What to Pack for a Road Trip in New Jersey

Reading Time: 3 minutes

So you’re planning a road trip around New Jersey. Maybe you’re a local who wants to explore your home state or you’ve decided that the Garden State is the perfect spot for your next family road trip. Either way, it’s important you pack all the necessary stuff before setting off.

New Jersey map

Nowadays, we tend to use our phones to direct ourselves. But if you’re on a road trip, it’s essential that you bring a physical map with you too. Phone service can drop at the most inconvenient moments, which is the last thing you want if you’re also lost. Bring a map and familiarize yourself with your route rather than relying solely on your phone or GPS system.

high angle view of cityscape against cloudy sky
Photo by Quintin Gellar on Pexels.com

Driving documents

No one wants to be pulled over on a road trip, but it can happen to the best of us. That’s why it’s essential you bring all your driving documents, including your license and proof of insurance. New Jersey requires all drivers to have full coverage before they hit the roads, so whether you’re using your usual insurance or a pay-per-mile car insurance alternative, make sure you have documentary proof of it in your glove compartment.

Comfy clothes, waterproofs, and walking shoes

Any seasoned road-tripper will tell you that comfy clothes are a must. No one wants to be sat in a car all day wearing their tightest jeans. If you’re on a road trip in New Jersey, be sure to bring layers and a waterproof. The temperature inside your car might be very different from the outside temperature and New Jersey summers are often rainy.

Also, many of the best road trips in New Jersey offer a wealth of natural scenery or picturesque coastal towns to wander through. That means even though you’re on a road trip, make sure you bring sturdy walking shoes for when you venture out of the car.

Car emergency kit

Cars break down, accidents happen, and although New Jersey might not have as many remote and isolated spots as states like Montana or Alaska, you should still be fully prepared for an emergency.

Useful kit to store in your emergency car kit includes a flashlight, first aid kit, booster cables, roadside signal flares, blankets, bottles of water, basic tools, and batteries.

Toiletries

You may already have your wash bag packed, but there are some extra toiletries you should consider bringing along on your road trip. Cars get stuffy and no one feels truly fresh after several hours of driving, but with the right toiletries, you can feel fresher for longer. These include baby wipes, dry shampoo, breath mints, moisturizing face mist, painkillers, a quick-dry travel towel, and sunblock.

Games, books, and music

While New Jersey has many beautiful sights to offer road-trippers, there will inevitably be dull moments where your passengers need some entertainment. Music, podcasts, and audiobooks can be enjoyed by everyone in the car, so make sure you have plenty downloaded on your phone to connect to your car speakers. 

Non-driving road-trippers may also appreciate travel-friendly games. While you can crack out board games when you come to a stop, car games like the number plate game and twenty questions will help keep younger passengers entertained. 

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

The Lingerie Market: Why Do Some Brands Flourish and Others Fail?

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The lingerie market is a vast one. However, some brands seem to go from strength to strength, while others fail. Here are some reasons to explain this.

Not having a unique idea

It seems like an impossibility to come up with a unique idea when there are already so many brands out there, and everything has been done. It’s not hopeless though, because technology means things are always changing. Sometimes a unique idea can also be one that was seemingly obvious, but nobody has ever acted on.

When David Spector and his wife founded ThirdLove, the idea of selling lingerie wasn’t unique, but adding extra sizes in half-cup increments was. With the help of technology, they also made it possible for women to fit themselves from home.

Not being widely available

Although some lingerie brands can be successful without being available worldwide, or at least in several other countries, only being on sale in a specific area is usually limiting. This requires research to determine whether there is an audience in your chosen country, and what makes you stand out from the lingerie brands they already have access to.

Not targeting the right people

Of course, there is a large consumer base for lingerie, but your brand still needs to reach the right people. For example, a company such as ThirdLove, catering to women who struggle to find the right size, found ways of connecting with women who fell between sizes.

There is almost always one or more places to connect with your target audience. Again, it requires research to do this effectively.

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Photo by Carina Silva on Pexels.com

Not seeking out support

Very few brands become successful without some kind of support. This might involve seeking out investors to help your ideas come to fruition while there is a stronger demand, taking on a business partner who has knowledge in areas you struggle with or hiring outside help to achieve more in a shorter timeframe.

Excluding people

Many brands are told that when marketing, they should reach a target audience, narrowing down the demographics or psychographics of those they market to. This is good advice, but it’s important not to exclude people who may fall outside of this. It’s impossible to tailor lingerie products to everyone who might choose to buy your brand, but that’s not the same as specifically excluding them.

