The Executive by Pedro Pereira

TEAM

Editorial editor-in-chief sam amrani Deputy Editor in Chief george coombes editors alexa downing ricahrd morgan

Contributors sam amrani george coombes eric orlowski mathew taffee alexa downing richard morgan alex waring taro shimada olga ackroyd william tarvainen pim kos ilona malinen

Creative

Business

head of business development juuso hyvarinen business head of photography development manager norman tamkivi alfons gudmundsson creative director pedro garcia pereira

photographers jannus jagom채gi william henry scott witold orlowski illustrator nuno rodrigues guest graphic designer sam kang kim photographic contributions shutterstock google images BAFTA/Stephen Butler BAFTA/Jonny Birch The View from The Shard Julian Shoquette Victoria and Albert Museum, London www.alanwilliamsphotography.com

Marketing & Sales director of strategy eric orlowski marketing manager ben hudson pr manager alina weckstrom sales manager till barsch taro shimada

11 BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY

Panda Power: Has China found the perfect product?

16 All work and no play 18 Here lies GAME

Piracy V Streaming

Scent appeal?

24 The Kids Aren’t Alright happened to the 30 What richest

FASHION&STYLE

Fashion in the West End

71 London Lux 78 The Suit and the Shirt

The most expensive Android you’ll ever buy

40 Asus Zenbook UX31 Eee Pad Transformer 44 ASUS Prime

Samsung series 9

NFC

52 EE starts the 4G revolution

Going out in style

Professional Escorts

88 Viajante 94 BAFTA Red Carpet

CONTENTS PAGE

TRAVEL&CULTURE

108 112 115

Borneo iPaint

120 123

The Art of Lunch

Crime and Punishment

TOP Tens

134 SUBSCRIPTIONS

It is my pleasure to bring you the inaugural issue of The Executive – the first free luxury men’s lifestyle magazine. We have worked hard on bringing this concept to life, and have included a potpourri of great journalism, engaging reviews and stunning photography with a talented, dedicated and enthusiastic team. The Executive has been born in the heart of London, so we’ve felt it only natural to focus issue one on this great city, and its achievements over the fantastic year that was 2012, and how 2013 can possibly compete. Our cover was taken at the opening of the tallest building in Western Europe, The Shard, whose viewing platform has just opened. The stunning laser display that took place at the completion of the build summed up the nature of our first issue, with London’s year placing it firmly at the centre of the world and was therefore the inspiration for our first front cover. In a fast paced metropolis such as London, we’ve found it a mammoth challenge to pick and choose the things we would like to share with you across such a diverse cross section of topics. So with a fine balance of business, technology, style, culture travel and fashion, we have meticulously combed through the finest of products, locations and hottest topics in order to bring you an engaging and hopefully unique magazine experience. We hope 2013 will prove to become another mind-blowing year for London, and despite a brutally long and cold winter, London has shown its plucky resolve with stunning events such as the BAFTA’s and London Fashion Week already kicking off this year to a fantastic start. May is really the month where London gears up into full swing, and for us at The Executive it makes our timing even more appropriate. So without further delay, all I can say is please enjoy the rest of our first issue, and don’t forget to follow The Executive on Twitter and Facebook, and be sure to sign up to our digital issue to be the first in the know.

Sam.

Editor-In-Chief The Executive

BUSINESS

Panda Power: Has China found the perfect product? by richard morgan

he WWF have adopted it as their logo, China is said to have replaced the dragon with it, and Edinburgh Zoo received a breeding pair. But just what is our attraction to the Giant Panda?

Arguably one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most loved and recognisable endangered species, the Giant panda is no doubt a rarity. Despite the fact that the Chinese have been running breeding programmes since 1963 (a decision that has been both praised and criticised across the world), attempts to release these animals into their natural habitat have been unsuccessful and it is estimated that in addition to the 300 in captivity, there are only 1,600 left in the wild. If the aim of conservation is to ensure enough animals are reintroduced to the wild to keep the species going without human intervention, then the statistics above make it impossible to ignore the programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failure. Yet given the astronomical figures that Edinburgh Zoo spent leasing, feeding and housing the latest additions to their menagerie (somewhere in the region of ÂŁ630,000 without taking into account the salaries of vets, zoo keepers and medical care), it seems that we are a generation more obsessed with panda bears than ever. But if the panda costs five times more than the next most expensive exotic animal (an elephant) does it economically benefit the UK to have them on show? Why bother? The answer quite simply, is profit. These bears are big business, and with the presence of a panda increasing visitor numbers by as much as half (as in Adelaide Zoo, Australia), the Chinese have managed to ensure that the continued survival of the panda generates continuous healthy revenues. China has found the perfect product: a teddy bear that is worth $1m year. By monopolising the product by ensuring that every cub born - no matter where in the world - is of Chinese citizenship, the breeding programmes have been able to cash in on the demand for pandas worldwide.

BUSINESS Although Scotland will undoubtedly experience increased tourist revenue, with Edinburgh Zoo paying £600,000 each year to China to lease the pandas it is really the Chinese economy that stands to benefit the most, netting a profit of around £6m over the duration of their ten year lease. Even in the event that Tian Tian and Yang Guang produce cubs during their time in the UK, the publicity and money generated here will not alter the fact that the cubs still belong to China and have Chinese passports. Not only are breeding pandas more likely to have their lease extended, but as cubs need to spend around four years with their mother, the revenue generated for China only stands to increase further.

“it is likely that the final profit for the Chinese will be even bigger than first thought” The political gravitas of the panda also deserves consideration. In 1972 when President Nixon received two pandas after a visit to China, the bears became nothing short of a diplomatic tool, with trade relations between them and the USA improving vastly in correspondence with this gift. In 1974, following this success, British PM Edward Heath visited China and also requested a pair. Within weeks, Chia-Chia and Ching-Ching arrived in London. By 1984, the Chinese had recognised the success of their product and instigated ten year loans at $1m per annum. With pandas as high profile today as they were in the 20th century (and taking new trade links into consideration) it is likely that the final

profit for the Chinese will be even bigger than first thought. Indeed the idea of ‘panda diplomacy’ has been an issue of great concern for some, with animal welfare groups claiming that the trade of pandas puts financial gain above efforts to protect the animal for future generations. Furthermore, the success of China’s commercialisation of an endangered species begs the question whether other countries might seek to emulate the same money-spinning idea. Can conservation work without the cute factor? Could for example, Africa re-brand the rhinoceros? With only eight northern white rhinoceroses left in the world, they certainly fulfil the endangered species criteria.Yet in a country ravaged by famine and drought, Africa has neither the financial means or the political support to do the same as China. Although as China’s international profile has increased, steps have been made to help make the idea of ‘panda diplomacy’ a thing of the past, there is little doubt that China has played on the appealing image of the panda put forward by wlldlife conservationist to financial gain. As the public delight in seeing a rare animal being brought back from the brink of extinction, the Chinese are enjoying the proceeds, receiving millions of dollars in lease agreements, publicity and trade relations. As critical or cynical as we might be about this idea, it is certain that this kind of thinking has put China in the powerful economic position they hold today, with their shrewd marketing of the ‘panda product’ highlighting the characteristics that have put the country on the global stage. With Chinese resources every bit as sought after as their giant bears, we stand to learn a lot from the new emerging superpower. By attaching financial strings to the very means of their production, China continues to thrive, remaining almost entirely impervious to international criticism about their political and social policies. As a result of this, we should not expect to see China pander to diplomatic pressure any time soon.

BUSINESS

“All work and no play” Social Networking in the Workplace by richard morgan

he social and working worlds as we know them have changed forever. Technological developments have brought society into a new era that nobody could have foreseen. The advent of social media and the birth of the Smartphone have enabled people to provide others with a running commentary on their daily life, to pinpoint their location on maps and to connect to every corner of the globe almost instantaneously. But how have these developments affected the way we work?

Ironically, social media is now anything but ‘social.’ Once upon a time it was simply another platform for teenagers to showcase their social lives with their peers. Now it has become the cornerstone of corporate culture. These tools have become essential to every day trading and companies rise and fall in the time it takes to update a status.

“Social media has become the cornerstone of corporate culture” Most professional workplaces these days expect - if not demand - that their employees have smart phones, tablets or a laptop. This is a microcosmic symptom of a larger shift in contemporary work structures, one that requires employees to be continually available and constantly contactable. Indeed, the age-old excuse “I’ll get back to you when I get back to my desk,” is no longer viable. The world of Facebook and Twitter not only allows employers to track the whereabouts of their workforce, but also gives them an insight into what their staff are thinking and doing even beyond the office walls. The proviso that businesses always appear active, vital and ready to go is forcing staff well-being to take a back seat. We are participants in a marketing strategy that works by tying employees to the workplace using virtual chains. There is no doubt that Twitter and Facebook work wonders to improve the profile and profits of companies across the globe.These sites have adapted themselves to become the ultimate advertising tool, improving professional communication and generating invaluable business networks at the click of a button. However, if used carelessly these social networking tools can just as easily jeopardise company stability, risking public relations and reputations that have taken companies years to build.

Take the likes of Ford, Chevrolet, Hertz and Starbucks. All these multinational companies regularly use Twitter to inform the public of promotions, special offers and internal developments. Even if you do not follow these companies directly, Twitter relies on the prevalence of those ‘third-degree connections’ created when anyone in the Twittersphere ‘re-tweets’ a piece of information. In this way the number of audience members reached can become practically immeasurable. The development of such strategies shows clearly how technology has aided businesses to become more sophisticated in their advertising. It doesn’t take a Darwinist to see that those who have adapted to these technologies will be leading the pack for a long time. Smaller firms too are refusing to be left behind. Whilst local companies used to rely on being contacted by phone, by letter or even in person, now most professional inquiries begin with a search for a website, a Facebook page or a Twitter account. After all, who would invest their time and money in a business that appears to be failing to move with the times? In an economical climate such as the current one, consumer decisions carry more weight than ever and companies cannot afford to make the mistake of thinking that social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are irrelevant. Even though it is undeniable that technology has altered the relationship between the company and the client irreparably, it is hard to see where progression will take corporate culture next. With technology having advanced at an unprecedentedly rapid pace during the last ten years, it would surely seem that the digital age is finally running out of steam.

“We are participants in a marketing strategy that works by tying employees to the workplace using virtual chains.” Although it’s hard to visualise how social networking might progress given the recent rash of technology to hit the market, all eyes are on Apple for the next advance in innovation and product development. As companies continue to fight over the corporate pie, the one certainty seems to be that whichever slice they claim, the filling will always be Apple.

BUSINESS

Here lies GAME, 1991 – 2012 R.I.P

by eric orlowski

GAME, once the leader of high street video game retailers, has gone into administration without much in the way of help in sight. Many of their UK-shops have already closed down. With the economic hit and loss of jobs, does the death of GAME spell the death of video games as we know them?

n the 26th March GAME as we all know it, was pronounced dead. Having gone into administration with PwC, closed down 277 out of 600 stores within the UK and laid off more than 2,000 employees. Despite the rumours of potential buyers hovering about in the business world, the chain will never return to the powerful position it once held as the leading distributer of video-games on the high-street; if it returns at all. The industry-movement towards direct-download on many new titles has impacted this industry like no other. VINYL, CASETTE, VHS, BETAMAX, HDDVD, BLU-RAY, UMD and a whole host of other physical media platforms have been and gone through revolutionising highs and crashing lows, ultimately banished to the dark underworld of extinct media. “The transition to digital has been faster than many people anticipated” says Lisa Byfield-Green, an analyst at Planet Retail “any future for the company will involve a much smaller store base – whether that means being split and being bought by different companies, or someone deciding to take on Game as a whole”. The changing dynamic on the hardware market has not helped the retailing industry either. It appears that the traditional 5-year-cycle for consoles has now been

abandoned, with the Xbox, PS3 and Wii still going strong after 7 years on the market. Due to the high R&D costs, it is now easier too for the companies to keep their consoles going for longer whilst expanding out with Kinect and move, as well as portable devices such as the PlayStation Vita. Retailers have suffered. They cannot rely on these cycles the way they did 10 years ago; particularly as the future depicts consoles that require no physical media at all.

It is possible that a hybrid model between console makers and high street retailers will be established.This would keep your typical retailer in the loop, whilst allowing them to cover both the direct-download sales, as well as the sales of hard-copy games. As it stands, retailers sell points card to allow consumers to buy products over the consoles’ online services, such as Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network, there is no large change in the market dynamics required.

It is game console rumour mill season and the next Xbox is the current topic of choice. It is not surprising to hear suggestions that it will not feature an optical disk drive and that all games will be downloaded straight on to the machine over the net. The costs incurred during the process of physical distribution in itself will increase the appeal of this concept to the publisher, as this then opens many new avenues for console manufacturers. They have the chance of adopting the model used by Apple and their apps; storing games on their servers for a fraction of the price. Practically, this is still difficult to implement.The memory taken up by games is still too large; with PlayStation games ranging up to 20GB. Many suggest that the online traffic on a new release day already causes a problem but realistically, how different is to queuing up for the latest big title in the shop?

Another possible development to consider is already being tested by Nintendo in the US. Nintendo has set up a series of WiFi hotspots in stores allowing people to download games straight on to their 3DS in-store. Taken to a new level, this could allow people to walk into a store with a blank SDcard and have the game put straight on to it. Although this involves what every gamer hates, leaving the house, it doesn’t mean you’ll to wait for hours to play your game.

“It is now easier too for the companies to keep their consoles going for longer whilst expanding out with Kinect and move, as well as portable devices such as the PlayStation Vita”

It is a much more probable course of action to move away from disks into the realm of SD-cards – especially for companies who want to avoid the Blu-ray charge led by Sony. SD-cards will be the perfect substitute, especially as they’re not only going to give more flexibility and storage than the current disks (much needed, as Xbox titles are in some instances taking up multiple disks), but the technology has already been shown to work with the PS Vita.

There is clearly a future for the sector, despite inevitable changes, but what was it that eventually forced GAME over the edge? Some of the blame has been taken by the management of the company with the finger of blame pointed directly towards the company’s business structure. Partially for a failed implementation of a multi-channel strategy which made it more of a nuisance to collect reserved games, but also because of excluding game publishers. As much of the company’s

BUSINESS

business was based on re-selling pre-owned games, many of their distributors felt alienated from the value chain. Finally, and perhaps their coup de grace, was that they attempted to grow in difficult times; in 2007 GAME bought the rival, Gamestation, adding 200 stores to their empire, only to encounter a crashing economy the year after. The entertainment industry is currently a very harsh environment and GAME isn’t the only retailer taking a hit. Toys’R’Us released figures for Q4 2011 showing an almost 9% drop in their entertainment sales, and Amazon is reporting similar falls. It is only logical that the specialists are going to experience an even greater fall in such an environment. Smaller independent shops are also feeling the same problems, with added pressure from supermarkets adding games to their portfolio. The biggest forewarning was HMV’s well documented financial problems. The key for specialists lies in further costumer engagement; to lure in the costumer by doing something supermarkets and other giants cannot do: tailor costumer service, and tailor the products sold. It is all about giving a costumer an incentive to enter your shop and make it a pleasurable experience for them. This is the point where GAME has been lacking. The general consensus is that the customer service and the employees working in the retail stores have always been friendly, and has always been one of the reasons that most have tended to come back to GAME, but the environment in the stores has been less than sufficient. Apple have been the masters of customer engagement; having usable copies of computers, tablets and phones on display inviting the buyer to try out each and every of their latest products. The question is as to whether this concept is transferred to the game retailing industry. GAME have for some time now taken significant steps to focusing on going back to basics - following trends within the video-game industry; focusing on new releases and changing the shop appearance after the mega launches. There are suggestions that they should follow the bookstore concept of having staff that can give recommendations based on what the buyer wants. Whilst the Game Group may be toppled for all future, there is still a lesson to be learned from their fall. The situation oughtn’t to be the harbinger of the death to video-game retail, but rather signal a change in the way that the retail is carried out.

OVER

Walking the virtual plank: Putting an end to piracy in the 21st Century by eric orlowski

mother

t has been argued that the convenience of stream-to-use web services such as Spotify, Lovefim and Netflix has sated the demand for pirated material. But does the success of this emerging market hold the key to understanding how the music and film industry might stop piracy altogether? In the same way that modern-day pirates do not resemble the stereotypical swashbuckling sailors of yore (for one thing they’ve swapped sailing the seven-seas for surfing the world wide web), the manner with which piracy is dealt with has likewise changed appearance.

