George Clooney makes the best of being one of the most influential people in the world. The A-list Hollywood actor greeted the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces on their 60th anniversary through a video, Peace Is Hard.
"Peace is certainly more than a celebrity endorsement. Peace is protecting civilians, overseeing elections and disarming ex-combatants ... in places others can't or won't go," says the 47-year old George Clooney.
Global warming does affect fashion. While most people have separate winter and summer wardrobes before, a happy combination of both is in demand these days because it will last the whole year through.
"People aren't really interested in heavy winter coats. They want year-round materials because the seasons have become so erratic, " says one fashion designer.
"Women want things that can cross climates and seasons. They want clothes that are neither high summer nor deep winter," added Harriet Quick, Vogue fashion features editor.
"The season shift has become a very real part of our work and it has definitely affected how we design and the way we go about doing business."
So as the changing season always makes way for new trend in fashion, designers are also considering climate change when it comes to designing clothes and running their businesses nowadays.
Although Sharon Stone apologized for making some rather bold assertions at the Cannes Film Festival, in China's eyes it was too little too late.
Dior China confirmed on Thursday that they will be removing and recalling all advertisements in China featuring spokeswoman Sharon Stone.
Additionally, the founder of a major cineplex chain with branches in Shanghai and Beijing has commented that his cinema chain is now boycotting all of Sharon Stone's movies.
"I don't like overdone or being too put-together."
"I like casual chic. Eclectic style. I want to feel like I can go anywhere, whatever I'm wearing."
"I found these jeans today and was, like, 'Well hello, Abercrombie jeans!' They're really old, and I love them. I don't care that they've got holes in them."
"I'm Cuban, so I'm drawn to things that sparkle. I like to use accessories to give things a bit of my own flavor."
"I'm a woman. Of course I'm dating. And is that so surprising? Oh my god, she's dating! ...I trust my judgment."
"My list is all about balance. You can have smart but not funny. You can have funny but not very smart. You can have intellectual but not social. But ... I want it all!"
"I thought I'd be married and have kids by the time I was 22. But when I got to 22, I realized that wasn't what I wanted, which was a huge lesson for me... Am I going to have a baby? Who knows? I don't. I'm not going to live my life looking just for that. How can I know what my future holds? ...How about this -- I am happy right now. Does that count for anything?"
"They just celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary. They're just really good, cool people."
"I know I'll never be in a situation where I can't get to somebody for support."
"My dad was so loved by so many people, and his humor and spirit will always live in our hearts... He said he'd always back me up if I got in trouble. He is a good man, stand up and loyal."
Indeed, Cameron is just a laid-back girl, a laid-back one who happened to be gifted with talent and beauty so much that its impossible not to be noticed by the camera.
Beverly Johnson and Kim Alexis Team-up For Mature Model Challenge
(Once) Top Models Beverly Johnson and Kim Alexis are all set for the mature model challenge.
Kim Alexis will host a new reality TV contest for models aged 35 and over while Beverly Johnson will be one of the judge of the show.
55-year old Beverly Johnson is one of the first black models in history and rose to fame as the first African-American cover model of the American Vogue magazine in August 1974. Kim Alexis is the blonde supermodel known for her passion for athletics. She used to be the host of many health shows on top TV channels.
Kim Alexis and Beverly Johnson will enliven many aging model wannabes who always have the passion for modeling but had to set aside their catwalk dreams for their family or for love.
Now 48-year old, the stunning Kim Alexis serves as inspiration as she believes, "It’s a chance to enhance women over 35 who still look good and feel good about themselves and want a second chance at something.”
With graceful women like Kim Alexis and Beverly Johnson on the mature model challenge, aging women everywhere (models or not) will be inspired to realize that it's never too old to feel sexy and beautiful and set new fashion trends for the whole world to see.
While in LA on a business trip last week, I dined at the Hollywood outpost of Katsuya whose celeb patrons include Brad Pitt, John Mayer and Sir Ben Kingsley.
While the food and ambiance were tantalizing, the biggest highlight was the creative cocktails.
