Table of contents for JAN 17 in Esquire UK

THIS TIME LAST YEAR I found myself at a loose end in Los Angeles. (As you do.) I was there on Esquire business and a yawning four-day chasm opened up in my diary — the scheduling equivalent of the Grand Canyon — between completing the assignment I was working on, and beginning a round of meetings for future projects. I could have flown home and back again, I suppose, but where’s the fun in that? We were, at that time, putting together an issue of Esquire’s brother magazine, The Big Black Book, devoted to American style. For some months, I’d been kicking the tyres of an idea for a story about the significance of the road in American art and culture — road movies, road novels, the photography and iconography…

ALTERNATIVE SKI RESORTS 01. KIRORO, JAPAN Bored with Europe? Head east to the Kiroro ski resort. With an average snowfall of 21m, it really is a powder mecca and the tree runs are out of this world. Plus, no one will judge you for that après-ski karaoke, either. kiroro.co.jp…

Ï When it comes to ski holidays, there are two groups of people: the keenos and the layabouts. Those in the former camp are first-lift-devotees that rise at 6am every day and ski until the sun sets, caring little for rest or relaxation. The layabouts, on the other hand, like to take their time, hitting the slopes just before lunch and cruising a couple of blue runs before retreating to a raclette lodge until the après bars open. Regardless of leaning, however, snow sports can take a serious toll on your body, which is why you need to ready it accordingly. Here, Esquire PT Harry Jameson offers his guide to pre- and post-ski exercises that will make that familiar day two pain a thing of the past. PRE SKI Perform…

Every year, the coming of Christmas is heralded earlier and earlier. In 2016, the window display at Selfridges on Oxford Street, for example, was unveiled just over a week before Halloween, making it the earliest festive window dressing in the world. Likewise, the chorus of whingers complaining about it gets earlier each year, too. Personally, I love them. (The displays, that is, not the whingers.) Winter is such a tough season to get through. The nights are long, the days are short and the weather sucks. I normally succumb to full-blown Seasonal Adjustment Disorder meltdown by mid-November, so anything to lift the spirits and bring cheer is welcome in my book. Christmas definitely fits the bill. And as someone preoccupied with food, the pinnacle of the season is the roast…

01 Distressed denim The AW ’16 catwalks were awash with raggedy, shredded jeans — a la The Ramones — and denim jackets. Team yours with sparkling white trainers and soft knitwear for a faultless off-duty look. Ï On the catwalks in London, Milan, Paris and New York, casual is, all of a sudden, king. Where once hoodies, trackies and oversized jeans looked slovenly and silly, now brands such as Hood By Air, Off-White and Vetements have made dressing down in denim a thing again. To help you buy the right pair (or six), we’ve distilled the best jeans out there right now from distressed and selvedge, to black and bleached, with tips on how best to wear them. THREE PAIRS TO CONSIDER 02 Selvedge denim Self-finished so the cloth edges…

Though he was infallible when it came to winning the 1966 World Cup and looking dashing in a pair of snow-white knee socks, West Ham and England icon Bobby Moore didn’t master the art of marriage with quite such assurance. That’s the thesis anyway of Tina and Bobby, a new three-part ITV drama based on the memoir of Moore’s first wife, Tina (the inclusion of “first” in there is a clue to how things turned out). Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan plays proto-Wag Tina, while Grantchester alumnus Lorne MacFadyen — with not a hair out of place — takes on duties as Bobby. It shows another facet of a man so famed for perfection, who also overcame testicular cancer just two years before lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy. As Tina…

In 1991, when the Americanled Coalition forces closed in on Iraqi troops forcing them to withdraw from Kuwait, Saddam Hussein’s men set fire to the Greater Burgan oil fields as they retreated, leaving nearly 600 wells aflame. The task of putting out these momentous fires — one of the greatest environmental disasters of modern history — was left to a group of professional oil fire fighters, who battled seven days a week to extinguish the flames and cap the wells. Alongside them was a 47-year-old French-Brazilian photographer, Sebastião Salgado, whose images of these men at work were almost as staggering as the blazing 40ft geysers they had been sent to tackle. The photographs were published in The New York Times over a quarter of a century ago, but now…

