The Global Gift Gala staged by the Global Gift Foundation is a philanthropic force to be reckoned with. Actresses Maria Bravo, together with honorary chair Eva Longoria & Alina Peralta tirelessly work in aid of a vast array of charities by throwing the most exciting fundraisers there are. As a non-profit organisation, focusing on creating a positive impact on the lives of women, children and families, they hold these classy bashes in the most exciting places around the world. Madrid, Paris, Marbella, London, Tokyo and Dubai are usually on the itinerary, which are always well worth spending at weekend at as well, if they’re not your home town.

Their events are always a high point in the social calendar, wherever they are held, and on this occasion, they organised a whole philanthropic weekend for people to get together to enjoy themselves, supporting charities in their countless benefit projects. The girls have the magic touch to pull in Hollywood actors, world class music acts and singers, sports stars and countless celebrities, philanthropists and famous faces, who attend their galas, making them glittering affairs in aid of those in need. On this occasion, Maria, Eva & friends were to be found on the catwalk, opening for the Marbella Fashion Show! Relive the moment and watch the video to soak in the atmosphere and huge fun all the kids (and adults) had right from the start

#weallareone

#menswear #shoeaddict

Staying dapper? Not a problem…check London label Duke + Dexter’s hand-painted, bespoke loafers and get hooked on the idea, that you could have your pets follows you everywhere you go, as their in-house designer paints your favourite cuddlies on your favourite pair of loafers or boots. But you can also go for a more seasonal topic with gorgeous and colourful lilies for summer, maybe even the city you live in (‘clue is in the shoe’) or wolves, Teddy bears and big cats for winter, which will give you endless joy and a guaranteed conversational topic, wherever you go. Loved by dapper gents in the music biz, artsy sets, actors and tech millionaires, it isn’t difficult to see why being original and ‘not worn by anyone else walking this planet’ has its appeal. However, it does have a special feel to it, when you get a pair of customised shoes featuring your favourite things/people/places in your life, which is what makes them such a brilliant present too. For now, not wanting to let standards slip during lockdown or self-isolation, grab the first pair for yourself, which you can order online and get delivered to your door (dukeanddexter.com)

Duke + Dexter

D + D is a British men’s footwear label with a difference! Founded by Archie Hewlett in 2015, their design team is based in London, whilst all their shoes are handmade in Sheffield! The ‘Handmade in England’ label has to stand for something, and you’ll realise immediately when trying on, what it represents: comfort, quality…and serious swagger. The brand likes to see itself as a challenger to the classic British shoe label, bringing a bit of attitude and a rebellious touch to classic shapes. And it works! Most famously, when Brit actor Eddie Redmayne won an Oscar for his outstanding performance in ’The Theory of Everything’, wearing a pair of Duke + Dexter loafers. Loved not just by Ryan Reynolds, Tinieh Tempa, Justin Timberlake and David Beckham, their fans include big names in the music business such as Snoop Dogg and Zayn, tech-millionaires and all those who want to stand out from the crowd. Their concept of highly individual foot gear works, making an essential statement for any guy worth his salt.

Getting your initials embroidered on your clothing items is a big trend too. Most notably started by Louis Vuitton, this classic aspect of bespoke fashion pieces sits well alongside their other D + D ranges (Chelsea boots, sliders and loafers too: choose a loafer with a contrast trim, monogrammed with your initials, and if you can’t resist, get the city you live in handpainted across the front, and you’ll find yourself wearing small pieces of art on your feet.
Duke + Dexter also prides itself for using sustainably sourced materials and releases styles in very limited runs to eliminate wastage as best as possible. Clearly, that’s another advantage to producing on home soil, as this allows them to react to trends quickly, whilst being able to control supply & demand. No doubt, it aided them winning the ‘Premium Footwear Brand Of The Year’ at Drapers Footwear Awards in 2019.

