The 100 best things in the world 2019
From Porsche’s first electric car to the latest Soho House in Mumbai, from David Attenborough’s new Netflix series to Virgil Abloh’s first collection for Louis Vuitton, GQ presents our annual celebration of the 100 best things in the world 2019… We live in an age of almost infinite abundance: it’s almost impossible to keep on top of everything out there at a given time, let alone which bits of it is actually good. We do our best to serve you throughout the year, but we also like to make sure you’re well stocked for the year to come: after all, why bother with parsing through 2019 as and when, when we can already tell you some of the most exciting things to come? We at GQ have racked our brains and found 100 things that we think will help define 2019, or at least make your year more delicious, natty and entertaining. We’ve got everything from video games to exercise classes to handbags for men, so prepare yourself to be the master of the next 12 months.
Indigital1/100We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: bucket hats are officially back. Available fully feathered at Valentino, heavily logo-ed at Fendi and cut from minimal nylon at Prada, the trend is full Nineties throwback and all the better for it. To avoid pastiche, wear yours with a classic car or great coat in place of a classic Gallagher brothers-esque cagoule or parka. Teo van den Broeke valentino.com. prada.com. fendi.com
Alternatively: Play it safe (and warm) with one of Lock & Co’s eminently desirable cashmere caps.
2/100In the battle to launch a self-driving taxi service, it’s hard to work out who’s leading the pack, since none of the major players have actually taken their product beyond localised experiments. General Motors, however, could be first to the starting line. Honda has invested £750 million into GM’s driverless car company, Cruise, and promised a further £2.75 billion, while SoftBank injected £2.25bn in May. As a result, GM intends to launch a commercial self-driving ride services fleet next year. Charlie Burton
Alternatively: You may find yourself hitching a ride with GM’s main competitor Waymo, owned by Alphabet.
BBC3/100Unless you’ve been living under a rock that is also under another rock, you’ll know that Killing Eve, the BBC drama about a sociopathic but undeniably attractive assassin, Villanelle, played by Jodie Comer, was one of the shows of the year. While Comer already had a couple of decent gigs under her belt (Doctor Foster, Thirteen), it’s her chilling but brilliant portrayal of the killer – encapsulated in her ice-cold, creepy smile that etches itself onto your memory – that’s really set the British actress out for stardom. Series two returns in 2019, but we guarantee that Comer will be on the big screen before long. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Special mention when it comes to Killing Eve has to go to Sandra Oh’s (Eve) scene-stealing hair.
4/100If you struggle to keep up with the ever-expanding empire of Soho House founder Nick Jones, imagine being the man himself. His latest stopover: Mumbai, where the brand that begat a thousand members’ only mini-mes has just opened the latest installment of his legendary lifestyle concept (the 23rd, if you’re counting). But be aware: although you don’t have to be a member here (there’s a Cecconi’s on the ground floor as well as access to its 38 bedrooms), then it would pay to be one: on its exclusive-to-members eighth floor of the 11--story sea facing building there’s a 34-seat screening room and elsewhere you’ll find the requisite bars, restaurants, library and gym. Oh, and did we mention the rooftop pool? Of course we didn’t, because we shouldn’t have to…. Bill Prince Soho House Mumbai
Alternatively: Go super-traditional and book a room at the mighty Taj Mahal Palace, bang opposite the Gate of India. History and hospitality are rarely found in such close proximity.
Shutterstock5/100OK, technically, the 92-year-old statue-in-waiting isn’t joining Netflix in the sense that he’s leaving the BBC – he would never – but he is getting streaming-curious, as he’s set to provide the voiceover to their upcoming natural history series Our Planet. Made by veterans of landmark BBC series such as Planet Earth and Blue Planet, Our Planet has been four years in the making involving more than 600 members of crew filming in 50 countries around the world. More intriguingly, it’s been made in conjunction with the World Wide Fund For Nature, which helped gain access to filming locations, and will ensure the impacts of the likes of climate change, deforestation and overfishing are not glossed over. Stuart McGurk Our Planet will be released on Netflix in April.
Alternatively: There’s Attenborough current TV squeeze, the brilliant BBC series Dynasties.
Alamy6/100In the UK, the name Eataly doesn’t mean a lot. Outside of the UK it is, to quote industry news site Hot Dinners, a “worldwide phenomenon”. So what is it? Essentially Italian foodie heaven, offering a vast amount of produce alongside an array of restaurants and bars all under one roof. The London site is absolutely vast – 42,000 square feet over two floors – and the hype will be building over the course of the year ahead of what’s sure to be a headline-grabbing launch. Charlie Burton eataly.com
Alternatively: Go to Locanda Locatelli for the best Italian cooking this side of Rome.
7/100Also known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding car, the E-Type Zero is an electric car prototype turned reality. Rather than mirroring an everyday hatchback, such as the Nissan Leaf, or a 4x4 in the same vein as Tesla’s Model X, this Jaguar could be mistaken for the kind of vehicle you’d spot at the Goodwood Revival. Zero emissions and 0-60mph in just 5.5 seconds, sign us up. Rob Leedham jaguar.co.uk
Alternatively: Peugeot’s E-Legend Concept is an electric muscle car with a real mean streak. Cos you needn’t be good to be green. peugeot.co.uk
8/100The survival horror game The Last Of Us came out in 2013 to rave reviews: on Metacritic it has an average score of 95 out of 100 (indicating “universal acclaim”). No wonder that hopes are so high for Part II, which is due this year. Set five years later in the same post-apocalyptic America as the original, you play as an older version of Ellie, the first game’s 14-year-old heroine. The story centres around a mysterious cult – more details will be revealed over the course of the year. Charlie Burton
Alternatively: Play Days Gone, another big-buzz survival horror out in April from the same publisher.
9/100In Showtime’s own words: “The story of how a group of outsiders took on the blue-blood, old-boys club of Wall Street and ended up crashing the world’s largest financial system, a Lamborghini limousine, Don Henley’s birthday party and the glass ceiling.” Don Cheadle leads and Seth Rogen’s produces in a TV show we could hardly be more excited about. What’s not to love?
Alternatively: Catch Don Cheadle in the fourth Avengers film, out on 26 April.
Getty Images10/100Lin-Manuel Miranda and Broadway are a match made in heaven (well, Hamilton has the record for the biggest takings in a week for a Broadway show). So anticipation is sky-high for Fosse/Verdon, FX’s eight-parter about the relationship between choreographer Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) and the Broadway dancer Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams) – not least because it sees Miranda reuniting with Hamilton creatives Andy Blankenbuehler and Thomas Kail.
Alternatively: See Miranda reprise his role as Alexander Hamilton this January in Puerto Rico. Worth the airfare, we’d argue.
11/100Which, frankly, should surely be up for some kind of prize once Oscar season is upon us. Granted, it’s difficult to give someone’s digestion Best Supporting Actor, but maybe one of those behind-the-camera gongs that always get skipped on screen? After all, Bale’s poor body has suffered more for cinema than any costume designer – first shredding for American Psycho, then losing an insane 28kg to be a skeleton in The Machinist, immediately gaining a more insane 45kg to be Batman, going skeletal again for The Fighter, followed by a pot-bellied fatso for American Hustle and next up… full Dick Cheney-level fat to play the former vice president in Vice. That picture above? All Bale: hard-won, cheeseburger-chewed fat-face. Bale’s digestive system, then: a lifetime achievement award in waiting. Stuart McGurk
Vice is out on 25 January.
Alternatively: If actors gaining weight is your weird thing, check out Viggo Mortensen having ate his way to a 20kg gain for the forthcoming drama Green Book.
12/100Microsoft’s HoloLens – a mixed-reality device allowing you to interact with “holograms” projected into your field of vision – is mainly being used by professionals. There are hospitals, for instance, where surgeons use it to assist with operations. The second version, due out in 2019, is not only more powerful but rumoured to be more accessible, with a lower price and greater comfort. In other words, this might be the year that mixed reality comes into the home – particularly if you’re a gamer. Charlie Burton
Alternatively: You might get your hands on Google’s rumoured HoloLens competitor this coming year. Maybe.
