Category: Style
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MOTORING: Imagine A World Designed By Ford
What do a chaise-lounge (above), a boat, a table football game and a guitar have in common? Apart from the fact you won’t be able to fit any of them in their brand new super vehicle, the Ford GT, they are in fact the imaginations of Ford’s design team.
Given free reign to design and re-imagine everyday products, Ford design teams from around the globe were able to forget their normal remit and go beyond automotive design to create products that showcase their prowess as a design company and their innovative research tools. At the world’s most prestigious international design expo, Salone del Mobile exhibition in Milan, Ford unveiled the beautifully sleek modern lines of everyday objects redefined.
Incredibly the design team are now using eye-tracking technology to collect data about what bits of the car we love and perhaps more importantly to them, we hate. They’re collecting biometrics to see what turns us on and off about their products. Sounds a little Big Brotherish? It’s all for us as customers I’m assured. As consumers, we’ve never been so choosy and a brand’s place in the world is no longer a given. There are many competitors in this crowded space. We as consumers want perfection. We want more bang for our pound. We want connectivity and we want it now.
With technology becoming an ever increasing factor in our lives, as newspapers and traditional magazines give way to digital offerings, as MP3s give way to streaming and Netflix looks more and more attractive than Network TV, Amko Leenarts, Global Interiors Design Director suggests that in the near future that touch-screen technology and tablet incorporation could feature. The car is your personal space for you to connect with. Where before automotive designers were looking to perhaps build a car we could age happily in, the design pulse is modern, it’s millennial, it’s generation Z.
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REVIEW: Diamond White Home Teeth Whitening Kit
Being a black coffee drinker and red wine guzzler, one’s smile isn’t always as sparkly white as a Royal Doulton china dinner set. Over the years I’ve tried various different ways to keep my gnashers looking as close to Simon Cowell’s as possible.
I’ve given every brand of whitening toothpaste a bash but with no noticeable results.
For an instant result, laser whitening works. I went through this process about four years ago. The dentist covers your gums and lips to protect them. Then applies Zoom whitening gel to your fangs and sticks a laser in your gob. The Zoom whitening laser light and gel work together to penetrate the surface layers of your teeth to remove stains and discolouration, it should last a year.
If you have sensitive teeth like I do it’s not the most comfortable way to spend 45mins. Sporadically it felt as though someone was sticking a pin into one of my teeth and piercing through to the nerve. My teeth did look about three to four shades lighter afterwards. But at £495 a pop, laser isn’t for every bank balance.
My dentist also made moulds of my ivories to make whitening trays, so I could continue using the Zoom whitening gel and maintain my youthful smile. But the hydrogen peroxide contained in the gel gave me electric-like-shocks, even hours after using them. All for the bargain price of £250 for the trays and three syringes of gel.
Not having used the Zoom gel for over two years, I jumped at the opportunity to test Diamond Whites (DW) home whitening kit. I was introduced to Charlotte from DW and my first question to her: ‘is the process painful?’. Charlotte assured me DW’s kit is pain-free.
The Home Whitening Kit comes with two whitening syringes, 1 mouth tray, 1 activator spray, 1 whitening pen and toothpaste – all of which costs under £40. I was also given an LED light which are sold separately.
The instructions tell you to keep to a white diet while you’re whitening, which I did as much as possible.
First up on DW’s instructions: mould the mouth tray to your teeth by placing the trays in hot water for 20 seconds to soften. Then place the softened trays around your not-so-pearly-whites and bite for a further 20 secs to create a mould of your teeth. Great idea but about as effective as Labour’s last manifesto. I was left with a slight bite mark at the bottom of both trays. I used the trays my dentist made.
Next, spray the activator spray on a dry toothbrush and brush your dentures for 30 secs.
Step three, similarly to the Zoom, syringe about 1-2ml of the DW gel into the trays then place in your north-and-south for 20-30 mins with the LED light. The light is supposed to accelerate the whitening process. It looks and feels like you’ve an oversized dummy wedged in ya chops, but on the plus side no pain.
After said time you remove all the mouth-clutter a brush with DW toothpaste. I put this into practice for one week. I’m not blinding people with my smile, but there is a noticeable difference. Some of that difference does seem to wear off by the end of the day. My teeth are shinier and a tad whiter.
