2020 was a year of revelations as well as shutdowns. Among them was the realisation our backyard has a lot more to offer than we gave it credit for.We’ve finally got over our Europe fetish, and all it took was a deadly global virus.As such, hordes of Australians took this chance to quit their jobs, throw their Centrelink payments into an ETF, and hit the road. The result?Besides the cultural appropriation of surfing by fake hippies in Byron Bay, we have also seen lots of underground attractions getting mainstream attention.In January 2021 a photo that was ‘hard to believe is in Australia’ blew minds down under as an island off Port Stephens looked remarkably like “a postcard from Greece.”In February a stunning Australian ‘Maldives alternative‘ made headlines and Victoria’s Loch Ard Gorge was shown doing its best impression of Polignano a Mare.Now there is another destination on Australian travellers’ radars, which in the days of being able to travel to Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and New Caledonia would unlikely be receiving such interest: Phillip Island (the little known one off Norfolk Island, not the famous one off Victoria).Phillip Island sits 1,400 kilometres east of Byron Bay (6km south of its big sister isle, Norfolk Island), has a climate reminiscent of Northern NSW, and is a birdwatchers paradise.

According to Parks Australia, “Every year, thousands of migratory seabirds breed on Phillip Island, including masked boobies, black-winged petrels, sooty terns and black noddies.”

“Phillip Island’s contoured landscape is quite unusual – a century of erosion and degradation has exposed a dazzling array of red, yellow and pink soils.”

Speaking of dazzling soils, according to Traveller, Phillip Island has been called “the Uluru of the Pacific.”

 

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In the same piece, Traveller points out “the Uluru of the Pacific” is not easy to access. As the author explained, she was unable to get to Phillip Island on her last trip because conditions were not safe.

“Every night, a phone call from my Phillip Island trekking guide rules out a trip there the next day; the sea is too rough. My hopes leapfrog to the next day and the next, until I run out of days.”

 

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“Getting there involves a mini-expedition that starts with a short, often rough boat trip from Norfolk; you then have to leap ashore onto slippery, wave-sloshed rocks and scramble up ladders and ropes to reach the island’s higher, drier slopes,” (Traveller).The Instagram geotag page for Phillip Island (Norfolk Island), however, provides a pictorial account of some of the other travellers who have made it there over the years.

 

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Though some images and videos must be taken with a grain of salt (anyone can upload anything to Instagram), they provide a broad sense for Phillip Island’s majestic red hills and “lemonade water” like coves.

 

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The abundance of recent posts (from the last few weeks) show various tourists enjoying the island and its wildlife. Captions like “mission to Mars” show many have had their minds at least mildly blown by the experience.With the domestic travel boom Australia has seen in recent months likely to continue until international borders open once more, perhaps Phillip Island will see even greater exposure this year.For anyone thinking of visiting, Parks Australia urges tourists to remember, “access to the island is weather-dependant and an experienced guide is required at all times.”“To organise a visit, please contact the Norfolk Island Visitors Information Centre.”

Read Next

• ‘Most Byron Photo Ever’ Shows How Australia’s Coastal Culture Is Changing
• ‘Behind The Veil’: Life At The Maldives’ Most Luxurious ‘Boho’ Resort

The post 'Uluru Of The Pacific': Remote Island Blows Australians' Minds appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It used to be that any conversation about high fashion naturally gravitated towards Europe: the grand couturiers of France, the storied luxury houses of Italy, tailors on London’s Savile Row…Europe might still be a fashion powerhouse, but it’s no longer the only word in men’s style. DMARGE recently conducted a reader survey about changing perceptions of luxury, and a whopping 80% of you agree that luxury doesn’t have to come from Europe. Just as we recognise that Europe’s not the sole domain of the finer things in life, so too do we observe that the hottest style trends are increasingly coming from places outside of the ‘Old World’.One men’s style trend that’s being led by designers and snappy dressers outside of Europe is the revival of the leisure suit. While the first leisure suits originated in the 1930s on the US’ West Coast, it was in the 1960s and 1970s that leisure suits became particularly popular, and emerged the form we recognise them as today.Taking on design cues from the utilitarian safari jacket, safari suits became fashionable thanks to French designers like Ted Lapidus and Yves Saint Laurent championing the look. The style was also picked up by the mod subculture in the UK, as well as by quintessential British men’s style icons of the era such as Roger Moore and the Prince of Wales. In recent years, it’s become somewhat kitsch; a shorthand for sleaze.