Fashion attitude in multitude – collaborations

This is definitely a trend of modern times, and never has it been as important as now to be original and use a bit of street cred by a third party for whatever cudos that celebrity name brings. And Duke + Dexter is a master at that! For younger generations to relate, having their idol wear cool kit is a master stroke in branding, and Archie Hewlett know this. Having teamed up with the American actor and comedian Jonah Hill in 2017 opened up the American Markte to all those who love a ‘bit of British’ across the pond. 2019 saw D + D get into bed with Snoop Dogg. Many saw that as a proper coup, as the label produced a limited edition collection exclusively for Selfridges.

They had already partnered up with Harrods the year before in 2018, so building on that, they went one further by striking a deal with Snoop Dogg and Selfridges – a dream team scenario between celebrity – retailer – brand, we reckon! Working with the KaDeWe in Berlin was another ace move to gain international recognition, so it wasn’t a surprise at all for the world to see the D + D open their own retail outlet, and their flagship store in Earlham Street in Covent Garden opened its doors in 2016.

London’s Covent Garden

And where else, we ask?!? Duke + Dexter’s shop opened at 16 Earlham St a few years back, a place where exposure to international fashion folk is guaranteed. Sitting pretty alongside other independent labels like Paul Smith, Burberry, Fred Perry and American Vintage, this is an area that has been described as the Mecca for menswear. Stretched over 51.000m2, you can go crazy on clothes and shoe shopping, have lunch at one of the trendy bars or cafes, keep going throughout the afternoon, until you’re ready for dinner.

Shop ’til you drop is an understatement in Covent Garden, as there’s no room to drop: countless shows award-winning shows await as there are theatres strewn all over the place, famously including the Royal Opera House, the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, the Noël Coward Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse, amongst many other leading production houses. Covent Garden is buzzing 24 hours a day, so we suggest you just dive in and experience the best that London has to offer.

Is self-isolation and lockdown causing you anxiety, getting on top you? Then here is your definite guide to handling worry, as well as advice on how to deal with self-isolation and lockdown! Learn how to turn this pandemic and subsequent crisis into a time of personal growth and self-improvement, as Claudia Peifer chats to psychologist and relationship expert Sam Owen. Whether you’re working from home or possibly have lost your job due to the Coronavirus pandemic, or you’re self-isolating or your area is in lockdown, check the video for some excellent tips & tricks on how you can tweak your life, as well as that of your family, to cope with the situation – either now or when it possibly returns in the future! A different outlook changes everything, so watch the video to unleash the power within you 🙂

Anxiety

Every living person will experience anxiety at least once in their life time! There’s no need to be ashamed of it, but the fact that it’s one of the biggest health threats in modern times, shows that surviving in our fast living world comes at a price. ‘Many of the aspects of modern life are negatively impacting on the human nervous system’, as Education Manager Alison Cullen explains, who works at herbal remedies company A. Vogel.

Some know how to deal with it better than others, but the truth is, stress on a regular level can already start at school, so most of us have been experiencing anxiety or have been impacted by mental stress since a very young age. In today’s world, we have access to a lot more knowledge and insight in order to help ourselves, and psychologist and relationship expert Sam Owen has developed a unique technique to overcome anxiety, whenever or wherever it might occur. In her book ‘Anxiety Free’, Sam explains a technique she has developed, which, she swears by, works every time! She has identified eight threats, which can cause anxiety to happen, of which four are termed ’self-generated’ and the other four she calls ‘externally generated’. The big thing is, that once, you’ve been able to identify the root of the anxiety you’re feeling (like worry, rumination, negative thinking or feeling threatened), you can actually help yourself get out of this state by identifying a solution and then act upon it. Sam describes this method, as explained in her book: 1. Identify, 2. Solve and 3. Resolve. Sam calls this process the ’Three Pillars of Calm’. It’s is simple, yet powerful and is a very effective approach indeed, as you do not have to live with anxiety at all. Practice makes perfect, and whilst it may take a while for you to master this system with yourself, however once you’re on top of it, it is a very liberating feeling.
Sam comments further: ‘When the anxiety producing threat takes time to resolve, there are science-backed technique for soothing your anxiety symptoms in the meantime, so that you can live each moment much more comfortably and resolve the threat itself more quickly and easily.’ We all know that listening to calming music has a positive effect, but practicing yoga, Tai Chi, mindfulness and even doing art will calm your system and soothe your nerves too, amongst other things. But what happens, when you suddenly feel overwhelmed in a packed train or tube or at a crowded party with very loud music? That’s when practicing the Three Pillar System’ will save you, instead of suffering through it, and instead of self-sabotaging, you will be able to get through it by managing your mental state through self-discipline.

CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, is another method of learning how to handle an acutely altered mental state and improve your mental health in general, which many claim to be true with great success. CBT focuses on challenging and altering ‘unhelpful’ cognitive behaviour patterns, improving and regulating your emotions by developing highly personal ways and strategies to cope with and target the resolving of current situations. Fear of flying can be overcome with CBT, avoiding panic attacks to occur in the first place and even exam stress can be helped through this very clever therapy, that allows you to ‘conquer’ your own mind. So, speak to your health professional, should you have experienced any of the aforementioned experiences and wish to solve them, as you certainly don’t have to live with them.

Experiencing anxiety causes a chemical reaction that has a knock-on effect in your body: adrenaline will be released, as well as the stress hormone cortisol, which will release sugar from your body’s stores, thereby creating extra energy. Amongst other reactions, you’ll feel your senses heightened and your heart might be beating faster (flight or fight syndrome). As your body’s demand on energy is suddenly increased, it will take and divert whatever it can get from other systems in your body and can therefore have a negative effect on your hormonal household, digestive system and even immune system, as well as physical energy levels. Even your bones and joints might suffer as a result. A further side effect might be, that you may suffering from mood swings and other behavioural changes, which will have an affect on your relationships and with others, and how you respond to them.
This then might tempt you to go a bit heavy on cakes and sweets, which, coupled with caffeine, will then overstimulate your system and will cause havoc with your blood sugar levels too – a catch22 situation, that throws your mood levels into spiking upwards and, unfortunately downwards too, never mind your blood pressure levels.
Hence a healthy diet is of great importance to keep your blood sugar levels as balanced as possible, and by that we don’t mean sugary icing on doughnuts, but ‘blood sugar’, which is created by eating ‘complex’ carbohydrates (wholemeal), healthy proteins (including nuts & seeds) as well as essential fatty acids (EFAs), and ideally as organic as possible. The ‘power of three’ is not to be underestimated in this instance…

Tips & Tricks: carry a bottle of either Bach’s Rescue Remedy, A. Vogel’s herbal essence or a bottle of Australian Bush Flower on you for when panic, fear or emotional distress suddenly hits you. It can help balance your nervous system quicker and help soothe you when you’re feeling threatened. Even when it’s just a trip to the dentist or ahead of you final exam week, it could present part of your safety-net just when you need it.

In the interview, Sam Owen cannot stress enough the importance of regular exercise, and she has good reason to do so! As she explains, research shows that light to moderate physical movement (walking, swimming, cycling, running can all be regulated to different strength levels), therefore raising the heart rate, practiced for 3 – 5 times a week, depending on research, can have the same effect as an anti-depressant over a 12 week period. Hence, give over to the power of endorphins, that are released by your body when exercising. ‘You can even get high by running, and hooked on them too (endorphins release), when training several times a week’, claims Claudia Peifer, who used to swim competitively and did cross-country running for cross-training, amongst other sports disciplines. She continues to say, that ‘power walking through hilly terrain really gets your heart beat going quickly (whilst being able to take it easy, when you feel you need to), and works wonders for your bum, tum(my) and abs. How this liberates you mentally, you will most probably only realise afterwards, feeling release and physically strong. The contact with nature, and if you can run in a forest, filling your lungs (and supply your brain) with pure oxygen, feels like a massive recharge and reboot to your system, so I am completely hooked on working out, even at 2am in the morning.’ Now, you don’t need to overdo it, but a moderate workout according to your strength level, that can be increased with time, will help you to be mentally stronger and increase your capability levels.

