Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i Esquire Singapore

At Patek Philippe, it can take years to train our skilled specialists. It is one of the reasons we do not make more watches than we produce today. We are not magicians. At our family-owned company, everything we do relies on the skills and creativity of our people. Very human skills which cannot be rushed or replaced. Only humans can accept the challenge to always be at the edge of what is possible.” PATEK PHILIPPE SEAL PATEK.COM/PHILOSOPHIES…

One of the most important senses when it comes to shoppingis touch (after sight, of course). Attention should be paid to the fabrics of things—and now that winters abroad are possible once more, the field has widened immeasurably. Here's our pick of the plush, the fluffy, and the smooth that make you feel as good as you look.…

GOOGLE PIXEL 7 PRO Google is going big with this one. Pixel 7 Pro marks a new best-of peak in the brand's roster. Form, functionality, blood and muscle—you get it all here. This Android phone boasts an impressive all-day battery life, an immersive 6.7-inch Smooth Display that calibrates up to 120Hz, and a trinity of rear-facing cameras equipped with a dedicated five times telephoto lens and 30 times Super Res Zoom for pristine, supremely detailed shots at a long distance. Plus, enjoy the overpowered Google Tensor G2 processor, precision engineered for machine learning and speech recognition; and the line's fastest-ever computing speeds with watertight security. Available in Snow, Obsidian and Hazel and retails from $1,299.…

If you've been feeling like the Keto Diet is too soft for you, or if you're looking to add some constructive intensity to your eating habits, there's a new option in town. Enter the Snake Diet. What it is essentially, is extended fasting punctuated by single meals. In between these typically 48-hour fasts, the only thing you're permitted to ingest is ‘snake juice’, made of two litres of water, half a teaspoon each of Himalayan and Epsom salts, and one teaspoon of salt-free potassium chloride. The available literature around it purports that it's a good defence against obesity. We think it sounds not nearly as good as a hamburger. Consult a physician or nutritionist before you go down this road.…

1 Luxury to me is finding a home away from home when travelling. This can be in the form of small and very personalised touches, like a lavender pillow scent and peppermint tea. 2 What makes a hotel stay memorable is that I feel a strong sense of connection and belonging to the hotel and the local community. For example, at The Ritz-Carlton Nikko, I was deeply immersed in the cultural and spiritual aspects of Nikko during my stay. 3 My business mantra is to always be flexible and adaptable to the evolving business and market trends. 4 The best place I've ever travelled to is a glacier lake at 3,600m high, which takes five hours of hiking to reach. It's located at the provincial border between Yunnan and Tibet…

STYLE…

Rimowa is the king on baggage carousels of telecasting frequent-flyer status. But there's one particularly elusive style of luggage that until now, was on a different level of exclusivity: the Original Pilot Case. Originally designed and launched in 1994 for pilots, it features a unique opening from the top that's meant to give them easy access in the cockpit. Over the years though, the Pilot Case has been appropriated by maverick creatives the world over. Some of its earliest adopters were deejays, who used the serendipitously sized and famously protective suitcases to transport their vinyl records and equipment. The German brand smartly realised the potential of this organic creative adaptability, and is bringing the Original Pilot Case back this year in an official mode. To mark its return, the brand…

CARTIER Many of us yearn for the same few iconic watches because they say we are in the club. Often these are bigger watches, and identifiable from across the room. But some watches are recognisable precisely because they are tiny. Take the Cartier Tank, seen at left in a new black, steel version from the Tank Must collection. It takes a maverick spirit to rock a watch that small, that refined, that minimal. It worked for Ali, Warhol and Delon. And who wouldn't want to join that club? Cartier Tank Must BULGARI The legendary Roman house has been pushing the boundaries in watchmaking for a decade, breaking records and winning major prizes for ever more, refined, superthin watches—and even thinner movements. The centrepiece of that ongoing effort is the Octo…

COVER STORY “If you don't have something clever to say, don't say anything.” Etch those words into the stratosphere like hieroglyphics. Rishi Budhrani is squinting at the sun, as a dented can of Coke Zero is subconsciously subjected to various degrees of tension between his hands. The power that mantra inspires within him cannot be understated. Even as those words leave his lips, their truth takes hold of him. With brows furrowed and arms tense, the 38-year-old considers their import, measuring his whole life by the length and breadth of their meaning. Whether or not you're inclined to think of one's trajectory as following the design of destiny, the conclusion is ironclad: Budhrani was built for this. This being comedy. Not the slip-on-abanana-peel-and-fall-on-your-bum kind, but the incarnation of it that…

