When athletes branch out into different sports, it doesn’t always end well.Conor McGregor has a great MMA record but a rather disappointing boxing record. Usain Bolt might be the fastest man alive, but that didn’t help him on the football field. And you can call Michael Jordan the GOAT when it comes to basketball, but he certainly wasn’t or isn’t when it comes to baseball.But what about Australian Formula One phenom Daniel Ricciardo? Now that’s a whole other story.Not only is ‘The Honey Badger’ one of the most competitive F1 drivers alive today, but he’s proven to be a dab hand at a variety of other sports. Earlier this year, he showed off his skills on the golf course – and now he’s proven that he ain’t no slouch when it comes to basketball, too.Goofing off at the Phoenix Suns’ practice court, Ricciardo was dared to go for a half-court shot… And the man bloody well nailed it on his first go. Is there anything Ricky can’t do?

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Ricciardo was uncharacteristically gobsmacked by his own performance, which delighted social media – especially other Aussie celebrities, like mixed martial artist and current UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and awarded singer/songwriter G Flip, who were both gushing over Ricciardo’s flawless basket.RELATED: MMA Fighter’s Priceless Exchange With Troll Reveals Why Honesty Could Save Your Life2020 was a big year for Ricciardo, who came fifth in the 2020 Formula One World Championship’s Driver Standings, behind Mexico’s Sergio Pérez, Holland’s Max Verstappen, Finland’s Valtteri Bottas and Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, who took home a record seventh Driver’s Championship this year.2021 will see Ricciardo wrap things up with current team Renault and join young gun Lando Norris over at McLaren, one of a number of reshuffles in 2021. Ricciardo is replacing Carlos Sainz Jr., who’s replacing Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari, who’s replacing Sergio Pérez at Aston Martin (which was called Racing Point in 2020), who’s replacing Alexander Albon at Red Bull. Phew!

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The post Daniel Ricciardo Shoots Half Court Shot… And Makes It appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sick of the buttock squeezing and knee-crunching of modern aviation? Cast your mind back to a simpler time. An epoch where Covid 19 was yet to exist, Julio Iglesias was yet to bring fried chicken to First Class, and when caviar hadn’t yet been traded for pretzels.Cold war aside, life was good.There also existed a plane called the Pan Am Boeing 377, which, according to the Pan Am Museum, “set a new standard for luxurious air travel with its tastefully decorated extra-wide passenger cabin and gold-appointed dressing rooms.”“A circular staircase led to a lower-deck beverage lounge, and flight attendants prepared hot meals for 50 to 100 people in a state-of-the-art galley,” Pan Am Museum gushes. “As a sleeper, the Stratocruiser was equipped with 28 upper-and-lower bunk units.”

“Pan Am placed the first order for 20 Stratocruisers, worth $24 million, Pan Am was confident in ordering the expensive plane with Boeing due to their success with the B-314. The Stratocruiser began service between San Francisco, Calif., and Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1949 and flew until it was decommissioned in 1961. Boeing built 56 Stratocruisers between 1947 and 1950, and they marked the company’s first significant success selling passenger planes to airlines in other countries.”

Former Pan Am flight attendant Bronwen Roberts used to fly on the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in the late 1950s, and spoke to CNN Travel for a recent article about this legendary 1950s plane – arguably the best vessel we’ve ever invented to cross the Atlantic, and, sadly, one that no longer exists.According to Roberts, the attraction started before you even climbed into your spacious bed. The food was immense. CNN Travel reports, “French restaurant Maxim’s de Paris catered in-flight dining and offered a variety of upscale items including their famous beef entrée” and it was usually sliced in front of you.There was also succulent lamb chops, pungent cheeses, and caviar, among other delicacies.On top of that (or rather, below), there was a lower deck lounge passengers could saunter down to via a spiral staircase, enjoying cocktails served by flight attendants and socialising with other flyers.It wasn’t all upsides, of course. As a retired Qantas flight attendant told 9News.com.au last year, in this era, to get across the globe involved a lot more stops. But still: the allure of a proper bed, in the eyes of many, makes up for it.

After the evening meal and mingling, guests could snooze the night away until they arrived on the other side of the Atlantic. Which brings us to this plane’s most envy-inducing feature: beds.As CNN Travel reports, “One of the special features of planes during this time was overhead beds. Instead of cramming luggage in the overhead compartments, passengers could pull down a bed and drift off to sleep above the plane seats.”Why was this possible? “When the Stratocruiser was first launched in 1947, economy class had not yet been invented,” CNN Travel describes. “As the idea of the economy class grew in popularity, comfort and luxury were pushed aside in favor of more seats and luggage storage.”The upshot? Pan Am gave the Stratocruiser the flick in 1961, to make way for newer jets like the Boeing 707 and 737. The rest is history – and now, with the increased hygiene requirements suddenly being thrust upon aviation – it looks even more unlikely such a jet will return than ever before.

