5 minute read
On the Street
Influenced by rock, punk and pop stars from across the decades, Blenheim hair stylist Max Claasen has a unique style that is expressed through custom-made pieces, prints, and of course, accessories.
What are you wearing today?
An oversized charcoal box tee from Hallensteins, white Obey Carpenter jeans from Overflow, Dr. Marten 1460 Pascal boots from CREW. Accessories are a black leather belt with silver eyelets from Glassons, G-Shock watch from Pascoes, Stolen Girlfriends Club silver shark teeth earrings and Scorpio wrist chain from Thomas’s and my Carhart military cross body bag from Farfetch (online) - I love this thing it’s indestructible.
What is your style?
Individualism, loosely based on current fashion trends and styles. I enjoy a wide range of music genres and find my style influenced by rock, punk and pop stars. I really love contrasting oversized garments and form-fitting ones and I enjoy mixing basic neutrals with loud statement pieces.
What is most of your wardrobe made up of?
Neutrals for mostly weaving into my work wardrobe as well as lots of sturdy versatile statement pieces. I have a lot of patterned Cuban-style shirts that are great as statement pieces, or even just to throw over the top of any basic outfit. I have a pretty big interest in shoes and I love sneakers, anything from a hi-top to a slip-on skate shoe. And obviously, everyone needs a good pair of boots. My pant rotation is made up of loose y2k cargo pants, Carpenter jeans and wide-leg black pants.
What are you loving at the moment?
I love a throwback. So anything from the 70s, 90s and early 2000s. I’m also a big fan of anything futuristic or ethereal.
What are you dressed for today?
Mostly work, but also for me. I try to express myself in any situation I can.
Where do you buy most of your clothes from?
I support local businesses as much as I can, but when I’m looking for something special or unique, I go online.
What is your approach to shopping?
If I can’t afford to purchase something I like I’ll usually have a go at making it myself, I’d rather miss the mark and be left with something unique than break the bank just to be like everyone else. I go for quality over quantity, I’ve still got clothes I’ve had for eight years that I wear every day.
Do you have a style rule you always obey?
Accessorise, and accessorise again.
If you could raid one person’s wardrobe, who would it be?
Anybody from Måneskin. I love those sexy Italians.
Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…
Skinny jeans.
Sarah Brown
Stress and immunity
It’s been a rough winter this year for many of us, with a lot of illness around. And while diet, exercise, sleep and hygiene can all make a difference, Dr Marissa Kelaher says stress is an area that’s not discussed much, despite the fact it has a huge effect on our immune system.
Studies looking at how stress affects immunity are intriguing and give us a better insight into the role of stress and health. Our sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system communicates directly with our immune (lymphatic) tissue via nerve fibres. Even previous stress and trauma can be remembered by our immune system and is part of why there is such a strong link between stress and conditions like autoimmune disease and allergies. Cortisol (our stress hormone) also impacts immunity by altering our immune response and white blood cells. Plus, stress affects immunity via its impact on our day-to-day life. When we are stressed, we are more likely to do things that are bad for our immune system (such as eating poorly, not sleeping, not exercising, withdrawing from social contact, and smoking or drinking alcohol. Short and long-term stress affect us differently. Acute stresses (lasting a few minutes or hours) actually help our immunity by boosting immune cell numbers and activity. This is part of our survival response, as it helps our body cope with threat or injury. It’s also how ‘hormetic’ stresses such as exercise, fasting, or coldwater bathing work by creating a short, controlled stressor that stimulates our immune system. Chronic stress has a very different effect, by suppressing immunity, and making us more likely to catch infections. This is why infections such as herpes or shingles can reactivate during times of stress. One of the first studies looking at this was in the 1980s, where blood samples were taken from medical students before and during end of year exams. It showed that T cell and NK cell (white blood cell) levels dropped significantly under stress, and the severity correlated with stress levels. Hundreds of studies have looked into stress and immunity since and have found similar effects, especially in older people, or people with depression. Another study looked at first year college students and found the higher their stress levels and the more socially isolated they were, the less they responded to a flu vaccine.
Fortunately, there are many proven ways to improve immunity when we’re stressed - they all involve ‘dialling down’ our stress response. The following have all been shown to reduce stress hormones, and measurably improve our immune function:
• journalling • connecting with others • meditation and breathwork • exercise and time in nature • sleep In practice, most things that reduce stress are likely to help immunity, the key is having tools you can use, and making them part of your day-to-day life.
