There’s nothing like a summer holiday, so why not have one all year round?

Warmer climes are only a flight away, so forget about packing layers and fighting peak season crowds. These destinations dish out summer vibes for all twelve months, and you won’t have to shell out a fortune to enjoy them.

Sorry, fantasy fans. Winter isn’t coming this time.

January: Thailand

Thanks to its proximity to the equator, Thailand’s temperatures vary little over the year. January sees the perfect mix of warm days, mild nights, low humidity, and little chance of serious rainfall. Start on the west coast, along the Andaman Sea, which is at its best earlier in the month. Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, and Koh Phi Phi are popular destinations. The islands off the Gulf coast peak later, so head east to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao towards the end of January. Although the balmy weather makes this a prime time to visit Thailand, the country’s affordable prices make it an achievable budget destination all year round.

February: Brazil

What would a holiday in Brazil be without regular visits to its famous beaches? From Copacabana to Ipanema to Jericoacoara, February is an ideal time to take in the sun, surf, and skimpy bikinis this nation is known for. Carnival storms the streets of Rio in the middle of the month, but the first two weeks are a bargain, and there’s plenty to explore for cheap outside of the major cities. Flooding from the rainy season makes February an exciting time to travel to the Amazon and see Iguazu Falls at its most powerful, and the country has no shortage of dreamy stretches of sand to scout. Try Baia do Sancho, Alagoas, Praia de Pipa, and Prainha Beach for starters.

March: Philippines

March is the middle of the dry season in the Philippines, and its temperatures are summery-bordering-on-scorching. Boracay is famous for its beautiful beaches and rousing parties, but recent hype has brought a tsunami of tourists to the tiny island. Your March may be better spent on one of the country’s other 7,000+ islands. Palawan is a stunning choice if you still want island atmosphere, or for land-based adventures, try the rice terraces of Banaue, the caves and trails of Sagada, and tarsier-spotting in Bohol.

April: Colombia

Colombia is blessed with equator-adjacent, consistently pleasant temps at all times, but with rainy season starting in May, April is an ideal time to visit without a poncho. The winter crowds have also largely tailed off by April, leaving hotel prices low and famous sights uncongested. You’ll find particularly pleasant weather along the Caribbean coast. Cartagena is a great budget destination with a colourful historic district surrounded by 13km of centuries-old stone walls. Beyond its colonial charms, Cartagena also offers easy access to nearby beach resorts and the Rosario Islands.

May: Louisiana, USA

New Orleans is more than Mardi Gras. May falls between the city’s raucous Carnival season and its muggy and sticky summer, and boasts several important festivals of its own. For foodies, there’s a crawfish cook-off and the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. For music lovers, there’s the Bayou Boogaloo, the Bayou Country Superfest, and the end of the legendary Jazz Fest. For culture vultures, there’s the Tremé/7th Ward Arts and Culture Festival. And for everyone, there’s some of the finest (and surprisingly affordable) nightlife, food, and drinks to be had anywhere in the country.

June: Jordan

Jordan calls in June. The real heat of summer has yet to hit and rain is nowhere to be seen, but Amman maintains a toasty temperature and the hills can catch cooler breezes. Downtown Amman is packed with mosques, souqs, coffeehouses, and Roman ruins, while elsewhere the city boasts modern malls and art galleries. The capital is also a convenient jumping off point for Jordan’s most famous attractions, the vast desert wilderness of Wadi Rum and the ancient carved city of Petra. For true heat seekers who want to experience summer in the extreme, the Dead Sea and Aqaba have been known to top 45°C.

July: Egypt

You want heat? We’ll show you heat. Egypt’s blisteringly hot summer is only for the brave, but it’s guaranteed to give you the fresh-out-of-the-oven tan you’ve been longing for. The coast along the Red Sea is ruggedly beautiful and offers excellent scuba diving or snorkelling. Popular beaches and resorts include El Gouna, Taba, Marsa Alam, Sahl Hasheesh, and Sharm El Naga. The once-bustling resorts of Sharm El Sheikh are quieter following a decade of political turmoil and a deadly plane crash in 2015, but if you’re not the type to be scared off, skittish tourists have caused prices to plummet in the holiday city.