Alamy13/100It has never felt harder to party till sunrise in London. With boroughs refusing to let bars run late into the night and the few places that do being strewn across the city, it’s almost impossible to say, “Let’s keep going until the District Line starts running again.” There are options, of course, but finding one that really makes you think, "I could stay here until 10am" is a hard task. Until now: Fold, which opened in Canning Town in August, is heaven. There’s lockers! The toilets aren’t hell on earth! Even the industrial landscape beyond the (very large) smoking balcony has its charm. It’s rare to be gagging for another night to announce it’ll be taking place at a warehouse past a Carpetright by a motorway, but Fold has me champing at the bit. David Levesley
Alternatively: There aren’t a huge number of all-night alternatives, but the nearest you might get is popping over to Studio 338 or one of the big nights at grassroots Tottenham powerhouse The Cause.
Indigital14/100In his inaugural collection for British brand Burberry, nascent creative director Riccardo Tisci put the classic trench coat back at the centre of the label’s offering. Stands to reason, then, that this winter’s (and, of course, the forthcoming spring’s) essential outerwear item is one of the aforementioned trenches. Whether you opt for something cut from winter-ready cashmere or wool by Burberry, a less embellished style from that other British stalwart Macintosh, or something in high-shine leather or nylon from Prada, right now, a slim-cut trench is the only coat to go for. Teo van den Broeke £1,450. burberry.com
Alternatively: Stay indoors. Though that’s much less fun.
15/100Proof that player power isn’t always for the worse. Every journalist knows that interviewing footballers and hoping for deep insight or candid biography are going to be left sorely disappointed. But then sports people often fear the tabloids taking their words out of context or simply saying something they shouldn’t. The Players’ Tribune, set up by American baseball legend Derek Jeter, acts as a go-between: their stories are crafted with ghostwriters. And while the result isn’t exactly an interview – agents generally have final say – the result is often something far more personal and insightful than they would ever have confessed, from Harry Kane’s tale of his tough days on loan to Romelu Lukaku’s moving story of the poverty of his youth. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: For actual sports journalism, look no further than the Independent and the peerless writing of Jonathan Liew.
16/100In the good old bad old days, when John McEnroe wore short shorts and used a wooden Wilson Jack Kramer, if you wanted to emulate the man himself your options were to swear a lot and then throw your racquet in disgust. Nowadays, on-court violations and audible obscenities are very much frowned upon (sorry, Serena, you didn’t get that memo) and hurling racquets unforgivable... But then again no one in their right mind would want to smash a Wilson Custom. Simply log on to the site, choose your weapon and then design the colour components, decals, grips and logos to personalise it to your heart’s content. Seriously cool... and, yes, we can be serious! From £210. wilson.com
Alternatively: If you don’t want to design your own, take inspiration from the newest star in world tennis Alexander Zverev, who won’t go on court without his Head Graphene 360 Speed Pro (£210. head.com).
Getty Images17/100The darling of Paris’ womenswear scene, Simon Porte Jacquemus has made his name over the past few years with his chic, highly conceptual women’s collections (complete with a summery, Marseille-inspired aesthetic) as much as with his swarthy good looks. Now, for Spring/Summer 2019, the designer is introducing menswear for the very first time. Inspired by the men he knew growing up in the South Of France – the gypsy, the sportsman, the swimmer, etc – the collection is a high summer symphony of short shorts, oversized loose-knit sweaters and bucket hats. Get yourself a piece of the action in time for next summer. Teo van den Broeke jacquemus.com
Alternatively: Book yourself a holiday to Marseille, the effect will be largely the same.
18/100London’s Mexican food scene and interest in mezcal have been on the rise over the last three years. Perhaps the best of a tightly contested field is El Pastor in Borough Market, run by a former Mexico City nightclub owners and the people behind London culinary legend Barrafina. El Pastor is infuriatingly hard to get into due to not taking reservations, but there are now some alternatives: Tortilleria El Pastor in Bermondsey and now a duo in Kings Cross’ new Coal Drop Yard: you can feast indoors at Casa Pastor or down the margaritas in some rare sunlight in Plaza Pastor. Although the eponymous tacos are the best of their kind in London, the restaurant’s short rib taco is the perfect combo: probably the best value for money on the menu, but also the most delicious thing there. We can eat a whole plate on our own. Can and have. David Levesley tacoselpastor.co.uk
Alternatively: The Temper franchise’s rise across London offers great mezcal and delicious grilled meats, but is less faithful to Central America itself. Santo Remedio in London Bridge, meanwhile, really leans into the deep culinary lore of Mexico and delivers delicious cocktails alongside fabulous tacos and some of the best mole this side of the Atlantic.
19/100First, the bad news: you can’t buy the Kitty Hawk Flyer. Not yet. But it will happen and when it does consider us sold. The company is backed by Google cofounder Larry Page and the Flyer looks like a human-sized drone that can carry one brave passenger at 20mph at a height of ten feet. There is no word on price, no word on release date and no word on the legality of flying it. But the bottom line is... Look! A flying car! Paul Henderson kittyhawk.aero
Alternatively: If you don’t like the idea of flying alone, Kitty Hawk is also working on a two-seater electric aircraft called the Cora powered by 13 propellers.
20/100Castore are one of our favourite fitness brands, but it is their Garcia hoodie that we are really crazy about... and we aren’t alone. With a unique, 100 per cent waterproof fabric and ultra-lightweight (it isn’t much heavier than a t-shirt) and Merino lining for temperature regulation, it is the perfect top to wear before, during, or after a workout and has proved so popular that Castore is struggling to meet demand. We probably aren’t helping much with this review, but it’s their fault for making such an awesome bit of kit.Paul Henderson £165. castore.com
Alternatively: If you are after something slightly less functional but a lot more luxe, you want (as we do) the cashmere Brunello Cucinelli sweatshirt (£1,760. brunocucinelli.com).
21/100"Who wants a stylus?" exclaimed Steve Jobs when introducing the iPhone. "You have to get 'em, put 'em away, you lose 'em. Yuck!" Who knows what Apple’s cofounder would have made of its second Pencil, but we can tell you this iPad Pro companion is infinitely better than its predecessor. Why? It attaches magnetically to the side of your tablet and charges wirelessly. A godsend for designers. Rob Leedham £119. apple.com
Alternatively: Apple’s USB-C to SD card reader. The arrival of a USB-C port on the iPad Pro means you can transfer files to it via a card reader, plug in a separate display or even just charge your phone. £39. apple.com
22/100He’s the former creative director of Saint Laurent and Ermenegildo Zegna and now he’s going it alone with his own brand, Random Identities, after a two year break. Shown earlier this month, the brand offers a moody collection of separates (including corsets), which Pilati describes as “Protective Wear”. Teo van den Broeke
Alternatively: Daniel W Fletcher. More corsets and sharp tailoring, just from some homegrown talent.
23/100“Good things come to those who wait,” says Russian restaurateur Leonid Shutov, explaining the 14-month delay in the opening of Bob Bob Cité. “After all, Bob Bob Ricard was two years late when we built it, so I feel this is a big improvement.” The eagerly anticipated restaurant will open its doors on 25 March next year and promises to be every bit as spectacular and popular as its Soho-based sister. Located in the City Of London in the Leadenhall Building (AKA the Cheesegrater) and with an interior by the BradyWilliams studio, guests can expect incredible food (Éric Chavot is executive chef), stunning views (the restaurant will be suspended 30 metres in the air over the giant atrium) and of course those essential “Press pour le Champagne” buttons. Book now... Paul Henderson @bobbobcite
Alternatively: If you can’t wait until March, in the new year check out the award-winning André Garrett, who is taking over at the Northall restaurant in the Corinthia Hotel.
