When it comes to the rich and famous and their wrists, we’re accustomed to seeing Rolex, Patek, Richard Mille and Breitling. Rarely do we see a Cartier make an appearance though, which is a shame because they’re elegant, impeccably well-made timepieces. So when we do spot one in the wild, we sit up and take notice.Enter Rami Malek. Fresh from his days hacking his way into financial corporations and portraying rock legend Freddie Mercury, the LA-born actor has now found himself being one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood. It’s also meant he has to consistently bring his style A-game when walking the red carpet.And that’s exactly what he did when attending the Dolittle premiere in Westwood, California on January the 11th 2020. A closer look at his left wrist reveals he’s wearing a Cartier Santos-Dumont. More specifically, it’s the quartz movement AU$8,100 Santos with a rose gold and steel case and black alligator strap.Cartier reintroduced the Cartier de Santos collection at the beginning of 2018 with a new interchangeable strap system, alongside a brand new in-house developed automatic movement. Its square case has become iconic among watches since it was first launched in 1904, which Malek uses to subtly upgrade his rather reserved red carpet look to true A-lister status. Note: Rami’s does not feature interchangeable strap system.

Read Next

• Square Watches That Will Make You Stand Out For All The Right Reasons
• How Louis Cartier Shaped What We Wear On Our Wrists

The post Rami Malek’s Cartier Proves He Really Is An Evil Genius appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Choosing, applying and storing cologne is probably some of the most exact science most guys will ever have to carry out on a day to day basis, with the obvious exceptions of sporting analysis and mental blood alcohol mathematics.

Nonetheless, it’s an art that, when practised and perfected, will help mark your final transition into manhood. Everyone wants to be the guy who carries his scents the best, and despite all the old wives tales you may read, it has nothing to do with having a certain type of skin or applying cologne in a secret way.

It’s all in good old-fashioned technique.

Buying The Right Cologne

Buying the right cologne is the first step in making sure you’re not buying a scent that will seem to fall straight off of your skin 10 minutes after you apply it.

Unfortunately, the only way you can really test this in the first place is by navigating the vulture’s nest that is your local department store’s cosmetics section.

While many guys think that having one bottle of cologne (a signature scent if you will) is the way to go, we’d recommend having a fresher fragrance to use in summer, leaving the woodier, spicier colognes for the cooler months.

Use the sample cards to get an idea of the scents you like initially, then go back and sneak a spritz or two on your wrists to get an idea of how the scent matures over time.

Never buy a scent without properly analysing the way it develops and changes after a few hours on your skin, and never spray cologne directly onto the card. Spray from a distance and waft the card through the cloud.

Alternatively, check out our selection of the best men’s fragrances ever.

TIP: Never Go For The Cheapest Scent

Keep in mind exactly what it is you’re buying too. Most guys will automatically opt for the cheaper, more common Eau de Toilette in whatever scent they like, but if you’re after something that will last you a good chunk of time, doing this is setting yourself up for failure.

Eau de Toilette is typically a dilution of 5-15% perfume in water, designed to last for a few hours at most. Eau de Parfum is much stronger, hence why it’s generally more expensive, but it will last you longer if you only want to apply it in the morning and have it last you until 5pm.

Properly Applying Cologne

Once you’ve chosen the right smelly, applying it properly is, in its own way a form of chemistry. Cologne is made of molecules that break down over time, meaning you want to set the cologne up to break down over as long a time as possible.

In doing so, the cologne will then evaporate in layers, revealing first its top notes, then its mid-notes, and finally, its base notes.

The better you are at this, the better sillage (the trail of scent left behind you) you’ll get, the more complex and layered your cologne will smell throughout the day, and ultimately, the more you’ll get out of every bottle.

Here’s a non-fuss, step by step guide to perfect cologne application, every time.

1. Ensure your skin is dried properly, preferably straight out of the shower, when your skin’s pores are opened the most. This will allow the skin to trap the most cologne possible, leading to less wastage.
2. Identify your main heat points. While most people go for the simple neck and wrists routine, your shoulders, inner elbows, and armpits are also very warm areas.
3. Spray onto these areas from a distance. Generally a distance of 3-6 inches is recommended. Make sure the bottle has worked as intended and properly dispersed the cologne into the air. If it’s simply squirting the fragrance onto your skin like a cheap water gun, you need to find a new nozzle.

Apply lightly around the body on the heat points we mentioned before. Don’t douse your wrists and neck in fragrance.

If you have a high-quality scent and you’ve applied it right, 1 spray per area will do much better. Also, don’t fall into the trap of spraying onto your clothes, spraying into the air and walking through it, or spraying in one place and rubbing it over the rest of your heat areas.

