Accessories might seem small and insignificant, but it’s a small part of your overall game that you can’t really afford to screw up.

Ties, in particular, are the focal point of any suit. It’s often the first thing people notice and something your peers judge pretty heavily, if they’ve already glazed over your scuffed shoes and combover. Getting it wrong can turn you into ‘that’ guy quick smart.

The following ties are sartorial atrocities that absolutely kill your game. These bad boys might just be the roadblocks keeping you from winning that promotion, pay rise, or attention from that girl you fancy at the office Christmas bash.

And because we like to burn ugly things here at the D’Marge office, matches or a flame thrower are the first step in reclaiming your tie-life. Ready, fellas?

The Trump Tie

The Donald is all about power: power suiting, power comb-overs, power fake tan. His ties are no exception. The Trump belongs to a broad category of ties favoured by the political class. These numbers are fat, shiny, usually tied in a plump Windsor knot, and long enough to get caught in the wearer’s belt.

It doesn’t matter if these well-remunerated chaps wear Brioni. These ties make you wonder if they got their ties for high school formal and none since.  They probably think it communicates influence, but it only communicates poor taste and the necessity of a personal stylist.

The IT Guy Tie

Let’s be honest. The IT guy’s way with technology is rather heroic. But his style is usually not. Kept shut up in some unknown part of the building, the software connoisseur often comes to work looking like he’s just spent the night watching re-runs of ‘Star Trek’ – with a the merchandise to prove it, strapped securely to his white shirt.

Stating the obvious, the cartoonishness of the novelty tie adds immaturity to a sophisticated suit. And, it isn’t even appropriate for ‘casual Fridays’. A ‘Star Trek’ tie may be done in jest, but  – trust us – no-one is laughing.

The Dodgy Sales Guy Tie

We’re not ones to disparage a man’s profession – gotta do what it takes to put food on the table – but there’s plenty of salesmen out there who aren’t helping themselves by dressing like they’re a walking oily handshake.

The Dodgy Sales Guy Tie is usually the same colour of lollies you’d find in the bottom of a showbag. In a sickly variation of purple or pink, they put ‘a pop of colour’ to shame and look like something you’d get in a budget wedding party suit package.

The only tangible advantage of this tie is that it informs you that you’re dealing with a bit of a weasel before he shakes your hand and flogs your money.

The Rental Dude Tie

Of all sartorial crimes, renting your clothes is pretty close to the top. Similar to the Sleazy Sales Guy, The Rental is usually made from polyester so shiny you wouldn’t feel out of place brushing your teeth in the reflection.

They’re either so fat that old mate Trump would think you’re pushing it, or so skinny that there’s almost no point in wearing one to begin with.

Worst of all, the tie has probably been worn by dozens of other cheapskates who can’t be arsed investing in a respectable wardrobe. It’s a disreputable brotherhood that men of integrity and character avoid at all costs.

The ‘Retro’ Tie

The Retro tie usually belongs to one of those insufferable douchebags that can’t possibly fathom wearing anything from this century.

These usually come from op-shops or vintage markets, and have either a hideous paisley pattern that was unfashionable in its day, or a weird geometric print that reminds you of that time you took acid.

They’re never well-made, and the fact that they cost two bucks doesn’t count. And unfortunately, champ, no one really cares if your ties are authentic wares from a decade you never experienced.

The Novelty/Funny Tie Guy

Sometimes a new or unusual tie can smarten up your look and put a little something in your step. The Novelty Tie, a close relative of the IT guy, is when guys take it too far.

Out in the wild, we’ve found that The Novelty/Funny Tie is printed with things that aren’t associated with the norms of menswear. Think piano keys, musical notes, puppies, mountain ranges, whatever. And you know what, gents? None of it looks good.

The usual suspects here are guys terminally stuck in middle management. Our psychology team is developing a working hypothesis, but we think it comes down to being a bit of a dud and hoping a funny tie will stop people from noticing.

The Schoolboy Tie

For most of us, school is a distant memory where no one was at their best. But some guys never really left their boarding house or rowing club, and their ties are a stark reminder of their allegiance to the past.

The school tie, with its chunky stripes and stale colourway, leaves us baffled. We still can’t quite figure out why someone would spend five years conforming to a uniform, to then enter the ‘real’ world and get dressed just like they’re at year ten roll call.

Think of it this way. Corporate guys don’t have many opportunities to personalise their wardrobe, and their choice of tie is usually the best they will get. So why not bin the private school stripe for something that’s a bit more you, and a bit less Old Etonian.

The Clip-On Tie

In true fashion, we’re saving the best/worst to last. The infamous clip-on doesn’t need much of an introduction.

Sure, one of these bad boys might save you precious minutes in the morning and only cost a couple bucks, but those advantages are chump change compared to everything else it says about you.