But the modern safari suit has far more salubrious and less European origins. Because leisure suits are an eminently practical, rather smart warm-weather option, well-dressed gents in Africa and South Asia have long championed the safari suit, further refining the style and transforming it from something to be mocked to a respectable smart-casual option. Now, Australians are paying attention – and Europe should, too.Take Australian-founded, South-Africa based tailoring outfit Button Brothers’ leisure suit, which is “inspired by the powerful leaders of the Front Line States who fought for the liberty of many in Africa,” taking design cues from military fatigues worn by revolutionary freedom fighters whilst incorporating soft, breathable cotton.Another Australian tailor that’s reinvigorating the leisure suit is Patrick Johnson. His take incorporates beautifully-textured linen and nods to the sorts of mountain jackets explorers in the Himalayas would regularly don during mountain expeditions – turning adventure gear into haute couture.RELATED: Menswear Experts Explain What Will Happen To Australia’s Suit Culture If We Don’t Go Back To WorkFor a different take on the leisure suit, one only has to look to US-based tailoring service Hangrr, whose leisure suits throwback to peak American preppy style: small pockets, slim tailoring and a double vent for maximum warm-weather comfort.The revival of the leisure suit proves something that Australian luxury consumers have known intuitively for many years: that fashion’s epicentre is slowly shifting from Europe and expanding elsewhere. Keep an eye on this trend – and keep your eye out for other men’s style trends emerging outside of Europe.

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• I Wore Every F*ckboi’s Favourite Footwear For A Week & It Changed My Life
• John Legend Revives The 1960s’ Most Overlooked Men’s Style Trend

The post ‘Revolutionary’ Suit Trend Shows The Epicentre Of Men’s Fashion Is Shifting For The Better appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Instagram filters. Platform shoes. Beard baiting. Posting a public Instagram story to show one person how much fun you’re having. All’s fair in love and TikTok, it appears, in 2021.Another tactic the world’s Lost In Love can add to their repertoire is checking out their partner’s Fitbit.In a story that wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of Black Mirror, British dating guru Nadia Essex has taken to TikTok to share how she caught her ex-boyfriend cheating.“When my ex-boyfriend came home after a night out with the boys, I thought, let me make him some breakfast,” Essex shared.But before she could bring it to him, she got an alert on her fitness tracker.“I got a notification on my FitBit… that we had synched together, that between 2 o’clock and 3 o’clock in the morning, yesterday morning, he had burned over 500 calories.”

“I shoved that breakfast where the sun doesn’t shine.”

Though some TikTok users came to the man’s defence, saying he could have been in a nightclub ‘innocently’ dancing (or perhaps having some solo time), Essex was having none of it.

“Think it would fall off after burning 500 solo calories.”

Another user quipped: “500 calories? I’m lucky if I burn 20. It must be because he’s burning in hell.”

While Essex’s story might seem a flash in the pan, news.com.au reports she’s not the first person to catch their partner cheating like this.“In December 2019, Jane Slater – an NFL sports reporter in the US – revealed her relationship had suffered the same fate,” news.com.au reports.“Jane’s ex had bought her a FitBit for Christmas and they and synched them together and monitor each others activity as well as ‘motivate’ each other to move more.”However… a bounce in his activity levels at 4am allegedly revealed his sneaky behaviour.

Spoiler alert: he was not enrolled in an OrangeTheory class at 4am.

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) December 5, 2019

Various TikTok users now seem genuinely interested in the potential for a Fitbit to catch cheating. Indeed, technology being used to both facilitate (and give away) naughty behaviour is a trend on the rise – something DMARGE recently spoke to American Instagram model Paige Woolen about at length.RELATED: American Instagram Model On Mission To ‘Rehabilitate’ Men’s DM Sliding Game We have investigated this intersection between technology and dating many times in the last twelve months. This latest TikTok saga comes amid a number of other spicy debates such as who should pay for the Uber home after a one night stand and the ethics of going through a partner’s messages.The real question here though is who the hell burns that many calories in a bedroom session? Maybe it’s time to give up that gym membership…

Read Next

• Expert Breaks Down Relationship ‘Fundamental’ Most Men Are Blissfully Unaware Of
• American Actress’ Risqué Selfie Reveals The Woeful State Of Men’s Pick Up Game

The post '500 Calories At 2am': Fitbit Feature Catching Cheating Partners Around The Globe appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Think Japan is all about nollies in Niseko and slides in Sapporo? Think again. There’s an offbeat side to The Land Of The Rising Sun many Australians are missing out on: Hokuriku Shinetsu.

If you fancy carving some fresh tracks, the Hokuriku Shinetsu region offers a culturally immersive experience, as well as some of the best snow in Japan (to give just one example, the region is home to Hakuba and Nagano City, the village where the Winter Olympics were held in 1998).

The Hokuriku Shinetsu region is located in the centre of Honshu. Hokuriku Shinetsu is also home to some of the most well-known ski regions within Japan, with numerous easily accessible tourist attractions dotted around it.

However, Australians have a habit of heading to Japan’s north island to ski – something which requires another flight (and logistical battle) after touching down in Tokyo.

We also tend to get our ‘foodie’ and nightlife fix in Tokyo. But in doing so we miss out on a lot.