My companion went the risky route and ordered the "Burning Mandarin" that came heavily endorsed by our waiter. Featuring Absolut Mandarin, crushed Serrano chiles, orange, cranberry and lemon juices and a sugared rim, this drink was surprisingly refreshing on the palate.
While I played it a bit safer, nonetheless, my "Bubbles and Pears" cocktail was a sensational combination of sake, pear vodka, clover honey syrup and Prosecco.
Whip up your own multi-sensory Burning Mandarin by clicking here!
Filmmaker extraordinaire Sydney Pollack succumbed to cancer in his Pacific Palisades home on Monday afternoon at the age of 73.
A very kind and talented man I had the pleasure of working with, Pollack not only garnered an Oscar for helming "Out of Africa" but led a number of renowned actors and actresses to Oscar-winning performances. In addition to serving as a director, Pollack also produced a slew of films and even turned out some memorable acting performances (including "Michael Clayton", "Eyes Wide Shut" and even appearances on HBO's "Entourage").
In the words of his colleague George Clooney (Pollack executive produced "Leatherheads"): "Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better. A tip of the hat to a class act. He'll be missed terribly."
France will no longer be just a Cannes trip for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Soon it will become their home. And it's called Chateau Miraval.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie was reported to buy the $60 million 1,000-acre estate in the south of France, in a village called Brignol, which is near from Aix-en-Provence.
Accordingly, the pre-Roman luxury estate is called Chateau Miraval. It has 35 bedrooms, a swimming pool, billiards room, indoor pool, his-and-hers gyms, sauna and jacuzzi and a huge banquet hall. Aside from these, the place is home to a vineyard, a lake, a forest and a moat. And then there is stone-walled terraces replanted with 13 different varieties of olives, with water found everywhere around magnificent estate—20 fountains, aqueducts and a stream that runs through hidden tunnels, passes through the moat and fills the lake.
But its not the marvelous facilities and wonderful surrounding that the Brangelina couple just loved. It's the total privacy. With ponies and goats grazing in the nearby fields, the house is surrounded by a forest. "No one will ever be able to get pictures of them relaxing at home, it's just impossible."
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is expected to completely moved in within the next three months or sooner. And then their children Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and the soon-to-be-born twins are going to be playing house in high style. Awww... the good life almost often comes with a price, literally.
After the solar bra, here comes another eco-friendly invention especially made for women – the “teeny weeny itsy bitsy” little Salmon Skin Bikini.
In her dream of seeing fashion as a tool to help women overcome poverty by taking traditional, local materials and molding them into high-priced luxury items, Chilean Designer Claudia Escobar invented the Salmon Skin Bikini.
Made from discarded bits of salmon skin, the Lycra-trimmed, ultra-mini salmon-skin bikini, which have been boasted by the designer for its durability and elasticity, sells for about 250 pounds ($494.9). Fish skins like that of salmon's is regarded as versatile leather. Thus, it has fragile, iridescent nature but with the strength and durability of a man made fiber. The eco-friendly bikini is also said to dry more quickly than most swimsuits and they are less likely to sag and give you a droopy bum. But best part for the phenomenal Salmon Skin Bikini is that it has no fishy smell (of course, nobody would ever wear them if they have).
Smells fishy? The saleability of the Salmon-Skin Bikini is yet to be proven.
Dubbed as “The Battle of the Two Davids,” the 7th Season of the “American Idol” face-off was concluded on Wednesday as rocker David Cook won against the silken-voice rival David Archuleta.
The 25-year old David Cook is now the official American Idol and will receive a recording contract, courtesy of Sony BMG.
The rocker unexpectedly received the honor. He had stood back to applaud his young 17-year old rival only to hear his name being announced as the winner of the most popular U.S. television show that have become a pop culture phenomenon.
David Cook has always been an outstanding performer in the competition, thanks to his updated, rock versions of famous pop classics. However, he seemed to be outperformed by the young David during their final performance on Tuesday night. The smiling David Archuleta sang his pitch-perfect renditions of "Imagine" by John Lennon (which is also a popular song these days, thanks to Yoko Ono and the song's copyright controversy) and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John.
However, the contest was decided by a telephone and text-messaging vote where David Cook received 56 percent to Archuleta's 44 percent. The votes for the two Davids was a record-breaking response from the audience as they garnered a record 97.5 million votes between them, beating the previous record by 23 million.