The clip-on says you’re getting comfortable with not making an effort anymore. In fact, if you wear one of these it’s likely you’re the laziest bastard to grace your office space. And how hard can it be?

Take two minutes out of your day to relearn the simple art of tying a four-in-hand. You won’t miss the time you ‘lose’ every morning, and maybe your colleagues won’t call you Homer behind your back anymore.

RELATED: The Best Ties For Men Right Now

The post Bad Ties: Ties You Need To Stop Wearing Immediately appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to say goodbye to one of our oldest and dearest friends: IKEA.

It’s not that we don’t love the Scandi style stalwart. We appreciate its style-for-less mentality, its clever storage solutions, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from successfully assembling its flat-packed furniture.

But with time, tastes and budget evolve, and one day you may find yourself yearning for something beyond the blue and yellow. When that time comes, we suggest mixing your IKEA addiction with one of these grownup purveyors of Scandinavian design.

A2

A2 kicked off in 2008 in Småland, Sweden with a bold declaration: “Our vision is to be a new, young and brave brand that dares to realise interesting and a bit different objects.” Head designer and engineer Sara Larsson has successfully lived up to that mission with a range of products that are functional but fresh. Think timeless lines and practical designs mixed with funky details and pops of bright colour.

Ferm Living

Copenhagen-based Ferm Living has been going strong since 2006. The brand’s designs are distinctive and confident, with a touch of mid-century charm. Though many of its products adhere to the soothing neutral colour schemes you’re used to seeing in Scandinavian interiors, Ferm Living also delivers a side of sass with occasional graphic prints (in case your couch is aching for a cushion covered in flamingoes).

Finnish Design Shop

From Sweden and Denmark we move to Finland, and the aptly named Finnish Design Shop. The webstore stocks a handpicked collection of items from both well-established brands and emerging designers to bring you a curated, cross-generational selection of Scandi style. What the lengthy list of available brands has in common is high-quality, innovative design, and of course, proud Finnish origins.

RELATED: IKEA Officially Rejects Kanye West’s Offer To Collaborate

Huset

Huset takes its name from the word for “house” in Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. The company offers a thoughtful collection of clean, clever, and contemporary products for modern living from a blend of iconic and up-and-coming designers. Huset is truly a one-stop shop – you could outfit your entire house from floor to ceiling with its wares (which, come to think of it, may have been the inspiration for that name…).

Normann Copenhagen

Back to Denmark for Normann Copenhagen. Established in 1999 by Jan Andersen and Poul Madsen, the Normann Copenhagen brand encompasses a wide and continuously growing collection of furniture, lighting, textiles, and home accessories. The products are sold in more than 80 countries throughout the world and have collected more than 50 design awards along the way. They don’t come cheap, but the higher price tags are an investment in quality.

Scandinavian Design Center

A simple name with a simple mission. Scandinavian Design Center is an immense resource of home décor from contemporary designers and all-time favourites, including Brita Sweden, Marimekko, Muuto, String furniture, Klippans Yllefabrik, and the SCD’s very own house brand, Nordic Nest. The company offers worldwide express shipping so new furniture, lighting, and accessories are never out of reach.

Scandinavian Designs

Scandinavian Designs is a family business 52 years in the making. Each item is curated by a team with a deep appreciation for modern design and quality craftsmanship, with the aim to tailor the timeless traditions of Scandinavian design to each customer’s individual style. Outfit your living room, bedroom, dining room, office, and outdoor space online or in one of their brick and mortar stores.

The post Ikea Alternatives: Where To Shop Scandinavian When You’ve Outgrown IKEA appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There have been many moans, and dire predictions, about the desert island the travel industry found itself belly-up on about 12 months ago.The doomsayers have a point: even though bookings are once again on the rise, compared to 2019, ticket scanners worldwide are still very much high and dry.However, thanks to the ongoing rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine, confidence is once again on the rise. In Australia, this means people are now going on holiday with more confidence, with the temptation to venture interstate (slightly) less fraught with thoughts of “What if the borders crash shut again.”A DMARGE correspondent recently booked a trip according to this logic, heading from Sydney to Noosa. Whilst up there though, they received an unexpected email about their return trip.

The option to bid on an upgrade to business class.This Qantas feature, which lets you vie for an upgrade with a mix of points and cash, has existed since 2015. What was surprising is that, from our experience, it rarely gets offered. This is because traditional points-based upgrades take precedence (and usually there are enough people on board who have enough points – and the desire to spend them – to upgrade in this manner).According to Qantas, “Bid Now Upgrades is available by invitation only for selected Qantas flights.”“If your booking is eligible to receive a Bid Now Upgrade invitation, you have the opportunity to make an upgrade offer to a more premium cabin.”