“Within two years, Spotify’s 10 million strong community seemed to suggest that its researchers had shrewdly identified a highly lucrative gap in the market ” Rather than leaving justice to be meted out by the Royal Navy (or indeed the hangman), it falls to the music and film industry to lobby for laws and bills to be passed that will stop file-sharing websites and organisations from growing. As many of the bills designed to protect copyright infringement are often met with heavy opposition, perhaps is it time to reconsider these old approaches and see whether there are alternative routes that may prove more effective in the quest against piracy. Web-based services for music and film have become a familiar fixture of modern life. As a result of its heavily customerfocussed policies, Apple’s iTunes Store became the first truly successful web-based music store. By putting the emphasis on convenience to draw music-lovers in, iTunes paved the way for other music stores to enter the industry. Indeed, in 2008 when Spotify launched it became almost an instant hit. Just two years later, Spotify’s 10 million strong community seemed to suggest that its researchers had shrewdly identified a highly lucrative gap in the market. What Spotify did particularly well, was to incorporate iTunes’ efficient selling strategy (selling music at the click of a button) into a service that purported to be mainly for streaming music instantly and at no cost. Together with film-based services like Netflix and Lovefilm, Spotify have made space for the growth of an industry based entirely around media-streaming. But what exactly has made these services so successful? It is primarily due to their convenience. Whether downloading music, films or shows, the appeal of streaming lies in being able to watch a film or listen to a new album at one’s leisure without having to leave the comfort of home to go to the nearest film or CD store.

BUSINESS With the music and film industries reliant on producers converging from all over the world, consumers in far-flung parts of the globe tire of waiting for a release date in their own country. Downloading is popular precisely because it eliminates waiting altogether – not least in the television industry an business in which shows can take up to a year to be broadcasted. The latest media-streaming services have been expanded largely with accessibility in mind. Although they include more music and more films, they keep things simple. Once you sign up you are met with uncomplicated, undemanding interfaces, minimal bills and zero paperwork – indeed, such packages practically run themselves. Couple this with the relatively low cost packages (most of which average out at around £5 per month in the UK) and you have a winning formula. Whilst the growth of the industry tells its own story, it doesn’t directly inform us whether it prevents piracy. However, looking at figures from Sweden taken between 2009 and 2011 (after the introduction of media-streaming), piracy in the country dropped by 25%. In addition to this, it only took around three months for the number of Spotify users to outnumber the number of music pirates in the country. Further evidence that easily accessible legal mediastreaming reduces piracy can be found in data from 2007/8. Although their DVD sales remained stable, when the NBC network removed their content from the iTunes store for nine months, there was an 11.4% increase in piracy. In short: consumers want convenience. Yet it could still be argued that there is a final piece of the puzzle missing from the quest to see the industry become an effective deterrent to pirates – a piece held by the producers of film and TV shows themselves. Whilst the music industry has adapted to counter piracy (working tirelessly to get new albums out on, or at least very close to the documented release day), the film and television industries remain stubborn. Relatively few European based media-streaming services offer the ability to stream the latest episodes of current TV shows. Even worldwide titles like Game of Thrones - marketed to the US to the UK and beyond – can take up to six months to be broadcast. For many, these episodes are most easily obtained by illegal downloading. To incentivize people to reject piracy, the television and film industries need to provide current titles on an easily accessible library. Closing the gap between production and broadcast is the only way that the industries can truly rival illegal streaming sites. The media-steaming industry still has so much potential for positive exploitation. Putting more money into developing legal streaming is essential if the TV and film industries seriously mean to insulate themselves from Internet piracy. As it is now, media-streaming only offers consumers a catch-up of shows and films, without offering its users anything new or groundbreaking. Ultimately, the reality is this: the media industry must work hard to offer pirates more appealing treasures or risk going down with their ship.

BUSINESS

The Kids Aren’t Alright by alex waring

n an age where advertisers have unlimited access to the population from cradle to grave, who do the youth of today turn to for a taste of authenticity? Whilst the music industry used to be a site of independence, rebellion and originality, today music icons don’t seem to speak for anyone. Whilst the music scene undoubtedly remains an excellent source of experimentation, lately creativity is being sacrificed to the careers of a growing army of twenty somethings backed by the latest big name producer. Although these starry-eyed pretenders are constantly appearing on our televisions and in the media, how far can they be said to be representative of today’s youth? Are they not in fact the greatest advertising conceit to date: living, breathing ad space which endorses anything the chosen one eats, drinks or wears? With these ‘idols’ doing all the talking, we are increasingly finding ourselves confronted with a lot of angry, voiceless youths. Living in a culture built on hollow materialistic aspirations (and without any ‘normal’ figures to relate to) this generation finds itself constantly faced with a lifestyle that is completely unattainable. With the experiences of highflying celebs paraded in front of them in the media 24/7 it seems unsurprising that tempers ran over into the riots last August.Yet it wasn’t always like this. The youth used to have a voice amplified by Rock ‘n’ Roll. Like all the great social movements, Rock ‘n’ Roll has no birth certificate. With two absent parents, the scruffy orphan of the music industry had no one to answer to but himself, and his arrogance has made him an instant hero. The turning point came in 1955 around the time when Chuck Berry told Beethoven to roll over and Little Richard introduced ‘A-wopbop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bop-bop!’ to the world. It was at this exact moment when several combustible elements came together to forge the tempestuous romance between rebellious youth and music. Dominating airwaves on both sides of the Atlantic, Rock ‘n’ Roll soon developed its reputation for tragedy and drama. In 1958 - after only 18 months of success - Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valons and J.P. ‘The Big Bopper’ Richardson and their pilot died in a plane crash. With Rock ‘n’ Roll’s first losses came its first icons, and this new branch of youth culture grew with a ferocity of speed matched only by the ferocity of its opposition. Whether the powers that be were afraid of

“Like all the great social movements, Rock ‘n’ Roll has no birth certificate” “In the US and the UK, the youth were beginning to organize themselves, creating a voice to express their frustration at being told what to wear and how long they could have their hair”

the political potential of this burgeoning movement or simply disliked the music, for every pirate radio station that established itself across the North Sea, there was a member of Howard Wilson’s government determined to shut them down. Naturally, the surge in the number of stations broadcasting this ‘rebellious’ music inevitably lead to an increase in demand for concerts and live performances. As bands continued to take over venues for performances, the number of places for the kids to congregate ballooned. Shockingly to contemporary readers, in the 1960’s and early 70’s small venues like Shrewsbury Town Music Hall gave the inhabitants of small towns across the nation an opportunity to see everyone from The Beatles and The Kinks to The Who. This was a scene playing out across the globe. In the US and the UK, the youth were beginning to organize themselves, creating a voice to express their frustration at being told what to wear and how long they could have their hair. It seemed that the world had been listening when Elvis’ That’s Alright Mama first spun on a British disc jockey’s turntable. This is not to say that every sentiment that a Rock Kid or Flower Child has chosen to voice through their love of music has always been for the good - for every Woodstock there was an Altamont to temper the mood. However, the significance of the moment in which the youth found its voice cannot be underestimated and its impact can be felt right through until the turn of the 21st century. Sadly, success breeds greed and it wasn’t long before corporate culture began to put a price on rebellion. At Woodstock ’99 the idea of a free concert for free thinkers was marred by a violent uprising in response to a $4 charge for a bottle of water. Corporate culture even appeared to corrupt even the most anti-establishment of musicians. Rage Against the Machine, a band that burst onto the scene in 1992, were seen by many as the outpouring of anger from the new generation, who were just as fed up with what they were facing. Using rhetoric drawn almost entirely from left learning ideologies who spoke about revolution and the downfall of Corporate America, despite their angry and passionate interviews RATM had any number of TV ready sound bites ready for the ears of the new MTV Generation. The peak of their influence came during the filming of the video for ‘Sleep Now in the Fire’ on January 26th 2000 when they forced the New York Stock Exchange to close in the middle of the trading day.Yet these apparently noble aims soon fell away as the band soon begun protests against America’s two party system - actively encouraging many young people to disengage from the political process just when it mattered most. As a generation who still has no vehicle to tell the world what they like, what they hate and what makes them angry, we are set to continue on the same troubling path. Faced with an unrelenting assault on their senses demanding they consume, society is in danger of producing a population just as disaffected as their musical role models. The question is: are our youth to be similarly discarded and forgotten by the end of the ad break? Only time will tell.

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Scent appeal? t would have been a grave mistake to maintain that laws of attraction are governed mainly and solely by all things visual. Notwithstanding the toned torsos of male models in CK underwear ads; the hullaballoo surrounding the cheekbones of Johnny Depp; the similar hullaballoo surrounding the exhibition of Michelangelo’s “David” at the V&A during the reign of blessedly prim Queen Victoria; when it comes down to a topic as subtle as physical attraction, sight is not the sense to monopolise it completely. Nor has it got anything to do with the abysmally dull “scientific” evidence concerning pheromones, hormones, and Darwin knows what else. As a woman, I could not possibly underestimate the importance of other senses when it came down to the ever-present question: what is it that makes a man attractive? I vividly recollect a conversation I had once on a summer night a few years ago. It took place after a particularly lavish commemoration ball, on a bench right down by the river where the punting-boats lazily brushed against each other in the soft night breeze. The air was fresh after rain, its fragile coolness mixing with the earthy scent of the river. What we talked about with my companion is irrelevant here; more relevant is the fact that the cologne he wore (a rich, Oriental one with extrovert notes of resin and spice – probably a vintage Chanel), combined with the night breeze and the river air to produce an exquisite feeling. Barbaric and yet sophisticated at the same time; suited perfectly to the incongruous romance of the midnight riverside setting. It seems that this moment served for me as an epiphany: far from being a soulless status symbol or a typical attribute of a metrosexual urbanite, men’s perfume has a potent ability to render its wearer magnetic; or nondescript. When Coco Chanel claimed that a woman who does not wear perfume has no future, much the same can be said about a man. Perfume generally has been a huge obsession for me; and since that summer, I have been trying and testing men’s perfumes (some even being wearable enough for a chic city girl like myself too!), in order to recapture that lost perfect essence of romance which I experienced three years ago on an Oxford river-bank.

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So here are a few names that almost recreate it… Fahrenheit, by Dior. Described as “a virile, delicate and rounded fragrance” by the ever-comprehensive PerfumeShop, yet the description is too vapid for it. A fresh, snowy scent, which for some reason reminded me of vast Arctic expanses, fearless rugged explorers and calm masculinity in the classic sense of the word. Not too youthful or brash, it would probably appeal to the outdoorsy type who likes his sailing and skiing (not the genteel kind of skiing – the extreme one). It would definitely appeal to a modern James Bond. Arabie, by Serge Lutens. A unisex scent, gloriously ornate, evoking images of Rudolph Valentino as a sheikh of an imaginary Oriental realm.The notes of coffee mingle with resin, sandalwood and dates, to create a spicy and elaborate vision of Eastern grandeur. Hardly the choice if you crave subtlety; yet for a man who likes to get noticed, it is the perfume to wear. Le Bateleur, by D&G Anthology. This irresistibly carefree scent with its bitter marine notes is basically the essence of the ocean contained in one smallish bottle – exalting, joyous, and rollercoaster exciting, with connotations of dangerousness lurking underneath and hinting at the hidden complexity of the wearer’s character. One for a player, but with an edge. L’Amoureux, by D&G Anthology. My firm favourite from this list here, and indeed its name may hint at the effect that this scent has on us girls. It is not “brutally masculine,” so it’s a great choice for anyone who wishes for a lighter, less serious effect. The smell itself is just gorgeous, like a long and balmy summer evening, the top notes of bergamot giving it lightness and sensuality without digressing into the too-silly category. Messe de Minut, by Etro. Etro is always a winner in terms of creating beautiful perfumes that leave a lasting and recognisable impression. This one is mysterious, shadowy, ambiguous, yet infused with elegance and warmth. A unisex choice yet again, it is a whole poem in scent, and would render its wearer anything but boring. Smelling like warm sun on fragrant wood, it evokes mysterious rituals and deep untold secrets. There is a whole array of citrus notes: lemon, bergamot, orange – but far from being instantly detectable, they fuse with aromatics such as patchouli and mask to create a veritable enigma living up to its name. As you can see, the world of men’s perfume has come a long way since the predictable colognes and tobacco scent-infused musty aftershaves favoured once upon a time. Nowadays a drop or two of carefully selected scent will cement a fleeting impression, giving its wearer that attractiveness, that mojo or edge that we always hear about. And if you just happen to be near a riverbank at the time…

BUSINESS

If I Were a Rich Man by matt taaffe

uite recently I made the foolhardy error of delving into the murky swamp that is global economic news. The articles I read were littered with ominous phrases such as ‘fiscal cliff ’ and ‘doubledip recession’; which in another article threatened to evolve into ‘triple-dip recession’. The impression I had was that a giant chasm had opened up somewhere in the world, which everyone was pouring money into in a futile attempt to fill it. Obviously this didn’t seem to work and all anyone could do was report on the whole catastrophe and sigh. The whole escapade left me, quite fittingly I suppose, in a state of depression. So I decided to counterbalance this overwhelming sense of alarming austerity by gazing up from the penny-pinchers’ chasm to the ivory tower of the fiscal sound; the fat cats with the fat wads. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a resource which lists such magnates, and details the current 100 richest people in the world. There are others to choose from, Forbes for example offers a very comprehensive database, but the Bloomberg Index is incredibly interactive. They also offer cartoons of

each tycoon which makes them all look a little like the Monopoly Man, which is the image I personally think of when I hear the word billionaire. The richest people in history are often those with a crown on their head and a nation at their feet; miserly monarchical despots who inherited vast riches because it was their God given right to be filthy stinking rich. Nowadays only one of the top 100 billionaires is a sovereign, and actually I’m not altogether convinced that George Kaiser of Oklahoma is a German Emperor.

“the proportion of self-made billionaires compared to those who inherited their wealth is encouraging for entrepreneurs with a ratio of 73 to 27”

The Index itself is a fascinating read, and altogether more uplifting than the elegiac editorials of the economy that currently headlines the papers. For example, the proportion of self-made billionaires compared to those who inherited their wealth is encouraging for entrepreneurs with a ratio of 73 to 27. However considering the average age of the club (the majority are in their 60s), this is probably because most wealth was accrued at a younger age and has been masterly managed. Compare the United States’ billionaires to Russia’s for example. The States have the most inheritance-made billionaires;

BUSINESS

Sam Walton Walton was the founder of multinational retail chain Walmart, which now has over 8500 stores in 15 different countries. In Britain, Walmart operates under the guise of Asda; but before creating the supermarket that encourages a good arse-slap every time you get a bargain, he opened one-stop discount stores all across America. At the time of death, Sam Walton’s net worth equated to $85 billion, which he left to his remaining family.

Muammar Gaddafi After his death in 2011, reports emerged that Gaddafi’s was actually the richest man in the world.With an estimated net worth of $200 billion, the flamboyant revolutionary turned dictator owed his riches to his heavy handed rule of Libya’s oil fields. Before everything went pear-shaped, if that’s a suitable term to give to the collapse of a nation, Gaddafi was often criticised for squandering the nation’s wealth on socialist experiments. Snappy dresser though.

William the Conqueror The first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror, gained a lot from his military exploits. Along with his companion Alan the Red, who also ranks quite highly on the list of history’s richest, he found that conquering kingdoms could be quite the lucrative quest. Who knew? By 1087, William had amassed an estimated net worth of $229.5 billion.

John D. Rockefeller Rockefeller is often thought of as the world’s first billionaire. This is because he was the first man to have a net worth of a billion dollars during his lifetime. Founder of the Standard Oil Company, his wealth soared as the need for gasoline and kerosene became more apparent. The Rockefeller Centre in New York, boasting an enviable view, was built by his family. His inflation adjusted net worth is estimated at $340 billion.

Mansa Musa The richest man in history was Emperor of Mali, Mansa Musa. His name translates to King of Kings, and he epitomises the image of billionaires of old. With an empire that included much of what is now Ghana, Timbuktu, and Mali, his $400 billion net worth came from his country’s vast supply of salt and gold. During a pilgrimage to Mecca, his overwhelming generosity to the poor that he met on his way inadvertently caused super inflation in the Mediterranean.This makes Mansa Musa arguably the most prolific character to ever ‘make it rain’.

