You’re out on the town, you’ve hit it off, paid the bill, and just before you head outside she smiles at you and asks if you’d mind holding her handbag for a sec’. Not a big deal, right? Wrong. Little do you know it, but as Rebel Wilson revealed this morning on the Today Show, this is a clutch moment for your date. A test. A trial by portmanteau.

The Australian actress and producer appeared on channel 9’s Today Show this morning to discuss her upcoming movie roles and projects. But not before letting slip one of her favourite dating moves: the handbag test. According to the Bridesmaids star, this is a subtle way for women to discover whether Tinder bae really is as ‘woke’ as they claim in their bio.

“There’s an amazing trick when you’re on a date, you might ask the guy like: can you just hold my bag for a second, or can you just hold my jacket for a second? Then of course, normally they say yes. If they say no then that means… get rid of that dude.”

It also, when she finds a man who is willing to hold the bag, creates a moment of extra connection in the date, she says, claiming: “It makes them feel more wanted”.

Interviewer Richard Wilkins is left wondering why this is necessary: “You’re a Hollywood movie star. I would’ve thought you’d have blokes queuing up.”

“Yeah but it’s really difficult… normally the people that approach you are the really confident cocky ones, the regular dudes don’t normally come up,” before slipping back into her trademark humour: “I just want a guy who’s nice, you know, maybe talented or, yeah, not got a criminal record… something like that.”

While this move has clearly helped Rebel: “I’ve been using my tricks and it’s been working. It’s been totally working in LA,” on Twitter, opinion is divided.

Ladies please stop making your men hold your handbags,it’s yours! It makes him look stupid too!

— TheB (@BerniceB_M) 18 May 2014

‘Understand that making a man hold your handbag makes him feel degraded. No, it doesn’t help if it’s your favourite Chanel.’

— Pri (@PriMenoe) 19 January 2012

Despite this, some saw it as a positive sign.

A man who is strong and kind,
Ambitious and content,
A man that is confident and humble.
A man that doesn’t think holding a woman’s handbag will make his dick fall off.

— GigaChic (@gigachic) 2 December 2018

all my life I ‘awww’d couples who’s men held their ladies handbags and I’ve never felt so good when a group of ladies ‘awww’d my man for holding my handbag #blessed #CapeTown #Care

— Nikita Swan (@kitaa_swaan) 10 December 2018

And others took a different tack altogether.

Look, not holding a handbag is not toxic prima facie. A man has a choice to or not. Your unpacking of that choice should be done only as a function of your relationship to said man. You’re assuming a lot inferring that a no = toxicity.

— T. Rankïn’ ∆ (@AfroVII) 12 July 2018

RELATED: How To Tell If She’s Flirting With You Or Just Being Nice 

The post The Handbag Test – What Men Need To Know appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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 specific occas...

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When you craft a witty one liner, cultivate a flirty convo, and then ask the girl of your dreams out—only to receive radio silence—your morale tends to drop. Or worse: she replies, “I’ll let you know,” or “maybe next time!”. In these cases it’s pretty clear cut—you’re screwed. Other times, however, they come back with something non comital, but not outright rejection, “That’s such a shame! I have plans that night”.If this is the case, she could be trying to let you down gently. Or she could be playing hard to get. Maybe she really does have plans, and is still interested. But how do you tell? Are there clues? While the following image hits the nail (and the funny-bone) on the head, it’s hardly an all inclusive guide. So what’s a guy to do?

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A post shared by The Tasteless Gentlemen Show (@thetastelessgentlemen) on Nov 15, 2018 at 7:26am PST

You could spend hours going through obscure internet forums, trying to seek advice from dudes who’ve never been on a date in their life, and sleazy dating coaches who’ve been on one too many. Or, and we’re highly recommending this plan, you turn to the other side. What do we mean by this?Bring in the big guns. Consult an expert. Check out what the ladies are saying.We strolled over to the foremost women’s websites, to see what they had to say. This is the pick of the bunch: the sure fire signs Tinder bae is not into you. Plus: how she would respond to the same questions if the ~chemistry~ was real.

