Heritage, both our own and our favorite brands', is a big part of men's style, and for fall, Ermenegildo Zegna is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a new heritage-inspired Centennial collection. This three-piece suit is made from cloth that's a near-identical reproduction of the first fabric produced by Zegna in 1910. Like any great suit, heritage is best worn lightly. Two-button Centennial Fabric No. 1 suit ($3,295), vest ($900), cotton-and-silk shirt with collar bar ($395), and silk tie ($175) by Ermenegildo Zegna.
The Ermenegildo Zegna Centennial Suit
Heritage, both our own and our favorite brands', is a big part of men's style, and for fall, Ermenegildo Zegna is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a new heritage-inspired Centennial collection. This three-piece suit is made from cloth that's a near-identical reproduction of the first fabric produced by Zegna in 1910. Like any great suit, heritage is best worn lightly. Two-button Centennial Fabric No. 1 suit ($3,295), vest ($900), cotton-and-silk shirt with collar bar ($395), and silk tie ($175) by Ermenegildo Zegna.
How to stay in shape without a gym membership
Gym memberships can get pricey, time consuming and flat-out inconvenient after awhile. But don't let that become your excuse for not working out. You can get some of the best cardio and muscle training right at home. Laundry bags, stairs, chairs and even the bare floor can help build strength and endurance and burn fat. Here are some back-to-the-basics tips for creating your own workout without breaking the bank:1. Get Stable
Shoulder rolls, back arches and raises, leg extensions and more can be done on a Swiss Training Ball (or stability ball). Perfect for stretching, the balls are not only cost-efficient at $30 to $80 but can give you the maximum, full-body stretch prior to a workout session. A 75 or 85 cm size ball will usually do the trick. Stability balls are also great for more advanced exercises like side-to-side leg rolls and one-armed push-ups.
2. Jumping Jacks
This is "old school" at its finest. Use jumping jacks to warm up and get the heart rate pumping in preparation for a more intense workout. Just five minutes of jumping jacks after stretching helps tone and condition your body. Jumping jacks work the shoulders, back, thighs and calves and help develop overall stamina and endurance.
3. Completely Floored
Push-ups and sit-ups are classic moves that you can use at home, in front of the TV, on the road—anywhere. Push-ups work the chest, shoulders, abs and triceps while sit-ups predominantly work the abdominal muscles. Three or four sets of 25 to 50 is a great addition to any workout regimen.
4. Show Some Resistance
Enhance basic lunges, squats and bicep curls with resistance bands. Bands are lightweight for travel and usually cost between $6 to $20. First, know your colors. Usually, the various colors of the bands will tell the resistance of each: yellow (light), red (medium) and green (heavy). For squats, try standing with legs shoulder-width apart. Hold bands at shoulder length while standing and during each squat then return to original position. To work triceps, stand with resistance band along your back, holding the tubing in one hand and stretching the other band with your other hand over your head.
5. In the Bag
Laundry is one chore that naturally burns calories, but hold off on dumping your dirty clothes in the washing machine. Instead, use the weight from your fully-loaded laundry bag to get a stronger core. Lift the bag directly in front of you and keep it away from your body to get the maximum resistance. Do multiple repetitions—you'll feel it working your biceps, shoulders, chest and abs. Need more weight? Try sandbag training to build even more strength and endurance.
6. Stairs
Jog up and down stairwells or bleachers for a great cardio workout. Try running up six to 12 flights at your fullest speed then rest for two or three minutes in between. You can still walk up a few flights during the rest period to maintain your heart rate. To increase lower body strength, try climbing every other step. Round out your weekly cardio regimen by jogging, walking or riding your bike at least three or four times per week.
7. Dumbbells
Bicep curls, shoulder presses and tricep extensions are some of the exercises you can do at home using dumbbells. To work the chest, lay flat on your back, or on a bench, holding the dumbbells above your chest with arms extended up. Lower dumbbells to your chest then back up again. Try lying face down on the bench and lift the dumbbells to work the back.