Alex wears: ‘City Scope’ overshirt, ‘Airing Easy’ camp collar shirt and ‘Commission Slim’ pants. Darren wears: ‘City Scope’ overshirt, ‘New Venture’ shirt and ‘ABC Classic’ pants. Hiroki wears: ‘Outpour’ StretchSeal jacket, ‘New Venture’ shirt and ‘Commission Slim’ pants. Competitive sports are both a metaphor for and actualisation of the human capacity for transcendence. But the high stakes receive a further, more dizzying elevation when bodies are explicitly pitted against each other in the win-lose finality of combat. As we celebrate the legacy of the human body this month, we tip our hats to these three fighters who have pledged their bodies to the demands of their calling, and experienced the kind of epiphanies that can only blos'som into consciousness when you commit your whole self to your purpose. Let's go…

You can't miss it: that voluminous beard is a bona-fide doorkicker. Just like the man it's attached to. Zaran Vachha is, unquestionably and indubitably, a man of action. His moves—bold and deft in the events and live entertainment space, have enriched Singapore in ways we are still feeling. At his new base of operations, the Mandala Club, Vachha sets his sights on more: more change, more conversations, more culture. More. What in your early days, led you to putting on publicfacing events? The idea of a shared experience really called out to me. People enjoying themselves and enjoying culture, first and foremost, was very important to me. I was doing a neuroscience and statistics degree in university—what was I thinking? But in the wider sense, I've always been driven to…

In my humble opinion, there's seldom been a man more celebrated or scrutinised for his body, than Michelangelo's infamous Statue of David. The 16th-century icon of Italian Renaissance has endured history itself to remain the epitome of the masculine archetype, perched proudly in the Accademia Gallery amongst the bustling streets of Florence. David is, and has always been, a pinnacle of admiration. With an unparalleled balance of beauty, skill, excellence, finesse and proportion, his perfectly carved physique glistens under the sun-dome above him, the rays hitting him like particles of glitter, setting his form alight. There's no denying that David is a work of art and the object of any and all desires (with his very generous anatomy detailed down to the last curve). To see David, is to view…

MAN AT HIS BEST MS. MARIA & MR. SINGH Following a sold-out (and extended) eponymous residency at Mandala Club, Chef Gaggan Anand has finally decided to plant roots in Singapore. After a successful yet cheeky venture—Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh (based on a fictitious love affair between a Mexican girl and an Indian boy)—in Bangkok two years ago, he started the Singapore outpost on 24 October at Tanjong Pagar. Anticipate dishes on the menu that fit his brief of being memorable to a T—including Foie Gras Mango Yuzu (pictured), Golgappa Infladitas, Keema Quesadillas and Patrani Whole Fish Tamal, just to name a few. Read the full review here…

Cordless vacuum cleaning with more than 99.9 percent dust-pickup—that's the difference-maker that awaits you in the Unlimited 7. Make no mistake: Bosch brought this into the world to be a performance-maximiser. Its three main drivers-battery, motor and nozzle—have been optimised to deliver the longest-lasting, most thorough and most energy-efficient functionality than all its predecessors. New features include the bespoke AllFloor DynamicPower Brush, the new 3.0Ah battery that affords up to 40 minutes of use in a single sitting, and an ultra-lightweight construction whose handheld component rings in at 1.4kg. Retails for $899 at Harvey Norman.…

MAN AT HIS BEST WHOOP 4.0 You know the drill, but do you live it? Sleep is as important as all the dieting and working out you do in the name of health. In its most refined and sophisticated iteration yet, Whoop 4.0 is the no-nonsense, all-substance wearable that tracks your sleep and fitness journey in the most clear, concise and actionable way. No screens, no notifications, no distractions—just the essentials delivered right. This waterproof 4.0 guise comes with biometric tracking that detects sleep phases, sleep performance, blood oxygen levels and skin temperature, amongst other bits of necessary information pivotal to designing a bespoke routine of activity and sleep that really makes it possible for you to live your best life. Sign up for a Whoop membership online and receive…

1 It's time to stop with the sit-ups and crunches. Your future of diamond-hard abs and an omnipotent core begins here. Get a resistance band and secure one end of it to a surface at chest or abdominal height. 2 Stand sideways from the secured side such that the band is tense, and hold one end of the resistance band in both hands. Press outwards and exhale, keeping your arms straight and your abs flexed as you push forward. 3 As you return to your starting position, inhale and loosen the tension in your core. Repeat and stack on reps to up the intensity of the workout.…

Just look at the title—doesn't it smack of authorial indulgence? But that's what's great about this tome: it's a Mark Leyner joint. Which means it's going to be frustratingly erudite, patience-testingly meta and, if you bear with it enough to care, a fantastically revelatory time. Here, the postmodernist's postmodernist unpacks—with a battle axe lined with petroleum jelly—the myriad, tangled and almost ineffable intricacies of a father-daughter relationship in a setting that is, at its understated best, absurd. vailable atK Knokuniya.…

