Apr 24, 2013

Top 7 Iconic Male Fashion Celebrities

We are seeing a rise in male celebrities participating in fashion by attending shows, wearing designer off-the-runway looks and by getting involved with fashion magazines. To honor those celebrities who provide inspiration to guys everywhere, here are the top seven iconic male fashion celebrities:

7. Jay-Z


With his own incredibly successful line of clothing founded in 1999, Jay-Z has been one of the most prominent fashion icons in hip-hop. Known for using rich fabrics such as suede, fur and leather, his brand Rocawear takes hip-hop culture from the music videos to your closet and represents a reflection of Jay-Z's personal style.

6. Sean Combs


Another major hip-hop artists who started a fashion brand, Combs, is responsible for the Sean John Clothing line. The man himself has been featured on several magazine covers including GQ. Sean John is sold at Macy's, one of the largest department stores in the United States and has become one of the largest brands designed by a musician in the history of fahsion.

5. Kanye West


Kanye is a controversial character in music just as he is in fashion. Kayne's use of bold colors and fabrics has given critics plenty to talk about and yet he always seems to put together complex looks. West has also been seen at high-end fashion shows, often times his outfit reflectng the designer.

4. David Beckham


Beckham is the first athlete to make our list and one of the first major icons of the 21st Century. Not only is he a premier trend-setter when it comes to hair, he also has become iconic for his daring fashion choices. Beckham also makes his name relevant in the fashion industry by being the Bodywear spokesmodel for H&M and becoming the face of Breitling watches. Beckham's style is sophisticated, sleek with a dash of the bad boy image.

3. Jamie Foxx


This male fashion icon had been inspiring us for years and recently stepped up his game for the red carpet circuit in 2013. The Oscar-winning actor isn't afraid of adding color to a simple suit. Foxx's style is a blend of the intense color palette of the 1980's with the sophisticated, modern style of today.

2. Justin Timberlake


With his latest album being released in early 2013, JT has been seen promoting in some of the finest suits around. He is known for blending the chic look of the Rat Pack with modern accessories and colors. Timberlake has established himself as one of the best dressed musicians both on the red carpet and in his music videos.

1. Russell Westbrook


This point guard might score on the basketball court, but he has been making tsunami sized waves with his fashion choices from his post-game interviews. Westbrook mixes prints, colors and textures to create outfits that are always interesting and never boring. He was also honored by becoming the first athlete ever to be on the cover of Flaunt, a magazine that focuses on art, fashion, music and more.

This article was written by Abi who writes for men’s clothing website ark.co.uk who sell popular branded fashion from the likes of Fred Perry, Hearts & Bows, Cloak & Dagger, Superdry, Humor, Glamorous and more.

Image Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Apr 11, 2013

Extravagant Celebrity Car Purchases

No matter how much money we throw at celebrities, they always seem to find ways of spending it. From Justin Bieber’s $25,000 ‘Family guy’ necklace, to Victoria Beckham’s 24 karat gold iPhone 4, there seems to be no end to the imagination of celebrities with piles of money burning a hole in their pocket. Whilst some just make us cringe with the frivolous waste these celebrities flaunt, others we can only watch and envy. Celebrities throwing away money on pointless status symbols is a far cry from owning the fastest, rarest and sexiest supercars in the world, so here’s a few of our favourites.

 

Nicholas Cage’s Ferrari Enzo - $670,000

car

Probably the best know supercar ever built, the Enzo has a top speed of 217mph and a 0-60 time of 3.4 seconds. Only 400 models of the iconic, 12 cylinder, 6.0 litre Ferrari, named after the company’s founder Enzo Ferrari, were ever produced, and actor Nicholas Cage is reported to have spent $670,000 on his. Could be a bargain, considering that the 400th model is reported to have sold at auction for $1,274,229 in 2005, with the proceeds going to the survivors of the 2004 Tsunami.

 

Jerry Seinfeld’s Porsche 959 - $700,000

car

Avid car enthusiast and owner of one of the largest Porsche collections in the world, Jerry Seinfeld paid $700,000 for his Porsche 959, one of only 337 ever built and the centrepiece of his collection. To his despair, he was not initially allowed to drive it since it would not pass US emission tests, though it was eventually made street legal in 1999 under the “show and display” federal law.  