For example, some lingerie brands might fail because they don’t have enough products that appeal to specific ethnicities. Until recently, most ‘nude shades’ only matched the exact skin tone of a small number of those who wore them. It’s also crucial to show models wearing the lingerie that are representative of the potential customer. Otherwise, seeing hundreds of models with different skin colors, body shapes, or a certain look can make them feel like the brand is not aimed at them.

Although there are few guarantees in business, brands that flourish tend to be those that don’t make these mistakes and are open to trying new things.

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

How to Build a Business Your Employees Will Love

Reading Time: 5 minutes

If you want to build a successful business, it’s important that your employees love working for you. Happy employees are more productive and are less likely to leave the company. This blog post will discuss some tips on how to create a work environment that your employees will love.

Pay them in time

One of the first things you can do to make sure your employees are happy is to make sure they’re getting paid on time. Nothing is more frustrating than not getting paid for the work you’ve done. If you’re constantly behind on payroll, your employees will start to look for other jobs. In addition to this, you have to make your employees understand net pay or gross pay to help set their expectations. The former is what they take home while the latter is their total pay before taxes. When your employees are aware that they’re getting paid fairly and on time, they’ll be much happier.

  • Make sure you have good benefits

Another way to make sure your employees are happy is to offer good benefits. This includes things like health insurance, paid vacation days, and a retirement plan. Health insurance is especially important because it helps employees feel secure knowing that they’re covered in case of an emergency. Paid vacation days are also important because it allows employees to take the time off they need without having to worry about money. A retirement plan is an excellent benefit to offer because it shows that you’re invested in your employee’s future. By offering these benefits, you’re showing your employees that you care about their well-being. In addition, you should also offer other perks like free snacks and drinks, gym memberships, and flexible working hours. These little extras will go a long way in making your employees happy.

Create a positive work environment

Another way to ensure your employees are well-taken care of is to create a positive work environment. This means having a clean and organized office, providing adequate break times, and encouraging communication between employees. When you have a clean and organized office, it shows your employees that you care about their work environment. In addition, by providing adequate break times, you’re showing your employees that you understand the importance of work-life balance. Lastly, by encouraging communication between employees, you’re creating an open and welcoming environment. By creating a positive work environment, you’re showing your employees that you care about their happiness and well-being.

You should also make sure that your employees feel like they’re part of a team. This means having team-building activities, being clear about company goals, and celebrating successes together. Team-building activities will help your employees bond and feel like they’re part of a community. Being clear about company goals will help your employees understand the importance of their work. And celebrating successes together will show your employees that you’re grateful for their hard work. When your employees feel like they’re part of a team, they’ll be more likely to work hard and be loyal to the company.

Communicate with them

Another important thing you can do is to communicate with your employees. This means being open and honest about the company’s goals, objectives, and expectations. When it comes to open communication, it’s important to listen as much as you talk. This way, you can get feedback from your employees and make changes accordingly. By communicating with your employees, you’re showing them that you value their input and opinions.

You should also give your employees feedback on their performance. You will be able to do this by doing things like setting goals and objectives and giving performance reviews. This way, your employees will know what they need to work on and how they’re doing. By giving feedback, you’re showing your employees that you care about their development and growth. Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate your employees’ successes. This will show them that their hard work is appreciated and that they’re valued members of the team.

how-to-build-a-successful-business

Encourage employee development

Finally, one of the best ways to ensure your employees are happy is to encourage their development. This means providing training and development opportunities. By doing this, you’re showing your employees that you care about their growth and development. In addition, you should also offer mentorship programs and career advancement opportunities. By offering these opportunities, you’re showing your employees that you want them to be with the company for the long run.

These are just some of the things you can do to build a business your employees will love. By following these tips, you can create a business that your employees will love working for. A happy workforce is a productive workforce, so it’s in your best interest to make sure your employees are happy. Rest assured that with a little effort, you can create a work environment that your employees will love.

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Luxury Design Tips to Consider for Your Ideal Home Office 

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In recent years there has been a significant swing in attitudes regarding working from home. Partly catalyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic, working remotely or on a hybrid schedule is now commonplace across all industries and levels of business, including among CEOs and upper levels of management teams. 

While it was initially a forced procedure due to stay-at-home orders and lockdowns, studies have continuously shown the benefits to both the productivity and the wellbeing of workers when they are allowed to work remotely. 

As a result, home offices have become much more popular, and the need for having a dedicated and optimized working space within the home has increased greatly. 