D BY DIESEL EAU DE TOILETTE, PRICE ON APPLICATION Somehow the mash-up of denim, lavender and vanilla is as comforting as slipping on your favourite pair of jeans— and as sexy as slipping out of them. CELINE RIMBAUD EAU DE PARFUM, $560 (100ML) Just like the rebellious androgyny of Celine's clothing, the youthful blend of lavender, powdery orris, neroli and musk is unabashedly cool. CARTIER DÉCLARATION HAUTE FRAÎCHEUR EAU DE TOILETTE, $149 (100ML) This herbaceous concoction of cedar, spices and citrus is an explosion of green, like stepping into a plant shop. GUCCI THE ALCHEMIST'S GARDEN A REASON TO LOVE EAU DE PARFUM, $615 (100ML) Just try to find a more unexpectedly sexy combo than the rose and oud found in this darkly romantic scent.…

STYLE BALENCIAGA Balenciaga's Creative Director Demna is a fashion provocateur of the highest order. When he founded Vetements, he toyed with the expectations of designer clothing. At Balenciaga, he's expanded the scope and imagination of his collections to comment on societal, cultural ideas— celebrity worship, the corridors and seats of political power, the horrors and tribulations of war, environmental collapse and so on. For his Spring 2023 collection, the designer took the show to New York City, turning the famous Stock Exchange into a show venue. It was Balenciaga's first time showing outside of Paris, and the first time that a fashion show was held on the trading floor. The timing could not have been more apt. The background in May this year: the Dow on the fall, the Davos…

A week before writing this column, I found myself stealing glances at another man's legs. They were tanned, muscular and perfect. My adoring gaze was part-homoerotic fantasy, part-exercise in self-loathing. I wanted those legs. On me. Not in that way. I didn't fancy the man. I envied him. I wanted his bronzed limbs in place of the hairy twiglets that dangle beneath my Bermudas, like discarded appendages from Groot. The legs belonged to Teddy Sheringham, a former Manchester United and England striker, now earning a good living as an after-dinner speaker and Benjamin Button impersonator. He's ageing backwards. He's 56-going-on-46, capable of passing for a decade younger. When I shared photos of us sitting together during our recent interview, the responses were wearily predictable. Doesn't Teddy look well? He doesn't…

PERFECT PAIRING BY MARTELL For those who find true joy in experiencing beautiful gastronomic adventures along with a solid cognac, these series of culinary journeys by Martell would be right up your alley. Created with Singapore's top restaurants, the specially curated menus will pair the iconic Martell Cordon Bleu and other legendary blends of the cognac house with exquisite dining experiences. Expect the unexpected at each of these restaurants, with reinvented and newly inspired dishes by 11 experts. From deep-fried feather blade steak marinated with house-made BBQ sauce sandwiched between toasted milk bread, paired with a Martell Cordon Bleu pickleback (pictured); to a crispy coconut dish that draws inspiration from the local dessert chendol, served with Martell XO, the possibilities are endless. Read the full review here…

This portable Bluetooth speaker was designed with the wild in mind. Armed with IPX5 waterproof certification, this small package offers a mighty payload of sound in the most rugged terrain, as it rests comfortably in the palm of your hand. Whether you're braving harsh conditions or fulfillingyour duties as the house party's jukebox, the high-performance machine delivers. Internally and externally, it exudes power: its built-in 800mAh rechargeable battery promises 10 hours of playtime, while a high signal-to-noise ratio (70dB) conveys crystal-clear sound without any distortion. Additionally, three flashlight modes provide illumination should you need it when you're cranking tunes while conquering the trail. Retails for $122.55 at Amazon.…

MAN AT HIS BEST BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Sometimes, you feel it before you see it. In this case, it's Tern's heavenly coo conveying Bob Marley's immortal and oft-misinterpreted words, “No woman, no cry”, easing the viewer into the next point in the Black Panther arc, In the first trailer, it translates as pure power—King T'Challa, aka Chadwick Boseman (gone too soon), parses the proverbial torch and the non-proverbial suit and claws and the responsibilities tHat come with them to his sister, Shuri. Wakatida Forever is her coronation. It's conventional wisdom that the fourth and current phase Marvel Cinematic Universe needs a win badly—and this is it. This is the ascension of one of its recent characters—one Of the few who's genuinely heroic—to superpowered queen-dom. Already, it's a glorious celebration.…

MAN AT HIS BEST With 288,000 Instagram followers, Sahur Saleim knows a thing or two about giving an audience what they want. The type of content she puts out? Makeup tutorials, which she's been posting online for nearly a decade. In addition, she runs two beauty businesses: Sahur's Art Beauty, a cosmetics range; and Sahur's Art Academy, which holds makeup masterclasses. The 24-year-old talks to us about her entrepreneurial ventures, being skin-positive and why she doesn't think she places too much emphasis on beauty. Tell us more about Sahur's Art Beauty and Sahur's Art Academy. Sahur's Art Beauty makes products that are not only vegan and cruelty-free, but also designed with inclusivity in mind, which means they complement a variety of complexions and undertones. As for Sahur's Art Academy, it's…

