Table of contents for April - May 2016 in Da Man

Over the years, I’ve met many incredible people throughout my journey in building DA MAN as a leading men’s fashion and lifestyle magazine in Indonesia and throughout the region. From actors to designers to the most talented people in a many diverse fields, each has taught me about the great value in luxury and about things that are more than what meets the eye—friendship. This is something I often pick up when chatting with models and photographers who are very passionate about what they do. Even fame and approval don’t really keep them from pursuing a greater goal. Likewise, I’ve known actors who have committed themselves to ceaselessly hone their skill. More than anything, for them, it’s the process that matters, not the end goal. One of them is obviously…

Silk robes are proving to be a big trend this season. Sure, the material still harbors a rather feminine connotation, but this notion of gender exclusivity is fast becoming a thing of the past. Besides, silk is perfect for spring and summer. Quite a few designers have used this particular garment as a source of inspiration for some of the season’s best outerwear pieces shown on the runways. It certainly helps that this type of loungewear is incredibly versatile, and much more polished than most outerwear options.…

KEEP IT IN CHECK CHECKED SHIRTS have always been a big part of Ben Sherman’s repertoire, yet this season sees the British house bring back its signature Carnaby Gingham in their latest collection. hailing from Carnaby street—where Ben sherman’s flagship store is located—in London, this particular gingham comes in a distinct palette that includes royal blue, dark navy and gray, among others. A modern twist to this beautiful fabric results in Ben sherman’s covetable long-sleeve gingham shirt, which combines checked and plain patterns. equally irresistible is the multi-purpose light jacket that fits both formal and casual affairs. Nautical Athleisure The rise of sporty silhouettes in fashion has now entered our collective consciousness as “athleisure,” which integrates athletic-gear details into urban outfits. Nautica steps it up a notch in its spring…

Leather shoes come in a wide variety of choices, beyond crisp black dress shoes. Unfortunately, not everybody got the memo; fortunately, more and more brands are expanding their offerings beyond this tired norm. One of the leading proponents of introducing more styles and colors into the footwear selections for the modern gentleman is Mario Minardi. As Handiman Ali, CEO and third-generation owner of the brand puts it: “You have to be willing to go out of the box. Try a brown pair, try tan, try anything else.” (To read our full interview with the current head of Mario Minardi, pick a copy of the latest DA MAN Style Spring/Summer ’16.) Now, one can easily find a suitable brown or tan pair of shoes in any Mario Minardi outlet; but for…

Black and Gold It’s an indisputable fact that black-colored watches exude a more masculine appeal compared to their classic-looking counterparts. Bulgari takes this trend head on with the introduction of the Bulgari Octo Ultranero watches. In other words, the cases of the Octo Solotempo (with hour and minutes only), Octo Velocissimo (chronograph) and Octo Finissimo Tourbillon (flying tourbillon) are reinterpreted in nero, which means black in English, by using black DLC coatings. The case material is stainless steel, with the exception of the Finissimo Tourbillon which uses titanium. While the 41mm Octo Solotempo Ultranero comes out in two versions—with a black bezel and with a pink gold bezel—the 41mm Octo Velocissimo only offers the latter. The icing on the cake is an alternative rubbe r strap for the timepieces, much…

Tooth whitening is an extremely effective method of lightening the color of your teeth without damaging them and without the need to scrape off the surface of your teeth. According to a report published in the British Dental Journal in April 2005, just about any whitening method available today can work just fine, with the most significant efficacy factors being the concentration of the whitening or bleaching agent used and the duration of exposure. WHY DO PEOPLE NEED IT? As people age, their teeth will get darker. This is partly an inescapable effect of aging, but also happens due to what we drink and eat, along with habits like smoking. Coffee, tea, red wine, blackcurrant juice and other foods and drinks that contain strong coloring agents can also affect teeth…

Musician, singer and young e n t re p re n e u r Vidi Aldiano still pops up regularly on various news channels, but it has been quite a while since we heard of any new major release in the works. But fear not, indonesian music lovers, for this year he’s back in the business of making new music and putting together a new album. “Last year i’ve just returned from getting my master’s degree, and when i got back to indonesia i was eager to apply all that i’ve learned directly into actual businesses,” he begins. “i still sing, but i’ve been more focused on my startups. And in 2016 i want to get back to my musical album.” However, this isn’t your usual case of a musician…

