Sunday, 1 June 2008

Delia Smith

Many of Delia Smith's recipes and television shows have avoided the complicated and focussed on good basic cooking. Her television series for BBC followed a similar theme. Shows and books including her Cookery Course, Delia Smith's Summer Collection, Delia Smith's Winter Collection and in 1998, her How to Cook relied on simple ingredients and basic cookery techniques.

Reportedly Delia's How to Cook led to a 10% increase in egg sales!

Delia Smith is also famous for her love of the Canaries. She is a director of Norwich City FC.

In the 2004/5 season Delia Smith attracted attention when at half time in the Norwich City v. Manchester City game she took the microphone and urged the crowd to "let's be having you", telling the Norwich supporters they were the team's 12th man which was just as well as Norwich had a man sent off in the second half!

In December 2004, Delia announced that she was quitting her television cookery shows "while the going is good". She told chat show host, Jonathan Ross:

"Now people want to be entertained, whereas I was trying to teach how to cook, that's where it's different."

In 2008, Delia Smith published Delia's How To Cheat At Cooking, her first book in four years.

In February 2008, around the publication of Delia's How To Cheat At Cooking, Delia Smith told The Times:

"We must try to find a way of educating people if they don't have the money on how to give their children the protein they need. We can't just say, 'buy organic', when people can't afford it. We have got to be able to give people alternatives. There is enough means to feed the planet but two thirds of the world lives below the poverty line."

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Sunday, 4 May 2008

Twiggy

"She had the body of a starvation victim and the face of an angel" is a very accurate statement for 1960’s model Twiggy. The petite model began her career at 14, weighing a meagre 91 pounds with no breasts and bony shoulders. She appeared alongside the sexual revolution and became an instant icon –a symbol for a new kind of woman with a streamlined, androgynous sex appeal. Twiggy was the embodiment of a different way of looking and dressing, and the different way of living that went with it.

Born Lesley Hornby on September 19th 1949 in the North of London, Twiggy was part of a middle class family and had a normal childhood during the 1950’s. At school she endured endless taunts about her slight frame, which earned her such names as "Sticks" and "Twigs". Twiggy dropped out of high school and sooner after got her first job as an assistant in a hair salon where she met Nigel Davies, the brother of her co-worker. They began seeing each other, much to the disapproval of her parents as he was 10 years her senior.



Davies was convinced that she had the looks to be a model and organised a photoshoot with a photographer friend. It was the photographer, Barry Lategan, who dubbed the young girl "Twiggy", whilst Davies took up the highfalutin French name of Justin de Villeneuve. Twiggy was seen as the anti-woman and an icon for women wanting to break out of the housewife stereotype. Stereotypical housewives wore covering, conservative clothing, and had large frames built for hugging and nurturing children. However, Twiggy wore mini skirts, was knock-kneed, gawky, awkward but still very girlish. Most significantly she had tiny frame with no breasts, and under-nourished limbs. The power of her appeal redefine femininity and created the image of a free, independent, yet professional female emerging from the 1960’s.

Twiggy and Justin de Villeneuve


Her modeling career took off after her photoshoot and she was proclaimed "The Face of ‘66" by British newspaper The Daily Express. She was such a young model that when first asked for an interview, she didn’t even know what an interview was. She was still a saucer-eyed teenager, shy, inarticulate, and answered almost every question with either "I dunno" or "Ask him" indicating her boyfriend Justin. Twiggy was now a phenomenon.

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Friday, 11 April 2008

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe's career as an actress spanned 16 years. She made 29 films, 24 in the first 8 years of her career.

Born as Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles General Hospital, her mother, Gladys, listed the fathers address as unknown. Marilyn would never know the true identity of her father.

Due to her mother's mental instability and the fact that she was unmarried at the time, Norma Jeane was placed in the foster home of Albert and Ida Bolender. It was here she lived the first 7 years of her life.

"They were terribly strict...they didn't mean any harm...it was their religion. They brought me up harshly."

In 1933, Norma Jeane lived briefly with her mother. Gladys begin to show signs of mental depression and in 1934 was admitted to a rest home in Santa Monica. Grace McKee, a close friend of her mother took over the care of Norma Jeane. "Grace loved and adored her", recalled one of her co-workers. Grace, telling her..."Don't worry, Norma Jeane. You're going to be a beautiful girl when you get big...an important woman, a movie star." Grace was captivated by Jean Harlow, a superstar of the twenties, and Marilyn would later say..."and so Jean Harlow was my idol."

