Category: STYLE

gentSac men’s grooming is open at The Galeries

gentSac shop

Sure, after a few years of owning the kiosk game at The Galeries, she never saw herself running her own men’s grooming business right in the heart of Sydney, but here she is. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Founder and master of the gentSac, Shira O’Sullivan-Linker turned her years working in retail, merchandising, buying and just generally giving a damn about what the dude she introduced to everyone as “her boyfriend” looked like, into a small business operation that doesn’t seem to be slowing down. She used to be a one-woman-band who occupied one of the central spots in The Galeries thoroughfare, grabbing men of all walks who were keen on a spruce-up or who looked like they might benefit from one. By stocking products she believed in – not only for their ingredients, but the story behind them – Shira found something there. “No longer was it embarrassing or ‘not manly’ to care about how you look or spend the time on yourself as a man,” she said. Dudes were into it and so was she. For obvious reason. There’s something satisfying about being a man and being able to walk into a shop that’s nothing like a Mecca Maxima, for example, and shop products for men – often by men, too – in a disarming, casual and relatable space. That’s what gentSac prides itself on. With products for face, hair, beard, and body, as well as the odd knick-knack for everything in-between, Shira and gentSac have managed to command the attention… Read More

Loewe has opened its first Sydney boutique

Loewe

Luxury European retailer Loewe opened its doors in Sydney last month after the opening of the first in Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre with the Loewe autumn-winter 2018-19 collection. Casa Loewe features timber walls and polished Campaspero limestone flooring, to serve the dual purpose of creating a sleek, contemporary setting whilst architecturally paying homage to the brand’s European heritage. Loewe incorporates referential elements, like the emerald green stone canopy which derives inspiration from the entrance to Casa Loewe Madrid, which was designed by renowned architect Javier Carvajal in 1959 and captures the essence of modern Spain. Loewe’s curated contemporary and traditional artwork works to infuse elements of past and present into the retail space, highlighting the duality of the Spanish fashion house. Seamlessly infused amongst the selection of women’s RTW, leather goods, and accessories, are meticulously placed works, including a tapestry by weaver and knitter John Allen, and earthenware pot and flower vase by Japanese ceramic artist Koji Kumagai, as well as antique cider presses and bespoke rugs by Nanimarquina. Designed by creative director Jonathan Anderson, Loewe’s latest collection features a plethora of outerwear, as well as classic daywear with a twist. Showcasing the wearability of the collection on the night were influencers including Carmen Hamilton, Nadia Fairfax, Amanda Shadforth, Brooke Testoni, and Yan Yan Chan, Australian model (and ANTM alumni) Aleyna Fitzgerald, and DJ Juay Kennedy. Loewe is now open in Westfield Sydney.

Update your wardrobe and stay on time and in style this silly season

Pitti Uomo 92 Immagine Italy menswear 1

Summer is right around the corner, and with it comes Christmas, New Year’s Eve and a host of balmy nights sipping Aperol Spritz under the setting sun. It’s a busy time of year, so take the stress out of the silly season with a wardrobe update that takes you from work Christmas parties to New Years Eve without missing a beat. Check out our recommendations below, and you may even find a few Christmas gifts for family and friends while you’re shopping for yourself. Aquila Menswear is celebrating their 60th year with the modern, minimal Altair collection. Designed in Australia and crafted in Italy, the range blends natural, earthy colours and collarless shirts for effortless style. A selection of lush linen suits work well for warm evenings, and their superfine wool suits with a modern wide check are ideal for office parties straight after work. Christmas is the perfect time to invest in something you’ll wear year-round, starting with the party season. No matter what you’re wearing, the right watch can make an outfit, keeping you both on time and in style. These are our picks for understated class. Rolex Explorer II White Dial Released in 1953, the Rolex Explorer II was designed as the ultimate watch for expeditions and mountaineering. With a scratchproof sapphire crystal, clear dial and luminescent markings, it was designed for explorers who know how to look good. The bezel has unique 24-hour markings and a separate hand to tell the exact hour, which is perfect for long summer days that turn… Read More