For those with plenty of funds to spare on a luxury home office, such as CEOs of large companies, it is an exciting task to take on: it’s a chance to create a space that has all of your working needs in mind, while also having the prestige and glamor that comes with luxury-quality items.

With space and funds at a surplus, your home office is like a blank canvas. Read on to find out more about the best luxury design features.

Custom-Made Furniture 

A timeless way to stamp your personality and style upon your new home office is with custom-made furniture. Whether you are planning to create a hyper-modern space with all of the latest technology and interior design, or capture the essence of grand, classic country house splendor, custom furniture will add an extra layer of authenticity, and allow you to engineer the perfect fit for the room at hand. 

If you’re looking to capture the modern, clean style of a 2022 home office, then curved furniture is currently in style, with commentators approving of its ability to create open, dynamic, and relaxing spaces.

Custom mahogany furniture, in the essence of classic manor house style, has and will never lose its unique boldness and character.

home-office-luxury-furniture
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The Best Tech

Building a luxury home office is an amazing opportunity to include all the latest technological gadgets designed to make working more comfortable, efficient, and dynamic. 

Among these office tech innovations are hugely powerful office computer set-ups such as Lenovo desktop workstations, as well as the utilization of smart speaker technology to enable the use of personal assistants such as Alexa and Siri in the office. 

It’s also worth investing in the latest in comfort and posture, with office chairs specifically designed to maintain perfect posture in the back, as well as desks with adjustable heights.

Conducive Lighting 

No matter the style of your new luxury home office, lighting is an essential part of making it a pleasant and productive place to be. Having plenty of natural light has been shown to improve wellbeing and levels of stimulation, while you can use shading to emphasize different parts of the office during different times of day. 

Depending on the area of your office—maybe you have a sit-down area as well as a desk area—certain types of lighting will be more conducive than others.

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

5 Golf Etiquette Rules You Should Always Follow 

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Golf is a sport that has been around for centuries. It is believed to have originated in Scotland in the 1400s

Though the game has evolved over the years, the basic premise remains the same: players use a variety of clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes in as few strokes as possible.

Golf can be played competitively or for fun. Whether you’re out on the course to win or just to enjoy a sunny day, there are certain etiquette rules that should always be followed. These rules of golf etiquette will help you avoid annoying your fellow players and ruining the game for everyone involved.

We’re assuming you won’t be late for your tee time, so here are the rest of the most important golf etiquette rules to keep in mind:

  1. Always be aware of your surroundings on the golf course. Make sure you are not in the way of other players, and be especially careful when swinging your club.
  1. If you hit a golf ball into another player’s territory, always offer to help them find it.
  1. When playing in a group, be aware of your pace and make sure you are not slowing other players down.
  1. Always be respectful of the course and take care to avoid damaging it with your clubs or golf balls.
  1. Be a good sport, even if you lose or have a bad shot. Avoid getting angry or throwing a temper tantrum, as this can be very disruptive to other players.

These 5 golden rules are accompanied by the rest of the golf etiquette. Golf requires mental toughness and a dose of thick skin. Losing your temper would only show how unskilled you are in the sport. 

Why is Golf Etiquette Important

Knowing what these etiquette rules are will also help you to avoid embarrassing yourself while playing. We’ll dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of the golf etiquette:

Show Respect for the Game

Be respectful of other players and their property. This means that you should never make loud noises or use offensive language while on the course. 

You should also be careful not to damage any of the golf equipment, such as clubs or balls. If you accidentally break something, you should make sure to let the owner know and offer to pay for the replacement.

Keep Things Neat

Clean up after yourself when you are done playing. You should always leave the golf course in better condition than you found it, so that others can enjoy their game without having to clean up your messes afterwards. 

The best way to ensure that no one has to clean up after you is to simply bring along garbage bags and use them for any trash that you may generate during your round.

Be Mindful of the Staff

Help the staff out whenever possible. Most courses have staff members who are responsible for taking care of the course and ensuring that everything runs smoothly, but there are some things that they may not be able to do on their own. 

If you see something that needs to be done, such as raking a bunker or fixing a divot, then take the time to do it yourself. The staff will appreciate your help and it will make the course look better for everyone.

Always be respectful of the course and take care to avoid damaging it with your clubs or golf balls. When you are done playing a hole, always replace the flagstick back in the hole.

Have Patience

Be patient when playing. Golf can be a frustrating game at times, but it is important to remember that everyone is out there to have fun. 