 What’s important here is not so much our correspondant’s ‘eBay style’ dilemma (how much to bid?!), but what this says about Australia’s aviation industry right now.Though this incident is anecdotal, it comes in a context where questions are being asked about the pointy end’s future (of all airlines). Though experts are not expecting business class to disappear, whether it fully recovers is still up for much debate – and dependant on factors beyond the industry’s control (such as to what degree the work from home revolution becomes permanent).As Skift editor in chief Tom Lowry recently told CNN’s Richard Quest, in a video entitled “serious doubts business travel will ever return,” nothing is guaranteed.

“The executives we’ve talked to are not talking about a full recovery in 2022 or 2023, it’s more like 2024/2025.”

However, when it comes specifically to the ‘bidding for upgrades’ phenomenon, calling it a ‘canary in the coal mine’ for the end of business class travel is majorly jumping the gun.Professor Rico Merkert, Professor and Chair in Transport and Supply Chain Management at the University of Sydney (and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Air Transport Management) told DMARGE, “While the premium cabins are going through a tough period of time, the bidding for upgrades is not signalling the end of business class. Why would it? You could actually argue the other way around.”“Instead of just upgrading people, Qantas now monetises that additional value and there appear to be consumers out there who engage in such activity. Every little helps in terms of cash flow generation. I would call that smart revenue management during a period where there may be some soft demand for premium travel.”

“Those bidding offers have been around for a while, most certainly on non-business routes such as SYD-Noosa.”

“On some routes there is certainly soft demand for business class at the moment. On others yields across economy and business seems to be keeping up quite well,” Merkert added.Ultimately, Merkert explains the ‘bid to upgrade’ system as “modern revenue management.”“If they only sell three seats through such an auction, it may actually make the business class product offering look appealing and something worth competing for. And if you can burn thousands of miles instead of cash on this, even better for Qantas in terms of profitability but then again, I suppose their priority at this point in time is cash generation and hence the pure cash offer.”Skift editor in chief Lowry showed similar reticence to write off the industry in the aforementioned interview with CNN Travel, saying: “Bill Gates recently said half [of business class travellers] won’t come back. I think that’s a bit stark.”Whilst agreeing there is a portion that probably won’t come back (thanks to things like Zoom, and companies like Amazon realising they saved a billion bucks in 2020 by banning non-essential travel), Lowry highlighted this pause was a chance for executives to think about how they can come back better.What will happen in Australia? Watch this (air) space.

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The post Qantas Bidding For Business Class Is Here appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’re on the cusp of an electric vehicle revolution, but there are still a few sticking points with the general motoring public – most notably ‘range anxiety’.

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Not only do electric vehicles tend to have less range than most of their petrol-powered counterparts, but unlike EV charging stations, petrol stations are everywhere. Things are much better than they were even 5 years ago, however: as more and more EVs are hitting our roads, more and more charging stations are springing up to service them, even in the remotes of regional Australia.

In essence, range anxiety has become far more of a psychological barrier than a practical one, yet many motorists remain hesitant about the viability of EVs outside of cities.

To combat this perception, leading German luxury car manufacturer Audi recently embarked on a simple yet telling experiment: they handed the keys to their new e-tron Sportback to acclaimed photographer Woody Gooch and had him complete an impressive 3,500km road trip down Australia’s East Coast – a journey that’s no doubt been completed by scores of holidaymakers over the last twelve months.

For comparison, that’s a similar distance as driving from Seattle, Washington to Austin, Texas or from Lisbon, Portugal to Oslo, Norway.

On his journey, which started in Rainbow Beach, Queensland, meandered through Byron Bay, the Snowy Mountains and ended in Sydney, Woody explored the coast with free surfer Josie Prendergrast; ate hand-caught mud-crabs with legendary chefs David Moyle and Mark Labrooy; went free diving with Madison “Shark Girl” Stewart and marine biologist Lucas Handley; and got in the saddle with sustainable farmer Nick Kirschner.

Woody’s journey has since been turned into a short film, released to coincide with Earth Day. Titled Electric Eye, it’s a poignant exploration of how Woody’s reconnected with his native Australia after years spent living overseas, with the Audi e-tron a sort of silent companion (literally, because EVs are exceptionally quiet).

Ten years ago, undertaking such a continent-spanning trip in an EV might have been a fool’s errand, but Woody’s 2021 odyssey was absolutely effortless. While the e-tron has a range of around 417km, there were enough charging opportunities during Woody’s drive that he was able to charge up every 233kms on average – barely over half the e-tron’s range. That’s something that might give EV sceptics pause for thought.

That such a vast, sparsely populated area like Australia’s East Coast now has so many charging points isn’t just valuable in terms of combatting range anxiety, but also in terms of convenience and performance.