Where to get new glasses for a steal on Black Friday

Sunglasses

Vision Direct sell glasses, sunnies and everything else eye-related and this Black Friday, they have a cracker deal for anyone who’s thinking about investing. To the tune of free designer frames for the first 50 people who book an eye test in their Sydney store from tomorrow, Wednesday 21st November, they’ll score a pair of designer frames worth $100. Also for the biggest sale day of the year, they’ve got this on offer… GIVING AWAY 50 FREE FRAMES IN SYDNEY STORE ON WED 21st 2018 – FRI 23rd 2018 Flash Sale Up to 90% off (limited selection) 10% OFF CONTACT LENSES 10% OFF EYE + SUN 50% OFF LMNT, Arise Collective, Oh My Woodness! Free LMNT sunglasses, pay for the shipping Free shipping on all other brands Free returns for 100 days Two Year warranty. No minimum order value Black Friday is one of the biggest sale days in the world. An American tradition that’s made its way south, it struck a chord with Aussies. We spent $200 million on it last year alone! The Black Friday online promotions start on the 23rd of November 2018 and end on the 26th of November 2018. See more at the Vision Direct website.

6 best shopping destinations in Dubai

Dubai

If you like shopping, Dubai is where it’s at. From the world-class mega malls to the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), there is so much on offer for pretty much everyone. Here are the best places to take a day trip to when you’re next visiting or passing through Dubai in the Emirates. Dubai Mall – The world’s fifth largest mall and dubbed the best mall of 2017 Having recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary the Dubai Mall is the most-visited lifestyle destination in the world, having welcomed over 80 million annual visitors in the past four years. Dubai Mall has everything from clothing to shoes, souvenirs to entertainment and food all under one massive roof. There is also an Olympic-sized ice-skating rink, and the awesome Dubai Aquarium. Not to mention the 1000-plus retailers, which include high-street favourites such as Topshop, Zara and COS, and department stores Bloomingdale’s and Galeries Lafayette. Luxury labels find their home in Fashion Avenue – a glossy section dedicated to high-end designers, with the nearby Level Shoe District boasting 96,000 square feet of retail space and brands such as Nicholas Kirkwood, Saint Laurent Paris and Dior. Mall of the Emirates – The world’s first shopping resort   Featuring 360 international brands across department stores, fashion, lifestyle, sports, electronics and home furnishing outlets, a Magic Planet family entertainment area, a 14-screen VOX Cinemas, the world-renowned Ski Dubai – the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort and snow park, the 500-seat capacity Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (DUCTAC) and more than 90 international dining and café… Read More

Tomorrow, MR PORTER launches an exclusive watch from Bremont

Bremont Mr Porter

Tomorrow, MR PORTER launches its latest timepiece with Bremont, the 15-strong range of unique “RAF blue” dialled and “RAF blue” calf-leather strapped ALT1-ZT watch that has been created especially for MR PORTER. Based upon the iconic Bremont ALT1-ZT collection and designed with aviators and explorers in mind, this model features direct aviation inspired aesthetics such as GMT hand and chronograph functionality. The 43mm hardened stainless-steel case, which is made from a material seven times stronger than that of an average stainless-steel watch case, showcases the movement and decorated Bremont rotor through an integrated flat-crystal case back. The timepiece is water-resistant up to 100 meters and is COSC chronometer tested and certified. This is the second exclusive offering from Bremont on MR PORTER. In 2015, both brands collaborated on an exclusive collection for Kingsman: The Secret Service. In 2013, Bremont was the first luxury watch brand to launch on MR PORTER, and continues be a firm favourite with MR PORTER’s global customer base. Find it tomorrow on MR PORTER.

