Table of contents for Dec2016/Jan 2017 in Da Man

Midnight in Paris Francis Kurkdjian, one of the most respected perfumers in the world, has released a new fragrance called Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir. Inspired by the nights of Paris, his hometown, the eau de parfum brings to mind date nights in the City of Light or a formal but lively black-tie event. There is, for certain, a mysterious note to the fragrance’s aroma. Interestingly, Kurkdjian has also introduced the Petit Matin—a contrasting eau de parfum representing fresh, crisp mornings with strong citrusy notes. It’s definitely interesting to see how Kurkdjian categorized the two fragrances based on the time of day. Then again, just as people change their outfits between day and night, why not have a fragrance to suit the time of day? Ocean Blue German luxury house…

Which animal would perfectly embody the idea of precision in time? Jaguars. These majestic creatures are among the finest in the jungle. Known for their unbeatable agility and vision, these wild cats bear unique prints that allow them to both blend in with their environment, yet simultaneously distinguish themselves from the rest. They are revered not only due to their speed, but, more than anything, the embodiment of their impressive power in the wild. Those admirable qualities are also shared by the Jaguar watch brand of Switzerland. Founded in 1938, the house has taken on precise timekeeping and bold designs as their own “spots.” Through the decades, Jaguar has focused on creating exquisite pieces for both men and women, along with some limited edition collections. The men’s collections Three different…

Eggs-citing Mealtime French brand Christofle wants to shake up the classic code of table settings with the Mood by Christofle collection. This set of flatware consists of forks, knives, tablespoons and teaspoons for six diners, and come in silver, gold and rose gold. With its easy-to-use and polished design, the collection is a perfect fit for casual dinners or friendly brunches. What really catches the eye, however, is how the entire set fits in a unique, eggshaped chest. This cutlery egg certainly lends a quirky touch to any kitchen or living room it’s nestled in. Way of Living Danish electronic company Bang & Olufsen has released a new collection titled, quite appropriately, Flexible Living, which comprises three different products. First up is the BeoVision Horizon TV, a 4K Ultra HD…

3 HOT MORE READS 1 Which city are you heading to this holiday? Louis Vuitton might have it covered in their 2017 City Guide books that add Amsterdam, Lisbon, and Taipei into their list of 29 select destinations. For true collectors, the book set version is available in beautiful and bold-colored boxes. Alternatively, you can download the e-book version on Apple’s App Store. 2 While fragrances are something that everyone must have, the business side of perfumery is often kept in the dark. “Jo Malone: My Story” (Simon & Schuster UK) attempts to change that by revealing the British entrepreneur’s success story. From her early start to her most pivotal moments, this autobiography is both inspiring and humbling. 3 If you are craving for a thriller to while away the…

Game On ASSASSIN’S CREED Stars Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons Director Justin Kurzel Based on the famous video game franchise of the same name, “Assassin’s Creed” features Irish actor Michael Fassbender who plays protagonist Callum Lynch while also serving as one of the film’s producers. Furthermore, Fassbender also brought along director Justin Kurzel and actress Marion Cotillard who worked together with him in “Macbeth.” The story begins with Lynch being rescued from his own execution by Abstergo Industries and forced to participate in an experiment that would unlock his genetic memories. It turns out that Lynch is descended from a long line of Assassins, and he must gain the knowledge necessary to defeat the secret society’s archenemy— the Templars—in the present day. Written in the Stars ROGUE ONE: A…

Court Order Housed in the former Old Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station, Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch (335-337 Old Street, London; +44 20 3310 5555; shoreditch.courthousehotel.com) is a 128-room hotel that cleverly blends period features with contemporary additions. The old building’s first courtroom has been transformed into the hotel’s main restaurant while the second courtroom hosts an ultra-exclusive members’ bar that comes complete with five refurbished cells. Guests are also treated to a state-of-the-art cinema, a two-lane bowling alley and luxury spa facilities that include an indoor swimming pool and sauna. From a previously infamous slammer to a hallmark of East London luxury, this historical hotel has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the city’s most iconic venues for work, rest and play. London Calling First opened in 1865, The…