 

Kanye West’s Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 - $750,000

car

For his 35th birthday, this rapper/producer was given a $750,000 black Lambo from his girlfriend Kim, who also has quite the exquisite taste in vehicles. Featuring a 6.5 litre V12 and 7 speed transmission, the Aventador puts out 700bhp, tops out at 217mph and has a 0—60 time of 2.8 seconds. And it doesn’t look half bad either…

 

The Veyron club – Around $2 million

car

It’s difficult to discuss the car purchases of celebrities without referencing what has become a worldwide favourite – the Bugatti Veyron. Whilst there are more extravagant car purchases out there, this one is recognised world-wide as being at the height of engineering magnificence. Until recently, the Veyron was one of the most expensive and fastest street-legal cars in the world; the Grand Sport Vitesse with 1,200 horsepower was worth $2 million.

There are many car-loving celebrities out there joining the Veyron club, and they deserve a mention in this post. The Bugatti boys club has included the likes of;

  • Tom cruise
  • Birdman
  • Jay-Z
  • Ralph Lauren
  • Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Simon Cowell

Jealous much? Well, you might not be when you get an eyeful of the estimated running costs of a Veyron; $2 million to buy is just the start, with running costs estimated at $300,000 per year, including an average $10,000 service, and $50,000 for a set of replacement tyres! And imagine the insurance costs?! Time to get online and compare prices Mr Cowell.

 

Jay Z’s Maybach Exelero, $8 million

car

Reportedly costing the rap superstar $8 million, the Exelero is a one-off custom build and tops our list of extravagant car purchases, because we couldn’t find ANY more expensive cars. Commissioned by tyre company Fulda, it’s a chopped-down two-seater coupe based on the Maybach 57 limousine, with top a speed of 218.38mph despite weighing 2.66 tonnes, its 5.9 litre engine turns out 700bhp and a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds.

Its owner Jay-Z is estimated to be worth over $500 million and has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, receiving 17 Grammy awards for his work. It must be getting tough to find things to spend that cash on?

Whatever you think of celebrities and the ways they find of spending their money, it’s worth remembering one thing; if these people weren’t around buying these supercars, the manufacturers would stop making them. Just because I’ll likely never afford the 911 or Enzo of my dreams doesn’t mean I’d want to see their sort disappear from the roads. Whilst insanely jealous we should at least be a little grateful that someone has the money to spend to convince Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche to keep doing what they do best, for the rest of us to enjoy (even if it is through a television screen).

Featured images:
  •  License: Image author owned 
  •  License: Image author owned 
  •  License: Image author owned 
  •  License: Image author owned 
  •  License: Image author owned 

This article was written by David Rendell, content writer for online car insurance companies comparison website Confused.com.

Apr 10, 2013

Best Celebrity Plastic Surgery

It’s hard to pinpoint which celebrities have had the best plastic surgery, because by ‘good’ we usually mean subtle and natural-looking. Add to that the fact that stars are notoriously tight-lipped about cosmetic enhancements and a lot of it becomes speculation and guess work. The following stars, whether they have admitted to a little nip and tuck or not, are generally believed to have undergone cosmetic work of some kind.

So who do we think fared best? Here’s our top 5:

1. Jennifer Aniston

Judging by photos taken before this Friends actress became a global superstar, it’s quite clear to see that she had a nose job quite early on in her career. She’s also thought to have had a more recent, subtle rhinoplasty. As well as these structural changes to her face, it’s also believed she regularly uses Botox and fillers - and some have even speculated she may have had a mini facelift.

But it isn't obvious by looking at her. She doesn't have a face that screams 'surgically enhanced'. She simply looks like someone much younger than she is and blessed with great genes.

2. Megan Fox

Although she denies having had work done, before and after photos of the pretty actress show a different story. Her nose looks as if it’s been trimmed and her cheekbones are far more defined than they used to be. Even allowing for age and possible weight-loss there are signs that she’s had subtle surgery. She was very attractive beforehand but is now regularly touted as the world’s sexiest woman.

3. Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez is a stunning woman, but is it all natural? She’s one star who seems to have got better with age, and older photos indicate a nose job may be partly responsible.  Given her apparent lack of ageing she may also have undergone procedures to help time stand still. No doubt her appearance can also be put down to better make-up, lighting and expensive products.

4. Blake Lively

Blake is another actress who took apparent steps to cultivate her appearance before making it big. She has purportedly undergone subtle rhinoplasty, as well as a boob job. Breast augmentation can look the most obvious of procedures but only going up one or two cup sizes, as seems to be the case with Blake, results in a far more natural look.

UK Plastic Surgeon Adrian Richards comments:

“Implants will tend to look better if the size is best suited to the person’s frame and natural breast size. By sticking to her proportions Blake’s breasts look more in line with the rest of her physique which is why her breast augmentation could be said to be successful.”

5. Ellen de Generes

Ellen is a powerful media figure who probably has better things to do than fret over her appearance. She is also on TV, however, and so her alleged recent steps to freshen up her appearance are a great example of surgery for a middle-aged woman. She looks to have opted for a mini facelift and eyelid surgery, but the effect is a soft one – her skin has not been pulled taut but some of her lines have been diminished and her skin looks brighter.

by Dani Porter

Dani is a freelance journalist specialising in the beauty industry, with particular focus on aesthetic procedures and treatments.

Image Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Apr 9, 2013

Great Inventors In History

From toilets to airplanes, the things that we use in our everyday lives can often be taken for granted. So many people risked their families, money, and even lives to make life easier on themselves and the future of mankind. Without most of these people, life as we know it would be drastically different and, most likely, harder. Many of these people have long been considered men and women of genius.

But do we even know most of these people's names? What or who inspired them to risk life and limb to make these wonderful inventions that we so often neglect and take as just a part of ordinary life? Where did they get their ideas? Was it from a necessity to make life more livable or just a curiosity to make it more enjoyable? Let's take a good look at some of the greatest inventors in history, shall we?

From: Best Colleges Online

The People Behind The Way We Live
From: BestCollegesOnline.org

Apr 8, 2013

Underwear Know-it-all: The History, Fun Facts, and What Celebs Wear Undernearth it All!

Underwear – it’s the type of subject we all wonder about and probably even mildly obsess over, but don’t really feel comfortable asking about. We know what our own personal preference is, whether that’s comfy granny undies, sexy vintage picks a la Dita Von Teese, or modern styles that are super skimpy and racy. However, we also naturally wonder what other women prefer as far as color and style. We definitely wonder what our favorite sexy males in Hollywood are sporting underneath their own impeccable threads, too!

This infographic takes you on a fun-filled journey through the answers to those questions and so much more. What men's underwear does Justin Bieber prefer: boxers or briefs? What about Daniel Radcliffe or Justin Timberlake? Have you ever wondered what styles you were most likely to have been wearing had you lived your life during the 40s or 70s? Find out the answers to all of these questions, as well as a number of other truly fun facts.

Written by ABC Underwear.


View full image at ABC Underwear

Apr 5, 2013

The Most Famous Pests Of All Time

The Red Carpet in Hollywood isn't just for humans. Over the last 50 years, there are five characters in the pest kingdom that deserve A-list, Hollywood status. They have had just as much hand in shaping American pop-culture Elvis, Marilyn and Michael Jordan.

These pest characters should have an open invitation to all the big award shows. They should be considered as Grand Marshalls every New Year's during the Rose Parade. They should all have their own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. (Except for one of them already does. Hint, hint!)

5. Charlotte. The merciful barnyard spider in the classic children's novel Charlotte's Web spun messages in her web to the farmer in an attempt to spare the life of the farm's resident pig, Wilbur. The book itself is considered one of the greatest pieces in children's literature. Consider her the Julie Andrews of the pest world.

4. Buzz the bee. If you have ever had a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios in your life then you already know who Buzz the bee is. The real question is: "Who hasn't had Honey Nut Cheerios in their lifetime?" The famous, little O's have been around since the late 70's. Interestingly enough, he was not named "Buzz" until 2000 after a Texas girl won a naming contest. Buzz has been doing commercials with the biggest human personalities Hollywood has to offer. It's about time he starts getting his respect.

