Brainstorm After Hours
Some buy high-tech mansions. Some buy trips to space. But if you`re just a regular guy who got rid of your Didata stock at R70, and you have a few more millions than you can spend on your hobbies, we`d suggest you look at some new wheels.BMWs are so yuppie, and they tend to turn their owners into arrogant road hogs. Porsches are so brash. Ferraris – like faux Italian casinos – really don`t belong in Gauteng, and Lambos are such a pain to drive in traffic. While little British convertibles are cute, they scream mid-life crisis. S-class Mercs are so common your average politician has two – unless they`re crooked, in which case they prefer 4x4s as getaway vehicles. The new BMW-built Rolls Royce is nice, true enough, but it`s just a little pretentious and elitist. Who wants to drive around in what might be mistaken for the stuffy Rand Club? And the latest Bentley might be terrifically fast, but it`s still a tank.To really sign your name in style, there is no choice for the technology-savvy and quality-conscious quite like a Maybach.With supreme subtlety, the name recalls grand coach builders of pre-war days. Although built by DaimlerChrysler, it does not stoop to using the Mercedes name, and there is no flashy three-pointed star on the bonnet.It`s available in several sizes, but you`d want to pick the big Maybach, which, at 6.2 metres long gives you a perfect excuse for double-parking anywhere. It has enough legroom for you to probably choose it over your home cinema for foot-rested, leather-upholstered comfort. Besides, you wouldn`t want it to get lost when it is parked on the quay next to your yacht.The nice thing about the Maybach is that you get to decide what it looks like. Pick your leather, your wood trim, your fabrics and your paints – just like you would have done if you`d commissioned the coach builders of yore. Then wait while experts lovingly hand build the wheels you`ve always dreamt of – laden with all the high-tech entertainment, modern comfort conveniences and driving aids you can imagine. More than you`d ever know how to operate, anyway.It seems that when Mercedes spoke to a handful of potential customers to see how much they could get away with when charging for this super-limo, many thought it would be a great idea if the Maybach came with a little something extra. Nothing too extravagant, mind you. Something like, say, a free Mercedes SL roadster – worth only a bit in excess of R1 million. This would go a long way to impressing the mates on weekends, please the 18-year-old daughter at varsity, or mollify the household`s financial manager.Priced at around R3 million – give or take the price of a BMW M3 – there aren`t many South Africans who`ll get to buy Maybachs. But if you do, just think how appropriate it would be to lend your favourite business technology magazine some style by donating the free Merc SL to Brainstorm. We would, of course, duly credit you in the magazine, and might just swing around with a photographer to document your success and style in these pages. Now that`s a freebie worth spending a few bar on. Clean up your actThe excesses of the festive season can play havoc with your waistline and wellbeing. It`s a good time to tone up and straighten out.An exclusive gym membershipPut-off by what the fitness professionals haughtily describe as “supermarket health facilities”? Then haul out your chequebook and head for one of the smaller, more intimate, boutique gyms that are enjoying a resurgence.Devotees swear by them, saying the experience of working out in a tranquil setting with knowledgeable staff who greet you by name and put you through a routine tailored to your particular fitness needs is very alluring. For others, the appeal lies in the opportunity to network with like-minded movers and shakers in a relaxed environment. Throw in five-star facilities, fluffy towels, thick robes and the chance to bask in a heated pool sipping fresh fruit juice while reading the morning paper, and some might consider it cheap at the price.Just such an experience is to be had at the Personal Fitness Centre at The Saxon hotel in Hyde Park. Membership is restricted to 50 clients and costs R10 000 a year or R890 a month. Personal trainers are part of the package, but yoga, massage and beauty therapies are extra. Phone (011) 292 6000.In a similar league is the Personal Fitness Centre at Sandton Towers, which provides a mix of networking and pampering for an annual membership fee of R4 500, or R390 per month. It`s so popular there is usually a waiting list. The set up is friendly and accommodating, and prospective members are encouraged to drop in and have a look around. (011) 780 5699.The Peak Health Gym & Spa at The Park Hyatt in Rosebank is an enduring favourite among Gauteng`s A-list executives, many of whom can be found enjoying a massage on the pool deck in between the last meeting of the day and the next round of evening appointments. Situated on the sixth floor, facilities include