Cologne needs maximum contact with the skin to be the most effective, and it will be worth the extra sprays.

A Lasting Effect

A cologne’s ability to provide you with long, effective service depends largely on how well you keep it. The key to this is simple diligence and discipline.

While many get sloppy and eventually leave their cologne on the top of their bedside table, doing so will expose the cologne to much more rapid changes in temperature, which in turn causes the fragrance to break down much faster.

Keep your cologne in a cool, dark place where it’s unlikely to be disturbed. Those who have to smell you will thank you in the long run.

The post The Right Way For Men To Apply & Care For Cologne So It Lasts Longer appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

When Apple first unveiled the AirPods, they were met with some scepticism and were often likened to small walrus tusks hanging out of people’s ears. But since their launch in 2016, they have gone on to become one of the must-have tech and fashion accessories – and have secured Apple around US$12 billion in the process. Considering they bear the moniker of the world’s most valuable company, it’s hardly surprising.Hypebeasts have certainly flocked to them like flies, as the all-white buds have been deemed worthy of being the perfect finishing touch to their supreme streetwear style ensembles.  We doubt they’ve been chosen as the accessory of choice due to their immunity to tangled cables, though – if that was the case, there are plenty of other perfectly viable options to choose from, many with superior sound quality, too.But, while we’d agree that they’re great for quickly popping into your ears to listen to music on the morning commute, or to take a phone call, we’d argue the fact that because some people consciously choose to wear them constantly throughout the day, means Apple’s earbuds will never truly reach the upper echelons of cool.There’s definitely an air of wanker that surrounds the 24/7 AirPod wearer. They can’t possibly afford to remove just one of their tusks because an important business call may come through at any moment.Either that or they simply can’t remove themselves from listening to the latest fire Spotify playlists. It’s among the rudest of rude trends weaving their way into society, save from train riders so engrossed in their social media posts that they never notice those who need a seat more than them.Don’t agree with us? There are several Reddit threads devoted to bashing Apple’s wire-free buds, with one simply titled, “People wearing Apple AirPods look f**king stupid”. In it, one user says “Whenever I see someone wearing them I always assume they’re either a die-hard Apple fan that doesn’t realize they’re being milked for pretty okay technology, or I assume it’s a Chinese knock off of them.”Another adds: “Every single person I’ve seen that has AirPods, wears them just about 24/7. I’ve seen employees literally serve me food while wearing AirPods. I’ve seen student wear them in class. I’ve seen people just absolutely disrespect their surroundings because of them.”

The AirPods stay in during sex pic.twitter.com/fgFnmZiZ1P

— ℂ ℂ (@c0nallmccallig) January 10, 2020

While the man above claims otherwise, we don’t believe it: realistically no one knows whether AirPods stay in during sex, because no one has ever gotten lucky whilst wearing them. For a reason.It’s this behaviour that is becoming too commonplace, and is a topic that Buzzfeed News has approached. In doing so, the publication spoke to some of the American public to find out their views on this new technological trend. A barista working at a coffee shop in Philadelphia said: “The idea that they’re always in your ears has really changed the way I’ve interacted.”“It’s kind of a reminder of how people view service workers. I think there’s a good percentage of people who don’t see me as a full person.”One trend I personally don’t understand, is groups of friends walking down the street together, all with pairs of AirPods in, but still talking to each other. I can never quite fathom if they’re listening to music whilst talking – and if they are, it’s a detriment to the quality of Apple’s buds, being able to let in an abundance of external sounds – of if they’re just inserted as a fashion statement.My faith in Generation Z was further put to the test when I recently found myself standing next to a teenager in the crowd at a concert in Sydney, only to notice he had AirPods in and was selecting music on his phone to listen to. At a live music gig. He noticed my perplexed expression and sarcastically said, “What?”. I had to move away.I would never dream of wearing any sort of headphones if I’m in the company of friends. Or at least, I’d take one earbud out so I can still be aware of my surroundings or if they spark up a conversation.I’m obviously not here to say you shouldn’t buy a pair of AirPods – although I personally prefer Bose’s own wire-free version – but if you do, take some time to learn some etiquette before your first listen. Manners go a long way.

Read Next

• The Awkward Truth About 2019’s Coolest Gadget
• Essential Wireless Bluetooth Buds To Amplify The Good Vibes In Your Life

The post Wearing Airpods Too Much Could Be Bad For You appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Whether it’s your CrossFit mates telling you to join their Dry January cult community or your gym bros telling you there’s no point training the day after sinking a few beers, we’ve all heard the refrain “working out after drinking just breaks down muscle.”But how true is this piece of wisdom?Not as true as the substantially less crowded gyms on a Sunday morning would have you believe, numerous studies seem to suggest. However, there is some truth to it, which only makes matters more complicated.Fortunately, to help us understand what’s what, we have fitness coach Peter O’Reilly on hand to explain. Taking to Instagram late last year, the Instagram gains advisor said: “Ever wondered what the effects of drinking alcohol on muscle building is? Well here’s what the research shows.”