August: Portugal

The question isn’t if you should visit Portugal in August. The question is where. The Mediterranean country remains one of Europe’s most affordable destinations, even in the capital of Lisbon. You’re looking at endless sunshine everywhere and cool breezes if you’re on the coast, plus all outdoor pools and river beach facilities open for official swimming season. Visit Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês for cinematic scenery, Porto for design and wine, Évora for pristinely preserved history, and the Algarve region for postcard-perfect beaches and golden cliffs.

September: Turkey

September may well be the best month to visit Europe for the sun-seeking budget traveller. Many of the cheaper cities in the south still have warm weather, and the crowds have thinned out from their August peaks. Head down to Antalya in Turkey for a classic Mediterranean climate and beach resorts just outside the city – Konyaalti Beach to the west, Lara Beach to the south. Within Antalya, a visit to the charming old quarter of Kaleiçi is a must. The city is also a good base for day trips to nearby archeological sites and the region’s many first-rate golf courses.

October: India

With monsoon season over and clearer skies overhead, the holiday season kicks off in India in October. A variety of festivals and national holidays fall during this month, including Dussehra, Diwali, Gandhi Jayanti, Ramnagar Ramlila, and the Pushkar Camel Fair and Balloon Festival. Go to Goa if you want to top up your tan and get a side of spirituality. October is the first month in Goa when rain isn’t much of an issue, but the tourist masses don’t arrive until November and December. Deals are easy to come by despite the inviting weather.

November: Mexico

Cancun. Puerto Vallarta. Mexico City. Playa del Carmen. You have your pick of temperate places to go in Mexico come November. The mercury has dropped from its sizzling summer peaks and the dry season has just begun, but the days are still ripe for beaching and inland exploring. The Yucatán Peninsula, which separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, sports tropical conditions and the popular resorts of Cancún and Playa del Carmen. November also hosts some of the Day of the Dead celebrations, the Score Baja 1000 off-road desert race, and the commemoration of the Mexican Revolution.

December: Costa Rica

There are no signs of a white winter to be found in Costa Rica. Early December marks the tail end of the rainy season, meaning lower prices and occupancy at hotels but little real threat of a holiday-ruining downpour. It’s the perfect window in which to experience the rainforests, beaches, trails, waterfalls, white-water rivers, and ziplines before they’re plagued with Christmas and New Years tourists. Costa Rica is a tropical choose-your-own-adventure land where outdoor exploits, adventure travel, and eco-tourism are the order of the day.

The post World's Best Destinations For Chasing An Endless Summer Holiday appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We don’t know who to believe any more. Mere months ago, the scientific community was singing the praises of bromance, saying it makes the world a better place.

Now researchers are reporting that men prefer their bromances to romantic relationships, and to the most dramatic media outlets, that means women should be worried.

According to a small new study published in Men and Masculinities, young men get more emotional satisfaction from male friendships than they do from their girlfriends. Participants confessed to experiencing elevated emotional stability, enhanced emotional disclosure, greater social fulfillment, and better conflict resolution in their bromances compared to their romantic relationships.

The study looked at 30 heterosexual male college sophomores who were either currently in relationships or had been at some point. When interviewed by the research team, each participant reported having at least one bromantic buddy with whom they shared almost all aspects of their life and engaged in “no-boundaries” behaviours – including sharing secrets, expressing love, and for 29 out of the 30 men, even cuddling in bed.

“Tim knows I love listening to Taylor Swift and Beyonce, but I keep that quiet [around my girlfriend] because she would judge me,” said one participant. “I feel like I have to be more manly around her.”

“We are basically like a couple… we get called, like, husband and wife all the time,” said another.

A third referred to his bro as “like a guy girlfriend.”

“The main differences between romances and bromances were the lack of judgment and boundaries in discussion” or expressing emotion, said study co-author Adam White to Live Science. “These men felt they could tell their deepest, darkest and most sensitive secrets to their bromances, as they did not feel like they would be judged, ridiculed or thought of differently.”

With their girlfriends, on the other hand, they felt pressure to maintain a certain standard of traditional manliness, causing them to tighten the reins on their emotions and disclosures.

An optimist could see this pals-before-gals approach as a progressive development in society’s coneception of masculinity and relations between men.

The researchers are not those optimists. They caution that such progress could come with a cost, as too much investment in a bromance may not leave sufficient time and energy for romantic connections.