If you get angry or frustrated, it will only ruin your own game and make the people around you uncomfortable. Just take a deep breath and relax; chances are good that your next shot will be better than the last.

Be Aware of the Surrounding

Always be aware of your surroundings on the golf course. Make sure you are not in the way of other players, and be especially careful when swinging your club.

If you hit a golf ball into another player’s territory, always offer to help them find it.

golf-etiquette
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Watch Your Pace

When playing in a group, be aware of your pace and make sure you are not slowing other players down.

Do not take too much time when making your shots. Golf is a game that should be enjoyed by everyone, so make sure you are not holding up the rest of the group by taking too long to play.

Temper Tantrum

Be a good sport, even if you lose or have a bad shot. Avoid getting angry or throwing a temper tantrum, as this can be very disruptive to other players.

Watch Your Language

Be mindful of your language while on the golf course. Avoid using profanity or any offensive language, as this can be very upsetting to other players.

Tournament-Specific

If you are playing in a tournament, make sure you know and follow all of the rules for the event. This includes things like dress code and pace of play, as well as any other specific guidelines that may be set by the tournament organizers.

Don’t Distract the Others

Be considerate of other players in your group, and do not engage in behaviors that might distract them or cause them to lose their focus during a game. This includes things like loud talking, eating, or using electronic devices while playing.

Finally, stay calm and have fun while playing golf – Play the game with confidence and don’t let your emotions get in the way of your performance. After all, golf is a game that should be enjoyed by everyone!

Jennifer
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Friday Chronicle #35: When Human Dignity Had A Price Tag On It.

Reading Time: 8 minutes

After two years of pandemics, we are now slowly getting back to our lives and habits. Although certain things might not be the same again, we all hope to find now a bit of normality (whatever that might be. During this covid-19 period, many things happened. People lost their job, new businesses started, and the digital world has never been so important. Around the world, more than 114 people lost their jobs. This fact represents a lack of gain of approximately $3.7 trillion. Facing adversity, people get creative, and while some have reinvented themselves and started their businesses, others get themselves into the sex industry. After losing their jobs, they start losing their dignity.

Sex workers 2.0: Going Online Was The Only Way.

During these pandemics, one of the most popular search terms was “how to make money while staying home?”. This economic critic situation brought the rise of a new generation of sex workers operating online only. Platforms like OnlyFans, MyVids or Patreon became the gates of sex heaven but also the gates of humiliating hell. The word Sex Worker was never so widespread. With more than a billion hits across the most popular social networks, it has become a genuine concept in your modern society. The term “sex worker” was coined in 1978 by sex worker activist Carol Leigh. Its use became popularised after the anthology, Sex Work: Writings By Women In The Sex Industry in 1987. Initially, this was a term strictly connected to prostitution, but its definition has broadened over time, and today it encompasses, for example, live sex webcams and selling adult content online.

Only-Fans-reviews
Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com

Only Fans: The New El Dorado

In 2016, a London-based company called Fenix International Limited launched an online platform called ONLY FANS. Content creators can monetise their work by charging “fans” who subscribe to their content. Content creators can collect monthly support, one-time tips, and the pay-per-view (PPV) feature directly from their fans. The initial concept was to support content creators worldwide, whether artists, journalists or simply entertainers. With the arrival of Covid-19, the platform increased exponentially the number of users thanks to the adult content you could find. Currently, the platform has 85 million users, of which 1 million are regular content creators. The platform is growing fast. According to OnlyFans CEO, the platform currently creates over 500’000 new accounts each day.

The business model is relatively straightforward. A fan of a content creator can view their content for a monthly subscription fee. The company pays 80% of the content creator’s costs, retaining the remaining 20%. After merchant and processing fees, the company’s share is around 12%. As of April 2020, OnlyFans was valued at between $810,000,000 and $936,000,000, though estimates are difficult to ascertain as the company does not release its aggregate level data.

By selling explicit adult material on the platform, you become a sex worker, and you can make a lot of money. From several hundred dollars a day up to…. a lot! Take the example of actress-singer-model Bella Thorne. In less than 24 hours on the platform, she made one million dollars and two million dollars in less than a week. She placed the subscription at USD20, and she got more than 50K fans almost instantaneously.

source: https://reviews.tn

There are multiple ways to make money on OnlyFans. You get revenue from monthly subscriptions to your account, you can send content in a private message to your fans with a paywall, and you can also “answer” special requests from the fans. All go through the platform system, and the financial transfer is clean and safe.

