Last week Mad Men introduced a new character, Michael Ginsberg (played by Ben Feldman), a young-gun creative whom Don Draper (Jon Hamm) hires as a copywriter. Ginsberg is a total oddball, not just in temperament but also in clothing: his tartan blazer wrinkled and ill-fitting, his micro-check patterned shirt dishevelled, his tie too loud. He mixed and matched and missed. Prints, foulards and checks are snazzy, but to pile them all together? In front of Draper?
It's an atrocity we see on the streets today: fashionistas identifying every trend and piling them all on at once, as if to be stylish one has to go over the top - lopsided collars, rolled trousers and pouf-ing pocket squares in one go. You're trendy! We get it! Sartorial flair has gone too self-aware.
If you're being dressed by the internet – copying looks from The Sartorialist and JakandJil – how can you develop individual style? Dressing well is about figuring out what complements you best, not imagining how to replicate what's on others. By all means, push sartorial limits, but manufactured style only gets you mind-bending looks.
So, put your matching polka dot ties and pocket squares down. While there's nothing wrong with getting inspiration from the web, take it a trend at a time. Go and roll your trousers, but maybe leave your sleeves alone. That pattern looks fresh, but take a second look – does it make you look gargantuan?
Ginsberg aside, the gents of Sterling Cooper Draper Price have shown that style from that era is worth repeating. Here are three favourite looks from recent episodes.
Pete Campbell
A multi-hued sports jacket, anchored by a crisp, white shirt and a bright tie still manages to look subtle.
Who's doing it now: Bottega Veneta, Gant, H&M
Stan Rizzo
Knit polos are a seasonal standby for the summer. Rizzo's slick bright blue is all swagger.
Who's doing it now: Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs, Giordano
Harry Crane
Always acing turtlenecks, Crane pairs it with a classic check blazer, proof you can take chances while looking clean-cut.
Who's doing it now: Burberry, Simon Spurr, Massimo Dutti
James Gabrillo is the assistant Arts & Life editor at The National
jgabrillo@thenational.ae
The%20Specs
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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The biog
Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.
Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking
Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million