Unlike an internal combustion engine-powered vehicle (ICE), where filling a tank with fuel is an entirely linear process, electric charging works differently. Charging from empty takes exponentially longer than just topping up, so being able to keep your EV mostly charged in between charging opportunities means you’re not waiting as long for the car to charge in total. It’s also better for the battery to keep it as full as possible – another plus.

Still, revheads might say that this just avoids their core complaint: that EVs don’t have as much range as ICEs and just aren’t as practical for long-distance journeys. Are they right?

Let’s compare the e-tron with the SQ5, Audi’s most comparable ICE offering in terms of size and performance to their flagship EV. The SQ5, with its petrol-powered 3.0L turbo V6, has a range of about 635km, compared to the e-tron’s 417km. Admittedly, that’s quite a difference. And while you can fill up an SQ5 in less than five minutes, an e-tron takes just under two hours to charge to full via DC fast charging. Longer if you use regular charging or mains charging.

But things aren’t that simple. It costs ten times as much to fill up the SQ5 as it does to charge the e-tron, so you’re trading convenience for cost. Except that with so many charging opportunities, you’re unlikely to spend that long charging an e-tron anyway, so that convenience factor is diminished. There’s no getting past the difference in theoretical range but at the same time, you very rarely drive an ICE from full to empty anyway, so is it really a fair argument?

RELATED: Australia’s Most Iconic Engine Is An Endangered Species

Audi shared some interesting stats about the road trip with us: “While the e-tron does take around 2 hours to charge on a 50kW charger, it takes approximately 30 minutes to charge to 80% of capacity or 45 minutes to charge to 100% using the ultra-rapid (350kW) charging stations available around [Australia].”

“Of the 15 chargers we visited on the journey, more than half were the ‘ultra-rapid’ stations. In reality, as we were arriving into these stations with normally around 20% battery, our charging time was usually 30mins or less to get back to 100%. We struggled to eat in this time before receiving a push-notification that the car was good to go!”

Audi Australia

So really, we come back to the same argument: that ‘range anxiety’ is more a psychological barrier than a practical one. Yes, EVs will require people to adjust their behaviour when it comes to motoring, but not as drastically as some would lead you to believe.

The reality is that it’s never been easier to own and operate an EV in Australia – let alone other countries with even more developed charging networks – and as more people adopt EVs over ICEs, things will get even easier. Battery technology is making leaps and bounds, too, so in a few years’ time, ‘range anxiety’ will be a thing of the past.

We’re just keen to do some road trips of our own. Hey Audi, we’d quite like a weekend away in Byron, too…

Read Next

• The Truth About Australia’s Most Vilified Motor Vehicle
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The post Continent-Spanning EV Experiment Is Changing Motoring For The Better appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Think there’s nothing worse than getting ghosted after a promising first date? Think again. There’s something even more devastating; finding out ‘#bae to be’ is one of those people who uses pet names.We’re not talking about adding a suffix or an “oh”. Neither are we talking about some of the more inventive (if bizarre) nicknames long term couples give each other.We’re talking about the worst sin of all: the boring, the cliche; the cringe. Not only is it making the people at the table next to you want to stuff their ears with serviettes, but it is also quite the act of self-sabotage.Please stop calling people you’ve just met “babe.”Case in point? The following Reddit thread: posted yesterday to the online community’s r/datingadvice forum: “Don’t call women you’ve just met or just started chatting with online pet names like ‘baby’ or ‘babe’ etc.”RELATED: American Model On A Mission To Rehabilitate Men’s DM Sliding GameIt quickly started trending in the community, racking up 6.2k upvotes and 628 comments. The remarks soon provided a handy litmus test for anyone thinking throwing out a “baby” on their next late-night DM exchange might be a good idea.“YES! The worst is ‘hey sexy,'” one user wrote.“I have had guys use it as a way of circumventing the ability to remember names,” commented another. “One guy I liked slipped into love or dear…I didn’t mind it… Until one day, I caught on to his weakness for remembering details. We were coming home from an early breakfast, and I said (teasingly), ‘what’s my name?’. I reminded him that his ability to enjoy me naked hinged on this… The look of ‘oh shit…’ was priceless. He forgot my name…”“I like nicknames but not if it doesn’t feel/sound genuine,” said another.Two more pertinent comments included:

“Guys who call me ‘baby’ right off the bat, before we’ve even met, are catfish or the type of guys who text you at 11pm trying to sext you.”“Anyone who addresses me as ‘sweetie, sweetheart, darling’ or anything similar, I clean the vomit out of my mouth and ignore.”

One man then wrote: “I work with primarily women (veterinary field) and I have a couple of straight women co-workers that call me dear, darling, hun, honey, etc.”

“I fucking hate it and I can imagine how horrible it is for women to get that constantly, and it’s only a couple of people I have to deal with that do that.”