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The post Pan Am Boeing 377 Overhead Beds Proves Aviation Peaked In 1950 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

While investing in luxury watches can be a potentially lucrative endeavour, it can be a nightmare navigating the aftermarket, both as a buyer and a seller.What brands are a safe investment? Where should I be buying/selling? How do I make sure I’m not ripping myself off? Will my bank give me a loan so I can flip this Richard Mille?RELATED: 12 Most Frequently Asked Rolex QuestionsDMARGE spoke exclusively with Carol Altieri, the owner and COO of Bob’s Watches, one of the world’s largest and most respected online watch exchanges, to gain an expert’s insight. With decades of timepiece trading experience under her belt, Altieri knows a thing or two about selling watches – and revealed one strange quirk that, in some instances, can help watch sellers demand thousands extra for their pieces.That trick? Putting your watch on a rubber strap.Altieri puts it like this: “if you take a Rolex Daytona on a leather strap and you put it on a rubber strap, we’re seeing [a] $3,000 difference for the rubber strap over the leather strap… they want that Oysterflex.”Now when it comes to high-end watches, you can usually expect to pay more to get your watch on a rubber strap rather than a leather strap, although there usually isn’t a huge difference. Consider the price difference between these three otherwise identical OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terras: the leather strap will set you back 8,250 AUD, the rubber strap 8,425 AUD (a $175 difference) and the steel bracelet 8,750 AUD.$175 isn’t a small figure by any means, but a $3,000 gulf between leather and rubber? That’s just extraordinary.

The Daytona example must come with a grain of salt, however. The price differential might be simply because any leather strap on a Daytona is likely to be an aftermarket strap. While they have done so in the past, Rolex currently don’t offer a Daytona on a leather strap from the factory (indeed, Rolex very rarely offer leather straps on any of their watches, with the Daytona a notable exception). So maybe the huge price differential is more down to perceived ‘purity’ as opposed to up-and-down desirability.It perhaps also speaks to the technical superiority of Rolex’s proprietary rubber strap, the so-called ‘Oysterflex’ bracelet. First introduced in 2017, Oysterflex bracelets are effectively a hybrid strap, with metal inserts reinforcing the elastomer strap. These inserts not only make the strap more durable but more comfortable, as they shape the strap to the wearer’s wrist. Where a typical rubber strap might be considered a technical and aesthetic ‘downgrade’ over leather, an Oysterflex strap could be considered an ‘upgrade’; the more premium option.Indeed, if one browses Chrono24 for the Aqua Terra we mentioned earlier, you’ll see that the bracelet material has far less impact on the price than one might imagine. That’s potentially a good sign when it comes to steel vs. rubber, but weakens the leather vs. rubber price argument, at least when we consider this particular watch.RELATED: ‘Pateks Not Portfolios’: Watch Expert Reveals Moves To Make In 2020A more tantalising prospect is when you consider two identical watches, both with aftermarket straps. When it comes to finding an aftermarket strap for your watch, rubber is almost always cheaper than leather – but if rubber commands a higher price when you go to sell it, it’s a no-brainer: spend less money to make more money. That’s the argument, at least.

Altieri offers an alternate suggestion for why she thinks she’s making more of a margin on rubber-strapped watches over leather-strapped ones: COVID-19. Because we’re all working from home and dressing more casually, people are eschewing formal leather straps in favour of more casual; more comfortable rubber straps.

“I think everybody’s kind of dialed it back a little bit. It’s all about comfort, and nothing flashy. You’re not seeing women in high heels, either.”

It’s a good point. Part of the reason many luxury watch brands don’t offer rubber straps – indeed, it took Rolex until 2017 to start offering a rubber option – is because they’re perceived as less formal than leather or metal. But if you’re not in the office you don’t need to be so concerned about formality… And most people consider rubber straps to be more comfortable than leather, and especially more comfortable than metal.Moreover, sports watches have become far more acceptable in formal settings over the last few decades, with the emergence of luxury sports watches like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or the Vacheron Constantin Overseas both emblematic of and fuelling this trend. This move towards rubber, then, is just a natural evolution or extension of the broader trend towards more and more casual or sporty watches we’ve seen in the late 20th and 21st centuries.With The Bat Kiss still a grim reality for most of us as we roll into 2021 – and the need to make savvy money moves stronger than ever – putting that Panerai you’ve been trying to sell on a rubber strap might just be the key to success.

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The post Rubber Straps On Watches Are Getting Popular appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson may be known for his outrageous commitment in the gym, his eye-popping cheat meals and not fitting in a Porsche Taycan Turbo S.However, there’s more to Dwayne Johnson than his 118kg weigh-in. In fact, the 48-year-old actor and retired professional wrestlers is, despite his ‘tough guy’ movie persona, one of the most likeable people in the world.As one of The Rock’s most recent Instagram posts shows, in some people’s eyes he may even be the most likable person in the world. In the post below, The Rock shares a profile written on him by journalist Polina Marinova, and shares some thoughts on the matter.