In the Hokuriku Shinetsu region, a world of opportunity awaits, with various ski options and sightseeing experiences beckoning world-savvy travellers.

Sound like you? Get in early, before the masses cotton onto it. Hokuriku Shinetsu has more attractions than you can throw a steaming Onsen at, including a bunch of cosmopolitan (and ancient) fun.

Here’s a breakdown of some of Hokuriku Shinetsu’s top attractions.

Nagano City

Nagano City has a lot to offer international tourists.

Getting to Nagano City is straightforward. The easiest option for international travellers is usually to take a bullet train from Tokyo (a one-way trip takes 80-100 minutes, and costs about 8,000 yen). It is also accessible from Osaka (again, travelling by train tends to be best). From Osaka the train journey is more like five hours.

Togakushi Shrine

If 800-year-old cedars are your jam, and you are up for an authentic spiritual walk in Nagano City, then the Togakushi Shrine should be on your ‘to do’ list.

Togakushi Shrine is one of the most sacred places for pilgrimage in Japan. The sanctuary has a long history and was founded about 2,000 years ago at the foot of Mount Togakushi, where Ama-no-Iwato (heavenly rock cave) is said to have been born in the age of Japanese mythology.

Togakushi Shrine is made up of five shrines: Houko-sha, Hinomiko-sha, Chu-sha, Oku-sha, and Kuzuryu-sha, which enshrine the gods associated with the ritual of opening Amano-Iwato.

The Five Shrine Tour in the midst of nature is very popular and gives visitors the chance to experience the sacred natural power of the spiritual sanctuary (just what you need to rejuvenate after your flight).

To get there, take the Arpico Kotsu bus, about 1 hour from Nagano Station, platform 7.

Togakushi Ski Resort

It’s not just spiritual enlightenment that may await in Togakushi. You can get some serious air beneath your feet (and board) too, without even going further than 60 minutes from the city centre. Talk about convenience. Located just one hour by bus from the centre of Nagano City, Togakushi Ski Resort is located near the Togakushi Shrine.

The 19 courses provide skiers and snowboarders with a wide variety of terrain to meet the needs of everyone from beginners and families to experts. The powder snow is strikingly light, and the view of the Togakushi mountain range never gets old.

Access can be found via Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) via a Train (2 hours 40 minutes) to Nagano Station and then a bus (80 minutes) to Togakushi Snow World.

Access is also available by car (address: 381-4101 3682 Togakushi, Nagano-Shi, Nagano-Ken). The best route for those arriving on four wheels is: Kanetsu Expressway Nerima IC, FujiokaJCT, Joshinetsu Expressway, Nagano IC, Route35, Route117, Togakushi Birdline, Togakushi Snow World (3 hours 55 minutes).

Nagano Prefectural Art Museum

Looking to get a bit artsy? Look no further than the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum. The Gallery houses 960 works by Japanese painter Kaii Higashiyama and it’s not just the artworks that are iconic. The Gallery itself was designed in 1990 by Yoshio Taniguchi, a world-renowned architect who also designed the New Museum of Modern Art in New York and GINZA SIX. It was renovated in 2019 and, if you like peaceful, natural paintings is well worth the 500 yen admission price.

The Nagano Prefectural Art Museum is located next to Zenkoji Temple and is a must for anyone interested in opening their artistic minds and seeing the works of one of the most popular artists in post-war Japan. The Nagano Prefectural Art Museum will reopen on April the 1st 2021.

Shinshu Nagaya Ba

If you needed another reason to make Nagano the base of your stay; here it is. Shinshu Nagaya Ba is the place to be if you want to tickle your tastebuds with local cuisine.

The region has a rich natural environment, pure water, and a climate with a wide range of temperature differences. A rich food culture is the result. There are 80 saké breweries in Nagano Prefecture, making it one of the foremost saké producing areas in Japan, and it’s also famous for its soba noodles.

Nagano’s Togakushi soba is one of the three best in Japan.

Palette piqued? At Shinshu Nagaya Sakaba, you can enjoy a wide selection of local saké from 72 breweries in Nagano Prefecture, and Togakushi soba, and a wide variety of local dishes such as local sausages, horse sashimi, wild plants (sansai), and tofu.

Address: 1418-12 Minamiishidocho, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture Sengoku Hasegawa Building.

Zenkoji Temple

The Zenkoji Temple temple is said to have been founded in the 7th century and has a history of nearly 1,400 years. It is one of Japan’s chief pilgrimage sites.

“Visit Zenkoji Temple at least once in your life” has been a tradition since the Edo period (1603 – 1868) – the final period of what is known as traditional Japan.

The temple is a special sanctuary in the centre of Nagano. It is said that once you visit it you will be promised a life of paradise. While we can’t quite guarantee that – if you’re staying in Nagano City, what have you got to lose?

