Table of contents for August - September 2021 in Da Man

The past couple of months has been, let’s just say, eventful. And the scope of happenings that have defined this time period has been astonishing, to say the least. At one end of the spectrum, we have local lockdowns that have been extended multiple times, at the other we have the festivities and excitement of the Tokyo Olympics. But perhaps it’s what’s in between that’s most encouraging. More and more people are getting vaccinated, countries—not all, but quite a few—are reopening their borders to travelers and in places where things have begun heading towards normalcy, offline events are starting to pop up here and there. Case in point: Our annual DA MAN Party resurfaces in Chicago. You can find glimpses of the celebrations in our similarly just-reopened Guest Book section.…

Poetic Melancholy As we enter the second half of 2021, Dior unveils a new campaign highlighting its Winter 2021-2022 collection for men. Through this seasonal collection, Kim Jones reinterprets formal wear, a captivating source of inspiration and an ever-reinvented reference to the house’s heritage. More to the point, each look exalts the excellent craftsmanship of the Dior Ateliers and celebrates the singular enchantment of British artist Peter Doig’s paintings. The campaign itself was photographed by Rafael Pavarotti and features models Thatcher Thornton, Woosang Kim, Djibril N’diaye along with Jean. “Raphael Pavarotti really gave a contemporary twist to this Dior men’s Winter 2021-2022 campaign,” said Kim Jones. “The photographs are like paintings, with a color palette inspired by Peter Doig’s universe. It’s a mix between modernity and poetic melancholy.” Bloom’s The…

A Golden Sun Tom Ford Beauty appointed South Korean actor Hyun Bin as the Asia Pacific Tom Ford Fragrance Attaché. Having swooned audiences all over the world through the “Crash Landing on You” drama series, he made his ambassadorship debut in the campaign for the new Private Blend Soleil Brûlant. The fragrance captures the high-shine brilliance of the golden sun beaming on a private oasis. The sun-kissed freshness of mandarin and bergamot mingles with spicy pink peppercorn, while orange flower absolute and a note of radiant black honey release a seductive vapor. The background brings the burnished warmth of decadent amber embellished with resins and woods. An air of vetiver and leather stokes the smokiness of extravagant incense. Striking Sensation Ludovic Bonneton was an adventurous perfume collector who founded Bon…

Calling All Aviators Watchmaking and aviation share a preoccupation with accuracy, precision and strong, light materials. “Air Time: Watches Inspired by Aviation, Aeronautics and Pilots” by Mark Bernardo is a comprehensive reference for watch connoisseurs to explore a century of stylish timepieces inspired by—and actually built for—aviation, aeronautics and space exploration, and piloting. Chapters showcase historical milestones such as Cartier’s development of the first men’s wristwatch for Alberto Santos-Dumont, Charles Lindbergh’s invention of the Longines Hour Angle and the Omega Speedmaster, the first watch to land on the moon. Also featured are iconic timepieces such as the Breitling Navitimer, IWC Big Pilot’s Watch, Breguet Type XX and Rolex GMT-Master. Informative and compelling, this fascinating guide is the perfect gift for connoisseurs of timepieces, aviation and travel. 3 MORE HOT READS…

For an acute insomniac, getting a good night’s sleep is an everyday battle. Getting a good amount of sleep is incredibly important for your health, as sleep helps your body and brain function properly. A good night’s sleep can also boost your ability to learn as well as your memory, decision-making and even creativity. And what’s worse, getting insufficient sleep has been link to a higher risk of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. “SOMETIMES, VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES CAN BE A ROOT CAUSE OF SLEEP DISRUPTION. THAT MEANS THAT ONE OR MORE OF THESE NUTRIENTS MAY BE ALL THAT’S STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND RESTORATIVE REST” WHAT CAUSES INSOMNIA? There are a lot of factors that can cause sleeping problems, with the common culprits being stress, irregular sleep schedule, anxiety…

Around the mid-2010s, a young Jon Herrmann walked in his first runway show and appeared in his first professional photo shoot. Then, about a year later, he began finding himself in front of film cameras as a professional actor. And this year, Herrmann just added “certified personal trainer” to his résumé. It goes without saying that his journey through these three paths—and the insights he gathered from all three—make for quite a compelling story. DAMAN: Hi, Jon. Great to have you onboard for this edition. What keeps you busy these days? Jon Herrmann: Hey, there! Most of my days look like reading, working out, taking acting classes, training people and working on modeling jobs. On days off, I love to hit the beach, play sports, catch up with friends and…

June 2021 saw a return of this magazine’s most exciting annual tradition: the DA MAN Party. Only this time, the festive spirit of the magazine’s anniversary materialized all the way in Chicago, and was also held in conjunction with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021. Hosting the event were a trio of friends of the magazine: event specialist Jon Cotay, photographer Aldrin Del Carmen and Artspace8 gallery owner Fidel Rodriguez who graciously provided the venue for the event. Adding an extra touch of fashion to the party were Wyatt Engeman from Ford Models as well as a special presentation by Select Model Chicago. And keeping spirits up throughout the party in more ways than one were event partners Mamitas, Drink Basic, Rivers Casino Des Plaines, Go Grocer and Joy Yee…

