New Products List 2013.09

インターコンチネンタルホテルで、来期の新製品などたくさんの発表がありました。(*^_^*)
私が、一番気になるプロダクトは、 うるおい系 美容サプリメントの製品名→ビューティーサプリメントと、 うるおい系 美容ドリンクの製品名→ビューティーパウダードリンクの二品です。どちらも11月に発売になる、インナービューティーで、内側から極める、真の美しさへ導いてくれる興味深い製品です。＼(^o^)／お肌が60日継続で１４０％アップします。また、ヘアケアシリーズは、14年ぶりに一新されます。強く美しい髪の源。それは、ダメージを跳ね返す強さとしなやかさです。使うほどに蘇り進化したヘアケアシリーズも楽しみです＼(^o^)／
また、9月には、ユースエクセンドシリーズから、リフトユーシリーズが発売になります。
これはくっきりと引き締まり、ハリを与えてリフトアップを助ける成分レッドキャビアコンセントレイトを配合されています。キャキャキャビアですよ＼(^o^)／合わせて使うとさらにエイジングケア効果が高まる待望のファンデーションとルースパウダーも発売されます。
私の得意分野のクックウェアから、ノンスティックフライパンとグリルパンの二つが発売になります。
今日は、シェフのマリオさんがデモンストレーションでクレープと、キャラメルソースを作ってくださいました。＼(^o^)／ＸＳシリーズからは、トレイルミックスが発売されます。これは、アメリカでは、すごい人気の製品です。手軽にいつでもエナジーをとれます。そして美味しい＼(^o^)／

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Luxury retailer has transformed its 84-year-old Christmas catalog into an application for what's anticipated to be this year's hot electronics gift: Apple's .By putting the 2010 Christmas Book into an iPad app, Neiman Marcus is keeping up with its customers, said Gerald Barnes, president of the Dallas-based company's catalog and online division. That doesn't mean the printed catalog is dead. Neiman Marcus still plans to mail more than 1 million copies to customers, and the entire catalog is viewable on its website.The Christmas Book has been online since 2006 and now almost all of the company's direct sales are made on its websites. Its Internet revenue increased 10.7 percent last year, while catalog sales fell 19.2 percent.Last year, about 85 percent of Neiman's direct sales were online, up from 80 percent last year and 75 percent in 2008, according to the company's annual financial report.Going mobileOne advantage of an iPad app is customers can browse the catalog from anywhere without an Internet connection once they download it, Barnes said.Imbedded in the iPad app and the online catalog are videos showing fantasy gifts, such as this year's his-and-hers gift: a 48-by-12 houseboat with 7-foot ceilings and $250,000 price tag.There's also video of this year's car ? a 2011 Neiman Marcus Edition Camaro convertible with a 6.2-liter V8 engine that sells for $75,000.Other catalogs also soon will be accessible from the iPad app, Barnes said. "Catalogs continue to be a very important part of our advertising. This is how we get into our households."Mailed catalogs are up slightly this year from just less than a million last year, Barnes said. Before the recession, the company mailed 2 million Christmas Books.Price rangesAbout half of the 450 items in this year's 163-page catalog are again priced below $250 ? showing the retailer's sensitivity to cost-conscious buyers.After skipping the $1 million and up price tag last year, this year the famed book contains a gift costing $1.5 million: International artist Dale Chihuly will transform a swimming pool into an original, private work of art.The least expensive item is a $15 silver-plated candlewick trimmer.Neiman Marcus extends its reach with catalogs. About 40 percent of its online and catalog customers in the last two years have been from cities where it doesn't operate a store. And customers who shop both stores and online spend about four times more than single-channel customers.Last year, Neiman Marcus circulated about 48 million catalogs, down 25 percent from the prior year, as shoppers shifted to the Internet. It also sends out daily e-mails to about 4.7 million customers, alerting them to new merchandise and special offers.Even before online shopping took over, catalog represented only about 10 percent of annual catalog sales.His and hersBritish success story Burberry revealed today that it had hit a stumbling block as the luxury brand issued a profits warning.In a surprise update, the group said it had been hit by a slowdown in spending across the world.The darling of the fashion scene had once enjoyed sales growth in double digits, but today it reported that like-for-like sales ground to a halt in the 10 weeks to 8 September. Chief financial officer Stacey Cartwright said: "In the last two weeks there has been a global slowdown. We have seen this across the board in Asia, the US, Europe and the UK."Despite its issues, the brand is gearing up for where it will present its womenswear spring/summer show on Monday.Cartwright said: "We have Fashion Week, and the tremendous new flagship on Regent Street that has just opened -- our largest in the world -- while our menswear-only Knightsbridge store will open in a few weeks. Traffic has been down globally but we will not change tack."Burberry warned that profits for the full year of 2013 would be at the bottom end of market expectations at about pounds sterling 407 million. Retail sales, including from new stores, were up 6 percent.The slowdown compares