24/100If a material is strong enough to stop knives and bullets, why wouldn’t you use it to defeat those international travel terrorists, the baggage handlers? Kevlar luggage has been trialled to extremes, including drop tests, off-road wheeling, tear resistance and anti-abrasion examinations. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, Kevlar’s fabric luggage range is also lightweight, lockable and features an ergonomic handle. High-tech travel, now with added impregnability. Paul Henderson Cabin bag, £399. caseluggage.com
Alternatively: If indestructibility isn’t your first concern, travel in style instead with a classic Globe-Trotter trolley case (from £825) and unleash your inner Bertie Wooster.
ISTOCK25/100Whether natural, biodynamic, organic or vegan, London’s best wine lists now show as much provenance as the menu. The rise of small, independent wine bars (Noble Rot, The Winemakers Club and the original hipsters Sager + Wilde) means that owners and buyers are often the ones pouring the bottles and talking to customers and they seriously know their stuff. It’s spread all the way to London’s fine dining scene (including the likes of Hide, 10 Trinity Square, etc), so even the geekiest sommeliers can find customers who want to talk about which winemakers harvest by the lunar cycle. Amy Matthews
Alternatively: If you're not interested in what goes on in the vineyard, try a new way of getting your wine into your glass. Crack open a can of The Uncommon, a sparkling English wine grown just 20 miles from London, or go straight to the source with wines on tap at Clipstone, Vinoteca and Tate Modern.
26/100The gravel bike trend of the last few years shows no sign of slowing down and with good reason; riders looking to find adventure, avoid traffic and get off the beaten track are switching from their twitchy, bone-shaking road bikes to ride-it-all rigs such as the Grail. The lightest of the range, the Grail CF (carbon fibre) SL (SRAM group-set) tips the scales at a road-bike rivalling 7.8kg and features one of the most talked about components of the year: Canyon's crazy bump-taming “double decker” CP07 handlebar. Basically, the SLX screams adventure louder than Bear Grylls with a camouflage megaphone. Andrew Diprose £3,649. canyon.com
Alternatively: Santa Cruz’s Chameleon is the perfect pick for riders wanting to turn it up a notch off road. The versatile aluminium frame can be built up geared, single-speed, race-light or with a burly near fat-bike sized 27+ wheelset. From £1,899. santacruzbicycles.com.
27/100At last, an on-demand transport service for people who like to travel in style. The brainchild of Swiss/Russian entrepreneur Anton Chirkunov, Wheely is a business that only uses professional chauffeurs who dress to impress, drive premium vehicles (Mercedes E-, S- or V-Class only) and treat passengers with the utmost respect. In other words, a bespoke five-star service for when Uber just won’t cut it. Paul Henderson *wheely.com *
Alternatively: For a less glam, but far more economical service, try ViaVan (viavan.com), a car-sharing service for passengers travelling in the same direction. It worked in New York...
28/100This is the year that’ll revolutionise electrification. Tesla did the disruption, now it’s Porsche that’s leading the charge. The Taycan has been designed from the ground up as an EV, rather than adapting an existing platform. So it promises the sort of dynamics that are a Porsche trademark, its underfloor batteries permitting a centre of gravity lower even than the 911’s. Electric motors mounted on each axle give it all-wheel drive, there’s torque vectoring and power outputs vary from 402bhp to more than 600. So it won’t be slow. It charges faster than ever too: the Taycan’s 800 volt electricity supply system converts a 20-minute charge into 250 miles range (more than 300 on a full charge) and Porsche is part of an industry-wide push to ramp up Europe’s charging infrastructure. Still want that combustion engine?Paul Henderson porsche.com
Alternatively: How about the VW ID – a Golf-sized pure EV that has a different range capacity depending on how big the batteries are: 205, 250 or 280 miles.
Shutterstock29/100Kim Jones, the British fashion designer recently installed in the top job of the men’s arm of Parisian label Dior, has done much to build excitement around the brand he now helms – in particular, his inaugural SS19 collection. The piece everybody wants a piece of? The new drapey, toga-esque double-breasted Oblique suit, inspired by the lines of the couture dresses first designed by the founder of the house, Monsieur Christian Dior. Although the style is available in midnight blue and black, for our money the candy floss-pink version – as sported by Darren Criss at the Emmys earlier this year – is the one that you want. Stuart McGurk dior.com
Alternatively: Invest in one of the forthcoming season’s oversized DB blazers in grey windowpane check – Paul Smith and Wooyoungmi are both good places to start – and wear with slim-cut acid-wash jeans and a band tee. Trust us.
Shutterstock30/100If there was ever a format that could– finally – produce a workable version of an Alan Moore graphic novel, then this HBO series would be it. One of the many recurring problems of the film adaptations has been the impossible task of squeezing Moore’s irrepressible intertextuality and layered narratives into a popcorn blockbuster. Hopes for this new adaptation of Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen may not be high, but at least they are off the floor. It has Don Johnson in it, which is a promising start. Damon Lindelof of Lost is the showrunner, so the ending may be a bit of a concern. George Chesterton
Alternatively: Monitoring the progress of Denis Villeneuve’s two-part film adaptation of Dune, another saga that has been notoriously difficult to bring to any screen. It is in pre-production with Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides.
Getty Images31/100If you’re a fan of the New York Times’ phenomenally successful podcast The Daily, an in-depth audio exploration of that day’s big news – from Julian Assange’s alleged collusion with the Trump campaign to the conditions of workers in instant delivery warehouses – you’ll know what we’re talking about. Host Michael Barbaro, a former reporter at the paper, gently prods the information and anecdotes from the Times reporter who worked on the relevant story, but it’s his regular “huh” – meaning interesting, meaning go on – and always half-suggesting that might be the most interesting thing anyone has ever said, don’t stop now. Find someone to “huh” at you the way Michael Barbaro “huhs" at New York Times reporters.
Alternatively: We guess there’s the Guardian’s new rival daily podcast, Today In Focus, but it does sometimes contain Owen Jones so…
32/100Founded by British designer Samuel Ross (a disciple of Louis Vuitton Men’s designer Virgil Abloh) A-Cold-Wall is the hot new name in London menswear. Highly conceptual and encapsulating the current streetwear-focused mood of the world’s menswear, the A-Cold-Wall x Nike collaboration trainer (pictured) is a thing of angular beauty, while more function-focused pieces, such as one of the utility holsters or a nylon storm jacket, provide an easy route into the brand. Teo van den Broeke a-cold-wall.com
Alternatively: Head down to the Screwfix workwear department and buy yourself (a very on-trend) hi-vis jacket.
Indigital33/100Alessandro Michele’s Spring/Summer 2019 collection, shown in legendary Parisian nightclub Le Palace, was a smidge sexier than his usual seasonal offerings. Case in point, the leather codpiece (worn over a suit), which stole the show. Playing on the season’s wider "protectionist" theme found across this season’s fashion weeks (only in a more playful way), we’d recommend wearing yours over a pair of black jeans, with a pair of heavy-duty boots, all beneath an outsized black overcoat. The more clothes you’ve got on, in this case, the merrier, as anything too flesh-baring will just make you look like a pervert. Teo van den Broeke ]gucci.com
Alternatively: Invest in one of the Gucci x Mickey Mouse bags Michele also showed for SS19. An easier access point for those with more sensitive tastes.
34/100Audio aficionados know that when it comes to stereo sound, Bang & Olufsen are the daddy. Their latest buds are aimed at those who have an active lifestyle, which is why they fit comfortably, feature a braided cord that is moisture- and tear-resistant and are embedded with small magnets so that when you take them out of your ears they click together (and power down) to keep them safe around your neck. Charlie Burton £269. bang-olufsen.com
Alternatively: If you don’t want a wire at all (braided or otherwise), look no further than Jabra’s Elite Sport earbuds (£200): turn on, stick 'em in, work out.