Be sure to get there while the birds are still chirping to witness the local monks perform their famous morning prayer service (called, Oasaji). Another tip is to allow a few hours to give yourself enough time to soak up everything the temple has to offer.

Another interesting point to note, especially in these conflicted global times, is that the temple is quite unique in that it is not affiliated with a specific religious sect.

Zenkoji is accessible on foot, by bus or by local train from Nagano Station, a transport hub with links to Nagoya and Tokyo.

The walk from Nagano Station takes around 30 minutes, but it’s an excellent way to get a feel for the city. To get there by train from Nagano Station take the Nagano Dentetsu-Nagano Line to Zenkojishita Station. From there it’s a 10 minute walk.

The Nagano City tourist information site can be found here.

Hakuba

Hakuba Happo One Ski Resort

Hakuba Happo One, the site of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, is a world-famous powder snow slope offering 16 different faces to work your skills on. It also has a ski and snowboard school, an off-piste area (it seems some Australian trends are catching on) and locally produced on-mountain food.

There is also lots of vertical scale at Hakuba Happo One, so even when conditions are not pristine at the base of the mountain you can often enjoy impeccable snow on the upper slopes.

Situated just 1 hour and 20 minutes by bus from the centre of Nagano City, Hakuba Happo One Ski Resort is also accessible by car or train.

Kanazawa City

Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, on Japan’s central Honshu Island, is a three and a half-hour drive west of Nagano (2 hours and 45 minutes west of Hakuba). It’s known for well-preserved Edo-era districts, art museums and regional handicrafts.

Tokyo and Kanazawa are directly connected by the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen. The one-way ride takes two and a half to three hours, costs around 14,000 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Hokuriku Arch Pass.

You can also go by bus, but it takes significantly longer. A one way trip between Tokyo and Kanazawa by highway bus takes about 7-8 hours and costs around 6,000 to 8,000 yen.

Kenrokuen Garden

A garden that will make you want to gently whistle (both out of being impressed, and out of revelling in the serenity), Kenrokuen Garden is one of the most famous pond gardens of the Edo period. It’s one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan (along with Mito Kairakuen Garden and Okayama Korakuen Garden) and you’ll find it in the centre of Kanazawa City.

The Kenrokuen Garden is a place where you can live in the moment, and enjoy the beauty of the four seasons. The name Kenrokuen means “having six factors.” These six factors are: spaciousness, tranquillity, artifice, antiquity, water sources and magnificent views.

The garden comprises 11.4 hectares and is located on the heights of the central part of Kanazawa next to Kanazawa Castle. If you visit, one of Kenrokuen Garden’s most picturesque attractions is its large artificial pond called Kasumigaike.

Seisonkaku

Ever felt like visiting a Samurai villa replete with Edo period decorations? This is your chance. Seisonkaku is an important property with cultural significance to Japan, built in 1863, where you can get a taste for the wealth the Kaga region attained during the early rule of the Maeda clan and the artisan culture they promoted over the following three centuries.

To get there take the bus from Kanazawa Station Kenrokuen Gate. Address: 1-2 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0936.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art Kanazawa

If you didn’t get your fix of art in Nagano, and are still hankering for some haute couture in Kanazawa, this one’s for you. The museum has received various awards, including the Golden Lion at the 2004 Venice Biennale of Architecture and The Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2010.

It opened in 2004, designed by Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA), world-renowned architects who have toiled on major museum buildings in the last few years, including the Louvre Lens (Reims, France) and the New Museum (New York, USA). The cornerstone piece of art is Leandro Erlich’s swimming pool.

Address: 1-2-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa, Japan 920-8509.

Nagamachi Samurai District

Southeast of Kanazawa Castle is the Nagamachi Samurai District – a neighbourhood where the Samurai of the awe-inspiring Maeda clan (the rulers of Kanazawa and the old Kaga Domain) used to live. Want to visit? Take a stroll back in time, visit an archetypal samurai house and see the city’s oldest canal while you’re at it.

As for directions: from the Ishikawa gate of Kanazawa Castle, the Nagamachi Samurai District is a 10-minute walk. Get there by bus from Kanazawa Station. Both the Kanazawa loop bus and JR buses stop at Korinbo. Nagamachi is a five-minute walk from there.

Higashi Chaya District

No visit to Kanazawa would be complete without a trip to the Higashi Chaya district. One of the most popular sightseeing areas in the city, the Higashi Chaya district is known for its teahouses and gold leaf crafts. Some of the buildings date back to 1820, and the history of about 200 years lives on, ready to be embraced (ideally with your hands around a warm cup of tea).

The right loop of the Kanazawa loop bus will take you to The Higashi Chaya District. It takes about 10 minutes from Kanazawa Station. Get off at Hashibacho bus stop (number RL4), from where the district can be reached via a five-minute walk.

