Spring has finally sprung in the Land Down Under, and the warmer weather feels like a real gift, especially when this year has been so rough for so many of us.

However, it’s not all sunshine and roses (pun definitely intended): the arrival of spring also means our calendars are quickly filling up with social engagements. And while The Bat Kiss means they won’t be held in quite the same way as they were this time last year, the need for a varied, stylish outfit for all of spring’s various soirees is crucial.

Indeed, it’s arguably even more crucial than ever, as there’s no way you’ll be able to blend into the crowd. Besides, there’s never been a better time to make a sartorial splash – and the best way to do that is with HUGO BOSS.

HUGO BOSS is one of the world’s most esteemed fashion houses. At a time when many luxury fashion brands have jumped head-first into kitsch and eschewed practical menswear, HUGO BOSS remain timelessly stylish yet subtly innovative.

Earlier this year, they released their first entirely vegan suit, and now just in time for spring, they’ve revealed an effortlessly cool collection of spring essentials that are sure to make you the sharpest guy at any get-together you may find yourself attending.

From crisp cotton tailored pieces and lightweight shirts to dapper suits and bold accessories, HUGO BOSS have you covered no matter where you find yourself this spring. Their clothing is practical as well as stylish, too: luxury doesn’t have to mean fussy. Easy-iron materials, flattering cuts – even packable jackets for if you’re on the move – HUGO BOSS make snappy spring dressing a cinch.

RELATED: How To Wear A Suit – A Modern Man’s Guide

One of HUGO BOSS’ most refreshing offerings is their curation of trans-seasonal collections and looks. Australians often get the short end of the stick when it comes to the world of fashion: not only because our seasons are out of sync with Europe and North America, but because our temperate climate means many brand’s winter looks are just impractical here. Frankly, it’s refreshing that HUGO BOSS looks beyond the traditional ‘season’ model – it just makes more sense for the modern, Australian man.

Check out their latest arrivals online.

Read Next

• How To Nail Smart Casual This Spring
• What Australian Men Should Wear This Summer, According To The Man Who Can Wear Anything

The post HUGO BOSS Are Making Dressing For Spring A Breeze appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sweeping clifftops. Peachy panoramas. House music. Bintangs. Bikinis. Day clubs. Hipster cafes. Dreadlocks. Waves that get the world’s most blasé surfers frothing. Though our heads may be full of stereotypes, you can’t deny Australians love Bali with impressive fervor.Not only is it the final component of the seductive Bondi – Byron – Bali triangle (Maslow clearly forgot to tell us self actualisation is impossible without having started a pyramid scheme wellness shop in Seminyak), but Bali is in many senses a holy place.Not only is it a paradise we go to escape, unwind, and start businesses in, but it’s also a trip down memory lane, feeling, if not like Bali in the 70s, a little like Australia in the 70s (before health and safety legislators went nuts).For these reasons (and more) many Australians have moved to Bali permanently. And after the pandemic sparked a global shutdown in travel in March, some of them chose to stay there, riding out this turbulent year in the Island of the Gods.Some Australians, like 53-year-old Tim Ryan, don’t plan on repatriating any time soon – even after being out of work for a number of months.“My family live here and I believe in Bali,” Ryan told the Sydney Morning Herald in July. “My wife is Indonesian. Bali is home.”Ryan told the Sydney Morning Herald he is “a little bit concerned” about coronavirus, but “the situation is not too bad.”

“If I am really sick, health insurance will allow me to go back to Australia to seek medical help.”

“If you look at the situation now, the beach is open. … I believe that the Balinese government and health system has got it under control and they are taking precautions to keep it under control, so I feel safe.”Speaking of the beach being open, the Instagram account, Surfers Of Bali (SOB), has lately been giving homebound Aussies a case of eye-popping envy (see: such comments as, “Balangan…. my favorite Bali temptress”).Enter: a relatively recent video posted of what appears to be a group of people, including Westerners, enjoying, “Perfect waves with a festive vibe on the beach” in Bingin.⁣

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Surfers of Bali (@surfersofbali) on Jul 27, 2020 at 8:01pm PDT

Instagram account @surfingincanggu has also captured Australians enjoying Bali as recently as September, along with French expats like @facingblankpages.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Surfers of Bali (@surfersofbali) on Sep 25, 2020 at 7:45pm PDT