35/100Created by Milanese designer Luca Schieppati, Ciclotte is the home fitness device that is as much a work of art as it is a functional piece of equipment. Teckell is an Italian design company that specialises in making high-end tech products using modern craftsmanship. Put the two together and the result is the extraordinary Ciclotte Teckell, a transparent, minimalist exercise bike that doubles as an avant-garde sculpture. You won’t know whether to ride it, exhibit it or just gaze at it longingly. We recommend all of the above. Paul Henderson £10,665. ciclotte.com
Alternatively: If your budget doesn’t extend to crystal glass bike, indulge your aesthetic taste for Ciclotte with their award-winning circular weight set, a snip at £2,950.
36/100Believe it or not, cowboy boots (otherwise known as Western boots) are big news this season. Our advice, however, would be to avoid anything finished with spurs or embroidered with cattle insignias and to invest instead in a pair of this season’s slickest Western-inspired boots. Defined by an oversized outsole, a heavy-duty Cuban heel and a higher than usual shaft (not to mention an angular vamp), the best of this season’s styles can be found at Parisian bottier Berluti, the Caractère being a particular highlight. Wear yours with a pair of slim, mid-wash jeans, a thick navy pea coat and a saddle-full of attitude. Teo van den Broeke £1,720. berluti.com
Alternatively: Invest in one of the forthcoming season’s Western shirts. Finished most often in suede and complete with on-trend fringes, American brand Coach is a good place to start.
Getty Images37/100Oh, Mr Mueller, he of the squarest jaw in America and a man so straight down the line it’s a wonder he can sit. The only thing we want for Christmas, sir, is you. Or, more specifically, the special counsel’s report on Donald Trump and possible Russian interference in the 2016 American presidential election. After the mid-terms produced the expected “blue wave” to restore congress to the Democrats, they now have the power to begin impeachment proceedings, should Mueller’s report prove suitably damning. Which… let’s just say you’d need a good imagination to assume Trump is entirely innocent, considering the indictments against 32 people Muller has so far scored. Plus the fact Trump’s a moral and ethical vacuum – plus that. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: Mueller’s report could be damning enough for the Democrats to implement impeachment proceedings, but not quite damning enough for the Republican-controlled Senate to impeach, meaning… well, meaning nothing happens, essentially.
Indigital38/100High function is the buzz term of the moment in the world of menswear. From many-pocketed fisherman’s vests, to cross-body utility belts – if your clothes can’t keep your tools safe, the fashion crowd don’t want to know. The apex of this trend can be found in Virgil Abloh’s first collection for Louis Vuitton. Titled "Accessomorphasis", the idea is that the leather harnesses, body belts and flak vests he’s designed are in fact items of clothing, half morphed into pieces of luggage designed to be carried on your body. If Abloh’s former collections for Off-White are anything to go by, you’d be wise to invest in a piece of this trend sooner than later, because once they’re gone, they’re gone. Teo van den Broeke louisvuitton.com
Alternatively: Just buy a Louis Vuitton wallet – carrying luggage the regular way works for most, after all.
39/100A microwave that supports Alexa. Why? Because this is your smart home future and you will like it. Still, tell us you don’t want one. Rob Leedham £59.99. amazon.com
Alternatively: Nest Thermostat E is both the company’s most affordable yet and the easiest to install yourself. A smart home energy saver that’s actually essential. £179.99. nest.com
Getty Images40/100If there is one brand that has taken the Insta-crown, it’s Ader Error (so far it has three Instagram profiles dedicated to different parts of the brand from styling to product launches). Launched in Korea in 2014, the label was created by a creative collective of which its members are unknown or go by different names to those they were born with. Essentially, for Error it’s all about the clothes, rather than the people behind them. Ader Error is just reaching our shores, thanks to a sellout collaboration with Puma and a recent endeavour with G-Shock. Watch this space. Adererror.com
Alternatively: Another Korean brand that is on our radar is Wooyoungmi. Already having made a name for itself at London Fashion Week Men’s, it’s a go-to of ours for menswear – think oversized ankle-length coats and boxy chore jackets.
41/100Adidas has teamed up with Parley to prevent plastic from entering the world’s oceans. The result? A range of footwear shoes constructed from a yarn that is entirely made from recycled plastic. We reckon we’ll start to see a lot more of this. Samuel Ross’ A-Cold-Wall* is now looking to see how it can make its brand more ecofriendly and the designer is in talks with a supplier that recycles plastic found at the bottom of the ocean. Zak Maoui
Alternatively: Veja SDU B mesh recycled trainers. These kicks are recycled from plastic bottles, which isn't only great for the environment, but also means they're both waterproof. From £95.
Getty Images42/100If 2018 was Dua Lipa’s year then 2019 belongs to Billie Eilish, the 16-year-old pop prodigy with a billion streams and counting. With an eerie sound best described as Lana Del Rey meets Lykke Li, and cutting-edge cool girl style, this LA native is not your average teen. In her biggest hit, “Bellyache” (111 million Spotify streams), she takes on the character of a psychopath who’s just killed all her friends. Standard. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Scroll through Spotify’s Broken Heart playlist for Eilish-style emo anthems courtesy of everyone from Jhené Aiko and Childish Gambino to Khalid.
43/100From the third of Gen-Zers who claim to be teetotal (yawn) to the baby boomers trying to watch their weekly units after being scolded by their GPs, everyone is drinking less these days. Cue the rise of low ABV or non-alcoholic spirits, with Seedlip at the front and centre. It’s sugar-free, sweetener-free, contains zero calories and tastes bloody brilliant in cocktails, as well as with tonic. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Another grown-up but soft spirit is alt-gin Cedar’s Crisp. Serve with ice, Fever Tree and a slice of cucumber.
44/100Dave’s the 20-year old rapper credited with knocking Sam Smith and Calvin Harris off the No1 spot with his self-released, catchy but by no means commercial “Funky Friday” ft Fredo. The shock success of this unsigned artist – whose an Ivor Novello winner and a Grade 7 pianist to boot – proves that the popular penchant for British rap shows no signs of slowing down. And nor does the side-stepping of labels – 2019 is going to be the year independence goes global. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Check out AJ Tracey, the razor-sharp rapper – also independent – Dave burst onto the scene with via 2016’s “Thiago Silva”.
Findlay MacDonald45/100The death of a label sign as the blueprint for mainstream success has made way for artist incubators like Platoon, who basically do all the legwork for independent musicians (think distribution) without the kind of contractual chokehold that’s given majors such a bad rep. Elusive startup Platoon, helmed by a former head honcho at Apple, has kick-started the careers of Jorja Smith, Mr Eazi and Stefflon Don. But shhh, they don’t want you to know that. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Distribution service Ditto has been making waves in the music innovation space thanks to a £20 sign-up fee and the fact that they let artists keep 80 per cent of royalties.
46/100A new wave of social-savvy wordsmiths have taken poetry from dead to trending in just a few short years, using Instagram to prove there’s life in the art form yet. Add some soul sustenance to your feed via the likes of Brian Bilston (otherwise known as the “Poet Laureate of Twitter”), Cleo Wade and, the most famous of them all, Rupi Kaur. Twenty-six year old Kaur – now a New York Times best-selling author who counts Dua Lipa among her 3.2 million fans – is currently on a sell-out arena tour. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Unlike the typed up, neat page-like squares favoured by the biggest instapoets, Tyler Knott Gregson’s daily haikus are handwritten on post-its and then photographed.
ISTOCK47/100The appetite for avocado roses seems to have finally been filled, thank God, as the British foodie scene ushers in a return to simplicity, led by the humble turbot. This white fish has started to pop up on many a modern menu, but it’s at Tomos Parry’s Brat you’ll find the insta-famous iteration. Here – the Basque-inspired restaurant is named after an old English colloquial term for turbot – the whacking 1.6kg fish comes whole, grilled over charcoal and finished in a wood-fired oven. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Head to Cornerstone in Hackney Wick, another recent star opening where, fisherman’s catch of the day permitting, turbot makes a regular appearance on the seafood-centric menu.