Before American Idol he was only tending bar and playing in a band. Now that David Cook is the new American Idol, he is already ensured of a promising music career ahead. And while his winning is an edge as a rising singer, David Archuleta need not to worry. He is so young and talented, and very charming too. Music and career will surely seek him.
Pregnant Jessica Alba, 27, quietly weds her long-time boyfriend producer 31-year old Cash Warren on Monday.
So “quiet” was the affair that even Jessica Alba's brother seemed clueless about the wedding. Josh Alba was apparently caught off-guard when asked by US Weekly magazine as he responded, "My sister!? I'm going to have to call her!"
Jessica Alba and Cash Warren met on the set of "The Fantastic Four” which was filmed in 2005 and where the she played as the feisty Invisible Woman and employed Warren as a director's assistant. Their engagement was opened to the public last year, followed by Jessica Alba's announcement that she's expecting a baby with Warren.
Asked if Warren was good husband material, Jessica Alba replied, "Well, he's my brother-in-law now!"
Well, the media is just waiting for many Jessica Alba and Cash Warren updates in the days to come. As for now, our lips are sealed (shhhh!)...
The 37-year old Kate Moss remains one of the most influential supermodel and product endorsers to date. Proof? Her latest Topshop collections which went on sale this morning in London in Topshop's Oxford Circus flagship has caused a shopping frenzy.
As reported, two hundred of the coveted red pansy dresses were sold in the first hour and a half. According to a company spokesman, more than 2.5million page views were expected on the company's website - the only other place where this Kate Moss collection can be bought apart from Oxford Circus.
Because of the success of the clothing line, reports have it that it will open its first New York store in October, with the phenomenal supermodel Kate Moss as its lucky charm.
Ever imagine seeing lovely girls wearing the most beautiful gowns, adorned by colorful and lovely flowers all in bloom? No, this is not a trip to fairy land, but to Flowerlandia. In its seventh year, the Village Care of New York's annual "Tulips and Pansies: The Headdress Affair" brings all fashionistas and beauty lovers to a world where fashion and floral collides.
Held on May 15, New York's top florists joined forces with the city's most creative fashion designers to create the loveliest floral headdresses that were presented in a fashion show that aimed to raise funds to support Village Care's medical and other support programs for the 1500 AIDS and HIV patients that it is serving on a daily basis.
As for the models and the designers, the fashion show is a venue to present a headdress that “challenged gravity and gave a whole new meaning to the famous sixties song lyric, 'If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair."
Everything was so delicate and fair, as flowers and florists exquisitely weave flowers into the models' hair. In the end, top four most wonderful creations came victorious (and glamorous). "Most Outrageous" was Empress 13 Anne Tique of Imperial Court of New York and Brian Fischer of Morningside Greenhouse for the giant headdress made of pencil cactus, orchids, peony petals and tillandesis; "Most Beautiful" came to Alexis Bittar and Flowers Rock's Victorian Cyber Goth creation; "Most Original" went to FORM New York and Aristocratic by Tammy's white orchid and blue ostrich feather design and "Most Engaging" was awarded to the biggest headdress of the evening, Betsey Johnson and David Tutera's "pussy willow chapeau" with irises, petal brim and grass construction.
Take a glimpse at the wonderful world of floral fashion in "Headdress Affair" and prepare to be mesmerized:
Unlike her portrayed character in top-rating TV series, “Sex and the City,” where she played the fashion slave Carrie Bradshaw, 43-year old Sarah Jessica Parker confesses that clothes do not play a big role in real life than with her role on TV.
Dressing for work? Here's what Sarah Jessica Parker has to say: "I am a mother, wife and working woman in the first place, clothes do not play such a big role in my life than they do in Carrie's,... And there is no favorite designer or accessory as there is Manolo Blahnik for Carrie — there are so many talented and exciting designers, I could not possibly choose one favorite."
Lucky for Sarah Jessica Parker – There are too many clothes out there for career fashion which are just as fashionable as their designer clothes counterparts. She need not be a fashion slave to have one.
