Bond-age

The stars were out in force last night for the Sydney premiere of the latest James Bond film "The Quantum of Solace".

Current Bond Daniel Craig was joined by the film's "Bond girl" and former model Olga Kurylenko to flaunt the signature suave and sexy style of 007 on the red carpet.

Ukraine-born Olga Kurylenko, who plays "Camille" in the 22nd Bond film, wore this armadillo-inspired Colette Dinnigan number at the screening.

And in hardly ground-breaking fashion, 007 Craig wore a suit.

For almost 50 years, the traditional black dinner suit has been the uniform of the Bond.

From Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan, every Bond has donned a jacket and tie to fight the world's worst, and win the world's women.













Keeping Bond un-stirred, the classic dinner suit has become as much a part of the Bond film franchise as his Martini order, the guns, the gadgets and the scantily-clad ladies.

Men across the world are beginning to re-discover the power of the suit for everyday life.

Fashion website, The Sartorialist, often publishes photographs of international gents modernising the suit.

The necklaces may be more than Australian men, or James Bond for that matter, are prepared to use as accessories, but the idea of wearing suits for everday is one that men should pursue.

And in this era of global economic uncertainty, suit sales are predicted to rise.

During the financial turmoil of 2001, unlike the sales of luxury cars, quality suits were flying out the doors of American department stores.

An investment banker interviewed at the time suggested that "If you wear a suit, it looks as though you're visiting a client, and if you are not seen to be visiting enough clients, you get the sack."

So to keep your fashion funds flowing, follow Bond's lead and step into a suit.

Necklaces optional.

Here a Mo, There a Mo, Everywhere a Mo-Mo

Australian males are the best at getting themselves into hairy situations.

Leading the international race, more than 114,000 Aussie men have registered to officially take part in "Movember".

During the month of November, men across the globe are encouraged to grow a moustache, taking sponsorship pledges from family and friends and donating the money to The Movember Foundation.

The foundation was established in 2004 to help raise funds for and increase awareness of men's health issues.

Sitting on just below 15,000 hairy top-lips, Australia's closest mo-growing rival is the United Kingdom.

The United States, New Zealand, Spain, Ireland and Canada are also taking part this year.

All funds raised are donated to other charitable organisations, with a focus on prostate cancer and depression in men.

Australian participants have already raised over $4.5 million for local charities beyondblue: the national depression intiative and The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia


Although a popular fashion statement in the 1980s (see David Boon), the merits of modern moustache growing outside of the 11th month are somewhat debatable.

Some men can not only pull off the moustache, they are decidely more attractive with a top lip in full bloom.

Others however, should leave the facial hair to the attractive-from-any-angle Mr Depp.

Please take note Seth Green...



So if you see a moustached young man this month, throw him a $20 note.

You'll either be supporting men's health issues or providing incentive for the unkempt character to visit a salon.

It's a win-win situation really.

Bruni Buttons Up

Michelle Obama created a stir with her debut on to the fashion world stage.

The wife of French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni, however, has seamlessly made the transition from world fashion model to French first lady.















Also known as Mick Jagger's ex-lover, Bruni was "one of the most highly paid models of the 1990s, with campaigns for Dior and Chanel and some 250 magazine covers to her credit".

A Google Image search for Carla Bruni provides over 1.2 million photographs, the majority of which leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.

During the early half of this decade, Bruni followed in the footsteps of her parents and became a musician winning critical acclaim in France.

Referred to by Vanity Fair magazine as an "unexpected asset" to the French President, it has been surprising that Bruni has not caused Sarkozy more trouble, let alone assisted his political efforts.


According to the BBC though, Sarkozy "casts himself as a moderniser, championing a clean break with the country's traditional ruling elite".

It is possibly this push towards modernity that has allowed his relationship with Bruni to have minimal negative impact on his Presidential career.

Following in the footsteps of Australian-turned-Dane, Princess Mary, Bruni has filled her wardrobe with streamlined neutrals that let her past-life indiscretions fall by the wayside.

Before his marriage to Bruni, Sarkozy was criticised for being too "flashy" with his style and became known as “le Président Bling-Bling”.

Bruni was reportedly the one that brought Sarkozy to his senses and had him trade in his big gold Rolex for something more subtle.

Even though you may be able to afford it, buying overtly expensive fashion is never the easiest way to win over the general population. (As Sarah Palin learnt the hard way...)

Just as Princess Diana and Jackie Onassis before her, and Michelle Obama after, Bruni seems to be the super stylish woman holding together her political hero husband.