The Sydney Morning Herald recently published an article that tracks the journey “pet names” can go in, with the following sentence summing up the phenomenon quite well:

“The general rule is, the more nauseatingly-cutesy the pet-name, the more likely it is that the relationship is in its death throes. For example, if a couple call each other ‘silly moo-moo tiger-twinky’, you can be sure they’ll have split up within a fortnight, and will start calling each other very different pet-names from then on, usually ending with the suffix ‘wit’ or ‘knuckle.'”

The more you know…

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The post The Embarrassing Dating Rule Men Need To Stop Breaking In 2021 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

2020 hit us harder than a round of 100 burpees. And, while we’re well on the way to being in the clear here in Australia (or at least, appear to be), the same can’t yet be said for other countries around the world.The Bat Kiss is still sending shockwaves through various industries, none more so than fitness. Keeping active isn’t just beneficial for your health and appearance, but your mental health too. Being confined to the four walls of you home for days on end is enough to send anyone round the bend.So what do you do when your career relies on you looking your absolute best? How do you keep fit during lockdown when you’re an international male model?Answering that question is Rafael Miller, a 23-year old from Paris who is signed to a number of modelling agencies around the world and who, like many of us over the past 12 months, found himself unable to get to his usual gyms. Undeterred and just as motivated to stay in shape – for himself, as well as his job – Rafael found the Vitruvian V-Form trainer – a piece of home gym equipment that we’ve previously seen can help with at-home chest exercises – and can now share his knowledge and routines that can hopefully help you to keep fit when at home.“This year has been tough to stay in shape. Until I found out about the Vitruvian V-Form Trainer, I had no access to gym equipment at all, I only worked out with bodyweight on a fitness mat.”“It’s the first weightlifting home device that met my expectations and since acquiring it, it’s changed my entire home fitness experience.”

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Much of Rafael’s fitness knowledge: exercises, form, technique, hasn’t come directly from fitness professionals, instead, he tells us “I acquired most of my fitness knowledge through inspirations over the Internet for the past 7 years.”While Rafael may have found good sources of information, blindly following online fitness gurus isn’t something that is often recommended. But if you have trustworthy and reliable sources, then the Internet can be a goldmine of information.RELATED: ‘I Succumbed To The Internet’s Favourite Fitness Hack In Pursuit Of Greater Gains’So how exactly does Rafael stay in shape? Here are the exercises he does, listed for your convenience below.

Deadlift (good form is key)

The deadlift is one of the absolute best exercises anyone can perform at the gym (along with the squat and bench press) and literally refers to lifting ‘dead weight’, i.e., without the assistance of momentum. As Rafael says, good form is key for this movement, as the wrong technique could spell injury. You should start off with a light weight if you’re new to the deadlift, to get the technique right, before advancing to heavier weights.

Cable Flys on a bench

Cable flys are a fantastic chest exercise. In Rafael’s case, he performs them on a bench, which can be set as various angles – as well as being left flat – to help target specific areas of the chest. This is an isolation movement, in that only the chest muscles benefit from this exercise. Try setting your bench to various angles of inclination to help build your chest.

Lateral Raises

If boulder shoulders are what you’re looking for, then you’ll want to become familiar with lateral raises. This sees you lifting dumbbells or resistance bands to your sides, ensuring you keep your elbow at a constant angle. Some people make the mistake of bringing their hands above shoulder height, but you only need to bring them in line with your shoulders.

Squats using the bar attachment

As mentioned earlier, squats are another of the ‘big’ exercises you can perform in the gym. However, since it is a compound movement, you need to get the technique right to help avoid injury. When squatting, it’s suggested that holding your breath for the duration of the movement can help provide extra stability. You’ll need to brace your core by tucking your pelvis in, lowering your body as if you’re going to sit down (the aim is to get as deep as possible) before pushing back up, ensuring your knees face outwards.

Calf Raises holding the cables

One of the most well-known mottos of the gym is “never skip leg day”. But while this usually refers to building up your quads and glutes, you should pay extra attention to your calves. If you don’t have the V-Form trainer, you can hold dumbbells in your hands instead, and all you need to is stand up on your toes, stretching the calf muscles as you do so. Hold for two seconds at the top of each raise before lowering and repeating.“This one is my favourite of all on the V-Form,” Rafael told DMARGE.

Cable Lunges

Cable lunges do hold some merit, although if you have access to dumbbells or kettlebells instead, you’ll probably be better off using these. Put one foot out in front of you, squat down, keeping the front knee at 90-degrees and ensuring the trailing knee gets as low as possible. Once you’ve mastered these, you can have a go at reverse lunges.

Body Weight Exercises

If you don’t have a V-Form trainer, fret not, as Rafael also provided his favourite bodyweight exercises that can have just a great effect.

