Category: Fashion

And it works just as well in autumn as it does in spring.

Timex has once again teamed up with French artist and designer Seconde/Seconde/ for a new installment of their “IYKYK” (If You Know, You Know) watch collection, injecting a dose of horological irreverence into the retro-inspired Q Timex line. The two new models, priced at $249 each, continue the collab’s tradition of subtle, knowing nods to watch enthusiasts.

The latest offerings, TW2Y48200 and TW2Y48100, maintain the signature throwback aesthetic of the 1970s-style Q Timex. Both watches feature a classic stainless-steel case and bracelet, a functional battery hatch—a nod to the original watch’s design—luminous dial markings, and a domed acrylic crystal. A rotating top ring and reliable quartz movement round out the core specifications, with a 38mm case diameter and 18mm lug width ensuring a comfortable and familiar fit. Water resistance up to 50 meters adds to their everyday practicality.

But the signature touch of Seconde/Seconde/ (the moniker of artist Romaric André) is clearly evident upon closer inspection. André, known for his playful reinterpretations of classic timepieces through subtle, unexpected alterations, customized the second hand on each model. These bespoke hands are designed to playfully reference the distinct color combinations of the dial and bezel, which have earned certain Q Timex models affectionate nicknames among collectors and led the watch aficionados at Gear Patrol to suggest the latest Q Timex collab is “aimed squarely at Rolex fans.”

The TW2Y48200 model subtly winks at a cartoon blue dial and bezel, while the TW2Y48100 offers a similarly clever tribute to a black dial paired with a green bezel. The cheeky mods are designed to invite an “if you know, you know” moment for watch nerds familiar with Seconde/Seconde/’s previous works. Each watch also features a numbered case back, emphasizing its limited-edition nature.

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This ongoing “IYKYK” series, which began in 2023, has carved a niche by blending Timex’s heritage with André’s unique artistic vision, creating extremely accessible yet collectible pieces. The latest Q Timexes continue this legacy with a fresh take on a vintage favorite for discerning collectors and casual enthusiasts alike, at a price that can’t be beat.

After a thrilling race in Monaco in July for the 5th grand prix of the 2025 E1 Series World Championship, the electric speedboat equivalent of Formula 1, legendary quarterback Tom Brady’s team is ahead on points to lead rivals including Rafa Nadal (#2), DJ Steve Aoki (#3), Will Smith / Westbrook Racing (#5) and LeBron James / Team Alula (#6). The margins are slim however, so the teams backed by Brady and his fellow celebs will have to be in top form for the final two races in Lagos (October) and Miami (November), where the final winner will be decided.

On the heels of Formula E, which has had great success positioning itself as a sustainable alternative to Formula 1, the E1 series, sponsored by Bombay Sapphire gin, staged its first race in in 2024. Brady was one of the first to sign on for team ownership, declaring, “I’m passionate about both the ocean and sustainability. The E1 series is a great opportunity to be involved in a sport that is at the forefront of innovation and action for a sustainable future.”

Aside from Brady and Bombay Sapphire, known for its distinctive blue bottle and its unique vapor-infusion process featuring a blend of handpicked botanicals, E1 has forged a strong connection to Monaco with the backing of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, who is equally passionate about oceanographic causes. The E1 “racebird” boats as they’re called are single-seater, all-electric hydrofoils with a top speed of 50 knots, designed for zero emissions and minimal impact on marine ecosystems.

E1’s Monaco race was staged in partnership with the famed Yacht Club de Monaco, where E1 pilots do much of their training. The E1 series is backed by Saudi Arabia’s PIF and overseen by Monaco-based UIM, Union Internationale Motonautique, the international governing body of powerboating. The Prince, Brady, Nadal, LeBron, and team owner Marc Anthony were all in attendance at the glamorous event.

