Model of the month: Jeisa Chiminazzo

Yesterday all clocks were wined one hour into the future, and you all know what that means, bikini hunting season has officially begun. Maybe not for us guys but for them ladies who will be flicking through mail order catalogues in search of the perfect beach wear. In Brazil there are sunny days, bananas, peacocks and Jeisa Chiminazzo who is this month’s eye candy.

With a divine body, seductive face and adorable freckles Jeisa looks delicious as water melon during a hot and humid afternoon in the tropical jungles. Although making potatoes and meatballs for the elderly isn’t one of her hobbies, she is Solitaire addict and love playing it until exhaustion. The Brazilian swim suit wonder has her handful with fashion shows, spreads for Sport illustrated and a recent campaign for Karl Lagerfeld. Despite the cute and “barely legal” looks she’s actually a grown woman turning 23 this year.

Cars for the vain.

Regardless of how basic the essence of a car is they can be regarded as accessories. Although a Skoda Octavia can effortlessly transport a family of four people from A to B, some people still chose to buy a fully loaded Mercedes C 200. One can off course argue that the Benz is more comfortable but there are those who will buy a premium car because it makes them feel better and look more “wealthy” in the eyes of the world.

Don’t be fold by the guy parking a Porsche Boxter by the mall, a car never tells the full story about a person’s financial situation because there are many young men who roll around in a spanking new Golf GTI……………………..but live in a constrained room in their mom’s apartment. It’s a status symbol we are willing to sacrifice a lot for and I guess that you fashion conscious men out there care more about the design of a car than the average Joe, right? After all a car is a design item which reflects ones taste the same way as a watch does. Below here is a list of new cars which perfect for the cautious modern man.

Audi TT-S

Audi stunned the world with their revolutionizing TT which instantaneously became a hit. A particular group of people who fell for it were the young and trendy people working in big cities. Those were mainly stylists, female boutique owners, metrosexual men and it didn’t take long until the car was stamped as a “hair dresser mobile”.

Two years ago the second generation TT was born and is less claustrophobic than the, a masculine tone in the form of more shaper lines and a sportier character than its predecessor. In other words the car isn’t as sissy as the SLK and the top of the line version TT-S(pictured) is even more aggressive. What makes it a favorite of mine is its high level of aesthetic appeal. There is nothing to fault in the design and it captures your attention like a holographic image. Exceptionally well designed car and the ultimate choice for someone who is looking for a "cool" car.

Alfa Romeo Mi.To

Cult classics like the Mini, Fiat 500 and VW Beetle are universally loved by everyone and a new generation always equal to sales success. Italian car maker Alfa Romeo wants some cuddly lover as well and has decided to do so by developing a cute car. The chosen name is Mi.To pronounced similar to “Me Too”, very catchy and is a must for car of this caliber.

At the moment information is scares but it’s due to hit the show room floors this year. Size wise it falls between the Mini Cooper and VW Golf and will come with a similar price tag as well. I suspect that the mature, Italian and sexy design will make it appeal to a slightly more mature than the Mini Cooper which can at times look a bit too goofy toy-ish.

Mercedes SL63 AMG

The Mercedes SL has a long life span and each generation tends to be on the market 11-13 years which is twice as long as the average car. This year the car reached it’s middle age and Mercedes’ design time have stunned with a dramatic facelift transforming the “uber dream car” from classy looking roadster to a aggressive jet fighter inspired sports cruisers.

SL63 featuring Mercedes’ new 6.2L torque beast of an engine, is replacing the SL55. Other new technical goodies are the MCT transmission which is a revision of their 7-Speed transmission but have been reworked to use a wet clutch discs instead of a torque converter. What does that mean for the non-technically inclined? Faster gear changes. As a Saturday boulevard shopping cruiser this car is perfect, it’s a convertible, it’s a Mercedes, it’s fast and there’s space for your best friend holding your chiwawa!

BMW X6

If there is a manufacturer who is doing everything right, it must be BMW. Right now they are on a high roll, the automotive journalists love their cars and sales are increasing at an impressive rate.

Mercedes sparked the trend of “four door coupes” with the CLS and many other manufacturers like Porsche and Audi are right behind preparing their additions to the trend. BMW have just limped in with the X6 which is an SUV with a coupe shaped roof. It’s strict four seater car which, with its compromised practicality, aimed at those who are willing to sacrifice style over usability. In other word it will not be an attractive trade-in for people who own an X5 with a 7 seaster configuration.