 

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A post shared by Peter O Reilly FRCms P.T. (@p.t.pete) on Sep 21, 2019 at 11:39pm PDT

Study One

“They [the scientists] looked at the effects of post exercise alcohol consumption,” Peter begins. “They trained eccentrically because they found that to induce the most muscle damage and muscle soreness. 30 min post exercise they drank 1g of per kg of bodyweight of Smirnoff Vodka (which is about 5-6 shots for an average guy).”The result? “They found that muscle injury was magnified which therefore delayed the recovery process which could impact your performance,” Peter says.

Study Two

“In a test on mice to see how alcohol affects protein synthesis. The mice were given 3g/kg of alcohol. They injected with alcohol before their muscles were electrical stimulated. They found that alcohol consumption had a long lasting effect on protein synthesis and mTOR.”

“This implied that if you have a heavy night of drinking the night before training could limit protein synthesis which would therefore lead to limited muscular adaptations.”

Study Three

“In this study they looked at moderate alcohol consumption and hypertrophy in mice,” Peter says. “They found that although their are decrements in muscle with the use of alcohol, they were still able to make muscle size increase and had an increase of protein synthesis. This was obviously not as high as the protein synthesis that the control group provided, but very similar.”Peter then left four important takeaways from these findings, which suggest that – although binging is never a good idea – we don’t need to rapidly remove moderate alcohol intake from our midweek diet.

Take-Aways

• There is a lot of evidence supporting that alcohol consumption affects protein synthesis and mTOR signalling.
• Drinking too much alcohol the night before training will not allow you make the most out of your training session.
• Moderately drinking after a workout won’t affect your gains too much.
• Drinking after a workout will hurt your recovery and increase soreness.

So basically: drink one or two beers the night before a workout (if you must), but no more.

Read Next

• Scientists Confirm Why You Shouldn’t Drink Beer After A Workout 
• Gains Coach Reveals Exactly How Often You Should Train To Failure 

The post How Alcohol Can Effect Gym Gains appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Lusted after. Naughty. Hedonistic. Awkward? Your debut first-class flight is something you will never forget. However, considering all the etiquette rules (and your desire to make the most of it), flying first-class can be as stressful as it is exciting.Fortunately for The Seriously Frivolous, (international) first class, in this day and age, across pretty much every airline, promises all the luxury you can imagine, with world-beating services competing to help make losing your first-class virginity – and all the first-class flights that follow – mind-altering and hitch-free experiences.But at (up to) 20 grand a pop, and with so many airlines now offering their own versions of first-class, you want to be certain that you are ready for your first class experience, to eliminate any worries that your mirth-eyed chauffeur or in-air butler are laughing at your barbaric business-class habits behind your back.While the various video walk-throughs of different airlines’ first-class offerings provide sneak peeks, you’re hardly trying the whole thing for size, and – though it may be pleasing on the eyes – neither are you learning about the first-class etiquette rules that many business-class travellers are unaware of.

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A post shared by @sandi.kts on Jan 9, 2020 at 11:40am PST

Enter: this guide. Researched from positions supine as well as hunched (insert keyboard emoji here), here are all the etiquette rules you need to know before being bumped up to first-class.So: avoid the Old Money sneers and have yourself a damn good time aboard whatever creme-de-la-sky takes your fancy, all with this guide.

Don’t brag about how good it is

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If your airline doesn’t serve Hibiki 21 , can it really be called “first class”? . . For the finest of everything in the sky, fly @allnipponairways_official , Inspiration of JAPAN

A post shared by ᴊᴇᴡᴊᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ (@justinrosslee) on Dec 20, 2019 at 4:38am PST

It may be a business class rite of passage to take the ‘obligatory’ champagne selfie or to broadcast your boarding pass to all your followers, but when you fly first-class you are expected to be a bit more subtle.Channel your inner baseball cap wearing A-lister, not your inner flashy B-list influencer.This point is doubly important in the airport, where not only will other first-class passengers judge you, but literally everyone in earshot.Oh and if you are going to brag, at least make it a humblebrag.