One Word Answers

You: Hey, what are you up to tonight?Her: Nothing.*A week passes*You: Hey, how’s it going?Her: Good.Just in case you were wondering, even if her response includes the word, “Good”, it’s not a good sign. Or, in the words of Elite Daily, “If she’s not talking to you, she’s talking to someone else. Consider this a ‘stop’ sign, and do not proceed.”Just as an example, here’s how she might respond if she was feeling butterflies.You: Hey, what are you up to tonight?Her: Heyy, not much. Why do you ask? :p

She’s Realllly Busy

We all get busy. Especially the single among us, who have to juggle work, friends, pizza, working out and keeping our indoor plants alive before we can even consider stepping out the door for a date. So if she’s too busy to meet up, it’s tempting to write it off as a schedule clash and maintain hope.However, as Narcity points out, we all make time for things we are interested in, so if she says, “I don’t have time,” it means she doesn’t have time for YOU specifically. You didn’t impress enough in your initial interaction; cut your losses and move on.

She Says Her Friends Aren’t Sure About You

Context, context, context. If she says it with a playful: “Are you going to lead me astray?” vibe then it’s a good sign. Then again, if she says something along the lines of, “My friends don’t think it’ll work out,” as the women over at Narcity admit, they often scapegoat their friends when they are uncomfortable rejecting a guy outright. So you have to read the room because, depending on how she says it, this one could mean anything from “keen” to “pity”.

There Is A Long Wait Between Messages

Although it is technically possible she is doing this in an effort to play hard to get, both Thought Catalogue and Elite Daily both agree it’s more likely she’s just not that into you. If she’s really into you, but doesn’t want to come on strong, she might delay one or two messages, but if you’re consistently being “left on read”, you’re out of luck.

She Won’t Give You Her Number, But Says You Can Follow Her On Instagram

If you started the convo on Instagram it’s a different ball game: but if you met on a dating app (or in real life) and she’s not keen on giving you her number—instead suggesting you follow her on Instagram—she’s possibly testing to see if you have an ounce of self respect and definitely not interested.

She’s Indecisive

Put it this way: if Margot Robbie asked you to join her for Friday night cocktails, would you say, “Hey, umm, thanks for the offer but I’m not sure what I’m doing yet.” Hard to get or not, if she’s really into you, she’ll come around without you badgering her for an answer.As for when you meet in person, allow her facial expressions, desire to get close (or not), eye contact and words to be your guide. Or refer to the following roadmap around the friend zone…RELATED: How To Tell If She’s Flirting With You Or Just Being Nice 

The post Is She Not Interested Or Just Playing Hard To Get? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Injury time can be depressing for any pro athlete, especially if they’re relegated to the bench whilst their team battles on. Not LeBron James. The NBA’s four-time MVP was spotted at the Staples Centre in L.A overnight during the game between his Los Angeles Lakers team and the Philadelphia 76ers.In a packed stadium full of celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Rami Malek, Diplo and Ashton Kutcher, it would appear that the best dressed man of the house was in fact LeBron himself. Rocking a full three-piece Thom Browne suit in grey in its signature dishevelled look, a livid James did his best to show his team some support from the sideline.In doing so, he also gave fans and fashion-philes a glimpse of how to dress during injury time. Alongside the aforementioned Thom Browne suit was the latest Off-White x Converse sneakers and an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore.It’s important to note that the timepiece on LeBron’s wrist isn’t the same one he had released back in 2013 which came with an 18k pink gold case along with a US$51,500 price tag. The model he’s wearing features a black dial on a stainless steel case – slightly different to the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph LeBron James edition which was released as a 600-piece run. Price-wise it should be in the same region with some Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs of similar design going for over $40,000.Nonetheless we think LeBron chose the right piece for this popular look. Hit the gallery to see how LeBron paired sneakers with a suit or follow our guide to pulling it off.

The post The Watch LeBron James Wears When He’s Benched appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Ever since the 1950’s, scientists have been trying to come up with a contraceptive for men. But there have been two barriers to success. Firstly: given that men are constantly seeking (and being told to) boost their testosterone to look good, feel good and ‘perform’ both in life and in the bedroom, a sperm-count reducing, testosterone inhibiting product is always going to be a hard sell.