Gold Leafing Experience

Kanazawa is responsible for more than 99% of Japan’s gold leaf production. Gold leaf production started, it is said, in Kanazawa around 1593. Experience the traditional techniques passed down through the generations over the last 400 odd years for yourself by going to a quality tourist facility like the one at Bikazariasano.

Bar Hopping Plan

What better way to round off your trip to Japan than with a night of bar hopping? Food, history and culture lovers will adore this tour, which will take you to izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) that serve local foods like fresh fish, sake, and traditional vegetables of Kanazawa. It will also take you to Kanazawa Central Gastronomic Street, a drinking area that harks back to the Showa era (1926-1989) and has the ambience to match.

Local guides will take you to their top picks, depending on your preferences. They will teach you how to enjoy the quintessential drinks and cuisine of Kanazawa, starting with a sake toast in a quaint, counter-only restaurant (where you can chat to the owner over the bar).

The Kanazawa City tourist information site can be found here.

Final Advice

The number of foreign visitors discovering the joys of the Hokuriku Shinetsu region has been steadily increasing in recent years. The time is ripe for Australians to get in on the action.

Not only is it convenient for skiers and snowboarders who don’t like spending excessive hours in transit, but it also has world-famous snow, and an unbeatable cultural experience to boot.

After racing down the slopes, you can enjoy the rich history, art, and food culture of Japan (beyond just Tokyo).

Be part of the discovery.

The post The ‘Undiscovered’ Side Of Japan Few Australians Know About appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Few other jewellers demand the same respect as Cartier. The French jeweller and watchmaker has maintained a presence in the upper echelons of luxury ever since its founding by Louis-François Cartier in Paris, 1847. Proof of its premium nature can be found in the number of royal warrants it holds with various royalty around the world, which date back to 1904 following the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII of Great Britain.It was Louis-François’ grandchildren – Louis, Pierre and Jacques – who really put the Cartier brand on the map, thanks to their ingenious designs and savvy marketing tactics. One such design for a wristwatch that has remained iconic ever since came in 1904, when Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont approached Louis Cartier to tell him of his troubles reading his watch while flying. Louis went to the drawing board and designed the Santos watch, with square bezel and flat design. The rest, as they say, is history.The three brothers spread out around the world to further establish the Cartier name, opening boutiques in New York City and London, and continued to make wise business dealings with other companies, such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, who would produce movements exclusively for Cartier’s watches.Definitely lending themselves more towards formal and special occasions, Cartier watches are ones that remain exclusive, desirable and are often the pinnacle of many collections. We felt it time to select our favourite models for you to add to yours.

Ballon Bleu de Cartier, Rose Gold, Blue Dial

Reference Number: WGBB0036Case Material: Rose GoldCase Size: 42mmPrice: AU $23,900Cartier watches don’t always need the aid of complications to attract attention, as is the case with this Ballon Bleu. This family of watches represents the epitome of elegance the brand has become renowned for, and thanks to its slimline design and curvaceous body, can happily slide under a shirt cuff whether attending a formal event or heading into the office.This particular model, finished with a blue dial and matching blue alligator-skin strap, plays on the favourable trend for blue dial watches, giving it a touch of class in the process. As with all Ballon Bleu watches, a sapphire cabochon is set within the crown, a feature that is imitated across Cartier’s other timepieces, making them instantly recognisable.

Ballon Bleu de Cartier, Steel

Reference Number: W69016Z4Case Material: Stainless SteelCase Size: 42mmPrice: AU $9,150Taking the same Ballon Bleu silhouette but employing it in a more approachable fashion, this stainless steel version of the elegant timepiece is one that should be included in the dress watch collections of many. The same Roman numerals and blue sword-shaped hands make an appearance once again, as does the crown-set cabochon. You don’t get a sapphire with this model, hence the price, but with a synthetic spinel cabochon making a perfect substitute, it remains just as sophisticated.

Santos de Cartier, Steel and Gold

Reference Number: W2SA0009Case Material: Steel and GoldCase Size: 39.8mmPrice: AU $16,200Not only one of the most iconic Cartier models, but one of the most iconic watches to have ever been produced, the Santos de Cartier is one of the company’s earliest models. It was this model that Louis Cartier produced in response to Alberto Santos-Dumont’s request for a legible watch he could use while flying.This larger edition features a date window at 6 o’clock and is powered by Cartier’s own 1847 MC self-winding calibre. What’s more, this most recent version of the Santos benefits from Cartier’s SmartLink system, which allows you to easily remove links without the use of a screwdriver, and you can quickly change the strap to the included leather option thanks to an efficient quick-chance system.If you put just one Cartier watch into your collection, make it a Santos.