3. Jiminy Cricket. Officially introduced by Disney in 1940, Jiminy Cricket plays the loyal friend and conscience of Pinocchio. His famous lines and quotes are used today and are nearly immortalized in American pop-culture. Jiminy was on to something when he delivered the line "A fine conscience I turned out to be". Better yet, his place in Tinseltown would be solidified by the line "What does an actor want with a conscience, anyway?"

2. Spiderman. There are many super heroes to choose from, but none from the pest kingdom as iconic as Peter Parker's alternate image. Introduced by Marvel Comics in the early 60's Spiderman has become one of Marvel's flagship characters. Literally hundreds of millions of comic book pieces have been sold that feature or include "Spidey". His creation marked a turning point in comic book making, as Peter Parker was an otherwise normal, teenage boy raised by his aunt and uncle and with no real advancement in life.

For as legendary and culture-changing as all these characters are, combined even, our #1 pest character is nothing short of being the godfather of character fame. The only reason he won't be getting a star on the Walk of Fame anytime soon is because he literally already has one.

1. Mickey Mouse. Forget the pest kingdom, Mickey Mouse is at the top of the chain of all character kingdoms. No other character in history has been more iconic, influential and popular as the artist formerly known as Steamboat Willie. Created by Walt Disney in 1928, Mickey has since become the symbol of youth, fantasy and imagination to all people in all nations. No other character in history has become a household name as has the leader of the clubhouse.

Steve Bitter is a Marketing Manager with Bulwark Exterminating, based in Mesa, AZ. Bulwark Exterminating is an industry leader in providing high quality pest control service. Bulwark is fully operational in seven states, including eleven major cities. While Bulwark provides pest extermination for common insects such as ants, roaches, crickets and spiders, the company’s differentiating specialty is scorpion control. Bulwark uses the finest and most effective products in the world to solve common pest problems.

Image Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - Smart Photo Stock.

Apr 3, 2013

Celebrities Studying At University

Celebrities are often associated with an exotic lifestyle of partying, photoshoots, and running into other famous people. However, there are many celebrities out there who decide to further their education when they have time. Here is a list of some famous people who are attending college in the United States. These celebrities range from actors to singers to Olympic medalists. 

- Alex Linz 


Alex Linz, the kid who was a part of the cast for Home Alone 3, will be attending college at UC Berkeley in Berkeley, California. 

- Nathan Adrian 

Nathan Adrian is famous for being an Olympic gold medalist in 2008, where he won for his exceptional swimming performances. Adrian will be joining Linz at UC Berkeley, after competing at the Olympics in 2012. 

- Miranda Cosgrove 


Miranda Cosgrove is famous for being on Nickelodeon's hit tv show, iCarly. She is also in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the highest earning teen TV star in the world. She will be attending the University of Southern California as she takes a break from acting. 

- James Franco 


This Hollywood heartthrob will be attending Yale University as he expands his intellectual horizons. Franco is somewhat of a college nomad, having taken classes at UCLA, Warren Wilson College, Columbia University, and Brooklyn College. Franco even taught a class at New York University for a few months in 2011. Franco is famous for starring in movies such as Milk, the Spider-Man series, Spring Breakers, and Oz: The Great and Powerful. 

- Dakota Fanning 


Dakota Fanning is an actress best known for her roles in Charlotte's Web, Coraline, the Twilight series, and War of the Worlds. She has had roles in more than 30 movies in her career, despite being just 19 years of age. She began attending New York University in 2011, where she takes classes every fall and spring. She plans on graduating from NYU in 2015. 

- Emma Watson 

This young Harry Potter star has had plenty of free time on her hands lately. The last Harry Potter movie finished filming in 2010. Since then, Emma Watson began attending Brown College in Rhode Island. She spent a year there before doing a "study abroad" program at Oxford. She returned to Brown in 2012 and saw out her junior year. She is currently on sabbatical in order to film more projects, but is due to finish her junior and senior years in the next few years. 

- Patrick Schwarzenegger 


He is most famous for being the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and he is currently studying at the University of Southern California. 