STYLE Silver and gold are great and all, but sometimes you want to tone it down-to accessorise with jewellery that catches only the keen eye. At times like these, reach for black rhodium. Unlike the rare precious metal in its original form—silvery white, with a high-octane sparkle—black rhodium is made artificially, via a process that transforms it into a colour closer to gunmetal. You still get a sheen, but suddenly it feels subdued and smart. It also has a distinctly masculine edge that pairs perfectly with pieces like denim shirts and well-worn canvas jackets. So go ahead and pile it on. Wear a Cuban link necklace with a couple rings and, hell, a chain bracelet or two to boot. Because there's nothing wrong with wanting to shine, but sometimes it's…

STYLE Family names are a funny thing. In many cultures in the past, people used to be named for the work they did— Brewer, Carpenter, Hunter, Cook and so on. Which makes it sweetly serendipitous that Alessandro Sartori, the 56-year-old Creative Director of Zegna, has a last name descended from tailors and the sartorial tradition. When Sartori rejoined Ermenegildo Zegna in 2016, it was a homecoming of sorts. The Italian designer started his career there in 1989, and between 2003 and 2011 was the sporty Z Zegna line's founding creative director. Back in 2016, his remit was officially creative oversight of all three of Zegna's brands: the Couture runway collections, the Ermenegildo Zegna mainline and Z Zegna. In hindsight, that separation of runway, commercial and diffusion lines seems like a…

Within the 55-year-old, multi-billion-dollar Ralph Lauren fashion empire sits a unique line among the American glitz and glamour. The designer, who started his business in 1967 by selling ties under the brand name Polo, made his name by creating a particular look of American fantasy and spending the years refining it. The Polo collection for example, takes on a kind of triumvirate of sporty, preppy and youthful collegiate energy (Ivy League or Oxbridge, naturally). Think Oxford cloth button downs, chinos, and of course the namesake polo shirts in vibrant and a frankly, inexhaustible array of colours. The look in stores: light wood furniture, university coats of arms—a kind of cosy club room, if you will. The runway and Purple Label lines (the latter introduced in 1995 and first shown at…

FEATURED “I've always loved comics,” Rebecca Burch enthuses. “I still have a huge box of them from my childhood. I love the Marvel and DC movies. But I really worry when I see my nephew, who has a closet full of superhero suits, with abs and biceps stitched in. What will he think of that when he's an adolescent trying to attain these in the real world? And he's a little guy, so I don't think he's going to get there.” Burch, Associate Professor of Human Development at New York State University, is joking, but her concern is real. When she conducted a study three years ago of the physical dimensions of 3,752 Marvel comic characters, she found not only that—as measured by body mass indexfemale superheroes tended to be…

I DON'T WEAR SOCKS except in January. MY FIRST REAL JOB was in a nursery, watering rosebushes for a dollar an hour. It was the most boring job in the world. But I was taught to be there promptly on time. Take the lunch break properly on time for 30 minutes. Work eight hours. Those are great lessons for a 12-year-old kid. WHENEVER WE MOVED TO A NEW TOWN, our first stop was the local First Baptist Church (Virginia) to join. But the second stop was the local library to see how many books we could check out. I PLAYED ONE YEAR OF JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL. And I sat the bench. So I went to a bigger school down the road and tried out. In the fall of 1974, I…

This isn't a novel by Charles Dickens, but it does have London at its heart. Well, at least half of its heart. For many property investors in Singapore, places such as the UK and Australia are at the top of mind when they think about where to buy a new home overseas. The UK's capital, London, is typically seen as a safe haven for such investors. However, being such a large city has also meant there are many areas that have created markets within markets, which offer homes at different prices with different returns on investment. And while we're all familiar with many of London's key neighbourhoods—think Notting Hill and Mayfair—when you're looking to invest, there are a myriad of other areas you can look into, offering excellent opportunities and…

Hangovers get a bad rap. We know. If you've gotten this far in the magazine, you've surely divined that we're mildly hungover most of the time. People tsk-tsk this. There is talk of us poisoning ourselves. They make mention of toxins. For crying out loud, spare us! A hangover is not a symptom. A hangover is a cure. It's the absolute most-effective antidote to the pressures of a rise and grind and hustle harder world, an open invitation to do exactly what you want when you want to do it—which for us is to eat tacos for breakfast roughly 30 minutes from right now, because, my dude, we're going back to sleep. We endorse the mild hangover because only then are you your truest self. You don't need a gap…