Santos de Cartier, Black

Reference Number: WSSA0039Case Material: Stainless SteelCase Size: 47.5mm x 39.8mmPrice: AU $11,600However, whether your Santos is finished in a classic silver and gold finish, or this Uber-cool all black number, is down to you. Certainly exhibiting a much more modern appearance than its brethren, this all-black Santos – achieved via an Amorphous Diamond-Luke Carbon (ADLC) coating on the case, bezel and crown – including black dial and black date window.It’s the intricate details on this all-black edition that truly exemplify how good of a watchmaker Cartier is. Some other watchmakers may default to a white date window with black text, for example. Not so here, and in employing a black window instead, the colours aren’t broken up. We also love the black rubber strap, designed to imitate the stainless steel bracelets found on other models through the use of screw-shaped rivets.If you want a Cartier watch to wear as an everyday piece, this all-black Santos de Cartier could be just the ticket.RELATED: Cartier’s New Santos-Dumont XL Is The Perfect Dress Watch For Men With Large Wrists

Tank Solo XL, Pink Gold

Reference Number: W5200026Case Material: 18K Pink Gold and Stainless SteelCase Size: 31mm x 40.85mmPrice: AU $12,800The Tank is Cartier’s flagship collection. Inspired by the top-down view of an army tank, it is somewhat poetic that a harsh and brash piece of military equipment would inspire an elegant and iconic wristwatch. The Tank de Cartier family encompasses various models, but all share the same case design in that the case sides extend into the lugs – like the tracks of a tank.The Tank Solo is a more accessible model within the Tank family, and this XL model, presented on a brown alligator-skin strap and finished in 18K rose gold and stainless steel, is quintessential Cartier. What’s more, you also get a self-winding automatic movement, important, because the majority of the Tank Solo collection is given quartz movements, making this somewhat of a specialty.

Tank MC

Reference Number: W5330003Case Material: Stainless SteelCase Size: 44mm x 34mmPrice: AU $10,600Another member of the Tank family is the Tank MC. Unlike the vast majority of Tank watches that preceded it, ever since the model’s launch in 1918, this Tank MC uses an in-house manufacture movement – the ‘MC’ stands for “Manufacture Cartier”. Many Tank de Cartier’s released previously used movements sourced from other watchmakers, such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, among many others.However, what you get here is Cartier’s 1904 calibre which is used to power the hours, minutes, seconds sub-dial and date. The MC also gets a slightly different case design, employing a slightly curved appearance to improve wear on the wrist. While it may ‘only’ be made from stainless steel, the price tag attached makes for very appealing reading, considering what you get in return.

Tank Solo XL, Steel

Reference Number: W5200028Case Material: Stainless SteelCase Size: 31mm x 40.85mmPrice: AU $5,750What we haven’t yet featured, is a Tank de Cartier on a stainless steel bracelet. Let us put an end to that, with a prime example of how accessible Cartier watches can be. The name alone will no doubt conjure up connotations of high prices and unattainability. But in this Tank Solo, complete with mechanical automatic movement, you get a gorgeous timepiece that will happily take pride of place in any well-rounded collection.

Read Next

• How Louis Cartier Shaped What We Wear On Our Wrists
• Gianluca Vacchi’s Cartier Suggests Eclectic Watch Collections Are Something Every Playboy Needs

The post The Hottest Cartier Watches To Buy In 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The Greeks have given us many things. Democracy, evidence-based medicine, feta cheese, the Wog Boys film franchise…But the best thing the Greeks have ever invented is the word ‘malaka‘. At this stage, it’s basically an Australian English word: the Greek equivalent of ‘wanker’, it’s the most famous piece of Greek slang and can mean everything from ‘arsehole’ to ‘mate’ depending on the context. It’s a blessed, cheeky word – no wonder Aussies love it so much.So what’s a ‘malaka button’, we can hear you asking? Well, it’s what the uninitiated might call an exhaust button or active exhaust control. It’s an increasingly common feature on high-end automobiles; one that’s sure to bring out one’s inner malaka or have the word hurled your way as you use it. In our opinion, it’s the single best thing about modern performance vehicles. Let us explain why.Car manufacturers in the 21st century have become incredibly good at sound insulation. The reality is that 99% of drivers, 99% of the time, want a comfortable, quiet driving experience – but still want to get that thrill of an exotic engine note when they put their feet down.It’s led to this strange phenomenon in recent years where cars makers have started to pipe engine sounds into the cabin from the engine bay (or via artificial means, e.g. pre-recorded engine sounds playing through the sound system) in order to satisfy us fickle customers. Still, these measures are widely reviled by most automotive purists, who don’t appreciate the fakery.A more recent and effective innovation has been to build car exhausts with valves that can open and close depending on driving conditions or driver input. This is what the malaka button does: it keeps the exhaust valves open in order to increase performance… And make the car louder, and therefore much more fun. Some might call it obnoxious… We’d call it a typical malaka move.Here’s a video showing how the ‘malaka button’ in action on a Mercedes-AMG C63S.We’re definitely of the mindset that the exhaust button is a much better alternative to previous forms of engine noise management – it feels a lot less ‘fake’ – but we were curious as to why it’s only become common in recent years. We spoke to Carsales‘ Editor-in-Chief Mike Sinclair, who explained:“As noise regulations have got stiffer, manufacturers are looking to try and deliver some emotion back to the driver. This includes artificially enhancing the noise you hear in the cabin. Whether that’s via an audio system or via an exhaust valve it is part of the same problem/solution.”