“I would suggest push-ups, planks and [hanging] leg raises for the upper body, and bodyweight squats and jumping alternating lunges for lower body.”

Diet

Of course, as you should all know by now, nutrition plays a vital role in your overall health and body composition – something I found out when I tried eating like Chris Hemsworth – and Rafael agrees.

“I’ve been doing intermittent fasting for the past 3 years – first meal at 1pm, last at 9pm – and I’ve felt the best since I started it.”“I definitely adapted my diet during the pandemic while I was doing bodyweight training, but now I’m back on the V-Form, I can go back to my regular diet which looks like this for almost every meal”,

• Protein Source approx 150g (Chicken, Eggs, Fish etc)
• Carb Source if it’s a training day and I feel the need to get some (Rice, Wraps etc)
• Vegetables (any kind, a lot and no limit on the quantity)

“I eventually add on oatmeal with fruits (no sugar added) during the day if I need to.”

“I allow myself cheat days quite often but if I over-exaggerated I will usually do a run the next morning.”

Mindset

Keeping fit by way of lifting weights and eating the right foods is all well and good, but keeping on top of these doesn’t necessarily mean your mental health will be kept in check too. And in Rafael’s case, the closure of gyms affected him more than he expected.“I have to be honest, it did [the closure of gyms and lockdown]! This year [2020] was super hard in terms of stress and mental health, the social life isn’t what it was and not having a place to release all of that (for me, that was the gym) impacted me.”“I managed to overcome this by keeping a positive mindset and looking for alternatives, such as setting up my own home gym.”While we may not necessarily have the looks of an International male model, it seems our worlds have more in common than previously assumed and, in fact, there is much we can learn from The Good Looking Industry.

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• Early Morning Bondi Photo Suggests Men Finally Taking Mindfulness Seriously
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The post Ridiculously Good Looking French Model Reveals How He Kept Fit During Lockdown appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Just when you thought you’d reached the end of the year relatively unscathed, there’s one last professional hurdle to clear: the work Christmas party.

While one last office ‘hurrah’ is meant to be all fun and games, putting down the briefcase and stepping into your party shoes can be a stumble for many.

Concerned your dire outfit might kill your career post-Christmas party? Here’s how to nail your work Christmas party style (whatever the dress code) this festive season, and still march to the beat of your own style drum. Ra-pa-pa-pum.

The key to any Christmas party is to dress with some flair. Add colour, try something new and always aim to be the best dressed bastard at the event – Luc Wiesman, D’Marge

The Black Tie Christmas Party

If you’re the corporate honcho whose Christmas party is more Casino Royale than casual drinks, go the tuxedo. The jacket should be wool, with no vents and boast satin or grosgrain lapels. For a festive twist, why not consider the double-breasted cut, which is equally acceptable as single-breast, but done less, so you’re sure to impress. Try green or burgundy as a jacket colour to add more flair.

As for underneath?

“Team the tuxedo with a bib front white shirt, and quality dress shoes,” says Poulakis. Think an Oxford cap-toe in black or a dark slipper if you’re more a fashion man.

Don’t miss on the bow tie, making sure it’s black (obvs), and is a manual tie up — never clip on. “And match the bow tie to your lapels.”

The Formal Office Christmas Party

If the party’s venue is still relatively formal, look to a sharp suit but in navy, charcoal or a lighter grey.

“Go a full suit in matching colours,” says Poulakis. Then jazz it up with a personalised shirt and tie combination, that is tasteful. So, avoid Christmas green and red, which are contrasting tones and super kitsch.

“Instead, go for a shirt and tie in complimentary shades.”

Think a forest green knitted tie over a light blue shirt if it’s a dinner affair or violet paired with a summery pink for a day thing.

RELATED: The Difference Between Formal & Semi Formal

The Cocktail Attire Christmas Party

When the cocktails are a-flowin’, the suit separates should still be showin’. For cocktail attire, look to more relaxed tailoring, and embrace the split.

“Try a blazer and trouser combination in navy, grey or black,” says Poulakis. Or consider that Prince of Wales blazer you have on your Santa wish list. “See cocktail attire as the perfect opportunity to mix in classic prints, such as checks.”

Then, pair with slim-fit trouser separates or chinos in a dark hue. Add a collared shirt, based out by a leather brogue, a buttery Chelsea boot or this season’s footwear favourite — the penny loafer.

“Depending on the event, you may be able to go open neck,” adds Poulakis. Tie-less, no stress.

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About Cocktail Attire

The Smart Casual Christmas Party

This is the hardest to style define, but is the easiest and most comfortable to wear. First up: smart casual can consist of sneakers, jeans and a tee. But of a certain kind. Luxury sneakers, generally low-cut, in a monochrome white, brown, black (nothing neon and gym-esque) leather are prime.

