Lifestyle briefs

Nov 17, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Men's fashion: Cardigan making a comeback this season

Berlin (dpa) - 'The knitted cardigan is the new suit jacket,' is the message from fashion company Marc O'Polo. In Europe, it's not uncommon to see young fashion-conscious men wearing cardigans that don't look like they inherited them from their grandfathers, but are both trendy and sporty looking. Trend-setting Istanbul is where lots of teenagers can be found on the elegant Istiklal Avenue wearing thick, woolly cardigans with buttons. In many cases it looks like the designs have indeed been based on suit jackets. The cardigan even gets a recommendation in the Top 10 section of the Ralph Lauren style guide: 'Consider wearing a cardigan over your shirt and tie and doing away with your jacket for a more casual look.'

Vienna to provide garages for cyclists

Vienna (dpa) - The authorities in the Austrian capital are preparing to launch a new project that will ease the parking situation for bicycle owners in the city centre. As part of the pilot project, empty shops and storerooms will be used to house bicycles in the inner city area where there is little space to park a bike safely. The city's Technical University and a group of architects came up with the idea of renting parking space for between 13-20 dollars a month. Bicycle owners will gain access to the shops and stores with a code and card. The first garage for about 50 bicycles is to go into service in 2012.

Recipe-centred German supermarket to expand

Berlin (dpa) - A German food store that arranges its products according to recipes is set to expand. In September 2010 the Kochhaus opened in Berlin with the owners predicting it would end the zigzag trail that shoppers have to make as they walk through supermarkets. In the Kochhaus, ingredients are portioned to the exact amount needed for use in a recipe. Six months later a second Kochhaus opened in Berlin and a third store is to open in Hamburg in December.

Swiss 'problem agency' goes global

Bern, Switzerland (dpa) - If you don't have enough problems in your life, there is a Swiss agency that can help. Needaproblem.com calls itself the 'address for happy people leading a carefree life. In order that life doesn't become too boring and monotone (it) provides ... real problems to solve.' The website offers problems ranging from trivial concerns for 1 euro to almost impossible-to-solve problems for 5,000 euros (6,938 dollars). They include disassembling a ballpoint pen and arranging a fireworks display on Mauritius. Each problem is sent by email to clients and can even be given as a gift. 'All of our problems have been carefully chosen,' write the people behind the company. After initially finding customers in German-speaking central Europe, Needaproblem.com is now available in English.

German smokers turn to beer closets

Munich (dpa) - Nightclub-goers often have to contend with not being able to take their drinks outside the premises if they need to smoke. Enter the beer closet. Three nightclubs in Munich have installed the closets where drinks can be left before going outside. Guests need to remember which drink they had as there are no check numbers such as can be found in cloakrooms.