Whether you think that Chivalry is dead or alive, whether you like it or not, one thing is for sure: women love Chivalry. Chivalry is the bravery to treat them right, it is the sex-appeal in us men, and the self-dedication to our love, passion and excitement for them!

A few months ago, we were very factual about a set of Living with Chivalry values, inspired by a brand we truly love on that matter: Chivas. It is time this Valentine’s Day to put it into action, as you can all benefit from it. Make all women happy, make the women you like happier and the woman you love happiest and they will all give it back to you in ways you could never imagine.

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Everyone has their own set of beliefs, worldview, and sets of underlying assumptions that they see the world through.  This is like a lens we use to categorize the world with, and through it we develop our opinions of social structures, politics, religion, and the overall meaning of life.  Whether that belief is set-in-stone or if we feel an accurate objective understanding of the meaning of life is impossible and relative, we generally decide what we believe by something that runs deeper in our minds than does relativism or dogma.  This “something” is the maxims within our core universal beliefs which act as guideposts in the maps of our mind and by which we form the rest of our thoughts and opinions around it. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most prominent and influential American designers in existence, and the creator or what he calls “glunge” (grunge plus glamour), Rick Owens knows how to stay avant-garde and still sell tens of millions of dollars every year in over two hundred and fifty high-end fashion stores around the world.

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During a dinner at the Cuckoo Club earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting with an innovative entrepreneur with a vision of his own in the world of men’s beauty and grooming: Asim Akhtar. This morning, I passed by his company’s office on Hanover Square and discovered his unique range of skincare products for men and the fascinating world of the brand in question: Kyoku for Men.

Kyoku means Climax in Japanese, and having grown up within the world of beauty himself, for Akhtar, the launch of Kyoku this year was the output of a life-long work in assisting the development of well established beauty brands in the market. Read the rest of this entry »

“In a world where everyone is out for themselves, some choose to live differently: with honor, gallantry, courage. They choose to go another way. These are their stories. Live with Chivalry.” Introduction to Chivas.com

People say that chivalry is dead. In a world popularly legitimized by a self-centered consumer ideology, it is easy to see this. Values can become dominated by desire rather than virtue. Morality turns into just another phrase, another pop-culture symbol of what we should be. But if pop-culture symbols are merely to be admired, then morality turns into a self-serving construct – a mental abstracts of amusement reflecting unconscious innate desires. To act upon morality requires a chosen effort and a striving for a higher standard of dignity, something that separates some from others which is measurable only by the actions of their daily lives. It’s an integrity, it’s an effort – it is chivalry.

Chivalry is alive and well today, whether we phrase it in traditional terms or not. While the roots of Chivalry stem from history, it is more than a lost idea. Living up to the best within us still requires respecting others, lending a helping hand, and determination framed in a network of self analysis. It requires a fierce determination focused by love; a love of humankind, self, and spirit.

WHAT IS CHIVALRY? Read the rest of this entry »

Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not, knows no release from little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear. — Amelia Earhart

Develop Self Directedness

One of the most compelling aspects of life is the notion that we are in control.  When we truly comprehend that what happens in our life is derived from the decisions we make, that we control the seconds, it is then we are able to grasp the incredible self agency inherent inside of us. Our spirit is empowered, and our self directedness will outline our experiences, challenges, defeats, and our victories. Read the rest of this entry »

The link between opulence and spirituality has been eternal. People need spirituality to appreciate what they have got. The more you gain, the more you need an understanding of life to enjoy it. Otherwise, you always feel unfulfilled and unsatisfied. I was deeply struck when I read last week about a Florida real estate developer and a spiritual institution, who joint hands to help the highly privileged discover their higher purpose in life. This could well be defining the next era of luxury.

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