Secondly, while the female pill also has hormonal side effects, due to there only being one egg each month to render infertile (as opposed to men’s constant production of sperm), it has proven simpler to produce an effective contraceptive that doesn’t produce major side effects. And while the female pill involved a painful (and ongoing) course of trial and error to perfect, male contraception has lagged behind, because it is a more difficult task, has received less funding, and receives fewer willing test participants.

While no birth control is perfect (long-term use of female birth control pills could increase one’s risk of blood clots or breast cancer), as NPR science correspondent Rob Stein points out, “With women, you can take advantage of their normal monthly cycle with the birth control pill. There’s nothing equivalent to that in men.” That said, he admits there there is a self interest dynamic at play as well.

“There’s a little bit of a different risk-benefit analysis when it comes to men using a contraceptive. When women use a contraceptive, they’re balancing the risks of the drug against the risks of getting pregnant. And pregnancy itself carries risks. But these are healthy men — they’re not going to suffer any (physical) risks if they get somebody else pregnant.”

During the clinical trials that have been conducted, male birth control has led to Acne, permanent reductions in sperm count, a lower sex drive, depression and in one case, suicide. Or, as one frustrated gent puts it, “All the utility of a condom combined with the benefits of old age.”

These problems are yet to be solved, because most drugs that keep a man’s sperm count low enough to render him infertile also block his testosterone—which is crucial to his physical and mental health. While various attempts have been made to include a testosterone booster in the male contraceptive pill, this is far from a perfect solution.

Enter: The National Research Centre For Bioengineering Drugs & Their Technologies. In a recent study, published yesterday in the journal ACS Nano, they explain how they developed a heat sensitive formula that can be injected into the vas deferens—the duct that conveys sperm from the testicle to the urethra—effectively blocking the sperm from getting out at all. The sperm then, as they do in men who have had a vasectomy, die and are re-absorbed by the body.

A New, Reversible Male Birth Control Lasts Months and Looks Like a Cocktail – Inverse. (Of course there would be GOLD involved since it’s a MALE contraceptive https://t.co/YMXvAgm2bQ

— Kellie Nicholson (@Kellie_Nich) 31 January 2019

The scientists have called this a “medium term” contraceptive, because—assuming nothing goes wrong—it is 100% reversible, as when a man decides he wants to have kids, all the doctor need do is apply heat to the region, via an infrared-type lamp, to “unblock the pipeline.” Thus far, this form of contraception has only been tested on rats—and researchers say that more research is needed to verify the safety of the materials before it could be considered on humans.

In terms of detail: the pilot study interspersed layers of sperm blocking hydrogel and EDTA acid (a chemical that breaks down the hydrogel and also kills sperm) with layers of gold nanoparticles (which heat up when irradiated with near-infrared light), successfully preventing the male rats from impregnating females for more than 2 months, until researchers shone a near-infrared lamp on the rats, mixing then dissolving the layers, allowing the animals to produce offspring.

Science Daily echoed the researcher’s sentiments, calling the experiment promising, but admitting there is still a long way to go before men have access to a safe and reliable method of “medium term” contraception. Or, in the word’s of one frustrated Reddit reader: “I feel like I’ve been reading a different variation on this same story, my whole life.” So cross your fingers, but don’t hold your breath…

The post Male Contraceptive That Doesn’t Reduce Testosterone appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Listen up, civilian. Military style has proven it's more than just a fleeting trend and moved on to become a classic look for men.

Rising to prominence during WWII, the aesthetic - made up of structured coats, muted hues and masculine combat prints - is a fusion of functional uniformity, but reim...

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With the #Metoo movement in full swing (and to be fair, even before that), boy’s clubs around the world—even the ones that exist in the name of charity—have been named and shamed. In the current climate, even if nothing illegal goes on, opening an establishment that only caters to one gender is not a good look.

Historically, men have been the primary offenders. However, a recent police raid upon a Shanghai “girls club” shows both genders are susceptible to the temptations of wealth. In this case, Perfect Space, a publicly registered establishment of “karaoke and dining,” was outed as an extravagant all-female clientele club, which hired dozens of male escorts.