48/100Fitness trends may come and go but F45 looks set to stay. Kick-started in Australia (hence, in typical Aussie abbreviation-style, F45 equals “Functional 45” because each class is 45 minutes long), the class-focused studios are springing up everywhere from Ealing to Brixton and Islington to Oxford Circus. F45’s devout disciples will tell you how great the facilities and trainers are, but gym-phobes will say they love the simple game-like format and the grueling impossibility of wasting even a second of your allotted exercise time. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: If high-intensity circuit training isn’t your bag then try a Versaclimber class. There’s no other gym machine quite like it.
49/100While undoubtedly A Good Thing, electric vehicles can seem fundamentally less fun than their gas-guzzling cousins. Not so the LiveWire, Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle, which is built to thrill. Cock your wrist, and the bike flies from a standing start (no clutch or gears to worry about); once you’re riding, the handling is quick and agile thanks to sporty 17-inch Michelin tires and adjustable Showa suspension. No details on range until it launches later this year, but the prototype ran for 100km off a 3.5-hour charge – the production model is likely to go even further. Charlie Burton Price TBC. harley-davidson.com
Alternatively: Try the Zero Sr, Energica EsseEsse9 or the (unusual looking) Johammer J1.200. Fine rides, all.
50/100Fair to say that the multiplayer mode for the biggest game release of all time is... anticipated. But, just like its more nuanced gameplay, the online mode for Red Dead Redemption 2 looks set to be something far more than the usual blood-bath free-for-all populated by sugar-hyped 12-year-olds. Rather, say creator Rockstar, it will focus far more on “role-playing and morality”, as groups of online players form rival gangs, camp in campsites they built themselves and even take part in a spot of fishing. Expected to roll-out in beta later this year. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: There’s always the new chapter of Fortnite and the opportunity of a quick brutal death at the hands of a nine-year-old sniper.
51/100OK, it’s £5,000, but this retro beauty, powered by a “high beat” mechanical movement recently won the prize for best sports watch at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie Geneve, AKA the Oscars of the watch industry. It marks the 50th anniversary of Seiko’s submersible range and ticks all the right boxes with water resistance to 300m and a hefty 44mm case in coated stainless steel. Mounted on a silicone strap and boasting 55 hours’ power reserve, it’s a lot of watch. But if £5k still represents a barrier to entry, then relax, as Seiko offer cheaper, quartz-powered versions that are no less handsome. Bill Prince £5,000.
Alternatively: Help yourself to similarly handsome slice of retro horology courtesy of the Oris Divers Sixty Five. £1,450.
52/100Berlin-based YouTube platform Colours is fast becoming the go-to place to discover new music, with an impressive catalogue of studio sessions and a knack for platforming the most exciting artists from around the world just before they blow. Famed for its unique pop-colour aesthetic and ability to make songs go viral like there’s no tomorrow, alumni include GQ award-winner Jorja Smith, Tom Misch, Mabel, Billie Eilish, Kali Uchis and Jacob Banks. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Mahogany Sessions might not do the numbers that Colors does, but the channel’s cinematic sessions are shot in some truly beautiful locations.
Alamy53/100Forget Tinder, all the people you’d actually want to match with are on Hinge. With an interface more like Facebook where you like rather than swipe, plus features conducive to real relationships rather than hook ups, there’s way less pressure when it comes to making your move on Hinge. The newly revamped app has been around for some time, but it’s rise in popularity is recent. New concept aside, this might well have something to do with the fact that Tinder’s parent company, Match, acquired it in June 2018. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: The Inner Circle is the elite dating app for successful people that connects users on LinkedIn.
Shutterstock54/100The newly relaunched Wu-Tang Clan merchandise is still at the apex of cool and there’s a recent paparazzi shot of Bella Hadid wearing the tracksuit bottoms to prove it. The Wu-Tang Clan were the first hip hop group to foray into fashion, making the Wu Wear line – which has evolved so far past hoodies that there’s even a collaboration with Clarks (seriously) – even more irresistible to all those Supreme-obsessed hypebeasts. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: The other major music merch line to keep your eye on is Travis Scott's Astroworld. Back in August, the limited-edition Astroworld capsule collection by Virgil Abloh sold out in mere seconds.
55/100The super stylists behind cult tech accessory brand Chaos Club have just launched a new, coffee table-style glossy, with a just-dropped second issue starring Kendall Jenner. More poster book than magazine, it features 100-plus pull-out posters so good we're betting they'll become collectors items. The mag has an already-assembled support network of fashion’s favourite faces, including issue two stars Gigi Hadid and Adwoa Aboah. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: For more words and less supermodel sass try Drugstore Culture, a new culture, arts and politics journal helmed by GQ contributor Matthew d’Ancona.
ISTOCK56/100What do Pete Tong’s ultimate Ibiza compilation, Notorious BIG’s back catalogue and a collection of house and garage hits all have in common? This year, orchestral renditions of all three have sold out venues across the country, showing that although the way we consume music on a day-to-day basis might have changed, there’ll always be demand for the ebb and flow of multi-instrument live shows. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Watch out for live shows with virtual reality elements built-in, as available via Live Nation.
57/100Opening in May, the Metropolitan Museum will play host to a brand new exhibition framed around Susan Sontag’s seminal 1964 essay Notes On "Camp". Under the watchful eye of Anna Wintour and Andrew Bolton (the museum’s curator and husband to US designer Thom Browne), the exhibition will come to life after the annual storied Met Gala, which this year will be hosted by Wintour, Harry Styles and Lady Gaga. Zak Maoui The Met Museum.
Alternatively: Only Human: Photographs by Martin Parr. Held at the National Portrait Gallery from March to May 2019, this will focus on what it means to be British, with photographs of this country’s most famous faces, from Vivienne Westwood to Grayson Perry. www.npg.org.uk
58/100Since Raf Simons presented larger-than-life V-neck knits as part of his Autumn/Winter 2016 collection, they’ve quietly been bubbling under the surface of planet menswear. Now they’re a fully fledged staple for men everywhere, with every brand from Ralph Lauren and Prada to Brunello Cucinelli and Alexander McQueen having their own take. Zak Maoui
Alternatively: A V-neck sweater vest, of course.
59/100Imagine a laptop that doesn’t need storage, that allows you to play games with the same responsiveness as a wired internet connection and which doesn’t need to be on Wi-Fi to access the web. That’s what 5G is going to do. Intel's upcoming XMM 8000 series modems are designed to bring blazingly fast cellular connectivity to laptops and will be available for Microsoft, Dell, HP, Asus and Acer from the second half of 2019. Charlie Burton
Alternatively: Get a 5G phone. The likes of Apple, Sony and Samsung are all expected to release one.
60/100No ads, no algorithms. In our current climate of Facebook fatigue, fake news and private data sales, Vero’s mission to make social smarter has never felt so necessary. The next-gen social platform's user base is growing exponentially and the team behind it is gearing up for a big spike in 2019. It’s best feature? Slick interface and straight-forward functionality aside, we can’t get enough of the post types. Recommend (or reject) films, TV series, places, music and books. It’s like having a cultural bible in your pocket, permanently. Just make sure you follow @BritishGQ while you’re there. getvero.app.link Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Give social a break full-stop and reconnect with the people around you. Radical, we know.
61/100The speaker that is not just a speaker. Bang and Olufsen have created an interior-designers dream with the BeoSound edge. Suitable to be placed on the floor or mounted on a wall, this innovative design has motion sensor technology, sensing your presence and illuminating its controls to meet your instruction. Roll the sphere in any direction to alter the perfectly centred sound, the stronger the roll, the more dramatic the change in volume. With three sound settings allowing personal listening or full room enjoyment and of course, compatible with all streaming options, the edge is one hell of a sexy speaker. Maddie O'Reilly Bang and Olufsen.
Alternatively: Love B&O but not sure if the Edge is for you? Take a look at the BEOPLAY A9, available in the new bronze series, this will make as much as an impact as the Edge in any room.