with strong first quarter trading where retail sales had grown by 14 percent.Luca Solca, luxury brands expert at CA Chevreux, blamed Burberry's reliance on very high-end clothing rather than accessories such as handbags. He said: "Apparel -- on which Burberry is more dependent than other mega-brands -- is softer. In difficult times consumers prefer leather goods and hard luxury accessories as they are more visible and work better as status symbols."Analyst Kate Calvert at Seymour Pierce downgraded the stock to hold and said: "This news will obviously hit sentiment towards Burberry. However, we still consider Burberry a strong long-term growth story."The company has enjoyed a remarkable decade with its shares rising fivefold. Today the stock slid more than 18 percent, down 249p to 1125.5p, on the news.However, Mike van Dulken at Accendo Markets said: "This morning's selling may be overdone, providing a short-term trading opportunity."___(c)2012 London Evening StandardVisit the London Evening Standard at Distributed by MCT Information ServicesDiamond baubles from Cartier glittering in one window, Louis Vuitton's signature leather bags beckoning from across the street and another storefront displaying ' silk scarves.Within months this is the scene that will greet visitors to Miami's Design District, as the neighborhood begins its dramatic metamorphosis into the new hot spot for luxury shopping.Cartier and have just opened their doors. Louis Vuitton will do so on Oct. 19. Hermes and Men are under construction. Right behind that will be Pucci. By the time and the holiday shopping season arrive, there should be 8 to 10 luxury brands lining the Design District's Northeast 40th Street corridor. These openings are a sign of Miami's ascent as a fashion destination."For most luxury brands Miami is one of the top three markets in , along with New York and Los Angeles," said Valerie Chapoulaud-Floquet, president and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton North America. "The Miami market has grown quicker than the rest of North America."For decades the Bal Harbour Shops offered the only option for luxury in Miami-Dade County. But no longer is having one store in the market enough for these luxury brands."Miami has been under retailed for luxury because of the strength of the local market and the strong growth of tourists coming to Miami," said Emmanuel Perrin, president and chief executive officer of Cartier North America. "This market can support several Cartier boutiques. It was just a question of time before the luxury market evolved. Everyone has been waiting for the right project to come along."Louis Vuitton and Cartier both left Bal Harbour Shops last summer because the mall didn't have the space for them to expand. The retailers were also prohibited from opening a second store within 20 miles unless Bal Harbour's owners got a piece of the new store's revenue.Now, Louis Vuitton already has opened another store at Mall and Cartier is assessing the market. It's all part of an unfolding game of musical chairs that ends the monopoly of Bal Harbour, which has controlled the luxury retail market since 1965.By 2014, developer Craig Robins expects to have 40 to 50 luxury brands spread throughout the Design District, creating a new urban destination for fashionistas. Already committed to the area are about 30 tenants, including , Bulgari, Pucci, De Beers, Zegna, Tom Ford, Burberry and Marc by . They will join the district's original fashion tenants Christian Louboutin, and Martin Margiela."We're starting to build critical mass," Robins said. "We continue to find that more and more brands are interested in coming. This is an exciting moment for the Design District. People are going to feel the transition and the power of integrating fashion with art, design and food."Many of the brands are giving up space at Bal Harbour, which the International Council of Shopping Center recently designated the top producing mall in the world. But they say they don't believe the move will have any negative impact on their business."We have made a seamless transition," said Vira V. Capeci, president of Celine. "Our clients have followed us to this exciting location."Right now, Cartier's name sparkling against the backdrop of a bronze storefront may look a little out of place as the area undergoes a transition. But soon Louis Vuitton will make a dramatic statement across the street with a storefront covered by an original work of art from graffiti artist Marquis Lewis, known as RETNA.There may be growing pains in this gentrifying neighborhood. Will consumers be willing to spend thousands of dollars on jewelry, handbags and clothes just a few blocks away from some of Miami's more impoverished