Being one of the oldest and most prestigious festival, the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival has started on May 14, and just as fabulous as its earlier affairs with many Hollywood stars who ramped all the way from USA to France to witness a showcase of European films.
As expected, stars are donned in fabulous gowns and dresses. Let's take a glimpse at some of the brightest Hollywood celebs, courtesy of their mesmerizing designer gowns.
Julianne Moore was in a feathery creation from Christian Lacroix couture from the designer's spring '08 collection. Cate Blanchett posed in a layered shell pink Armani Prive one-shoulder gown with ruffled detailing. Actress and model Devon Aoki wore a shimmery ombre dress and high ponytail to the premiere of “Blindness.” Natalie Portman was in bright purple ruffled number from Lanvin's spring '08 collection. Mischa Barton looked sophisticated in a navy fishtail dress by Alberta Ferretti. Eva Longoria was in striking blue Versace dress.
Anyway, the focus of the Cannes Film Festival activity are not the Hollywood stars but the movies that make it to the Cannes entries. So move over fabulous celebs!
The good people at PopSugar are generously giving their readers an opportunity to win a trip for four to San Francisco to attend an exclusive screening of the movie on May 28th, a full 2 days before the sex crazed sophisticates are slated to hit the big screen!
Click here for the official rules and if you are eligible, click here to enter and take a quick SATC trivia quiz (which I found a bit tricky).
Eco-Friendly, iPOD-Charging, Water-Giving Solar Bra?
Triumph International Japan unveiled its latest innovation in the world of lingerie – a solar-powered, photovoltaic-powered bra that is boasted for its eco-friendly and iPOD-charging features.
The solar energy bra is said to be designed to stimulate eco-awareness and promote clean energy. In a shade of green, the solar bra is a high-quality cotton bra, said to ensure that its production has the highest possible impact on the environment. It has a waist-mounted, detachable solar panel that powers a small, chest-mounted electronic billboard, iPOD, or any other electronic device opted to connect especially when strolling on the beach. It also has a pair of reusable drink containers (actually, plastic pouches that can be filled with water) that is attached to the bra cups, which allows the wearer to reduce consumption of hard-to-recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles, while increasing bust size. The containers can be collapsed and stored in small pockets in the cups when not in use.
Pretty cool huh!
Yet, solar bra is still not available in the market these days.
Still at the "concept" stage, it has several problems that have to be solved – probably on top of the list is how effective is its solar-capability when wearers put on shirts over the bra. Why, of course, women can't be wearing just the bra all the time!
The most-awaited movie to the top-rating series premieres in London on Monday.
Lead actresses Kirstin Davis,Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker arrive at the World Premiere of Sex in the City at the Odeon Leicester Square.
With glamorous, eccentric outfits, and career woman fashion that were donned by the lead stars to give life to their characters on TV, the London Square brightened for the world premiere of the cinematic sequel.
The stars came in London in designer clothes that reflects their character in the Sex and the City series – Sarah Jessica Parker wore a pale green dress by Alexander Mcqueen, adorned with a hat bearing flowers, grasses and a butterfly. Kim Cattrall wore a red Vivienne Westwood dress, Cynthia Nixon was in a floor length black pleated Calvin Klein gown, and Kirstin Davis wore a more modest vintage fuchsia dress.
As for the reported protests of American fans who expected to view the premiere of the movie in New York, as immortalized by its TV series, Cynthia Nixon said that the London premiere is just a build up to the main event in New York.
London or New York, the premiere of Sex and the City made a highly-publicized and delightful event that hopefully equal the plot of the movie.
Miley Cyrus, Brangelina, Oprah Winfrey, and Dalai Lama Joins The List of 100 Most Influential People
Many Hollywood celebrities join the list of this year's 100 Most Influential People, the 5th annual release by Time Magazine.
This time, it includes the 15-year old Miley Cyrus who has been the subject of many gossips from her Vanity Fair pictorial, where she appeared backless and wearing only bed sheet to cover her body.
The power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie also make it to the list. But not just on the list of artists and entertainers. Brangelina top the list of Heroes and Pioneers as they are recognized for many charity works which have inspired many celebrities to serve their own charities and humanitarian campaigns.