a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room. Anytime access requires a R1 200 joining fee and a monthly fee of R300. If your time is your own, consider an off-peak membership that, for R175 per month and a once-off joining fee of R500, buys you access between 8am and 5pm. Personal trainers are extra. (011) 280 1111.In Cape Town, the BUC (Bodies Under Construction) Fitness Club in Sea Point is a serious gym with the emphasis on service, not volume. Membership is limited (they pride themselves on the fact that you never have to queue) and costs around R199 a month. This includes a health screening, fitness assessment and body composition analysis to work out exactly how much fat you`re carrying. Based on the results, you receive a personalised training programme, which you can either tackle alone or under the supervision of a personal trainer, at a cost of R220 per session – discounted to R150 if you buy in bulk. Attractions include the ability to call ahead and book a particular piece of equipment, open-air training areas with an incredible view over the Atlantic, rose wood lockers, towels on tap and the opportunity to work out alongside models, actors and a sprinkling of former beauty queens. (021) 439 9903.Not all private gyms are created equal and, in the absence of a grading system, here are some basic tips from seasoned fitness guru, John Fourie:1. Check the range of cardio vascular equipment as well as resistance machines. Having to queue defeats the purpose. Do the nose test – if it smells musty or mouldy, get out. Ditto the towels and showers. Ask about the credentials of the personal trainers or check them with the Exercise Teachers Association (ETA). If the establishment is relatively new, opt for a monthly payment plan rather than forking out an annual membership – you want to lose your flab, not your shirt. Check the opening hours. Times differ considerably and many smaller gyms are not open on Sundays or public holidays. Pilates classesCurrently the hot new buzzword in fitness circles, Pilates (pronounced pi-lah-teez) is a body conditioning method developed in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates.Described as the thinking person`s exercise, it is a low stress method of physical and mental conditioning ideal for general fitness, toning and rehabilitation. The focus is on concentration, muscle control, precision and breathing and is definitely not for the no-pain-no-gain brigade. The exercises aim at building your core body strength, hence the focus on toning and strengthening the ligaments and muscles that keep your body aligned.The results are profound, especially for anyone suffering from persistent back, neck and shoulder ailments which explains why so many Pilates instructors are also physiotherapists. Benefits include an overall improvement in fitness levels and general wellbeing, increased flexibility, enhanced muscle strength and good posture.Initially, workouts are conducted under the watchful eye of a trained professional working with little more than an exercise mat and your own body weight to produce a surprisingly strenuous workout. Once you`ve mastered the basics, you graduate to the equipment room, which features an array of (mostly imported) devices such as the ominous-sounding rack – a kind of four-poster bench with pulleys attached.At between R160 and R200 per session, the cost works out at roughly the same as for a personal trainer. Pilates studios are becoming more widely available and there are even Pilates trainers who make house calls. Considering how long it takes to become an accredited Pilates instructor, you`d do well to learn the basics at a reputable studio before handing yourself over to someone armed only with a weekend qualification. Internationally certified courses include Stott Pilates (Canada), Body Control (UK) and Body, Arts, Science (US), while the Equilibrium method has been developed in South Africa.Address book:River Club Pilates Studio (Stott) – River Club, Sandton. (011) 706 9159/60.BUC Fitness Centre (Equilibrium) – Sea Point, Cape Town. (021) 439 9903.Shari Rosenberg Physiotherapist (Stott) – Constantia, Cape Town. (021) 794 1495Nicole McCreedy (Stott) – Durban. (031) 267 2018 Clean up your imageThere`s nothing like a beautifully cut shirt and a made-to-measure suit to impart instant poise and confidence. The good news is that locally based merchant tailors and shirt manufacturers are producing the real thing for less than what you`d pay in London or Europe.Where do I find one?Word of mouth. Merchant tailors don`t bother advertising because they believe they`re preaching to the converted and most rely on existing clients for referrals. House of Camissa and Rixons Shirt Makers have their own shops, which stock a limited range of ready-made shirts with Italian silk ties to match. They also do house calls for regular clients, as do Johannesburg-based merchant tailors Michael Boulton and Louis Gwatkin, while French-trained Giovanni Porcelli prefers you