Don’t order everything on the menu

This one’s more for you than for your compatriots (given the private nature of most first-class suites, no one will judge your food consumption except the flight attendants), but if you do feel the need to go over the top in your indulgence, then expect to feel the consequences when you land.As Adrian Wooldridge, political editor of The Economist once wrote, “upgrades are… an invitation to dangerous self-indulgence.”As he once admitted in 1843 (The Economists’ sister magazine), Cathay Pacific first-class once tempted him into “the full six-course menu, which started with caviar and vodka and culminated via various Far Eastern detours with stilton and other cheese.”

“My fellow travellers arrived in South Africa fresh as daisies for their meetings. I arrived drunk, dishevelled and desperate to nap.”

Remember: you have paid to be pampered, not to be a jerk

Though most don’t need to be reminded of this, there’s always one person who seems to think that flying first-class is like indulging in a session of BDSM.However, even though you may have dropped a small fortune on your ticket, that does not entitle you to bully the staff as unfortunately there’s no code word (and no escape) from your antics at 40,000ft.RELATED: The Most Embarrassing Habit Of First Class Flyers, Revealed By An Industry Insider 

Don’t commit annoying, small key crimes

Don’t: spend the entire flight ripping pages out of a newspaper. Don’t break wind (silently or otherwise). And please don’t take your make up bag to the bathroom and stay there an entire hour.

Don’t stress over inconveniences

Rich people have kids too… and rich kids cry too. While you might be tempted to write an internet diatribe arguing for them to be banned from premium classes, until that day you just have to accept that rules are rules, and that you will expose your lack of first-class experience by complaining about it.

Don’t indulge in illicit substances (or get too drunk) before the flight

Besides being potentially dangerous (not to mention illegal) it’s also annoying. Even if you think you can control yourself, even leaving a tiny likelihood that you will disrupt other people’s flight is really not cool.

Keep your shirt on at all times

Hold your horses: you’re not in that infinity pool yet.

Change into your pyjamas in the bathroom

While it might be (mostly) acceptable to engage in a spot of mid aisle yoga to get your pyjamas on in business class, once you get to first-class you may as well make use of the more spacious bathrooms and change in privacy.

Don’t steal the whisky

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A post shared by The Points Guy (@thepointsguy) on Dec 19, 2019 at 2:57pm PST

Again, this should really go without saying, but as last year’s spate of first-class thefts revealed, it still needs to be said.Not convinced? See The New Zealand Herald’s article: ‘Emirates Hides Expensive Bar Items To Stop First Class Passengers From Stealing Them.’

Don’t punch anyone

Again, you wouldn’t expect this to be a common occurrence, but in July 2017, as Traveller reported, a crazed First Class passenger had to be subdued after he tried to open the emergency exit hatch, punching a flight attendant in the process.

Don’t get nutty

This came after 2015’s ‘nutgate,’ an incident which involved a female First Class passenger becoming enraged after she was served Macadamia nuts in a packet rather than on a plate, assaulting crew members and demanding that the plane be re-routed to get rid of the ‘offending’ flight attendant.

Don’t pay flight attendants for sex

Again, quite an uncommon occurrence, but as The New York Post reported in 2017, it can happen. Speaking to an ex first-class flight attendant, The New York Post suggested First Class passengers had been paying flight attendants for sex, with one crew member (allegedly) making a lot of money as a highly sought after “dominatrix”.

Don’t take photos incessantly

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A post shared by Jayme Drummond (@carioca_nomundo) on Jan 9, 2020 at 4:17pm PST

A couple is ok, but turning your suite into a recording/photography studio or live blogging is just annoying for everyone.

Read Next

• Why Flying First Class Is Actually More Stressful Than Flying Business Class
• Airline Responds To ‘Naughty’ First Class Behaviour In Cruellest Way Possible 

The post First Class Etiquette Rules Business Class Passengers Have No Idea About appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

No, we’re not talking about comic book fans dressing up as their favourite characters, but instead something that we’re all potentially guilty of in our dating lives.

You’re in a relationship with someone, committed or casual, but things come to an end. So far, so normal. But you hold on to your ex’s number, either because you never know if you’ll need it again, deleting it will “make everything more real”, or you simply forget. Then a time comes where you feel your ex’s input would be worthwhile, such as donating to a charitable cause.

The two of you have no need to stay in contact, but you message them anyway. Enter, ’cause-playing’, a trend you will likely come to loathe in the year ahead, either because there’s now a term to describe your regular behaviour, or because you will be the constant victim of your ex’s pleas.

The Sydney Morning Herald describes it as, “When a casual relationship fizzles out, only to have one person later circle back to ask a favour: Will you come to his band’s show or contribute to her Kickstarter?” – a phenomenon which they also say “sixty-one per cent of singles” have experienced.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6gU4FcJ2en/

It’s similar to ‘paperclipping’, whereby you or your recent fling will message you out the blue one day with a friendly message, leaving you baffled as to the motive behind it.