Shutterstock62/100
63/100Understand the history, technology, fashion, branding and importance of cars with the Car exhibition at the V&A running from October 2019 through to April 2020. If you’re a self-confessed petrol-head or you’re just intrigued by the history of cars, this exhibition is one not to be missed. Maddie O'Reilly
Alternatively: Check out Food: Bigger Than The Plate at the V&A. Looking at everything from gastronomic experiments to synthetic meat, this exhibition brings together the politics and pleasure of food. Raising questions of sustainability and the future of food commerce. From May until November 2019.
Alamy64/100Rugby World Cup in 2019? Tick. Summer Olympics a year later? Oh yes. Fair to say, then, that people around the world are about to clock some serious air miles in the next couple of years to get to Japan’s capital city. Add to that a domestic bullet-train that’s never been easier to navigate (all the Japanese language signs are now also in English; a seven-day no-limited rail pass is only around £220 for tourists; there are more lines than ever before) and it’s time to visit the land of the rising sun. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: Go to South Korea – the rise in popularity of South Korean tourism has seen it become the 20th most visited country in the world. That’s South, mind, not North. Definitely not North.
65/100There are those that will tell you that you don’t need to spend an extra £400 to secure one of the new, sleeker-looking Q digital cameras from Leica, but those people will be wrong. Granted, the technology is the same as that which debuted with the original point and shoot in 2015 (full-frame sensor, a “fixed” lens capable of switching from 28mm to closer-cropping 35mm and 50mm formats), but the removal of the iconic red dot, an engraved top plate and a new matte black finish secures the Q-P a starring role in every serious snapper’s arsenal. Bill Prince £4,100. leica-camera.com
Alternatively: Consider the more recent CL, which doesn’t feature a full-frame sensor but does allow the use of interchangeable lenses, including (with an adaptor) Leica’s M-class series of optics.
Alamy66/100Situated on a quiet square in the Marais, one of Paris’s most romantic hotels keeps its counsel behind 17th-century stone walls that can only partly obscure its magic: a meticulously renovated former mansion that now rates as a pitch-perfect hideaway for those wanting to make the most of their stay in what can be a weirdly unlovely city. Granted, you won’t get lost in most of the 56 rooms, but for those looking for something a bit special, the hotel’s original designers, Kerylos Interiors, recently renovated two suites to offer a twist on “modern antiquity”. Called the Suite de la Reine and Suite Madame de Sévigné, both take inspiration from their location on the historic Place de Vosges and offer a chic respite from this heroically hip quarter. Bill Prince *28 Place des Vosges, 75003 Paris, France. Rooms from £335. At booking.com *
Alternatively: For something completely different, try out French designer Philippe Starck's latest hotel concept, Brach, in the 16th arrondissement (neighbouring the Trocadero). A former 1970s sorting office, the modernist design is now covered with lush foliage and features multi-cultural influences from Africa, Asia and Brazil. evokhotels.com
67/100Alongside a growing phalanx of official watch partners under the banner of Bamford Watch Department (including TAG Heuer and Zenith), George Bamford has been busy designing his own timepieces under the separate Bamford London business, starting with a go-anywhere quartz powered submersible model he dubbed the Mayfair. Now, he’s unveiled his first Swiss-made mechanical model in a beautiful cushion case and featuring the only complication any of us surely ever lusts after: a bi-colour bezel-mounted GMT function. It’s available in multiple colourways, and best of all is far easier to find than the corresponding Rolex model released earlier this year…. Bill Prince *£1,100 *
Alternatively: Choose one of the new Aquaracer models by TAG Heuer, which offers the chance to sport the all-conquering ‘Pepsi-bezel’. £1,720.
Getty Images68/100Over a decade in the planning, three years in the building, £850 million in the spending and at least six months late: really, though, did anyone expect Tottenham’s new 62,062-seater stadium to actually be on time? Have they not seen Grand Designs? But by January, or possibly February, finally (hopefully) it will open. Not only will it be London’s biggest club ground, but, like American Football stadiums, the aim is to keep you there the whole day and so boasts a variety of bespoke bar and lounge spaces and everything from gourmet fast food to Michelin-star-calibre dining with a view of the action to match. There’s even a cheese room. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: If football isn’t your thing, Tottenham’s unique retracting pitch will also see their new home hosting NFL matches and several stadium gigs.
69/100Tis the season of the parka, so don’t be left out. Only, a word of warning: go too trad and you’ll look like you left your scooter on the hard shoulder and are in urgent need of a lift back to Brighton (and 1964). Opt instead for this military-inspired topcoat by Parisian furrier-turned-outerwear specialist Yves Salomon, but lined with sheepskin rather than fox. It’s part of a collection dubbed Army and includes shorter blouson-style jackets, all of which offer a handsome yet hardy alternative to the surplus store staple of yore. Bill Prince £1,260.
Alternatively: The Shackleton Endurance is a British-designed and built parka that’s guaranteed to go the distance. £1,290.
70/100The more things change, the more they stay the same. You couldn’t move for Motorola Razrs and the Matrix-inspired Nokia 8810s back in the noughties, but they all went out of vogue as soon as the iPhone launched. Samsung’s folding Galaxy X promises to usher that golden age of telephonic design back to its glory. At the very least, it will spare us from the current status quo, in which every glass handset with skinny bezels and a camera bump looks exactly the same.Rob Leedham samsung.com
Alternatively: Royole’s FlexPai phone is just as bendy and can already be imported from China for £1,209.
71/100Hanro has been knocking out next-level lingerie for men and women since the 19th century, but the Swiss-made stalwart is also renowned for designing bedwear and “at-home” apparel that leaves most of us wishing for more “big nights in”. A case in point: these cotton pyjamas fitted with all the necessary details for the avowed couch surfer (including a pocket on the top part and a drawstring securing the lower half) and featuring a handsome jacquard print. Ask yourself next time the doorbell rings and you’re in your jersey trackie bottoms, don’t you wish you’d followed our advice? £249.60.
Alternatively: Lose the undergarments completely and express your inner Hef with a beautiful hooded cashmere cardigan by Connolly. £1,050.
72/100Trust us, come Friday night (or Monday morning, for that matter) you’ll wish you hadn’t booked your weekend retreat four hours from home. Which means, if you’re a Londoner (or merely dwelling in or near the southeast) the former seat of Lord Beaverbrook – newspaper proprietor, friend of Winston’s and fastidious entertainer (Ian Fleming, Elizabeth Taylor) – represents the ideal 72-hour getaway. Following a £90 million renovation, the house and grounds have been transformed into a heady brew of period-perfect luxuriousness teamed with contemporary hospitality (centred around the ornate yet inviting Parrot bar) – and that’s before you begin to explore the 400 rolling acres of Surrey countryside (newly aligned with every form of diversion imaginable) or hit its newly acquired gym. Best of all, it’s 30 minutes from Waterloo. Bill Prince From £209. beaverbrook.co.uk
Alternatively: Check out the goings on at the newly opened Heckfield House, a Georgian family home turned rural idyll (and just over the hour from the capital).
73/100Energica is the benchmark brand in luxury electric motorcycling and new for 2019 is its Ego Sport Black. It's a deadly serious racing bike for the road and to prove it the upcoming MotoE World Championship racing bikes will be based on it. Besides the smart Italian design, it's packed with electronic rider aids, premium brakes and suspension and can be fully charged in as little as 25 minutes. There's 200nm of torque available and it's limited to a top speed of 150mph with a range of 100 miles. It's not a bike for wimps. From £22,650. energicamotor.com
Alternatively: Harley-Davidson is shunning its past and betting its future on electric. First seen a few years ago, but subsequently mothballed, the LiveWire street bike project is back and is set to hit showrooms in 2019, with a full portfolio of electric-powered bikes expected by 2022.