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“From being called a ‘big complicated asshole’ at 15yrs old (due to fighting that led to suspension) to now being called ‘the most likable person in the world’… I made a little progress,” The Rock reflects.“Big mahalo to writer, Polina Marinova for writing this profile. Thanks for taking the time as this was a nice surprise to read.”“True story – while I was ‘serving my time’ on my two week school suspension – I heard a quote that would actually help shape the rest of my life, perspective and work ethic – it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

“And plus life is soooo much easier when you’re not an asshole.”

Clicking through to The Profile we learn a few more crucial details. Chiefly: Johnson wasn’t always likeable. It was seeing hitting rock bottom as an opportunity that helped him become this way.According to The Profile, “As a teenager, Johnson led a life of lies, anger, violence, and delinquency. Growing up, his parents lived paycheck to paycheck, moving to a new place every time his dad got a new gig. (Johnson’s father, Rocky, was a professional wrestler in the 1980s.) He watched them struggle to afford basic necessities as they were evicted from their apartment and got their car repossessed.”By the time The Rock was in high school, he had been arrested for everything from fighting to forging checks. “I did a lot of stupid shit and struggled to stay on the right path,” he told Marinova.As for the turnaround? Not only did it have to do with the aforementioned “it’s important to be nice” quote, but it was also inspired by a man called Jody Cwik – The Rock’s high school football coach.Cwik asked The Rock to join his team. After this happened The Rock’s grades improved and he started getting recruited by colleges all over the country. Johnson says this is when his thought process started to change; when he started thinking about goals and what he wanted to achieve.The Rock still had a number of challenges (and a mild peanut butter addiction) ahead of him, however…

Looking forward to the read. Hopefully, you redacted that part about my weird love of peanut butter

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) December 22, 2020

“After playing football for four years at the University of Miami, Johnson was passed over by the NFL. He went to play for the Canadian Football League, but was cut shortly after,” the piece on The Profile explains.“At age 23, Johnson moved back in with his parents and hit rock bottom. That’s when he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and pursue a career in wrestling. Thanks to his charisma and showmanship, Johnson went on, as The Rock, to become the biggest superstar televised wrestling has ever seen.”

“He made good money as a professional wrestler, but it would be his third act — acting — that would turn ‘The Rock’ into a household name. After his first film role, as the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns, Johnson has starred in dozens of movies, including Jumanji, The Fast & Furious, and Baywatch.”

The rest is history: “As Hollywood’s most bankable star, Johnson often reminds himself that the things we consider to be our most catastrophic failures often lead us to our most fulfilling successes,” (The Profile).

Watch The Rock’s most epic workouts below.

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The post Why The Rock Is The Most Likeable Person In The World appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

You first thought when someone mentions sweaters might be Christmas, old fitness apparel, and that curmudgeonly teacher you had in high school. With summer fading and the onset of the chilly weather, those associations might not seem so firmly entrenched.

In fact, men’s sweaters have been wardrobe staples since before that teacher of yours was born – and there are several distinctive styles available, depending on your lifestyle and personal aesthetic.

Novelty prints and cruel comparisons aside, a good sweater is a winter essential. They have wicked sartorial mileage, whether it’s just for snoozing off a brutal hangover on the couch, or as part of a layered corporate ensemble. But you might be asking how to include sweaters without looking like a philosophy lecturer.

This guide will steer you away from the sartorial roadkill typically associated with knits (and old men) and towards the best men’s sweaters that’ll lead you through winter sweat-free.

How To Wear Sweaters

Sweaters are far more playful fashion pieces than most men tend to think. There are countless ways to style it up:

• Sweater with a suit
• Sweater with a casual blazer
• Sweater with a denim jacket
• Sweater with a leather jacket
• Sweater with a bomber jacket
• Sweater on its own with a tee and jeans

Let’s get into the minute details of sweater styling so that you can figure out the right look for you.

Sweater Fabrics

A cluey buyer won’t touch a sweater that’s made from synthetics. You should aim to purchase garments made from cotton or merino wool. Cashmere is a luxurious alternative, if you have the means.

The benefits of these fabrics will be clear to those of you with an understanding of the superiority of natural fibres: they have a natural texture, ventilate well, and retain a natural shape over time. Leave the polyester-viscose pullovers in the final clearance tray (even if they’re a third of the price).

Sweater Textures

Here’s where you can experiment. Ribbed, cabled, and waffle knit variations offer their own advantages, adding depth to plain ensembles and visual interest to monochromatic colour choices.