With the BMW signatures like the bold character line, kidney grills and “angle eyes”-head lights it will not be mistaken for anything else than a BMW. The huge ass, size and cheer width will guarantees attention in traffic.

Bentley Brooklands

Last but not least is one of my biggest obsessions at the moment, the Bentley Brooklands. Words cannot describe how perplexed I am by this car. If the Rolls Royce Phantom is an elephant then the Brooklands is a horse. The long and sleek profile accentuated by the classic contours and body lines along the sides of the car makes it the most exquisite car on the market oozing of Bentley’s commitment to bespoke quality.

The subtleness and reserved design makes it look more expensive than the rather ostentatious Phantom Coupe. Contrary to most two door coupes it has an incredibly generous backseat with enough leg room for anyone in the back to enjoy a long trip in comfort. Practicality does come at the cost of size and weight and this car is heavy as a British steam train with its 2600kg(approx 5200lb). Timeless and elegant this is a classic which will age beautifully.

Dior Homme - Life after death.

Spring is here, the SS08 campaigns are in motion and SS08 collections have been up for grabs since February. It’s widely known that Kris Van Assche is the captain of the boat at DH following the dismissal of Hedi Slimane. Van Assche’s design direction is radically different from Hedi’s which made me anticipate a reshuffle this spring at all DH stores ranging from décor to the merchandise. But visits to all London’s Dior retailers proved my anticipation to be pure fiction, everything is like as if Hedi has not left the building.

Realistically a reshuffle happens over a few years since a new designer needs time to reinvent the brand. As a DH fan I had a chitty chat with a DH sales assistant and asked him whether DH’s jeans will de discontinued anytime soon. Thankfully the answer I got was positive, the jeans will remain on the shelves for an indefinite period of time. Hedi’s work for DH has been like a nuclear bomb, the long terms effects are more severe than the impact himself. He left DH as a martyr and has a big fan base of saluting followers on the internet.

The jeans have become a modern day classics and my Spiderman senses are telling me that they are here to stay, even Marc Jacobs wear them! To the average person they don’t look much than the average pair of premium jeans which is something is can’t object to because it true. But the magic is in the fit, it’s absolutely perfect. They are of the slim type but the fit isn’t tight or discomforting. What’s great as well is that they aren’t too narrow in thighs marking them very wearable for us mortals who don’t have tights the circumference of a 1.5L coca cola bottle.

As one would expect the Dior tag does come with a price tag commanding a premium price. The cheapest pair of basic blue/black jeans begins at €/$175 with the top of the line waxed and luster jeans setting you back just under €/$500. Except for the different width(17.5cm, 19 and 21cm) at the bottom of the jeans all of them pretty much have the same fit which is a fantastic concept. That alone with perfect fit the superb quality makes them worth the price. The absence of logos, monograms or embroidery on the pockets makes them very timeless and suitable for all occasions. I’m a happy owner of a pair, the feel of the materials and the fit is just as if they were new.

DH SS05 is probably one of Hedi’s best collections ever and is the ultimate exhibition of DH’s jeans.

Wallets.

After one year I feel that it’s time for my dark brown leather Mickey Mouse wallet to retire. I’ve simply out grown it and I bet that many of you have more cards than there are slots in your wallet. Really, most of the new cards we acquire are fall into the basket of cards we don’t need and my latest addition of useless cards is a free admission card to a casino and card for refilling my prepaid cellphone card. Despite that I somehow don’t want to leave them at home. It’s like the stickers on a laptop or a new camera, they serve no purpose, you can live without them but still decide to leave them on until eternity.

The biggest drawback of the majority of wallets(including mine) is that they lack a compartment for coins, leaving no choice but to drop coins in the left jeans pocket rattling together your keys. Those looking for a solution to this imperative problem should look no further than this entry. Pictured above is a calf leather wallet from Felisi which can properly accommodate coins in its zipped compartment. Three slots gives plenty of space to shove down grouped cards. Naturally not everyone want to walk around with a hamburger sized wallet which is every man and woman should invest in a card case perfect for a party when one only needs to carry a drivers license and debit card.

Happy Easter!

Pray, eat easter dinner, paint eggs or dress yourself like a witch! Have a smile on your face and enjoy Easter!

Upside down.

I’ve seen a fair share of cool and just when you think that everything has been done, something unthinkable appears. Victor & Rolf are known for fashion shows using unorthodox props. They intriguing creativity is one of the reason they are well renowned and their latest store in Milan easily makes it to the hall of fame.