“The other factor here is that some engine technologies and configurations don’t make the best sort of noises ‘naturally’… And there’s a whole swag of car companies that are trying to make their four-cylinder models sound ‘beefier’.”

RELATED: Australia’s Most Iconic Engine Is An Endangered SpeciesSinclair’s a bit of a sceptic when it comes to the exhaust button, truth be told.“I’m a bit of a purist – and on a lot of cars, these are more gimmick than a genuine performance enhancement. If there is a performance benefit, then I’ll sign up. Besides, in many cases, it simply makes the exhaust sound louder… And not better,” he says.He’s not alone – we know many other purists (and peace-and-quiet-seeking Sunday morning cafe patrons) who feel the same…

Rather than an exhaust button, the feature Sinclair wishes more performance cars sold in Australia came with has nothing to do with the exhaust – instead, he’d be keen to see more cars with “a decent suspension tune that delivers both ride comfort and handling.”

“Too many car companies default to rock-hard suspension that only works on super smooth roads – and racetracks. The worlds fastest ‘real’ road cars are WRC factory rally cars that have decent suspension travel and amazing ability to cope with bumpy roads.”

Again, this comes back to the endless compromise auto makers have to strike between road manners and performance when bringing cars to market. Make the exhaust too loud or the suspension too stiff and you’ll alienate customers (and lawmakers)… But then, are you really selling a sports car, or a status symbol?Thankfully, advances in adaptive suspension and the rise of exhaust buttons means modern sports car drivers don’t have to compromise – they can have their baklava and eat it too. Opa!

The post Modern Performance Car ‘Malaka Button’ Leaves Australian Motoring Purists Fuming appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The earliest record we have of a permanent photograph being taken dates back to 1825. Since that time, the camera has been used to capture some of the most iconic moments in history: the Moon landing, a couple kissing in New York’s Times Square at the end of World War II or a man jumping from the World Trade Centre during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

While these images are ones of cultural and historical significance, there are also iconic cool moments documented on film during the 20th Century, which we here at DMARGE have hand picked and made available for you to buy and add to your home, office or wherever else you feel needs an extra layer of ‘cool’ added to it.

Whether it’s Steve McQueen (a source of inspiration for team DMARGE) on the set of 1971 movie Le Mans, or an awesome image of a drop dead gorgeous Jaguar E-Type parked outside an old-school American motel, the framed images, available exclusively in Australia via the recently launched DMARGE shop, encompass a range of history’s most iconically ‘cool’ moments.

 

The majority of them are either car or motor racing related (because, what’s cooler than going fast on four wheels?) but there are also images that reference some of our all-time role models, such as the aforementioned Steve McQueen, The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and British secret agent himself, James Bond.

There are currently 10 prints to choose from in the DMARGE shop, with each being limited to 250 pieces, but each can be specced in a range of sizes and with a choice of white, black or oak frame. Each print retails for $295 and free domestic shipping is available for orders over $300 (international shipping is currently unavailable).

So, what are you waiting for? Head to the DMARGE shop now and add some iconic history to your home.

Shop Iconic ‘Cool’ Moments At The DMARGE Shop

The post These $295 Framed Prints Capture History’s Most Iconically ‘Cool’ Moments appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Lufthansa is known for a lot of things. Safety (it was named the safest airline in 2020 by Safe Travel), efficiency, being the biggest airline in Europe – die liste goes on.Its “gleaming” HQ in Cologne, Germany, is also world-renowned.What it’s not known for is philandering dwarves, epic battles and a throne so sought after it rips kingdoms apart.This could, on a minor level, change in 2023.Lufthansa is set to upgrade its aircraft with spanking new business class seats. This comes as part of a redesign that will give every premium passenger direct aisle access. It will also include ‘throne’-style seating in select locations.This ‘throne’-style seating provides passengers with more space to spread out and work (and a longer bed).You will have to shell out more for these ‘thrones’ than a standard business class seat.There are conflicting reports as to when this upgrade will take place. Executive Traveller states it will come in 2023, while others (see: Business Travel News; One Mile At A Time) have reported it will be launched in 2022.

Right now we are still planning on introducing the new business class with the 777-9.

— Lufthansa News (@lufthansaNews) November 20, 2019

It’s still up in the air whether Lufthansa’s Airbus A350s or Boeing 777X’s will get the facelift first.This upgrade was planned to happen in 2020 (and has been long-awaited) but has been delayed due to The Spicy Cough and its global knock-on effects.Business-class bloggers are singing the new product’s praises, celebrating the German airline finally bringing its carriers in line with the expectations of The Modern Business Class Passenger (the type that has traded toasted sandwiches for chicken edamame salad, and fine wine for champagne slammers).