At the Lord Norman Foster-designed Yacht Club de Monaco’s swimming pool overlooking Port Hercule, Bombay Sapphire created an E1-on-the-Riviera themed bar for VIPs, serving up signature cocktails such as the Bombay Sapphire Sparkling Lemon, the official cocktail of E1, made with Bombay Sapphire, fresh lemonade, and club soda. Team Brady pilot Sam Coleman—each time has one male and one female pilot—even tried his hand at making the signature drink.

“Bombay Sapphire partnered with E1 because of our shared values of sustainability, lifestyle, and joy of bringing something unique to consumers in the most iconic waterside cities in the world,” Bombay Sapphire Brand Director Jaime Keller tells Maxim.  “When it comes to sustainability, E1’s focus on electric racing and their blue impact marine regeneration”—a framework of initiatives to promote the restoration and regeneration of marine ecosystems worldwide—”speaks to our long-term values of sustainably such as our sustainable sourcing our botanicals from around the world.”

“Witnessing E1’s race in Monaco was incredible. Watching the boats zip across the Mediterranean from the Ocean Club, where spectators gathered along the shoreline, captured exactly the kind of moment we aim to create for sports enthusiasts and cocktail aficionados alike with this partnership.  With its storied racing history dating back to 1929 with the Monaco Grand Prix, the glamour of Monaco only added to the energy of the tournament. After watching the race live in Monaco, I’m excited for the race to come to the U.S. for the first time this fall.”

The race day was preceded by dramatic qualifying sessions on Friday, during which Nadal’s Team Rafa was involved in a high-speed crash that caused significant damage to their E1 RaceBird and led to a red flag and early end to qualifying; no one was injured. Team Blue Rising won the actual race but lags behind Brady, Nadal and Aoki in overall season standings, though it is ahead of LeBron’s Team Alula.

“The race here in Monaco was one of the most spectacular E1 has ever seen,” commented Rodi Basso, E1 founder and CEO. “It reflected the rich motorsport heritage of this country, with suspense and danger at every turn. Together with our team owners and the Yacht Club de Monaco, we are building a legacy here — redefining water racing and setting a new precedent in sport.”

The Spritz has lately had an impressive, multi-year run on the bar scene, but as you try to sip your way through to the end of another sweltering summer, it makes sense if the bright red bowl of ice and bubbles has gone a little flat. If you’re bored with the Aperol Spritz, or even if you never quite loved a spritz in the first place, there could be several reasons, but two of the most common complaints center on balance— either the spritz isn’t boozy enough for your tastes, or not refreshing enough.

The classic spritz is a simple drink: a mix of prosecco, amaro, and soda water in a 3-2-1 ratio. That ratio accomplishes everything a proper rendition must do: soda for a refreshing kick, amaro for depth and a boozy kick, and prosecco to round things out with sweetness and acidity. And yet, it also has the problem of being a little too simple, and being a little too cloying, which are criticisms that could also be leveled at the mimosa. There’s nothing wrong with mimosas, of course, but some mornings (and afternoons) call for a punchier drink, like Hemingway’s famous Death in the Afternoon (a super-chilled combination of champagne and absinthe).

Sometimes you want light and bright, sometimes you want bold and boozy. But regardless of how you want to spritz up a spritz, there are a few ways to do it. Here’s the hard truth: some people like a spritz because it’s a flavored prosecco drink, and that’s totally fine. But other people fall in love with an Aperol spritz for the Aperol, the way others fall in love with a Negroni for the Campari. 

Lighter drinks are easy, because it’s predominantly about upping the soda and ditching the prosecco. Los Angeles-based Caer Maiko Ferguson, the general manager at Father’s Office and co-founder of Daijoubu Pop Up, recommends an amaro highball — essentially a spritz minus the sparkling wine. These drinks maintain the aperitivo-hour standard of a cocktail that’s relatively light on the booze, but they can also be punched up. “I love a Cynar and soda with a twist or a Campari soda with a lime,” says Ferguson. “And a Fernet and coke will mess you up.”