The Whitening Pen is for touch ups and is about as useful as the DW mouth trays.
The moral of this story: no pain, no gain.
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Would You Wear These Pride Trainers By Adidas
Adidas has just announced that to celebrate LGBT Pride Month, it has colourfully redesigned its signature sneakers – dubbing the collection the “Pride Pack.”
Among the redesigned footwear is Adidas’ flagship shoe the Stan Smith, which commemorates 1965 as the year the sneaker went into production along with one of the first LGBT pickets held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1965.
The brand also gave its Superstar sneaker (released in 1969 – the same year as the Stonewall Riots) the pride treatment.
Adidas says it’s donating a portion of the proceeds from the shoes to New Avenues for Youth, an organisation geared toward assisting homeless youth. The colourful trainers will be hitting select stores worldwide on June 6.
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4 Summer Essentials For A Gay Boy About Town
Dive into summer (yes it’s finally here) with these four sun embracing must-haves chosen by me just for you!
- Oh the shade of it all!! Protect your peepers from harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses. Usually, I’m a Raybans boy but I did find these awesome Aviators from American Eagle for only £12. Stylish yet affordable.
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Dig out your budgie smugglers! Summer is all about that bass so make sure that your tushi is covered only in the best that swimwear has to offer. This year I’m sunning it in bright, bold printed trunks by Aussie Bum and The Swim Shop. I like a tight fit with enough room to cup my junk and these definitely deliver.
Cheetah Animal Print, Aussie Bum – £23.19
Twilight Lagoon Print, Aussie Bum – £22.48
Speedo Men’s Endurance, The Swim Shop – from £13
- Step into the light! Flip flops are so passé, not to mention bloody uncomfortable. I much prefer to slip my feet into a pair of Toms. So much so I just bought two pairs! All in the name of charity off course because for every pair of Toms you purchase the company will give a pair to a needy child somewhere. Winning!
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Burn baby burn! No, don’t burn, only douche bags don’t wear sun screen. A good sun screen will protect you against dark spots and skin cancer while allowing you tan like a god. There are so many great brands to chose from including Kiehl’s, Clinique, Nivea and Malibu to name but a few. I’d recommend having a selection with varying SPF levels. I like to wear a stronger SPF on my face because my mug tends to burn quickly.
It may only last a day it may last all summer but we don’t care, this is Britain! Go out there, get yourself a Mr Whippy and enjoy Summer!!
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Sexy Lingerie For Men Is Here
Sexy Lingerie For Men Is Here at Last (!)
According to a report in The Independent today it appears that is not just women who are interested in wearing sexy lingerie nowadays. In fact some Australian men have been wearing it for years, and now the brand HommeMystere that was launched in 2008, was recently was made available to buy online and has since been attracting customers from across 30 countries.
The label was created by couple Brent and Lara Krause who wanted to give men more choice beyond our standard tighty whities. They offer a wide variety of lace-trimmed boxer briefs, suspenders, racy thongs and even bras, also known as manssieres, and whilst all the lingerie pieces look like women’s underwear, they are specifically designed to fit a male body.
HommeMystere describe their customers as “male, married and older than 40 with impeccable taste.’ “He has discerning taste in underwear and wants luxury garments, but does not need to show it off to others. He wants something new and exciting to buy. Our goal has always been to offer an alternative style of underwear for men, based on their physique rather than their sexuality,” the company says on its website.
Despite many people thinking the designs are meant to cater primarily for the LGBT community, a survey carried by the brand has actually revealed that 90% of customers are in heterosexual relationships.
Explaining why men like to wear sexy hosiery, founder Brent recently told ‘The Huffington Post’ ”I think bras are just something they [men] like the feel of. I don’t know whether it’s the tightness around the chest or what it is, but it’s definitely the feeling that they’re after.’
The Jury is definitely out on this one at TheGayUK but if this your ‘thing’ then shop away at https://www.hommemystere.com
@RogerWalkerDack
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Do You Have Facial Faeces?
Sporting a lumbersexual beard may not be as hot as you think according to a survey conducted by a TV news crew in New Mexico.
When microbiologist John Golobic, of Quest Diagnostics swabbed a few beards even he was shocked at what he discovered. Several of them contained normal bacteria, but some contained so much poo they were comparable to toilets.