While such young people feel secure in the intimacy of their bedrooms at home, something else is at stake: human dignity. OnlyFans is a fantastic platform for adult performers and sex workers since, unlike more unethical sex labour, the performer has direct control and may choose their working conditions. Because the screen separates the performer from the ‘Fan,’ it’s a safe environment where you can easily say no to your ‘Fans’ if you’re uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Many young girls are becoming victims of OnlyFans’ darker side, being thoroughly captivated with the site at the expense of their mental health and self-worth.

The general Press has a responsability.

While the press tends to focus on girls who are top earners on the platform, there is a dark side of the platform, where young girls, quite often under-aged, get involved in OnlyFans, and at one point, they are trapped in the forum as it becomes harder and harder to stop and get back a decent life. The overall press does not talk about the mental breakdowns, the depression, and sometimes even the suicides of relatives of girls whose sex material leaked to their friends and family. Regulation would need to intervene, and digital education in schools should help flag the risks of such platforms. Unfortunately, we can see that most of the law authorities are already having a hard time understanding Facebook and Instagram or Whatsapp; they do not even talk to them about OnlyFans, Patreon or MyVids. What kind of society are we living in that sells people like products?

Rich people have never been so rich and sadly… Sex pays.

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Photo by Jhoon Dias on Pexels.com

There is today a genuine obsession with money. While capitalism is probably experiencing the last decade of its very long life, people still admire millionaires, billionaires and people making money out of nothing. The top 10 wealthiest people on the planet account for a total wealth of $1.3 trillion. According to UN experts, we could end starvation globally with a total investment between $7 to $265 billion per year. So, even if these ten people donated half of their fortunes, they would still enjoy a great life, and the world would be different. Getting rich and living a wealthy life seems to be an intense aspiration. Some people explore the stock market, others start online businesses on Etsy, some of us began to activity on Crypto, NFTs or even on the metaverse. It is not about creativity or having an exciting job. It is more about being famous and wealthy. Some people are ready to do anything to live their best life. And unfortunately, if all goes back to sex.

Dubai Porta Potty, the ultimate scandal

In the past three years, the leading social platforms saw the arrival of a new type of influencer: Young and glamourous girls living a luxurious life in Dubai. On their feeds, we can see their pictures on private jets, in luxury stores, showing off in Dubai’s best and most expensive places. Many of us wondered who those unknown girls were having loads of fun in Dubai. Unfortunately, the reality is not that pretty. On the contrary, those women escort girls are being paid by millionaires in Dubai for sex services. Nothing new so far, but here is when the situation got extreme: those girls are born to accept very intense sexual practices. Welcome to the Dubai Porta Potty!

“Dubai Porta Potty” (A term for portable toilets) refers to a set of practices that influencers and other young women do in exchange for money or gifts. It's pretty disgusting, but these women let visibly disturbed men do their business (wee and c**t) on their faces in exchange for bags, shoes and other valuables. The cases have been buzzing on TikTok and Twitter over the past week and horrifying social media users. Several youtubers have shared videos that we have chosen not to relay here. Some of them even indulge in z*ophilia.

Honestly, I will not post the videos you can find on Twitter and Tik Tok because I have never seen something so un-human in my whole life. It is a true misery to see women being downgraded that low and to be used as an object of all desires and perversion. WhatsApp screenshots are running on Twitter about deals going up to USD 70’000 for services per day and almost a quarter of a million dollars for the week. Here is one of the tweets:

https://twitter.com/Saphiiir_2/status/1519920382073053186?s=20&t=0PLDkbr-aFLbYrN4PbdrsA

The crazy world that we are living in is at its dramatic point. At the same time, while climate change and pandemics are critical topics, mental health problems have never been so severe. The way humanity evolves might be a sign of the end of times. We are for sure, in some aspects, the end of a race.

Education is key.

The only solution is education to prevent our young ones from falling into the sex trap. By explaining the dangers and sharing vital social values like self-esteem, dignity, honour, honesty, authenticity and merit, we can help build a better society for tomorrow. This should prevent people from falling into the fake dreams and glitters of an artificial life that has nothing to do with being human. By placing the correct values in the next generation’s minds, we can help them distinguish right from wrong, the good from the bad, and the moral from the immoral. With the Dubai Porta Potty scandal, we see a complete failure of society on both ends. Sick men are taking advantage of poor people and desperate women, placing their future and lives against luxury products and the mirage of a better life.