Alex Stonely Head of Retail at Watchfinder Patek Philippe Calatrava “ ‘What’s your favourite watch?’ is a question I get asked a lot. The Calatrava is a classic dress watch, its charm is down to its simplicity. And the exquisite materials and execution mean it never goes out of style.” Danny Pizzigoni Founder of The Watch Club Rolex Milgauss 1019 “ I’d been intrigued since reading of Rolex’s collaboration with CERN to develop a watch unaffected by magnetic forces. I love the 1019’s purity: the broad smooth bezel, fat aluminium hands and splashes of red.” Philip van Dedem Founder of The Collectors’ Index Patek Philippe 5960 “ My latest acquisition is a 5960 in rose gold. The watch was discontinued after a relatively short run. Aesthetically, it’s beautiful with its…

TechDas Air Force III vinyl turntable £19,000 With serious vinyl collectors in mind, this crazily high-end turntable produces ultra-stable, friction-free rotation. Dan D’Agostino Momentum integrated amplifier £48,500 D’Agostino’s trademark use of copper in the chassis means this amp delivers a prodigious 200W per channel into 8ohms. Leica M-P (Typ 240) £7,730 (camera body only, £5,330) Don’t be fooled by the classic appearance, this unassuming camera has next-gen tech all its own. MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A hybrid speakers £15,000 Put simply, fewer moving parts means less resistance and a clean, clear sound. The no-nonsense king of speakers. Pinarello Dogma F8 road bike The eighth iteration of its range-topping Dogma frame and three-times Tour de France champ, this supercycle is ergonomically designed. Barbour x Triumph Thruxton R This collaboration built by British…

1. Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signature Constructed from Saffiano leather and forged aluminium, these have more in common with high-end luggage. Formed 50 years ago in Worthing when John Bowers began hand-assembling speaker systems in Roy Wilkins’ electrical shop, the company’s latest is their flagship headphone. Each cup has its own acoustic sound cabinet. Best suited for home or a long-haul flight. £700, bowers-wilkins.co.uk 2. Pryma O1 Known back home for its loudspeakers, Pryma has sashayed into the audio accessories market with typical Italian style. The leather used is literally the same Bottega Veneta uses in its bags, while the interchangeable headbands with distinctive belt-style buckles make these a customisable accessory as well as a precision piece of kit. Beyoncé wore them in her Lemonade videos, should such things sway…

1. Apple Watch 2 The original Apple Watch tried to be all things to all customers. While you can still squint at your Instagram on its 38mm screen, the Apple Watch 2 concentrates on health and fitness. It’s got built-in GPS (to properly track your runs), water resistance up to 50m (you can swim with it), a display two-times brighter (to be seen in difficult light) and a powerful new processor. It no longer pretends to be a smartphone replacement, it’s now a rather handsome sports accessory. From £370, apple.co.uk 2. Breitling Exospace B55 Connected Perhaps the smartest luxury smartwatch around, Breitling’s Exospace B55 Connected is also the only one that, pilot’s licence permitting, will let you land a plane. Commercial flyers can use it to record necessary data such…

1. Bose SoundTouch 300 Wi-Fi soundbar As TVs have got thinner, so’s the sound — there’s no room left to fit any decent speakers. So you need a soundbar. This one’s easy to set up, place it anywhere (wall, shelf, under TV) and stream music via an app, while controlling TV and films via a universal remote. It also connects to other Bose speakers around the house. £600, bose.co.uk 2. Loewe Bild 7 OLED UHD TV “The finest TV in the world” is some boast and maybe Loewe is justified in making it, at this price. Its Bild 7 (“bild” means “picture”) comes in 55in and 65in, is OLED, less than 7mm thick and incorporates a motorised stand and a 1TB hard disk (expandable to 2TB). Watch one programme, follow…