This all comes after Bali considered letting international visitors (including Australians) visit from September, but ultimately decided to ban foreign tourists for the rest of 2020 over the virus.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Surfers of Bali (@surfersofbali) on Aug 16, 2020 at 1:36am PDT

Despite these videos causing some internet commenters to angrily smash their keyboards (see: the multitude of comments along the lines of, “isn’t it illegal to go to Bali right now” and “how selfish”), some reports suggest entry to Bali right now isn’t as provocative a topic as you might think.“If you’re wondering how the likes of Kelly Slater, Strider Wasilewski, and Dino and Kolohe Andino have been able to access Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Java, the Mentawais and other epic, once in a lifetime uncrowded Indo surf spots in recent weeks, wonder no more,” Coastalwatch reported in September.That’s right: Americans have been bombing it over there too (even more so than Australians).

 

View this post on Instagram

 

It’s not every day @kellyslater turns up for a surf in Bali. ⁣ ⁣ It’s hardly ever actually.⁣ ⁣ So it’s pretty cool to see his approach at Uluwatu. He didn’t get too many good waves, but still managed to link a few on this one.

A post shared by Surfers of Bali (@surfersofbali) on Sep 10, 2020 at 6:04pm PDT

“If you’ve been on an Indo trip, you’ll be familiar with the usual tourist entry system: visa exemption on arrival. That’s been offline for months. But another kind of visa — a longer stay entry for foreigners on business, vouched for by an Indonesian sponsor and by their own material wealth — never went offline.”“The visa is a variant on the social-cultural longer stay visa familiar to many surfers and other travellers who spend their winter months holed up somewhere on the Island of the Gods.”“In this case,” Coastalwatch continues, “It requires a travel reason linked to a business or project within Indo. This doesn’t include actual working, but might include surf-type research, like inspecting a surf resort with a view to investing. Professional sport is also listed as a possible reason in the Indonesian Consulate website.”

“A letter of support from an Indonesian business entity is required, along with proof of US$1500 in immediately available funds. Once equiped, you apply in person to the nearest consulate.”

The problem for most Australians is the travel ban (the Australian government has only accepted about a quarter of the exemption requests so far, the ABC reports) – and the price of flights (at the time of writing Skyscanner shows a one way trip from Sydney to Jakarta costs more than double what it would have this time last year).

 That’s before you take into account the compulsory, $3,000, two-week quarantine on return to Australia, and the risk of picking up The Virus in a nation, as Coastalwatch puts it, “of innumerable islands where testing is as minor as it gets.”smarttraveller.gov.au has issued the following in respect to Australians thinking of travelling: “There’s a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.”

“If you’re overseas and wish to return to Australia, we continue to encourage you to plan your travel home. However, be prepared for possible delays.”

“When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View individual State and Territory Government information,” smarttraveller.gov.au adds.“If you’re staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. Follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you’re safe.”

Read Next

• I Tried Bali’s Instagram Famous Floating Breakfast & It Was A Total Disaster
• Filmmaker Captures Rare Moment In Balinese History Most Australians Will Never Experience

The post Provocative Videos Suggest Some Australians Still Enjoying Bali Just Fine appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

In the same way car brands have ‘halo cars’ that draw people to the marque – think the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Mustang, Porsche 911 or Holden Commodore (RIP) – watch brands have ‘halo watches’ that are immediately recognisable. Yet you’d be surprised how short the history of some of these timepieces are.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus, created by legendary watch designer Gérald Genta, first appeared in 1976 – 113 years after the brand was first founded. Hublot’s most successful model, the Big Bang, was only introduced in 2005. Even Rolex’s venerable Submariner, widely considered the stereotypical luxury watch, is less than 50 years old.

RELATED: Rolex Drops Its Largest Submariner To Date, Complete With New Movement

A ‘halo watch’ that predates all of these is Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms: an incredibly functional, stylish diver’s watch that’s been a trendsetter from day dot. Blancpain might not enjoy the same profile in popular culture as some of the other brands mentioned above but they have the unique accolade of being the oldest surviving watchmaking brand in the world, founded way back in 1735 in the foothills of the Jura Mountains in Switzerland. Since then, they’ve been one of the most quietly brilliant watch brands in the industry, producing fewer than thirty watches per day, each one a masterpiece made by a single watchmaker.

The Fifty Fathoms was arguably the world’s first modern diver’s watch: first introduced in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms has always had a military connection, its design a result of collaboration with the French Navy. The Fifty Fathoms also became standard issue for US Navy SEALs at the time and has been seen on the wrists of savvy operators of all stripes ever since.