As the South China Morning Post reports, the club’s topless (all-male) employees earned 92% more per month than the average Chinese middle income earner, and were showered with lavish gifts and tips. Despite this, according to the now-removed Perfect Space website, the work involved, “no illegal activity (such as prostitution).”

One Nanjing-based woman backed this up, telling the South China Morning Post, “People go to these clubs for an emotional need… Not something as blatant as sex.” Given the recent rise in rich womens’ sex clubs in Shanghai, this seems unlikely. After all: it’s a hell of a lot of money to pay a cute boy to—platonically—listen to you moan. It also makes you wonder why else the police got involved.

On that note, at least, we have some clarity. After one of Perfect Space’s employees shared a photo on WeChat (the Chinese equivalent of Whatsapp), someone else posted it on Twitter, where it quickly went viral. What was so juicy about this photo, you may ask (especially as the social media app censors anything explicitly sexual)?

As reported by The Epoch Times, “The photo showed a big pile of luxury gifts, along with a brand-new Audi car… gifts from a wealthy female client, in celebration of his 28th birthday.” According to the South China Morning Post, this also included, “A gold cup and 280,000 yuan (US$41,589) in cash.”

Curious citizens then soon found Perfect Space online, discovering that this so-called karaoke bar, located in the Jing’an district (one of Shanghai’s busiest neighbourhoods), was a club which exclusively employed “handsome” men.

 

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A post shared by Skirt Club (@skirtclub) on Mar 19, 2018 at 6:47pm PDT

They also found recruitment ads which, according to The Epoch Times, revealed the daily revenue of each Perfect Space VIP room was around one million yuan ($148,000), while tips to male escorts can reach 10,000 yuan per client. This set off a chain reaction, culminating in the aforementioned male escort, “Being beaten by the husband of the female client who gifted the expensive presents.”

According to a now-deleted video post, the husband was not pleased when he found out that his wife had spent more than $50,000 on a male escort, and hired thugs to break the guy’s leg. Needless to say; these details are yet to be independently verified.

Perfect Space employees reportedly said it’s normal for male escorts to receive luxury gifts, but refused to confirm whether the video was real, saying only that some of the male escorts had been detained by police. The next day the club closed, pending investigation.

As for the final plot twist, according to The Epoch Times, “On Jan. 27, a Weibo account belonging to the user ‘Bai Xiaosheng’ posted a video showing a roomful of men gathered inside the club on June 21, 2018… (alleging) that the club’s parent company, Noah’s Ark Group, actually runs several brothels across China, including the cities of Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Fuzhou.”

So if you’re a woman travelling to Shanghai, you may be too late to visit the Perfect Space. However, as Lauren James points out, there are plenty of alternatives…

The post Shanghai Strip Club Raided By Police After Hosting Lavish Parties appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

TAG Heuer have lived up to their avant-garde reputation by becoming the first Swiss watchmaker to revolutionise the illustrious tourbillon mechanism. The latest Carrera Calibre Heuer 02 Tourbillon which debuted at this year’s SIHH came equipped with a carbon composite hairspring – a vital component of any tourbillon watch which was previously crafted from either Elinvar (iron alloy) or silicon.

Fundamentally the advantages of this new carbon-based component will see a hairspring that isn’t affected by gravity or shock. According to TAG Heuer, this allows time keeping to be much more accurate alongside the superior thermal behaviour of the material. It’s also easier for their watchmakers to assemble when compared to the conventional hairspring materials.

So how did TAG Heuer do it? Via an in-house patented process which sees a the carbon hairspring made from gas that leaves behind a nanoscopic (one million times smaller than a millimetre) hexagonal pattern on the material. The pursuit of innovation doesn’t stop there. TAG Heuer have equipped their latest Carrera with a black titanium case paired with a forged carbon bezel and fluoro green detailing to make for one hell of a statement.

