looking to Christmas-time.

Suited, To Britain

Suits are a second skin for Redmayne. He is more comfortable in tailoring than shirt and shorts and like a true Brit, doesn’t think it excessively formal or pretentious. And he gets his suits tailored to enhance that feeling of ‘belonging’ in them. Ramping up the sartorial, Redmayne opts for plaid. In recent outings, catch him in Prince of Wales check with splashes of colour making them louder, or Scottish tartan in navy and emerald olive green.

Key Redmayne Fashion Items

Suits

Redmayne favours Burberry and McQueen for classic suiting, while Tom Ford is his ultra-luxe choice – velvety, of course.

Jacket/Coat

Brioni’s single-breast cotton silk-blend blazer works a treat for velvety smooth operators. For bold-coloured coats, Burberry Prorsum pretty much sponsors Redmayne, so opt for their wool duffle in teal-emerald green. A nice coral coat comes in the form of Hardy Amies’ pea coat. For blue, go APC’s wool mac.

Shirt

T-shirt brand, Orlebar Brown, is Redmayne’s confessed favourite. For posh shirting, staples like Van Heusen or classic English style from Jermyn Street’s Emma Willis.

Shoes

The Oscar winner has been recently spotted in velvet low-top sneakers from Tom Ford. All-time favourites are Converse by John Varvatos too, with six pairs on regular rotation. For smart casual, Redmayne likes a good brogue. Go Aquila for Aussie, or Church’s for Brit.

Accessories

When not in black tie, a woven silk tie is Redmayne’s way of adding texture. Check out Drake’s or Hackett for the silkiest real-deal. Not a super watch man, when he does wear one it looks a lot like a Bremont.

Bottoms

When not in coloured chinos from Incotex, look to corduroy trousers for Redmayne-spiration. Iconic makers include Richard James and Gucci, while Acne offer architecturally perfect corduroy. Denim? Battered Levi’s, we’ve noted. So look for vintage wash – Nudie Jeans or Balmain – to get things started. Otherwise, go raw and where them regularly, bashing them with love, of course.

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One can be forgiven for not knowing about Johannes Huebl style. The dapper half of fashionista Olivia Palermo, Huebl rose to fame in recent years when he moved from his home nation of Germany to NY as a professional – well, model, idiot. But with a degree in Applied Cultural Science, the classic gent has a brain.

Now a photographer and shoe designer, the 27-year-old has a killer personal style that puts every other Fifth Avenue swank and Wall Street suit to shame. Think Johannes Huebl style can’t be any sharper? He’s also the brand ambassador for Royal Salute whisky. Bottoms up.

Breaking It Down: Johannes Huebl Style

For Huebl, style is set by the little nuances that one puts into tailoring. It’s when he feels the best about himself, knowing his outfit has been personally made or altered, just for him. The key to Johannes Huebl style then, which is overwhelmingly great, is actually simple; a classic watch, a down-played lapel pin, or micro-patterned pocket square to bring out the brilliance of a perfect fit suit or coat.

Just don’t ask him to wear thongs (flip-flops for our American readers) or a summer scarf. And although Huebl ventures the streets of Brooklyn, you’ll never catch him dressing like a hipster. In the wise words of Huebl in a recent Mr Porter interview: “Fashion is the basis from which you can choose from, but style is what you make of it.” Amen, to that.

Laid Back Chic

From his boarding school days in Ireland, Huebl learned the art of suiting. Like a staple uniform, Huebl in jacket and trouser is when he feels the most comfortable, and stylish. The model works this look best, laid-back – finding an excuse to wear tailoring to the park, strolling down the Manhattan street (always Palermo by his side) and to the grocery store.  No-tie is one example, while snubbing traditional navy, black and brown, for olive, oxblood or cream-coloured suiting, is a second example. But with Huebl, the fit is always consistent. Slim and snug – none of this oversized business.

Button Shirt, Any time

Once the suit has been sorted, Huebl goes straight to the shirt. Depending on the occasion, Huebl’s shirts are done up to the top of his throat or left open. The former is sharper and strikes a confident blow to sloppiness, particularly when tucked under a dark, moody suit. The latter is much more relaxed, summer-ready, even. But Huebl never unbuttons more than three buttons down – man cleavage is not in this German’s vocabulary.

Vintage Denim

Huebl has a penchant for natural fibers. Wearing double denim long before the trendy gents at Pitti Uomo 87, Huebl sports classic denim shirts (never the ragged, distressed type) over vintage wash jeans. Sprucing things up, the entrepreneur dons a double-breasted navy blazer over relaxed fit denim. The suede derby shoes make this A-ok for smart casual events, and mirror-lensed sunnies bring it back to laid-back chic, once more.