“Where bromances fulfill many of the romantic elements of traditional heterosexual relationships – emotional disclosure, intimacy, and dependency – the social need for early romantic attachment at least is being challenged by young men’s behaviors and attitudes today,” Stefan Robinson, Ph.D., another study co-author, told Men’s Health.

Men in the study sometimes referred to their girlfriends using sexist or disdainful language, and demonstrated an “us and them” mentality that implied allegiance to their bros over their female partners. Only two of the 30 participants said they would rather discuss personal matters with a girlfriend instead of a close guy friend, and when asked about the differences between bromances and romances, the majority of respondents could think of only one thing: sex.

So bromances may be a liberating, progressive expression of enlightened masculinity and an opportunity for men to practice the intimate communication style necessary for a strong heterosexual relationhip. Or it may reinforce the idea that women are sexual fulfillers for men and little else, and that relationships with them are complicated, difficult, and rarely worth the trouble.

It’s important to note that this study is small and therefore highly limited, but that’s never stopped the internet from sounding off, so let’s hear your take on the debate in the comments.

The post Men Are Happier In Their Bromances Than Romantic Relationships, Study Says appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Let’s get one thing straight first. Flannel isn’t necessarily that checked shirt that dad used to rock on the weekends.

A post shared by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Sep 23, 2017 at 9:08am PDT

The flannel term itself refers to a soft woven fabric which originated from the early 18th century before it was embraced by iconic grunge bands during the 1990s. Their flannel of choice? Plaid patterned flannel. Hence when most mention flannel these days, the first thing that comes to mind is often the most popular form of flannel in the plaid shirt.

But enough of the history lesson. Whilst flannel pretty much conquered the menswear scene during the 90s and early 2000s, it’s been a bit of a forgotten art in the past decade with men opting for more contemporary fabrics and styles over the tried and tested plaid flannel shirt.

A post shared by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Oct 6, 2017 at 11:26am PDT

That hasn’t been the case for men like Gianluca Vacchi. The social media star and old-guy-you-wish-you’d-grow-into has recently been seen championing the red plaid flannel and manages to do a pretty damn fine job of it too.

From hanging with the family to turning it into a skirt (we hope as a joke) to taking it on transit, there’s no where Vacchi goes without his black and red checked flannel shirt. And given this fact, it’s safe to say that the flannel shirt is definitely on the resurgence again.

A post shared by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Oct 4, 2017 at 6:21pm PDT

• Do wear it with chinos
• Do wear it with denim
• Don’t wear it with shorts
• Don’t wear it with suits
• Plaid flannel will never go out of fashion and your significant other will wear it when you don’t
• Go for good quality flannel as they wash and wear better
• Don’t get cheap ones with polyester mixed as they retain heat and don’t feel as nice on the skin

And with that we present to you Gianluca Vacchi’s flannel renaissance. You can get yours here and here.

A post shared by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Oct 8, 2017 at 4:13pm PDT

The post Gianluca Vacchi Is Single-Handedly Reviving This Forgotten Menswear Staple appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A game changer. That’s what pundits in the commercial air space are calling Qantas‘ first acquisition of their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet.

The highly anticipated passenger planes will bring to local travellers unprecedented levels of comfort, refinement and creature comforts than ever before whilst boasting better operating efficiency across the board. More specifically, travellers can expect appointments like next generation seating in Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class all penned by Australian designer, David Caon.

The Dreamliner 787-9 will also boast more space for passengers alongside a lower passenger count when compared to its current competition. Carbon fibre construction used through the plane means larger windows can be afforded to further amplify the sense of space. Even cabin air quality has been attended to in order to minimise jetlag whilst a new ride dampening technology will ensure a smooth flight through common turbulence.

“The Dreamliner makes routes like Perth to London possible, which will be the first direct air link Australia has ever had with Europe. And it means other potential routes are now on the drawing board as well.”

If that’s not enough to make sure that travellers can get to their destination in peace, the Dreamliners can also fly quieter to ensure minimal disruption to in-flight activities. Speaking from the ceremony at the Boeing factory in Seattle, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said that the first Dreamliner signalled the start of an exciting new era for the national carrier and the travelling public.

“Taking delivery of a new type of aircraft is always an important milestone for an airline and the 787 is a game-changer. From the distance it’s able to fly, to the attention to detail we’ve put into the cabin design, it will reshape what people come to expect from international travel.”