Grace was to marry in 1935 and due to financial difficulties, Norma Jeane was placed in an orphanage from September 1935 to June 1937. Grace frequently visited her, taking her to the movies, buying clothes and perfume and teaching her how to apply makeup at her young age. Norma Jeane was to later live with several of Grace's relatives.

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Saturday, 12 January 2008

Audrey Hepburn

"Audrey fits none of the cliches and none of the cliches fit her" - Time Magazine

Innocent, ethereal in her rare beauty, Audrey Hepburn stood alone among the actresses of her time. Into the abundance of voluptuous American girls came this gamine with an enchanting Anglo-European accent. With her big eyes, long neck, demure smile, melodious voice and perfect wardrobe, that aura of an angel on earth, she dazzled moviegoers for decades and in her later years also worked hard as a special ambassador for UNICEF. Despite her glamour, charm and elegance, Hepburn is one star who has always been seen to have real heart. Traveling to areas afflicted by famine and devastation, Hepburn worked to raise public awareness of the plight faced by children in times of crisis. Her commitment to alleviate the suffering of children was intense and genuine.

This is also what makes her so difficult to recreate. Many people have tried, but none seem to be able to match that magic that Audrey carried in every bone in her body. Every person is unique, like their fingerprints and pashminas, but Audrey has definitely proved that something so unique just can't be remade. This is both good and bad, because to have a world of exact Audrey clones running around would ruin the effect, the pure magic that was her. But it's also sad to realize that out of the 6 billion (and growing) people on the planet, there was only – and will only over be – one Audrey Hepburn.

Always modest, Audrey described herself as an actress that didn't have much technique because she never learned to act. Her own acting technique, such as it was, simply consisted of hard work, intense concentration - and instinct. She had the magic ability to bridge the gap between herself and her audience, and to make her innermost feelings instantly known and shared. Director Billy Wilder once said of Audrey: "She had not gone to acting schools, she didn't hear the word Strasberg, she did not repeat in front of the mirror. She just was born with this kind of quality and she made it look so unforced, so simple, so easy." Hepburn was incredibly charismatic. Wilder also said: "What is really needed in order to become a star is an extra element which god gives you or doesn't give you. You're born with it. You cannot learn it. God kissed on her cheek and there she was." Most of the great movie stars have their partisans as well as detractors, but with Audrey Hepburn it is difficult to find negative comments.

"Audrey Hepburn? She was a popsicle in a black shift dress," says a designer who, not surprisingly, wishes to remain nameless. After all, who would dare publicly to criticise one of the 20th century's best-loved fashion and film icons? Mary Quant called her the "most stylish woman who ever lived". Hubert de Givenchy said she was "a gift from on high". Gregory Peck called her unique, Steven Spielberg considered her an angel, and Tom Cruise recently paid his girlfriend, Penelope Cruz, the highest compliment when he compared her elegance to that of the legendary Hepburn. There is no denying that Audrey Hepburn was, possibly more than any female star before or after her, the quintessential style icon.

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Thursday, 5 July 2007

Angelina Jolie

Love her or hate her, Angelina Jolie is infamous for breaking the rules.

Far from fitting into the Hollywood mould, she chooses to play unique strong characters much like herself, in movies like Girl Interrupted and Mr and Mrs Smith. She further separates herself from the Hollywood pack with her distinctive tattoos, risqué love life and work as a Good Will Ambassador for the United Nations. Despite these differences Angelina is still renowned as one of the hottest woman on the planet.

Simply Looking Good
When Angelina walks the red carpet she is a vision of glamour. Taking influence from the 1940s silhouette, Angelina wears long and lean outfits that show off her feminine curves. Tactile fabrics like silk, satin and leather are used to create smouldering sex appeal that puts her on Hollywood’s best dressed lists. The mother of two, however, has a more practical side too. Angelina's off work style is as smouldering and sexy as her on screen personas but is compiled with practicality in mind. A casual base of well cut denim, pants and sexy fitted tops are spiced up with ethnic details such as belts, earrings and necklaces.