The Only Way Is Down

To protect against New York’s on-season Polar Vortex, Huebl has learned that some duck-feathered down, runs the best in this wintry town. Typically outerwear, (that looks like you’re about the slopes), Huebl down plays the satiny, puffer jacket in the form as a gilet vest, which he layers sublimely under a quilted pea or mac coat.

Mr Bright Stride

Seasonal weight chinos in a slim fit are like a second skin for Huebl. But wait, there’s more. Olive, sky blue, cream and vermillion – its the colour in the chinos that make Huebl’s key look. Whether he’s en route to a shoot or attending a summer event with Palermo, this colour-wheel chinos in solid cotton offer the perfect balance of casual and formal. Huebl’s stride is made all the brighter with his self-designed loafers – coloured, sure – but the tassels are what tussle-up a great look, making it superb.

Key Huebl Fashion Items

Suit 

Huebl goes back to Germany to get his suits custom-made by Hamburg tailor Marc Anthony. Otherwise, you’ll catch him in something off-the-rack (always altered to ensure fit) by Valentino.

Bottoms

When he’s not in luxurious trouser separates, Huebl wears trans-seasonal, midweight chinos from either Incotex or Closed.  Apart from his skinny Prada jeans in dark washed-out grey, find the model in vintage wash Herman or old faithful Levis.

Jacket 

When off-duty from suits, a dark brown bomber leather jacket from Closed is Huebl’s first choice. Keeping things military smart, a double- layered blazer from Corneliani, with buttons that run up all the way to the lapel, are best.

Shoes

Huebl wear loafers from his capsule collection for the Italian shoe company Scarosso. Otherwise, find him in Crockett & Jones.

Accessories

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The following feature has been sponsored by HiSmile

There are lots of reasons a date could go wrong. You could accidentally call her your ex’s name. You could drunkenly drone on about the special relationship you have with your mother. You could let slip that you’re proud parent to more cats than she is. You could go for the kiss with pirate-yellow teeth and breath so bad it smells like it was buried in a time capsule, dug up, and injected back into your mouth.

Sit with that last image for a second and stop wondering why you didn’t get another date. Good hygiene is the mark of a stylish gentlemen, whether he’s single, dating, or in a long-term relationship. You deserve a top-notch smile to go with your top-notch taste in clothes, so today let’s talk about your precious pearly whites.

Why

Wanting whiter teeth isn’t just about scoring some locked-lip action. Odds are you’ve had a vice or two in your day, whether it was too much tobacco, a serious caffeine addiction, or one too many glasses of red wine. Over the years those things add up to surface stains and deeper discolouration that speed up the aging process. Whiter teeth boost confidence, take years off your appearance, and make the right first impression. A little vanity is good for the soul.

What

There are multiple ways to lighten your precious pearlies. You have the option of an intensive in-office whitening procedure, but it comes with the hassle of seeing a dentist (and the steep price tag of visiting a pro). You also have the option of using a home whitening kit, which offers solid results for much less money on the convenience of your home turf. Call us crazy, but we’ll take what’s behind door number two.

Who

HiSmile’s Peroxide-free Teeth Whitening Kit is the way to go. As the first peroxide-free teeth whitening tool to hit the market in Australia, HiSmile is making a name for itself as a safe, easy to use, and affordable product. Hydrogen peroxide can cause a laundry list of unpleasant side effects, including chemical burns, bleeding gums, damage to tooth enamel, and receding gums, not to mention the dangers associated with swallowing it. HiSmile uses sodium perborate instead, which provides first-rate results without any of the dangers. Even better, you’ll see improvement after only 2 applications of the gel and your bank account will barely feel a thing.

How

The Peroxide-free Teeth Whitening Kit was designed to be a user-friendly affair. The kit contains whitening gel packages in easy to use syringes, a patented mouthguard, an LED light to accelerate the whitening process and a full instruction leaflet. For those of you who worry you have all the delicacy of a caveman wearing two layers of mittens, the gel comes already loaded into the syringes – a convenient and mess-free experience. A whiter smile awaits at the HiSmile website.

The post How To Get Whiter Teeth In 10 Minutes appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Every man needs to know a good Shiraz in order to win at life. The second part in our Magnificent Bastard’s Guide To Wine series sees our resident wine guy (a.k.a. The New Wine Guy) run you through the origins of Shiraz, the taste, the food matches, variants and how much you should be paying. Thinking Drinking hats on.