Looking for sex tips to spice things up? There are many ways to do so, but one that many couples are unfamiliar with is incorporating hot and cold play in the bedroom. Altering the temperature can stimulate the nerve endings and circulatory system in ways that deliver mindblowing pleasure to both partners. The following examples—always coupled with proper care to maintain vaginal and penile health, of course— can help couples get their bearings in this exciting new world of sensation play. “ALTERING THE TEMPERATURE CAN STIMULATE THE NERVE ENDINGS AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM IN WAYS THAT DELIVER MIND-BLOWING PLEASURE TO BOTH PARTNERS” CUP OF WATER Keeping a cup of warm (not hot!) water near the bed can boost oral sex enjoyment. A partner can take a sip, swallow, then take another…

Although he has yet to celebrate his 20th birthday (that would be next April), English actor Asa Butterfield has starred in an impressive number of high-profile movies and worked with some of the industry’s most celebrated heavyweights. One of his most recent movie appearances was in this year’s “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” (directed by Tim Burton and also starring the likes of Eva Green, Chris O’Dowd and Samuel L. Jackson) while early next year he will appear in “The Space Between Us” (with Gary Oldman). By the looks of it, it seems that his screenwork in 2017 will be no less tantalizing. For more on Butterfield’s recent work and his upcoming projects, DA MAN sat down for a short, trans-continental chat. DA MAN: So, last we checked, you…

Out with the old and in with the new. Reeling in the New Year often comes with a renewed spirit and appetite for sporting something new on the wrist. For cases like this, the Heritage Black Bay Dark is a most enticing proposition with its handsome lines and strong pallette. In line with the 41mm case, the new stainless steel bracelet gets theblack PVD treatment, which sets it apart from the bracelets on the rest of the Heritage Black Bay family. The darkened metal color—hence the name—starkly accentuates the white numerals on the matt black ceramic bezel and the tasteful dial itself. Alternatively, the Heritage Black Bay Dark offers two equally stylish watchbands: an aged black leather strap andan easy-to-wear black fabric strap. Whatever the watchband, the Heritage Black Bay…

1 Fashionable Night The first day of Plaza Indonesia Men’s Fashion Week (PIMFW) 2016 opened on September 21 with three impressive fashion shows by local designers. Held in partnership with DAMAN, the annual event was attended by a host of VIPs and fashion connoisseurs, including celebrity couple Dwi Sasono and Widi Mulia along with entertainer Dwi Andhika, among others. Naturally, they brightened the show with their own fashionable appearances. 2 Brands’ New Day The second day of Plaza Indonesia Men’s Fashion Week (PIFMW) 2016, held in partnership with DAMAN, started with a bang. Even before the fashion shows of the day went underway, designers, socialites, actors models and fashion enthusiasts flocked into the lounge to await the presentations to come. Anticipation ran especially high as a number of international brands…

Camouflage, the one print meant to allow its wearer to blend with their surroundings, has now ironically become the one trend that really stood out this season. Seen at the runways of Louis Vuitton, John Galliano and Moncler Gamme Bleu, this timeless motif came off incredibly trendy and lent itself quite well to quirky touches. Unsurprisingly, camouflage patterns also became a high street favorite and now appears on the sartorial offerings of Zara and Topman. Piled up or paired with simple black or navy blue pants, this is definitely the motif of the season. Outfit by Louis Vuitton…

Tie the Not Wondering on what gift to give this year-end holiday? Well, the latest tie collection from Hermès is both an exciting and charming option. Using either heavy silk or silk twill, the variety of patterns runs the gamut from simple stripes to the interconnected “H” logo. The same goes for the range of colors on offer. The 8cm-wide ties can nicely complement business suits, whereas the 7cm picks look elegantly modish and equally pleasing on any formal attire. Even for men who rarely wear ties, a good Hermès tie certainly makes for a very good starting point. Kindred Sole Christian Louboutin will forever be known for the iconic red soles of his shoes. This season’s men’s collection gets updated with rubber lug soles and a signature red finish.…