2020 has seen the brand pay homage to its military roots with two unique colourways for two different versions of its Fifty Fathoms line: a new stunning dark green 44mm Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback as well as a limited-edition sand-coloured 43mm Bathyscaphe Day Date. Both flavours of Fifty Fathoms look stunning, and prove that the trend towards earthy-coloured watches isn’t slowing down any time soon.

The Chronographe Flyback (ref. 5200 0153 NABA) is a classically brilliant watch; the perfect companion for adventures above or below the water. The dark green is a particularly attractive colour and simultaneously evokes the olive drab so common among world militaries, as well as the rich colours of the natural world one experiences when diving. Its dial is a particular masterstroke: featuring a subtle sunburst effect created by several nanometric layers of material, it plays with light in a mesmerising fashion, making it a joy to use.

The Day Date Desert Edition (ref. 5052 1146 E52A) is a slightly more left of field offering. Desert sands and diving watches might seem like strange bedfellows, but it works surprisingly well on this highly-functional watch, evoking the desert camo used by modern militaries. The colour is a first for Blancpain, and indeed there are few watches of this tier in such an interesting colourway. Issued in a 500-piece limited series, the Day Date Desert Edition model comes with a sandy-coloured sail canvas strap matching the warm tones of the dial, which further underscores the adventurous nature of the watch.

The biggest challenge is figuring out which 2020 Fifty Fathoms Bathyscape you go with. Do you pick the lustrous, functional chronograph? Or go with the more minimalist limited edition? Either way, you’re onto a winner.

You can check out both watches online here.

Read Next

• Jaeger-LeCoultre Dives Deep With New ‘Ultramarine’ Polaris Collection
• Bremont & Rolls-Royce Take Horology To New Heights With Latest Chronometer

The post Blancpain 'Deploys' New Bathyscaphe Models In Military-Inspired Colourways appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

When Amalfi Beach Club announced its plan to turn part of Bondi beach into a pay-by-the-hour cabana club, many Australians’ reaction was, loosely paraphrased, “f*ck this.”We have a proud tradition of equality on our sand. They are one of the last remaining uncommercial spaces. And though we revel in different experiences overseas, it’s always nice to come home to something low key.Heck, half the reason so many Europeans love Australia’s beaches is because they are so natural (and soft-sandy).Yet, as we can’t go overseas right now, one man has decided to bring Europe to Australia.As news.com.au reports, “Beachgoers may soon have to fork out a fee to enter part of Bondi Beach after a plan was put forward to turn a section of the sand into an exclusive beach club.”How would this look? Think: the love child of Instagram-famous Bali day club Mrs. Sippy and the umbrellas of Mykonos, St Tropez; Capri.“Other than its namesake, Amalfi Beach Club aspires to the iconic Beach Clubs from popular European seaside destinations such as Mykonos, Capri and St Tropez,” Amalfi Beach Club states.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @amalfibeachclub on May 22, 2020 at 6:44pm PDT

“Amalfi Beach Club has submitted a proposal to Waverley Council to block off a section of the beach, add in seating and serve customers food and alcohol right on the sand as they cannot ‘sojourn to Europe’ this summer,” news.com.au reports.According to Amalfi Beach Club’s proposal, the luxury cabana zone – to be set up opposite Roscoe Street – would target “high net worth” individuals between 25 and 45, with “high disposable income,” early reports suggested.Organisers also reportedly expect the “elegantly fenced” 24 metre by 14 metre area to attract “aspirational professionals such as doctors, surgeons, members of the finance industry”, as well as “publishing, advertising, fashion, beauty and modelling.”The business, however, has emphasised, “we don’t discriminate,” recently taking to Facebook to mock “misinformation” it claims has arisen in recent days.“We would like to dispel some misinformation. Our beach club will not be harvesting organs of homeless people to serve as burgers to the rich. We are not an attempt by the People’s Republic of China to take over Crown Land. Women will be allowed entry. Your minds will not be controlled by alien lizard people while enjoying premium service and yummy food at Australia’s favourite beach,” Amalfi Beach Club posted to Facebook this morning.“The beach will remain free for everyone! Only those who wish to support local business will be asked to pay $80 as a deposit against their F&B [food and beverages], while all others may occupy the remaining 98% of the beach as before.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @amalfibeachclub on May 22, 2020 at 6:42pm PDT