Shiraz is the grape varietal that put Australian wine on the map more than any other. Known as Syrah almost everywhere else in the world, there would be very few wine drinkers in this country that had not tried at least one. Everyone tends to have an opinion on what they like and dislike, as well as a favourite region. – but there is no right or wrong answer.

Background

For the purposes of background, I’ll refer to Syrah – as it is widely recognised as having originated in the Rhone region of France in the South Eastern pocket. Outside of France, Syrah has flourished all over Europe along with places like the USA, NZ, Chile, Argentina and South Africa.

A look into Australian history suggests it found its way here in the mid 1830’s and was first planted in Sydney’s Botanical Gardens and the Hunter Valley, then taken to South Australia in 1839. It was from then on that it became of ultra importance to the Australian wine industry

Useless fact # 437: Shiraz is also the 6th largest city in Iran.

Characteristics: Two Very Different Styles

The character and flavour spectrum of Shiraz is extraordinary and no two people necessarily like the same type. The style that made the Barossa famous (and Australia as a general rule) is at the fuller bodied end, with heavier, ripe, jammy fruit and a higher alcohol content approaching 15% (and beyond in some cases).

The expression of fruit tends to be darker berries like blackberry and plums, with hints of chocolate and coffee adding layers and depth.

Elsewhere, the varietal can also be produced in a much more delicate way and with a lighter/softer profile. These lighter wines tend to be quite floral (think of violets for example), elegant and restrained as well as being quite peppery.

The difference in many instances is based on the climate. In warmer climes, the grapes ripen faster, leading to a higher sugar content, which results in bold styles and more alcohol. In cooler areas, the reverse applies, where the fruit ripens more slowly and allows for the fruit to taken on subtle complexity.

There has been a move to these softer/lighter syrah style wines in Australia over the past 5 years or so.

Food Match

This is easy – cow. Whatever way you want to spin it, Shiraz and beef are destined to be consumed together. Think roasted rib eye and all the trimmings, or a steak on the BBQ. You simply cannot go wrong.

Get the boys around (and/or girls for that matter) on a Saturday night in the middle of winter, turn on the footy, crank up the BBQ, get a fire going and open a few different bottles to try.

What To Buy

Shiraz is bloody everywhere and there are too many sub regions to name them all, so you can’t really go wrong – there are wonderful examples produced all over Australia (or NZ or the world for that matter).

I’m a fan of trying to stay local and buying from as close to the source as is possible, so depending on where you are reading this, you’ll find top-notch booze coming out of every corner of the country – start digging!

Don’t be afraid to drink it young either. One or two year old Shiraz can be outstanding and very different to the flavour profile of aged wines. Try it, you wont be disappointed.

How Much To Spend

How long is a piece of string? Some of the larger ‘brand name’ wineries are able to mass-produce very pleasant Shiraz for under $10 a bottle. You’ve then got Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace at the opposite end at $500+.

And everything in between. My advice would be to set a budget and try to stick to it, but every once in a while spend 2 or 3 times what you normally would and see how the more expensive wine differs.

Become friends with the owner of your local independent bottle store – they are a wealth of knowledge and will happily guide you to find something you’ll like at a price point that suits.

Some of my absolute favourites at the moment are Victorian – the ‘Cliff Edge’ from Mt Langi Ghiran, Best’s Great Western ‘Bin 1’ and ‘The Long Road’ from Eden Road Wines in Canberra. All can be found for under $30 a bottle.

Feature Wine

This month’s feature wine is the 2010 Hardy’s ‘Eileen Hardy’ McLaren Vale* Shiraz. Deep purple to the eye, with rich, dark, dense, bold fruit. Awash with blue/black berries, stewed plums with secondary chocolate & earth. Bright & ultra lively, the presence of oak is quite forward. There’s a lick of vanillin sweetness while toasty cedar pops up faintly at the back of the palate.

This is powerful & intense with lovely drive & an intoxicating perfume. It’s beautifully layered & still very youthful. This is a gritty, generous & voluptuous expression with a long life ahead. Fine grained, dry persistent tannin lingers long & rounds the wine out with great effect.

This wine is the sum of all parts. No one particular characteristic stands proud over others. It’s wrapped together quite tightly, so if drinking it young, decant it. This will only get better with age…While not cheap (RRP of $125 and $90+ at the main chains), it is a real treat for a special occasion that you should be able to find an excuse to open a few times a year.