74/100Bold, bright colour is big news for SS19. And while men have a habit of being a bit scared of anything that isn’t black, navy or grey, it’s high time we all overcame our collective chromophobia. The key? Invest in one colourful piece that you can work into your day-to-day wardrobe. For some that will be a scarf, for others it will be a tee. For us, it’s a bold sock. Only block colours, mind, never patterns. Worn with a classic white running trainer and a pair of wide-legged cropped trousers, it’s the easiest (not to mention chicest) way to embrace the SS19 rainbow. Teo van den Broeke pantherella.com
Alternatively: Invest in one of the aforementioned bright, bold T-shirts. Something in lemon yellow or cherry red ideally.
Getty Images75/100The great irony of the Trump era is how great it has been for journalism and reporting. Case in point: the always on-point Maggie Haberman of the New York Times and her often intimate, always awkward (for Trump) reporting, from detailing his dining habits (multiple bedroom cheeseburgers) to the more serious matters when it comes to charges of corruption of what the president knew and when the president knew it. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: David A Fahrenthold at the Washington Post, who has been laser focused on Trump’s murky finances.
Getty Images76/100Leeds United may seem an odd job for the Yoda of football management to spend his twilight years, but that’s exactly where, at 63, Marcelo Bielsa has found himself – and he’s proving himself the story of this year’s second tier. Leeds’ swashbuckling, high-intensity, quick-passing football drawing lofty comparisons with the likes of Spurs and Man City. Which is apt, as the Argentine is a mentor/second father/godlike figure to both Mauricio Pochettino (whom he discovered) and Pep Guardiola (who called him “the best coach in the world” upon his Leeds arrival almost a year ago). The result? Leeds are genuine challengers for the Championship title after years (and years and years) of misery. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: Well, the actual football played by his protégés – Pochettino’s Spurs and Guardiola’s Man City, naturally.
Shutterstock77/100Take your pick from “Salinger for the Snapchat generation”, “Jane Austen of the precariat” or “the 27-year-old novelist defining a generation”. For Sally Rooney’s part, talking to the Guardian, she simply described her novels as “just a bunch of people talking to each other”. Which, actually, is also true. Rooney’s novels are deceptively simple: surgically precise yet emotionally vast. Her first, Conversations With Friends, put her on the map. But it was her second, Normal People, released in August, that saw her longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Take note: the talent of a generation is here, no matter how you put it. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: Read Guy Gunaratne. A former video journalist working in conflict zones, his dazzling debut novel, In Our Mad And Furious City, is set over 48 hours in a North London estate charting a conflict over a killing as told by five narrators.
78/100Like iPlayer, but for sound. The BBC’s newly-launched audio app brings together more than 80,000 hours of music, radio and podcasts into one personalised experience. Discover thousands of specially curated playlists – all blessedly missing any DJ drivel whatsoever – as well as all the best programmes from stations like Radio Four, with fresh recommendations popping up every day. The best part? It’s free. Kathleen Johnston
Alternatively: Listen to more than 10,000 radio stations from around the world using the TuneIn radio app.
79/100Not only is he one of Kim Jones top choices to walk for the Dior men’s catwalk shows, but he has also walked for the likes Hugo Boss, A-Cold-Wall* and Quasimi. Add to this the fact he’s mates with Kate Moss and regularly posts pictures while hanging out with Jones’ Shibu (that’s a dog) Gugu and you’ve got one of the coolest new faces on the modelling scene. Zak Maoui
Alternatively: Oliver Sonne. At just 18 years old, Oliver Sonne has already graced the covers of Vogue Hommes, GQ Australia, GQ Korea, MMScene and has fronted campaigns for Loewe. To add to this he is the gentically-blessed nephew of original supermodel Helena Chistensen.
80/100The Amazon Echo Dot has always been the runt of the Amazon smart-speaker litter, with the actual speaker of the original incarnation barely better than most mobile phones. That, however, has finally changed with Amazon’s fourth generation, the modern pebble-like Dot, which is now fabric-covered like its sleek new older brothers and a remarkably good speaker for its size. It won’t exactly fill a room with banging bass, but it’s not at all tinny, especially for its size and with Amazon often selling it for just £24.99 (down from the RRP of £49.99), it’s a genuine bargain. £29.99 amazon.com
Alternatively: For a serious all-in-one smart speaker that still won’t break the bank, look no further than Sonos’ new Beam speaker, which will act as your TV speaker, but can stream anything you like, making it, essentially, an everything speaker.
81/100You’ve heard of pochets, you’ve heard of murses (purses for men) and you’ve definitely heard of manbags, but this season’s biggest luggage trend has stepped things up a gear. For her SS19 menswear show, Miuccia Prada sent out an army of sylphlike boys wearing tiny little shorts and oversized deerstalkers and carrying chic shoulder bags. Small enough to carry your wallet, phone and, of course, your Juul, these new handbags for men are considerably more grown-up than the cross-body bags, which have been doing the rounds for the past year or so – so much so that you’ll wonder why you didn’t start carrying one sooner. Teo van den Broeke £2,080. prada.com
Alternatively: Break yourself in gently with one of this season’s easiest carrying retro totes. Tiger Of Sweden, Gucci and Saint Laurent Paris are good places to start.
82/100One of the best bottles that Chivas Regal has to offer, the Royal Salute is a glorious long-aged blend where the entire range is in deference to military salutes and is the only range of blended Scotch whiskey that starts at 21 years of age. Initially produced in 1953 for the Queen’s coronation and made in the Scottish Highlands, this special Masquerade Ball Festive Gift Pack is perfect – as the name suggests – as a gift, but just as good just for you. £160.
Alternatively: If you really want to empty your bank account, the Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute, for which the whiskeys used to make the blend are aged for at least 40 years, costs a cool £2,000.
Shutterstock83/100The Toy Story franchise is now spoken of in the same breath as It’s A Wonderful Life or Tokyo Story. Watching Toy Story 3 – released eight years ago – was almost unbearably traumatic, so the next episode will probably be even worse. These films are imbued with a sense of dread that goes beyond a “good cry” – they are like staring into the abyss with Ingmar Bergman dressed as Mr Potato Head. The final scene of Toy Story 4 has been described by Tom Hanks as “a moment in history”, during which it is rumoured the cast were so emotional they could barely read their lines. George Chesterton
Alternatively: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. Unlikely to match Toy Story for existential angst, but should provide more in jokes for the parents.
84/100For more than 30 years, Snow + Rock has been perfecting the art of fitting ski boots to the point where they now offer the service completely free. That’s right, simply go into any of its stores around the country, discuss your ski needs with one of its experts, choose a pair of boots and the company will stretch them, adjust the flex and create a custom-moulded insole that will fit you like a foot glove (you know what we mean)... for no charge. You can even buy your boots online and then take them into the store to work their magic. Paul Henderson snowandrock.com
Alternatively: You should go for the ski boots that suit you best, but we would recommend a pair of Dalbello Panterra (£375): comfortable, responsive and with a ski/walk mode.
Getty Images85/100Or even albums, which may or may not arrive in 2019. My Bloody Valentine have missed more deadlines than Virgin Galactic, but there is hope that their long-awaited new material will finally emerge, with talk of two-album’s worth of presumably very noisy but eerily melodic songs. Oh and Eno is involved. It’s never been resolved whether Kevin Shields is like Michelangelo with the Sistine Chapel or just lazy. Try not to get your hopes up too much. George Chesterton
Alternatively: Dido’s first new album since 2013. This is giving notice rather than a recommendation.
ISTOCK86/100CBD is a cannabis extract that doesn’t make you feel stoned, but, to quote Farmacy Kitchen (where you can enjoy a CBD-infused “high tea”), it does offer “feel-good potential and health-boosting benefits”. Farmacy isn’t the only place with CBD on the menu. Gourmet kebab-house Maison Bab, cocktail den Behind This Wall, and fast-casual restaurant Genesis all have intent to supply. Charlie Burton
Alternatively: Try a CBD skincare product. Harvey Nichols is the first UK department store to stock them.