BUSINESS

bolstered considerably by the descendants of Sam Walton (founder of Walmart) and Frank Mars (founder of Mars). Russia, on the other hand, can boast that all their wealthiest citizens are self-made billionaires; most of them coming into prominence after the fall of the Soviet Union. The fact that some nations such as Russia still have developing economies is pertinent to the characterisation of their cash kahunas. So inheritance is still an important factor in the state of wealth, especially in the States. However the US can also boast some of the youngest billionaires in the world. The most prominent of which is the king of social networking (or merciless mogul, if you believe Aaron Sorkin), Mark Zuckerberg.The list’s youngest billionaire found his fortune through Facebook, the media platform around which the whole world now seems to revolve.The technology industry as a whole has clearly become a lucrative business as along with Zuckerberg, the Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin make an appearance; as does Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Larry Ellison of Oracle. Predominantly an American industry, the Index shows how profitable the utilisation of technology can be. The Index also shows how industries vary in profitability between nations. Along with technology; retail, finance and manufacturing prove to be major contributors to the wealth of billionaires of the western world. In countries whose economies are still considered as developing, there is a larger focus on the energy industry as well as metals, mining and manufacturing. While Mexico’s Carlos Slim, today’s richest magnate, made his fortune through the telecommunication company American Movil, he too has connections with the construction industry. A final noteworthy observation of the Index is that Billionaires Boys Club would not be an unfitting nickname for this list. Only thirteen women make an appearance, and all of them made their fortune through inheritance. Reviewing the state of today’s billionaires offers a great deal of insight into the how the world’s economy works today and how it is likely to progress in the future. But for me, it consoled a sense of financial dread which has permeated today’s society. Most of these billionaires are also budding philanthropists, a trend popularised by Microsoft’s Bill Gates. So it turns out that not all moguls are ruthless, tight-fisted tyrants. Well, except for Zuckerberg. Did you see The Social Network? That guy is just plain awful..

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TECHNOLOGY

The most expensive Android you’ll ever buy (probably) by sam amrani

nless you’re about to buy a diamond encrusted Samsung Galaxy S III from luxury designer Alexander Amosu (www.amosu.co.uk) the newly released Vertu Ti will most likely be the most expensive Android phone you’ll ever buy. Hand crafted in England, the stunning Vertu Ti is the luxury handset makers first, and much needed, foray into the Android world, with the entry level model coming in at under £7,000. It is made of the finest materials and with 184 different parts, the handset is akin to that of a luxury watch manufacturer. Out of the box the Vertu Ti is instantly recognisable, its crisp lines and weighty quality embodies the device. The cool titanium casing gives it a feel of something special, and with this particular model having a contrasting leather body, the design strikes that perfect balance of timeless elegance. Upon first glance, Vertu has surprisingly gone for Android 4.0 straight out of the box, with no proprietary OS layered on top as far as we could see. It is a surprise

TECHNOLOGY that they didn’t opt for the latest update to Jelly Bean, but tech specs have never been where Vertu has tried to be cutting edge. Vertu have gone the extra mile by their standards achieving several personal bests in the process. First up, they’ve created the biggest screen ever made by Vertu. Comparably it’s rather paltry, measuring up to a mere 3.7 inches when the Samsung Galaxy Note II is just under 6 inches). However, this creation reinforces Vertu’s philosophy of building phones that will last. The screen is made from sapphire crystal and is virtually scratchproof, needing something with the pressure and strength of a diamond to scratch it. This could be a problem if you have that diamond encrusted phone in the same pocket, but in most instances it is undoubtedly a nice touch. Internally, Vertu has never touted impressive specifications - by contrast they have largely ignored the need for significant specifications worth mentioning. With the addition of android OS into this finely crafted shell it was clear that Vertu needed to add some meat to the bones and pack this device with some of the best tech hardware in its history. They’ve included two cameras, a front facer, at 1.3 megapixels enabling video calling over the device, the rear camera rocking an 8 megapixel camera capable of taking some extremely sharp pictures as well as 1080p video recording. Something that came as a welcome surprise was the fact that the Vertu Ti comes out of the box with 64GB memory built in, as well as the ability to add a further 32GB with a memory card, allowing for plenty of music, movies and images to be stored on your device. This comes in handy as the handset has a decent Lithium Ion battery, equating to around 7 hours of talk time and approximately 200 hours of standby time. The Ti packs an average 1.7GHz dual-core processor, along with a mediocre 1GB of RAM, which is a disappointing core for such impressive exterior and peripherals. It will happily run most current apps with a breeze, but these specs may struggle to handle some of the heavier videos or applications which is not something and have to be one of the best we have seen of any phone. that is something that most would not forgive. Importantly, the Overall, it would be impossible to benchmark the Vertu Ti Vertu Ti does have NFC, which will allow Vertu users to interact with the rest of the pack; on a scatter chart it would certainly with the many NFC hotspots popping up in the near future. be an anomaly, with the Blackberry 9900 Porsche Design being Something Vertu does which most phone manufacturers seem somewhere behind in a distant second. Vertu has used their best to have cut back on is the welcome variety of accessories that efforts to combine elegance, classical design fused with the cutting come in the box. The Ti includes a nicely fitting leather slip case, edge of technology. A relatively disappointing screen is neutralised both car and mains USB chargers, and a wired stereo headset. by the beautiful appearance. The sketchy processor and RAM combo is annulled by the stunning sound and memory capacity on The most notable point to make of the hardware packed within this device. It is certainly one of the most luxuriously crafted and the Ti is its audio capabilities. The Danes are no stranger to near brilliantly designed handsets on the market, and it instantly creates perfect sound quality, and the team at Vertu recognised this. So a special aura when you hold the Vertu Ti in your hand. they have teamed up with Bang & Olufsen to create what they call ‘symphonic sound’ which has had music punctuation from Full details can be found at www.vertu.com, and can be viewed the London Symphony Orchestra. We’re not sure what that means at the Vertu counter at Selfridges on Oxford Street, London W1. either, but we can say that the speakers emanate crystal clear sound,

TECHNOLOGY

HARDWARE 3G Network SIM Announced Status

HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 Mini-SIM 2013, February Available. Released 2013, February

BODY Dimensions Weight

XXX XXXkg Titanium Body (grade 5)

DISPLAY Type

Sapphire crytal glass capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours

Size

480x800 pixels, 3.7inches (252ppi pixel density)

Multitouch

Yes

Protection

Scratch-resistant glass

SOUND Alert Types Loundspeaker 3.5mm Jack

Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones Yes, with stereo speakers (Bang&Olufsen) Yes

MEMORY Card SLot Internal

MicroSD, up to 32GB 64GB storage, 1GB RAM

DATA GPRS

Yes

EDGE

Yes

Speed

HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps

WLAN

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Hotspot

Bluetooth

Yes, v4.0 with A2DP

USB

Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA Primary Fetures Video Secondary

8MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash Geo-tagging Yes, 1080p@30fps yes, 1.3 MP

FETURES OS

Android OS. v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwish)

TECHNOLOGY

ASUS Zenbook UX31 “Ultrabook” The PC Strikes Back by juuso hyvärinen

he reign of the Macbook Air in the ultra slim luxury laptop category might be set to come to an end. The ASUS Zenbook UX31 - part of Intel’s ultrabook family - has arrived with a bang, introducing a new era of high-class PC notebooks capable of challenging Apple’s supremacy. ASUS has put a lot of effort into making the UX31 - and it shows. After hours of testing it was still a struggle to find any significant flaws in the laptop. Claiming Apple’s top spot is no easy task, but after introducing the impressive UX31, ASUS appears a serious contender for the throne.

only 1.1 kilos. In fact, it is so light it is possible to use it with just one hand. Simply put, the Zenbook is slim, sexy and as light as a feather. But don’t let the delicate exterior fool you. Under the swish metal surface lies a tremendously potent 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-2557M dual-core ultra-low voltage processor with 4GB of RAM. From processing high-resolution Photoshop files to streaming high-definition videos to browsing the web, speed and dependability are always guaranteed. The application of ASUS Super Hybrid Engine II technology combined with a 128G SSD drive sets the device apart from other ultra slim laptop PCs. This technology enables super-fast booting as well as incredibly lengthy standby time extending up to two weeks. Although standard battery life exceeds six hours when working with office files or browsing the web, if the battery level falls under 5 % while on standby, the device also automatically backs up all unsaved data so no work will be lost. Since the device is ready to go in just two seconds when resuming work from sleep mode, frustrating waiting times are eliminated. If time is money, then the Zenbook UX31 will have you laughing all the way to the bank.

“the Zenbook is an ideal choice for professionals and pleasure seekers alike”

Everything about the Zenbook whispers luxury. It is a gorgeous piece of technology that attracts attention in any environment. The device is comprised of sleek metal surfaces (it even has aluminium capped keys) which make it a very pleasing object to the eye and to the hand alike. In contrast to the Macbook Air, the ASUS has a stylish yet reserved metal swirl on the back of the display that prizes elegance over notoriety. Furthermore, there is also no need to buy expensive protective gear for the laptop as it comes with an elegant chocolate-coloured case to shield it from scratches: it is instances of attention to detail like these that make the Zenbook UX31 a work of art. Attractively designed, at its thinnest it measures a mere 3 mm and in addition to this is also the lightest 13.3 inch notebook computer available on the market, weighing

With a resolution of 1600x900 the Zenbook UX31 outclasses all other laptops in its category, providing a crisp and stunningly bright display which gives a truly great viewing experience.

Whilst it can be a bit tricky to find the right viewing angle, watching high-definition DVDs and YouTube videos on the Zenbook’s screen still mark it out as the most impressive 13.3-inch monitor currently available. As you’d hope, the Zenbook’s sound system lives up to the quality of it’s display. The Zenbook’s Bang & Olufsen ICEpower SonicMaster sound system is quite simply amazing. Unlike its counterparts, the Zenbook requires no additional audio equipment is necessary in order to fully enjoy your favourite tunes. Capable of delivering crisp sound and kicking bass even at high volumes, it is a pleasant surprise to find the speakers perfectly adequate for home entertainment purposes given the overall slim nature of the device. However, this said, the Zenbook is not perfect, with the functionality of the keyboard and the touchpad paling when compared to the Macbook Air. Although well designed and usable, the Zenbook’s clickable touchpad is not as responsive and sensitive as it’s Apple counterpart. Multi-finger action has been incorporated, but is still slightly clunky compared to the Apple Multi-Touch track pad. Indeed, at first the Zenbook’s keyboard may prove problematic for a fast typist as the keys are not set particularly high and they are very sensitive to touch. As it takes time getting used to their softness be prepared to make a few errors when starting out. At £1000 the Zenbook is approximately £100 cheaper than the Macbook Air. In addition to this saving, it comes with a two-year global warranty and one year of accidental damage protection – something you’d have to pay extra for if you wished to protect your Mac with AppleCare. By purchasing the ASUS Zenbook you are essentially getting a faster CPU for less money. The ASUS Zenbook UX31 is all about bringing together the best of both worlds. By combining looks, practicality and performance in one superb package, the Zenbook is an ideal choice for professionals and pleasure seekers alike – a versatile tool which tackles the problems of a modern, fast-paced working environment with ease. Personally speaking I have never enjoyed using a laptop computer as much as I enjoyed the Zenbook; returning it back to ASUS made me feel like Popeye giving up his spinach; utterly powerless.

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ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime by juuso hyvärinen

urrently, the Transformer Prime is the king of the Android world. It is a beast of a machine, delivering high-class performance with grace. From the demanding businessman to the tech-savvy geek, the Prime reaches a wide-ranging clientele with its striking good looks and technological finesse. Exploring the fun, yet very useful features of the tablet will keep you entertained for hours on end. In particular, the first couple of days after purchasing the Prime were a lot of fun – you get a sense of discovery every time you find a cool new app and the process of learning how to get the full use out of the device is often a good indication of what’s to come. The Prime has a nice feel to it. The metallic casing creates a classy flair without adding any unwanted weight. In fact, the tablet is conveniently light but also fittingly sturdy, so there’s no need to worry about handling it too roughly. The Prime measures at a slender 8.3mm and weighs no more than 586g, making it the supermodel of the tablet world. The ‘transformer’ –aspect is what sets the Prime apart from the rest of the tablets out there. It comes with a keyboard dock which instantly transforms the tablet into a compact laptop. What I quickly found out was that taking notes during lectures or meetings has never been so engaging. Switching between the keyboard and the touchscreen is a very dynamic combination - It just works.You will find yourself taking notes and browsing the web in very surprising, yet effective ways. The dock also acts as a backup battery, extending battery life up to 18 hours. When you plug the tablet into the dock, the battery charge of the keyboard gets used up first, extending the battery life of the tablet itself even further. In normal day-to-day use the battery lasts for about 12 hours and standby times can go up to several days with the dock, so the Prime can keep up even with the schedule of the busiest of users. The prime seems to be at its most delicate when the dock is attached though – opening the closed device is not as elegant as I would have hoped, especially in comparison to actual laptops. Additionally, the touchpad of the keyboard isn’t to satisfaction and the device does not sit entirely comfortably on flat surfaces when using it as a laptop. Although minor defects, I’m sure that most will find them as annoying as I have. Another, more obvious flaw is the speaker. Whilst perfectly adequate and functional, the engineers at ASUS could not have thought of a more inconvenient place to position it, as it is located directly under your right palm when holding the device. Sadly, this sometimes takes away from the otherwise very enjoyable audio experience.

TECHNOLOGY

PRIME

IPAD 3

DISPLAY:

10.1” LED, resolution 1280 x 800

9,7” Retina, 2048 x 1536 resolution

BATTERY LIFE:

12 h, 18 with dock

10 hours

CAMERA:

8MP main, 1.2MP front

5MP main, VGA front

SIZE:

263mm x 181mm x 8.3mm

241mm x 186mm x 9.4mm

WEIGHT:

586g (1123g with dock)

662g

OPERATION SYSTEM:

Android 3.2 (upgradable to 4.0)

Apple iOS 5

MEMORY:

1GB

OPERATION SYSTEM:

32GB / 64GB

MEMORY:

NVIDIA ® Tegra ® 3

ASUS takes pride in the displays it makes and justifiably so. Bright, colourful and fantastically vivid, the display of the Prime is very impressive to look at. Video playback runs smoothly and the gaming is not only graphically impressive but also highly addictive and it doesn’t get too hot during the hours of constant use.Thanks to the remarkably bright and useful Super IPS+ mode, it is even possible to use the Prime in direct sunlight without having to constantly tilt the device to find the right viewing angle. The big question that you want to hear: How does it compare against the hyped Apple iPad 3? When looking at the clarity and brightness of the screen it is hard to tell the difference between the Prime’s 10.1” display and Apple’s Retina technology, even though the iPad has a notably higher resolution. At close proximity it is

16GB / 32GB / 64GB

A5X Processor

TECHNOLOGY

possible to tell the Apple display is slightly sharper, but to the untrained eye there’s no real difference. In terms of CPU speed the tablets are evenly matched, but the iPad’s touchscreen is more responsive and fluid. They’re both in the same price category, but the Prime comes with the keyboard dock and is slightly cheaper, giving you more bang for your buck. The Transformer also has a wider selection of ports: the tabletkeyboard dock combination packs in a micro HDMI port, an SD card reader and a full USB port, while the iPad only has the standard 30-pin dock connector port with a headphone jack. These rather insignificant differences aside, the two tablets behave and perform in much the same way, as they are both incredibly fast and very well designed. The bottom line is that the two tablets are meant for different purposes, so it is a little unfair to form an argument as to which device is better. The real test is figuring out which is most suited for the purposes you require. The new iPad is second to none when it comes to consuming media. The Retina display is the best in the market and the Apple App Store has the biggest selection of applications, making it the ultimate choice for all gamers and video watchers who require impeccable performance. The Prime, however, is a more versatile package. It lives up to its Transformer name – by attaching the dock to the Prime, the tablet transforms into a potent laptop capable of performing all essential tasks from word processing to watching videos on YouTube. The Prime is also the more quirky alternative. If the opportunity of personalisation is what interests you, the Transformer is definitely the way to go. Whereas the Apple iOS is plain, simple and extremely functional, the Android 4.0 is all about animated backgrounds, nifty widgets and customized interfaces. The question whether to opt for the Prime or the iPad really boils down to whether you want to become another Apple user or turn some heads with a personalized Prime. Purchasing the Prime is a very inexpensive way of getting the benefits of a laptop and the versatility of a tablet into one luxurious package. If you use your computer mostly for emails, office and browsing the web, forget buying a boring regular laptop and get the attention-grabbing Prime. It’s worth it.