3 MOST RECOMMENDED 1 For those of us looking to combat the early signs of aging, Acca Kappa Natural Care Face Mask Moisturizing & Nourishing offers a formula designed to nourish and hydrate stressed, dry skin. It contains botanical oils such as argan, sweet almond and rice husk oil along with active ingredients including white bee’s wax and olive oil to stretch out the marks on the face, giving the skin a lighter and younger aspect. 2 For acne-prone facial skin, Dr Jart+ Dermask Clearing Solution Ultra-Fine Microfiber Sheet Mask provides absolute relief. This silky, hydrating microfiber sheet mask addresses the problem by soothing redness and inflammation caused by acne. A trio of essential ingredients including salicylic acid, tea tree oil and niacinamide control excessive oil and prevent breakouts for…

Smart and Stylish While we’ve dreamed about it for years, smartwatches never really took off like we imagined it would. One possible reason behind this phenomenon might be the simple fact that these gadgets look, well, too gadget-y to be worn all the time. That, however, might be changing as more and more brands try to present their smartwatches with a more refined appearance. Apple is, of course, quite ahead of the game with the Apple Watch Series 2 and its many stylish variants, many of which are the result of team-ups with sportswear and luxury fashion brands. One more noteworthy option is the Apple Watch Edition, which now comes in stunning bright white ceramic. Extremely durable but also lustrously sleek, this smartwatch easily elevates power suits and casual looks…

“I'M COLORBLIND SO IT'S ALL A TAD TRICKY” People know Eddie Redmayne as an incredibly versatile actor who doesn’t shy away from challenging roles. From portraying Stephen Hawking in 2014’s “The Theory of Everything” to his recent magical venture as Newt Scamander in the “Harry Potter” spinoff “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Redmayne never fails to leave a lasting impression. The movie industry and theater aren’t the only ones to take a liking to the London-born star, though. Burberry, the quintessential British fashion brand, had him fronting their campaigns both in 2008 and 2012. More recently, fashion house Prada appointed him as the face of their fall/winter ’16 collection, while luxury watch brand Omega also tapped Redmayne as their brand ambassador. Moving beyond acting and endorsements, Redmayne’s on…

RESIDENT EVIL 7: BIOHAZARD By Capcom Platform PC, PS4, Xbox One Release January 2017 Ever since its fourth main game, the “Resident Evil” series has leaned more toward actionpacked gameplay. “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” aims to return to the franchise’s roots of survival-horror while introducing a brand new first-person perspective. The rest of the game, however, will remain true to the series’ original style including scarce ammunition and intricate puzzles. Finally, cutting-edge graphics will ensure that the horror element will actually be horrifying. DEAD RISING 4 By Microsoft Studios Platform PC, Xbox One Release December 2016 Forgoing the doom and gloom of the usual portrayal of a zombie apocalypse, the “Dead Rising” games live and breathe hilarity. And creativity, as players are challenged to find ever more absurd weapon or…

Bowls of Happiness After their success in Bali and to cater to the need for a quick and healthy meal among trendy Jakartans, Nalu Bowls has opened a new place in the hip area of Kemang (Jl. Kemang Timur No.69E, South Jakarta; +62 822 1151 1984; nalubowls.com). This makes it the sixth outlet for the self-proclaimed pioneer of Bali’s smoothie bowl craze. The Kemang outlet is done mostly in white, with a quirky piece of art dominating one side of the place and plenty of wooden furniture. As of the time of writing, there are six different bowls on offer, and all six are most definitely Insta-worthy. Of these, two of the most recommended would be the Mavericks (for acai berry fans) and J-bay (for a healthy helping of peanut…