neighborhoods?At Cartier a security guard stands close by watching over an offering that includes a rare yellow diamond and a $310,000, diamond-encrusted panther pendant and necklace."I like the idea of an urban neighborhood where you have crackheads here and Cartier over there," said Denia Roth, a Miami resident who was lunching this week at Michael's Genuine in the Design District. "The diversity brings everyone together."The retailers have more freedom to design the look of their stores and open bigger showrooms featuring a wider variety of offerings. Cartier's new store is three times larger than what it had at Bal Harbour.And these stores are only the beginning. Cartier and Louis Vuitton are among several brands opening temporary locations, until they can design and build flagship stores. When these stores open in 2014, they're expected to be among the brands' largest stores in the U.S. outside of ."We want to take our client experience to the next level and serve our clients in comfort," Perrin said.Louis Vuitton felt it was important to get into the Design District early."We like to be part of building a story, it's part of our pioneering spirit," Chapoulaud-Floquet said. "We think we're going to be able to communicate with a very different clientele that is younger, more trendy and much more open to art and culture."Although it's been a year since Louis Vuitton and others started leaving Bal Harbour, operating partner Matthew Whitman Lazenby says same store sales continue to grow -- up 16 percent for the first six months of the year compared to last year.But Lazenby says his family has had a change of heart about allowing tenants to remain at Bal Harbour and still open a second location in Miami-Dade County."You can't deny there has been demand expressed by more than one tenant," Lazenby said. "Miami has reached the point in its evolution where more than one store can be sustained. We are adapting to the marketplace and trying to accommodate the needs of our tenants." ___(c)2012 Visit The Miami Herald at Distributed by MCT Information Servicesdesigner Monica Pedersen can be seen regularly on programs such as "Bang for Your Buck," where she shows homeowners how to maximize their living space and beautify their homes. A well-seasoned traveler, Pedersen who lives in the Midwest sees the potential in taking trips to Wisconsin, as well as heading overseas for a longer vacation.Q: What is your favorite vacation destination? A: , Fla. It's a low-key town right next to and about 45 minutes from . It is my go-to spot when I really want to relax. Working on TV for me means being constantly surrounded by the noise of saws and drills. So a vacation with good weather, the comfort of a private home, a charged golf cart in the driveway and no pressure to look presentable is heaven!Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?A: Kohler, Wis., is definitely at the top of my list and is a place my husband and I go at least twice a year. The American Club (destinationkohler.com) is charming, the golf is spectacular and the food is mouthwatering. Another fun place to go in Wisconsin is the Osthoff Lake Resort (osthoff.com).Q: What are your favorite hotels?A: The Pelham Hotel (pelhamhotel.co.uk) in London has beautifully decorated rooms. The Ritz-Carlton (ritzcarlton.com/neworleans) in New Orleans is comfortable and in a great location. The Four Seasons (fourseasons.com/dublin) in Ireland treated my mom, who was very sick while we were there, like a queen. The Soho Grand Hotel (sohogrand.com) in New York for its location. The bar can be pretty fun as well.Q: What are your favorite restaurants?A: Il Cantinori (ilcantinori.com) is my favorite restaurant in New York. I love great Italian food! In Las Vegas, definitely the Wynn Hotel and the Bartolotta Ristorante (wynnlasvegas.com/#dining/bartolotta), which is incredible.Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?A: Comfortable shoes, a variety of outerwear like scarves, sweaters and my plaid Burberry rain poncho BlackBerry, cheap pair of backup sunglasses, a good book and a small container of moisturizer.Q: What are your five favorite cities?A: San Francisco is so romantic. It's where my husband proposed to me. New York for its great energy. Napa Valley is sophisticated yet friendly and has great food and wine. I love the details in New Orleans' architecture. Charleston, S.C., is elegant and loaded with Southern charm.Q: What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?A: I talk to friends and do a ton of research online. A Web site I am working with, mastercardmarketplace.com, is a great resource for vacations.Q: Where would you like to go that you've never visited before?A: Buenos Aires, . I am heading