So what they have they done? They have designed a store with the entire interior upside down, i.e the floor is on the ceiling and vice versa. At first sight it delusional and after looking at more pictures one begin to grasp how crazy and outrages the idea really is. The facial expression on people passing by it and stopping up must be priceless. Spiders and ants walking on the ceiling must feel incredibly confused.

The Other Boleyn Girl.

Super actresses Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman got to spread the cover of March issue of W magazine. The duo plays against each other in “The Other Boleyn Girl”. Natalie Portman is my favorite actress and having seen the 6.9 score on IMDB the movie shouldn’t be a disappointment. On the front cover Scarlett got outshined by Portman and it’s a shame that Keira Knightley wasn’t squeezed in between them.

Look of the month: March

Kris Van Assche AW08/09

Although global warming has contributed to less harsh winters in many places in the northern hemisphere, still there are many locations around the world where people are patiently waiting for spring while battling with cold breezes and rain. Nothing gets the job than better than a padded aviator jacket with a fluffy collar and best of all is that it looks cool.

Looking cool is the aim of most kids, and you can see the pride and confidence in their faces when they are wearing something from Nike or have a sunglasses on standing with their arms folded. But sunglasses are such a cliché especially if worn when the sun isn’t shining like a halogen bulb. It has long been said that trying to look cool is un-cool but this month’s outfit is an example of restrained coolness. What a splendid outfit, the lumberjack shirt, industrial cap, boots, and aviator jacket is the fusion of hip but tasteful outfit. The recipe is quite a familiar and successful one consisting of a short, shiny and slightly puffy jacket, dark trousers stuffed inside boots.

It’s classic way of looking young and fresh. A leather jacket is the preferable choice, not only because they imitate a hardcore look but also because they last very long and can in most cases be worn for several years. Like pictured on me above the leather jacket is in its third year and I have no intention on retiring it anytime soon. The hottest accessory this year is chains, they were popular during the 90s and haven’t seen since then but now they slowly coming back. Belts and wallet chains are also useful for completing rebellious attire.

Victoria designs men's jeans, Sheryl Cole still hotter.

The latest piece of conspicuous merchandise falls under the name of Victoria Beckhams. Following the success with her VB jeans created in a partnership with Rock Republic, Victoria wants to give us men a lesson in what to wear. Apparently your highness hates the sight of men wearing skinny jeans, speaking of the devil herself she of all people on this globe have the least right to use the word skinny. Like all designers she has a source of inspirations for her designs and how more romantic does it get than having your husband as an inspiration.

Coming for the horse’s she has said "Guys should wear jeans big and baggy, with a big pair of boots or flip-flops—exactly how you see David when he’s out in his jeans and T-shirt,". That’s quite a bold statement there Mrs. and judging by the casually and sloppy dressed it’s quite a challenge to pull off a smart and fashionable outfit using baggy jeans and boot, let alone flip flops. But hey who said women and men had the same way of thinking? Those longing to look Victoria-licious will in august be able to exchange 140-170 of hard earned Euros for a pair of her new line men’s jeans.

Veyron Fbg Hermés .

As if the Veyron wasn’t already exclusive enough, Bugatti has teamed up with Hermés for a special edition Veyron. What is the difference distinguishes it from a normal Veyron one may ask. The differences aren’t dramatic but there are some minor details which will give the owners an upper hand if they get caught in a dick measuring contest against other Veyron owners.

Bugatti has entrusted Hermés and let them put their leather expertise to the practices by taking care of the leather in the interior. Disappointingly the choice of colour for the leather could have been a bit darker or have had an orange tone to resemble Hermés signature colour. Nonetheless, the body stocking-ish colour extends to the bonnet and to the pop-up spoiler. Other notable details include a reworked door consoles with vintage designed door pulls, unique alloys and last but least a couple of Hermés logos which will make the owner feel better at night. At the end of the day, the car will sell because is a Veyron offering a thundering 1001hp and a destructive 1250Nm which propels the car to the horizon in no time. That speed might come in handy for who ever wants to quickly get their hands on the highly sought after Birkin bags.

AW08/09: Thome Browne

New York based tailor(designer??) has unseen of creativity sparkling in his head as well as high level of lust for life in the fashion industry. His latest work is the unofficial launch of a new segment, tailors haute couture.