SAMSUNG SERIES 9 by vincent wallace

The most notable downside of this laptop is the lack of accessories. The Series 9 has a strong selection of ports around the edge of the laptop, but all in mini form which means you’ll need to buy adapters for all your external display peripherals such as mini HDMI to HDMI for your TV or projector, and mini VGA for your older displays (where you’ll be sure to encounter some very puzzled faces in local electronics shops). If you’re media It had been another area which Apple had become the hungry then the 128GB solid state hard drive will not keep benchmark leaders, and the Macbook Pro is still the stop selling you entertained for very long, and of course the lack of DVD/ laptop model in the UK. It has iconic design, fluid functionality CDRW will eliminate what you can hope to do with physical and top specification. In its most recent incarnation the Macbook media; but this laptop isn’t designed for yesterday, it’s clearly Pro ditched its slot loading DVD/CD-RW drive to shave off designed for tomorrow. It streams content like a dream and is even more of its already slender, tapered profile. Its famed large, built for heavy internet usage. Combine this laptop with your glass, multi-touch trackpad have made the Macbook Pro the 4G dongle and you will have finally joined the cloud computing laptop of choice. phenomenon. In days where you are able to buy 100GB of storage in the cloud for £5 per month it’s almost a no brainer. Samsung have taken a leaf from this design sheet, in matching this aesthetic specification. Packing the new Windows 8 Samsung have been offering various rebate deals with the software and making these models available in both 13 inch and purchase of this product, so keep your eyes peeled as it can save uniquely, 15 inch models, Samsung’s third generation of their you as much as £150 off the RRP of the product; which can Series 9 laptop has been turning heads. They’ve equipped this help with all those brilliant (and sometimes necessary) accessories ultraportable laptop with a full sized backlit keyboard, a huge you will want to get to protect and enhance this machine. Some glass multi-touch trackpad, SSD hard drive and a top notch HD offers also include an extended warranty, so if you can snag one display, all housed within a beautiful aluminium unibody frame. of those it’s pretty useful. It sounds suspiciously just like a MacBook Pro, but the guys at Our tests of the Samsung Series 9 laptop have been superb, Samsung have managed to squeeze it into the familiar frame of and we highly recommend this to any business user who doesn’t a Macbook Air. The 15” model weighs in at 1.54 KG, whilst the require media use or for someone who didn’t demand Mac OSX. 13”, a mere 1.25KG. Nice and lightweight for usage on the go. Everything from its crystal clear screen, to its tactile keyboard and These models also claim to sport a whopping 8-9 hours battery amazingly designed sleek body has made this the Windows laptop life, but our test show that unless you have the screen dimmed to beat and should leave the Macbook camp with some serious right down and the rest of the laptop on power saver mode; you’ll only squeeze out around 6.5 hours on the 13” model and competition. around 7.5 hours on the 15” model. This is still no mean feat for such a well-constructed, designed and powerful laptop. tanding tall on the top of the consumer electronics stack, Samsung have a lot to be proud of these days; the top selling smartphone, sleek TV’s and now one of the smartest looking laptops in the market. It’s no wonder people are now starting to consider all options when buying their next laptop.

TECHNOLOGY

MACBOOK PRO 13” STANDARD MODEL

SAMSUNG SERIES 9

PRICE

£999

£899 (WITH £100 REBATE)

SCREEN SIZE

13” AND 15”MODELS

13” AND 15” MODELS

PROCESSOR

APPLE A9 PROCESSOR

INTEL CORE I5

GRAPHICS

INTEL GRAPHICS 4000

BATTERY

6-7 HOURS

8-9 HOURS

WEIGHT

2KG

Apple iOS 5

HDD

500GB SATA HARD DRIVE

1.56KG (15” MODEL)

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TECHNOLOGY

EE starts the 4G revolution? by anthony robert

G was finally launched in the UK market on the 30th October 2012 by the joint venture company between Orange (France Telecom) and T-Mobile (Deutsch Telekom), EE. In an all-out branding overhaul, the relatively unsuccessful and dreadfully grey brand of “everything everywhere” was transformed into an arguably over colourful and much shorter version of its predecessor, presumably created on a much larger multi-million pound budget. Almost overnight, the entire retail estate of Orange and T-Mobile was replaced by the aqua and yellow tones of EE, and just like that these two brand giants that were ubiquitous amongst almost every high street in the UK were relegated to digital status, replaced with this somewhat confusing consumer brand. What did it stand for? Who was behind it? What did this all mean? 6 months later and some of these questions still are not fully answered. What we do know now is that EE is all about superfast. They are the UK’s first 4G network and have now launched in a large cross section of cities, aiming for full rural coverage by 2015. It’s an ambitious programme but their CEO, Olaf Swantee seems confident this can be achieved. Given the current status of their rollout, it seems that the breadth of coverage will be achieved. But the key question here is – do people really want it? After extensive use across the team here at The Executive, our view on 4G is a positive one. We’ve noticed that the speeds of the network are astonishing. Gone are the days of waiting for YouTube to buffer in the pub, waiting for the newest version of Temple Run to download on the train or banging your head against the wall while you attempt to read a blurry, half rendered PDF.There is definitely an improvement there for those ready to get the ‘smart’ out of their smartphone. However, it’s not necessarily relevant for every smartphone user, especially when the costs are taken into account. Before EE, one of T-Mobile’s

last campaigns named “The Full Monty” was an all you could eat data tariff, offering a contract for as little as £36 per month which provided a gigantic 2000 minutes and unlimited texts and data. For the privilege of 4G on EE, you’d need to pay £41 per month to get 1GB, and an astonishing £61 (reduced from £76) per month for 20GB, which is their closest offering to unlimited – an almighty £25 hike for this bump in data speed. With this hike in mind, we could simply not weigh up whether or not this was a cost people were prepared to deal with as it is a product that may not be for everyone. After taking to the streets in key central London areas such as Canary Wharf, Mayfair and St. James’s we spoke to a cross section of people totalling 1000 on their opinions of 4G with the comparable price plan on 3G and asked the question: ‘would you sign up to this price plan for 4G?’. The result was relatively unsurprising.The overwhelming majority of people wanted their phone bill to decrease and were not prepared to fork out additional money for 4G - regardless of how fast it was. The 79% of respondents who were not convinced by the benefits over the price did however suggest that they wouldn’t rule out 4G forever, stating that they think that with time the price would likely fall with competition and the service would generally improve. There was a general consensus that patience would bring better savings, and the logic behind this is not without precedent. When looking at the launch of the network 3, which had a similar market advantage it was the decision of their parent company Hutchinson Whampoa to low ball the pricing and acquire as many customers a possible with this new technology. This strategy established them as one of the major players and secured 5 million customers relatively quickly. However, the majority of people were happy with their current provider, and like 4G were not convinced

TECHNOLOGY

4G IN THE UK - At the time of writing, EE are the only 4G network in the UK, with a range of prices and plans available, starting from £31 p/m. You can find full details at www. ee.co.uk

- 4G is on average 5 times faster than 3G that the aggravation of moving network would not outweigh the benefits of signing up to a network that would almost certainly still have teething problems. The 15% that said they would like to sign up to 4G were a clear sign that pricing doesn’t deter everyone and there is certainly a strong early adopter audience in London. However many of these participants mentioned that they were tied into a two year contract and breaking it would likely incur a huge termination charge. The majority of people that were asked if they would take a second 4G line rejected such a proposal citing no need for more than one device, although they may consider a 4G tablet. 6% of people were, as expected not aware of 4G and its benefits and would have to investigate it further to convince themselves on it before they could make a decision as to whether or not this was a product for them. It was fairly easy to tell after the initial demonstration whether or not they were impressed with the speed. So, it’s a mixed bag review for EE 4G. Only time will tell to see if the early mover advantage for them will pay off in the long run. The fact that Vodafone, O2, 3 and BT scooped a bit of a bargain in the OFCOM 4G spectrum auction means they not only saved money but have also saved many millions through a massive corporate branding exercise. It seems that the general consensus is correct, with the general public happy to continue with 3G until the prices fall and the coverage becomes widespread. On the other hand, if you do take advantage of EE’s 4G service it is, as they proudly declare, superfast. In our opinion there is not much point opting in for 4G if you’re only going to take the 500MB package. If you are a keen internet user you’ll need at least 3GB to use to take advantage of month round internet usage, particularly if you have emails linked up to your phone.

- The iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, Blackberry Z10, HTC One, Nokia Lumia 820 & 920 and the Huawei Ascend P1 are all compatible with 4G data.

- The OFCOM 4G auction in Feb 2013 raised approximately £2.3bn for the government, well under the £2.8bn expected, meaning the network providers bagged a bargain.

- In the equivalent auction for 3G, the government raised approximately £30bn.

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NFC

how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to change your world by sam amrani

TECHNOLOGY

he mobile industry is turning a corner, once again. A new piece of hardware being integrated into every smart phone, with the exception of the iPhone, is starting to become a familiar sight amongst handsets; it’s just that their owners haven’t realised it exists yet.

It’s called NFC (standing for Near Field Communication), which has actually been around in one form or another since the 1980’s. It’s the evolved specimen of the same technology that you normally find in things like clothing alarm systems. Since then though, it has come a long way, and nowadays is being piloted and deployed in hundreds of different everyday scenarios. Getting the backing from the world’s biggest technology brands, including giants such as Microsoft, Samsung and Google, it is taking the tech world by storm; all mobile network operators worldwide are seeing the opportunities with this fast, secure and flexible technology device. Perhaps somewhat predictably, Japan was the pioneer country to develop the use of NFC in the mobile world, after successfully launching the mainstream contactless payment and travel card ‘Suica’. The UK followed this model with the launch of the Oyster Card a few years later, but by the time London had the Oyster card in 2000, Japan was already on to the next big thing. In 2004, Japan launched “Osaifu Keitai” the world’s first mobile wallet. It was a revolution on your phone. Encompassing all the elements in the ubiquitous Suica card it added so much more, including access cards, information portals, loyalty and promotions, with added layers of security to boot, and all at the tap of your phone. Needless to say, it wasn’t the finished article, but it was still further than most nations are currently at today. It wasn’t until 2009 that NFC really hit Europe and North America, with the release of the Samsung Tocco Lite. This phone was the key to opening the NFC world, and Orange realised this, taking an early lead by developing several pilots in France and the UK. This included the first mobile wallet in the UK, alongside Barclaycard. While take up wasn’t overwhelmingly fabulous (the Tocco Lite was a basic phone at best), it paved the way for future development in time for the tidal wave of NFC handsets that have flooded the market since. Today, the market is full of NFC phones, but development seems to have staggered slightly behind schedule.The majority of people are unaware that their phone may possess NFC capability, despite the fact that the majority of Android, Windows and Blackberry devices contain the technology. However, unlike its predecessor – the QR code, NFC requires no set-up, app download or activation in order to engage with the media. On the other hand, it simply requires the phone to be on and the screen to be unlocked for the ability to engage with NFC media, which can range from simple information services, all the way to instant app downloads or web portals containing a wealth of information. It is just a matter of time before everyone is using NFC and it will certainly have

WHAT POPULAR PHONES HAVE NFC TODAY? 1. Samsung Galaxy S III 2. Samsung Galaxy S II (NFC edition) 3. Most high-end Android devices released after summer 2012 4. Most Blackberries, including the new Z10 and Q10 5. Most Windows phones

By the end of 2013, there will be over 350,000,000 NFC phones sold, out of 1.1 billion, by 2015 this figure will be 850,000,000 out of 1.3 billion phones sold.

Some phones have NFC turned off, it can be easily turned on in the settings and only consumes power when actively used.

TECHNOLOGY

a larger uptake than QR, but it will take a bit longer for contactless payments and ticketing to become as commonplace as in Japan.

The Samsung Galaxy S III on Orange is the only phone in the UK available with contactless payments with Barclaycard. You don’t need a Barclaycard to use it.

But the one element to this story that is missing, and it wouldn’t feel complete without acknowledging, is the role that Apple has had to play in the world of the NFC revolution, and quite succinctly it can be answered in one word. None. Apple has yet to add NFC into any of their 6 devices since 2007. Understandably, by the time of the iPhone 4S in 2011 it wouldn’t have been an obvious addition to the phone, due to the fact that many other leading manufacturers had still failed to acknowledge this technology up to that point. By the time the iPhone 5 was released in 2012 almost a year later it was a shock to the industry that Apple remained reluctant to include NFC as a component in the phones. This became the talking point of the technology blogs around the world. To date, Apple have brushed off the disappointment of the iPhone 5 and have refused to pass comment on the lack of NFC, instead launching their own attempt at circumventing this technology with the release of the passbook; an app based creation that ultimately nobody really understood. Apple has since filed several patents, all with NFC at the heart of its application. This would likely signify that Apple is getting with the revolution and will release NFC with the next incarnation of the iPhone, whether it is the iPhone 5S or 6. Of course with Apple you never know, but after the disappointment of the iPhone 5 they will need to make some serious and carefully thought out improvements to both the hardware and the software before they release it. Once they finally release an ‘iPhone NFC’ it will mean that every major smartphone manufacturer will have embraced this technology and it will also create a revolution for iOS developers who will have a new dimension with which to add to their innovations. It is clear that 2013 will be the first major year for smartphone NFC; after five years in the making. It might not be the first year of major uptake in the world of contactless payments and ticketing due to the security work involved in making it happen, and the lack of uniformity within the digital wallet space. However 2013 will see a huge surge in users being aware of NFC, and engaging with next-generation contactless marketing, including smart postering, social media, app downloads and much more at a simple tap of the phone. Users will be moving into the next mobile revolution, by using this new bridge between the physical and digital worlds.

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FASHION & STYLE

FASHION

Fashion in the West End by george coombes

he run in towards Christmas saw the much awaited opening of Forever 21, signalled the beginning of a another American heavyweights tenure in the UK.

It’s been a welcome addition. If you’re yet to be drawn in or simply deterred by the over wash of pink and general femininity, please reconsider. The men’s department is certainly worth flicking through on the website, at least. It has managed to find the balance between the shoddy, repulsiveness of Primark and the inexplicably over priced Topman and River Island. Don’t expect the quality of Ted Baker, but for the chirpy unannounced individual it’s worth stocking up - Particularly the men’s suit section that offers outstanding value for money considering the small section that occupies the Oxford Street store. The seemingly new trend for a shimmering gloss to the top half of a suit is fully explored by Forever 21. One of the brands that sit comfortably above the Forever 21’s of this world in terms of price, without necessarily justifying its prices is French Connection. Many In the know that I spoke with predicted the demise of FC during difficult financial times, mainly due to its very simplistic approach to style and marketing of clothes that aren’t anywhere near to being luxurious enough to get away with it. I feel as though its marquee stores such as the one in Covent Garden that keep the brand competitive in an extremely active marketplace. The customer service, which is something that can easily be applauded in many shops in CG, has always been exemplary, but the store layout works really well with their forward thinking approach. It seems to me that they put a great deal of thought into the style of their winter clothing. The stuff that they’ve had in there at the minute, and for the past 6 months, touches upon theme of reserved young professional, without the ‘Olly Murs’ feel that Fred Perry has found itself needing to deal with.

CULTURE

London Lux: A cultural renaissance “You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

by sam armrani

amuel Johnson’s meditations about the joys of London are every bit as true today as they were when he first wrote them around two hundred and thirty years ago. Despite the troubled economic climate, affection for the capital has been at an all time high in recent months – creating a feeling that has been reflected in every facet of culture from art, to theatre to literature and back again. With business in London as brisk as ever, even the banking scandal (and the recent bout of truly terrible weather) has failed to dampen Britain’s resolve and with the erection of the so-called ‘Vertical City’ the Shard, London has sealed its reputation as the luxury capital of the world. Not only a haven of offices, 5* hotel suites and internationally distinguished restaurants, but the tallest building in Western Europe, the Shard’s impact on London’s skyline symbolizes a vision of prosperity and success made concrete. But this sense of dynamism exceeds well beyond the Capital’s architecture; indeed, whether you are an established native or simply a visiting tourist, there has never been a better year to revel in all that London has to offer. A city founded on a unique

combination of rich historicism and cutting edge modernity, the events of 2012 have seen London become more exciting and vibrant than ever, and have reminded people the world over exactly what is so unique about Britain. Although it is tempting to assume that the anonymity afforded by living in an urban playground might make for an alienated populous, in fact the celebration of Prince Will and Kate’s royal wedding last year only proved that the sense of community in London is stronger than ever. A trip through the capital’s thirty-three boroughs reveals no shortage of colourful characters and distinct cultural identities. Indeed, during the Queen’s jubilee back in June it felt like this diverse myriad came together as a whole, an action that set the tone for London’s proudest moment to date – hosting the Summer Olympics in July. Although we’ll cover the Olympics in more detail later, for those less enamoured by all things sports-related, even a quick look at what’s on in London this summer will only serve to emphasise what a wonderfully diverse collection of entertainment we have here in the capital.

Hotels For those planning a visit to the luxury capital of the world, there is no shortage of hotels to indulge in some lavish living. With all this talk of the Shard it would be churlish to overlook the latest incarnation of one of the world’s most elite hotel brands atop the lofty heights of the ‘vertical city’. Offering three hundred and sixty degree views, the Shangri-La hotel is set to change the scope of luxury indulgence, using a uniquely Far Eastern approach to present an unforgettable signature experience assured to inspire.

Ritz

But if you aren’t a fan of heights, try one of many fantastic alternatives like the Lanesborough St Regis overlooking Hyde Park. Aside from the exclusive location, the Lanesborough also offers dining at Michelin-rated restaurant Apselys, palatial bathrooms, stately decadent 19th century inspired décor and butler service as standard. For something more edgy, try the Sanderson – innovative rooms are peppered with interesting textures and artworks chosen by designer Phillippe Starck. With a spa, fitness room and Malaysian restaurant Suka there to tempt, those after a truly memorable experience might like to try the Mad Hatter’s tea in the amazing courtyard. Other luxury hotels worthy of note include Claridge’s, the Ritz, the Langham and the Dorchester.