Reliable and adaptive for as long as we can remember, suits are a big part of the fall/winter 2021 season as designers experiment with and reinvent the very principles of tailoring. As can be expected, this translated into multiple silhouettes and fits. For instance, in Alexander McQueen’s case, creative director Sarah Burton emphasizes a restrained approach that puts form over façade. This season, the brand’s suits mirrored designs from the womenswear line, while delivering impeccable tailoring, as always. They complement the brand’s youthful edge for the season, but comes with a dash of sportiness. This particular double-breasted blazer in indigo is our highlight of the month. The big, bold brooch gracing the lapels provide a subtle detail to accompany the not-so-subtle beefy black boots to complete the look.…

Going On a World Tour As part of its fall/winter 2021 collection, Dior presents the Dior World Tour capsule collection. In it, the maison showcases a series of its signature accessories are now revisited in five vivid colors—yellow, red, blue, green and black—featuring a monochrome series of the Dior Oblique motif. One of the key pieces from Dior’s menswear lineup, the calfskin B27 sneakers, have been reinvented in a unique perforated leather reflecting innovative savoir-faire. Available as a limited edition, the new B27 sneakers come in a specially designed leather shoe case for easy hand-carrying or over-the-shoulder wear. Also included in the capsule collection are a cardholder, a clutch and a Saddle belt bag with interchangeable straps and buckles. If nothing else, the World Tour capsule speaks to Dior’s capability…

Out of The House DON’T BREATHE 2 Stars Stephen Lang, Brendan Sexton III, Madelyn Grace Director Rodo Sayagues Following the critical and commercial success of the first film, Stephen Lang reprises his role as Norman Nordstorm aka the Blind Man in “Don’t Breathe 2.” Unlike its predecessor, this sequel will eventually move the infamous character out of his home and reveal how he will operate in a new environment. Having been hiding out for years in an isolated cabin, the Blind Man has taken in and raised a young girl orphaned from a house fire. Their quiet existence is shattered when a group of kidnappers show up and take the girl, forcing the Blind Man to leave his safe haven to save her. Confronting the Past SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND…

One thing for sure, Richard Kyle is no stranger to photo shoots. However, Kyle was definitely still quite new to the idea of doing one without much in the way of direct human interaction. He admits that the situation isn’t easy for anyone in this world, himself included, but trying to look at the bright side of things is what keeps him going. “This unprecedented situation changed everything. It’s affected a lot of people’s lives, including yours and mine. It changed the way we think, the way we live our life, the way we move forward. And especially it makes us more aware and careful with the actions we make,” explains the Australian-born actor, presenter and model. “But we have to push through, to live life and move forward, to…

Longines has long made a name for itself by creating timepieces as well as timing instruments for aviators and various sports. The storied Swiss watch brand also has quite a long history in the realm of diving watches—a history marked by quite a few technical achievements. This branch in Longines’ history goes all the way back to 1937 with the Longines ref. 4270, which the world’s first Chronograph with patented waterproof push-buttons and a flyback function. The early 1940s then saw the brand create watches for the Royal Navy’s frogmen, followed by the birth of the Longines Nautilus Skin Diver—the first Longines divers’ watch for civilians—in 1958 and so on. Interestingly, some of these flagship pieces have since been re-issued as part of an “immersion in heritage.” This includes the…

All Things Leather As one of the most timeless wardrobe staples, leather has become one of the biggest menswear trends this season. Quite a few designers have rolled out their own takes on this versatile material, from the ultra-long coats by Fendi, bomber jacket silhouettes from Hermès or the 1970s-inspired styles over at Casablanca. As a final note, this season also sees leather in luxurious lacquered finishes for a more lavish mood. Caught Red-Handed If there is one color that caught our attention this season, well, let’s just say we were caught red-handed looking at these flashes of red on the runways of London, Paris and Milan. Though some hints were there since last season, this time, red has gone full tilt: Fresh shades of scarlet, vermilion or cherry are…

3 MOST RECOMMENDED 1 Duvaderm Microfoam Cleanser is an all-in-one foam cleanser made to remove dirt and pore-clogging debris with panthenol to boost skin hydration and toning, along with licorice extract which has anti-inflammatory property. Specially formulated for all skin types. 2 His Erha Gentle Acne Essence All in One is the first multi-function essence made for men with oily and acne-prone skin type. It helps fight against acne by controlling excess oil, and hydrating and calming the skin. 3 Combat stubborn blemishes and breakouts with the Tea Tree and Lemon Spot Treatment from Sensatia Botanicals, a lightweight ointment designed specifically for acne-prone skin. Nourishing and non-comedogenic, it treats problem areas without blocking pores. Face to Face with Maskne As this era of face masks being essentials persists, it has…

There are a lot of reasons why people adopt plant-based diets. Some focus on the ethical cost of industrialized animal farming, others grow concerned with the environmental impact along with the economic strain that actually entails meat production. Then there are also those who are attracted by the health benefits of exchanging meat for plant-based foods or plant-based meat substitutes. The biggest barrier to entry for would-be adopters is, more often than not, the perceived lack of options. Even if you agree with all the social, moral and practical reasons to go plant-based, giving up satay, fried chicken, surf ‘n’ turf and other meaty goodness is not always easy. It certainly doesn’t help that traditional alternatives to meat like tofu and tempeh—despite their popularity across the region—are often considered inferior,…