If the fashion industry was a pack of cards then he would be of the jokers. Only he himself and God know if he conceived his AW08/09 under the influence of alcohol or under the gun point of vicious circus apes. In either case, the result is short of striking. When the first images surfaced my initial thought was “What the………..?”, but with a smile on the face. I hate predictability so Thom bizarre collection was nothing but a positive shock. Fashion seasons would be a complete bore without irrational designer. What Thom has done is like taking a high pressured fart in a crowded bus, it’s initiated by instinct, it’s wacky but once it’s done you embarrassingly feel great about yourself.

It doesn’t take a fashion guru dressed in black turtle neck to figure out that this falls into the basket for non-wearable collection. Despite the craziness there not denying that this is Thom’s work, the knee high socks, gray suits and signature designs are all there. Many of the pieces will be available for purchase but don’t hope on encountering trendy New Yorkers feeding bread crumbs to pigeons in Central Park dressed in a gray full feathered peacock suit.

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Siamese trousers? They give a new meaning to the phrase “I want to get in your pants”.

More fantasy than reality.

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Cute winter hats

Cool make-up/styling.

Very funny, I appreciate humor.

Grade: 4.1/5. This isn’t something you can critique like a “normal” fashion show. It’s meant to be looked at with 100% seriousness. Nonetheless it’s very charming and pleasing to look at.

Leather goods.

In most corners of the world buying a bag means walking to the local luggage store to pick up some dull Samsonite bag or grabbing a messenger bag from a sports store. The choices tend to be very few. It feels like men’s desires for bags are completely neglected like an orphan, and in some places finding a well designed bag is an impossible mission. But here in London they know how to treat a men right. The United Kingdom has a long history in tailoring and craftsmanship, and from what I have seen the tradition is still alive.

Dunhill and Mulberry are only a few of the countless designers and companies offering fine leather goods for men. Feeling embarrassed walking into a bag store full of women to find out that they only have 3 bags for men is not an issue since some of the stores I’ve visited only sell bags for men! Lately I have grown affection for konjac coloured leather goods. The richness and glow of the colour attracts me almost like an infant wanting to touch a bon fire. It’s a lovely colour which is bold but yet not offensive thanks to it’s brown softness.

Tom Ford Eyewear SS08

Billionaire: Italian Couture

Three weeks ago I did the typical tourist-window-shopping at Harrods and was mainly exploring the ground floor where are the formal wear is sold. While walking past Paul Smith and Tom Ford suits I saw an unknown brand in the located in the north-west corner. My curiosity drew me to the big and bold sign which spelled “Billionaire”, the name didn’t ring any bells so I had to check out what it was all about.

Looking left and right after having taken my first step inside the booth like store I my first encounter was leather and fur. The store assistants were incredibly cold and didn’t even say hello or look into my eyes, but that didn’t matter because after flipping over the £400 price tag for a belt I had no interest in handing over my precious money to the store. Not only am I a broke university student but the clothes and accessories sold in the store is now on at the top of my Hall of Fame list.

Calf skin, fur, alligator skin and cashmere were the dominate materials as well as skinny shades or yellow, black, purple, light blue, red and pink. This was vulgarness in excess and having read more about the brand I have found out that they sell jackets and suits for as much as 350 000 euro. Everything sold in the store is pompous, crass and seem to be intentionally expensive.

Today when I was in Knightsbridge I finally got to know who’s behind the mystery brand. Changing track on my Zune while walking I took quick peek to the left, stopped, placed my right palm on my head and shook my head. The horrifying sight was a display covering a construction work of a Billionaire store, and on it was a face of Flavio Briatore. I was actually disappointed and never believed that he would sink that low. I know that he’s worth 8 figures but still has quite a long way to go before he’s a billionaire. The fact that he’s not a billionaire makes his brand faux luxury…………at exaggerated prices. Not only that but I picture heavy hitters like Rupert Murdoch, Lakshmi Mittal or Michael Dell wearing any of that stuff, but Puerto Rican cocaine lords residing in Miami probably wouldn’t mind some of that expensive garbage.

In the end I forgive Briatore, he’s just a playboy after all, a very lucky one. He’s one of those guys who have become incredibly wealthy by being at the right place at the right time meeting the right people, and he has hit it right every single time by seizing the moment. Despite no history in motor sport, engineering or mechanics he has managed to make climb up the ranks in life and made it Team principle of Renault’s Formula 1 team, he still doesn’t know squat about high end mechanics. In the end I feel no hate for him, he has done well for himself in life.