The choice of weave can also determine the garment’s thickness – heavier weaves are naturally more suited to the nastiest parts of winter. Thin, plain weaves have the most range, as they can be worn solo in autumn, as a layer in winter, and again by themselves in spring.

Sweater Fitment

Personal preference will determine this to a large degree, but we can’t resist telling you what to do anyway. As a rule, you should wear a slim, tailored sweater if the rest of your kit is tailored.

The loose scoop neck that you wore to inter-varsity lacrosse five years ago won’t flatter your favourite Brioni number. By the same token, skinny jeans might look mismatched with a plump shawl collar cardigan. Chunky knits are good for casual layering on your days off, slim thin-weave sweaters are the go for the nine to five.

Here are the top five sweater types for men this season, ensuring the modern man knows how to wear the smart casual sweater – from the office, to the bar, to the city streets.

RELATED: How To Layer Your Clothing

How To Wear Crew Neck Sweaters

The workhorse of knitwear and the first kind a guy should buy. Crewneck sweaters, also known as pullovers or simply jumpers, originated as activewear before it became a ‘thing’ in high street style circles.

They’re ordinarily made from cotton, but dressier alternatives by more luxurious retailers can be made from wool or cashmere. Autumn 2017 has seen a healthy roster of crew knits, ranging from the thin and slim to chunky ribbed numbers. The takeaway from this is to pick and choose the right crewneck for your lifestyle.

If you spend half your time begging the HR girl to install ducted heating, your best bet is a thick cable crewneck. If it’s just a matter of finding the right layer to go over a shirt before you chuck on a blazer, a thin merino wool crew is the first and last choice. For a prep-inspired approach to the boardroom, wear smart grey chinos, a white oxford button-down, and navy merino crewneck with a brown knitted tie.

This will see you through a chilly day at the office and the inevitable after-work detour at the pub.

How To Wear V-Neck Sweaters

Arch-nemesis and eternal rival of the popular crewneck. The V Neck sweater initially took the same road as the crew neck, then a left turn at the collar shape.

This gives you a bit more flexibility with other sartorial accouterments you might want to include, like that bold novelty tie you’ve been itching to show off to the guys in the office. On the style front, use seasonal tones with your corporate kit. Think brown and grey to contrast a navy suit. Otherwise, more unconventional colour choices have cropped up this autumn.

Pale blue, cream, and even bright reds have featured on the shop floors around town. These can complement drab winter tones and add a lively touch to staple greys and navies that are begging for some colour. Use the tie to complement the shade of the knit in some way; either the dominant pattern or a smaller detail.

Under no circumstances, however, are you permitted to wear the V neck with nothing underneath – especially if it has a severe neckline.

How To Wear Roll Neck Sweater

Infamous. Timeless. Sleazy. Masculine. The rollneck sweater is heralded as many different things by many different people. All we’ll say is that this piece of 70’s menswear royalty has punched its way out of sartorial damnation seems poised to continue keeping men warm this winter.

The rollneck was hugely successful at various stages in the 20th century, before its sartorial relevance tragically diminished. The late 2010’s, however, saw its emergence from the ashes in both luxury and general menswear markets (the jury is still out on whether Archer is the culprit).

Rollnecks are tremendously versatile – you can find thin monochrome wool numbers to wear with a suit or thick two-tone options for casual weekend layering. The rollneck isn’t for everyone, sure, but its understated masculine aesthetic and sartorial adaptability means it’s likely to persist through winter 2017 and beyond. Thick knits with prominent rolled collars are the ticket this season. Consider neutral colours in camel, beige, and khaki tones to mix and match with your winter layers.

For a punchy monochrome outfit, wear a slim navy merino rollneck with a super130s charcoal suit. If that’s not cutting the mustard, there’s always the timeless chunky rollneck and biker jacket combo. If your leather jacket days stayed behind in our 20’s, then a navy double-breasted jacket, khakis, and grey turtleneck is an appropriate (and dashing) afterhours outfit where the shirt and tie aren’t invited.

How To Wear Shawl Collar Sweater

When discussing sweaters, it’s easy to sink back into the old (and unfair) adage that they’re the domain of old men and librarians.

The shawl collar hasn’t quite escaped the scrutiny. However, this winter heavyweight deserves a concerted defence of its sartorial merits, and it seems poised to re-enter the young man’s wardrobe this year. Shawl collar sweaters are usually constructed from wool or cashmere in a ribbed weave. This process thickens the fabric by using heavyweight yarns across the warp or weft to raise the density of the garment.

The shawl collar knit is worldly and adaptable. They can add a debonair, sophisticated edge to your overall look, without making you look like a stodgy professor. Button-up shawl collar sweaters are smarter than their pullover cousins, and certainly more versatile. You can wear these with ties (knitted works best) and leave them unbuttoned when a casual dress code is the expected order of business.