Admittedly, at $80 being charged for a two-hour spot on one of the cabanas, Amalfi Beach Club is hardly targeting Those On Centrelink.RELATED: ‘A Place To See & Be Seen’: Incredible Photo Reveals Why Everyone Should Visit Capri OnceThere are two opposing arguments at play. Supporters argue the initiative will boost community morale and bolster the ‘adjacent’ economy (Icebergs is slated to help with catering), as well as bring a ‘cultural bent’ to Bondi for which there is huge demand (see: Australia’s Europe fetish).Detractors argue this demand is mostly limited to a Dickhead Demographic, and that the money will not trickle down to the rest of the economy enough to sacrifice Bondi’s natural atmosphere for Sydney’s rich beautiful show-offs to play dress up (or down). They also argue this could be a slippery slope to the commercialisation of the rest of the beach.There’s also the whole: why would you try to change the one area – the one rare place – where Australia actually does something better than the rest of the world, and try to import the one aspect of European culture that’s not as good as Australia’s?

“G’jiorno mate, these uncomfortable stones covering the sand and rusty, unrestored 1970s loungers are imported directly from Positano for the authentic Italian experience of being on a not-particularly-good beach. Another limoncello?”

— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) October 8, 2020

Janek Gazecki, the Bondi-based organiser of Urban Polo events who is behind the Amalfi Beach Club proposal, when asked by The Guardian whether he thought Australians would be opposed to the idea of commercialising the beach, noted surf events with corporate sponsors and the television show Bondi Rescue.He also said a similar club that runs on Adelaide’s Glenelg Beach had set a precedent.RELATED: Photographer Captures Australian Winter Ritual Americans Will Never UnderstandThe question was also raised on social media: are Australians backwards for not getting on board with this?“Sydney is looking more backwards than us [Adelaide] with their outcry over this,” one wrote on Facebook.Further comments railing against Amalfi Beach Club show many Australians are inherently suspicious (whether or not in this case they are right) of innovation and privatisation, putting forward classic complaints like “planning permission” and “equality,” and raising the question – will Australians ever be able to stand the gleeful smirk of an entrepreneur, even if it comes with progress?“How do they give you permission and not give permission to others? It would be hypocritical. It’s like when they raise the building height limit for one building on a street, immediately everyone on that street has that right,” one Facebook user wrote.“Why don’t you people go away… You don’t get the right to sequester part of it to make money,” wrote another.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dominika| London Blogger (@theblondeflamingo) on Sep 4, 2020 at 7:00am PDT

This led into a broader debate around the point of the beach, with many Australians unable to wrap their heads around (or understanding, but despising) the stereotypical European notion that the beach is more than a place to cool off, but ‘a place to be seen.’To be fair, if anywhere in Australia suits this ‘performative’ ideology, it’s Bondi… But we digress.RELATED: Iconic Paradise Beach Scene Reveals Greek Freedom Australians Can’t HandleFor his part, proposal mastermind Gazecki remains nonchalant: “From our end the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” he told The Guardian. “It’s excellent for the local economy – local restaurants get more business.”

“It’s a no-brainer, and we can’t see any rational reason why this can’t proceed. It’s not like regular beachgoers will need to pay to access the beach, this is just an opportunity for there to be a slightly more cosmopolitan way to enjoy the beach.”

DMARGE’s take? Australians are 100% ‘backwards’ in our attitude to beach culture. And that’s a good thing (not to mention part of our international charm).Who’s right? We’ll leave it up to you to decide.As for who’s in the right legally, the decision remains in the hands of local government, with news.com.au reporting, “The organisers had initially asked for the business to be run between November and February but that was knocked back, with Waverley Council deeming it ‘unsuitable based on Council policies and in the interest of our local community.'”“Amalfi Beach Club has now put forward new dates for the event to be held between February and May next year, which is being reviewed by the council.”“If the proposal is accepted, the beach club would likely run from 12pm to 9pm from Thursday to Sunday each week.”Beyond the ‘un-Australian’ outcry, another challenge the Amalfi Beach Club proposal faces is the dangers of mixing drinking with swimming.There’s your morning dose of controversy, served hot.