Tailing them on the list is the most influential talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, whose high profile best served her Oprah's Angel Network, the organization that has built 200 homes for Habitat for Humanity and sent 150 students to college.
Joining Miley Cyrus on the list of most influential artists and entertainers are drug-survivor Iron Man's Robert Downer Jr., music icon Mariah Carey, and Hollywood A-list George Clooney.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton need not to fight each other this time, as both of them were listed on the most influential leaders and revolutionaries along with the Dalai Lama.
The complete list of the 100 Most Influential People is as follows: Leaders & Revolutionaries: Dalai Lama Vladimir Putin Barack Obama Hillary Clinton John McCain Hu Jintao George W. Bush Jacob Zuma Anwar Ibrahim Kevin Rudd Bartholomew I Ben Bernanke Muqtada al-Sadr Robert Gates Michelle Bachelet Sonia Gandhi Baitullah Mehsud Evo Morales Ma Ying-jeou Ashfaq Kayani
Heroes & Pioneers: Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Oprah Winfrey Oscar Pistorius Mia Farrow Andre Agassi Lance Armstrong Bob and Suzanne Wright Peter Gabriel Kaká Sheik Mohammed al-Maktoum Yoani Sánchez Madeeha Hasan Odhaib Randy Pausch Lorena Ochoa Tony Blair Alexis Sinduhije Aung San Suu Kyi George Mitchell
Scientists & Thinkers: Michael Bloomberg Craig Venter Jill Bolte Taylor Larry Brilliant Jeff Han Mehmet Oz Nancy Brinker Harold McGee Peter Pronovost Eric Chivian & Richard Cizik Mary Lou Jepsen Paul Allen Nicholas Schiff Mark Zuckerberg Wendy Kopp Shinya Yamanaka & James Thomson Michael Griffin Susan Solomon Isaac Berzin
Artists & Entertainers: Lorne Michaels Miley Cyrus Robert Downey Jr. Herbie Hancock Joel & Ethan Coen Bruce Springsteen Peter Gelb Mariah Carey Khaled Hosseini Elizabeth Gilbert Rem Koolhaas Judd Apatow Alex Rigopulos & Eran Egozy George Clooney Tim Russert Suze Orman Stephenie Meyer Tyler Perry Tom Stoppard Chris Rock Takashi Murakami
Builders & Titans: Indra Nooyi Ali al-Naimi Rupert Murdoch Steve Jobs Radiohead John Chambers Jeff Bezos Jay Adelson Steve Ballmer Jamie Dimon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Lou Jiwei Neelie Kroes Jeffrey Immelt Karl Lagerfeld Lloyd Blankfein Carlos Slim Mo Ibrahim Ratan Tata Cynthia Carroll Carine Roitfeld Michael Arrington
Not only has the CW picked up "90210", the spinoff to one of our favorite guilty pleasure TV shows, but two of the former stars are rumored to be on board.
In addition to Kelly Taylor making a return as a guidance counselor at the high school, it is rumored that Donna Martin will be featured on the spin-off as well!
What other characters would you like to see on the spin-off? I personally am hoping for a Steve Sanders cameo!
It's another court drama for the "blonde with an edge," Uma Thurman. And this time it does not involved a disturbed fan but a giant cosmetics company that is as agitated as the Hollywood actress in winning a legal battle.
Kill Bill's Uma Thurman and French cosmetics giant Lancome are battling over the use of the star's name and image in one advertising campaign.
In April 2000, Uma Thurman signed a two-year contract for Lancome, with option to extend the agreement for another two years. Under the terms, Lancome agreed to pay Thurman $5.8 million for the first two years and $3.1 million for each additional year, if the company exercised its option.
And so the battle begins. The actress, who did not signed up for an extension to her contract, demanded $1 million for unauthorized use of her Lancome name and face on Canadian billboards and Asian Web sites after her contract expired. Lancome denied the accusation, saying that it does not have control over people who uses the actress' name and image. It also filed a lawsuit to counter the actress' demand.
Paris Hilton teams up with Sally Beauty Supply to make profit out of hair extensions.