“We’re working with sleep specialists at the University of Sydney to see how adjustments to our inflight service can improve wellbeing and help people adjust to new time-zones.”

“The Dreamliner makes routes like Perth to London possible, which will be the first direct air link Australia has ever had with Europe. And it means other potential routes are now on the drawing board as well. There are lots of elements that combine to make the Qantas Dreamliner special. The seats, the lighting, the entertainment, personal storage, right through to the special crockery that weighs 10 per cent less.”

“We’re working with sleep specialists at the University of Sydney to see how adjustments to our inflight service can improve wellbeing and help people adjust to new time-zones,” added Joyce.

Comparing the Qantas Dreamliner to the United Dreamliner will reveal extra priority placed on Business Class by Qantas. Dubbed the ‘Great Southern Land’, the Qantas aircraft will accommodate 236 passengers when compared to United’s 219 passengers. However, there will be 42 seats allocated to the business class cabin in a 1-2-1 layout whilst 166 will be allocated to economy against United’s 183 economy seats.

The post What The New Qantas Dreamliner Will Mean For Australian Travellers appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Think Japan and you usually think hordes of salary men running about their business, impeccable cuisine and a neo-cultural metropolis that effortlessly merges tradition with the future.

With such a diverse array of influences at play, it’s only natural that the land of the rising sun tosses up some of the most eclectic and polarising fashion trends the world has ever seen. Elizabethan trenches? Japan has it. Contemporary layering, unorthodox colours and cuts? Japan has it. Mod-art garments derived from traditional dress codes? Japan has it. You get the picture.

What we’re trying to say is that Japan, for the conservative nation that it is, often showcases some of the most expressive street styles that intrigue, polarise and inspire the world.

“We have found that in Japan there still seems to be an underlying concept where people are able to take almost anything, garment or accessory, and mould it into their own personal aesthetic.”

Melvin Tanaya who is the co-founder of ward-winning fashion label Song for the Mute and an avid follower of Japanese fashion says that there are countless intersecting cultures and influences that run through Japanese street culture.

“We have found that in Japan there still seems to be an underlying concept where people are able to take almost anything, garment or accessory, and mould it into their own personal aesthetic,” says Tanaya.

“There is an authentic playfulness with silhouette, colour and proportion that is still present within personal style there that often seems almost ‘try hard’ in other major cities or cultures. It’s as though in a highly rule-based society, there are no rules that apply when it comes to clothing. That ethos is something we try to bring into what we do at Song for the Mute.”

So forget about trying to figure out if it “works” and simply enjoy the 2018 Amazon Fashion Week in Tokyo for what it is – a true spectacle of one of the world’s most unique streetwear scenes in a constantly evolving fashion mecca.

The post Tokyo's Amazon Fashion Week Street Style Continues To Blow Our Minds appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

What film lover hasn’t dreamed of stepping into the colourful, quirky worlds imagined by Wes Anderson? Here’s your chance to do just that. A devoted fan in Canada has created an Airbnb homage to the director’s iconic style, with each room outfitted to evoke a different Anderson movie.

The aptly named ‘Mr. Anderson’s House’ comes from host Dayna Winter in Prince Edward County, Ontario. She calls the home “a love letter to” Anderson and “an ever-evolving design project,” and says she “always wanted to be a Tenenbaum.”

It’s a polite way of saying “obsessed possibly to the point of madness.”

The two-bedroom house sleeps four and boasts a generous backyard with a large deck and a barbecue. From floor to ceiling, the 100-year-old residence has been updated with modern fixtures and eclectic décor that could have been ripped straight from Anderson’s sets. Each room is inspired by a different film in the auteur’s repertoire.

One bedroom is an ode to Margot of The Royal Tenenbaums, complete with the character’s fur coat. The second bedroom transports guests to the days of young love and summer camp a la Moonrise Kingdom. With a floating rescue ring and nautical artwork, the living room is an ideal hideout for fans of Bill Murray and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. There’s also a Rushmore-themed office and a bathroom based on Fantastic Mr. Fox.

“The idea sprang from not only my desire to live in a Wes Anderson set, but also as a way to stand out in an area that’s saturated with Airbnb options. I’ve always loved themes and dress-up and have done several Wes Anderson characters for Halloween. It seemed like a great fit and a fun challenge,” Winter told Lonely Planet Travel News.