If your blazer is starting to make you sad (and cold), take things up a notch by combining a prince of wales shirt, grey shawl collar sweater, and your dressy work pants. And you aren’t limited to smart casual tailoring. Shawl collar sweaters, a white tee, and jeans will see you through almost any weekend contingency.

How To Wear Scoop Neck Sweater

Originally the less popular brother in the familial triad of round neck sweaters, the scoop neck has emerged as solid competition on the knit market.

Unlike the crew neck (which has a narrow collar and slimmer proportions) the scoop neck normally has looser shape – although slim options are never far away – and a wider open neck. Designers have been featuring scoop necks with heavy textural detail. Ribbing, waffle, and cable weaves are abundant on the market.

This style lends itself to casual ensembles with an unpremeditated, low-effort aesthetic. Think a grey cable knit with black jeans and chukka boots, finished off with a contrasting blue or maroon fisherman beanie. Top it off with a khaki anorak for supreme winter insulation that looks pretty damn cool at the same time.

How To Wear A Cardigan

Unfairly condemned as the grandfather’s sweater of choice, the button-up cardigan has resurfaced from the sartorial pit as something young blokes can (and should) wear without bursting into tears.

The cardigan is a fair alternative to a tailored waistcoat, especially in winter where its thermal qualities will have you saving dollars on the quarterly gas bill. Due to its thin construction and lack of lapels, the cardigan should be worn with a shirt and tie. The shirt collar and extra layer of fabric from the tie will add density to the upper portion of your outfit and contribute to a balanced look overall.

Sweater Style Rules

Do invest in natural fibres – merino, cotton, cashmere, or even alpaca. It’s a tougher investment, but the return is better.

Don’t start with novelty colours. Navy, grey, and dark greens and browns are the first order of business.

Do break the second rule once you have a few staple sweaters in your rotation. Doubling up out of habit or sartorial hesitation is a waste of your hard-earned dollars and wardrobe space.

Don’t wear mismatched cuts. Tailored sweaters deserve a tailored outfit.

Do experiment with different weaves. A/W 17 has plenty to offer. Ribbed and cable sweaters have textural and visual points of difference, and are easy sources of detail in an otherwise inconspicuous outfit.

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The post How To Look Insanely Sophisticated With A Casual Sweatshirt appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Remember when Justin Bieber was just a young Canadian teeny-bopper with a ‘toilet swirl’ haircut and bad fashion sense?These days, Bieber looks more ‘badass’ than ‘Baby‘. Not only has his fashion sense and musical range improved somewhat (although he doesn’t always get it right), the 26-year-old singer/songwriter is absolutely covered in tattoos; a clear rejection of the squeaky-clean image he used to be known for. Indeed, Bieber’s ink has since become one of his defining traits; his entire chest and both arms boasting over 60 individual pieces of art.Which is why it’s so unusual that he decided to cover them up for his latest music video – and even more impressive that he was able to cover them all up so seamlessly.‘The Biebs’ shared a video to his Instagram over the weekend of how he pulled off such a transformation: with the help of two skilled makeup artists, Bieber’s impressive array of ink is literally airbrushed away with flesh-coloured foundation, with the artists even blending his arms and torso.While most of us don’t have the time, luxury or – frankly – the need to sit down for a few hours and get our entire body airbrushed, this makeup-based technique could be a lifesaver for anyone with ink looking to go incognito.

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While Western society has, in recent years, become far more accepting of visible tattoos, tattoos are often considered an impediment to gainful employment. On top of that, they can also be a sore point in social or family environments. Let’s face it: there were undoubtedly many awkward dinner table moments this Christmas around someone’s ink.But imagine if you could airbrush out your visible tattoos for a job interview or a family get-together. It could save you a world of pain – no more turtlenecks, no more prying questions from grandma…That said, the conventional wisdom that having tattoos will affect your job prospects might not hold so true any more. Indeed, research from the University of Miami suggests that not only do tattoos significantly affect your employability or average wages but in fact, tattooed men are slightly more likely to have jobs than other men on average, Harvard Business Review reported in 2018.Justin Bieber delighted fans when he dropped his first single of 2021 on January 1st, titled ‘Anyone’. The music video, which released alongside the single, is a cinematic, retro Rocky homage that sees Bieber play himself as an aspiring boxer. Check it out on YouTube here.

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The post Justin Bieber Hides His Tattoos With This Trick appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Keeping your sneakers looking fresh can often be easier said than done. If they’re subjected to daily wear then you may find you simply don’t have the time to keep up with a strict maintenance schedule.

Naturally, sneakers in darker colours, such as black and blue, won’t require as much upkeep as their white sneaker counterparts, but taking a cloth and a brush to them every so often will only increase their life expectancy.

One of the most popular pairs of casual sneakers on the market is Converse. The former shoe of choice for professional basketball players (before Nike muscled its way in) has since enjoyed notoriety worldwide for its distinctive and original style, a plethora of colours and their ability to be worn by pretty much everyone.