Jeans should be cut slim-to-straight and dark indigo or black, and your tee should be as fresh as your kicks — neat and stain-free.

“Feel free to add a blazer if the occasion calls for it,” adds Poulakis. Otherwise, the smart bomber jacket is the ultimate dressed-up, dress down ‘tailoring’ to own this Christmas.

The Wear Whatever You Like Christmas Party

These are our favourite. Wear whatever the hell you want! This means dressing like a man possessed by good taste, flair and style. Gert inspired by the likes of Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Jeff Goldblum… the choices are endless.

Opt for a loud and bold blazer or bomber jacket. Maybe choose a look based on the Christmas party’s theme. Is it a movie theme? Then choose someone who was both wild but stylish as your muse.

Go for florals, patterns, velvet, embellishments… Go all out.

Lastly, Don’t Overlook Details

“As always, the devil is in the details and accessories are the perfect way to elevate a look,” says Poulakis.

While dress codes and company expectations will dictate your overall Christmas party style, accessories are where you’ll take home the best-dressed employee award. There’s always a vibrant pocket square or socks, but break away from the norm.

“If you work in an office, now is the time to break away from corporate wear and subtly introduce casual wear staples like statement watches and jewellery,” adds Poulakis.

The post What Men Should Wear To A Christmas Party appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Imagine a world with no supermarkets. No taxis. No klaxons. No duty-free. No lines. No overzealous tourists guarding their sunloungers with towels. Just private jets and superyachts.

For some, this world already exists. It’s now set to get even more lavish, with some people with well-endowed wallets apparently now looking to bypass the whole ‘buying a private island’ thing and instead just building one from scratch.

Enter The Blue Estate Group: a luxury real estate development company that says it aims to build a floating island half the size of Monaco between the Bahamas and Miami. The concept is due to launch in 2025.

Though The Blue Estate Group initially feared the pandemic could stifle demand for their product, Erik Schmidt, Chief Communications Officer, recently told CNN Travel it had actually stimulated it.

“At first we were worried whether the current pandemic might have a negative impact on the project… But luckily it played out differently. Some districts are almost completely sold out and the sales team is doing it’s best to keep up with the requests and questions.”

The group is offering the public the chance to reserve (with the idea being to eventually buy) a range of properties – from US $19,800 ‘Ring Levels’ studio apartments to 1 billion USD ‘Signature Estates’.

Schmidt confirmed to CNN Travel that one application for one of these “groundbreaking architectural concepts” has already been submitted.

The island will be located 25-minutes by plane from Bahamas’ capital Nassau and just under 90 minutes from Miami. The island’s dimensions will be 4,921 feet by 3,280 feet (1,500 meters by 1,000 meters), and it will be able to house 15,000 permanent residents.

According to Crunchbase, The Blue Estate Group has raised 28.4 million USD in funding, employs 51-100 people, was founded in 2016 and is a private entity.

It will have its own cutting edge health clinic and an international school (catering from toddlers to diploma graduates).

“Judging from the response to this upcoming floating luxury real estate development launching close to the Bahamas in 2025, interest in relocating to a safe haven in the middle of the sea is still high,” CNN Travel reports.

“The Blue Estate Group has been inundated with requests after unveiling plans for the man-made Blue Estate Island.”

“The sheer size of The Blue Estate is reported to make the making the island incredible stable. The Blue Estate is designed to protect all residents from adverse weather conditions and the island’s massive walls will dwarf even the largest ocean waves. Automated hurricane shutters can be extended, to additionally shield-off the community in case of high winds. Despite being engineered to withstand even the worst conditions, the Blue Estate can also be moved out of the way, in case of any incoming storms,” Forbes suggests.

In The Blue Estate’s FAQ page, more potential concerns are answered, including seasickness (“The Blue Estate floating structure is as stable and motionless as if you’d be living on land. This is possible due to the enormous mass and expansive size, which won’t be disturbed by even the biggest seas”) and sinking.

“The Blue Estate is engineered and build from ultra resistant composite concrete modules. The flotation base exterior shell is several meters in thickness and could not be severely damaged even by collision with a very large ship. Additionally the structure is segmented in several thousand separate compartments.”

In terms of why you might want to move there, in a video entitled “Why relocate or invest,” The Blue Group records actors outlining some of the reasons one might consider taking the plunge.

“I was literally drowning in paperwork. The Blue Estate’s minimal reporting and tax regulations will finally let me focus on my core business again,” one says.

“As a single parent, I don’t want to compromise on my child or my career,” says another. “The Blue Estate’s incentives for child care and the excellent business opportunities really convinced me.”

“We’ve been living and working aboard our boat for some years now, but always quite missed the comfort and amenities [of a house on firm ground]. For us The Blue Estate combines a modern business environment with all the amenities of a 5-star vacation spot.”