Read Next

•  Controversial Bondi Beach Photo Depicts Scene That Could Never Happen In America
• Psychologist Explains The Mindset Of Living In Bondi

The post Bondi's 'Amalfi Coast' Ambition Forgets Uncomfortable Truth About European Beach Culture appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s easy to forget just how huge Usher used to be. In the 2000s, there were few male musicians as successful as the suave R&B singer – not only was he widely recognised as a sex symbol, but Usher sold over 20 million records worldwide and snatched four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. Indeed, Billboard has called his fourth studio album Confessions the top solo album of the decade, and Usher remains one of the best-selling artists of all time.

He’s had a slightly diminished profile in recent years, but his impeccable style (and star power) remains as bright as ever, as his most recent fashion statement emphatically demonstrates.

Recruited by Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing for his SS21 showing, Usher stepped out in a retro-inspired ‘resort’ ensemble from the Parisian fashion house last week, replete with chunky shades and a pastel sweatshirt worn under an aggressively bolstered blazer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Usher (@usher) on Oct 2, 2020 at 8:09pm PDT

It’s a very 80s look; reminiscent of androgynous fashion icon Grace Jones. It suits Usher’s suave character perfectly and reaffirms Rousteing’s Midas touch.

One of the 80s’ most ubiquitous fashion trends was big shoulder pads, in everything from suit jackets to dresses and even in bras. While shoulder padding was hardly an 80s innovation – Coco Chanel’s women’s suiting was doing it back in the 20s – it was the late 70s and 80s that took it to an extreme. It was an essential element of ‘power dressing’ and went to outrageous lengths (literally).

However, it looks just as good on men as it does as women, as Usher clearly demonstrates. Bring shoulder pads back, we say.

The 41-year-old star shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, having released a slew of singles this year ahead of his forthcoming ninth solo album. His most recent release, Bad Habits, dropped earlier in September, alongside an impressively choreographed music video.

Read Next

• Justin Bieber Rescues ‘Middle School’ Haircut With Exceptional Jacket
• Shia LaBeouf Spotted Committing The Ultimate Men’s Activewear Crime

The post Usher Resurrects The 80s' Most Underrated Style Move With Crisp Balmain Look appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

With Fall and Winter right around the corner, it’s time to get your wardrobe ready for the season. Whilst we might not be getting out and about as much as we normally would thanks to a global pandemic, it’s important to look your best and be prepared for when you do inevitably leave your humble abode. Allbirds’ latest release, the Wool Runner Mizzles, might be the ideal candidate to help you transition away from your ‘WFH’ tracksuit and back into the great wide world.

As with all other Allbirds shoes, the Mizzles are made from Merino Wool. The difference between these and other Allbirds sneakers, however, is that the wool is thicker to keep you warmer on a winters day and they’re coated with a bio-based water repellant to keep you dry. This combination, along with the mid-height cut will ensure your feet are cosy and dry, no matter the weather.

All in all, the Mizzles are one part stylish, one part comfortable, one part capable. It’s an added bonus that they have minimal impact on the environment and priced at $135 they’re rather affordable too.

Buy The Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzle $135

Read next:

• The Best Waterproof Shoes & Sneakers For Year Round Dry Feet
• The Best White Sneakers For Men To Elevate Their Style In 2020

The post These $135 Weather Resistant Sneakers Are The Ultimate Winter Companion appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The most inoffensive way to consume alcohol. A drinker not a thinker. A carbonated Acai bowl by any other name…

Hard seltzers faced much stigma in their climb to be America’s drink of choice, with White Claw being the breakthrough ‘basic’ beverage, coming to dominate the market over the past two summers.

Hard Seltzers are a type of highball drink containing carbonated water, alcohol, and often fruit flavoring. They are differentiated from a more ‘basic’ premix drink by virtue of a brewed base of rice and corn, giving them a depth of flavor and viscosity vodka and neutral grain spirits don’t quite have.

Moving away from the “trashy… connotations” of other malt liquor beverages like Mike’s Hard Lemonade, American hard seltzers like White Claw have used “sleek, gender-neutral branding and an implied promise that it’s… virtuous” (Eater) to replace Rosé as the sunny drink of choice, seen in the hands of everyone from frat boys to hipsters.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

“hot girl summer” -rhys

A post shared by Matt (@sweetmlow) on Jul 31, 2019 at 8:52am PDT

It’s not just a fiscal achievement, either; even if it’s not indicative of super deep change, as Vox reports, hard seltzer’s integration into macho culture, though it was initially done ironically, is a positive sign.