Dorchester

Harrods

Selfridges

Shopping With the new Westfield shopping centre winning the title of biggest shopping centre in Europe it might seem like a nobrainer when it comes to looking for a place to flash the cash, but visiting different parts of London will offer you a chance to pick up something a little more unconventional. The one thing that London does best is variety, and this fact certainly rings true when it comes to shopping. Always synonymous with quality (and often eccentricity), there is no other capital in the world that offers this many opportunities to indulge. With shops ranging from boutiques to concept stores to high street staples and back again there is sure to be a store for everyone. As a place with a reputation for being the luxury lifestyle retreat of the world, no-one expecting to have experienced all that London has to offer would miss the chance to explore the infamous hallways of

CULTURE

our lavish department stores. With Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Mulberry, Harrods and Fortnum and Mason there to draw in those in the market for something truly indulgent, those in the know head to Hatton Garden for jewellery, Conduit Street for ultracool brands, Neal’s Yard for organic beauty products, Brick Lane for Vintage clothing, Greenwich Market for antiques and the King’s Road to find those little designer boutiques.

Arts Although the biggest exhibition of the year comes from London’s most exciting living artist Damien Hirst (check out his store Other Criteria in Hinde Street Marylebone) the museums and galleries scattered across the capital offer access to some of the most beloved works of art of all time. Indeed, setting aside even a few days to check out London’s cultural scene and you could see historical and contemporary delights from everything to the Elgin Marbles to the work of Matisse. Whilst this year has seen exhibitions run based on the work of such significant artists as Picasso, Munch and Freud to name but a few, with an emphasis on making art accessible many of London’s best museums and galleries don’t charge an entry fee, offering the opportunity to look at permanent collections which will capture the imagination of those who like their art contemporary every bit as much as those who like it classic. For those that like their arts seeped in ancient mystery, the British Museum holds an impressive collection of seven million artefacts ranging from Egyptian mummies to Roman coins. For more traditional works and paintings, check out the Tate Britain which houses the best of British, showcasing masterpieces by the likes of Turner, Constable and Whistler which range from 1500 to the present day. For something more a la mode, try the Tate Modern situated on the Southbank. One of London’s most striking galleries all the modern greats are displayed here from Dali to Duchamp. Also worth a visit are the Royal Academy of Arts which hosts a Summer Exhibition open to artists both known and unknown, the Victoria and Albert Museum which boasts marble corridors and treasures from the ancient world right up to the present day, and the National Gallery and National Portrait galleries over by Trafalgar Square.

Dining Whilst the Brits have no national dish per se, the rich mix of cultural influences and influx of international talent has seen the city become heralded around the world as the culinary capital. Graced with more than its fair share of Michelin starred eateries, London boasts an ever-changing array of sumptuous and luxurious restaurants serving everything from Asian fusion food to French fare. Although there are literally thousands of restaurants to choose from, top of the list in recent months comes Michelin starred Viajante. Located in trendy Bethnal Green, the head chef Nuno Mendes’ Portuguese heritage means that the food is genuinely creative as well as being absolutely delicious; better yet the stylish bar offers some truly unforgettable cocktails. For somewhere with a sense of opulence about it, try The Wolseley. With its breathtaking interiors and wonderfully attentive service, everyone that pays it a visit will get to feel like a film star for the day. Meanwhile, if you fancy a taste of the Orient, try high end Cantonese dining in Hakkasan in Mayfair. With luxury twists of foie gras, truffle and lobster as standard, this is the place to see and be seen. For French dining, try the converted chapel space of Galvin La Chapelle in Spitalfields.

Nightlife The great British custom of taking a tipple in a public drinking house remains as popular as ever in the country’s capital. Whilst there are hundreds of fairly typical pubs and clubs across the city, all kinds of speakeasies, cocktails, and wine bars have been added to the mix in the last few years. Despite being thought of as a city at the heart of modernity, London is a place that loves to celebrate its past – a fact never more apparent than if you go in search of a beverage. Indeed, one of the great things about London is that even antiquated pubs like Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street (established in 1538 and rebuilt after the great fire of London in 1666) stand side by side with the crème de la crème of the city’s contemporary haunts, meaning that there is truly something for everyone. Since everyone knows that when it comes to luxurious nightlife you can’t go wrong with an indulgent cocktail, its worth contrasting some of the more recent hotspots against some of the many bars dedicated to celebrating the glory days of bygone eras. Top of the latter list is Old Street’s Bar Nightjar, a speakeasy with a strict no standing policy, the unassuming entrance only adds to the magical feel of this magnificent escape. Offering prohibition themed cocktails and playing jazz music, this is a great opulent retreat. Drop in at Good Godfrey’s at The Waldorf Hilton for a drink with a 1920s twist made by the bar’s award-winning mixologists. For a really quirky British beverage, try a sharing cocktail called Hot Gin Punch served in a teapot. Also worth a look is Bourne & Hollingsworth, a small cocktail bar with a vintage feel that extends to the names of its drinks (Gardner’s Tea Break anyone?) Big fans of retro, H&B’s events list is worth keeping abreast of. Another glam

CULTURE

drinking spot is the Savoy’s Beaufort Bar. Decorated with plush black and gold Art Deco interiors, the bar is located on a onetime cabaret stage where George Gershwin once performed. Another figure synonymous with London glamour is James Bond and where better to sink a cocktail than in the favourite haunt of his creator, author Ian Fleming? A regular visitor to Dukes, this is the birthplace of the famous line “shaken not stirred”. Take your own martini master class in this hotel bar or simply soak up the atmosphere. However, if you are looking for something less anachronistic, there’s no shortage of waterholes to try. Top of the cool list comes the Wyld Bar at the W London hotel. Inspired by London’s rock’n’roll heritage, this fashionable hotspot is strictly guest list only. Likewise with Mahiki - a bar known as much for its celebrity fans as its fabulous cocktails. The bar’s taste of the Pacific tiki theme is popular with the rich and famous and no visit would be complete without trying the well-known Treasure Chest – which as the name suggests, is a sharing cocktail made from a mixture of spirits and champagne served in a wooden chest. Gents in particular might want to try the Blue Bar, which aside from its Lutyens Blue colour scheme offers a range of over fifty whiskies. Luxurious without being pretentious, this is a celebrity hang out with a more moderate vibe. If you prefer a view of the city than A-listers then the Oxo Tower is a must. With St Paul’s Cathedral and the sights of the city spread out below you, its only fitting that the cocktails should derive their name from all things London, with London Calling being a favourite with many. Taste London’s largest collection of rums available at the award-winning Artesian at The Langham hotel and take the excuse to sample something from the Artesian Tiffin menu. The Hilton on Park Lane is home to the much beloved Trader Vic’s – which serves signature rum cocktails as well as the classics. With the Olympic buzz still very much palpable throughout the capital, there really is no better moment to immerse oneself in the diverse, eclectic and exhilarating cultural melting pot that is London. With art, architecture and decadent distractions around every corner, the capital provides the perfect setting for those looking to indulge. London achieves ultra-modernity largely because it has mastered the skill of marrying its past with its present. It is because of this fact that it is sure to be a significant part of the future.

photography: Norman Tamkivi The View from The Shard Julian Shoquette Victoria and Albert Museum, London www.alanwilliamsphotography.com

FASHION

The Suit and the Shirt by juuso hyvärinen

Timeless, yet ever-changing.

he world of fine tailoring, bespoke suits and perfectly cut shirts has always been shrouded by a veil of exclusivity and mystery. Not everyone has been entitled to take a peek within the closed doors of the suit shops on Savile Row, to view and enjoy the beautiful creations of the master tailors. Even now, most of the tailors on the Row keep their doors shut. Only upon requesting permission to enter by ringing the doorbell will you be able to step inside one of these ancient shops. And that is exactly how the tailors want it to be - exclusive and slightly mysterious. To understand gentlemen’s fashion in London, two historic streets must be recognised, namely Savile Row in Mayfair and Jermyn Street at the heart of central London. The origins of both streets date back to the 17th and 18th century, but they still continue to play important roles in contemporary fashion. Savile Row is where it all began. Walking down the Row is an experience in itself. You are being exposed to the off-the-wall masterpieces of Ozwald Boateng, who uses colour in very unconventional and elaborate ways and the gorgeous, quintessential works of the tailors at Ede & Ravenscroft at the very end of the Row. In the olden days, if you were a top player, you had to have a Savile Row suit made specifically to your measurements. However, things have changed since. Nowadays, when it comes to dressing like a proper gentleman, money is no longer an issue. The various shirt vendors on Jermyn Street in London’s St. James’s offer fantastic deals on top-quality shirts that will lure in anyone who has a spare £100 to spend. Individual shirts go for as little as £20 and Even though prices have dropped because of growth and franchising, the quality has remained top notch. Durable and well-fitting suits can be bought for £100-200, which is very reasonable considering that just a few years ago, the price of the exact same suits hovered around £400-500.

The gentlemen’s attire giants, T.M. Lewin and Charles Tyrwhitt have their origins on Jermyn Street, where their flagship stores still operate. Both businesses have conquered most of London, setting base in central London as well as the City, where the bulk of the clientele do their shopping. Although this expansion has mostly been welcomed positively, some argue that a certain degree of glamour and appeal has been lost along the way. Exclusivity and the concept of bespoke tailoring have made way to the idea of selling as much products to as many customers as possible. A field formerly characterised by subtlety has been taken over by the in-your-face attitude of relentless selling. Multibuys rule and the adverts are flashy. There are other ways of looking at the current situation though. Many feel that the once exclusive world of men’s luxury clothing has really opened up and it is more accessible than before. The once intimidating and unapproachable shops now feel more welcoming and really cater to the needs of the public. Even Marks & Spencer has a ‘Savile Row’ –inspired collection up for sale. These days, if you are starting a new job and need a renovated wardrobe, you can comfortably walk into any shop on Jermyn Street and be greeted with a warm welcome. Although people working in the banking industry might disagree, what we have been seeing in the past years is a subtle revolution in the way men wear suits. Pioneers in the field, such as Giorgio Armani, Sir Paul Smith and later Ozwald Boateng have shown that the suit is an ever-changing garment. They have introduced brilliant new ways of cutting the suit as well as allowing men to wear fresh and interesting colours again. The suit is no longer something intended solely for business. It can be worn very casually when going out. A vividly-coloured and well cut suit can be the perfect eye-catcher. Preferences are slowly shifting. Slim is in. Boring is out. Presently, wearing suits and shirts is not seen as being stuffy or old-fashioned, although jeans are cunningly replacing the suit trousers. The contemporary view is that anything goes, as long as you can pull it off. Ties, on the other hand, are swiftly going out of fashion, especially when it comes to everyday business wear in the capital. The general consensus is that the modern London businessmen are to ditch the tie, put on a navy jacket with jeans, button that crisp white shirt and never forget the umbrella.

Five nifty tips for gentlemen in the making Dressing like a gent and discovering your own style is no easy task. Here are some guidelines to help you along the way. 1. Get measured and fitted – On Jermyn Street, there are various shirt shops that will offer you guidance and personal service to finding a perfectly fitted shirt for you. From measuring your neck size and arm length to giving expert style advice, the salespeople know what they are doing. 2. Begin with the basics – Every man needs to purchase the basic building blocks of the wardrobe. What you will need is a black, navy and grey suit. With this colour combination you are prepared for virtually any event that may come your way. Also, the jackets can be worn casually with jeans. You will need at least white, blue, pink and purple shirts to get you started.Try to incorporate a striped and a checked shirt in your selection as well.When you have the basics down, do not be afraid to experiment with different colours like red, black, yellow or green. 3. Let go of old habits – Do not be apprehensive when going for a tightly fitted shirt, even if you are used to wearing baggy ones. By trying on a slimmer shirt you may find that it makes you look better, and yet feels comfortable as well. Stop hiding under layers of excess fabric and try on the slim fit. It will give you that extra boost of confidence. 4. Get classy with cufflinks – Again, classic always works, so go for the basic models if you are just starting out. Simple, polished metal works well with practically anything. Do not forget about silk knots however; they are a very fun, stylish and an inexpensive way of expressing yourself. They tend to be slightly more casual, so you can easily wear double cuffed shirts with silk knots without a jacket as well. 5. Tie it all together with a selection of ties – Navy, red and purple ties are a must have for any aspiring gentleman. Do not go overboard with the patterns; silly dinosaur ties are a thing of the past. Go for something timeless and simple; after all, ties are not worn very often anymore. A pink shirt is usually very tricky when it comes to finding the right tie to go with it. However, burgundy would work brilliantly and a navy tie with pink details is also a good choice.

FASHION

Five hints on taking your wardrobe to the next level Most suit-wearing men are not developing their unique style and have instead decided to stay put in the boring ‘safe-zone’. Here are some tips on how to break free from those same old habits that are hindering you from presenting a more interesting and attractive side of yourself. 1. Experiment with different collar types – The collar is the most important part of your shirt, because much like the frame on a piece of art, it ‘frames’ your face, focusing the viewer’s attention on it. For example, try out the extreme cutaway collars or the ‘penny’ collar to add a hint of vintage to your style. Also, one of the biggest sellers at the moment is the old classic, the white collar – white cuff combination, which is a must have for any Gordon Gekko admirer. 2. Mix and match your suit jackets and trousers – Take the jacket of your grey suit and wear it with navy trousers or vice versa.This will give a fresh twist to your otherwise ordinary and perhaps boring suit! 3.Try pocket handkerchiefs – If you are very conservative in the way you dress, try adding a dash of colour to your suit by wearing a vividly coloured pocket hanky. By wearing a handkerchief, you can either make a statement or simply give the finishing touch to the perfect combination – Mad Men style. Remember, you do not need to wear a tie in order to have a pocket square. 4. Sustain the shape of your collar by wearing collarbones – Most quality shirts come with a pair of plastic collarbones. They are small ‘bones’ that are inserted into the collar in order to maintain its shape. Metal or pearl collarbones can be bought from Jermyn Street. What makes them unique is that they are something just for the wearer to enjoy. When you insert the collarbones into the collar before going to work you get a nice feeling of security. If everything else goes wrong, at least your collar will continue to look fantastic. 5. Spice up your day with a cravat – Cravats have long been overlooked as being too over-the-top or flamboyant. However, when worn with a plain white shirt and a simple jacket, the cravat is an appropriate accessory, which shows off the confidence of the wearer. Give it a go; it might look better than you think!

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Going Out in Style: by matt taaffe

n the last century, the dominance of the tobacco industry was undeniable. Everyone emanated a smoky haze, from doctors to babies to Santa (if you believed the advertisements). But now, as cigarettes are beginning to ease the choke hold that they once had on the world, Matthew Taaffe looks into the chic of smoking and ponders whether the fumes of refinement have dissipated in the wind. A young man emerges from a tube station in the early hours of the morning. He hesitates for a moment outside an empty bookshop and, reaching into the pocket of his coat, locates a small metal lighter and a packet of filter cigarettes. Carefully drawing back the flip top lid of the packet, he extracts a single cigarette from its container, taps it lightly on the front of his lighter and places it between his lips. He allows it to hang there – as the morning sun casts shadows across his face – as he snaps back the cover of his lighter and ignites a flame. Swiftly lighting the end, he draws in the smoke. After replacing the articles back inside his jacket, he removes the cigarette from his lips and exhales. This is his first cigarette of the day. But how does the practice reflect upon the person? Smoking is harmful to you and others around you. The cigarette is now an attainable accessory for every man; a habit shared by all, from the debonair to the destitute. What was once an embellishment of success, is now a communal ornament. The prevalence of anti-smoking campaigns have done their best to saddle smokers with a stigma, but the recent popularity of such shows as AMC’s Mad Men and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, have reminded viewers of the heyday of the cigarette, when gangsters and businessmen lit up in luxury as they coolly sipped on their neat whiskey. But the realisation of the detrimental risks that smoking can cause led health conscious smokers to stub out their cigarette outside the hospital doors and throw the butt in a bin labelled ‘Hazardous Waste’.

