Posts by Tom Beard

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  • Up Front: The Up Front Guide: Dressing…,

    Well, hello, Tim Gunn :)

    Oh dear, it's a sign of how out of touch I am that I had to google that. Surely there are some heterosexual examples?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Up Front: The Up Front Guide: Dressing…,

    Out of interest, where does one shop for cravats these days?

    Kirks is about it for new ones, and most of those are aimed at weddings rather than everyday wear. Hunters & Collectors and Ziggurat are where I tend to get mine.

    World did some lovely contemporary ones for a while. Unfortunately mine disappeared early one morning while walking home from Hooch, along with the hat band from my best trilby.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Up Front: The Up Front Guide: Dressing…,

    I wonder whether there's another archcetype worth considering:

    The Silver Fox

    You Will Need: An impeccably tailored suit, with an indefinable something that says it's not just for the boardroom. Either a crisp shirt and tie or a black Zambesi t-shirt. Height. Dark hair greying at the temples, well-groomed but without obvious product. An expensive watch, but not a Rolex or Tag Heuer. An air of worldly amusement and effortless confidence.

    To an inexperienced eye, the look may be indistinguishable from every other suit on Lambton Quay, but something in the cut of the clothes and the arch of an eyebrow tells you that he doesn't just spend his weekends reading the NBR and quoting BMW specs. There's a subtle whiff of money and power, and although he won't talk about it or where it came from, it probably didn't come from selling townhouses or running for the local council. Men want him to invest in their schemes; women want to sleep with him (and many have). There's nothing really to tell that he's on the prowl, other than a direct look and a half-smile.

    Archetype: A GQ cover.

    If You Cock This Up You Will Look: Like Bob from Accounts.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Up Front: The Up Front Guide: Dressing…,

    You would have to post this on the one day I'm wearing a stripy shirt, wouldn't you? In my defence, it's by World rather than Hallensteins or Tarocash, with a never-to-be-popped collar and I'd rather stay sober than drink mainstream beer.

    Right, it's back to the cravat and pink gin tomorrow, I swear.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • OnPoint: Astrotobacco,

    can I perhaps controversially ask what aged care has in common with tobacco, whaling and shonky finance companies?

    Partaking in any of the last three will prematurely age you, making you a prime candidate for the first.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • OnPoint: Astrotobacco,

    Any relation to the "Community Retailers Association"? Or is that an example of the media adding value to a press relase by getting it wrong?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • OnPoint: Dear Gerry,

    Sometimes, they call these things "costs", "risks", "downsides", "negative externalities" or "bad things".

    Sometimes they call them "disbenefits", in which case you are free to crush their skull between two volumes of the OED.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    completely gobsmacked by the "Conservation" minister's little rant.

    You know, once of the things I thought when the proposal was announced was "Oh that's right, we do have a conservation minister!" It's easy to think that we just have a Minister for Mining, a Minister for Motorways and a whole lot of Ministers for Kneejerk Populist Idiocy.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    In which case, what's in it for them?

    It's certainly wise to scrutinise any potential for direct financial gain, but really, it's not required as a justification. Even if "they" aren't making a single gold coin out of it, Their Sort of People are, and that's what matters. To hell with the public accounts: as long as rich people are getting richer and the minerals aren't lying around being economically useless, it's a good thing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    No stupid policies ever get past a good suburban Auckland focus group...

    Though it has to be said that "suburban Auckland" is itself a pretty stupid policy.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

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