“There’s a performative aspect of men’s somewhat ironic enthusiasm for hard seltzer… In doubling down on how much they love it, men get to embrace something they’re usually discouraged from enjoying. Today’s male hard seltzer drinkers are just as aware of their chosen drink’s reputation as they were in the Zima days, but the difference is that in 2019, it’s far more culturally acceptable to embrace it.”

Eater also reports on this phenomenon, remarking at the tail end of America’s 2019 summer, “The success of White Claw … [is] indicative of the 2019 type of hypermasculinity that is currently en vogue.”

“It’s a drink for a more evolved bro, the type of man who isn’t afraid to talk about his macros or brew kombucha. The rise of crossfit alongside paleo and keto diets gave men permission to be more publicly and proudly health and image conscious than most of their predecessors.”

“Which isn’t to say that smart branding by powerful beverage corporations has successfully solved gender inequality, of course. It’s just that hard seltzer happens to fit neatly into society’s current ideas about men’s consumption habits.”

Speaking of consumption: hard seltzer is now poised to blow up in Australia too, with the southern hemisphere’s summer imminent, and the steady pssst of ice-cold VBs and Pale Ales soon to be heard all over.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jessica Joan (@jessica__joan) on Oct 5, 2020 at 12:51pm PDT

That and – by the looks of it – the sound of hard seltzer brands like FELLR, which FELLR director and co-founder Will Morgan tells DMARGE is “sold out pretty much everywhere at the moment.”

It’s not a carbon copy of America though; in true Aussie style FELLR (available here at Dan Murphy’s) is nonchalant about all this gym bro and “meme culture” hype and aims to neatly fit into society’s current ideas about casual coastal Australians’ consumption habits (i.e. the majority of the population), not just F45-ers.

Mr. Morgan’s business partner and FELLR co-founder Andy Skora tells DMARGE: “When we first started talking, the initial [Aussie] reaction was: “what’s a seltzer?”.

There’s been a huge turnaround, however, in the last two months, where “it has gone from [practically] everyone not just knowing what it is to everyone buying it.”

“[The trend] started in lockdown a little bit but now there are so many brands jumping on board, media getting onto it, people recognising what it is,” Mr. Skora tells us.

Summer has also helped.

Key to seltzer’s success in Australia, should it continue to blow up, is the “style of drink, people understanding what it is, as well as valuing the health trends associated (think: low sugar, gluten free, keto, all natural).”

On that front, there doesn’t seem to be any danger of those values changing (by our reckoning the Bondi – Byron – Bali triangle would sooner implode).

Mr. Morgan tells DMARGE the craft beer boom aided too, getting “people trying new things; [making them] more inquisitive.”

“There was no ‘craft’ in this space – nothing you’d be proud to serve,” Mr. Morgan tells us.

“You wouldn’t take premix to nice BBQ, or a nice dinner; we saw that gap there.”

“It takes us four weeks to brew the alcohol – we don’t just buy neutral grain spirits from god knows where.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ELIZA HODDINOTT (@elizahoddinott) on Feb 13, 2019 at 2:10am PST

As for whether hard seltzer will become the trademark drink of Australia’s “evolved bros” like it has in America, Mr. Morgan says: “It’s not necessarily for guys that are counting their macros like a gym buff, it’s for people from all walks of life.”

“People have heard of White Claw but we’re not important [enough for] that whole Tik Tok culture yet – people just see hard seltzer as a healthy alternative.”

As such, FELLR is made with trending Australian lifestyle choices like “vegetarianism; going organic” in mind, not just “gym people counting calories.”

“Especially in coastal areas, people are really dialling in on their health and all aspects of it.”

With just about a month since Dan Murphy’s launched their full seltzer range, only time (and pssts per capita) will tell where the hard seltzer trend lands down under.

Just remember: though hard seltzers are lower in carbs and calories than beer, alcohol is still alcohol…

Read Next

• The ‘Naive’ Alcohol Myth Europeans Wish Australians Would Stop Spouting
• The One Mistake Everyone Still Makes When Drinking Wine

The post The 'Evolved' American Alcohol Trend About To Blow Up In Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