HERITAGE BLACK BAY BRONZE The launch of theHeritage Black Bayline was very timely,considering the riseof vintage-inspiredtimepieces in recent years.Furthermore, the HeritageBlack Bay Bronze opensup a whole new chapterfor Tudor, since eachindividual case coulddevelop different patinasas they age. Moreover, theslightly enlarged designinevitably presents anintriguing sight, even towatch connoisseurs whoare already familiar withTudor’s fine collections. Aside from the uniquecase, details on the dialand the bezel are certainlyattention-grabbing. Theunique watchstraps,meanwhile, deserve adiscerning look on theirown. The fabric strap madeusing beige and brownwoven jacquard with acentral yellow thread wasinspired by one of theTudor watch models forthe French Navy. Vintagenuances are also embodiedin the other strap optionwhich uses aged brownleather whose angled cutexudes a rustic effect. Given the larger casesize, the Heritage BlackBay Bronze now runs ona different movement:caliber MT5601. Thisautomatic movement wasalso entirely developed,manufactured…

Louis Vuitton is on a roll this year. One solid indicator of this is how the brand’s pop-up stores are, well, popping up all over the world. Earlier this year, DA MAN covered the one in Bangkok, Thailand, which showcased highlights from the brand’s spring/summer 2016 collection inspired by the wildlife of Southeast Asia. There are already plans for new pop-up stores in Beijing and Milan early next year, but for the closing months of 2016, Louis Vuitton went to Berlin, London and now to our neighbor down south: Sydney, Australia. Australians in general tend to dress rather conservatively, with a preference for function over fashion. So, their reaction to Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2017 collection, which is an homage by men’s creative director Kim Jones to African inspirations with a…

Coat of Honor The majority of fall/winter shows are, obviously, all about outerwear. This year, however, no coat shape was more popular than the humble duffel coat. Color-wise, neutral tones still dominate. Still, there are plenty of fresh takes on the classic duffel coat look through sartorial additions like hoodies and shearling along with other smaller embellishments. Bombs Away Bomber jackets were a huge hit last year, and this season they came back even stronger. The MA-1 model, in particular, is making a huge splash. With a single zippered pocket on the left sleeve proclaiming its identity, the current incarnation of the venerable bomber comes with a wide range of upgrades, from bulkier silhouettes to non-traditional hues and even colorblocking style. As always, they can easily become the focal point…

Cuff Love One of the most iconic watches from Hermès is the Cape Cod model. The square dial contained in a rectangular case is the brainchild of Henri d’Origny, the brand’s artistic director whose Carré scarves have become something of an institution in haute couture. For the watch line’s 25th anniversary, the automatic Cape Cod watch for men is reinvented with a masculine-looking leather cuff. The brown natural Barenia calfskin makes for a versatile look, whereas the black or Veronese green alligator skin makes for a powerful statement piece. Cuffs are, simply put, the new NATO strap. Inner Drive Cushion-shaped timepieces are gaining momentum in the world of watches. Drive de Cartier leads the pack with a sophisticated combo of a cushion-shaped front case and a round case-back. The dial…

JOANNE Lady Gaga It’s quite understandable if sometimes you simply feel that you’ve had enough of Lady Gaga. But her latest release has successfully (and surprsingly) unearthed a different side of her musicality. Soft-rock nuances abound, and this time around it’s actually her voice that takes center stage instead of the usual blasting drums and sick disco beats she used to rely on. Interestingly, the album’s titular track, “Joanne,” refers to the singer’s aunt who passed away back in 1974 but left a lasting impact on her extended family. And family did arise as an unexpected topic in this intriguing record. In short, this is Lady Gaga in a new light. BACK FROM THE EDGE James Arthur The winner of “The X Factor 2012” has bounced back strong after a…