IN A LEAFY ENCLAVE near Beverly Hills, behind an aging Tudor mansion, Snctm is hosting a pool party. The sun is radiant overhead, the sky is cloudless and blue; the therapeutic aroma from the eucalyptus trees mixes in the air with the scents of expensive perfume and hydroponic weed. Couples lie here and there on chaises longues or large blankets on the grass. A trio of topless young women, members of Snctm’s erotic theatre troupe, known as Devotees, float languorously on giant blow-up swans, sipping drinks through bent straws. Two more Devotees bounce on a trampoline. In a little while, the brunette will be tied up, the blonde will employ a suede flogger and other toys, dispensing pain and pleasure. A waitress circulates, delivering food prepared by the French chef…

Look 1 Dark tan suede-shearling coat, £700, by Jaeger Navy wool-silk blazer, £595, by Daks Cream wool roll-neck jumper, £205, by Paul & Shark Navy patterned cropped wool trousers, £195, by Daks White leather trainers, £215, by Russell & Bromley Oxblood leather backpack, £195, by Dr Martens Stainless steel Meister Agenda watch on black alligator strap, £7,370, by Junghans Look 2 Black leather-shearling jacket, £2,795, by Belstaff Beige cashmere crew-neck sweater, £335, by William & Son White linen collarless shirt, £165, by Private White VC Blue distressed denim jeans, £45, by Topman Black leather brogue derby boots, £475, by Crockett & Jones Green cotton umbrella, £145, by London Undercover Stainless steel GG2570 watch on green-red striped nylon strap, £570, by Gucci…

SKIING SNOWBOARDING…

ESQUIRE APPROVES Stainless steel Autavia Mark 3 ‘Rindt’ chronograph on black leather strap, £4,000, by Tag Heuer tagheuer.co.uk Ï Tag Heuer’s latest all-consuming marketing push has seen it claim Cara Delevingne, David Guetta, the Premier League and many other next-generation favourites besides as willing vessels for the brand. In the spirit of inclusiveness, it wants the general public to come along for the ride, too. Earlier this year, the Swiss watch giant launched the Autavia Cup, an online public vote to decide which of the brand’s archive Autavia watches should become the inspiration for a (long-overdue) revival model. The format was simple – a series of knockout rounds in which two historic Autavia designs were put head-to-head until only one remained. The winner? The 1966 Ref 2446 Mk3, known as…

Food and drink Wine: Now you’re talking. Meursault in the summer; Pauillac from Bordeaux in the winter, ideally a 2010. Spirit: I took Sipsmith’s amazing damson vodka and gin to the South Pole, which kept us going. Beer: Bath Ales. Dish: Iced berries and hot white chocolate. Restaurant: Fish & Game, Hudson, New York. Bar: O’Shaughnessy’s pub, Glin, County Limerick, Ireland. Club: The Park Club, East Acton, London — it has an outdoor pool. Tools Watch: Tiffany & Co chronograph. Pen: Sheaffer fountain pen. Knife: Anything from Sheffield. Luggage: I’ve got a really nice old Gucci suitcase from the Seventies. App: Night Sky. Website: Wikipedia. Gadget: My wife’s granny had a Fifties lemon juicer, but it’s broken and I can’t get a replacement. Travel Hometown: Sheffield. Destination: New Orleans. Hotel:…

A bijoux slice of Americana in London’s Covent Garden, Joe Allen has been a haunt of theatregoers and stage stars (plus a fair number of Esquire staffers) over the five decades since its opening. Remaining essentially unchanged since 1977 as a sister site to the off-Times Square original, the subterranean brasserie is the capital’s go-to destination for proper American fare — simple, quality and delicious. And how else to preface those famous spicy ribs, the “secret” burgers or the best Caesar salad in town than with an all-American cocktail: no frills, no messing. Above, head barman Stewart Moss reveals the secrets to mixing its top three boozy belters. 13 Exeter Street, London WC2E; joeallen.co.uk Manhattan Ingredients • 12.5ml Martini Rosso• 12.5ml Martini Dry• 50ml Canadian Club whisky• Three dashes Angostura…