These days, Audi’s luxury and performance credentials are unimpeachable, but for many years, Audi was seen as somewhat of a ‘grandpa’s car’ brand. While their ‘Silver Arrow’ race cars of the 30s were groundbreaking, it wasn’t until the 80s with the release of the original Audi Quattro – a turbocharged rallying legend which broke ground as the first German large-scale production vehicle to feature permanent all-wheel drive – that Audi started to shake its dreary image.Since then, virtually all Audi’s vehicles offer all-wheel drive, and most are available in hotted-up ‘S’ or ‘RS’ spec. But the very first ‘S’ car was a special one indeed, and one that bears a nameplate that hasn’t been revisited since: the S2, manufactured from 1991 to 1995 by Audi’s performance division Audi Sport, which back then was simply named quattro. It was the first car quattro ever made (the even hotter version of the S2, the RS2 Avant, is technically the first ‘quattro car’ but it was actually made by Porsche) and remains a rare beast, particularly in Australia.Which leads us to this baby: a beautiful example of the S2 breed in stunning ‘Kingfisher Blue‘. But this isn’t just any S2: it’s been highly modified by its owner to produce almost 700hp – or more than triple a stock S2, and more than double what even the crazy RS2 Avant makes.

However, the owner’s not going to sell it to just anyone – simply suggesting their listing is “just an expression of interest [to see] if there is genuine enthusiasts which would be interested in my coupé.”

“[My] life situation has altered slightly just recently and I am open to selling it to the right person. Otherwise, I park it until this all blows over…. Car has been an almost 8 year project to get it to now. Has made a high of 760whp with a larger turbo (approx 900 engine hp), but definitely too much for the street so is now running a slightly smaller turbo and making 580whp (approx 700hp). Engine has been built to handle at least 1000hp which should be pretty much 800whp.”

“At the moment I will only confide in serious buyers with the price as I won’t get into a pissing match about what someone else thinks it’s worth… I don’t substitute cost for quality.”We’d tend to agree – aside from a small crack in the windshield, a saggy headlining and a slightly worn reverse synchro, the condition of the car just beggars belief.

The S2, like its RS2 Avant sibling and ‘Ur-Quattro’ daddy, is powered by Audi’s legendary 2.2L inline-five engine. Five cylinder engines aren’t particularly common but have a cult following thanks to their unique sound and performance (the uneven firing sequence gives them amazing auditory qualities).They’re also capable of being tuned to make outrageous horsepower figures, as this S2 clearly demonstrates. Indeed, they’re a popular choice for drag-racing builds, particularly in Scandinavia, where some have even been able to produce over a megawatt of power… That’s 1,340hp, or more than 500hp over what the insane Dodge Demon makes, and not too far away from what a Bugatti Chiron makes – with 11 more cylinders, mind you.Among other modifications, this S2 features a larger turbocharger, intercooler, BBS wheels and a blacked-out grille for extra stealth. You know. Because a 700hp, bright blue European coupé is stealthy.

According to Australian motoring maestro (and friend of DMARGE) Car Rave, expression of interest callouts like this might be a bit of a tease, but it’s a car sales method that’s becoming more and more common.

“These coupes are a rare sighting in Australia, and with more and more people being made aware of them now, they are on a fast track to becoming a modern classic… stock or not, it will still demand a pretty penny due to its rarity. Just need to convince the owner you are an Audi geek.”

If you think you’ve got what it takes to take custodianship of this beast, head on over to the OzAudi forums and try your luck.

Read Next

• Australia’s Most Unlikely Classic ‘Bogan’ Cars Skyrocketing In Price
• Ultra-Rare $120,000 Gold Coast Renault Hottest French Export Since Brigitte Bardot
• ‘Bugatti Killer’ On Sale In Perth Is Australia’s Rarest 90s Maserati

The post Audi S2 For Sale In Sydney appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The world’s coolest neighbourhoods for 2020 have just been revealed, and the ranking shows a significant silver lining to what has been an ultra-tough year.

Compiled by Time Out, 2020’s ‘world’s coolest neighbourhood’ list comprises 40 scintillating suburbs that are said to be the world’s hippest places to be, based on the responses of more than 38,000 city-dwellers (who answered the annual Time Out Index survey).

This year the magazine focused on the idea “it’s cool to be kind.” The upshot? A list of trendy places where neighbourliness is king; where communities and businesses have pulled together to thrive despite the adversity 2020 has brought.

As always, food, fun, art, culture, atmosphere and personality have been taken into account too.

The top 10 are as follows…

10. Marrickville, Sydney

It’s not all just $28 coffees and Doc Martens: the Inner West gem that is Marrickville has epic neighbourly vibes too. The first of two Australian locales in their top ten, Time Out also highlights Marrickville’s diversity of culinary offerings: from Vietnamese street food to vegan pizza, and from craft beer to cocktails – Marrickville’s got it all.