*This wine was a sample.

The post How To Drink Shiraz In Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

One of the biggest myths in the dating world is that you need to go out to bars or clubs to meet women. You obviously, definitely, can meet women this way, it’s the timeless classic – going out to pick up! – but it’s not your only option. And no I’m not talking about online dating, I’m talking about meeting women during the day.

But where!?

Today, or tomorrow, when you leave the house, just do one thing. Simply, look up. Pay attention to what is around you. Watch who walks past you on the street, look at more in the stores than the items for sale, lift your head from the newspaper on the train platform, get out of the office on your lunch break – just look around. You will notice something – yep, women are everywhere!

And let me tell you one thing – every one of them that is single, is very likely in the same boat as you – really wanting to meet someone, but struggling to find the time, opportunity or ability to do so.

Yes, you can meet these women. Yes, you can date these women. In fact many are probably just waiting for a dashing lad like yourself to take that great leap of “Hello”. You’d be surprised by how rarely women are actually approached, that is, if you discount the drunken “Heyyyy”s and “Sup girls?”; I mean properly approached. Man’d up, balls’d up, “Hello I wanted to meet you” approached.

The awareness of opportunity

So this simple awareness of opportunity – the opening of your eyes to what is right in front of you – is something that cannot be emphasised enough. It is the massive realisation that you can literally, at any time, stand up, walk out your front door, walk out of your office, and meet awesome women. This one little realisation, if acted upon, will change your dating life forever. Stopping in at the supermarket on the way home from work, or catching the train in the morning, or eating lunch in the park – these situations will never be the same again. They will become dating opportunities.

You need to be willing to try

After this realisation, then comes the second thing, the most important thing – you need to be willing to try. Because the idea is probably daunting, you may find yourself already thinking of 101 excuses to not do it. Some of the classics are “It’s weird” or “Oh it’s just not me to do that” or “People don’t want to be bothered through the day”.

This is just your brain trying to keep you comfortable and safe. See, your brain doesn’t want what is necessarily best for you, it just wants you to survive (this is why low calorie broccoli tastes like crap but high calorie bacon tastes delightful). But in order to get new outcomes, you need to try new things.

You don’t see the world as it is, you see it as you are, and a guy who is willing to have a crack try sees that countless women out there are wondering why they never meet anyone, whereas the ‘excuses guy’ just sees how he is “bothering them”. What you see is based on your attitude.

So what do I say?

There is a whole lot of backend ‘stuff’ that needs to be addressed when you’re talking dating. In any interaction, you’re beliefs are coming through, what you think of yourself is coming through, who you are and where you’re at in life is all coming through – and that is what she is really responding to, way more than what you’re saying, so what you say isn’t hugely important…but you have to say something!

The old KISS rule certainly applies here – keep it simple. You don’t have to come up with the greatest pick up line in history, you don’t have to make her laugh, you don’t have to be super suave, you just have to be, well – you. The women that are perfect for you will be very similar to you, and they will respond to your “Hello”, they will respond to your observation (what is she wearing, doing, buying), they will respond to your compliment or your question.

Not all of them, no, but the ones that you’re wanting to meet, the ones that you will click with, will. Just balls up and tell her that you just wanted to come and meet her if need be (my own personal favourite) and just introduce yourself. You only think it’s hard because you haven’t done it, yet.

The take-home message

Women are struggling to meet decent men just as much as men are struggling to meet decent women. What would make a better story for her to tell her friends (which she will) – that she met you in a bar, or that you stopped her on the street? That you met her on Tinder or that you commented her on her hat in the supermarket? Get to it lads, take it to the streets. There are women out there waiting for you.

The post How To Meet Women During The Day appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sampling great wines from around the world may make you feel like you’ve taken a journey, but it’s no substitute for the real thing. Sometimes you just need to pack your bags, get on a plane and treat yourself to tastings in their native lands. When that mood strikes, the world is your oyster. Exceptional wines can be found almost anywhere, in both traditional and unexpected countries. For your next vino adventure, consider a visit to these top wine regions.

Barossa Valley | Australia

Located in South Australia, about 56 km northeast of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions. It’s home to some 750 grape growing families, many sixth generation, who supply grapes to more than 170 wine companies of all kinds. Thanks to its unique mix of warm and cool climate growing conditions, the Barossa Valley can produce a wide assortment grape varieties, including Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay and Semillon. Many of the country’s most notable wineries, such as Penfolds, Peter Lehmann and Yalumba, are headquartered here.