However, what makes Converse so popular is also its downfall when it comes to cleaning: their use of canvas. Canvas, being a cloth material can accumulate dirt and grime incredibly easily and so it doesn’t take long for your new, bright white Connies to start looking a little worse for wear.

Fortunately, there are numerous methods you can use to clean them effectively, and all of them don’t require the use of a washing machine. For the record, you should never use a washing machine in an attempt to clean your Converse; the company states on its own website “Do Not Machine Wash Or Dry”.

However, many Converse owners have decided to ignore this advice and use a washing machine as the final step of a cleaning process. Despite several claims that putting your white Converse in a washing machine works wonders, we have to stress that you can risk them becoming damaged. But we’re not here to tell you what you can and can’t do, they’re your shoes after all.

Converse does, however, suggest some cleaning advice of its own, which includes using a damp cloth to rub some lukewarm water, mixed with a mild soap onto your white Converse sneakers to keep them clean. While using this method will provide results, there are others you can use that will keep them whiter for longer.

How To Clean White Converse Sneakers

Use Protection

Before you even think about slipping into your brand new pair of white Converse sneakers, you should invest in a protective spray or solution. These products can help to defend against water and splashes of dirt and makes them easier to clean in the long-run. Most shoe protector sprays and solutions will need to be applied and then left to dry overnight to ensure they perform to their best.

You can reapply your protective spray after each clean to help keep your Converse sneakers white for as long as possible.

Make A Homemade Cleaning Paste

While you could follow Converse’s own tip of using warm water and mild soap, you can achieve greater results simply by using some everyday household items to make your own cleaning paste.

You will need some white vinegar and some baking soda to formulate a paste – roughly two parts baking soda to three parts white vinegar – and use a toothbrush to gently work the paste into the dirty areas. You should mix the two ingredients together in a plastic or glass bowl, and not a metal one because the metal can potentially react negatively with the vinegar.

Remove the laces first, before soaking your white Converse in cold water to help dislodge any loose dirt. It’s important you use cold water because using warm or hot water greatly increases the risk that any stains already on your Converse sneakers will set in.

Once they’re soaked through, you can get to work cleaning. The shoelaces can be washed in warm water and soap separately, although replacing them with an inexpensive pair of fresh white laces is the more convenient option.

Start with the sole and work your way up, and once you’ve finished cleaning a section, rinse it in warm water and marvel at the results. If said results aren’t up to your standard, you can clean the area again using the same paste.

Finally, rinse your Converse sneakers once again in cold water and leave to air dry. If you’re feeling brave, you can put your sneakers in the washing machine before air drying them, but don’t complain if they lose their shape. An effective way of helping to retain the shape of your Converse sneakers is to stuff them with socks or newspaper once they come out of the machine or invest in some proper shoe trees.

Use A Magic Eraser

For quick and easy cleaning on-the-go, you can try using some shoe-specific cleaning wipes, or a magic eraser. Magic Eraser is the official brand name of a product from Proctor & Gamble’s range of ‘Mr. Clean’ cleaning products, but you can find other imitation versions online and in select stores.

Magic Erasers are made from a material not too dissimilar to sandpaper, in that they are abrasive. You need to wet the Magic Eraser before you use it, but once you do, the melamine chemical compound that provides the “magic” is released and strategically designed and placed triangles harden so that they are able to catch and drag away any dirt or marks.

Be careful when using a Magic Eraser on main canvas sections of your white Converse – don’t worry, it works wonders on the rubber sole and toe cap – as the friction can cause the eraser to tear. If you only have small dirt marks on your Converse, we would recommend using the baking soda and white vinegar paste method instead. Only use a Magic Eraser on large spots of dirt.

As with the homemade paste method, once you’ve finished using the Magic Eraser on your Converse, rinse in cold water and/or put them in the washing machine on a hot, standard-length cycle along with some mild detergent – never use bleach – and leave them in the sun to dry naturally.

Enjoy Clean White Converse

Follow these simple steps and you should end up with white Converse sneakers that look good as new. We won’t say they’ll look just like new as a disclaimer because it’s unlikely all of the dirt will be removed from the shoes. However, their appearance will certainly be improved, that is a guarantee.