There are normal personal trainers, and then there’s Harry Jameson. Esquire’s PT in-residence is part of the entrepreneurial vanguard elevating the fitness, nutrition and wellbeing industry to impressive new heights. Alongside his client work, Harry runs a series of luxury fitness retreats around the world, is a consultant to some of London’s leading restaurants on their menus and works as an ambassador for several brands. Needless to say, he’s a busy man, which is why he uses the TomTom Touch fitness tracker. A packed schedule makes it harder to keep track of calories burned, steps taken, sleep quality and body composition, but the Touch worries about all of that, so Harry can just get on with his day. By wearing the sleek and understated Touch on his wrist — and…

When Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky met in Israel in the Sixties, they were two academics with very different outlooks: Kahneman was a pessimistic, self-doubting descendant of Holocaust survivors; Tversky was a sociable and forthright native Israeli. And yet they shared two things: first, their genius, as anyone who entered their orbits attests; second, a sneaking suspicion that many of the theories and neat formulae that had been used for centuries to unpick and predict the behaviour of human beings had overlooked one thing — human beings. Kahneman and Tversky are considered two of the most important figures in the field of behavioural economics, which studies the effects of emotion and psychology on decision-making and judgement, and it is the unusual, intense friendship of these two brilliant minds that is…

The title of the new Flaming Lips album, Oczy Mlody, comes from a line in the Polish edition of American novelist Erskine Caldwell’s 1962 book Close to Home, about the relationship between a southern white man and his black maid mistress. Which is not why Lips’ frontman Wayne Coyne chose it — he just liked the cover when he spotted it in a secondhand bookshop — and thought the words, which mean “eyes of the young”, sounded like a made-up “party drug”. And though you might have to make a few leaps of imagination to find much social commentary in the Oklahoma band’s blaringly bold, experimental and fun new record, you can find plenty of existential questioning about love, death and mankind’s place in the universe — alongside…

On the surface, Matthew E White and Flo Morrissey don’t look like they’d share much, except perhaps a long-toothed comb. He is a 34-year-old musician and producer from Virginia, USA, who makes acclaimed cosmic gospel jams; she is a hotly tipped 21-year-old Brit School graduate from Notting Hill who makes mooning alt-pop. And yet with Gentlewoman, Ruby Man, their new album of covers of songs by artists including Frank Ocean, James Blake and The Velvet Underground, they’ve found sweet harmony in the oddest places. A Seventies-vibing version of Roy Ayers’ “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” or a hazy meditation on Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne”, sure; but a percussive assault on George Harrison’s “Govindam”, or a blissed-out reworking of The Bee Gee’s theme from Grease? It’s weird, but it works. — Gentlewoman, Ruby…

For an event celebrating 25 years of Esquire in the UK, it was only appropriate to arrange a special screening of our favourite British film from our founding decade, Trainspotting, which felt as fresh on the big screen now as it did in 1996. Producer Andrew MacDonald and costume designer Rachael Fleming discussed everything from its incredible soundtrack to next year’s upcoming sequel. And the importance of that original poster: “We were all quite shocked when we saw the posters, we were all young back then and there was no television advertising, just these huge billboards and we knew it was something special,” said MacDonald. “I think one of the reasons the posters were so successful was the styling of the characters. I think it was the styling of mainly…

For extra Townhouse content, and to make sure you come to next year’s event, go to: esquire.co.uk/townhouse…