Bourdeaux | France

Bourdeaux needs no introduction, but we’ll give it one anyway. With a total vineyard area of over 120,000 hectares, Bordeaux is the largest wine growing area in France. There is plenty to enjoy about southwest France’s commercial and cultural hub, but of course the grapes come first. Bourdeaux offers a smorgasbord of wine appellations to choose from, ranging from inexpensive table wines to some of the most prestigious (and pricey) wines in the world. The vast majority of wine produced in the region is red, followed by sweet whites, dry whites and, in smaller quantities, rosé and sparkling wines.

Napa Valley | USA

America’s most famous wine region is Napa Valley, a picturesque location in Northern California. Unlike some of the other spots on this list, which have histories dating back hundreds of years, Napa Valley’s premium wine production dates back only to the 1960s. Despite its relatively short lifetime, Napa Valley has become home to hundreds of wineries, known especially for their elegant Chardonnay and expressive Cabernet Sauvignon, that hold their own against anything found in the Old World wine regions.

Marlborough | New Zealand

Marlborough is known for three things: its dry climate, the picturesque Marlborough Sounds and Sauvignon blanc wine. The region’s fertile soil and temperate weather enabled it to become the birthplace of the modern New Zealand wine industry, and today Marlborough represents 62% of total vineyard area in the country. As mentioned, the king varietal here is Sauvignon blanc (which many critics consider to be the world’s best), but Pinot noir and Chardonnay are also popular.

Douro Valley | Portugal

There is archaeological evidence for winemaking in the Douro Valley region of Portugal dating from the end of the Western Roman Empire. If you don’t remember your history lessons, that means the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. And just in case that isn’t impressive enough, grape seeds have also been found at even older archaeological sites in the area. So, yeah, Douro knows what it’s doing when it comes to wine. The region is primarily associated with Port wine production, but it produces a wide spectrum of styles that range from light to rich.

Rioja | Spain

When it comes to Spanish wine, Rioja ranks at the top. The region is divided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Many wines have traditionally blended fruit from all three regions, but in more recent times single-zone wines have grown in popularity. As was often the case in Mediterranean lands, monks were the main practitioners of winemaking in Rioja in mediaeval times. These days the church isn’t quite so involved, but Rioja wine is still a religious experience for many. The region is particularly known for oak aging and the pronounced vanilla flavours in its wines.

Tuscany | Italy

Tuscany is a must-visit stop on your Eat, Pray, Love journey around Italy. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places you’re likely to visit, it’s also home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions. Viticulture in Tuscany dates back to the Etruscans in the 8^th century BC, was written about by the Greeks in the 3^rd century BC, was immortalised in an 980-line poem in 1685, and continues to capture worldwide praise. The Sangiovese grape is Tuscany’s most prominent grape, but other varieties found the region include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah.

Alsace/Baden | France/Germany

Thanks to its perilous location on the boarder of France and Germany, separated by the Rhine River, this area has been involved in a tug-of-war for centuries. Despite its unsettled history, the Alsace region in France and Baden region in Germany produce some of the most interesting wines in the world. Alsace is all about dry Riesling, along with Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and a sparkling wine called Crémant d’Alsace. Baden, on the other hand, is primarily planted with grape varieties of the Pinot family and Riesling plays a smaller role.

Stellenbosch | South Africa

In the Western Cape province of South Africa, about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town along the Eerste River, lies Stellenbosch. The South African wine industry produces about 1,000,000,000 litres of wine annually with Stellenbosch at its heart. Since 1971, the Stellenbosch Wine Route (branded now as the Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes) has been a world-renowned tourist destination. Its coordinated network of more than 148 wineries offers 5 sub-routes, each of which has its own characteristic wine style, climate and geographical location.

Burgundy | France

Last but far from least, we have Burgundy. Grape growing in this region dates back to the 2^nd century, making it a pilgrimage site for wine enthusiasts around the world. The most famous wines produced here (commonly referred to as “Burgundies”) are dry red wines made from Pinot noir grapes and white wines made from Chardonnay grapes. Although the most preeminent wines of the region come with stratospherically high price tags, Burgundy also offers plenty of other rewarding wines that are worth a sip and won’t cost a fortune.

The post 10 Amazing Wine Regions You Need To Visit appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

To help out underdressed Australians (and those Californians who insist on wearing tracksuits and Uggs in public) Qantas is clamping down on poorly-dressed passengers. Australia’s favourite airline told media this week high-flyer passengers will face “rigorous”  new “minimum smart casual dress guidelines” at all Qantas Club and Qantas Business Lounges.