Mr. Golobic announced that if there were similar samples in the water system, then it would have to be shut down for disinfecting.
‘Those are the types of things you’d find in (fecal matter),’ he added.
Urgh. So think twice before you kiss your man with his hairy face, unless of course you actually are turned on by this news.
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REVIEW: eDermastamp – Our Lunchtime Facelift
It is with some hesitation that I do anything to interfere with my face. Creams yes, pills yes, needles in the face in the name of a more youthful complexion? I wasn’t so sure.
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The Gayest Object In The World
Today, the world’s first and only ‘gay’ object – a sweater knit from the donated hair of more than 100 LGBT people – makes its debut during Toronto Fashion Week.
- Sweater made out the hair of 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people
- Thought to be the only product in the world that is 100% “gay”
- Made to highlight the correct use of the word “gay” and end the misuse of the word.
Appearing ahead of this summer’s upcoming Pride Week celebrations in Toronto, New York, San Francisco and London, The Gay Sweater was created to make people everywhere understand that it is incorrect and offensive to use language like ‘that’s so gay’ to negatively describe something. #TheGaySweater also aims to raise awareness of the detrimental effects that such misuse of the word ‘gay’ has on LGBT youth. The project is an initiative of The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD).
“The idea for the sweater was born from a desire to educate and encourage everyone to use ‘gay’ the correct way,” said Jeremy Dias, director of the CCGSD. “We want the conversation that surrounds the gay sweater to inspire those who are using ‘gay’ in a detrimental way to both realise the negative impact their words and actions are having and change their behaviour.”
Along with the sweater, a short film at thegaysweater.ccgsd-ccdgs.org gives voice to youth who have been impacted by the derogatory use of the word ‘gay’ and showcases the process that went into creating the one-of-a-kind sweater. Using the sweater and the film, the CCGSD is hoping to start a much-needed conversation that encourages everyone to think before they use hurtful words like ‘gay’ in a negative way. Readers can follow that conversation and all sweater-related content on the website and by searching the hashtag #TheGaySweater.
Stylist Jennifer McConville of CBC News Now will be styling models wearing the sweater at David Pecaut Square on Tuesday, March 24th between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. (EDT).
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Shaving Time Off Your Daily Shave
With a research budget that some small nations could be jealous of, there’s 2 billion reasons why Gillette is the number one shaver brand worldwide. The ever expansion of brilliantly developed products, the razor industry is about to get another revelation.
After years of exploration Gillette tackles the final frontiers in the wet shave, your chin, your cheeks, your jowls, and your jawbone… Yes all those highly contoured areas of the face have caused issues with razor to skin contact in the past, but now, thanks to 20,000 test shaves per year and over a decade of investigation, FlexBall TM is their answer, resulting, hopefully in a more comfortable more efficient shave.
Using their best razor cartridge, the Fusion ProGlide along with their best FlexBall handle, Gillette has created a unique answer to a unique problem, and this is just one their current innovations. Those ideas are still bubbling away in their innovation centre here in the UK, where every colleague is encouraged to share their thoughts about future products. Lead Research Scientist, who has worked with the company for 18 years, Kristina Vannosthuyze, smiles and says, “We shave with our ideas…”
Gillette® Fusion ProGlide with NEW FlexBall Technology razors will be available in selected retailers from 17th February 2015 with a suggested retail price of £12 (manual) and £15 (power).
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Metrosexual Is Out And Lumbersexual Is In
The days of the well-groomed metrosexual man might soon be over as the “lumbersexual” trend takes precedence.
Who exactly are they? Well, this is the new term for hot hipsters who look like lumberjacks?
How do you spot them? The lumbersexual man is essentially an urban woodsman; he’s brawny, wears expensive flannel, has an impressive beard that is painstakingly unkempt and represents the ultimate sense of carefully calculated manliness.
Where can you find them? Well certainly not in the forest chopping down trees. They hang out in hipster bars and instead of wielding an axe, they will probably be carrying a macbook pro.
Are they gay? Well that is the $64000 question. Yes and No. This new trend has been adopted by straight men too, so you are going to have to trust your gaydar to find out before you start stroking his beard.