José Amorim
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Top 8 Men’s Fashion Advice/Tips For 2022

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Looking good is a good investment every man should consider in this era where menswear is becoming increasingly varied and abundant. A great fashion sense exhibited through suitable outfit combinations commands both attention and respect, thereby giving the wearer an edge among the crowd. 

But it’s important to note that fashion follows an evolutionary trend every year or season. To that end, fashion tips are necessary to ensure men don’t only dress according to what most people do but also remain classy. So, below are the top eight fashion tips men should consider for a stylish yet appropriate appearance:  

Get Your Clothes Custom-Tailored   

While oversized clothes may be considered trendy for some occasions, there is no harm in adjusting your clothes to fit your body size. Not too big and not too small, just enough fitting that appreciates the body shape and gives breathing space. Custom-tailored clothes make the wearer appear neat, and they also bring out their remarkable features moderately and stylishly.

Choose The Right Pair Of Socks  

The use of socks is a simple but great way to add personality to men’s clothing. Color, length, material, and pattern are factors considered when matching a pair of socks to men’s outfits. As a general rule of thumb, the color of your socks should match that of the trousers. It can be a shade darker or lighter than the trousers, especially when wearing plain socks.   

However, colored or patterned socks should complement rather than match other colors in the outfit. Socks with low cuts are mostly paired with dressings for informal occasions, while mid-calf or higher socks like XXL socks sizes 16-20 are suitable for business or formal settings.  

Try Out Colors

Colors are one of the fundamental elements of style. They add visual appeal to any design or fashion combination. However, selecting the right colors can be confusing for some men, forcing them to stick to dull and neutral tones. To choose a better option, you can utilize the color wheel for complementing color in men’s outfit combinations.

Harmonized use of color in men’s fashion can subtly communicate mood. They can also be matched with the skin tone by gently maintaining a balance between the warm and cool colors.   

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Minimize And Harmonize Accessories

Men’s accessories, just like the icing on a cake, should not be overly expressed such that they become distractions to the main points of interest. Men should ensure that all accessories used conform to the kind of outfit worn and blend perfectly with it.   

When worn right, accessories are good complements to men’s looks, as they are known to personalize their styles. A mismatch of accessories can write off the whole appearance.

Invest In The Right Shoes

Shoes are an essential component of men’s clothing. They are one of those things first seen when a young man is approaching, and they can speak volumes about any man. An investment in the right collection of shoes pays off very early as it can attract the intended audience.

Brogues, Oxford, Chukka boots, Chelsea boots, loafers, sneakers, and the Monkstrap shoes are some shoe collections regarded as the minimal essential for men’s wardrobe. When matched with the right dress and the right occasion, shoes distinguish men from boys and class from the crowd.   

Embrace Tidy Looks

Not even the classiest clothing can beat the power of a clean and well-groomed body. Both the wears and the wearer should be cared for. Good clothing is not a substitute for personal hygiene. Instead, it is a complement to it. Your clothes should be kept tidy before and after using them to ensure that they bring the best out of the wearer.  

Wear A Cologne

Fragrance, although invisible, contributes significantly to men’s style and has a compelling effect on the people around. It is advisable to start light as a strong cologne can be repulsive to others.   

Spraying cologne on the heat-generating areas of the body is a good way of creating a nice scent trail. Such a trail can draw people’s attention toward one in a positive light. In addition, cologne suppresses body odor and refreshes the atmosphere.  

Dress For The Occasion

Beyond self-expression, every outfit should be appropriate for the intended occasion. It shows respect for others and ensures conformity to the event, not necessarily the people there.   

Active and comfortable participation in a sports event, for example, is determined to a large extent by the outfits worn. Weddings, funerals, parties, business meetings; all events and parties have their dress codes, and deviance from such may be rude and inappropriate.  

Conclusion

Regardless of location or interpersonal differences, people will always find men with good fashion sense attractive. Even before any form of close interaction, the right fashion choice communicates a man’s personality, thereby simplifying the efforts required to have a proper stand in public. With a good fashion combination, every man can command presence.

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Want Luxury and Safety? Here Are the Top 8 Safest Luxury Cars of 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

What Makes a Car Luxury?

Luxury cars can be defined as cars that are made with higher quality materials, are equipped with better performance capabilities, and cars that simply have prestige behind the name. Luxury cars aren’t always necessarily the most expensive cars (e.g., Lexus), but there are some that can be pretty costly (e.g., Rolls Royce). 

However, even though the majority of cars are very safe to drive, the most costly luxury vehicles hardly mention safety as one of their features. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t safe to drive, but it does mean that it’s worth it to take a look at the safest luxury vehicles on the road today.

