Dec 19, 2013

Beyonce ‘Self-Titled’ Documentary

"Self-Titled" is a mini art feature comprised of several parts that give a glimpse into the entire project. It details her mind-set and artistic vision throughout the making of BEYONCÉ.

Part I: The Visual Album



Part II . Imperfection



B&O Home Styling: Nick Wooster

On Another Level brought together two forward-moving entities, Nick Wooster and B&O PLAY, for a closer look at what it means to be a master in the field of design. With one focused on fashion and the other on audio, both take classic design elements and infuse them with simplicity, aesthetics, heritage and quality. To discover the similarities between the two, High Snobiety visited Wooster at his Christopher Street apartment in New York. Just like how B&O PLAY draws upon decades of design excellence, craftsmanship and product innovation from Bang & Olufsen, the New Yorker surrounds himself with contemporary pieces of furniture steeped in years of history and tradition. Take his Stephen Kenn couch, for instance. Like many other things in his living room, the couch is a true testament to heritage and style: handmade out of repurposed and untreated WWII military fabric, proudly revealing all of its glorious veteran history.



Everything else in his apartment, even the way his bed is positioned, has a tangible reason, too. Brought upon by his belief in Feng Shui, the Chinese philosophical system on how to harmonize one’s self with the universe, Wooster makes sure not to let the back of his bed face the door. “That’s bad Feng Shui,” he casually declares; simple to understand yet extremely difficult to master. However, it is precisely this mastery which sets experts like Nick Wooster and B&O PLAY apart.

The combination of Wooster’s impeccable taste with the philosophical system he subscribes to clearly demonstrates his enjoyment of mixing the old with the new. A sleek, flat-screen TV nestles between two metal shelves entirely stocked of worn work boots. Black-and-white vintage portraits collected from antique shops rest against the wall on a cleanly uncarpeted floor. And now, a pair of B&O PLAY headphones have been added to his artifact mix, blending in perfectly thanks to their own combination of uncompromising quality and contemporary aesthetics. Like Bang & Olufsen’s application of innovation in classic design, Wooster wholly embraces the simple leather over-ears into his confident, oft-photographed style.

Gazing out at the thriving West Village below, he says, “I could have lived in a bigger, newer apartment out in Chelsea, or somewhere else, but it’s just not the same.” Lest you think it’s all because of the trendy, New Yorker neighborhood, that’s not the only reason: “Every subway line you want is right here.”

A true New Yorker, indeed. Effortlessly in line with what’s on without sacrificing function or necessity.

Enjoy a rare look into Nick Wooster’s Christopher Street apartment above and furnish your apartment with the best audio gear on the market over at B&O PLAY’s online shop.



About Nick Wooster

Origin: Salina, Kansas
Current Residence: New York, New York

After working as a menswear buyer and fashion director for various industry heavyweights like Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, Thom Browne and Gilt Groupe, Wooster is now part-owner of Atrium Wooster, a select multi-brand boutique.

Dec 13, 2013

10 Reasons to Wear a Luxury Watch on Your Wrist

A luxury timepiece can be as versatile as the gentleman sporting it. As a collector’s item for the connoisseur, as utility with high symbolic value or as a fashion accessory – they are far more than instruments that measure time. Here are 10 reasons, why high-end watches are inevitable for all men, who appreciate the exceptional and beautiful.



01. Jewelry: First of all, luxury watches are simply stunning. Watches can be pieces of exceptional beauty, just as any accompaniment, one might think. Watches, however, have a special status linked to the functional excuse of measuring the time. Even though wristwatches were initially worn by women, they are now, first and foremost, a male fashion accessory. And ultimately, it is the one item that can make the difference in a very thin scope of action a man wardrobe allows.

02. Emotional Value: Watches are attached with emotions, as it accompanies its wearer in good times and bad. Not only are they physically with you, but actually present when indicating the most precious good we have. As gifts received from our closest friends and family members, watches can mark special events in life such as milestone anniversaries, weddings or professional achievements. Quite commonly, they are passed along from one generation to the next. So there is a good chance that even your future great-grandson is going to spend time with your favorite timepiece on his wrist.

03. Perfection: Perfection is like the holy grail of watchmaking. Even the best manufacturers won’t ever reach it entirely, but they will always seek it with endless commitment. Not only from a time-measurement standpoint, but also regarding its aesthetics and quality of manufacturing, is the pursuit of perfection one of the key reasons to buy a luxury timepiece instead of a 3-dollars quartz watch.

04. Functionality: Your watch is always there when you need it. Sure, your iPhone or Android device will also provide you with the correct time measure. But after one or two days your battery is empty and you will need to recharge it. Also, it is not required to shut it down or take it off in airplanes, government buildings and other signal-transmission-free places. Additionally, taking a quick look at your wrist is way more convenient than rummaging in your pocket (That’s why some even consider the smartphone as a step backward to the “coat pocket time measurement”). Your smartphone might be able to do all the fancy stuff, but the watch is a simple and functional lifetime workhorse.

05. Punctuality: Punctuality is part of a gentleman’s code of conduct, reified by his watch. Next to actually supporting a successful time management, high-end watches are therefore also material artifacts that dignify the importance of time on a symbolic level.

06. Exclusiveness: There is no doubt that it is desirable to own something special that distinguishes you from most other people. There is no doubt that exclusiveness is about social status. However, wearing a prestigious brand can’t be reduced to the aspect of “showing off” in front of other people. The average person has never heard of names like Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC or Ulysse Nardin. For most watch aficionados, the motivation of owning something rare and unique primarily arises from the mere awareness of owning something exceptional, rather than paying attention to what others might think.

07. Mechanics: Compared to other utilities we encounter every day, the functioning of a watch is pretty simple. Its basic mechanism has been providing us with time measurement for hundreds of years. And yet there is so much innovation in a luxury watch, striving to achieve an even more accurate and durable time indication. Side effects: Setting free the (gentle-)man child.

08. Mobility: Yes. Even though they generally come without wheels, watches are quite mobile. Unlike a harem of sports cars or a selection of exclusive wines, you can take it anywhere without any notable effort.

09. Timelessness: Some of the previous points were already linked to the aspect of timelessness. But think of it, folks. What else in your life is designed and crafted for such a long period of time? Also in future generations, a watch will be based on the very same technical and aesthetical principles that it is today. That’s why high-end watches are not only produced, but actually worn for decades.

10. Statement: Do you prefer sporty divers or elegant dress watches? Maybe it is the history of model A or manufacturer B that arouses your interest?. The decision for a particular watch contributes to telling others who you are. Not only that, but also the mere fact of wearing a luxury watch reflects a bundle of inherent statements in and for itself. And a lot of them just perfectly match values that are quite commonly regarded as gentlemanlike.
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