On the first night of Esquire Townhouse, our screening room saw legendary director Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Cinderella Man, Frost/Nixon, Rush) and actress Felicity Jones join us for a screening of their latest film Inferno. This was followed by a live interview with Esquire’s Editor-in-Chief Alex Bilmes. As usual, Howard was on stellar storytelling form, particularly when recalling Happy Days and how he ultimately became a film director: “Those were my good old days, those guys [from Happy Days] are still all my friends. It was a coming of age for me, but it taught me about the business. I went through a transition where I was the bona fide star of that show. “Henry [Winkler] was so brilliant and so popular in what he created in Fonzie’s character, and…

Blood and Sand Named after Rudolph Valentino’s 1922 bullfighter movie, this drink requires a bit of bar kit but it’s well worth it. 25ml Scotch; Monkey Shoulder works really well 25ml sweet vermouth 25ml Cherry Herring liqueur 25ml freshly squeezed blood orange or orange juice Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fine strain into a chilled martini glass. Add a pinch of orange zest for flavour. Last word We couldn’t write about Esquire’s first live event without also saying a few big thank-yous. First, to our title sponsor Dior, and partners Huawei, Starbucks Reserve and McLaren for their support. To suppliers Fuller’s, William Grant & Sons, Laurent-Perrier and Montblanc. To Hearst Live for making it happen. And to our contributors Tim Lewis, Paul Wilson, Stephen Smith, Robin Swithinbank…

‘Art is a conversation… an inanimate thing that can change the way people see the world or change people’s minds. That is the alchemy. That’s the potential’ ON THE WHOLE, WE ALL DEPEND ON WOMEN as our mothers, but they’re more balanced and have less obsessive-compulsive tendencies — which is probably my default setting. I think I’m a bit manic and the women in my life manage to make me less so. My life is entirely run by women. Emily and Kerry are the registrars, Tamara is the studio manager, Alice is my PA and Briony is my projects coordinator. They keep the structure and do a bloody good job, I have to say. I WAS BROUGHT UP CATHOLIC, in a very disciplined family, and when I lost my faith…

1. Hasselblad H6D-100c Hasselblad has been making iconic handmade cameras for 75 years: Bert Stern, Ansel Adams and Buzz Aldrin were all fans, the latter on the Apollo missions. This beauty, though, is fully loaded for the 21st century: 4K video, a swishy 3in high-definition touchscreen for live view and quick menu settings, shutter speed ranging from one hour to 1/2000th of a second, Wi-Fi, HDMI and two storage options. £23,400 (50c model is £18,500), hasselblad.com 2. Leica Sofort Leica has been branching into interesting new directions recently, not least this budget (for them) instant model. The company’s first take on instant photography, it combines the quick gratification of Polaroid-style prints with its signature tank-like build. Available in numerous pop colours, it has a range of built-in modes (sports and…

1. Apple iPad Pro Against no small competition, not least Apple’s own, this is the best tablet you can buy today. Basically a portable PC, it’s almost certainly faster than your work computer and is compatible with an add-on keyboard and pencil. Sensors match the display to available light, it’s loud — thanks to four speakers (it’ll fill a room without Bluetooth speakers) — and it’s got a colour palette equivalent to a digital cinema. Movies on this look (and sound) amazing. From £550, apple.co.uk 2. Google Pixel C Google’s pitch for this is Pixel C’s 64-bit quad-core processor, to drive high-performance graphics for gamers. The screen brightness is great, it’s solidly built and charges up in a flash, while Android fans will love the split-screen and the fact it…

Fashion by Mark McMahon Emporio Armani Black wool tuxedo jacket, £1,150; black silk bow tie, £85; white cotton shirt, £190; black wool tuxedo trousers, £350; black silk cummerbund, £370, all by Emporio Armani Dolce & Gabbana Black cotton-piqué double-breasted blazer, £1,200; navy cashmere roll-neck, £500, both by Dolce & Gabbana Jaeger Black velvet dinner jacket, £275; white cotton shirt, £75; black wool-mohair trousers, £135, all by Jaeger. Maroon velvet bow tie, £65, by Turnbull & Asser Private White VC Navy wool coat, £1,200; navy merino wool long-sleeved T-shirt, £90; navy moleskin trousers, £350, all by Private White VC. Black suede desert boots, £165, by Russell & Bromley Paul Smith Black/navy wool bomber jacket, £650; light grey merino-silk sweater, £230; black textured wool-cotton trousers, £175, all by Paul Smith “Usually I…