#1: Tesla Model 3

Tesla is known for selling all-electric vehicles, and is the top luxury electric car company. Specifically, the Tesla Model 3 is one of the safest electric luxury vehicles because it has a low center of gravity, making it less likely to flip over when making quick, sharp turns. Electric vehicles (EVs) are typically heavier than gas-powered vehicles because of the heavy battery packs required to power them. Because the Tesla Model 3’s battery pack is located under the floor, it makes it both safer and easier to drive.

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#2: Genesis G80

Genesis is the luxury division of Hyundai, and offers pretty affordable luxury cars. The Genesis G80, however, still gives you that luxury design signature of most luxury cars. As for safety, it rates fairly high across all boards— most notably being great at helping drivers avoid crashes, and for keeping passengers safe in the event of a crash.

#3: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz has long been one of the most popular luxury car lines in the world. This particular luxury car brand is most well-known for the level of comfort it provides its drivers, but the luxury doesn’t stop there. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the Mercedes-Benz E-Class five-star ratings across all safety categories.

#4: Audi A6

Audi is another luxury brand that is a part of a larger car company— Volkswagen. Audis tend to be some of the more expensive luxury vehicles, but it doesn’t mean that the company neglected top safety features. In addition to an attractive design and ultimate comfort, the Audi A6 boasts high ratings in the areas of crashworthiness, crash avoidance and mitigation, and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

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#5: Volvo S60

Volvo is a luxury car brand that prides themselves on the safety of their vehicles. The Volvo S60 in particular is highly rated by the NHTSA for rollover safety, side crashes, and front-end crashes. With highly rated safety features, this car also provides you with the high-end experiences that are typical of luxury vehicles: sleek exterior, comfortable interior, and fuel-efficiency.

#6: Acura TLX

Acura is the luxury division of Honda Motor Company, and in addition to luxury, they’re considered to be one of the most reliable cars on the market. To top it all off, the Acura TLX has gathered top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

#7: Kia Stinger

Kia is another brand of cars offered by the Hyundai Motor Company, and are some of the nicest and affordable cars on the market. Although Kia doesn’t brand itself as a luxury car company, many people would beg to differ because of the sleek design and beautiful interiors that are synonymous with the majority of luxury cars brands. In addition to the affordability and luxury, the Kia Stinger also rates high in safety.

#8: Lexus ES 350

Finally, we end with Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. In general Toyota vehicles tend to be pretty safe and reliable, and their luxury line is no exception as the Lexus ES 350 ranks high in safety all across the board. You may not get the athletic look like you would with other luxury vehicles, but you definitely get the comfort and safety.

You don’t have to compromise safety with luxury, as noted by the cars listed above. However, accidents still happen and it’s smart to contact your insurance company, your doctor, and even a lawyer— such as Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers— in the event of a car accident.

It’s safe to say that safety is still one of the top choices when looking for the right vehicle, though cars today are much safer than they were 20, 30, and 40 years ago. Fortunately, you can get safety, reliability, comfort, affordability, and luxury features all in one vehicle.

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

How Can Golf Keep Me Active?

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As you age you may find that you are no longer capable of taking part in some of the activities you might have enjoyed in your youth. However, staying active could still be incredibly beneficial for your health. Due to this, it can be important to find ways to keep yourself active without compromising any of your medical problems or even making you feel worse. Golf can be a more leisurely activity that still gives these benefits without you needing to overexert yourself.

To be able to really get involved with your golfing game, you may want to consider finding the right golf wedges to suit you. These can vary dependent on your budget, as well as your level of experience. 

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If you lack finesse in your swings, you may want to think about opting for a more forgiving wedge. Should your local range have a lot of sandy areas, you might also want to purchase one that is better in this environment. 

Taking the time to consider the wedge you use may be able to improve your game, and even make it more enjoyable for you. Even something as simple as swinging the wedge could be classed as part of keeping active.

You’ll need to take a golfing bag around the course with you. This can be a normal part of a day spent golfing, but it can also contribute to exercise and activity. When the weather is dry, you may find that your bag can weigh around 13.6kg, including your clubs and balls. When you are carrying this for a prolonged period of time it can be deemed similar to a weight training exercise. 

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If you plan on golfing when it rains, this could increase to around 15kg. Being able to lift, carry, or wheel your bag takes some level of effort. You might not even notice this, especially if you are fixated on the game itself, so it can be a great way of getting that exercise in.