What makes a good whisky? It seems a little paradoxical to say that it takes more than just taste to define the true quality of a good whisky. Scotch whiskies, in particular, are cultural heritages that are passed down from generation to generation. While the techniques and ingredients may vary slightly from one another, the core of it all remains the same. In short, casks or wooden barrels where the whisky is matured before it is ready to be consumed are the key to achieving the finest notes of flavor, smell and color. A whisky is, therefore, a much more natural product than most people would realize, since the choice of wood for the casks makes up as much as 80 percent of the character of the beverage. What “Rare”…

Last October, Ben Stiller spoke out about his battle with prostate cancer. Appearing on “The Howard Stern Show,” the actor and director talked about how he was diagnosed with the disease, the subsequent surgery and how he has been cancer-free for two years. What really stood out from Stiller’s story, however, was how little early warning he had. “It came out of the blue for me,” he pointed out. “I had no idea.” Many have taken this story as a wakeup call of sorts. On the other hand, uncertainty and unease about the disease (the popular image associated with prostate cancer has always been a physician putting on a glove to shove a finger where the sun don’t shine) has caused many men to put off or avoid getting tested.…

Earlier this year, in February to be exact, DA MAN was invited to attend the opening of Louis Vuitton’s pop-up store in Bangkok, Thailand, and to chat with the brand’s creative director for menswear. This November, I head south to Australia to attend the opening of Louis Vuitton’s newest pop-up store in Sydney and another chance to pick the brains of the legendary Kim Jones. After a brief stop at the pop-up store at the Westfield Sydney shopping center, I walk to the Louis Vuitton store on George Street and go up to the seventh floor, which is arranged almost like a modern gallery with a display of classic Louis Vuitton trunks and the occasional contemporary piece. Then Kim Jones enters the room. It is, to be perfectly honest, a…

Professional athletes, as it turns out, make for good model material. Maybe it’s due to the discipline forged through years of training, or maybe it’s simply being used to stay focused on the job even as thousands watch on. Of course, having a solid physique sculpted through the aforementioned years of training certainly helps. And more often than not, there’s an intriguing story behind the journey from field to runway. Case in point: John Halls. We first had the chance to chat with Halls for the spring/summe ’15 issue of DAMAN Style, where he talked about his career-ending injury, how he coped with it and about his transformation into a full-fledged model. Now, nearly two years afterwards, the British model’s back in the magazine with more stories about himself, the…

RAILROAD The Swiss have longenjoyed one of the mosttimely train services in theworld. This, of course, goeshand-in-hand with theirwatchmaking heritage.Longines embraced bothworlds with the distinctlookingRailroad watch. While the originaldesign from the 1960sbears the inscription“R.R 280” (referencing “Rail Road” and “280” for the movement caliber), this new edition features the updated automatic movement caliber L888.2, hence the new “888” inscription. Complemented with a black alligator leather strap, the modern 40mm stainless steel Railroad watch looks every bit the timeless vintage. HERITAGE MILITARY Longines’ original Heritage Military watch, which debuted in 1918, is still kept at the brand’s headquarters in Saint-Imier, Switzerland. Today, Longines reissues the watch with a matte black dial in a 44mm case. The extra space allows the dial to accommodate 12 easyto-read Arabic numerals.Legibility remains crucial on any…

Themed “The Millennials,” the Plaza Indonesia Men’s Fashion Week (PIMFW) 2016 show presented the free-spirited nature of young men through the collections of 13 brands. The event—which marks PIMFW’s seventh year— lasted from September 21 to 24 and attracted a vast audience including plenty of celebrities and notable fashion enthusiasts to The Warehouse, at the fifth level of Plaza Indonesia. As an official media partner of the event, DA MAN recounts the highlights of the first two days right from the front row of PIMFW 2016’s runways. DAY ONE Opening the first day of PIMFW 2016 was young designer Rama Dauhan with his eccentric collection called, quite aptly, Eccentrica. The show marked his first ever collection for men and was meant to portray the naivety and excitement of a circus…