L ike many of his contemporaries, Jonny Weston fell in love with acting while attending university and then decided to seek fame and fortune as a professional performer. It didn’t take long, though, before he found the role that would jumpstart his career. In 2012 he appeared as the lead in “Chasing Mavericks,” the true story of surfing legend Jay Moriarty who was well-known for his prowess in riding Northern California’s massive maverick waves. Weston’s own wave of success continues to this day, with highprofile roles in movies such as “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” and “Beyond Skyline.” In the latter, he plays alongside Frank Grillo, who’s on this issue’s cover, as well as two of Indonesia's leading action stars: “The Raid” alumni Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian. He’s not always…

A ROUNDUP OF ALL THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS SEASON TO LOOK AND BE YOUR BEST Striking patterns are making a huge comeback this season, especially with lush imagery of exotic fauna from the east. louis Vuitton does it by drawing sartorial expressions from southeast Asian nations and emblazoning monkeys, cranes and birds of paradise on many of its silky essentials. dolce & Gabbana, meanwhile, spruces up its patterned ensembles with gorgeous peacocks, cranes and multifarious birds. the mythical phoenix emerges in accessories from Gucci. these colorful motifs also make a distinct mark in tops and outerwear pieces at fastchain fashion houses such as Zara and uniqlo.…

There’s so much to say about—and to covet from—Bally’s spring/summer 2016 collection themed “No Limits.” Creative director Pablo Coppola has remarkably awakened the full potential of this heritage brand to adopt fresh, dynamic styling without compromising Switzerland’s finest sartorial and leather craftsmanship. Borrowing modern references from the dandy and utterly charming characters of Wes Anderson’s films— the likes of “Moonrise Kingdom”— the new Bally gentleman is perhaps the chicest guy in town you just have got to meet. clash-culture styling One of the most attractive qualities from this collection is, without doubt, its eclectic styling. Bally, a Swiss brand, is taking bits and pieces from different parts of the world, as evident in creations like the Swiss army-inspired backpack, sleek Italian print pajamas and Californian sunset-tinted sunglasses. There is so…

Raising the Bars Long gone are the days when taking a bath involves gentle kneading with a solid soap bar. The proliferation of liquid soap these days has almost obliterated this classic shower amenity. But, which is actually better: liquid or bar soap? If you’re asking from a hygiene point of view, the truth is that both fare about the same. Even a shared soap bar wouldn’t spread bacteria from one person to another as the germs would have been rinsed off by wat er. In terms of practicality, well, soap bars do require you to scrub the body thoroughly with care. Yet, why not take your time and enjoy showering for real? Mind you, a self-loving body wash could be as therapeutic as it is cleansing. 3 MOST RECOMMENDED…

The Sounds of Summer For many, spring and summer means traveling, lounging by the pool at some exotic locale, soaking up the sun at some faraway beach or just chilling out at your favorite hangout place. Now, those activities could sure use a nice soundtrack to it, right? And while your average smartphone and included earphones plus your MP3 collection (or streaming service) can do the trick, for some serious musical accompaniment to your summer vacation, nothing beats some dedicated hardware. Take, for instance, the Astell & Kern A320 music player. It’s solidly built (machined from a single block of aluminum), comes with a wide range of accessories and connectivity features, and—most importantly— top-of-the-range audio performance. Portable audio doesn’t get any better (or stylish) than this. 3 MORE RECOMMENDATIONS 1…

In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle Setting a new standard for the word “hideaway,” Amanwana (Pulau Moyo, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara; +62 371 22233; aman.com/resorts/amanwana) is set in a nature and marine reserve that is still largely untouched by man, and is surrounded by Nusa Tenggara’s expansive savannahs and lush tropical jungle. Here you can sleep in luxurious tents (with air conditioning and hardwood floors; don’t worry), go on treks to waterfalls hidden deep within the jungle or head to the ocean for some scuba diving or a leisurely cruise to the fabled Komodo and Raja Ampat islands. This is definitely the kind of comfort and adventure deal that’s hard to beat. When More is More For one, Rumah Luwih (Jl. Prof Ida Bagus Mantra, Gianyar, Bali; +62 361 2005899;…

The hardest part of any diet plan is summoning the willpower to stick with it. Sure, red rice and poached chicken with a side of steamed baby vegetables is packed with nutrients while low in calories, but it’s not as satisfying as a plate of fried rice and deep-fried chicken with a side of vegetable tempura. Still, some approaches will allow you to enjoy the latter (moderately, of course) while still gaining the benefits of a diet consisting mainly of the former. One of the more popular (and currently re-trending) members of this category of dieting is the 5:2 diet. FIVE FOR FEASTING The 5:2 diet is basically a form of intermittent fasting. For five consecutive days a week you eat what you want, and for the other two you…