CULTURE

The author Kurt Vonnegut once described smoking as “a classy way to commit suicide”, and this infamous quote perfectly outlines the undeniable truth that the modern smoker has to tackle: that smoking is an irrefutably destructive habit. Lighting a cigarette alone, a demonstrably violent action that harnesses the danger of fire, makes this indubitably clear. At the same time, unlike other vices, cigarettes have no real benefits to the user. In Britain, as the population began to list the pros and cons of smoking, the percentage of male smokers dropped significantly from 65% in 1948 to 22% in 2007. But this percentage of smokers is still a substantial amount of smoke. It is because of this that there must only be one rationale to attribute to the persistent popularity of this senseless habit; that style transcends sense. The toxic nature of tobacco smoking has always been clear, ever since their introduction into Europe in the sixteenth century. King James I wrote of tobacco that it was a “custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the Nose, harmful to the brain and dangerous to the Lungs”. But by the time the cigarette, created by an Egyptian artilleryman, had become mass produced in the mid-nineteenth century, it had emerged as a symbol. Whether it was due to the revolutionary attitude of the time or not, the cigarette was in vogue. Despite being bad for your health, it was good for your appearance. Smoking is bad for you. Its entrance into France coincided with the epitomising of Paris’ love affair with high culture and refined aristocracy, which had now materialised into the form of the dandy. The dandy desired a way to express his elegance and wealth beyond the confines of material possessions. So what better way to demonstrate this than by engaging in superfluous and nonchalant behaviours? Here the cigarette attained its status. It was by serving little to no literal purpose that the cigarette was able to serve a grand emblematic purpose. Through performing such a frivolous task well, the dandy was able to extend the parameters of his persona. And while the dandy relished in the decadence of his pre-made cigarette; the art of self-rolling was availed by the artistes, as they began to cotton on to their uniquely transcendent benefits. The beautiful and meticulous way in which they crafted their cigarettes allowed them to bring their habit, like their art, to life.

A great surge of smoking’s popularity occurred as a consequence of the Crimean War. The various armies of the various empires emulated both friend and foe as they were introduced to a new pastime purporting to relieve the stress of wartime tension. This link between skirmish and smoking would prove to be a strong union through many wars, and as cigarettes became an increasingly important ration for soldiers, alliances were strengthened from citizen to country and between nations themselves. America’s involvement in World War I and World War II coincided with such advertisement campaigns as “The Camels are Coming”, and 1941’s Casablanca palpably infused the idea of resilience with the habit of smoking. Smoking is... Now during the 1800s, the symbolism of cigarettes, cigars and pipes were virtually interchangeable, but at the turn of the century, society began to emblemise the various implements individually. As polar ends of society lit up for differing rationales, the versatility of the cigarette became apparent. And while the old tradition of smoking pipes came to represent age and wisdom and the cost and bulk of cigars were twinned with authority and power, cigarettes initially denoted strength and youth in the beginning decades of the 20th Century – an obvious outcome of their connection with war. It was in the decades after the Second World War, when the popularity of smoking reached its climax that society began to develop more varied images of smokers. Thanks in part to the film industry; the public diversified their scope on the image of a cigarette smoker. Smokers were simultaneously cast as elegant socialites, such as in Breakfast at Tiffany’s swanky homage to smokers; as brooding renegades in films like Rebel Without a Cause’s iconic tale of suburban teenagers; and as shadowy criminals prevalent in pictures like Dr Mabuse, The Gambler’s foggy fiction of nihilism and mystery. The cigarette had no single image on screen, it appeared as a versatile prop for every character to emphasise his nature. Meanwhile, advertisement campaigns emphasised the diversity of their cigarettes as they broadcasted commercials showing smokers as simultaneously flawlessly feminine and immaculately masculine. Lucky Strikes were publicised as a way for beautiful women to stay slim, and Marlboros were shown as masculinity incarnate in their macho Marlboro Country adverts. Smoke contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. However as the pile of medical cases outlining the dangers of cigarettes began to mount up during the ‘60s and ‘70s, restrictions were made on the tobacco industry’s influence. The golden age of cigarettes came to a close, and the silver screen

CULTURE

dimmed the light on lighting up, leaving only shady gangsters and heinous villains with a butt between their lips. Once a symbol of high class and high income, here it evolved into an emblem for a new generation. Its new identity as a vice, as an addiction led to its abandonment by the upper echelons of society, leading to its adoption by the rock generation who needed another symbol of their rebellion. Nowadays, however, there is no distinctive image of a smoker. So is it possible that there can there be a single image of diverse cigarette smoker? Some would argue that the image of a cigarette, and by proxy, a smoker, is not a pleasant one. A cigarette represents an addiction shared by a community that is fundamentally unhealthy; there is no longer an air of grandeur. Smoking kills. “In the end, the dream is stubbed out” is the final sentence of Richard Klein’s book, Cigarettes are Sublime. It would seem that the cigarette has lost that certain je ne sais quoi of nineteenth century France. The flame of luxury has been snuffed: the suave symbol for the debonair man; the dainty accessory for the chic woman has reached the butt of its luxury. After the final drag of dashing, its meaning as a symbol of sophistication and exclusivity is snuffed out; astray in the ashtray. Is this the reality for the 21st Century cigarette? I would disagree. Clearly, the cigarette’s single identity is no longer a pleasant one. Alone, yes, it has a stigma; a stigma of everything that antismoking campaigns have bestowed upon it. But by appropriation, the cigarette becomes so much more than bad-lungs and badbreath. Suspended in the hand of a troubled teen, orange-copper flame reaching tar-stained fingers, it means angst and rebellion. Dangling between the fingers of a pompous artist, self-rolled and self-aggrandising, it means aloofness and creativity. Clasped in the hand of a badly dressed businessman, ash flicking off fervently, it means tension and anxiety. And for the tweed clad executive – head high, shoulders straight – the cigarette, like his Brooks Brothers’ blazer and high end haircut, can reflect elegance. It is by appropriation that the cigarette garners an image; it becomes an extension of self, a means by which to assert identity, an accessory to bolster persona. Warning: Smoking can supplement the self.

Viajante Amongst the loud, grey yet indisputably trendy streets of Bethnal Green resides new restaurant Viajante – the latest culinary venture from Nuno Mendes the chef behind supper club The Loft.

by alexa downing

THE VENUE: Situated in the architectural grandeur of the former Bethnal Green town hall, Viajante plays on the incongruity of its location. East London might seem like an unlikely spot for this culinary gem, but if you can get over the clash between avante garde decadence and urban destitution then you’re in for a treat. Small with retro interiors, the wooden furniture and cool décor give the space a fresh and contemporary feel, with the high ceilings matched only by the menu’s equally lofty pretentions.

THE ATMOSPHERE: Having dined here relatively early on a weekday afternoon – a time at which the restaurant was populated largely by businessmen and women – the atmosphere was inclined towards solemnity. Luckily, the staff are not only attentive and kindly, but have an excellent sense of humour which helps to dispel any of the intensity brought about by the surroundings (or indeed the clientele).

THE FOOD: The open kitchen is resided over by Portuguese-born Nuno Mendes, one of the emerging stars of London’s culinary scene. After working at the renowned El Bulli café in Spain, Mendes gained popularity here in the UK first at Bacchus and then with his concept restaurant The Loft. The name of this restaurant (meaning “the traveller”) reflects the varied nature of its fare, with “surprise” tasting menus of three to twelve courses offering flavours from around the world and ranging in cost from £30-£140 per head. Although staff are careful to ask about allergies and dislikes there are no menus here per se. With Mendes’ largely modern approach to cooking, as you might expect there are a myriad of influences at work in his food - which it has to be said are for the most part successful. A six course tasting menu yielded delights which ranged from the ridiculous (a bread and butter platter known as the “Thai

Explosion IIâ&#x20AC;?) to the sublime (cod and potatoes with egg yolk and saffron). Whilst dinner can be eaten with or without wine, the discovery of an absolutely delicious full-bodied red shipped in from a Chilean village in limited qualities (accompanied by a thrilling narrative about its origins from the waiter) proved to be a real highlight. Although the prices are undeniably steep, the attention to detail with regards to presentation (a glance in the direction of the kitchen reveals that most of the food is arranged with tweezers) and the skill of the cooking (a sumptuous lamb loin and belly braised to perfection was particularly note-worthy) encourage forgiveness. Desserts are less remarkable, serving to act more like a palate cleanser (for example frozen maple with shiso and green apple was more like a sorbet) but rounded off our magical culinary tour beautifully.

DRINKS: Although Viajante Bar offers an extensive wine list, cocktails are really the thing here. Dominated by a magnificent chandelier, the bar provides a thoughtful cocktail list that offers both classic and contemporary concoctions. Talented mixologists are on hand to advise on the specifics of a seasonal cocktail menu with drinks coming in at about ÂŁ7-10. Despite the inevitably exorbitant bar tab, the subtlety of the drinkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flavours combined with the charm of the surroundings make it hard to feel guilty about spending time or money here.

THE LAST WORD: Although expensive, the quirky culinary experiences on offer at Viajante are worth their weight in gold. The perfect place for any budding gastronome to indulge their adventurous side.

Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 (020 7871 0461)

CULTURE

‘Professional’ Escorts by alexa downing

s the country perseveres through what is arguably the worst period of financial unrest in its history, graduates that have found themselves unable to enter the job market are turning to a less conventional means of securing an income. Whilst the notion of women accepting money for providing wealthy gents with the pleasure of their company has been well documented in the popular press and on TV (think Diaries of a Call Girl and Girl With a One-Track Mind), it seems that men are likewise cashing in on their assets. In the last few years, a number of websites have emerged which connect “money-rich time-poor” women with young educated men. Sites like gentlemen4hire employ escorts to accompany rich and successful women on dinner dates and work functions. Depending on how strong the rapport struck up with a client, a successful escort can expect to benefit greatly beyond their initial fees, receiving anything from gifts and nights out to a generous monthly allowance. Although many of these sites stress that their escort’s services do not extend to sexual favours in order to protect themselves from legislation pertaining to prostitution, the reality is often very different.Yet if we place gender back into the equation, then we find a very subtle power shift afoot. If even the women that actively choose to work in roles such as this one are often seen as passive victims of an insidious patriarchy, then where do we find male escorts on the power scale? Being offered money for sexual services (overtly or otherwise) gives rise to a kaleidoscopic projection of ethical issues:

how does the escort perceive his actions, and more problematically, how does his social circle and society view his actions? On one level, this is a creative solution to the unavoidable problem of unemployment using the body as capital. The nature of the job allows time to study further, take on unpaid internships and move oneself forward in your chosen field.Yet trying to make an economic transaction of something heavily weighted with cultural norms and expectations has an immeasurable emotional impact on the individual. In addition to this, the representation the escort holds in his own mind can differ hugely with the representations of his lifestyle fostered by the media and social attitudes. If disclosed, undertaking a role considered as transgressive by so many, might actually serve to damage a young male graduates chances in the professional world. Whilst one could one play devil’s advocate and say that this trend is actually reconstructing the fabric of our society for the better by twisting our conventional notions of professional agency and putting the emphasis upon the flexibility and freedom of the individual rather than the prosperity of corporate culture, such an argument is a little too idealistic for most tastes. The fact remains that whilst escorting remains a viable option for many based upon their individual situations and circumstances, any attempts to analyse its ‘success’ as a professional endeavour can only be empirical at best. In most instances the idea of using one’s body as capital is probably understood a little too literally here, even for the most ardent of Marxists.

A collection of Art Deco ‘Champagne bottle’ decanters and shakers

Art Deco cigarette box with clock by Cartier (Ref 4989)

Long established in King Street, St.James’s next to Christie’s, the Pullman Gallery specializes in 20th century objets de luxe and collectables, including:

•

Art Deco silver ice bucket and tray, Tetard Paris (Ref 5229)

Original, vintage posters • Art Déco bronze sculpture • Automotive Art and collectables • Antique Louis Vuitton trunks • Cocktail shakers and barware • René Lalique car mascots and vases •Dunhill lighters and cigar accessories • WWII naval binoculars and instruments • Rare tinplate toys, cars and aeroplanes • Vintage pieces by Hermès, Cartier, Asprey and Tiﬀany • Sculptural, original models by John Elwell.

Very large, multi-blade knife, Czech, circa 1930 (Ref 5204)

‘1931 Supermarine S.6B’, a unique, large-scale model by John Elwell (Ref 5167)

Rare, complete set of Asprey ‘Ship’s Lantern’ cocktail shakers, 1935 (Ref 5194)

Important, Modernist cocktail set by Desny, 1928 (Ref 5068)

Illustrated here is a small selection of our newest items of inventory. For full details of the pieces featured, and our extensive collection of similar pieces, please visit our website www.pullmangallery.com The latest issue of PULLMAN, our house magazine, is available from the gallery or online.

14 King Street St. James’s London SW1Y 6QU Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 9595

www.pullmangallery.com A pair of large, silvered-bronze photo frames by Heintz Art Metal Co, USA, 1910 (Ref 5232)

A pair of shoe trunks by Louis Vuitton, circa 1920s (Refs 4680, 4859)

Monday – Friday: 10.00 – 18.00 And by appointment

CULTURE

Red Carpet in the Rain by juuso hyvärinen

Experimental and unconventional styles are cunningly stealing the spotlight away from boring black suits and matching clip-on bow ties on the red carpet. Men are now able to express themselves much more when going formal simply by adding a few nifty little details to their outfit, which can be seen in the many Bond-inspired midnight blue tuxedos as well as attentiongrabbing bow ties and extravagant velvet blazers we saw this year in the rainy BAFTAs.

Damian Lewis Damian Lewis’s velvet ensemble is an eye-catcher to say the least. However, the full velvet suit is quite a heavy combination, as over-the-top blazers work much better with contrasting regular trousers. On its own, the blazer would have been a wonderful choice, as velvet connotes indulgence and extravagance, something which is perfect for black tie events. Luckily the dark bow tie and white silk handkerchief tone down the whole outfit. GET THE LOOK Green Velvet Blazer from MSGM - £350

photography: BAFTA/Stephen Butler BAFTA/Jonny Birch

Luke Evans Luke Evans breathes new life into this classic 1950’s ‘smoking jacket’ look.Well-tailored and combined with the jet-black trousers, the burgundy blazer certainly stands out. Mr Evans has carried on with the classic theme in choosing a pleated, white dinner shirt with black-on-silver studs as well as going for contrasting black peak lapels, creating a classy interplay of black and white in the chest area. His blazer was, without a doubt, one of the most interesting garments of the night. GET THE LOOK Burgundy Velvet Blazer from Neil Barrett - £1,500

Eddie Redmayne Young, modern and slim, Eddie’s look was without question one of the most elegant contemporary combinations of the night. Opting for a shade of dark navy with the suit instead of going for a basic black is one of the hottest trends at the moment, as Mr. Redmayne most certainly knows. The stylish self-tied bow tie and a casually folded dark handkerchief go nicely with the overall sharp look. Eddie’s look follows a simple rule of thumb: slim men should always wear a well cut suit in order to accentuate their lean figure. GET THE LOOK Slim Fit Navy Dinner Suit from Austin Reed - £400

Billy Connolly Billy Connolly, one of the voices in Disney-Pixar’s Brave, went for an old-fashioned look accompanied by a stiff, pre-tied bow tie. It is clear how ready-made bow ties lack the distinctive edge which the self-tied ones have. The black tie is not about perfection; rather, it is a platform to demonstrate character within a limited scope. Billy Connolly’s outfit appears slightly plastic, resulting in an outdated overall look, especially when combined with the round glasses and the white scarf. GET THE LOOK White Silk Evening Scarf from T.M. Lewin - £25

Tom Hiddleston The London-born star of the upcoming film Thor: The Dark World represents the younger generation in his black, shawl-lapelled dinner suit combined with a silk satin tie. Going for a slim black tie instead of a bow tie has gained popularity in recent years, especially among the younger crowds. However,Tom’s long collar adds a touch of traditional elegance. Notice also how the satin tie compliments the satin weave shawl lapels of the suit. GET THE LOOK Slim Black Satin Tie from T.M. Lewin - £30

Simon Pegg Simon Pegg’s slightly oversized, self-tied velvet bow tie sits smartly with his short-collar shirt. The whole idea here was not to go for perfection. Rather, as the bow looks self-tied, the overall look is enhanced by embracing imperfection. The two-tone dinner jacket finishes the sophisticated look, giving the suit a hint of contrast. Opposites work here, as the large velvet bow tie actually compliments the modern, slim-cut suit with shawl lapels. GET THE LOOK Black Velvet Bow Tie from Turnbull & Asser - £45

Ang Lee Unlike his newest masterpiece, Ang Lee’s outfit is all about subtlety and discretion. The slim black tie, regular lapels and the lack of a handkerchief all contribute to a professional and simple look. Lee also has an impeccable eye for detail, as the weave of the tie matches perfectly with the twill in the lapels. His motives for his choice of outfit are clear – the spotlight should be on the film, rather than its director. GET THE LOOK Black Twill Tie from Turnbull & Asser - £85

Henry Cavill Even in eveningwear, the star of the upcoming ‘Man of Steel’ –film Henry Cavill looks like Superman. The wide peak lapels and the generous cut of the suit highlight his broad chest and shoulders and the bulky black bow tie adds to the powerful look. White handkerchiefs were neglected by many in the BAFTAs, but Cavill demonstrates what a lovely accessory it really is. GET THE LOOK The Classic White Silk Handkerchief from Lanvin - £40

John C. Reilly John C. Reilly embodies the ‘classic with a twist’-look with his singlebreasted suit, marcella weave shirt and a quirky, feather-inspired bow tie. The eccentric bow tie demonstrates how a single accessory can elevate the whole outfit to another level. Bow ties in general have been making a huge comeback in fashion in recent years, so we might be expecting a range of various unconventional bow ties making their way to the red carpet. GET THE LOOK ‘Phunky Pheasant’ bow tie from Brackish - £75

George Clooney and Ben Affleck The two bearded film veterans looked almost like brothers as they endured the cold and rainy weather in semi-long overcoats and long ties. Clooney exhibited a trendy blue coat, whereas Affleck sported a greyish colour. With the trousers they switched roles, Clooney going for grey and Affleck wearing navy blue. A good rule of thumb is to go with an overcoat which contrasts nicely with the suit. GET THE LOOK Navy Wool Cashmere Overcoat from Charles Tyrwhitt - £200

Daniel Day-Lewis Daniel Day-Lewis captures the quintessential British formal dress sense with his traditional black suit and satin bow tie.The 4-time BAFTA winner and star of Lincoln follows the current trends by choosing a shawl lapel and tying his bow tie himself, which is the proper way to go for any real gentleman. With the addition of black dress studs and a white silk handkerchief his outfit would have turned even more heads. GET THE LOOK Black Shawl Collar Dinner Suit from Gieves & Hawkes - £700

Joaquin Phoenix & Bradley Cooper Waistcoats are slowly sneaking their way back onto the red carpet. The garment is usually worn in order to make a formal suit even smarter, and both Cooper and Phoenix have succeeded in doing so. Bradley Cooper’s midnight blue suit in particular looks terrific. Ever since Daniel Craig wore his blue dinner suit in the newest James Bond film there has been a noticeable shift in preference over a black suit. When the light hits the suit at the right angle, particularly indoors, a midnight blue can actually appear even darker than a simple black, making it the more formal choice. GET THE LOOK Midnight Blue Tuxedo Blazer from Saint Laurent - £75

Chris Tucker Tuckerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comedic persona shines through from his choice of outfit. The oversized black bow tie and large peak lapels are very retro and appropriate for a comedian, but not necessarily the most sophisticated choice for a black tie event. GET THE LOOK Large Black Bow Tie from Mrs Bow Tie - ÂŁ22

FASHION

YOUR GUIDE TO THE PERFECT BLACK TIE LOOK! THE SUIT

THE SHIRT

- Go with shawl lapels instead of peaks - they are the modern and elegant choice.