The striking external design of the watch actually draws from the internal mechanics of the piece. A multilayer dial and movement combination features sandblasted and fine-brushed hexagons to make for an intriguing face. flip the watch around and you’ll find the same hexagonal patterns on the oscillating mass which has been treated with black PVD.

The watch has been built to meet the COSC chronometer classification standards and marks an unexpected welcome to the future of tourbillon watches. More importantly, it bridges the gap between traditional watchmaking craftsmanship and today’s state-of-the-art innovations.

Specifications

Reference: CAR5A8K.FT6172
Case: 45mm black PVD titanium with forged carbon bezel
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph
Dial: Openwork/carbon
Power reserve: 65 hours
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black calfskin strap and rubber strap

The post TAG Heuer Tourbillon Revolutionise The Industry appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

When you kick off your steel capped boots, camo trousers and black crew-neck tee after a long hard day of being a Man, the last thing you want to do is crank up Taylor Swift and sip a strawberry daiquiri. Right? Wrong. Or—at least—according to a recent Reddit thread, you may not be alone if you do.

One of the most popular questions this year: “Hey guys, What do you enjoy that supposedly is for women?” was posed yesterday in Reddit’s AskMen community. While there were some stock standard answers (shock, horror: “I occasionally enjoy a Margarita at my local Taco joint”), the online forum also provoked a meaningful discussion about what it means to be a man.

More specifically, the negative impact of the expectation that a man only commit himself to “manly” pursuits, is skewered in hilarious style, while men share their favourite guilty pleasures and ‘feminine’ life hacks—which they really shouldn’t have to hide—and which any aspiring Modern Gent should try.

Looking After Your Skin

One man admits that he realised sugar body scrub is a gender-blind gift from god one night after crashing at a female friend’s place. “I tried this sugar scrub shit once and every time I shower I think about my inferior bar of soap and it’s endless disappointment.” Problem is, he explains, “I don’t know where to get it (and) I don’t want to ask her what it was and admit to using her glorious products.”

“Your skin is the largest organ of your body- it’s an absolutely ridiculous stereotype that taking care of your body is feminine- like wtf??? Everyone should take care of themselves???”

Luckily, not all heroes wear capes. Better yet: some skulk around internet forums, doling out advice: “Okay my dude, here’s the plan: go to wherever you do your shopping and look for body washes that specifically say ‘exfoliating’ or ‘scrub’ then when ya find them pop the caps and give them all a good smell. Find one you like? Perfect. Head home and have the most relaxing shower ever, scrub all the dead skin off (you can also use this on your face 99% of the time) and afterward you will feel so baby-soft and smooth it’s bloody ridiculous.”

“Good for your skin, and gives you that super fresh look that everyone will love, but not quite be able to put a finger on why you look so good lol.”

As it turns out, this hero not only saved the guy who asked the question: “You’re clutch bro,” but had female Reddit members very impressed, with their responses ranging from: “This is the wholesome content I came here for,” to “I love this whole exchange.”

Being The Little Spoon

 

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A post shared by Bros Being Basic (@brosbeingbasic) on Jul 25, 2018 at 5:24pm PDT

“Men like being the little spoon too.”

‘Nuff said.

Sewing

“My wife likes to joke that I’m her personal seamstress.”

Drinking Cocktails

 

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A post shared by Bros Being Basic (@brosbeingbasic) on Aug 27, 2018 at 5:16pm PDT

“I’ve had guys say it’s for women but that’s their loss—I’m not missing $5 strawberry margaritas on margarita Monday,” one open minded dude said. And, funnily enough, one of the only places in America where is is socially “acceptable” for “manly” men to drink Margaritas seems to be Texas, thanks to its abundance of Mexican restaurants: “Edit: the lesson i’ve learned is i’m moving to Texas.”

“If you think about it, most of the shit that’s ‘girly’ has nothing essentially feminine to it. We just associate it with women so it’s ‘girly’. Riding horses? Used to be for men. Pink? Men used to wear it all the time with no qualms. Even more stereotypically girly drinks. Like, oh nooooo, my cocktail is a cool color and has sugar in it. Last I checked, men like color and sugar too.”