While it may always be a divisive topic, “should two people who once had an intimate relationship remain friends?”, the idea that you or your ex will one day pop up with a message, assuming everything to be fine, can be seen as odd.

We spoke to dating and relationship coach Renee Slansky, to get a professional opinion on what causes cause-playing and the effect it can have on the person receiving the messages.

She starts by saying “dating trends are just finding a catchy name for age-old behaviour that identifies underlying issues.”

“What cause-playing really is, is trying to have the benefit of a relationship without the commitment and investment attached.”

“People often feel that they have certain rights after being intimate or having a relationship with someone, and so will try and stretch the friendship so to speak.”

“People will usually feel obligated to oblige that need because of the attachment created during intimacy or the history between them.”

“We are a society that wants ton have the cake and eat it too, but not get fat at the same time. We want black and white but keep feeding the grey.”

Whether or not you ever decide to engage in a bit of cause-playing with past sheet shufflers will likely come down to individual circumstances. What was your relationship with that person like? How did it end? If you broke up with them on bad terms, then we’d strongly suggest you street clear of any communication.

However, in terms of nuance, couples counsellor Heidi Gee agrees with Renee, telling us that if your relationship ended amicably, then “cause playing” might actually be ok.

“It depends how things ended.”

So as long as there’s no ulterior motive, such as to get one more night with them under the covers, then sending a harmless message may not be the worst thing ever – their plea for you to come watch their band may literally just be an innocent favour that you can accept or deny at your convenience.

Read Next

• Women Reveal The Surprising Qualities That Make Them Lose Interest In A Guy
• Why Rebound Sex Could Actually Be A Smart Post Break-Up Choice

The post Cause Playing: The Dating Trend To Avoid appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Never one to shy away from making controversial style statements, Kanye West has once again divided opinion with his footwear choices. But given how disastrous some of his previous shoes have been – think worse-than-usual-Crocs and wellington boots – his latest is actually more sedate.Spotted taking a stroll in California on January the 12th 2020, the rapper turned gospel choir leader was seen wearing a pair of Birkenstocks. The German sandal maker is seeing a surge in sales lately, with fashionistas – both men and women – opting for comfort over looks.https://www.instagram.com/p/B7MaDTkAf8r/But while the open-toe version may be the most recognisable, Kanye has instead slipped his feet into a pair of the company’s clogs, and you can pick up your very own pair for A$188. And although we’re big fans of the taupe colour, we can spy a glimpse of sock, and we all know socks and sandals should never be seen in public.Instagram is certainly divided too, with one user saying, “no Birks ever but I like the top”, while another counteracts with “Yes for the Birkenstocksss [sic]”However, he rescues his fashion faux-pas with an ever so stylish all-black ensemble, comprising a Haider Ackermann double-breasted jacket married with black jeans. We haven’t been able to track down the exact jacket the Stronger singer is wearing, but considering the company’s other jackets start at around A$1,600, we’d make a logical guess that Kanye’s is of a similar ilk.https://www.instagram.com/p/B5OlvDsAHpk/?utm_source=ig_embedWhat we love most about Kanye’s style this week, is how easily replicable it is. It’s a lot more reserved than some of his previous outings and is a far cry from his fisherman flex from a couple of months ago. All you’d need to do is find yourself a similarly all-black outfit, and team it with a pair of minimalist sneakers. White would be a more versatile colour, but it’s always good to shake things up a little, so if you can find a taupe pair – choose Birkenstocks at your own discretion – the heads you turn will be worth it.A Kanye West outfit we want to copy, who would have thought it.

Read Next

• How To Get Kanye West’s Style; The Master Of Zero Cares Fashion
• The Coolest Summer Sandals That Even Jesus Would Worship

The post Kanye West’s Shoe Choice Once Again Stuns The Masses appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Anyone who goes to the gym knows that protein is essential to help build muscle. And with the fitness industry booming, all manner of companies are jumping on the protein bandwagon to create products allowing us to get our fix on-the-go. But are snacks, foods and water (yes, really) labelled as having X amount of protein, actually any good for you?Nutrition coach Max Lugavere says they’re not. Or at least, they’re not compared to natural proteins you can get from eating real food. In an Instagram post, Max says that we need to consume at least 0.8g of protein per kilogram of body weight, although even more is better if we really want to pile on muscle and keep appetites at bay.