- Classic white is the only colour to go with - it ties to whole outfit together.

- At the moment, midnight blue is the hottest colour for a black tie occasion, but a simple black is, of course, timeless.

- Choose a non-pleated fabric to avoid looking fuddy-duddy.

- Add a waistcoat for a smarter look, but leave the cummerbund home. - Baggy or ill-fitting suits have no place in contemporary fashion - make sure your suit is well tailored. - Velvet blazers are perfectly acceptable - just remember to pair them up with regular suit trousers.

- The thick marcella fabric looks smart and is comfortable to wear. - With the collar, go with a classic, semi-cutaway collar instead of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;-collar. - Always wear black or white dress studs to finish off the look. - A suitable alternative is to wear a dress shirt with fabric covering the buttons.

THE ACCESSORIES - Bow tie is the more fashionable choice in terms of neckwear. - Black is a safe bet, but try different materials and colours to make your bow tie stand out. - Always wear a self-tied bow tie for an added touch of sophistication. - Match the weave of the bow tie to your suit lapels. - When wearing a long tie, go with a black and extra skinny one. - White silk scarves are outdated, so pick up a scarf with an unconventional colour with a pattern to turn heads. - Handkerchiefs are always appropriate.

W: www.alexanderamosu.co.uk T: 0870 977 9888 E: sales@amosu.co.uk

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TRAVEL & CULTURE

CULTURE

The art of the lunch by william tarvainen

unch has long been the poor cousin of dinner – and nowhere more so than in London, where busy professionals pop out of the office barely to grab something to gulp in front of their monitors. This is a pity, since the city is teaming with gourmet options from gastropubs to dim sum. For those with an hour or two to invest in lunching in style, London offers possibly the world’s most diverse selection of fine dining lunches.

London’s fine dining realm has gone through a complete transformation in less than 40 years, from gaining its first Michelin stars in 1974 to having 61 starred restaurants in 2013 – including eight ** restaurants and two *** restaurants. This makes London the eight-most Michelin-starred city in the world after Paris, New York, Hong Kong and (no fewer than) four Japanese cities. However, what sets London apart is the breadth of the cuisine on offer: in addition to all main European cuisines, old imperial ties mean that London has, for example, most of the world’s best Indian restaurants.

All but a handful of these restaurants offer two- and three-course set lunch menus on weekdays (and sometimes Saturdays) with two or three options for each course – although often à la carte and tasting menus are also available at lunchtime. The set lunch menus are generally much cheaper than dinner set menus, and London’s standard three-course lunch menus (without wine) range from £18.95 at Arbutus * to £45 at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay *** with most three-course lunches being between £25–35.

Given the breadth of choice available for the daytime diner, how to find the right restaurant from the dozens available? The High Culturalist has sampled London’s finest lunch menus to compile a gastronomic tour of London in five unique restaurants.

michelin stars

London in five lunches The star: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay Gordon Ramsay is possibly Britain’s most famous (and probably the loudest) chef, and his flagship restaurant in Chelsea features an all-star team of the Good Food Guide Chef of the Year Clare Smyth and the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year Jan Kenetzki. The calm minimalism of the dining room and Maître D’ JeanClaude Breton’s general courtliness make for an almost spiritual dining experience where the diner becomes a pilgrim.The cuisine is elegant, refined and comes with a meticulous attention to detail. Lunch menu £45 (3 courses)

The establishment: Le Gavroche Run by the venerable Roux dynasty, Le Gavroche was the first restaurant in London to be awarded one, two and three Michelin stars but has since 2004 settled on two. On the walls of the downstairs dining room there are works by Picasso, Miró and Dali, and the effortlessly charming service tells of a restaurant that has nothing to prove. Michel Roux Jr.’s French cuisine is rich and luxurious, but unpretentious and sincere at heart. For a small extra charge, you choose dishes outside the set lunch menu such as Le Gavroche’s signature soufflé Suissesse – a cheese soufflé baked in double cream, and perhaps the most delicious way for a man to get a heart attack. Lunch menu £52.60 (3 courses with wine)

The rebel: St. John With St. John, Fergus Henderson seems to break every Michelin-star stereotype: informal service in an old smokehouse, uncomplicated cooking highlighting unglamorous animal parts, and prices that start from £5 for an egg sandwich. True to the heritage of the nearby Smithfield meat market, the restaurant’s “nose to tail eating” offers a journey to exploring not only unusual cuts but also unusual animals – although simple British classics are always on the menu. The lunch atmosphere is relaxed and convivial, and one can be Lunch à la carte only

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The challenger: Texture London’s restaurants come in all styles, but the arguable heavyweight category of cooking is molecular cuisine. Texture’s Icelandic chef Agnar Sverrisson and French sommelier Xavier Rousset trained under Raymond Blanc’s eminent Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons **, but when they started their London restaurant in 2007 they broke from the classic French mould to create innovative cuisine with molecular techniques and a touch of Icelandic influence. Sverrisson’s cooking is slightly fresher and lighter than that offered in London by molecular men Claude Bosi (at Hibiscus **) and Heston Blumenthal (at Dinner *), and the high technical skill is especially evident in fish dishes. The lighter style makes for an optimal lunch-time flight of fancy, although the well-stocked Champagne bar might ruin your plans for an overtly healthy meal. Lunch menu £21.90 (2 courses) / £26.90 (3 courses)

The view: Galvin at Windows London has an array of restaurants with spectacular views, from Rhodes 24 * high amidst the City’s skyscrapers to River Café * with panoramic views across the Thames. But none can match the views from Galvin at Windows, located on the 28th floor of the Hilton on Park Lane and offering views over the whole of London from Hyde Park Corner. Head Chef André Garrett’s French cuisine highlights the quality of raw ingredients, and there is a wide array of lunch options at all prices. To maximise the lunchtime wow factor, ask for a table overlooking nearby Buckingham Palace. Lunch menu £25 (2 courses) / £35 (3 courses) / £45 (3 courses with wine and coffee)

WHO ELSE BRINGS THE WORLD TOGETHER TO LOOK AFTER THE WORLD’S WONDERFUL MOSAIC OF CULTURES THE PLANET’S MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES OUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION PRESS FREEDOM AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OR THE HEALTH OF THE OCEANS?

UNESCO

BORNEO More than just WWF-appeals

by eric orlowski

Borneo is divided between three separate nations: INDONESIA, MALAYSIA AND BRUNEI

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the third largest island in the world, after Australia and Greenland

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world

The rainforest on Borneo is particularly known its orangutan population

TRAVEL

orneo, globally marketed through WWF campaigns and widely considered a jewel in the crown of natural beauty across the globe, one that humanity is apparently decimating on a daily basis. Nevertheless, there is a lot more to Borneo than campaigns and appeals. The south-east Asian island is still considered an adventure destination while at the same time offers the lazy bythe-pool holiday with an exotic twist to it. In short, Borneo has a lot more than rainforest relief campaigns. However, considering that Borneo is on the other side of the planet, one simply cannot go there on a whim. For the best experience, preparations must be made. Other than actually booking a flight there, make sure to get the necessary jabs before going. The most important thing to get right is the hotel and lodging. What you plan on doing here will determine the type of accommodation that is required. Accommodation ranges from hostels á la backpackers to all-inclusive resorts. It is important, however, to double-check what you’ve booked; as a 5-star hotel is still a far cry from a 5-star resort. Don’t get caught out, as standards differ greatly. Once accommodation is arranged, it’s time to plan Borneo’s must-see’s. Needless to say, there are a lot of things to do and experience on a tropical island, particularly one as large and diverse as this. From what I experienced on this tropical wonder-land, the number one must-see attraction is the orangutans. Being one of the closest relatives to ourselves, seeing them in the wild is simply incredible, and there are few places in the world were one has the chance to see such wildlife outside of cages. It is also relatively easy to plan a trip to see our cousins, particularly as almost every hotel has the resources to do it for you. However, you’ll have to be ready for early mornings, as the island lacks a physical infrastructure making travel times lengthier. Furthermore, depending on where you’re staying on the island, going on a round-trip in the local region is also something I’d recommend, particularly if you’re travelling with a larger group of people, such as family or friends. Resorts tend to organise trips, hiring a van and guide for you and providing a pre-planned itinerary that could be subject to changes if necessary. Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak on the island is a main attraction for treks and hot springs are a great place to go for a dip. A rainforest canopy walk is also something that should be taken on. An opportunity like this is hard to resist. These trips

are generally the best way to experience the whole island and learn about local lore and history; from precolonial times, past British colonialism and Japanese occupation, up until modern times. Finally, a must to experience is the local food, particularly seafood. Most of the island’s staple is based around fishing, and it is not uncommon for restaurants to have large tanks of fish from which you can simply ‘pick-and-mix’ your own dinner. Basically, it is the freshest seafood you’ve ever been served in a restaurant, and whilst the cooking methods are rather simple, the simplicity is the beauty, as it allows for fresh and enjoyable flavours. Of course, there is more than just sightseeing to do on the island, and it particularly caters towards the more adventurous travelers. Borneo features a lot of high-quality rock climbing routes, particularly in the Malay part of the island. The routes range from beginner all the way through to the real daredevils. There are also hiking and other climbing routes up the mountains, and any outdoorsman should add Mount Kinabalu’s biggest challenge, Low’s Peak to their list of achievements. There are courses, routes and lodging along the path to the top of the mountain, all built up and offered to anyone willing. From adventure in the mountains to exploration in the sea. Due to the nature and position of the island in the south pacific, there are plenty of opportunities for diving, a favourite activity for tourists and locals alike. What is often available are boat trips to small outlying islands for snorkeling opportunities, however, one ought to beware, as some of the larger islands are somewhat tourist traps. If you’re interested in snorkeling, try to find a smaller and more secluded island. The experience will be tenfold.

Borneo is an island beyond the WWF adverts, endangered species and rainforests. Whilst this is indeed true, it offers a unique nature experience; giving you the chance not only to see wildlife in their natural setting, there is much more to the island than this geographical stereotype. The island also features treks, climbing routes, scuba diving, snorkeling and all sorts of activities for the more hands-on adventure traveler, at the same time offering the luxurious pool-side-cocktail experience with a more exotic setting than Spain. Borneo caters to all sorts of personalities and it offers a lot of must-see experiences, with breathtaking views from Mount Kinabalu, drinking beers on a white sand beach, adrenaline rushes on a rain forest canopy walk and natural wonders in the rain forest that makes you feel like David Attenborough. In short, Borneo is an experience, an opportunity to be taken without second thought.

TECHNOLOGY

Putting an iPad into the hands of the painter: Is the advance of technology damaging the authenticity of art? by alexa downing

avid Hockney’s retrospective at the Royal Academy – an exhibition that includes films, painting and artwork made exclusively on iPads and iPhones - caused ripples throughout the art world. For an artist who is no stranger to the idea of ‘thinking big’ it is perhaps a tad surprising to observe the furore that has developed in reaction to his recent work. Described as one of the world’s greatest living artists, the diversity of Hockney’s career is proof that he has never shied away from innovation. Having produced everything from pop art to set design over the course of the fifty years he has spent making art, Hockney has always encouraged his viewers to question the sterility of more traditional techniques through his unique and groundbreaking pieces. It is undeniable that living in LA during the Sixties has in many ways contributed to the filmic quality of Hockney’s vision, which draws much of its power from his monumental use of scale. Much of his work utilises collage type effects, with some of his most well-known works bringing to mind the kind of imagery more readily

associated with photography. Indeed, the prevalence of pieces such as A Bigger Grand Canyon 1988 (a huge scale work comprised of smaller paintings) is almost enough to put Hockney into a heritage of cubist painters. Hockney’s energy and passion has given rise to an oeuvre marked by a series of constantly evolving styles and techniques – a fact that serves to reinforce his wry claim that whatever he is doing, he is always “on location”. Even at the age of 74 Hockney retains his reputation for pushing the boundaries as one of only a handful of artists who have broken with convention by wholeheartedly embracing the digital era. By using tools conventionally utilised in social networking or business circles in a creative capacity, Hockney mischievously pokes fun at the rules imposed by ‘traditional’ artists.Yet for every supporter of Hockney’s playful attitude, there seemed to be a critic, scandalised and dubious about the changing landscape of contemporary art. But do the naysayers have a point - is digital work ‘art’? At a moment in time where every second person owns a smart phone, a Kindle, a laptop, a Macbook or a tablet, it seems odd to encounter such apprehension in the face of seemingly inevitable progression. Perhaps this unease stems from a sort of collective anxiety that in the presence of a technological life, our reality is somehow ‘split’, and that the erosion of the boundaries between what is ‘real’ and what is ‘digital’ detracts from our ‘authentic’ experience of being. All hypotheses aside, it seems increasingly difficult to ignore the fact that the incorporation of digital technologies into the creative process is proving beneficial on both a social and a political level. Being able to produce an artwork on a digitized tablet that could in theory be instantaneously seen around the world provides yet another means of making art open to all. Whilst technology has made it increasingly easy to reproduce an image of an image (i.e. a photograph of a painting), until very recently it has been difficult to make this kind of an ‘authentic’ creation using the computer itself.The iPad software allows an individual to indulge in the most exciting elements of painting (i.e. using their hands and fingers directly, mixing their own colour palette and experimenting with texture) with less mess and cost, earning additional kudos due to

CULTURE

the ease of distribution it offers. Whilst doubters might claim that in the context of an exhibition, trying to sustain the feeling of authenticity which we associate with ‘proper’ art becomes ever more difficult, Hockney overcomes this by boldly fusing the old with the new. Although both the iPad and iPhone only allow works to be shown consecutively, Hockney gets around this by wryly opting to display his selection of iPad ‘canvases’ in the manner of a ‘good old fashioned exhibition’. It is this merging of the digital and the ‘real’ that promises to usher in a new era of artistic experimentation, with the show at the Royal Academy offering us a glimpse into how art might be made and displayed in the future. Less financially demanding than having to carefully pack, transport and store artworks, the concept of the digital exhibition makes art immediately available anywhere in the world at any time. Indeed, as Hockney’s penchant for emailing his iPad sketches of the sunrise to his friends illustrates, such developments have helped to make art democratic, rendering it instantly accessible to the masses. Rather than detracting from its authenticity, the advent of technologies such as the iPad and the iPhone have seen the means of production extend the authority of art in new and previously unforeseen ways. Even the greatest purists must acknowledge that benefitting from the advances of the age and developments in modernity is not only logical, but itself traditional. As with the introduction of the printing press and the camera before them, tools like the iPad are set to become a staple of the creative industry. The very purpose of art (self-expression) is dependant on the artist’s freedom to take advantage of the world around them. Without the liberty to exploit the potential of technology to its fullest, the artist automatically relinquishes untold opportunities to discover alternative methods of expressing herself. With artists denied the opportunity to indulge in such experimentation, art would fail to progress, develop or change. Creative minds like Hockney have taken it upon themselves to put the writing on the wall: society must embrace change or risk being remembered as the civilization that stood by and chose to watch paint dry. The decision is literally in our hands.