The Frenchie Co The Frenchie Co Carbon Wallet is a slim, luxurious and carefully handcrafted wallet made of the best materials available, and recently launched on a hugely successful Indiegogo campaign. This sophisticated wallet was created by the Frenchie Co, a Colombian company founded by Camilo and Daniel Mejia in their search for the world’s best wallet. To see all products and find out more visit thefrenchieco.com Philippe Banks Combining the finest Italian leather, sapphire crystal and Swiss-made movement, the Philippe Banks Signature Timepiece Collection is elegantly designed to complement the art of tailoring with a rich sense of the modern fashion industry. The company is driven by the mission to offer the finest quality of timepieces at an affordable price. Receive 15 per cent off your first order with…

Our focus this month — if you’ll forgive the feeble pun — is the eye. (Or eyes: they usually come in pairs.) Yes, the eyes, the peepers, those inedible oysters that lie on the halfshells of your face. Not just in our culture and era but in every time and place the human eye has been valorised as the window to the soul. Really? I have to say, I’m never entirely convinced; with my novelist’s specs on, I often find myself thinking of sentences such as this; “Looking deep into Hermione’s eyes, Justin saw there something like love — not love itself, but a paler version of that crimson passion…” only to dismiss them on the grounds that when I look into most people’s eye, I see very little there…

Fun as it may be, a week on the slopes takes its toll. Intense sun and wind leaves skin scorched, while the moisture-barren air plays havoc with hands and hair. Our advice? Invest in an arsenal of cold weather combatants. That way you can focus on the task in hand: getting to the bar before they run out of glühwein. DRY HANDS Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment by Elizabeth Arden Apply this fast-absorbing cream twice a day to keep rough, weather-exposed hands soft and smooth. £26/75ml, elizabetharden.co.uk DEHYDRATED HAIR Nourishing Living Enzyme Infusion by Davines Snowfall means less moisture in the air, and less moisture means dry hair. This antioxidant-rich enzyme infusion will bring life to locks. £17/100ml, libertylondon.com CHAPPED LIPS Nourishing Lip Balm by Diptyque Dry, centrally-heated…

was recently on a flight from London to Sydney when I stopped over in Singapore for an hour. As I hurried past the duty-free stores in search of a pharmacy — I needed Nurofen, but unhelpfully, all that seemed to be on offer were ostrich leather wallets and giant Toblerones — I caught my reflection. It wasn’t pretty. My face and hair appeared vaguely human (then again I wasn’t wearing my glasses), but it was my outfit that caught my eye. I was dressed like a chav: baggy navy track pants with white stripes across one leg, white T-shirt, grey marl sweatshirt and sneakers. The fact each item carried a big-brand label — Thom Browne, Orlebar Brown, Alexander Wang, Tom Ford (I know, but I get a clothes allowance for…

CP Company Shetland SL Collection An island fling for winter / CP Company has long been known for its dedication to finding new performance materials for its famous outerwear. The two coats in the Shetland SL capsule collection (a parka and an overcoat) are cut from a yarndyed wool bonded to a heavy duty Lycra, and the resulting cloth is tough and protective but soft. For the first time, CP Company has used bouclé wool yarn, giving the AW ’16 editions great texture and wintry heft. cpcompany.co.uk William & Son knits Completely cashmere capsule — William & Son recently bought the Scott & Charters knitwear factory in Hawick, Scotland, where the brand’s new cashmere pieces are made. Our favourites are the shawl-collar cardigans and crew-neck knits, but visit William &…