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A post shared by Max Lugavere (@maxlugavere) on Dec 31, 2019 at 10:10am PST

While he takes vegetarians and vegans into account, Max admits that the best protein sources are meat and eggs. They contain all the essential amino acids our bodies need and are easy to come by, and they can be eaten whenever. He adds: “Whole food proteins contain no ingredient list. It is the ingredient. It needs no multimillion-dollar marketing campaign with influencers to promote it, or sponsoring, infiltrating magazines and television commercials.”He is, however, in support of protein shakes, so as long as they’re a good quality. Although he has previously said that not everyone needs to invest in them.He goes on to list five ways in which he sees the gimmicky protein sources as being no good for us. He starts by saying natural protein sources contain much higher levels than those that come in labelled packaging and adds the “convenient” bars and snacks will likely contain other ingredients that are no good for us.You will probably have already noticed in your local supermarket, that protein bars, snacks, and drinks are all pretty expensive. Max says natural protein sources will be much easier on your wallet.  A win-win situation. He also tells us the proteins found in the on-the-go variants will most commonly be soy, which can have a negative impact on the hormonal benefits of exercise.Finally, Max says the unnatural protein sources will also contain additional carbs and fats, which will dilute whatever protein is there.Instead of buying into the marketing fad, Max says we can easily get all the protein we need each day in as little as three meals. The natural sources are easy to come by and they have the added benefit of forcing you to learn to cook new and exciting meals.

Read Next

• Nutrition Coach Reveals How Intermittent Fasting Really Affects Your Health
• Fitness Scientist Reveals The Only Supplement With Credible Evidence For Building Muscle

The post Best Protein Sources, According To Nutrition Coach appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’d all like to traverse the globe with champagne in our mouths and ergonomic seating caressing our buttocks – with Emirates, naturally – but the reality is that it only happens once in a blue moon.And at up to 20 grand a pop, you want to be sure that Emirates’ First Class is right for you. Especially now there are so many other airlines offering their own versions of pointy end luxury.You also want to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into, to make the most of the experience should you part with your kidney cash and hit “book.”While Emirates’ video walk-throughs offer sneak peeks, you’re hardly trying the whole thing for size, and – though it may be pleasing on the eyes – you’re not learning about the First Class etiquette rules you need to be aware of before flying upfront, nor are you getting a detailed blow by blow of everything to expect before flying Emirates First Class.Enter: this guide. Researched from positions supine as well as hunched (over a keyboard) as well as by picking the brain of Barry Brown, Emirates’ Divisional Vice President Australasia, here is the closest thing to a “try before you buy” take on Emirates’ First Class that exists (to our knowledge) on the internet.In other words: read this if you want to know exactly what to expect from Emirates’ First Class, avoid the Old Money sneers and have yourself a damn good time aboard Emirates’ creme-de-la-sky.

Before You Fly

Chauffeur-drive services

Don’t get an Uber to the airport, then remember what could have been. Flying First (or Business) with Emirates means they’ll drive you to and from the airport like royalty. All you have to do is book online via Manage Your Booking at least 12 hours before your flight and you’ll enjoy a complimentary, door to door chauffeur service in over 75 cities worldwide. Oh, and – when you arrive at your destination – another one will be idling, ready to take you to your hotel or office (or for that matter, the nearest discotheque).As for how close you need to be to the airport to use this service, in Australia, First and Business Class passengers receive this service for free within an 80-kilometre radius of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane, and for passengers flying in or out of Perth, the service is available within a 45-kilometre radius.

Checking in

When flying Economy (of any airline), checking in can be brutal. When flying Emirates First Class, however, checking in becomes a breeze, with a seamless bag drop experience that sees you whisked through your dedicated premium lanes quicker than you can say, “Where’s my Negroni?”While First Class passengers do have to find their own way to check-in counters, as Barry Brown, Emirates’ Divisional Vice President Australasia recently told D’Marge, Emirates has dedicated transfer desks/facilities for premium customers in Dubai, as well as direct boarding from the A380 First & Business Class lounges and priority boarding at the gates.

Lounges

All of Emirates’ First Class lounges are of the quality we’ve come to expect from Dubai’s flagship airline. That is to say: serene, adult playpens of expensive alcohol and titillating taste. That said, there are a few differences between airports you should be aware of.

Emirates First Lounge Sydney

If you’re flying out of Sydney’s Kingsford Smith airport you will have access to Emirates’ combined Business/First lounge. While Qantas’ International First Class lounge is the place to be (in Sydney), Emirates’ showers, gourmet cuisine, news and live sports services, wifi, Italian marble flooring and gold plated Rolex wall clocks from Geneva are nothing to sneer at. That said, all passengers with an Emirates First Class boarding pass are also automatically granted access into any of Qantas’ International First Class lounge, due to the two airlines’ continued partnership.If you choose to stay in Emirates’ Sydney Airport lounge though, you will still have access to a decent variety of hot and cold food at the buffet, tarmac views, natural light, relaxing vibes, space to work. The only tangible downside is that there is no separate area for First Class flyers (pretend you’re on the Titanic, mingle!) and good-but-(allegedly)-not-great wifi.