It did indeed prove challenging to emulate major Hollywood movie sets on a limited budget, but relentless trips to thrift stores and antique markets eventually turned a collection of random kitsch into an immaculate home. The glowing guest reviews speak for themselves.

The post Unique Retreats: An Intricate Wes Anderson-Themed Airbnb appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

In a world where the fettling of fine Swiss watches by third parties is usually frowned upon, TAG Heuer have today embraced the exact opposite.

The avant-garde watchmaker has officially partnered with the London-based Bamford Watch Department who are renowned for customising high-end watches.

The surprising move comes off the back of a recent LVMH partnership with Bamford Watch Department which saw Zenith opening its portfolio for modifications to parts like the hands, dials, cases and indices. That little experiment likely proved to be a success and as a result, sister company TAG Heuer have now joined the fold.

The partnership will bring forth a trio of TAG Heuer base models to choose from including the automatic Carrera Calibre 5, the latest 2017 Autavia chronograph and the classic Monaco chronograph.

The customisation program will run similarly to the Zenith agreement with watch owners being able to choose their case and bracelet coatings, the colours of the dial, hands and strap. The endless customisation combinations will ensure that a wearer can personally design one of the most unique Swiss timepieces ever created.

To start modifying a TAG Heuer, simply head over to Bamford Watch Department’s website where you can design and shop the watch of your own liking. If the lengthy options are too daunting, customers can also opt to step into select TAG Heuer or Bamford stores where pre-designed watches are available.

The post TAG Heuer Joins Bamford Watch Department To Launch Customisable Watches appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Thinking of hitting the races without your socks this year? Well you could be hit with more than just bad smelling feet at the day’s end.

The College of Podiatry is reporting a rise in fungal infection amongst young males due to the current popular fashion trend of going sockless. British podiatrist Emma Stephenson says that there’s been an increase in this type infection amongst 18-25 year-old males who are either skipping socks or wearing ill-fitting shoes that promotes excess sweat.

“Too much moisture and warmth can lead to fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.”

“The average feet sweat about half a pint a day,” Stephenson told Newsbeat. “Too much moisture and warmth can lead to fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.”

And if you’re thinking that a little sweat can’t be too bad and is easily remedied with an occasional shoe wash then you’d be wrong. Stephenson says that the consequences can be pretty unpleasant and in the worst case she’s seen, a 19-year-old male who washed cars for a living and had constant sweaty feet was diagnosed with trench foot – a condition which can lead to a decaying smell, swelling, red feet, blisters, open sores and gangrene if left untreated.

This new-aged “mankle” look has been reinforced with celebrities and sports stars alike who are often seen in the spotlight going without socks. Having first been championed by the fashion magazines and catwalk, the “mankle” look can now be seen on influential men like Conor McGregor, Chris Hemsworth and a host of upcoming race goers who’ve just been given the green light to go without socks.

As the nature of fashion goes, stopping men from following trends might be near impossible but Stephenson says there is a safe way to pull it off – everything in moderation. That means minimising the amount of time you wear shoes without socks, spraying anti-perspirant onto your feet’s soles and keeping an eye for any pain, discomfort or emanating smells.

[via BBC]

The post Going Sockless Has Brought Upon A Gross Health Hazard appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Dressing down is often perceived as a dirty word that’s associated with tardiness and the apt acronym of ‘IDGAF’ in the male wardrobe vernacular. In Chris Hemsworth‘s case it’s a sweeping style statement masterfully pulled off with a single tone, a watch, masculine jewellery and lots of charisma.

The setting was last night’s premiere of Thor: Ragnarok in Sydney which brought out the stars to the local red carpet. In attendance were actors like Mark Ruffalo, the film’s director who scrubbed up pretty good in a purple suit and many more Australian faces.

What we need to talk about here though is Hemsworth’s ability to throw together the effortless look without dropping his wardrobe game. A look through the gallery will reveal a classic black suit that’s been fitted to the notoriously bulky Australian actor who also opted for the simple black crew neck over any form of fancy dress shirt.

The other standout feature is Hemsworth’s slip-on leather shoes. There’s little enough of it to reveal an acceptable level of foot flesh whilst simultaneously satisfying the risky art of wearing shoes without socks.

If you’re game to try this simple casual look for yourself, make sure that the black tones are different (or have different textures) between the shirt and suit otherwise you’ll end up looking like a dapper version of Death.

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