8. Chair Presses
Take a quick break during the day to work the triceps, chest muscles and back. Whether you are at home or the office, find a chair, sit upright and place your hands on either arm of the chair with feet flat on the floor and pull yourself for a count of 10. Return to your sitting position and repeat. Lower-back muscles are stabilized and strengthened with this exercise—and it's free!
9. Park It
Grab a tree trunk or monkey bar at the local park to build upper body strength or invest in an affordable in-house chin-up/pull-up bar. ( Both exercises force you to lift your own body weight, giving you the maximum bicep and back workout. Pull-ups with palms facing away works the back while chin-ups (palms facing you) work the biceps more.
10. Jump Rope
Aside from the obvious cardio benefits, jumping rope can help develop coordination, agility, quickness and endurance for $5 or less (some double-weight beaded ropes can cost $10 to $40). A basic jump rope workout for 30 minutes can provide the same cardio session as any elliptical machine.
Page-turners keep rolling in
Waterhouse is back
What is this style?
Why do some stories, captions and headlines have it and others not? It would be fruitless to try to define it – as Fats Waller said when asked for a definition of jazz, ‘Lady, if you have to ask, I can’t tell you.’ Obviously it demands flair, plus professionalism – two commodities that have never been in short supply in popular journalism. It demands experience, a quality that may be taken for granted in Fleet Street. For the rest, it consists simply of choosing a handful of words from the half a million or so samples available, and arranging them in the best order.
Many of you who have been on my courses will recognise this extract from the late Keith Waterhouse's classic but out-of-print book Newspaper Style. I have long referred to my dog-eared old edition when talking about language to journalists and it has been a frustration that they have not been able to get hold of their own copy. Well, from this Friday they will be able to. Waterhouse on Newspaper Style is being republished by Revel Barker at £9.99 and is available from Book Depository, or amazon or Waterstones, or on order from any half-decent bookshop.There are full details and reviews on the excellent Gentleman Ranters website.
It really is the most entertaining manual on journalese and a must-have book for any journalist. If you haven't got a copy, and even if you have, get your order in. Mine already is.
Intimacy
American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and producer Kem Owens, professionally known as Kem, dealt with homelessness, addiction, and isolation from his family. He was caught shoplifting beer from 7-11.He did not overcome these issues until he turned to spirituality and music. "My career didn't take off until I connected with my spirituality," he said. "That's why I take time on stage and on the album to administer spirituality to people. That's one of the things that I am most proud of."
This video promoting his new album "Intimacy" represents all that style is all about ---good vibes, fashion, and people.
Back to School in Style
Everyone from grade schoolers to graduate schoolers are headed back to school. The Schoolyard Wardrobe this year is leaning toward a "preppy-chic" look which can be dressed up or dressed down. Trendsetters on across the country are pairing this look with baseball caps and bow-ties.
Hot looks for Fall 2010
Wool jacket ($595), wool sweater ($245), cotton shirt ($225), and cotton corduroy trousers ($225) by Oliver Spencer; leather boots ($595) by Tod's.
Got chocolate milk?
Enjoy your favorite childhood drink again—without the guilt.
Grandma—and OK, those Got Milk ads—were certainly right about how “milk does a body good.” And now research shows that our favorite childhood drink—chocolate milk—isn’t just for kids anymore. This delicious beverage is a fast-acting, whole food alternative that is not just satisfying—it also aids in exercise recovery.
Adequate protein and a good source of carbohydrates after training are critical for stimulating protein regeneration in our muscles, replenishing glycogen storage and preventing catabolism, i.e., breakdown of muscles. To prevent breakdown, roughly 0.1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight is recommended after training. One cup of chocolate milk is rich in essential amino acids (EAA) and carbohydrates, and provides about 7.5 grams of protein. Also, studies show that when chocolate milk is compared against other sports drinks, it’s superior in increasing endurance during exercise and as a recovery fuel. After all, milk is rich in whey, the highest quality protein available, contains the right amount of carbs per cup, and is loaded with potassium, vitamins A and D, and riboflavin, which are all needed for muscle, immune and bone health as well as for energy metabolism.?
The sports beverage industry has tried to keep up with the chocolate milk trend by offering ready-to-drink selections with many varieties available. But convenient, on-the-run fuel unfortunately comes with several drawbacks, including artificial ingredients, excess calories and too much lactose—the milk sugar that causes gas and cramping for those with limited tolerance.