Home improvement jobs you should leave to the experts

House living room

Looking to renovate your current home, flipping it, or planning to purchase a new home? Doing everything around the home, even with big renovations can be fulfilling and more affordable, but if you don’t know what you’re doing – you may regret it. You need some serious heavy lifting for a couple of home improvement projects. Perhaps you’re thinking you don’t need a professional’s help because of the expense, and you want to keep renovation costs to a minimum. Well, that’s proper thinking because expert help can be expensive. Regardless, it can save you time and future headaches. Consider hiring out the following home improvement jobs below. Structural improvements Open floor plans in houses are still hot right now. As a current or future homeowner, you may want to capitalize on this since it makes your home modern, plus buyers will love it. This may be harder for an older house since you need to knock down some walls to attain an open floor plan. It’s fairly obvious that you can’t just knock down a home’s wall. Many walls can be load-bearing, which means they assist in holding the house up. Knocking these walls down can compromise the structural integrity of the house. With that said, you need to hire a professional to assess the house and check what can (or can’t) be removed. Granted – knocking down walls is indeed fun, but make sure that a professional approves it first. Roofing Always hire someone else if you need a new roof. Accomplishing it yourself… Read More

A chat with Alex Perry about his new range for Specsavers

Alex Perry Specsavers

Alex Perry is the name behind yet another range of eyewear at everyone’s fave sunglasses and eyewear retailer Specsavers. And they’re good. We had a chat with the Australian designer about him, his range, why he’s so into eyewear and what we can expect from the new drop. You’re fast becoming the face of eyewear! Was this planned, or you just love sunnies? I am well known for my love of sunglasses, but I have also worn prescription glasses since I was a child. That is a huge part of why I love collaborating with Specsavers – I know how hard it used to be to find a stylish part of glasses that suit you and don’t cost a fortune! I’m really proud that through my partnership with Specsavers we are able to create beautiful frames at an accessible price. What makes the collection so ‘Alex Perry’? As always the collection is immaculately tailored, and each frame is timeless and classic with a touch of glamour, which is what fans of the range have come to expect. What about eyewear for men’s? I have a men’s range of eyewear available at Specsavers and have actually just released four new sunglasses – I wear these frames all the time! The new range offers contemporary updates to classic styles such as the Aviator, Clubmaster and a bold oversized frame. Standout features in the collection include a heavy tortoiseshell brow bar, gold rims encased within an acetate chassis, along with satin gold metal temples that glint in the… Read More

The new Altair collection for men by Aquila is perfect for spring

Aquila Altair 4

Aquila does menswear well. To celebrate their 60th year as a brand that stands for style and craftsmanship, Aquila have launched the Altair collection for men and it’s awesome, as per. They use Italian wool from manufacturers who’ve been doing it since the 1600s and it’s quality. It’s all designed in Melbourne, created in Italy; a celebration capsule showcasing their vision for the future of the brand. All product in the capsule, footwear as well as apparel is sourced and manufactured with some of the best suppliers in the business. Altair will be available in selected Aquila menswear stores in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide from September. Check it out…

Easy ways to boost your customer service

Woman hands free phone

Excellent customer service is, as you know, about more than simply smiling and being polite. That’s the bare minimum of what we expect of any decent person – and if you’d like to stand out in the crowd, it’s time to step up your customer service game once and for all. No matter how great your product or service is, the customers are more likely to remember you if they felt welcome and that they’re in good hands. Here are a few brilliants ways of doing exactly this, so that you can leave those competitors far behind. #1 Strengthen their skills You probably already have or are looking to get a customer service team. Strengthening their skills is about more than you might think, though, as a competent customer service employee will need to both do and handle a lot during their days at work. First of all, they need to automate the basics; empathy, patience, and consistency. It’s the key to surviving in customer service as some of the people they engage with will be more difficult than others. Some may be friendly and polite but others will be far from it – and how well they handle these people will have a lot to say, at the end of the day. They should be able to provide the same level of service regardless of how difficult the customer is which leads us to the next point on the list. #2 They need to have thick skin When you have to engage with someone… Read More