At most golf ranges you may not spend your time standing in one place. Remaining static wouldn’t be helpful when you have sent your ball off in another direction. Due to this, it is estimated that you could walk around 6.6 miles throughout the duration of a single game. All of this walking can be great exercise, especially when achieved in combination with fresh, clean air. Going for walks can also do wonders for your mental health, as well as physical.

Playing golf may often be seen as a senior sport, but there is no denying the benefits it can bring to your body and mind. Gentle exercise, and an enjoyable game with friends, can help to keep your mind and body in better condition.

 You may wish to start out slowly and gently to see what you are capable of. Generally, as long as you don’t hold up the people behind you, there is no rush to get around all the holes, which could be better for those with reduced mobility.

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Why You Need A Designer For Your Book 

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

A book cover gives potential readers a first impression of it and what may be inside of it. It does this by communicating the genre, as well as highlighting the tones of the story. So by creating a book cover that is able to capture the attention of would be readers is a sure fire way of securing book sales.

If you decide to go down the more traditional route of publishing your book with an agent and publisher, then it is typically the case that an in house graphic designer will be used to create the book cover. However, when choosing to self publish this luxury is not provided and the author needs to hire a professional graphic designer to create their book cover for them. For anyone looking to do this, there are places online where they can find book cover designers for hire.

Professional graphic designers work with various software packages in order to create the perfect book cover that will attract readers. They will not only create the graphics but also the typography that best portrays the content and style of the book. By hiring a specialist graphic designer, it not only saves time but gets a book ready for publishing.

What do book designers do?

The aim of a good book cover is to get the attention of potential readers so that they pick the book up and purchase it. It is the job of a graphic designer to create graphics and fonts that grab the attention of an individual, whether that be when it is in the book store or at home on the book shelf. 

This is why the design of a book cover is essential for the success of it. By understanding the ins and outs of what a graphic designer does it can help with budgeting costs and planning the marketing strategy. 

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What are the elements of book design?

When it comes to book cover design, there is more to it than the visuals on the front. There is also the typography, the layout, the ISBN, etc. 

Both printed books and e-books have the same elements of design for the outside. When it comes to the inside of a book, a good layout should have clear chapter headings, page numbers, margins, and footers. 

The interior of a book’s content should be that of the traditional order of a title page, copyright page, dedication, table of contents, the body of work, acknowledgements, and a biography of the author. There may also be additional elements added, such as a preview, an epilogue, or a prologue. 

The design of the interior of an e-book is much simpler than that of a printed book. The reason for this is that they appear differently on different types of e-reader devices and so graphic designers tend to keep things simple. Layouts that are reflowable let the contents be adapted to different types of e-readers. 

A good book design helps to creatively and accurately format both the interior and exterior of a book. The timeline of doing this is different depending on whether it is for a printed book or for an e-book. For an e-book, the design and layout of the interior of it can be done in as little as one week, although it can take a few weeks in some instances – depending on the design complexity and the number of pages. 

For a printed book, the design and layout can take somewhat longer – between three weeks and three months. Again, this varies depending on the complexity of the book.  

How to choose a book designer?

When it comes to choosing a graphic designer to create a book, it can be an overwhelming task, especially when it is something that has not been done before. A good book designer can either work with a rough idea or can start with a blank canvas – it really does not matter. 

It is best to stick with hiring a graphic designer that specializes within the genre of the story. So if it is a fantasy book, then choose a designer that has experience in this niche. The reason for this is that the genre of a book has a direct impact on the graphics and colors used on the cover. 

If a graphic designer is not accustomed to working within a specific genre, the design that they produce may not fit the style or tone of the content inside of it. 

It is important to avoid hiring a graphic designer that does not have the right experience. Although it may be a more expensive option, there is a benefit to using a more expensive designer as they know all about the publishing industry and how it works. Because of this, they will likely possess the knowledge required to produce a book cover that will sell it.

When hiring a freelance specialist book designer, the price can really vary, depending on how much experience they have. It may also depend on the type of book being worked on and if anything out of the ordinary is required for the book cover design. 

This is why it is important to establish a budget for the design work, as this will have a direct impact on the type of graphic designer that can or cannot be hired. Once a budget has been set, then research can begin and potential designers are highlighted. Always study their previous work so that a good understanding of their style can be grasped. This helps with determining if they are the right fit for the book. 

Asking a graphic designer about their timeline is something that is very important but is often overlooked. While some designers may be able to turn their creations round quickly, for some it may be a much slower process. Again, these are things that need to be factored into any decision that is made about hiring a book designer. 

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.