ESQUIRE: Tell us about Why Him? BRYAN CRANSTON: It’s a story that is not unfamiliar to me. I have a daughter the same age and it’s what every father fears. You raise them from a baby: changing their diapers, taking them for their first bike ride, their first athletics event, you go through all these things and at the end you have to let her go, and you hope she settles with someone suitable. That’s what being a father involves. And there’s every chance you won’t approve of her choices. That’s when you get two men fighting for the affections of a female. I mean: would you want your daughter settling down with James Franco? ESQ: It’s a change of tone from your recent work: like Trumbo and The Infiltrator.…

EMBRACE THE GENRE In the six years it took to get La La Land made, I really got to see how much of a dirty word “musical” was in some circles. Especially among men. Perhaps we’re too literal-minded, hear the word “musical” and automatically think that everything’s going to be glitter and turned up to 11. Traditionally in a musical, everything is heightened, even the acting, but we knew there could be a space where the pop and sugar of the musical experience could coexist with a dramatic, powerful acting style. It was a way to make this universe seem new and relevant. REALLY EMBRACE IT The musical is a genre that’s willing to risk distancing an audience — I mean, characters will literally stop what they’re doing and burst…

Men’s style panel Style summit: four experts discuss men dressing well The state of men’s style has never been in better health. In 2017, we’re dressing better than ever before, but we can all still learn a thing or two. That’s why we brought in four of the biggest and smartest names in British menswear: designer Oliver Spencer, Mr Porter’s Brand and Content Director Jeremy Langmead, contemporary tailor and label owner Charlie Casely-Hayford, and Jason Basmajian, Creative Director of Cerruti 1881, in a panel hosted by Esquire Editor-in-Chief Alex Bilmes. Oliver Spencer: “I don’t think the suit is dying at all. I think we’re just wearing them differently. More men wear deconstructed suits, with T-shirts or pumps, but they’re still in a suit. The code of work uniform has changed.…

One of London’s great Italian chefs Francesco Mazzei (chef patron at Sartoria) served a memorable five-course dinner at the Townhouse. Who better to ask how to cook one Italian dish to make your guests cry? (In a good way.) “It has to be pasta. Everyone can make and have fun with it from mixing eggs and flour, to choosing the shape. My top tip is keep it simple and let the flavour of the pasta shine through with a dish like fettuccine pomodoro. There’s no secret to a great Italian tomato sauce; you need tomatoes at peak ripeness and cook them right down, adding as little liquid as possible at the start so your sauce is thick and rich. This gives a concentrated tomato flavour and you can thin…

Few writers have written more powerfully about what it is to be a man over the last 25 years than Nick Hornby and few authors have such an encyclopaedic knowledge of popular culture, either. So, when he picked his two biggest cultural influences in a fascinating interview, we considered it a good idea to take note: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Anne Tyler (1982) “I’d read a lot of fiction before I started writing, but none was the kind I wanted to write. I read Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant and within a few pages I got it. I knew the type of writer I wanted to, and could, become. I met Anne years later and told her how much her book had influenced me. She said she didn’t see…

1. LG G5 If you thought all phones are basically the same now, you’d be right. LG has turned some new tricks though by making its G5 modular. Pull out the battery-pack base and replace it with add-on “modules” that boost functionality: a Hi-Fi DAC audio player, a Bluetooth headset or a 360° camera (with more to follow). Another USP is its dual-camera for wide-angle shots. From £530, lg.com 2. Google Pixel XL Thanks to several excellent launches, 2016 is the year Google got it right. With officially the best camera on any smartphone, its super-fast Pixel is great for one-handed use, has a fantastic display and supports the new Daydream VR headset. Available in 5in 1080p or 5.5in Quad HD AMOLED display versions. It’s not cheap, mind. From £720,…