 

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The announcement comes amid acknowledgements from Lufthansa that the ongoing work from home revolution, which has been fast-forwarded massively by the pandemic, has forever changed the complexion of business travel.In its 2020 annual report (published this month), The Lufthansa Group stated: “The assumption is that the growing acceptance of digital communications tools will be partly to the detriment of physical travel.”The report showed the airline group, which includes Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines, made an operating loss for 2020 of €5.5 billion – the worst figure in its history.Thanks to the pandemic kneecapping the travel industry, group revenue dropped to €13.6 billion in 2020, from €36.4 billion in 2019.“Capacity at the group was 31 percent of 2019 and passenger numbers were 36.4 million, 25 percent of the figure from the previous year,” Business Travel News reports. “Average load factor was therefore 63 percent, 19.3 percentage points lower than 2019.”“The group said it was making progress on cost reduction and had reduced headcount by 20 percent to 110,000 in 2020 and said it expected to reduce this by a further 10,000,” (Business Travel News).

Care for a sneak preview? Here’s a rendering of our new business class seat. More privacy & the best sleep! Every seat has aisle access, a special shoulder zone for side sleepers, and larger monitors. Comes 2020 with the @Boeing #777-9! #dreamscometrue pic.twitter.com/VsV9dW0XfA

— Lufthansa News (@lufthansaNews) November 23, 2017

The Lufthansa Group also said – despite the significant financial losses – the airline had been relatively successful: “Unlike competitors, who offer only point-to-point connections, the Lufthansa Group airlines were able to bundle the low traffic volumes at their hubs and thus maintain important connections.”Carsten Spohr, the group’s CEO, said: “The past year was the most challenging in the history of our company – for our customers, our employees and our shareholders. Travel restrictions and quarantine have led to a unique slump in demand for air travel. Now internationally recognized, digital vaccination and test certificates must replace travel bans and quarantine.”The Lufthansa Group is now focusing on sustainability and assessing how many of its 25-year-old plus aircraft will be mothballed.

Read Next

• Lufthansa’s New Concept Solves Most Stressful Aspect Of Flying Economy 
• Hidden Benefits Of Flying First Class Business Class Passengers Have No Idea About

The post Lufthansa's New Business Class 'Throne' Lets You Travel Like A King appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

John Legend’s a bit of an old soul – soul being the operative term.The immensely talented singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and EGOT (i.e. an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner) has been one of the most influential artists in the 21st century’s revival of soul music and old-school R&B.Not only does he have a classically golden voice – he’d give Frankie Sinatra a run for his money – but he’s also a traditionally classy gent; showing up every man alive in the Valentine’s Day romance stakes and consistently being one of the snappiest-dressing celebrities around.In short, he’s the essence of old-school cool. Just take this crisp outfit he was spotted strolling the streets of New York in over the weekend. Not only is it a masterclass in how to make lace-up boots and denim look dressy, but it’s also a revival of one of the 1960s most overlooked fashion artefacts: the mohair sweater.

Mohair is a luxury fibre made from the hair of the Angora goat (not to be confused with the Angora rabbit, which produces Angora wool. Confusing, we know.) Very soft, with a distinctive wispy look, it’s often used to make cold weather gear like scarves, beanies and socks thanks to its excellent insulating properties.Mohair is one of the oldest fibres known to man but the material became particularly popular in the 1960s as a material for suits and sweaters thanks to its natural sheen and ease of dyeing, particularly in England. It also saw a brief revival in the 80s as part of the unofficial uniform of ska fans and skinheads.Since then, it’s become quite kitsch; the sort of thing your least favourite aunt might wear. A bad mohair sweater can be legendarily bad. Thankfully, Legend’s is quite tasteful, and he pulls it off with aplomb. Just look at that colour coordination, too.RELATED: The Best Colour Combinations Any Man Can Pull OffFashion and confidence feed into each other: when you dress well, you feel good about yourself, and when you feel good about yourself, you dress well. That may explain why Legend looks so good too: he’s still riding high after the highly successful release of his seventh studio album Bigger Love, which dropped mid last year.Last year Legend also performed as part of the Celebrating America TV special that honoured Joe Biden’s inauguration as the 46th President of the United States alongside other big-name artists like Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Jon Bon Jovi and Justin Timberlake.

Read Next

• Justin Bieber Lives Out His Fisherman Fantasies With $870 Gumboots
• Bradley Cooper Tames New York’s Urban Jungle With Wild ‘Lumbersexual’ Look

The post John Legend Revives The 1960s' Most Overlooked Men's Style Trend appeared first on DMARGE Australia.