9. Haut-Marais, Paris

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KameoTravel (@kameotravel) on Sep 26, 2020 at 12:23pm PDT

CNN describes it as “the northern, bleeding edge” of the more touristy Marais historic district. Time Out describes it as the epitome of cool (“To Parisians, it feels like this neighbourhood practically invented the cocktail bar”). Names of its establishments and winding streets (think: Little Red Door speakeasy and Bisou) give you the rest of the picture.

8. Dennistoun, Glasgow

“Bordered by the Necropolis, the M8 and railway lines, Dennistoun feels like a secluded [urban] island in Glasgow’s East End,” Time Out states. It is now a gentrifying hodgepodge of students and working-class longtime locals.

“Community spirit is fostered by initiatives like the Zero Waste Market – a refill grocery shop that prepped handy boxes of food essentials during lockdown,” (Time Out).

7. Shaanxi Bei Lu/Kangding Lu, Shanghai

From sleepy settlement to humming hub, Shaanxi Bei Lu/Kangding Lu has more cafés, bars and restaurants than you can throw a foodie at. While traditional lane houses and old-school noodle shops still survive, there are also now roller skate bars and natural wines places.

6. Wedding, Berlin

A neighborhood in Berlin’s north-west best known for its throbbing discos, Wedding also has some chilled side streets and refreshing great outdoors options (e.g. the Plötzensee lake) as well as Michelin star restaurants (and currywurst stands, natürlich).

5. Yarraville, Melbourne

Victoria has been struck by the pandemic harder than any other Australian state. At its heart is Melbourne where, although the year has been immensely challenging, community spirit remains strong. According to Time Out, westside suburb Yarraville embodies this.

“Two lockdown stories sum it up. Firstly, Yarraville local Lee Smith-Moir started adding adorable ‘happy signs’ on walking tracks in the area to cheer up locals during the state’s second lockdown. Then there was skater Belle Hadiwidjaja, who has been roller-skating through the streets in rotating costumes to keep families entertained on their daily walk,” they relate.

4. Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York

While Manhattan made headlines for absurd ‘let them eat cake’ scenes earlier this year, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Time Out claims, became “New York’s greatest incubator of the future.”

“Long a cultural centre of the city’s Black population, Bed-Stuy served as a main hub for Black Lives Matter protests. In the face of devastation brought on by Covid-19, it gave birth to mutual aid networks like Bed-Stuy Strong to protect its most vulnerable members,” Time Out reports.

“Meanwhile, local businesses have opened their doors to the streets, melding private and public space and building bonds of togetherness in a new urban social compact.”

3. Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

CNN Travel once called it “Hong Kong’s new cultural capital.” Time Out’s analysis this year would appear to confirm that statement. The city is also “home to some of Hong Kong’s most deprived communities and has been a key battleground in the 2019-2020 protests,” according to CNN.

2. Downtown, Los Angeles

Is it possible to write a ‘world’s coolest’ list without including downtown LA? A perennial pick, Downtown LA this year became LA’s “supportive soul” according to Time Out.

“It was in this resurgent city center that shocked residents gathered to mourn after the death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant,” CNN reports, and it was here that residents came to make their voices heard after the death of George Floyd.

1. Esquerra de l’Eixample, Barcelona

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Sunday funday vamos

A post shared by Ashley Geerestein (@ashleygeerestein) on Jan 24, 2016 at 5:55am PST

Near the university. Sprawling. Energetic. The coolest point on Barcelona’s grid, according to Time Out is Esquerra de l’Eixample (the trendier side of the Eixample district, which is split into two neighbourhoods). While Dreta de l’Eixample (the other side) normally gets all the eyes, (thanks to its luxury shops and spectacular modernista buildings), 2020 was Esquerra de l’Eixample’s time to shine.

During Barcelona’s lockdown the courtyards of Esquerra’s apartment blocks “became focal points for the city’s energy – as in the pop-up Hidrogel Sessions, in which residents dressed up in costumes and organised mass dance parties from their balconies,” Time Out reports.

We’ll tapas to that.

Read Next

• The Surprising Truth About Barcelona’s Iconic Grid Layout
• Australia’s Most Desirable Suburbs Could Be In For A Rude Awakening

The post 'World's Coolest Neighbourhood' Rankings Uncovers 2020's Brightest Silver Lining appeared first on DMARGE Australia.