Some internet users still have major questions about the project, though – but their concerns are well-founded. Little information is readily available online about The Blue Estate’s team, founders or owners (or indeed where the group is based).

Hopeful Reddit users who claim to have tried to buy property on the island concept have written such comments as “I want to believe this is legit based on the concept but there is no contact number or background on the company investors etc… Worst case you can claim a chargeback but based on the subpar website etc prob not legit or someone getting feelers out for a project.”

Another wrote: “Booked for a unit in Coral Towers 1 BR Apartment 699sqft (65sqm) – Unit sales price: $ 123,500 USD but i’m so unsure whether to proceed or not with paying the booking fee. The Sarah (sales rep) seem to be a BOT which is really worrying. I asked for their office address and contact number, here’s the response:

‘The staff is mostly working remotely, but we’ll open dedicated offices should the pandemic restrictions ease off. Unfortunately we do not offer telephone support and are required to keep all communication in writing, to ensure complete verifiability of all agreements made.’

If anyone has any information on these guys, kindly post.”

In response to these comments, another Reddit user, who claims to be a naval engineer, wrote: “I’ve been working for them the past 5 years, what is the problem?”

In response to this, one suspicious Reddit commenter asked: “Who are the promoters, investors, Venture Capitalists etc. who are backing this project. Who are the management ans their track records? Why aren’t an office and contact number to call?”

“I think they need to be more transparent on who these guys really are.”

The so-called naval engineer’s response? “You’ve got the answer regarding the offices already.”

“The rest I don’t know or can’t disclose, all employees had to sign NDA’s. But I’ve notified the Blue Estate Group of the existence of this thread, so maybe an official rep will register and join.”

The next Fyre Festival or a Brave (Real) New World? You decide.

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The post Brazen Plan To Build A Floating Tax Haven Near The Bahamas appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Summer probably seems like a long way away for many Americans right now, with much of the country grappling with one of the worst winter storms in recent memory.But time flies. Most of us still feel like we’re stuck in 2020… But actually, March is almost upon us, meaning there are only three-and-a-bit months until summer. When you put it like that, it seems like summer’s just around the corner. And summer usually means one thing in the watch world: rubber strap time.Previously the domain of only the cheapest watches, rubber straps have steadily become more acceptable on high-end timepieces, especially on Rolexes. It’s not hard to see why: Rolexes are sporty watches and the practicality of a rubber strap suits their functional nature and capability. Indeed, the first glimpses of warmer weather are a siren call to many Rolex owners to get their tools out and swap their leather or metal for rubber ahead of beach season.The flexibility (both aesthetically and literally) of a rubber strap on Rolex models like the Explorer or the Submariner is unparalleled: not only is it the perfect way to show off a bit of individuality but is inarguably the most practical strap option, especially in summer. Leather will get manky and metal can be too heavy if you want to swim with your watch, you see.But while watch fans in countries like Australia, France or Italy have long embraced the rubber strap – even beyond summer – the rubber strap trend has been slower to take off in the United States, even for Rolexes. It’s a shame because it’s remarkably easy to change a Rolex’s strap and it makes such a big difference to the aesthetics and wearability of a watch.Not convinced? Just watch this short video made by Norwegian watch fan @gulenissen that, in his own words, shows you “how to make the good ol’ Sub a tad less sterile.”

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A post shared by Gulenissen (@gulenissen)

The reality is that rubber straps are good all year round, not just in summer. While leather straps and metal bracelets are undoubtedly a more classic and formal option on a watch, even the most buttery-soft leather or elegant bracelet will struggle to match the sheer comfort and versatility of a quality rubber strap, regardless of whether you’re using your Rolex tool watch for its originally intended, action-packed purpose, or if you’re just toting it as a daily wearer.Another reason why Americans should consider blessing their Rolex with a rubber strap is that it’s likely to increase their value as an investment. Earlier this year, Bob’s Watches COO Carol Altieri shared some exclusive Rolex market insights with DMARGE, which reveal that Rolexes on rubber straps regularly command premiums of even thousands of dollars above identical models on leather or metal. When you consider that rubber straps are almost always cheaper than metal or leather options, it’s a no brainer.RELATED: ‘Sporty’ Watch Selling Trick Can Make You ThousandsWhile Rolex has been slow to offer rubber straps as a factory option – with currently only the Daytona and Yacht-Master available with a factory ‘Oysterflex’ strap – there’s plenty of high-quality options on the aftermarket from brands like Everest Bands, Horus Watch Straps or Rubber B.Just don’t get carried away with your rubber Rolex renovations. You don’t want to fall into the trap of making your watch look too garish (or fake), like this GMT-Master II owner inadvertently did…

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The post 60 Second Rolex Hack Every Watch Lover Should Try appeared first on DMARGE Australia.