So, it’s less than a week until Wimbledon 2009 draws to a close. Memorable moment’s so far? Last year’s Men’s Single’s winner, Nadal, having to take a step back due to an on-going knee injury; Murray and Wawrinka battling it out in the first Wimbledon ‘night-time’ tournament – complete with Centre Court roof, and of course Wimbledon fashion.

Last week Maria Sharapova caused quite a stir when she stepped out onto court donning a crisp white, military-inspired jacket, while Venus Williams opted for the very un-summery trench coat. But it was Roger Federer’s outfit that really got the crowds talking.

Stepping out in a pristine utility jacket complete with his signature white & gold detailing, Federer greeted the crowd, carrying his white and gold kit bag and keeping his floppy hair out of his face with a – white and gold of course – headband.

The dapper sportsman is no stranger to fashion statements on court. Last year he stepped out in my personal favourite: his very own ‘RF’ embroidered, 20s style cardigan, complete with 5 buttons down the front. That’s one button for every one of his Men’s Single’s titles!

Perhaps Federer got too much stick for his Cardigan. His 2009 jacket is vaguely reminiscent of his 2007 Wimbledon attire,  if a much more updated version.

The jacket however, did not stay on for too long, as he stripped off to reveal a rather dashing waistcoat to warm up in!

Federer clearly takes his courtside fashion seriously, (Or at least, his sponsors do!) and why not. The white theme of Wimbledon allows the pros to play around with the designs of their  ensembles, and it helps when they have Federer’s tennis skills to be able to carry them off! And let’s face it, Federer must really be laughing. These fashion stunts surely  mean that the sales of his own clothing line with Nike are going through the roof!

Not to mention the money he’ll be receiving from his other endorsements …

I’ve loved and supported the many decisions both P. Diddy and Jay-Z have made in their respective careers as musicians, entertainers, and business moguls, but the buck stops here! Word just in from US Weekly is that these two coveted gentlemen are known to get Brazilian waxes down below and I’m…well, at a loss for words.

Neither Jay-Z nor P. Diddy are vying for adult film careers or looking to become professional bodybuilders or swimsuit models (their both past their prime in that department if you ask me), so I’m perplexed at their respective moves to go “barenaked ladies” down there.

Although these two took Outkast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” jingle to new extremes, keeping our nether regions in shapely conditions is a grooming issue that all men should be hip to. For those of us unfamiliar with what a Brazilian wax is, the procedure involves the complete removal of all pubic hair! Yes, it’s definitely an eyebrow raiser and a hefty pocket pinching way in tending to ones’ pubic hair.

My ambivalence, however, towards Jay-Z, P. Diddy and their Brazilian waxing escapades stems not from the velvety finish the wax leaves your scrotum in, but more so from the agonizing pain that comes from waxing, the costly price-tag, and last but not least the awkward setting it places a man in. Most waxing salons are swarming with ladies so the question is, can you handle the questionable stares from female patrons?

Personally, I would opt for other proven methods of deforesting ones’ nether regions before venturing into the jungles of Brazilian waxing.

Shaving with a razor is a proverbial method that can achieve that hygienic, baby smooth finish, but be warned that razor burns, rashes, ingrown hairs, and a constant bed of thick, coarse regrowth is your expected return from time to time.

A foolproof method of maintaining a trim, tall (well an aesthetically pleasing length, but you get my drift), and terrific appearance down there is to reach for an electric trimmer. Rather than ducking behind corners to check in for that Brazilian wax appointment you booked, stop by the beauty section in any department store, pick up an electric trimmer and avoid a heap of embarrassment. What’s more, a trim job is easier to maintain and affords a level playing field to the length of your pubic hairs.

As I come to a close, I’m realizing that, hey, if you want to be like Jay-Z and P. Diddy and dole out generous sums of money for a Brazilian wax, then to each is own because things of this nature all boil down to personal preference. But do be mindful that we are bracing for a possible economic downturn so defraying the cost of grooming something as trivial as one’s pubic hair can only do you good.

Remember when bulky and dowdy-chic knitwear was in? Well flashback to the A/W07 men’s collections from D&G, Dries Van Noten, and Prada and big, fluffy knits were the rave for the impending winter. If not for the refreshing textures and surfaces that these designers toyed with, the return of chunky, “grandma” knits, quite frankly, would have tanked.

Fast-forward to today and knitwear is experiencing a comeback of sorts, but oddly enough the trend (with a more slimmed down visage) has reared its head in several SS09 collections.

Navigating between the extremes has been the defining element of Milan’s SS09 menswear collections. With the climatic uncertainty becoming a present reality for us all, this shift in aesthetic couldn’t come at a timelier juncture. To recreate this environmental ambivalence of serenity and catastrophe, loosely woven knits doubled as breathable cloaks that lithely blanketed and aerated the body.

Based on past renditions of knitwear, the knits of this SS09 season have a lightness to their construction and fabric choice that may be owing to green fashion. Take Salvatore Ferragamo’s macramé knotted sweater complete with sandals or the somewhat disheveled crocheted shirt and cardigan that took the runway for Allessandro Dell’Acqua. Both looks maintain a sense of élan, but at the same time make a perfect green statement on curtailing consumption.

I still possess one or two heavy knit cardigans in my wardrobe, but considering the topsy-turvy nature of our summer skies, this new breed of aerated, loosely woven knits is a flexible option for those days when a beautiful summer breeze is suddenly followed by a few spatters of rains and a cold front.

When fashion last teamed up with technology, My Fashion Life was left wowed at aesthetics, but rather disappointed over the functionality of the Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism. Now nothing can be taken away from the visual masterpiece Fredrique Dubal brought to us in the Prism. However, such is the mind of the average consumer that when fashion is infused into technology and malfunction occurs, fashion tends to be seen as fall guy. For instance, Nokia’s move to beautify the Prism may be viewed as the oversight in delivering a functional phone.

Well fashion, courtesy of Dior Homme, has ventured into the lifestyle/technology market again, but this time around fashion has provided a foil to an already venerated piece of technology: the iPhone.

As part of the Dior Homme’s Black Tie line, the fashion house has unveiled a very demure looking iPhone Holder that complements the iPhone’s sleek presence and the Dior man. Dubbed the “Dior Homme iPhone Holder,” the all-black sheath, which is made of the finest calf leather, is tailored for the loyal Dior Homme patron that gravitates towards a darker palette (à la Dior Homme’s AW 2008 collection).

The Dior Homme iPhone Holder is not the first time the Dior house has forayed into technology/lifestyle accessories with a pair of “My Dior” luxury mobile phones made available this month. What’s interesting is that this union of fashion and lifestyle is becoming more sought after by fashion houses like Chanel (e.g., Chanel’s limited edition quilted bike) as they move to connect with their patrons’ lifestyle as a whole.

However, this lifestyle connection comes at a cost. As is anything branded with the Dior name comes the hefty price tag and as minimalist as the Dior Homme iPhone Holder appears, it to is no different.

Being an admirer of Dior’s talents and a recent owner of an iPhone, I danced around the idea of perhaps giving my iPhone that debonair touch with Dior Homme’s holder. The dancing was short-lived when the price of £230 ($450)—which is comparable to the price of a new iPhone—greeted me! As of now, my iPhone is braving the elements, waiting for a home to call its own.

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