Working with familiar faces is always fun. Or perhaps “ s m o o t h ” would be a better word. You know the drill; they know the drill; so all the prep work gets done in no time, people get in position and then boom ... magic happens. That is pretty much how it went with our photo shoot with the lovely and multi-talented Julie Estelle in her second outing as a DA MAN Darling. Yes, she also appeared in the March 2009 issue. Now, of course, she has moved forward in leaps and bounds ever since. But perhaps, we’d best begin her new story with a short recap. Julie Estelle—model, actress and one-time voice actress—rose to fame in 2005 when she appeared in her first movie, “Alexandria.”…

A s more and more indonesian actors make their way to hollywood, interest in how their peers from other nations fare at the global hub of showbiz is at an all-time high. But while a lot of attention has gone to talents from major asian countries and europe (especially the uk), there are plenty of impressive success stories from our neighbors down South. martin henderson’s is one such tale. Born in auckland, he started out playing in new Zealand and australian productions before venturing to los angeles in the late ‘90s. it wasn’t long before he started to land bigger and bigger roles, including 2002’s hit horror movie “the ring” to 2015’s “everest.” last year also saw henderson take up what just might be his most iconic role yet, as…

The early days of the 20th century saw the rise of a new travelladen lifestyle. One interesting note in this chapter of human history is how the rise of steam-powered machines, particularly steam locomotives, and motorized cars helped spur the evolution of home clocks into wristwatches. People began to take notice of time—and the need for the ability to tell time—wherever and whenever. This specific timeframe becomes a nostalgic point that imparts color and shape to every creation of Szanto (pronounced “Sahn-tow” and derived from the brand founder’s family name). Introduced in fall 2013 by none other than Luminoxfounder Barry Cohen, the new watch brand is the goto name for those seeking vintage-looking horological beauties. While it eagerly unearths vintage designs, Szanto breathes new life into these aged ideas by…

While colonial army uniforms stole the show last season, the emerging menswear trend for this season is the safari look. The outfits, with their metropolitan jungle theme, were just as attention-grabbing. Naturally, the palette of these collections centered on camel and similar tones that would be quite at home in the savannas of Africa. It would seem that many designers were inspired by glimpses of urban districts, safari clothing and what can be described as African-inspired utility wear.…

In Shining Armor One of the world’s fastest growing sportswear brands, American sportswear house Under Armour has finally set foot in Indonesia with the brand’s first store at Mall Kelapa Gading 2. The vast range of sport apparel on offer include options for both men and women, and includes training, running and even golf wear. Some of the must-have essentials are the brand’s signature microfiber tops—especially the coldblack Run singlet and the Raid T-shirt and shorts—which have excellent moisture wicking properties to help keep the wearer cool and dry. In fact, this is the fabric that paved the way for founder Kevin Plank to kick-start the label in Baltimore, Maryland, two decades ago. Today the brand has tapped a group of elite athletes from various sports fields, including Dwayne “The…

M ost people might need an extra second or two before they remember that French Connection is a brand name. Mention FCUK, however, and you’ll immediately see smiles of recognition followed by enthusiastic nods of approval. Yes, what might appear at first as a tounge-in-cheek nod at adolescent humor belies much more mature sartorial offerings that you don’t want to miss out on. The origins of FCUK The abbreviated form of French Connection United Kingdom has indeed become a catchy, and even iconic, wordplay that has also become well imprinted in the generation of the ’90s. Although it was founded way back in 1972, it wasn’t until the 2000s that the London-based fashion house cheekily adopted the FCUK logo as a print for many of its clothing articles. By then,…

The Embrace of Comfort Besides exotic animals and charming fragrances, spring and summer are also identical to lazy afternoons spent along the beach or beside the pool, and—most importantly—in a comfy seat. The aptly named MBRACE collection from DEDON definitely fits this cozy image. This range of chairs (including wingback, lounger, rocker and optional footstool) is not just eye-catching but also fully lives up to its namesake. Featuring open, mesh-like tri-axial weaves, each MBRACE piece will keep you comfortable throughout the season, even during the hotter days when the cushions are stowed away. Yes, the MBRACE’s embrace is delicate no matter how (and when) you use them. A Wild Feast Animals, especially exotic species, are at the forefront of this season’s fashion trends. And apparently, this motif is also present…