there soon to shoot an episode of a show I work on called "Bang for Your Buck," and I cannot wait. I am also going to track down the balcony where Eva Peron sang "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and do my own version. I'm kidding!For more from the reporter, visit .I'M NOT saying I'll never be with a prostitute again. But it's hard. Parts of it are soulless and parts of it are nourishing. It's always a roll of the dice.That's our always candid friend, , talking to Playboy magazine for July/August (Massive Summer Double Issue it says, directly above cover girl .) Charlie is Charlie. Don't try to make sense of anything he says, because mostly it doesn't. And he knows it. Is it malarkey or the real deal or some wild combination of the two, which seems to be working for him. (His new show, Anger Management is doing well.)Yet at least he admits to being unfair to his longtime co-star , in the heat of Sheen's firing. I whaled on him unnecessarily ... he's a beautiful man and a fabulous dude and I miss him. I need to repair that relationship, and I will. I will reach out to do whatever is necessary.As for the now-legendary tale of a suitcase full of cocaine being delivered to his house, in the midst of a wild party, Sheen insists it never happened. Nope. He was watching a Dave Chappell sketch on TV and laughed so hard it gave him a hernia. The hernia did not occur because of too much partying and illegal substances.Look, that's his story and he's sticking to it. And even if he doesn't, it apparently won't make one bit of difference to the fans who support him.WHICH LEADS us to the conundrum of . Tom doesn't smoke (anything) drink, or carouse with hookers. He has never assaulted a woman or been accused of such a thing. He takes care of himself, his popularity has not waned. He is still, according to Forbes magazine, the highest paid actor in the world. And yet, on the front pages of the newspapers, Tom is the devil, scaring poor so much that she has to have a ring of bodyguards surrounding her when she ventures out. What's Tom crime? He's a control freak who belongs to the mysterious and controversial Church of Scientology. OK, maybe that's not pleasant to live with, but the public seems to find his driven personality and religious/spiritual beliefs more unsavory than anything Charlie Sheen does.I guess bad boys do, somehow, get more breaks.As for Miss Holmes, she will be fine. She's made her point, with her bodyguard photos, and the bits of business that have slipped out; her fears for Suri, etc. Nobody is going to be kidnapped or forced to do anything they don't want to do. She's been clever. I suppose she's had to be.Let's not forget, she knew exactly what she was getting into. It's not like Tom became a Scientologist during their marriage. There were plenty of warning signs. But Miss Holmes, apparently, was in love or lust or infatuated with his image and the attention he showered on her. And so it has come to this sorry state of affairs.Tom? Another hit movie and people will probably go back to shrugging off his beliefs. Next time (if there is a next time) Tom should marry a nice, docile Scientology girl with whom he can share his religion.I WAS chatting with a friend last week about how much Internet technology and computers, cellphones, iPads, etc., have taken over every part of our lives. Everything is controlled and connected it seems to one huge grid. What if everything blanked out one day, even for 24 hours? We've all become so dependant.Well, just a day or two later, the had a story about a summer storm in Virginia that took out part of Amazon's cloud computing service, in which hundreds of companies store data. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, and Amazon responded pretty well, but this story gave me pause. The Times reported: The ability to deal with failures has long been a feature of any computing system, but like much else in the cloud, there are no common standards to guide how much protection against disaster is enough.We are so concerned about our borders on the ground. Perhaps we should spend more time with our heads in the clouds. That's where I think the real storm of apocalyptic nightmares stores its data.WELL, IT's beginning to look like all the fan-whining over is evaporating as continues to break records even before this all-important weekend. (But then these days, every weekend is all important.) The film, which co-stars , has, as of yesterday, made more than $35 million in the United States. In Asia, the take was more than $50 million and climbing.So he was too tall, too gawky, too British, not ? Well, whatever he is or isn't, Mr. Garfield is probably set for two more installments, and set for life financially, as