- Justin Combs 

The son of Sean "Puff Daddy/P.Diddy" Combs is studying at the University of California: Los Angeles. He began studying there in 2012 and is set to complete his studies by 2016. He is an All American athlete who is on the UCLA football team. 

Life at college is not easy for celebrities as many complain of being constantly followed around by fans and others who want attention. However, it is exciting to see celebrities taking their education seriously and looking to expand their horizons.

Sally writes for Richmond, a University based in London who offer courses from their BA history through to a BA in psychology, learn more about their offering at Richmond.ac.uk.

Image Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Apr 1, 2013

Top Five Celebrity-Owned Islands In The Caribbean

The Bahamas are world-famous for their breath-taking beauty, pleasant climate and laid-back Caribbean lifestyle. The atmosphere here is an ideal combination of relaxation at the beach and a busy day-and nightlife. Surrounding the 700 islands and 2400 coral reefs are turquoise waters perfect for snorkelling, scuba-diving and sailing, whereas the islands themselves offer endless choices for physical activities as well as shopping, cultural and culinary experiences.

No wonder that many celebrities are following the trend of purchasing islands in the Bahamas and therefore their own private piece of paradise. These little kingdoms are not only the ultimate status symbol, but offer peace and tranquillity away from the public eye. Have a look at our top five celebrity island owners and their tropical getaways:

1) David Copperfield

The world’s most successful illusionist – or, as some people like to call him, Claudia Schiffer’s ex-boyfriend – is definitely high up there on the list of celebrities with the island bug. Copperfield owns not one, not two, not three, but a whole four breathtakingly beautiful islands in the Bahamas, which are valued around a whopping $50 million. Previously called Musha Cay, the down-to-earth magician renamed his islands to Copperfield Bay.  However, only one of them is actually developed whereas the other three are used as buffers in order to ensure a maximum of privacy for himself and his guests. On the main island you will find ‘Dave’s Drive-in’, an outdoor movie theatre, and several luxurious properties decorated with treasures which Copperfield collected during his travels all over the world.

2) Captain Jack Sparrow

The all-time favourite and eco-friendly pirate of the Caribbean would have us believe he actually goes under the name of Johnny Depp, but if I’m not mistaken that was one of his movie characters. Sparrow has found his very own tropical getaway in the Bahamas in 2004, when he purchased Little Hall’s Pond Cay for $3.6 million. The 45-acre island is part of the stunning Exumas, and runs solely on solar power. The actor named its six white sand beaches after his two children, his former partner Vanessa Paradis, and the remaining three in memory of his deceased friends Marlon Brando, Heath Ledger and Hunter S. Thompson.

3) Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz has Russian, Ukrainian and Bahamian roots. So when the musician decided to explore his heritage he purchased an island within the little-visited islands of Eleutheta in the Bahamas. Not much information is known about his private oasis, but let’s just say there is a reason why he fell for the astonishing beauty and lifestyle of the Bahamas instead of Ukraine or Russia.

4) Eddie Murphy

When you have been in the showbiz for about 150 years, starred in 15 Shrek movies, and happen to be one of the highest paid actors, then it is only natural you’d want to own your private palm-fringed island. The notoriously funny actor bought his unspoiled paradise in the Bahamas in 2007 for $15 million, after he had previously owned another small isle next to Paradise Island. His latest acquisition is called Rooster Cay and is conveniently located next to Nassau, the capital island. This has given rise to speculations as to whether Murphy is planning to develop a resort – which appears to be a trend amongst celebrity island owners as well – or keep it as a private retreat for himself.

5) Faith Hill & Tim McGraw

The two country stars have recently joined the club of island owners when they bought Goat Cay in the Bahamas for about $3.5 million. Located in the centre of the popular Exumas archipelago the musicians find themselves in good company as they are pretty much direct neighbours to David Copperfield and Johnny Depp. Goat Cay is a 17-acre piece of paradise surrounded by white sand beaches home to the couple’s 15,000 square feet vacation home.

Featured images:

This article was written by Jane on behalf of Simply Caribe, specialists in luxury holiday rentals in the Caribean.