Emirates First Lounge Melbourne

Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport offers first-class travellers much the same situation as Sydney: either use the Qantas lounge which – being the country’s flagship airline is always going to be the best – or ‘endure’ the still-amazing-but-by-comparison-slightly-diminished luxuries of Emirates’ own offering.As for the specifics, the Emirates First Lounge Melbourne is located next to the ‘old’ Emirates lounge atop the escalators near Gate 10 on Level 3. It’s also much larger than the previous lounge – with room for up to 241 passengers – and features gun-barrel views across the airstrip.

Emirates First Lounge Perth

Perth’s airport offers first-class travellers much the same situation as Melbourne (when it comes to lounges): either use the Qantas lounge or enjoy Emirates’ own offering.

Emirates First Lounge Brisbane

Forget Sydney and Melbourne; in 2004 Brisbane was the first Australian city to receive an Emirates lounge after its global Dubai hub. Since then it has been expanded to include a dedicated VIP aerobridge for passengers to board directly from the lounge, as well as classy adornments and – barring the day spas of Sydney and Melbourne’s Qantas First Lounges – has everything you could ask of an airport lounge in this Luxurious New World.

Emirates First Lounge Adelaide

Plot twist: there is no such thing as the Emirates First Lounge Adelaide. You can, however, still fly from Adelaide to Dubai with Emirates, it’s just that you will have to use the Qantas lounge, which – thanks to the airport’s design – is used by both domestic and international flyers. This lounge is comparable to Brisbane’s lounge in terms of amenities, but not quite up there with Sydney or Melbourne’s.Due to Emirates and Qantas’ ongoing partnership, all Emirates First and Business Class passengers can access the Qantas lounge in Adelaide as one of their partner lounges around the world.Emirates passengers have full access to all the same amenities afforded other guests, including complimentary food and beverages, free Wi-Fi, showers and dedicated workspaces for any passengers who are working whilst on the move.

Emirates First Lounge Dubai International

Onboard Emirates First Class

Whether its RyanAir and its chiropractic torment, Qantas and its staff or Qatar Airways and its private QSuites, every airline has its specialty. But when it comes to first-class Emirates only has one rival – Etihad. We’re not here to talk about Etihad’s The Residence though, so let’s give you the up-high on Emirates’ creme de la sky.

First Class on the Emirates A380

Voted Tripadvisor’s World Best First Class Of 2019, First Class on the Emirates A380 is not just the best of the best; it’s the closest thing you’ll get to flying in your own private jet. This includes an enclosed private suite (retreat-like feels for the win), a private cinema, ambient lighting, a full-on bed, gourmet meals, a shower-spa (to be shared at the front of the cabin), a private collection amenity kit from Bvlgari, Bowers & Wilkins E1 headphones and a premium onboard lounge.

Best Seats On The A380

There are fourteen seats in First Class on Emirates’ A380 jets, in a 1-2-1 layout (equal aisle access for all!) with the best ones being seats 2A and 3A, as well as 2K and 3K. Why? Although every seat is awesome, these are the ones which will keep you away from any untoward smells in the toilets (in the unlikely event that occurs) and away from the (potential) raucous noise of the Business Class patrons attempting to break David Boone’s record for Martinis drunk at 40,000ft.If you are a socialite you might like seats 4A and 4K, which are closest to the bar (though you will still have to (shock, horror) walk through business class first, and if you have a weak bladder you may elect to sit in seats 1A and 1K, which give you closest proximity to the toilets (which, considering it’s First Class, really shouldn’t be a problem).Seat pitch is as flat as you want it, with a length of 86 inches and a width of 23 inches, andThe seat has several pre-set recline settings as well as variable controls, and also sports multiple massage functions, and everything is controlled via a wireless touch-pad.

First Class on the Emirates 777

Emirates First Class on the Boeing 777-300ER may lack the shower spa and the bar, but the suites are slightly larger than the A380.

Best Seats on the Emirates 777

While the configuration is the same as the A380 there are only eight First Class seats (compared to the 14 on the A380) and the pitch and width is the same on both aircraft. Best seats will depend on whether you like natural views (pick a window seat) or are a tech geek (pick a middle seat, which comes with VR windows).