For something a little more complex—perhaps worthy of toasting National Spritz Day—Ferguson prefers a Rome with a View, a drink created in the early 2000s by Michael McIlroy of NYC cocktail pioneers Milk & Honey. The recipe calls for Campari, switches the Americano’s sweet vermouth for dry vermouth, and adds simple syrup and lime juice before topping with soda water. “It’s definitely the Aperol spritz’s mature cousin,” Ferguson says, explaining it as a “Collins meets a Negroni. It’s one of my all time favorite cocktails.”

Rome with a View

• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz dry vermouth
• 1 oz lime juice
• 3/4 oz simple syrup 
• Soda water, to top

Directions: Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, and strain into a Collins glass over ice. Top with soda and garnish with a citrus wheel.

Ally Brennan, Bar Lead at Murray’s Tavern in Austin, offered another cousin to the Spritz on a recent summer menu: the classic Americano. It’s a deceptively simple cocktail of equal parts amaro and sweet vermouth, topped with soda — think an effervescent Negroni without the gin. Brennan pitches it to patrons as a “slightly boozier and still enjoyable spritz.” 

While Brennan offered her American with Campari, she also pointed out that drinks like the Americano are great for other amari, if you want to try something different. “You can swap out Campari for most amaros,” she explains. “Cynar makes a great swap. It adds a little bit of a darker vegetal depth to the Americano build, while also adding brightness. It plays well with most sweet vermouths and has a backbone like Campari.”

Which bright red amaro you select for your drink does matter, by the way. Campari tends to be considered the most bitter, with Aperol leaning toward the sweeter side of the spectrum. Ferguson loves Select Aperitivo — a Venice-born challenger to the likes of Campari and Aperol. “It’s a step bolder than Aperol,” Ferguson explains, “but more spritz friendly than Campari for most.” 

As for the boozier drinks, Ferguson likes Select Aperitivo in a Siesta cocktail — essentially a Hemingway Daiquiri retrofitted with tequila and amaro. Another hybridized drink worth considering is the Palazzo Paloma, where the amaro stands in for lime juice. 

Palazzo Paloma

• 1 oz Select Aperitivo
• 1 oz mezcal
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 4 oz Thomas Henry or Fever Tree grapefruit soda
• Pinch of sea salt

Directions: Fill a wine or balloon glass with ice. Add Select, mezcal, simple syrup, and top with grapefruit soda. Stir to combine, adding in a small pinch of sea salt as you stir. Optional garnish with a slice of grapefruit.

If you really just want to explore your favorite amari without rules, order a drink from your home bar, where you can experiment with what’s in your fridge. At home, private chef Maddy DeVita plays around with fresh syrups and shrubs to riff on the spritz. “ I’ve always been a vinegar lover,” explains DeVita, “so having a drink that was carbonated and sweet, yet punchy-tangy from the vinegar is practically my dream flavor profile. Shrubs lend themselves to using whatever fruits are in season.” DeVita, who is passing the hotter part of summer with a cocktail flavored by fresh strawberries and rhubarb, shared the recipes for her cocktail (which makes use of Amaro Montenegro) in a recent issue of her recipe newsletter.

Amaro and Shrub and Soda

• 2 oz Amaro Montenegro
• 1/2 oz strawberry rhubarb shrub
• Soda water
• Strawberry, halved with greens on for garnish

Directions: Fill your glass with ice and add amaro followed by strawberry syrup. Top with soda and use a long spoon to swirl the drink until evenly mixed. Garnish with a strawberry half.

It’s perfectly fine to love a spritz and to love how easy it is, of course — nobody’s saying you have to be making fresh syrups at home to appreciate aperitivo beverages. But if you’re not feeling it like you used to, ask your bartender for one of these drinks. Swap bottles at home and see what happens. Taste new amari — explore a new world. Amari can be a little intimidating, but the good news is that you’re unlikely to come across a bad one. And if you do, well, just add some prosecco and soda, and toss in some fruit. 

G. Clay Whittaker is a Maxim contributor covering lifestyle, whiskey, cannabis and travel. His work has also appeared in Bon Appetit, Men’s Journal, Cigar Aficionado, Playboy and Esquire. Subscribe to his newsletter Drinks & Stuff for cocktail swaps, perspectives on drinks, and stuff.