The taste of premixed shakes is no match to our homemade AGB Style enriched, lactose-free chocolate milk made of whey isolate (which is more digestible than the concentrate form) and almond milk. The shake boasts 28 grams of protein, which is equal to a 4-oz lean chicken breast and is more than enough for post-exercise muscle repair. At 180 calories and nearly fat-free (1.5 grams of fat), it’s perfect for those watching their weight while meeting 25% of the daily recommendation for calcium. Our drink even provides 2 grams of fiber, helping you feel satiated longer. Its rich chocolate flavor is enhanced by the texture of the almond milk and potassium-rich bananas. Unsweetened almond milk contains only half the calories of whole milk. The coffee booster will also help with muscle recovery, rushing carbs back into the muscles and sparing protein for building, not to mention adding a cerebral kick to jumpstart your day.
Do it yourself
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 scoop of chocolate whey protein isolate
½ c. low fat unsweetened almond milk
½ small banana?
2 tbsp of fat-free plain Greek yogurt
½ tsp of vanilla
½ tsp cinnamon?
½ c. organic brewed coffee
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients together in blender.
2. Puree, chill and serve.
Tips for building muscle to gain strength and get the body you want
The best way to achieve muscular growth and strength is to change up your workout often and constantly attack muscle groups from different angles.Chauncey Graham, an ISSA certified personal trainer suggests, doing a variety of different lifts for each muscle group and changing routines each week will promote growth. "Hitting the muscle from different vantage points will increase definition. The solution to achieving muscular growth and strength is to incorporate as many motor units possible in a periodized workout routine which consists of many different lifts for each muscle group," Graham advises.
In simpler terms, do not do the same thing all the time, change your sets, repetitions, and the duration to achieve your fitness goals!
Don't go back to the bad times
Italian Shoe Construction, Step-by-Step
All men should invest in a pair of high-quality shoes. Not only will they look sharper with your suits and jeans, but they will also last longer, and you’ll be able to resole them repeatedly. But that begs the question. What makes a good shoe? Fine footwear has three parts:
1) The outsole, which is the piece that comes into contact with the ground,
2) The insole, which comes into contact with your foot and
3) The upper, which covers the top of your foot.
The distinction is in how these pieces are sewn together. Two popular types of shoe construction are Blake and Rapid Blake.
The Blake, that is the traditional Italian way, comprises attaching the upper, insole and outsole with a single interior stitch. (A guy named Blake invented this method in 1856.) Because the stitch is on the inside, it is possible to cut the edges of the soles very close to the shoe’s base, producing footwear with a low, elegant silhouette. The downside is that water can seep into the shoe since the stitching goes from the outsole directly into the foot bed. (But then again, you shouldn’t be wearing your good shoes in the rain anyway.)
Rapid Blake is similar to Blake construction but with an additional layer involved: the midsole. The insole is stitched to the midsole, which in turn is affixed to the outsole via a row of exterior stitches. This solves the water problem, but makes Rapid Blake shoes unable to have soles as thin and flexible as those of the traditional Blake models.
A few words about fabric...
After a couple decades lost to oversized shoulder pads, droopy lapels, and billowy trousers, a new generation of designers has helped introduce a new generation of guys (yourself among them, perhaps) to a radical concept: A suit, even an off the rack suit, should fit like it was made just for you. But not all suits are cut from the cloth. Literally. We asked noted menswear design Shaka King for advice. "Remember this: A fabric should be seasonably appropriate, breathable, durable and it has to feel good," said King. For summer, King recommends blends. "A blend gives the suit a lighter hand — that is, it feels lighter — and it drapes easily." Worsted wool, on the other hand, is good for three seasons. King advises, "If you're going to be wearing a suit often, invest in a high quality fabric. You want the fabric to be durable, not to get shiny or thin." Or as Shani Lawson, lead menswear buyer for Macy's Inc., poetically explains, "A good fabric should be like wine. It should get better with age."