Read Next

• How To Clean All Types Of Sneakers
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Hopefully, you’ve slept off your New Year’s Eve hangover by now. If not, you have our deepest sympathies – 2020 was a rough year so you can be forgiven for indulging in a Swift or twelve over the last few days.But now that our circadian rhythms are approaching normalcy, we ought to take a good look at our health going into 2021. Maybe one of your New Year’s resolutions was to take better care of yourself, or maybe (like us) you’re sceptical about how quickly we’ll be rid of The Bat Kiss, and want to make sure we’re in tip-top condition for this still-unfolding apocalypse.In any case, there’s no better time to have a good hard look at our health habits – with the stresses of having survived 2020 being touted as being just as bad for us as smoking – and an easy place to start is with our sleep hygiene, with one expert suggesting a radically early sleep schedule as the key.A mountain of scientific evidence supports the conclusion that sleep has an enormous effect on both our physical and mental health. For example, not only does poor sleep hygiene affect your stress levels, productivity, mood and reasoning capabilities, but “sleep affects almost every tissue in our bodies… growth and stress hormones, our immune system, appetite, breathing, blood pressure and cardiovascular health,” the US’ National Institutes of Health relates.On top of that, they also report that “sleep can affect the efficiency of vaccinations… [with] research showing that well-rested people who received the flu vaccine developed stronger protection against the illness.” This is particularly relevant in 2021 with the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.We’ve long been told that adults should be getting at least eight hours of sleep, but in recent times debate has also revolved around when you get those eight hours. Notably, New York Magazine’s senior health writer Katie Heaney caused a stir back in 2018 when she suggested that the best time to go to bed was 8:45pm – mortifying night owls in the process.Her argument boils down to this: getting up early is good for you, and in order to get up early and still get your eight hours, you need to go to bed early too. If you clock off work at 6pm, 8:45 gives you enough time to get home, eat, shower and so on, and then get ready for a good night’s rest:

“Most nights, I am in bed by 8:45, reading my usual two-and-a-half pages of whatever book I’m struggling to stay awake through at that time. That way, I’m asleep by 9:15, and turning off my alarm at 5:15 a.m.: a perfect eight-hour night. At first it might feel like you’re missing things, but eventually you will be so well-rested, and so well adjusted, that you’ll float above such petty concerns.”

While on paper this makes sense, our gut reaction says that this feels overly puritan. So what’s the go – should we all be going to bed at 8:45? Or is there a different (and less painful way) to optimise our sleep hygiene?

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This ABC Everyday article from 2019 relates that the science around sleep isn’t so cut-and-dry, talking to multiple sleep experts who reveal that everyone has slightly different, natural genetic preferences around when they most like to sleep – in layman’s terms, some people are just genuinely night owls or morning people, and will feel better rested on a sleep schedule that suits their natural preferences, with Dr Gorica Micic from the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health at Flinders University putting it like this:

“We have these general innate preferences to be either a morning type or evening type… most of us are sort of in-between… we can generally fall asleep between 9pm and midnight and awake up between 6-7am, so the ideal time is different for everybody.”

The article also elaborates that it is possible to adjust your natural body clock with professional guidance, but “you can’t change your genetics” – an 8:45 bedtime just might not be feasible, or even productive, for some of us.The article also examines how not all adults need exactly eight hours sleep either. Some of us need more, some of us can cope with less, and how much sleep we need changes as we age.RELATED: American Man’s Incredible Transformation Proves It’s Never Too Late To Get RippedAnother important element of sleep hygiene is not only how much sleep you get or when you’re going to bed and waking up, but also having a consistent sleep pattern. Even Heaney agrees: “I will concede that having a routine bedtime is good for you, so if that means you need to make yours 10pm instead of 8:45, I don’t endorse it, but I understand it.”Melbourne-based sleep expert Olivia Arezzolo says you need to “commit to the consistency.”

“Cortisol wakes us up in the morning and melatonin puts us to sleep in the evening – so it’s like a hormonal seesaw. If you disrupt your biological clock by staying up late one night there’s kind of a knock-on effect to the next night, too.”

Perhaps that’s the key: not when, or how much, but sticking to a (healthy) pattern of sleep. Heaney’s 8:45 might just be what you need to kick off 2021 on the right note – but don’t feel bad if you can’t make it work no matter how hard you try.So don’t worry, night owls, you can stop holding your breath. Actually, wait, hold that thought: holding your breath might actually be good for you, as our interview with Bondi Rescue star and health expert Dean Gladstone reveals…

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You can tell a lot about a man by his belt. Because knowing how to choose and wear the perfect belt is really telling the world you’re capable of conquering the simplest of tasks, but one that many often get very wrong.

Much like a tie or leather shoe, there are specific belts for men for specific occasions, and once you’ve nailed the dress code, there’s the challenge of finding the perfect belt colour, texture and buckle after sifting through the hundreds of luxury brands available to us.

However, buying the perfect belt and wearing it correctly can be easily learned as it’s largely intuitive. As for the other design and styling aspects? It’s more a matter of personal preference, which is why we love a good belt as part of our everyday wardrobe.

Men’s Dress Belts

A men’s dress belt is designed to be worn with a suit, trouser separates or smart chinos. Sophisticated and chic, dress belts for men are typically 2.5 – 3.5 cm in width and are cut from the finest leather; think cow, calfskin and even crocodile.