well. That skin-tight Spidey suit is no fun to get into for hours on end. (And it's impossible to wear anything under it.) But in-between films, he'll be able to devote himself to more comfortable Prada, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein or Burberry. (He wears Burberry in a deep blue shade on the cover of Teen Vogue. He's paired with Miss Stone, who is supposed to be his real-life girlfriend. Well, at least until the film hits the $500 million mark.)NOW THAT has come out, will on be as much smirky, giggling fun as it has been? Oh, you know -- Anderson's friend, comedienne , would come on and tease him relentlessly, implying, but never saying, what everybody knew.They've got to cook up a new act.(E-mail at .)Shortly before Daniel Hernandez moved from L.A. to Mexico to write a book about its roiling capital, a friend gave him an order. "I don't want to see you back from Mexico City until it's physically altered you, until you are different," Hernandez was told. The Western Hemisphere's largest metropolitan area, with about 22 million people, has its existential challenges: toxic air, epic traffic jams, "express" kidnappings. But it also can bestow transformative benefits on those willing to dive headfirst into its urban mosh pit. FOR THE RECORD: Daniel Hernandez: An article in the April 28 Calendar section about author-journalist Daniel Hernandez identified Hernandez as a former Los Angeles Times staff writer. Hernandez is a former Los Angeles Times staff writer and a current staff blogger and news assistant in the Times' Mexico City bureau. During a recent L.A. visit, Hernandez spoke about how his adopted hometown since 2007 has altered him and how he hopes to alter others' perceptions of it with his just-published book, "Down Delirious in Mexico City: The Aztec Metropolis in the Twenty-First Century" (Scribner). "I think as a journalist Mexico City pushed my barometer of crazy in my life," said Hernandez, 30, a former Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly staff writer. "But of course sometimes it's overwhelming and you think you're going to pass out, you need a limonada. You need a run out of town." Hernandez strives to capture that craziness with a combination of memoir, bildungsroman and an impressionistic essay-album of edgy young lives in a city that often feels perched on the precipice of chaos. Some reviewers have invoked Jack Kerouac and Bret Easton Ellis in characterizing Hernandez's first-person immersion in Mexico City's louche atmospherics. Matt Sledge of the Huffington Post wrote that "Hernandez's book tells the stories that we should know, if for no other reason than American culture is increasingly Mexican culture, as his journey makes clear." That journey, of course, is the reverse of one that thousands of Mexicans attempt every year. "The irony is not lost on me," writes Hernandez, who'll be appearing at this weekend's L.A. Times Festival of Books. "While millions of Mexicans are migrating northward, I go south. It is an act of rebellion. My parents, who left Tijuana and settled in San Diego in 1976, shake their heads in disapproval." Growing up as a bilingual, bicultural U.S. citizen, Hernandez often heard horror stories about Mexico City's crime, smog and corruption. But rather than dissuade him, they aroused a desire to get to know this off-limits part of his cultural heritage. What he found, upon arriving, was a cosmopolitan, multilayered city (pre-Columbian, colonial and modern) with a complex web of youth subcultures: emos, "anarco-punks," Condesa scenesters, rich trendy fresas from Polanco. "I just kind of went deeper and deeper," Hernandez said. "I was adopting certain aspects of the subcultures. I realized I had to not judge anyone's music or their style or their fashions but [ask] why had they adopted it, and to pinpoint what I see as the contradictions.", an English professor at Loyola Marymount University, said that countless young Mexican Americans have made the reverse-odyssey to their ancestral homeland over the decades, but few have written about it in long form with Hernandez's insightfulness. "Daniel is saying that the borders have to be crossed on all levels, including the self," said Martnez, author of "The Other Side: Notes From the New L.A., Mexico City, and Beyond." The haunts Hernandez describes in "Down Delirious" are far from the places most tourists see. He hangs out with graying Marxists at the weekly El Chopo open-air swap meet and parties till sunrise with coked-up chilango teens and twentysomethings in the bohemian Roma neighborhood. He canvases fashion shows, gets swept up in a surging mob at a soccer match and flees an Aztec temazcal (sweat lodge), "gasping for oxygen" and deeply