“PEOPLE SEE MY PHOTOS AND THINK I'M THIS COOL BROODING ARTIST BUT I'M JUST HAVING FUN WITH IT” To say that Lenny Kravits is a talented and prolific musician would be a massive understatement. His own musical style incorporates everything from rock and reggae to folk and blues, and he would often take on both lead and backing vocals for his recordings. And that’s on top of playing just about every instrument incorporated in his tracks. In much the same way, describing Lenny Kravitz as multi-award-winning artist would also underplay his achievements. For one, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four years in a row for unforgettable songs like “American Woman” and “Again.” He has also won several MTV Video Music Awards, BRIT Awards and, several years…

Take Me to Church Trying to get to Lola (Jl. Gunawarman No. 21, Jakarta; +62 21 2751 3500; lolajkt.com) is not easy, as the Cuban-inspired bar is situated in the basement of its sister eatery. But once you find it, you’ll be rewarded with an experience unlike any other in town. In a way, it’s a bit like faith—you just have to work hard before you get to the Promised Land. And it just so happens that Lola has a “secret church” feel to it, what with its statues and a classic mural of the Virgin Mary. Although the menu offers heavy meals, dimly lit Lola is more suited to a round of two of relaxed drinking. Its exotically flavored Tiki cocktails will surely make you say “Amen! Back For…

Sexting by definition is sending or receiving sexually explicit messages or photos by mobile phones or via social media platforms. This is a trend that has increased steadily through the years. In fact, 88 percent of adults have engaged in some kind of sexting within the context of a relationship according to a paper titled “Reframing Sexting as a Positive Relationship Behavior.” Is sexting more common than we believe or are these correlations merely coincidences? Emily Stasko, at Drexel’s University in Philadelphia, surveyed 870 heterosexual individuals and found that increased amounts of sexting was associated with higher levels of sexual satisfaction. These are just two studies, you might say, and might not accurately represent what happens in our population at large. Another way to look at this is that technology…

Kim Jones is a liar. That has been my impression of him since a few years ago, long before I finally had the chance to meet Louis Vuitton’s artistic director in person. I know this because a colleague who met him at the presentation of Louis Vuitton’s menswear spring/summer 2013 collection in Hong Kong told me. Just a little reminder: The aforementioned collection was filled with maritime influences, and Jones had credited his past trip to Bali, Indonesia as his source of inspiration. During the presentation, this colleague of mine, who had flown in from Jakarta, had, after a few moments’ consideration, approached Jones to greet him. “I’m from Indonesia,” she said. Jones warmly replied, “Oh, we’ve been waiting for you.” For some reason, this story has always resonated with…

One of these days, we m i g h t just see a movie, or at least a TV series, based on the life and career of Korean drama star Ji Chang-wook. Surely, it would be just as captivating and profound as any of the fictional roles he’s played. Well, maybe not as exciting as his portrayal of legendary swordsman and folk hero Baek Dong-soo in the critically acclaimed “Warrior Baek Dong-soo,” but definitely more than on par with his fictional adventures in popular dramas like “Smile again,” “empress Ki” and the immensely popular “Healer.” Before landing a minor role in the 2006 movie “Days...” Ji Chang-wook was a struggling stage actor. Then came his “proper” acting debut in 2008’s “Sleeping Beauty” and his launch into stardom with hit family…

Set on February 28, the 2016 Academy Awards drew actors from all over the globe to Hollywood, Los Angeles. Coincidentally, Swiss watch brand Omega threw a big launch party on March 1, featuring the lead of Academy Award-nominated film “The Danish Girl,” Eddie Redmayne. Having missed a lot of the excitement during my flight from Jakarta to Los Angeles on February 29, I was naturally a little behind on news regarding the Oscars. But word got out soon after that it was Leonardo DiCaprio who nabbed the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role this year. It was close. However, Redmayne had already won last year, and, if anything, this didn’t dim the spotlight on the young and talented British actor at all. Before I could fully digest everything,…

1 Get Armoured American sportswear brand Under Armour officially arrived in Indonesia and unveiled its first store in Kelapa Gading mall, Jakarta on March 12. The opening ceremony was attended by the brand’s family of ambassadors: CrossFit athlete Jennifer Mulianto, ultramarathon finisher Tonny Hanggoro, pro bodybuilder Ade Rai and martial arts actor Iko Uwais. The event was made all the merrier with a series of activities, which include a basketball competition, a fun discussion on health with Rai, a thrilling pencak silat performance from Uwais and his team, a CrossFit competition led by Mulianto and running experience with Hanggoro 2 History in the Making A joint art exhibition entitled “Historia Docet Historia Vitae Magistra” was inaugurated on February 17 to coincide with the launch of Martell’s limited edition La French…