Brown, black, and tan are the best colours – and conveniently complement your favourite pair of dress shoes – and you should avoid quirky belts (much like novelty ties). Outlandish belts only draw attention away from a slick suit and well-kept hair. For formal occasions and overall best practice, you’ll want to match – as best you can – your shoes and belt together. You can match your belt to other accessories too, such as your jewellery or watch, to help you pick between silver or gold-tone.

A subtle grain in the leather is fine, as is a nice polish, and stick with stitching that’s the same colour as the leather. Avoid chunky weaves if the occasion is formal, opting for a fine weave if you really want that point of textural difference.

Men’s Casual Belts

There are fewer rules pertaining to casual belts for men, driven by their more laid back outfit pairings. So, these belts are indicative of your individual style and personality type. Width is more varied; ranging from thin vintage-inspired leather to rope-style belts to wide, worn-in leather belts with big buckles. Ensure you pick a style that plays with the theme or code of your outfit. In doubt? Opt for something in malleable, unpolished leather in a neutral colour with a mid-size tarnished silver buckle. This type rides well with everything.

The Right Belt Size Matters

First thing: know your pants size. This is a number in inches usually, which correlates to your waist measurement: 30, 32, 34 inches etc. Then, buy a belt that is one inch larger than your current pants. For example, if you wear a size 34 pants, you could order a size 36 belt.

Dress belts should have a few inches of leftover leather to the left of the buckle once it’s fastened. Two spare holes on the belt or enough leather to tuck under your first belt loop is a good rule of thumb. Lean toward the shorter side rather than longer, which could leave you having to wrap the excess tail of leather around your hip a second time.

Casual belts for men have a little more room for flexibility, but an overly long tail end is always an awkward look.

Men’s Belt Types

Like shoes, it pays to have a selection of belts to choose from when dressing for your next casual, smart casual or formal rendezvous. Here are five to get you started.

Formal Dark Leather

A dark brown or black leather belt is the perfect starting point for dress belts. Keep in mind your leather shoe colour before deciding on your shade, or for the ultimate in versatility, opt for a reversible belt with brown and black colour options available to you, at the twist of the buckle.

Tan Weave Belt

Perfect for smart-casual attire such as a summer party or dress-down Fridays at the office, a tan belt offers the neutral versatility of dark brown but in a lighter shade, which pairs well with both summer neutrals and dark colours.

A cotton collared shirt, dark coloured or earth tone chinos, and tan shoes (loafers or sandals) are a perfect look. Fasten the belt normally, and then play around with belt styling, looping the end through the belt and letting fall down the trouser nonchalantly. You may want to consider a weave-style belt too, to add a little bit of texture to your trousers and some pizzazz.

Coloured Fabric Belt

Perfect for monochrome looks and summer events, the coloured fabric belt is for when the dress code lightens up. Look for something in a lightweight fabric, like a canvas or cotton or simple grosgrain, and go for a statement stripe or marl finish, dependent on whether you want a more textured look or print. D-ring closures, where the belt is threaded, pulled through and fasten between two metal D’s, is a common buckle for this style.

With the ends of the belt typically leather, this belt is designed to be dressed down with tailored shorts or dressed up with linen blazer and cotton trouser or vintage-fade jean. Stick to dress codes and keep the rest of your outfit downplayed. Be careful to not look too preppy with this belt.

Suede Belt

While leather is traditionally dressy, suede is slightly more casual, without forgoing the quality of animal hide. Likewise, a shiny silver buckle can look out of place on distressed denim or casual shorts, which is why the D-ring closure is a great option, especially for gents not fussed on having to find a fitting hole in their belt. This belt falls blessedly in the dressy/casual/textural/cool category. Big tick.

Thick Vintage Belt

Perfect for the denim lover (aren’t we all?), the thick vintage leather belt is designed for that casual look most of us default to on the weekend: jeans, sneakers and a comfy cotton shirt. The rugged, worn-in belt (look at any shade of brown or black for that) is also a workwear-inspired outfit’s dream. Opt for a belt that is wider than most (though must fit inside your belt loops) and with a dull, metal buckle that’s bigger and bolder than most. This belt gets better with age so keep it forever.

How To Wear A Belt

While a traditional belt is pretty straight forward to do up, the D ring belt is not. Here’s how:

1. Thread the belt through your pant loops until the D links are positioned where the belt buckle usually is. Pull the loose end of the belt through both D-rings.

2. Separate the two D-rings so there is enough space for the belt to pass between them. Loop the loose end of the belt back to the D-rings so that it folds over itself

3. Pull the loose end of the belt through the D-rings, going over the closest ring and under the second ring. Pull the loose end of the belt until it feels tight on your hips.

4. The D-rings should be resting flat against your pants. Tuck the loose end of the belt through the closest belt loop on your pants to secure it.

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