Getty Images87/100Let us make an end to this sorry saga. We all know what happens, but Mantel’s trilogy-concluding version of the fall of Thomas Cromwell is bound to be worth a read or two. The Tudors are not exactly short of flatpack TV documentaries or bombastic literary interpretations, but these are the books that give historical fiction a good name. And did we mention the first two won back-to-back Booker Prizes? George Chesterton
Alternatively: Black Leopard Red Wolf by Man Booker Prize winner Marlon James – the first part of an epic, myth-heavy Dark Star Trilogy.
88/100There are still few finer things than opening up a luxurious Wolseley hamper and the best of the bunch remains their Christmas one, which is packed with everything you know you needed and quite a few things you didn’t know you needed, or didn’t even know existed and happily find you now can’t live without. For example? A silver-plated caddy spoon and salted caramel Florentines. George Chesterton £495. thewolseley.com
Alternatively: Try River Café’s Limited Edition Gift Box, which will provide an authentic Italian Christmas in one lavish hamper, from dried porcini to Gentile pennette to Sicilian honey.
89/100Yes, you really should be looking to Che Guevara for style inspiration if the team behind Margaret Howell has their say. Add to this an all-over check take on the French headwear sitting at the heart of the upcoming Vivienne Westwood x Burberry collaboration and you can’t really deny that the beret is the only way to keep your hair dry from now on. We go to Lock & Co for ours. Zak Maoui
Alternatively: Not wearing a beret, obviously.
90/100Little film, niche, indie, you probably haven’t heard of it, no big stars, no big names... OK, so yes, the second Avengers: Infinity War film, the culmination of more than a decade of Marvel film buildup, needs a promo bump like the bible needs a cover quote. But on the other hand, the first instalment was way more fun, exciting and genuinely emotional than a film crammed with that many superheroes had any right to be. So fair to say we’re excited by how it all ends, not least how the makers will get around the tricky fact (spoilers!) that half the cast died in the first one and we know for a fact most will be back, as various sequels are already in the works. Stuart McGurk
Alternatively: The lead-up to the second part of Infinity War will take the form of Captain Marvel, set in the Nineties and the story of Carol Danvers, as played by Brie Larson, the character Samuel L Jackson signals for help as the first Infinity War ends.
91/100With TV and music now being dominated by streaming services, it’s only a matter of time until the same happens to gaming. At least that’s what Google’s betting with the Project Stream pilot scheme it launched last year, in which a limited number of players got to journey through Greece in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey for absolutely free. The only catch? While streaming means you don’t need souped-up hardware to play the latest games, Google’s scheme does require broadband speeds of 25 megabits per second. Yikes. Rob Leedham projectstream.google.com
Alternatively: Microsoft’s Game Pass is a monthly subscription service that allows you to download more than 100 games, including Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and all the 2019 Xbox One exclusives. £7.99 a month. xbox.com
92/100Although this might sound extraordinarily boring, a high-quality steamer is the most important weapon in your wardrobe care arsenal. Adept at getting rid of smells, banishing creases, removing slight marks and generally bringing clothes made from natural fibres back to life, this nifty little travel-friendly steamer from Philips will fit in your suitcase and still pack a punch. The smart-flow technology housed within also helps reduce the risk of wet spots on your cloths, which is essential. Teo van den Broeke £89.99. At Argos. argos.co.uk
Alternatively: Spend a shed-load of cash at an expensive dry cleaner. You decide.
93/100Google’s Pixel 3 had the best camera in a phone before its recent Night Sight update. Now? It’s still the best camera in a phone by an even more dramatic margin. Thanks to this new software update, your Pixel 3 will automatically recognise adjust to low-light situations to almost eradicate blurry shots with an abundance of noise. Honestly, our gig picks have never looked better. Rob Leedham
Alternatively: Depth Control is the new iPhone XS and XS Max feature that allows you to adjust the bokeh (AKA background blur) on your photos. You’ll use it once, be wowed and never touch it again.
94/100When Miuccia Prada says to do something, you probably should. So when she had models walk with swinging passport holders round their necks, we quickly followed suit. What’s more, the same was seen for next season at the likes of Fila’s first catwalk show in Milan and Riccardo Tisci’s first outing for Burberry. Zak Maoui Prada.com
Alternatively: The man bag is making an appearance too (yes, we’re talking handbags for men). Kris Van Assche has designed a chic white one for his first capsule collection for Berluti. Nuff said.
95/100The fastest McLaren ever made. ‘Nuff said. Rob Leedham
Alternatively: Tesla’s new Roadster has a claimed top speed of 250mph and is out in 2020. Sadly, in Tesla release date speak that actually means 2053.
Getty Images96/100Following Sweetener, and before the end of her engagement, Ariana Grande said that the conventional system of albums and eras no longer appealed to her. "I don’t really like "eras". I just wanna make music and drop it whenever and perform it," she wrote on Twitter. We’ve since seen her fully lean into this system, with the release of empathetic breakup anthem, Thank U, Next. It’s very much the Charli XCX school of music: release individual songs when and where and maybe the odd album when it comes together. It's also Ari's most successful single to date, so perhaps she's onto something. David Levesley
Alternatively: Lady Gaga’s inevitable next album already has hype around it, including a potential collaboration with the electronic wunderkind Sophie. Carly Rae Jepsen’s long-awaited next album also promises disco vibes, which we haven’t seen on the first single, but she’s yet to disappoint a more discerning pop fan’s ears.
97/100When you’ve tired of the current vogue for alpine-style hiking boots anywhere but above the snowline, then consider the ultimate in winter-shoe stock: a stippled leather brogue by Mayfair’s own George Cleverley, masterfully welded to a trusty, British-made Daynite sole. Granted, these can take some breaking in (rubber soles don’t work like leather, but then they don’t sup up water like them either), but dressed up with a thick flannel two- or three-piece – or better still, worn with dark denim – pebble-grained brown brogues such as the classic Henry surely maketh the well-presented man. £525. georgecleverley.com
Alternatively: Go all Steve McQueen with John Rushton’s timely recreations of his favourite Bullitt shoes, now known as the Sanders high-top offering a water-phobic crepe sole. £190.
98/100The slicker, lighter, faster Kindle is now perfect for clumsy people, being waterproof for up to 60 minutes of immersion in fresh water (so ideal for rivers and lakes then). It also caters for lazy people too, with an Audible function that allows you to switch from reading to listening. The standard model has twice the storage (8GB) of the old model, with up to 32GB available. George Chesterton From £119. At amazon.com
Alternatively: Go to the top of the range with the Kindle Oasis, which is super lightweight. And expensive. It’s more expensive. £229. amazon.com
99/100Game Freak, the genius team behind Pokemon, do not create games without Pocket Monsters in very often. So when Nintendo announced in September that they’d be developing a new game called Town for the Switch, it was tantalising, confusing and completely thrilling to hear. Very little is known about it, besides that the game’s titular town is under siege by monsters from beyond its borders and that it has a cutesy look and a turn-based battle system. We're frothing at the mouth. David Levesley
Alternatively: Switch will not be lacking in Game Freak or RPG alternatives. Pokemon Let’s Go came out this year, a main series Pokemon game is expected in 2019 and the Switch is about to get ports of Tales Of Vesperia and Final Fantasy’s biggest successes. For the first time in history, it’s a good time to be a Nintendo fan who likes RPGs.
100/100From the magazine synonymous with looking sharp and living smart comes the definitive handbook of skills for the modern man. Based on interviews with the world's foremost authorities – including Richard Branson, Jamie Oliver, Tracey Emin, Andy McNab, Tom Daley, Alastair Campbell, Dynamo and many others – step-by-step illustrated guides show you how to triumph at fashion, sport, food and drink, work, romance, travel and the unexpected. Charlie Burton £14.99. amazon.co.uk
Alternatively: Download it as an ebook from the Kindle store.