From April 1 (April Fools perhaps?), lounges at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide airports will be allowed to turn away passengers from the front desk if the person is not “togged up” before the flight. Things that fall short of being “togged up” (to quote Qantas) include singlets, bare feet, rubber thongs and clothing with offensive images or slogans.

“Entry may be refused at the discretion of the lounge staff if visitors do not meet the appropriate standard”, the airline said. “Lounge staff will use their discretion to determine if a visitor to the lounge meets our smart casual dress guidelines.”

And it seems fellow passengers are tired of having to share the exclusive lounge with uninspired types. Even at the luxurious buffet and marble bar and while working in the white leather business area.

“The vast majority of our members meet and exceed the guideline”, said Qantas. “But we have had some feedback from customers that they want to see those guidelines apply to everyone.”

Good job by Qantas. Another place is safe from the ‘glamour bogans’ who think wearing jeans (that look like leggings) with a blazer and ratty sneakers equates to sportsluxe.

How to Fly Smart Casual?

Smart casual is essentially the mixing of business attire and casual wear elements to make one outfit. Here, formal pieces adopt subtle patterns and more vibrant colours, while casual pieces become slightly tailored and more structurally sound. But the key to smart casual – especially when flying – is comfort.

The Jacket
Go for a deconstructed blazer (one made with very thin internal canvases and shoulder supports). It’s a lighter jacket structure and is softer when worn so to avoid feeling stiff across the shoulders and arms. Opt for a lightweight wool, natural cotton and linen – or a blend of two of these.

The Shirt
Button down shirts are best and can be coloured or slightly patterned here, depending on the blazer (subtle checked blazer on lilac shirt or navy jacket over light blue micro print shirt, for example). Stick to crisp white shirts when in doubt and no tie is needed. T-shirts are permissible but should stay in a muted palette (white, black, grey). When worn under a blazer make sure the tee is fitted and ironed so not to look untidy when the jacket comes off.

The Pants
Jeans, chinos and trousers, as well as tailored shorts (at appropriate knee lengths) are acceptable. Jeans should stay slim fit, tapered and opt for a classic wash (not overly distressed) from some of the best jeans brands for men. Chinos are best slim-to-relaxed fit (roll the ankles for adding taper) and opt for tan or khaki for perfect pairing under a linen navy blazer. Trouser separates can be made more casual by their outfit friends: a white, open-neck shirt (no jacket this time) and well-maintained leather shoes go well.

Footwear
Quality leather driving loafers or penny loafers are ideal for comfort. And can be shoes worn without socks. Leather monks or mocassins are the next level up and slightly more posh due to their sold structure and heel. Derby and oxford shoes are the ultimate dress shoe (for any occasion really). Try them as a boot, laced up under chinos or wool separate trousers.