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Crime and Punishment

The Future of the British Juridical System BY ALEXA DOWNING

he riots last summer threw into sharp relief the inadequacies of the British juridical system. With the promise that every wrongdoer would be reprimanded, courts that were already congested with persistent offenders continued to push the prison population towards crisis point. Although the Coalition Government had promised a ‘rehabilitation revolution’ within the criminal justice system back in 2010, it is becoming increasingly hard to ignore that the retribution system remains incapable of looking beyond short-term punishment in favour of longterm rehabilitation. In economical terms this is a real problem, with the average prisoner costing the taxpayer nearly £50,000 per year to accommodate. The cycle of crime and castigation has become endemic with precious few steps being made to resolve the issue outright. With governments reluctant to appear soft, many recent bills have gone down a punitive track, and in keeping with the employment drive occurring across the nation, it seems unsurprising that the language of the Justice Secretary’s programme is labour intensive. Ken Clarke’s plans put forward the idea of a ‘working prison’ – a scheme which sees prisoners spend forty hours a week working to acquire the skills that will help them to find a job on their release. Since employment is statistically proven to reduce the chances of reoffending, this idea seems almost ideal in theory. However, how would it function in practice?

CULTURE

With access to education already at a minimum inside many prisons (indeed, many prisoners are discouraged from learning by the poor wage incentives offered in exchange for it) increasing working hours would almost definitely compromise educational opportunities. In addition to this, we need to question exactly what kind of working roles inmates would be expected to take on, and whether they would benefit anyone outside of the prison industries. Although in the short term, many prisoners take on menial roles simply in exchange for the relief of leaving their cells, the kind of low-skilled positions commonly given to prisoners do not give them a genuine opportunity to enter the ‘real’ job market. The kind of work offered should provide opportunities for individuals to make progression by acquiring new skills through apprenticeships and placements.

Although many people are incensed at the stories appearing in the press that present prisoners as enjoying a degree of cultural and social freedom very much in conflict with the notion of ‘punishment’, we have to look at the bigger picture. Rehabilitation is a long process that takes place beyond professional realms.The experiences that inmates are offered need to inspire them to change their criminal ways in the long term. Although education and work are undoubtedly a large part of the process, it is important that offenders are given opportunities to develop the kind of skills that will help them to get along in the real world: teamwork, communication, compassion and commitment. Encouragingly, in the last few weeks international news has documented steps in just this direction. In Ireland there are prisoners exhibiting their artwork, in the U.S there prisoners are blogging about their experiences of a life sentence and right here in Britain campaigners are fighting for the rights of homosexual prisoners to commit to a civil partnership whilst incarcerated. Despite outward appearances, it might be argued that such measures could be an important part of a radical rehabilitative approach. Helping inmates to rediscover their humanity and begin to respect themselves is an alternative means to assist them in developing those key skills that are valued in a professional and social context. Ultimately for these reforms to have any hope of succeeding, Clarke’s ‘working prison’ scheme must take the issue of rehabilitation seriously, responding to it sincerely rather than symbolically.

TOP Tens

TOP TEN – SMART PHONES 1. SAMSUNG GALAXY S IV - £520 UPS: Amazing Screen, Super-fast, Fantastic graphics, light and impressive battery life. innovative add-on’s. DOWNS: Slightly plastic feeling, design might not appeal to all, doesn’t beat iOS for music.

2. Apple iPhone 5 From £499 (16GB) Sim-Free UPS: Fantastic design, retina display, great apps available. DOWNS: Small screen by today’s standards, average battery life, easy to break, no removable battery or expandable memory.

3. HTC One - £500 UPS: Powerful processor, premium design, snappy processor, great video capture, fantastic sound. DOWNS: Slightly bulky feel, poor picture capture, can heat up on occasions.

4. Samsung Galaxy S III - approx £480

5. Blackberry Z10 £500

UPS: Superb design, amazing screen, superior battery life, human interaction using eye scrolling.

UPS: Premium design, Great battery life, Superb for email and typing, fantastic overhaul of the outdated Blackberry system.

DOWNS: Slightly cheap feeling, poor battery on 4G, tinny sounding speakers.

DOWNS: Still a poorer processor than most, lacking app store.

TOP TEN – SMART PHONES 6. Nokia Lumia 920 - £450 UPS: Great design, nice feel, Slick windows OS, above average battery life. DOWNS: Windows OS not for all, some bug issues in certain handsets, not great with multiple email accounts, no removable battery, expensive apps.

8. Samsung Galaxy Note II - £600 UPS: Amazingly vivid and big screen, light, good battery life, useful size. Good as a kindle replacement. DOWNS: Too big as a primary phone, slightly pricier than a regular phone.

10. iPhone 4S - £400 UPS: Retina display, decent processor, vast range of apps, still a great choice after 18 months. DOWNS: Older OS with older specifications, small screen.

7. Sony Xperia Z - £450 UPS: Great camera 13.1MP, fantastic, sleek design, dust and water resistent. DOWNS: Just another high spec android phone otherwise, lack of air gesture from Samsung Galaxy S IV, no removable battery.

9. Huawei Ascend P2 - £450 UPS: Top spec phone at a reasonable price, Full HD screen, fantastic camera. DOWNS: Cheap build, limited RAM compared to the competition.

HONORABLE MENTION: Fujitsu F-07d: Not the most powerful, or astonishingly slick UI (using an obsolete version of Android – 2.3 Gingerbread, and a 1.4Ghz single core processor), but this phone is amazingly light and razor thin at just 6.7mm. What’s more, it’s waterproof.

TOP TEN – LAPTOPS AND TABLETS 1. APPLE MACBOOK PRO 2012 – From £999 UPS: New sleeker design, retina display = stunning quality picture, powerful graphics, flawless design. DOWNS: Still not ‘ultraportable’, Mac OSX still not everyone’s choice, too many proprietary inputs.

2. Sony Vaio Z 3 series. From £999 UPS: Extremely thing and impossibly light at 1.18kg, no lack of inputs or power, great external dock, superb battery life, and beautiful matt screen. Ultimate windows business laptop (plus 3G sim card slot for internet anywhere) DOWNS: super thin display slightly ‘bendy’, weak graphics if not connected to dock, tinny sound, weighty price tag.

3. Asus Zenbook UX31 £1000 UPS: Best designed windows laptop, great sound quality, powerful, yet ultraportable, razor thin. DOWNS: Lacking on graphics, less than stellar battery, the screen is a bit of a let down for such a stunningly designed laptop.

4. Apple iPad 4 from £329 UPS: Superb design, so many apps, fast and great battery life, ultimate portability. DOWNS: Not the same power as a laptop, restricted by the apps, small screen and proprietary ports.

5. Asus Eeepad transformer Prime £499 UPS: Fantastic design, super thin and light, powerful quad core processor, android flexibility. Lapdock gives additional function and a phenomenal battery life. DOWNS: Android not yet primed for tablet apps, black bezel a bit thicker for some. 10.1 form factor might be too large for some as a tablet.

TOP TEN – LAPTOPS AND TABLETS 6. Sony Vaio T from £849 UPS: nice metal design, deep matt screen, expandable RAM and accessible battery. DOWNS: pretty heavy for an ultrabook, could be better on battery.

8. HP Envy 17 £1600 UPS: Great weight for a 17” laptop, awesome screen with 3D capability, extreme power. DOWNS: Not portable, 3D settings cause some gaming confusion, occasionally noisy fan.

10. Samsung Series 9 £1200 UPS: Great slim ultrabook design, with ultimate power, fantastic keyboard, fantastic IPS display. DOWNS: pricey, lacking in graphics power.

7. Dell XPS 13 £1000 UPS: Great design and super thin ultrabook, very nice screen with small bezel, great battery, fantastic keyboard. DOWNS: Limited port space , not great for graphic based tasks, glossy screen.

9. Apple Macbook Air 2011 £999 UPS: Light with superb deisgn, great screen, good battery life. DOWNS: uncomfortable keyboard, lack of ports, lacks punch of full laptop processor.

HONORABLE MENTION: Samsung slate PC £650 Innovative design to take your home PC feel on the move, powerful processing and more ergonomic feel. Doesn’t have the convenience of a one piece laptop, but certainly useful for POS and hotdesking.

TOP TEN – TOP TEN CITIES 1. London With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Wimbledon and the Olympics all taking part in London in 2012, in addition to the usual bottomless pit of activities , events and amenities the city has to offer, London is the city the rest of the world are looking up to.

2. New York The residents of New York like to party and there are many exciting events that are held throughout the year this famed city. The popular events in New York include numerous lively street fairs, carnivals, parades and sporting events.

3. Paris In the heart of Paris, a minute’s walk away from Place Vendôme and Rue Saint-Honoré, luxury stores and boutiques showcasing young designers flourish.

4. Tokyo This huge, wealthy and fascinating metropolis brings high-tech visions of the future side by side with glimpses of old Japan, and has something for everyone.

5. Copenhagen Fantastically picturesque, uncomplicated city with a great nightlife and the city with the world’s number one rated restaurant Noma holding it’s crown. But the city is super expensive.

Zoran Karapancev (Paris) / Shutterstock.com Fedor Selivanov (Copenhagen) / Shutterstock.com All images / Shutterstock.com

TOP TEN – TOP TEN CITIES 6. Miami The USA with a Latin twist. Only a cruise away from the exotic Bahamas, and plenty of beautiful beaches. Fantastic bars and nightlife.

7. Rio de Janeiro 2012 may belong to London, but Rio’s time is very much upon us with the FIFA World cup and The Olympic and Paralympic games. Also very much the epicentre of South America’s economic boom.

8. Lisbon A city of natural beauty with amazing beaches and a rich cultural patrimony. Lisbon has the 10th most luxurious high street in the world and has registered a big boom in the sector despite the economical issues.

10. Stockholm Arguably the home of luxury in Scandinavia. Strandvägen in particular is widely considered to be one of the smartest streets in Europe.

9. Shanghai Has become a massive haven for luxury clothes shopping, amongst other more well documented things. Another appeal added to one of the world’s most appealing cities.

TOP TEN – NON-URBAN DESTINATIONS 1. Lapland The northern lights and the home of Santa, there is a definite fairytale feel to this part of the world. However, in the summer it’s the opposite with up to 22 hours of daylight, parties never end and the scenery is beautiful.

2. Bermuda So much to do on such a small and densely populated island. Bermuda has beautiful pink sandy beaches like most islands in the area but also multiple golf courses and highly rated restaurants. As It is one of the last remains of the once vast British colonial empire in North America, Bermuda has much to explore.

3. Norwegian Fjords Western Norway has some of the longest, deepest, narrowest and most beautiful fjords in the world. And in Norway as a whole there are thousands of them. The Sognefjord is the longest one with a length of 204 kilometres. Some places the Sognefjord is more than 1300 metres deep, with the surrounding mountains as high as the fjord is deep.

4. Machu Picchu, Peru This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century. In the high season from late May until early September, the maximum limit of 2500 people arrive daily. Despite this great tourist influx, the site manages to retain its air of grandeur and mystery, and is a must for all visitors to Peru.

5. Monaco harbour There are many appeals to the principality, but usually the selection of restaurants isn’t first on the list. There are many fine restaurants, beginning with the Cafe de Paris across the street from the casino, to the waterfront restaurants along the Port de Fontvieille.

TOP TEN – NON-URBAN DESTINATIONS 6. Pompeii Truly uniquely preserved Roman city and a visit provides a opportunity to see how people lives two thousand years ago.

8. The Nile, Egypt Stretching through several nations, the Nile through Egypt is probably the most famous. Experience the ancient lands at their finest by taking a Nile cruise in style. Cannot be missed.

10. Petra, Jordan Consistently high on all lists of places and things to see before you die. The famous rock cut architecture and water conduit system, established some time around the 6th century BC, are easily Jordan’s most visited tourist attraction.

7. The Acropolis The Acropolis is the one historical site you can’t miss. You can take a tour or wander up there yourself but during the summer, whatever you do, unless it is overcast, go early or late in the day. It can get very hot up there and gasping for breath can take way from your ability to marvel at the greatest of all archaeological sites.

9. Barrow, Alaska The most northerly city in the USA, home to the 30 days of night saga. One of the best places in the world to go whale watching, but beware, bitter cold temperatures throughout the year means you’ll be wrapping up no matter what time of year.

TOP TEN – CORPORATIONS 1. BMW BMW has earned the trust and respect of consumers all around the world though its consistent focus on delivering high quality in all of its actions.

2. Sony Has its strongest reputation for its high quality products. The weakest spot for Sony is the perception on citizenship.

3. The Walt Disney Company George washington’s personally signed copy of the U.S. Constitution which sold for $9.8 million in June.

4. Daimler (Mercedez-Benz) The most expensive Bentley every sold, went for $7.08 million in an auction in London in June.

5. Apple Has seen its strong corporate brand transform into a strong corporate reputation

6. Google Falling in tables because it’s lost its youth image. Becoming more like an established company?

7. Microsoft Falling in tables because it’s lost its youth image. Becoming more like an established company?

8. Volkswagen Volkswagen have been quietly outperforming their rivals in the automotive space, and we’re just a massive fan of their ad campaigns at The Executive.

9. Canon Trusted by millions to produce cost effective, high quality prints, on demand. They have become a ubiquitous brand in the print world but not yet a strong enough brand to gain the “hoover” reputation of the print world.

10. Lego Group Who knew small colourful bricks could be such a lucrative business? Ole Kirk Christiansen did, and over 50 years have passed since his wonderful “automatic binding bricks” hit the shelves. The LEGO group now amasses a turnover of almost £3 billion yearly, and this classic toy shows no sign of slowing down.

TOP TEN – LUXURY COMPANIES 1. Harrods a. Needs no introduction. Recently bought by the Qatari’s for over a (reported) £1bn from Egyptian Mohamed AlFayed, the famous store attracts millions of visitors each year. Famed for its legendary pledge to find any product for a customer, Harrods ethics are reflected in the unwaveringly traditional store itself.

6. W Hotel London Has successfully managed to take classic chic and fuse it with modern funk. The W hotel is a cool luxury hotel for those who tire of the ornate. Great entertainment and bars in the hotel as well as the top class Spice Market, definitely one to check out.

7. Net Jets 2. The Wellesley Another addition to the luxury hotel scene in London, the Wellesley is anything but unsurprising. A small boutique sized hotel of pure 5* luxury has managed to tuck itself away from the bustling traffic of Hyde Park Corner to offer a unique oasis of calm.

3. Estee Lauder (Beauty) Another addition to the luxury hotel scene in London, the Wellesley is anything but unsurprising. A small boutique sized hotel of pure 5* luxury has managed to tuck itself away from the bustling traffic of Hyde Park Corner to offer a unique oasis of calm.

4. Armour Winston (Watch retailer) stylish, sophisticated and distinguished Mayfair watch specialist, offering some of the world’s finest names in timepieces.

5. The Berkeley Partnership The firm has helped Unilever with the transition to a new global computer system for financial and management reporting and is working with the NHS on the process of giving more power to GPs.

Being able to offer private jets on demand doesn’t sound like an easy service to provide at all; it takes most people half their day to get in and out of airports alone. However Net Jets succeeds in doing just that for their customers. Corporate and Personal customers highly recommend this company.

8. Select Collection London SCL has embraced the art of luxury travel for more than 18 years, specialising in couture travel experiences to countless worldwide destinations.

9. Bremont .Bremont has opened up its first stand-alone boutique. The unique two floor flagship has a ‘club-like atmosphere’ and its very own bar, and is situated on South Audley Street in London’s exclusive Mayfair district

10. Moet Chandon Arguably the worlds’ most famous champagne company. A timeless brand, Moet scrapes onto our list for their sheer suaveness. However, we’d like to have seen more active marketing for the brand.

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Please visit our website www.callumroberts.com Or give us a call on 0207 242 9977

LONDON’S MOST UNIQUE EVENT VENUE. HAVE A DRINK ON US. Book your event before 30th April 2013 and we’ll give each of your guests a free ice cocktail in ICEBAR BY ICEHOTEL London. icebarlondon.com | 020 7478 8917 events@belowzerolondon.com

T&Cs: private room hire required, with minimum F&B spend £1,500.00 or more. Exclusive hire of ICEBAR BY ICEHOTEL London required at advertised rates. Eligible event dates March – October 2013.

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