Sparkling Water

A common frustration was that if you buy sparkling water, you are automatically assumed to be a courier: “I’ve been asked on multiple occasions if I’m buying it for my wife or girlfriend.”

“Cough. Yes it’s for my wife, I only drink pure diesel.”

Using Bath Bombs

 

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A post shared by Bros Being Basic (@brosbeingbasic) on Jan 2, 2019 at 5:05pm PST

Many men pointed out another reason we should stop sneering at “unmanly” pursuits; so we can indulge in life’s most fragrant pleasures: “I’m a fisherman with a beard and everything and I love taking a bath with bath bombs after a cold, stressful day of almost dying.” And if you think the key to a woman’s heart is in being stoic and smelling of leather, perhaps the following comment will help you reconsider…

“Ahahaha beautiful. One thing I love about the (fishing) industry is most the men are so secure with themselves they don’t care if any of their hobbies or habits seem feminine.”

Drawing & Painting

“In school it was always portrayed as a feminine activity, but I’ll be damned if I don’t sit down at least once a week near a creek or river with a fishing pole, some beer, a pad and my pencils, and just draw to clear my head. It’s so relaxing. And it’s cool to look back on later and know how you were feeling when you were drawing.”

“I’ve got like 12 different drawing of the same location and all of them look different, not only because of the time between them, but I can tell by some of my color choices what my mood was.”

Using Female Hair Products

Ten years ago, “I hydrate my hair once a week with a hair mask” would have been a harrowing statement for a man to say. Now though, we’re all about doing what works: “Guys, if you should ever have to colour your hair for whatever reason, do not, Not, repeat NOT use the ‘for Men!’ crap! Use women’s products like Clairol, L’Oreal, or many other brands. So much more selection and quality is vastly higher because women really, really give a shit about how their hair looks.”

“Your hair will thank you!”

Watching Chick Flicks

 

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Bed. Pizza. Dranks. Talk shit. @glyncashmoney @brosbeingbasic

A post shared by Bros Being Basic (@brosbeingbasic) on Apr 27, 2018 at 11:58am PDT

“My roommate and I, both dudes in college absolutely love watching romcoms and getting sloshed on bottles of wine erm whiskey.”

“One of our favourites is Begin Again starring Kiera Knightley and Mark Ruffalo.”

Sleeping On A Pregnancy Pillow

As one user points out: “If you have never slept on a pregnancy pillow, you are missing out.” Intrigued? Don’t worry, he explains exactly how embracing your inner femininity could forever banish your insomnia: “I am talking about the kind that is shaped like a C and is body length. Part goes under your head (side sleeper) and the other side between your legs/knees. Slept like a champ with it until the wife threw it away because I quit being the big spoon once I experienced greatness.”

“I have slept on a Boppy for 7 years since my first was born… the wrap around part helps keep my mouth shut so no drool and no farts.”

Eating Off A Pregnancy Pillow

As another user points out, it’s a crying shame dudes can’t get pregnant: “There are also U-shaped pillows that are supposed to be for nursing mothers to wrap around their stomach and have the baby rest on it while feeding… Turns out they’re also super-comfy for dudes and you can rest your plate on them while watching TV, or a book. I feel like everybody should have one, guys and gals alike.”

If you have doubts, female users also chimed in to back this up: “Bought my fiancé a pregnancy pillow and now he won’t sleep without it. Can rest his head and put it between his legs so comfortably,” one said, while another added: “I’m no longer breastfeeding… and we have three strewn about for gaming.”

 

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Bikinis, brosé, and baecations, betches! @ashhess

A post shared by Bros Being Basic (@brosbeingbasic) on Mar 20, 2017 at 8:06am PDT

So: what’s the conclusion? Should men feel bad about being their best selves? We’ll leave you with the most upvoted female comments, and let you decide for yourself…

• “Woman here. Reading this made me happy. Not sure why.”
• “Woman here too. I’ve concluded because 99% of it is so fricking adorable.”
• “If I had found a man who could do all those things, I would have married him.”

RELATED: A Woman Reveals How An Open Relationship Broke Her Man

The post Feminine Habits Men Secretly Love appeared first on DMARGE Australia.