Extra information on the seats

As Barry Brown, Emirates Divisional Vice President Australasia told us, “The seat [on both the 777 and the A380] can be fully transformed in to a flatbed that our cabin crew will make up with a mattress, duvet and pillow [and] the flat bed measures 79 inches in length affording passengers a comfortable night’s sleep in their eye mask, pyjamas and slippers provided.”Oh, and the doors and blinds can be closed at the touch of a button and – when the other cabin lights are turned off – twinkling star lighting emulates the night sky on the ceiling to add to the experience.

Drinks

Welcome drink: Dom Perignon (or if you are in a jurisdiction where alcohol taxes and duties are high, in order to avoid them, Emirates may serve you the Moet & Chandon NV from Business Class, and then break out the DP after takeoff).The rest of the drinks list is wide and varied including such tongue-ticklers as a selection of wines from Australia, France and New Zealand; cocktails, beers and spirits; dessert wine and port; and non-alcoholic beverages.The premium wine programme offered in First Class includes a partnership with Dom Perignon, as well as Emirates Vintage Collection. This collection was launched in 2018 and contains a selection of fine wines that have been stored in our cellars for up to 15 years, allowing them to reach optimum maturity for passengers.

Food

Welcome nibbles come in the form of Arabic coffee and dates, then the dine on-demand service begins, including everything from a choice of canapes and appetisers to mains, desserts, cheese and light bites. This dine on-demand service provides passengers with a personalised and tailored experience that meets their needs and suits their body clocks, and Emirates works with some of the world’s best chefs and suppliers to create the highest quality menus, inspired by the flight destination.

Entertainment

With all the creature comforts at your disposal in first class, you don’t need an entertainment system as much as you do in Economy to zone out and pretend you’re not there. However, if you do want to indulge in a few flicks, then you will be able to watch a vast range of movies and TV shows from Emirates’ ICE entertainment system – voted the Best Inflight Entertainment System 15 times at the Skytrax Awards.This is also helped by, as we mentioned earlier, Emirates’ provision of Bowers and Wilkins noise-canceling headphones to every First Class passenger. These bad boys block ambient noise and let you drift off into your own world should you desire.As for stats: Emirates’ First Class entertainment system gives you up to 4,300 hours of programming (and 4,500 channels, including films, box sets and live sport).

Wifi

Naturally, there is wifi. Just make sure you’re a Skywards member to get it free, or you’ll have to pay 30 dollars.

Amenities

Pijamas, slippers and Bulgari amenities bag including a shaving kit, tissues, toothbrush, toothpaste and lip balm.

Spa

Another standout feature for First Class passengers is the First Class Shower Spa, the first of its kind to exist at 40,000 feet. As Emirates Divisional Vice President Australiasia Barry Brown told us, “It contains two-fully equipped bathrooms in First Class cabins, which boast heated flooring, full-length mirrors and a range of luxurious amenities from Bvlgari.”

Onboard Lounge (A380 Only)

The A380 features an onboard lounge where passengers can relax during their flight and choose from a selection of premium beverages and canapes, served by a dedicated bartender. Passengers can indulge in bite size snacks to keep them well fed between meal times, whilst sipping on champagne or choosing from our cocktail menu, all whilst live sport plays on the television screens around the lounge.

On Arrival

First to exit

Naturally, First Class Passengers will be the first to exit the plane.

Fast-tracked immigration

Don’t mind if I do.

Price

Sydney to London (return)

In July (a notoriously popular time of year to travel to Europe), prices are currently set at AU$15,719 for a return trip from Sydney to London. However, unlike Economy, when we searched for first-class return flights, also from Sydney to London, in September and November, typically less busy times of year for that route, the price remained the same: A$15,719.This implies that first-class prices fluctuate less than economy (for which, in this author’s experience, July and Christmas time are significantly more expensive than other times of year), however, we would imagine there is far more scope to upgrade to first during the quieter times of year, even if outright prices remain the same.When we asked Emirates what the story was regarding deals, Barry Brown, Emirates divisional vice president Australasia said, “Emirates consistently has special offers across a range of flights, destinations and products and strives to always add value for passengers.”

“Our featured fares lists on our website lists all of our current flight deals and regularly updates with new offers on routes all over the world.”

Melbourne to London (return)

At the time of writing, priced (more or less) the same as Sydney to London (A$15,703).

Perth To London (return)

Slightly less; A$14,143.

Adelaide to London (return)

A$13,022 (at the time of writing). Not bad at all.

Brisbane to London (return)

Even cheaper; A$12,689, at the time of writing.

Canberra to London (return)

A bit more punchy; in fact so punchy (A$16,066) we’d argue it would be worth getting an Economy flight to Adelaide or Brisbane and then flying First Class from there.

Read Next

• Hidden Benefits Of Flying First Class That Business Class Travellers Have No Idea About 
• Why Flying First Class Is Actually More Stressful Than Flying Business Class

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