to come to his studio in Cape Town.Sounds expensiveExpect to fork out around R1 000 for a made-to-measure cotton shirt, although this can rise dramatically depending on the material. It is not uncommon for silks, super-fine cotton or linen shirts to cost up to R6 000 a piece. Hand-made buttons and imported thread also push the price up. As Rory Brown of Rixons points out though, unlike Jermyn Street outfits such as Turnbull & Asser, they don`t require a minimum order. The entry price for a bespoke suit is around R9 000 but depends on the cloth. A cashmere suit to meet the New York bankers could set you back R20 000. To put that into perspective, designer suits with European labels such as Boss and Gucci cost between R15 000 and R20 000 and are flying off the racks. If you`re in that market, it makes sense to consider a classical suit made to your specifications with artful nips and tucks to bring out the best and disguise the worst.Is it worth it?It depends on your lifestyle. If you reserve suits for weddings, funerals and court appearances, a good off-the peg will do nicely. If you routinely do business with well-dressed international and local counterparts then it`s one of the best investments you can make, especially if you consider that a quality suit will last forever and shirt makers can replace collars and cuffs. Besides, all the fuss and attention is fabulous for the ego.Most useful tipThe secret to keeping your shirts in mint condition is in the cleaning. Saville Row-trained Louis Gwatkin is so passionate about the shirts he creates that he provides a laundry service to ensure they are properly cared for, while Rixons offer to train domestic workers on the care and cleaning of their shirts. To get the best out of your favourite cotton shirts, wash in cold water to prevent the colours from fading and iron with a medium iron while still damp. Is it a male thing? Not anymore. House of Camissa numbers several prominent politicians and executives of both sexes amongst its regulars, while Rixons even makes shirts for children. Blazers (male and female) are one of the most popular made-to-measure orders received by merchant tailors.The best reason to investApart from the fact that research has shown that Dress Down days are disastrous for productivity, South Africans have a reputation for being casual to the point of scruffy. The grey shoes might be a joke of the past but foreigners still marvel at our propensity for pale socks and polycotton. If globalisation has had the slightest impact on your business, then you should consider trading in those button-down shirts for a double-cuff number in a natural fibre and a made to measure blazer, at the very least.Turn-around timeAbout four to six weeks for new clients (measurements, patterns and fittings) but much quicker once your details are on file.Pretension factorThe bespoke industry can be notoriously sniffy, what with the regular clientele reading like a who`s who of business; but a fully paid-up order will get you the red carpet treatment.Do:Ask for a copy of your favourite suit, shirt or blazer.Don`t:Ask for a discount.In:Creases (proof that it is 100 percent natural) Double-cuffs Free-floating collars, i.e. material not gummed down to the collar. Labels only on the inside Real buttonholes Hand stitching Novelty cuff links.Out:Polycotton See-through shirts Button-down collars Cuff links bearing corporate logos Green, grey or mustard anything.Address book:House of Camissa – Hyde Park Shopping Centre, Johannesburg. (011) 325 5678. Coming from a long line of European tailors, the staff won`t turn up their noses at more flamboyant or less-traditional cuts and styles.Rixons Shirt Makers – Illovo Square, Johannesburg. (011) 788 4046. Rory and Emma Brown specialise in traditional London-style shirts characterised by generous cuts, longer tails, fine stitching and lined collars and cuffs, but will happily make shirts to your specifications.Louis Gwatkin Merchant Tailor & Gallery Shirts – Johannesburg CBD. (011) 834 8445. Louis has been turning out impeccable double-cuffs and woollen suits for sartorially conscious South Africans since 1964 and will do house and office calls for those who don`t fancy a trip to his Loveday Extension studio.Michael Boulton Merchant Tailor – Bryanston. (011) 706 5715. Catch him in his studio when he`s not commuting between London and Johannesburg in order to service his many high-profile South African clients now based abroad.Giovanni Porcelli – Cape Town. (021) 419 8166. A French-trained merchant tailor.
02 February 2003
Some buy high-tech mansions. Some buy trips to space. But if you`re just a regular guy who got rid of your Didata stock at R70, and you have a few more millions than you can spend on your hobbies, we`d suggest you look at some new wheels.
To really sign your name in style, there is no choice for the technology-savvy and quality-conscious quite like a Maybach.
ITWeb Premium
Get 3 months of unlimited access
No credit card. No obligation.