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This English-born, Australia-residing style guru has worn many hats. Australian TV viewers know him as a judge on The Block, while magazine aficionados have been following a career that includes the launch of delicious, editor in chief of Belle and, currently, editor in chief of Vogue Living. Living in Sydney with his partner and two Weimaraner dogs, Whitaker chats with Rachelle Unreich about design, dream destinations and the best advice he ever received.RU: Are people ever scared of having you over to their house, the way some might be reluctant to cook for a chef?NW: I’m filled with horror when I think people might feel that way. I don’t judge anything at all in my own private life, and I would certainly not judge anybody’s home. You’d have a good time [judging me] if you came to my house; the fact that I have two unrenovated bathrooms and I’ve been in the house for almost a decade tells you something. When you look at beautiful houses all day long for work, the last thing you want to do is to do it yourself. It’s like chefs who get home and all they want is a piece of toast with some baked beans on it.RU: What would your dream home be?NW: The place I just returned from in Bali – the Como Shambhala in Ubud – is pretty high up on the list. So is The Jim Thompson House in Bangkok. I’m a great lover of Asian houses that are open to the elements, with wooden floors, plantation shutters. That Asian style of living would be my dream.RU: What is the best design advice you could give for the D’Marge readers?NW: Your home should be a reflection of the life lived in it. I have no time for passing trends of fads. If blue is the colour of the moment and you don’t happen to like it, then don’t go near it. Your home should be a reflection of you and the life lived there, an amalgam of all sorts of personal effects, memories of travel and assorted things that tell the tale of your life.RU: What does your home reveal about you?NW: My life and my partner’s life – everything has been chosen for a specific reason. A lot of things were picked up on our travels around the world together. All I can see now is books, books, books – we have floor to ceiling shelves in our open plan living-dining area, but the books have taken over that area a bit. I have devoured books my whole life; I get through several novels a month. I’m a big fan of Christos Tsiolkas, and also a huge one of Nigerian American writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I also love many Indian writers – V.S. Naipaul, Anita Desai, Rohinton Mistry.RU: Here’s a design question: What do you suggest someone does if his partner has very different taste to what he likes?NW: There always has got to be an element of compromise. Find pieces that work for you both. I don’t believe that one person should sacrifice their taste or be subordinate in any way – you have to find a middle ground. If you’re lucky enough to have a huge house, where you can carve up the rooms, great.  But not many people are in big enough houses to cope with that.RU: Is there anything you collect at home?NW: Art. In my living room, every conceivable wall space is covered with something. We are quite committed collectors. I don’t mean that we spend huge amounts of money in galleries, but we pick up what we love where we can find it. If I’m bringing back something from overseas, I’ll always pick up something to put on the wall. I’m particularly fond of the four Robert Dobles we have on the wall at the moment. I love a Vietnamese abstract watercolour of a Buddhist monk from Vietnam, and a contemporary photograph of street gangsters in China by Paul Westlake. And there’s a painting by Sydney artists Gillie and Marc, of myself, my partner and our Weimaraner dogs. It sounds corny, but it’s beautiful.RU: You’re a man of fine taste; do you have ugly dog stuff?NW: Our dogs don’t have many things. They only like to play with tennis balls; dog toys have always been ignored. They do have a beautiful, old leather sofa that they’ve taken over. They shouldn’t sleep on it, but they do.RU: Do you have bad taste in anything? Music?NW: My music taste is everything from show tunes to folk music to classical to Gregorian chants to Eurovision song winners. I’m not remotely precious about that stuff. With the painting of us with the dogs, some people love it and some people hate it and think it’s the height of bad taste. But we don’t care.RU: Your career path has been incredible. Among the many highlights, you launched food magazine delicious, you edited Belle for many years, you’re a judge on The Block and you’re about to head up Vogue Living as editor-in-chief. Have there been any missteps?NW: My career might appear on paper to seem confident and assured but it has been quite haphazard. I went through a period of incredible insecurity when I left England back in ’99 to move to Australia, because I was taking a bit of a leap – it was like jumping off a cliff, but I had to do it, even though I wasn’t sure how it would play out. There have also been moments where I haven’t been enjoying myself. I don’t have any special formula for how to deal with it. I try to get on with it and make things better, and if I think it’s time for a new opportunity, I go in search for it. Australia’s been very, very good to me. Right now I feel like I’m in a good place.RU: You seem very measured. What infuriates you?NW: I get absolutely infuriated about a lot of little, silly things. People who call me up and email me and say, ‘Can I pick your brain?’ They want my advice and can be incredibly demanding. And then they’re rude when they don’t get the response they want. I also get a lot of PR people contacting me with crazy story ideas, which makes me think they have never looked at anything I’ve ever edited. I have people calling me to pitch everything from ice-cream to walking sticks to chairlifts, and I say, ‘You know I work at an interior design magazine, don’t you?’ But seriously, there aren’t many things that drive me mad. I’m a fairly reasonable person.RU: What’s the most memorable time you were recognised?NW: It’s always nice to be recognised. Once I was on Crown Street in Surry Hills, walking along, and these guys were walking behind me. As I got to the traffic lights, they were calling out, ‘Neale! Neale! Neale!’ I turned around with a big grin, and they said, ‘Neil Perry – you’re that guy from MasterChef!’ But you can spend twenty five years in magazines and you’re still known as the guy from The Block. I kind of like it, though.RU: When you were growing up, what was the epitome of stylishness for you?NW: I grew up in England in the late 1960s, 1970s and it was a bit of a style desert. I aspired to friends’ homes, which was terribly unfair, as there was nothing wrong with mine. But at one point, we had our sitting room wallpapered in a bamboo print, which I thought was terribly chic and stylish – things started to look up from that point.RU: What did you spend your first big paycheck on?NW: My own apartment in England. That’s what people do in England. As soon as you get a paycheck in your pocket, you get a mortgage. It’s like a rite of passage. I was only in my 20s.RU: What’s the best advice you ever received?NW: I had a domineering, eccentric boss many years ago when I worked on British Harpers & Queen, who told me I needed to smile more. She said I was way too serious but that if I smiled, I could get whatever I wanted. It kind of worked. It’s something I’ve remembered all my life as my natural look is quite serious and forbidding. I practise my smile to remind people I have a sense of humour.RU: What makes you laugh out loud?NW: British sitcoms that go back to the ‘70s, the cornier the better. Robin’s Nest, Are You Being Served?, George &  Mildred, The Good Life. I still watch them on UK TV. Fortunately, my partner loves them too.RU: What’s the best advice you have on love?NW: You’ve got to try to make each other laugh, give each other space when you need it and understand what makes each other tick.