1. Naim Mu-so Qb Wireless Fancy-pants British audiophile Naim took their time to get into wireless. When they did, 2014’s Mu-so piled up awards as quickly as it rang tills at John Lewis and Apple, despite costing the same as two Sonos. Their smaller, tidier follow-up somehow still manages a mighty 300W of power, while the new Qb (“cube’’, get it?) design looks good anywhere. £595, naimaudio.com 2. Wharfedale Diamond Active A1 “Britain’s best-known loudspeaker brand” — well, someone has to be — has put its know-how into developing a pair of wireless “active” stereo speakers, no speaker cables or additional amp required, meaning they can be placed anywhere in the room. Solidly built, with nicely rounded edges, they handle bass particularly effectively. At the price, a bargain. £600, wharfedale.co.uk…

1. Dell XPS 13 Dell’s refreshed XPS 13 aims to take on Apple’s MacBook Air with its handsome “InfinityEdge” display that (almost) eliminates the bezel, its Quad-HD screen and its pupil-dilating 3200 x 1800 resolution. It’s compact and lightweight, with a battery that offers some stellar power management. In machined aluminium with a silver anodised finish, it’s got looks not always associated with Dell. From £1,000, dell.com 2. Apple MacBook Pro Friend of the creative industries, it’s been years since the MacBook Pro has had a refresh. But it’s been worth the wait. With 130 per cent faster graphics, almost 70 per cent brighter display and 17 per cent thinner, with a double-size Force Touch trackpad, its main USP is its multi-touch enabled glass strip in the keyboard for fast…

Fashion by Chris Benns Dior Homme Black striped wool jacket, £1,450; red/black checked wool T-shirt, £430; black wool suit trousers, £650, all by Dior Homme. Black leather trainers, £215, by Russell & Bromley Gucci Red/black/blue tartan double-felted wool coat, £1,930; light blue cotton shirt, £285; multicoloured checked jersey trousers, £355; multicoloured jacquard trainers, £410, all by Gucci Louis Vuitton Charcoal lambskin-shearling coat, £POA; brown metallic silk bomber jacket, £1,560, both by Louis Vuitton Belstaff Dark brown suede-leather-shearling jacket, £2,995, by Belstaff J Crew Light grey wool coat, £525; grey/white/brown wool chunky roll-neck jumper, £100; dark green corduroy trousers, £75, all by J Crew. White leather sneakers, £215, by Russell & Bromley. Dark green merino wool socks, £14, by Pantherella AT THE TIME OF WRITING, confirmation comes that Donald Trump is…

A AG Jeans agjeans.com B Belstaff +44 20 7495 5897 belstaff.co.uk C Church’s church-footwear.com Coach uk.coach.com Converse converse.com Crockett & Jones crockettandjones.com D Daks daks.com Dior Homme +44 20 7172 0172 dior.com Dolce & Gabbana +44 20 7495 9250 dolcegabbana.com Dr Martens drmartens.com Drake’s drakes.com E Emporio Armani armani.com F Frame available at mrporter.com G Gap 1969 gap.co.uk Gieves & Hawkes +44 20 7432 6403 gievesandhawkes.com Gucci +44 20 7235 6707 gucci.com H H&M +44 344 736 9000 hm.com Hawksmill Denim Co hawksmill.com J J Crew +44 808 234 3686 jcrew.com Jaeger +44 845 051 0063 jaeger.co.uk JM Weston +44 20 7629 9494 jmweston.fr Junghans junghans.de L Levi’s +44 20 7292 2500 levi.com London Undercover londonundercover.co.uk Louis Vuitton +44 20 7399 4050 louisvuitton.co.uk M M&S Autograph +44 20 8090 9564 marksandspencer.com M&S Collection +44 20 8090 9564 marksandspencer.com Mackintosh mackinstosh.com Moncler moncler.com N Next +44 333 777 8000 next.co.uk P Pal Zileri available at harveynichols.com Pantherella pantherella.com Paul & Shark available at harrods.com Paul Smith +44…