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It’s easy to tell when a designer is on a hot streak of sorts: Louis Vuitton creative visionary Pharrell Williams continues to leave his mark on the iconic fashion house, this time with a richly crafted Fall 2026 menswear capsule collection.

Set for release this September via Louis Vuitton, the collection takes a dandified approach to modern menswear, pairing high-low style moves effortlessly (like velvet logo loafers with blue cotton LV-adorned denim). Pharrell previously drew on nautical inspiration for his latest Louis Vuitton summer collection, while this offering harkens back to Ivy Leage prep and classic sportswear.

A sense of collegiate nostalgia courses through the collection, which seems to blend British sensibility with Northeast prep (witness an ultra-chunky pair of moc loafers, plus tartan ties and a series of tartan-patterned, covetable Louis Vuitton bags and accessories).

More refined and yet still just as sporty as Pharrell’s recent LV ButterSoft sneakers, the collection works in rich earth tones with deep blue and green plaid patterns, with rugby polos and at least one contrast-striped rowing blazer leaving their mark.

Not to be overlooked are a series of rich overcoats and topcoats, along with richly patterned “LV” accessories, including a bold golden-brown scarf. The collection is assuredly bold and aspirational, designed to complement Louis Vuitton’s upcoming Spring/Summer 2026 assortment. Pharrell’s flair for the dramatic also takes shape in the menswear assortment’s rotation of sunglasses, with the producer and music mogul harkening back to LV’s definitive early 2000s frame shapes.

Flaired denim and workwear trousers speak to the highest level of sartorial sensibility: These aren’t clothes just anyone can pull off, not unlike Pharrell’s travel-inspired, global worldview in his 2025 LV menswear collection released to kick off the year in fine fashion. Fashion outlet The Post called the collection a “masterclass on Ivy League dressing,” and it’s never been more clear that Pharrell is at the top of his game when it comes to tasteful swerves from stylistic norms.

This week, we’re turning the spotlight on five gorgeous women. From photoshoots to the runway, these ladies are breaking onto the scene one step at a time. Each one brings her own brand of brilliance, passion, and purpose. Join these lovely ladies on their quest for a Maxim Cover Girl competition crown at covergirl.maxim.com, and you could find yourself on set with Maxim, traveling abroad, or even creating content at next year’s Big Game Weekend. 

Francesca La Cerva (@francesca_luxe)

Francesca La Cerva is luxe queen. The aspiring musical theatre actress exudes pure passion while performing on stage. When she’s not lost in choreography, she finds beauty in quieter moments, brushing color onto canvas and scribbling lines of poetry.

Makayla Elliott (@makkelliott)

With heavily stamped passport, Makayla Elliott is always on the move. She carries a suitcase full of stories and a heart wide open to the world, moving through cities and seasons collecting moments that matter. If she wins the Elegance competition, $15,000 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a cause rooted deep in her story. “Breast cancer has sadly run through generations in my family,” she shares. “Many amazing women in my family have fought off the evil disease and won!”

Felicia Greenfield (@feliciag.nyc)

Felicia Greenfield moves through life with fearless grace and fierce compassion. She’s plant-based, proudly navigating midlife with wisdom that doesn’t flinch at noise or expectations. This movie star in the making is the kind of woman who rescues pit bulls by day and does her own stunt work by night. 

Kimberly Grice (@kimberlybrookeofficial)

Kimberly Grice is where vision meets grace. An actress, model, former beauty queen and MBA graduate, she’s the living proof that you can rule the boardroom and the ballroom, sometimes on the same day. She could be moving in time with a waltz or closing deals, it’s not about being flawless, it’s about being fully herself.

Tara Parker (@jordantaraa)

Tara Parker is the perfect contradiction, rooted like the earth but drifting effortlessly in the clouds. With her roller skates laced tight, Parker travels the world chasing thrills and good vibes. Parker’s energy is light, wild, and utterly uncatchable; she is leaving a trail of dreams and dust in her wake. 

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