The post Neale Whitaker – On Design, Dream Destinations And Life Advice appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

New Year’s Resolution: play more golf. The variety of golf courses to choose from here in Australia is staggering (as is the stunning natural beauty you’ll experience at many of them), so we’ve taken the liberty of choosing a few favourites for you. Now you can focus on perfecting your swing instead of worrying about where you’re going to show it off. 

FYI – You may need to bribe your way onto a few of these. Good luck!

Royal Melbourne West Course

The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Australia in continuous operation. The Club was founded in 1891 and has been host to numerous national and international events since. Two world-famous courses are available but the one to play is the West, which Royal Melbourne theatrically describes as “full of dramatic undulation, fertile sandy soil and a natural rugged appearance.”

Barnbougle Lost Farm

The extraordinary landscape of Tasmania’s north east coast is ideally suited to a golf course – and luckily, Barnbougle has two. Lost Farm is a 20-hole course designed and built by world-renowned US golf course design company Coore & Crenshaw. Within a week of opening, Lost Farm was rated one of the top 10 courses in Australia by Golf Australia Magazine and also entered U.S. Golf Magazine’s Top 100 List.

New South Wales Golf Club

The New South Wales Golf Club was founded in 1926 and the course officially opened for play in 1928. Situated on the northern headland of historic Botany Bay, in the Sydney suburb of La Perouse, the NSW Golf Course is currently ranked by Golf Digest as the No. 9 golf course outside the United States and the No.1 golf course outside the United States and the UK. It’s a true test of skill when the sea breezes blow.

Kingston Heath

The Kingston Heath Golf Club has hosted many major tournaments in its lifetime, including 7 Men’s Australian Opens, 1 Women’s Australian Open, 7 Australian Match Championships, 2 Tournament Players Championships, 7 Victorian Opens, and the 2009 & 2012 Australian Masters. The 18 holes were built on only 50 hectares (most in the modern era are built on over 100 hectares), though you won’t notice when you’re mid-play.

The National Golf Club Old Course

The National Golf Club is a 54 hole private members’ golf club, providing three unique golfing experiences: the Old Course (designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr), the Moonah Course (designed by Greg Norman), and the Ocean Course (designed by Thomson, Wolveridge & Perrett). You probably won’t be disappointed with any of the options, but we’re casting our vote for the time-tested Old Course.

The Lakes

With the entire course built on the Sydney Sandbelt, The Lakes is regarded as one of the best wet weather courses in the region. In addition to the world-class play, fine dining restaurant, 280 metre driving range, GPS motorised cart fleet, spa, and sauna, golfers at The Lakes are treated to scenic views and an abundance of wild life. Relaxed and serene, the course feels like a retreat although it’s only 15 minutes from the Sydney CBD.

Royal Adalaide

Founded in 1892, the Adelaide Golf Club found its permanent home in Seaton in 1905 and was granted its ‘Royal’ prefix in 1923. The once rugged costal duneland has been transformed into one of Australia’s most celebrated golf courses, host to many international championship events including 9 Australian Opens. Members of reciprocal clubs are welcome to play at the private course and limited opportunities are available for interstate and overseas golfers visiting Adelaide.

The Cut

The Cut – Perth’s only true links golf course – will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2014. Voted Western Australia’s number one golf course in 2008/09, ranked in the country’s top 20 public access courses, and counted amongst the top 25 overall courses in Australia, The Cut is a must-play course for all golf enthusiasts visiting Perth and the Mandurah area.

Ellerston

Ellerston Golf Course opened in 2001, but good luck ever setting foot on it. The remarkable property was designed for the exclusive enjoyment of well-heeled media tycoon Kerry Packer and his family, so unless you’re a personal friend of the Packers, pictures are as close as you’re going to get. Despite its total inaccessibility, we’d be remiss for leaving the Packer family’s private facility off a list of Australia’s best golf courses.

Hamilton Island Golf Club

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