Angelina, whose skin is usually a beautiful golden bronze, is often seen in shades of caramel and gold to accent her skin and dark features. We love the pictured tie waist camisole from Ezibuy label Urban . This basic long line camisole would look perfect with your favourite well cut denim, a pair of relaxed sandals and luxe ethnic jewellery for an Angelina inspired look.

In the Details
Any fashion follower will tell you that accessories maketh the look. This is obviously something Angelina ascribes to, whether it be a pair of gorgeous gold earrings, a simple chain necklace against a silk black gown or a killer pair of heels. This idea carries through to her day-to-day life. She is often spotted wearing relaxed resort-wear inspired hats, carrying over-sized safari inspired canvas carry alls, or my favourite, wearing a range of individual belts that spice up even the most plain pair of jeans.

When looking for accessories, look at the details such as buckles, buttons or gold, silver and shell detailing. Angelina maintains a natural look during the day and keeps the simple slinky shiny look for the red carpet. We love the pictured matte gold and brown suede plait belt from Dotti. This would look great with a pair of jeans or over one of this season’s silk summer dresses to add a bit of spice.

Bare Faced Vamp
Gracing the cover of magazines like Vogue and Instyle, Angelina's modelling background has served her well. She is listed among Hollywood’s best for her style, beauty and sexiness, with a look that is easy to achieve at home.

Her glowing, golden skin is achieved by applying a base of light illuminating foundation and then lightly brushing over a golden bronzing powder to set. A subdued apricot toned gel or liquid blush is then applied to the cheeks. Focus on the apple and then blend in to achieve a subtle glow. The eye lids are coated with an illuminating cream based eye shadow in a grey.

Bronzer is then dabbed in the inner eye using a q-tip and the eyes are lined with a black eyeliner pencil working from the outside in. Eyelashes are made vixenish with two coats of mascara. Apply from the very base of the eyelash and move up flicking away from the eye. Perfectly brown pencilled eyebrows frame the eye to create a moody and seductive look.

With lips like Angelina’s you need to do very little. If you are blessed in the same way, neutral tones will serve you best. If you want more luscious lips then brush over a coat of gloss.

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Grace Kelly

Elegance is refusal. Refusal to follow others. Aptitude to be yourself. Grace Kelly was high style. Genteel and timeless. Her own.

The Grace Kelly Look emphasized simple lines, superb materials, soft, pastel colours. White gloves, silk scarves and low-heeled shoes. Sleek hairstyles, transparent make-up, discreet use of jewelry. Ethereal chic and refinement. Natural and unpretentious sophistication. Delicacy and class.

Grace Kelly worked mostly with two costume designers - Edith Head and Helen Rose. Edith Head designed clothes for several Kelly films but only Hitchcock's Rear Window and To Catch a Thief gave her the real opportunity to put the graceful actress in a luxurious wardrobe.

In Rear Window Grace was cast as a Park Avenue magazine editor dressed perfectly in dazzling combinations of Dior's New Look. Her affluent, slightly aloof appearance was set up against Stewart's insecurity and the clothes were used to establish some of the conflicts in the story.

To Catch a Thief was all in chiffon and gold. Pastel and classy. With two elegantly beautiful stars set in the spectacular riviera scenery. Grace played a glamorous American heiress wearing lavishing outfits that reflected chic and gentility of the southern France.

The stylish cooperation continued off-screen, colouring many events in Grace's life. The sleek ice-blue satin dress worn for her Academy Award acceptance was also an Edith Head creation.

Helen Rose was a MGM designer who dressed Grace Kelly for her home studio films. But, most of all, she was the author of her fabulous wedding gown. The subtle, princely dress was made of yards of silk, silk taffeta, silk tulle and rich, antique Valenciennes lace.

Princess Grace brought a sense of style and class to everything she did, setting the fashion standards for next decades.

In 1956 she arrived in New York carrying a large, almost square handbag she had purchased at Hermes in Paris. Henceforward it became known as the Kelly bag.

In Hollywood, in Monaco, throughout the world, Grace Kelly radiated natural nobility and aristocratic elegance. Beauty, charm, unsurpassed class, she had them all.

Learn how to tie the Grace Kelly pashmina

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