Self Isolation & Lockdown

Let’s be honest: not being able to leave the house is probably what we all (silently) might have wished for, having to go to work at 7.30h in the morning, on a cold, wet winter’s day. So how surprising is it then, to see our mindset change, when we’re told, we mustn’t or can’t go out!?! Right, let’s start right there: what happens when WE change OUR mindset and start using this lockdown or self-isolation to become productive to our own benefit? Ohhh, if it only where that easy…

Still, lockdown and self isolation might become a regular thing in the future, so here’s the lowdown and some great ideas on what you can do to help yourself in a situation of obligatory confinement:

LEARN something new remotely via online tutorials, on YouTube or via group chats:
* how about learning to code
* learn a new language (or several?)
* why not learn to play that instrument, you never had the time to devote to before
* learn to bake or to cook better with celebrity master classes
* learn to meditate by joining live YouTube classes
* listen to teaching podcasts on your chosen subject
* hairdresser crisis? The join tuition classes on YouTube and try out your partner as a guinea pig
* learn about how to give massages or therapeutic treatments, people will love you forever
* flower arranging is another great past-time to master – if you’ve got a garden, even better

CONNECT with friends, family or indeed, strangers via zoom or Skype to beat loneliness:
* hold house parties or pub quizzes (thank you Sunnii for the inspiration)
* carry out tasks or play games with your circle of friends or family, learning from each other
* try internet dating – just don’t forget to put REAL romance in, when the time comes and lockdown is lifted
* join an online-choir to give your lungs a workout
* hold virtual Happy Hours at Gin o’clock or dinner nights in
* conduct culture trips from your armchair and log-on to online channels (yep, you’re already in the right spot at TA-DAH.TV)
* use apps to share moments of mindfulness, meditation or prayer
* tune in to theatre streaming sites to enjoy the performing arts and their curtain calls

EMBRACE the feeling of vulnerability: enjoy therapeutic sessions yourself from classic therapy to canine therapy OR help others, who are in need:
* adopt an animal (from dolphins to puppies)
* adopt a virtual pet or visit virtual animal/dog shows
* adopt a grandparent and help those elderly, who might not have any family left
* volunteer to help others in difficulty
* become part of a charity and help out in their online services
* upload or extend what’s app groups to be able to ‘chat’ on multiple levels, to comfort those who feel alone – this therapeutic exercise is a win-win situation for both parties
* listen to fun podcasts to realise life goes on, laugh heartily over comedy, sport or lifestyle orientated topics
* don’t chuck your plans or goals because of you can’t go out, stick with creating lists and plans for your to get on with once lockdown is over

EXERCISE does not need to be reduced to gym space:
* join workout clubs on YouTube
* follow personal trainers online and on YouTube for courses
* create work-out clubs yourself on zoom, which is a great way to stay connected with gym mates
* get work-out apps you can practise to in your local park on the permitted daily outing
* give the kids a workout, changing to the role of trainer yourself and create a gym circuit with household goods or bedroom items
• exercise your mental strength by practising yoga, Tai Chi, mindfulness and breathing techniques – why not form your own circle on zoom?

Whatever it is, that will prevent you from mental rut, repetitiveness and frustration with the situation, or even depression, because you may not be able to see a way out YET, we can all use this time for productive improvement, either on a personal level…or a DIY-level (joke). Let’s make the best of a situation that has cost so many lives so far, so count yourself lucky and appreciate life with either one or many of the above suggestions, until the crisis is over.

#stayhomestaysafe #lockdownsessions #lockdownchallenge