But even following those guidelines, there's a lot of jargon that is thrown around when discussing fabric. Some of it is important, some less so. Though Super 100s and Super 120s are good signposts that you're dealing with a high quality fabric, the most important thing is to get a hand on it. "If you touch enough fabric," Lawson says, "your fingertips develop a certain memory." Lawson advises, "If you are looking for worsted suits, you're looking for a smoothness and an evenness in the way the fabrics looks. That smoothness is the product of proper shearing."
A lot of suits today, says King, are made with high spun yarns. The more high spun the yarn, the higher the TPI — that's twist per inch — and the fuller bodied the fabric seems. "When you have high twist yarns," King says, "you try to feel the nervousness of the fabric. To do this. take the fabric in your hands and smush it. Then see how fast or strongly it bounces back." The faster it bounces back, the more nervous it is. "Fabrics are like good horses. They should be nervous."
Wine and Cheese Pairings: A Guide
Ever have problems trying to figure out which cheese goes with which wine? Don't worry, you're not alone. Hell, i'm just graduating from buying wines with a screw-on tops.Anyway, to give you some guidance we asked the shopkeeper at a "high-end" deli to suggest wines and beers that would complement different cheeses’ unique flavors. Her tips:
SeaHive: “There is a sweetness to the SeaHive, partially because we hand-rub the outside with wildflower honey and salt. Those flavors go best with something crisp, like a sauvignon blanc or a dry Riesling.”
Barely Buzzed: “This is good with a pinot noir — a red that’s more mellow than robust — or a chocolate stout. Both mix with, rather than overpower, the slightly bitter coffee undertones of the cheese.”
Curds: “The curds are like potato chips, in that they’re slightly salty and chewy; they’re a good snack food. They go well with a plain pilsner.”
Full Moon: “Go with a Zinfandel here, as its sweet notes will tone down the Full Moon’s creaminess.”
Promontory: “This is our base cheddar, and it is so very versatile: It can go with a red or a white. Personally, I’d choose a muvedre, but a pinot grigio would go just as nicely.”
Apple Walnut: “This is a creamy cheese, but it has a slight intensity because we smoke the wheel over walnut shells and apples. It would go well with an oak-monster white or a cabernet.”
Newspaper novel list gets longer
The list of recommended novels based on newspapers is growing like topsy. Thanks to Terry Ramsey, formerly of The Northern Echo and Evening Standard, for his excellent list. Terry writes: "I can't pretend to have read them all, but it makes a pretty decent reading list for a prolonged holiday (or freelancing, as I prefer to call it)". David Kernek has also added to his original suggestions with this email: "I can also recommend The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter (Penguin), in which the mismanagement and decline of regional newspapers is featured hilariously, along with the bastards who fucked the banking industry and the property markets. It's set in the States, but it - as they say - resonates here." Review here. Mike Watson also recommends A Crooked Sixpence by Murray Sayle (good background at Gentleman Ranters). He says "GR is also currently recommending The Street of Disillusion by Harry Procter, but that's a memoir rather than a novel". Our full list is on our recommended reading page. Keep them coming.
New Nike Air Force 1 Foamposite
Ever since teasers of the Nike Air Force 1 Foamposite first surfaced, fanatics have gone crazy in anticipation. The shoes went on sale on August 14th and were available to only select Nike retailers. The new Air Force 1's will be made available to the "rest of us" in the coming months.
Footballing excellence in Black Country
Newspaper novels worth a look
Further to my comments on the books by Tom Rachman and Brian Page, my old colleague David Kernek wrote to say how much he had enjoyed Brian's novel and that he would look up the Imperfectionists. He added: "Other novels I'd rate as classics of the genre (apart from Scoop, of course) are Towards the End of Morning (Michael Frayn) and Don't Print My Name Upside Down (Michael Green) - both from the 60s."
Towards the End of the Morning was one of the first books I read after becoming a journalist in the late 70s and it provided a warning that newspapers were not the glamorous place I then believed them to be. Will add the Michael Green book to my 'to do' to my list. Any others? Send me your recommendations and I will draw up a reading list.
Journalists writing fiction (or are they?)
Best newspaper office view in Britain?
It all kicks off after O'Neill resigns
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