Clipin-Go by Paris Hilton will be currently available in an 18-inch length while the company is still designing the variations of the look in different colors, lengths and styles. All of the hair extension designs are available in 10 shades, said to be designed as an "affordable yet chic" line of hair help extensions.
Paris Hilton already made some promotional talking for her business career, "I've been wearing hair extensions for years and have tried other products that didn't work. When I started using DreamCatchers from my line I started using the best quality and styles. I'm always coming up with new ideas because I love coming up with fun hairstyles."
The collection of Paris Hilton's Hair Extensions will be sold exclusively at the fashion shop of Sally Beauty Supply stores and website starting this month and will retail for $79.99.
While Sally Beauty Supply takes charge of the retailing (The company is the world's largest specialty retailer of professional beauty and hair care products with 2,300 stores in the US and Canada), the highly-profiled Paris Hilton will do all the publicity and promotion.
Ever since a catchy little karaoke standby called "The Locomotion" surfaced, I have been in Kylie Minogue's corner. From her arduous struggle with cancer and a messy break-up, Kylie consistently epitomized class while facing these obstacles under the scrutiny of the public eye.
So not surprisingly, I was pleased to see her resurface last spring with a successful swimwear line.
Even more recently, this week has proved to be quite fruitful for Miz Minogue.
Specifically, not only was Kylie knighted in France on Monday, but last night, she kicked off her X2008 tour to rave reviews. From several dazzling costume changes to intricate sets and most importantly, a high-adrenaline performance, Kylie reminded us why we just "can't get her out of our heads".
Former O.C. star Mischa Barton went on vacation in Australia and casually wear two-piece bikini that showed off her unflattering marks on her bottom and thighs – cellulites!
But Mischa just shrugs her shoulders and hits back at her critics by saying that she loves her body and there is nothing wrong with it.
Learn from this beautiful woman and her confidence that have made her even more interesting:
"Every woman has cellulite. I've never claimed to have a perfect body.
"I eat healthy, I work out. I feel very comfortable. I come from a European family that's always very comfortable with their bodies. You are what you are as a woman.
"If I'm in shape and I'm fulfilling my role as an actress, then that's all that matters to me. There's been a lot of nasty gossip written about me. If I was to cry over every single thing, I'd be the most depressed person ever."
Mischa, however, admits she has let negative press attention get to her in the past. But she got over her insecurities and now face the bright world with many things to show than her legs.
"Trust me, there have been some low points in my life where I got really depressed about it, but in general, I find it's smarter to not get depressed and not feed into it."
Well yeah, cellulite is really disgusting. But there's more to a woman's body than just stretch marks.
Madonna will be turning 50 this year and though this may not seem noticeable from her gorgeous celebrity body and continuing success in the music industry, she has proven that adapting to changes – that is, finding something new and different, is the approach that has kept her on top for most of her 25-year recording career and puts her on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.
Recently, the pop queen releases her album "Hard Candy" on Warner Brothers Records and has already signed a deal with Live Nation.
Aside from music, Madonna has lots of humanitarian projects especially in the AIDS-stricken country of Malawi. She's building a girls school and orphan care center. She's looking after a lot of kids on scholarship funds. And she's seeing making the documentary film, “I Am Because We Are" that talks about Malawi and its problems on AIDS and poverty.
Madonna has taken a lot of inspiration and hope from Malawi. Despite the poor condition of most people in the country, Madonna says, “I did find hope there because in spite of all of the hardships that people have to endure there, as I say in the film, I saw so much happiness there. I saw that people with so little had so much appreciation for life and so much joy. It gave me a real sense of appreciation for what I have and it made me, it put things in perspective for me. ... We have so much and we can often get caught up in our little stupid problems. The kids have nothing to play with. They get plastic bags and bunch them together in what looks like a ball with twine and that is their soccer ball. They are happy. It is fine. You get a real sense of appreciation there.”
And so it becomes clear. The pop queen who was once preoccupied with glamour as a sex symbol in earlier Hollywood have now broaden her concept of being famous and influential to include humanitarian endeavor and the philosophy of simple living. Madonna has a new different sense of appreciation and joy in letting life as it is – perhaps, that carefree and graceful outlook that makes her look radiant and beautiful even at the golden age of 50.