skeptical of whether ancient rituals can act as curatives for the ills of modern life. In surreal detail, he recounts pilgrimages to the worship halls of Mexico City's dueling spiritual icons: the beloved Virgin of Guadalupe, the country's church-sanctioned protector since she allegedly appeared to the peasant Juan Diego in 1531, and the fearsome, skeletal Santa Muerte, "Saint Death," the unofficial patron of prostitutes, crime lords and cab drivers working the graveyard shift. Some episodes in "Down Delirious" will ring familiar to readers of Hernandez's blog, , which has a following on both sides of the border, particularly among readers 30 and younger. (Disclosure: Hernandez and I have been casual acquaintances for many years.) Just out of UC Berkeley, where he studied English literature, Hernandez first visited Mexico City in 2002 and stayed 10 weeks with relatives, an experience that "recalibrated" his life. Then in 2006, he was assigned by the L.A. Weekly to write a piece about Mexico's upcoming presidential election, which led to the contract for "Down Delirious." Laurie Ochoa, the former L.A. Weekly editor who , said that while "Down Delirious" touches on Mexican politics and hot-button issues like immigration, its greater achievement is to personalize the phenomenon of second- and third-generation Mexican Americans reconnecting with their cultural roots. "Through his individual story, he's telling the stories of a lot of people," Ochoa said. Although his book doesn't dwell on it, Hernandez writes with an awareness of the drug-war mayhem that has swept Mexico since late 2006 and of the toll that the country's economic and social afflictions have taken on its youth. One section deals with the curious persecution of Mexico's ambisexual "emo" youth, whose ambiguous identity aroused the wrath of other urban tribes. Perhaps the book's most affecting chapter, "A Feathered Serpent in Burberry Shades," recounts Hernandez's adventures with his late friend, the designer and "semi-androgynous party boy" Quetzalcoatl Rangel Sanchez. "You're dealing with real histories here and real traumas and real violence and real loss," Hernandez said. So how has his Mexico City sojourn physically changed him? Hernandez pointed to a pair of tattoos that he's acquired since living in Mexico: "La Libertad" (Spanish for "liberty") and another depicting a symbol for "speak," derived from a . "I'm a nerd, I'm a bookish Berkeley nerd," he said, "but living here has just flipped everything upside down for me." For now, Hernandez's plan is to keep getting flipped in Mexico City and maybe inspire other young searchers his target audience, he hopes to do the same. "I think it would make me most happy if it were a younger reader like that, a young reader interested in learning something about Mexico."Dear Answer Angel: I'm a little embarrassed to ask this question. I've been using the same deodorant since I was in high school, and it has always "done the job." Now, many decades later, it isn't working. I was in a crowd the other day, and I started thinking someone near me had not taken a shower after a workout or something. And then I realized that I was the guilty party. The product I'm talking about is the "regular" red label Ban roll-on. When that changed to a green container, I stuck with the roll-on "regular" with a red label. But lately, I've been having not-so-good results. Did I change, or did the deodorant? Not So Fresh AnymoreDear Not So Fresh: Your favorite Ban roll-on has changed. I asked the company and learned that it did make "relatively minor" changes in the formula. But that might not be the cause of your problem. It could be you. Ban research leader Erica Palmer says, "We are learning that as people age, they may need to switch products to compensate for physical changes in body chemistry." Palmer suggests you switch from roll-on to solid. Roll-on is gentler but "not as effective in controlling odor and wetness" as the solid, she says.You didn't ask, but others have inquired how to remove the inevitable white deodorant streaks on your sweaters and shirts that you notice just as you're racing out the door. Easy and cheap: Rub the area with dry pantyhose (or knee-highs) or a dry Mr. Clean Eraser household cleaning pad.Dear Angel: I have been struggling for years on my quest for a raincoat that's stylish and has a hood. All the stylish raincoats/trench coats I find lack a hood. I carry an umbrella with me on rainy days, but I would still like a hood to protect me from the humidity, not just the water. Are there any affordable waterproof, stylish raincoats/trench coats out there with a hood, or am I asking for too much? Mary B.Dear Mary: In fashion (as in life), you can never ask for too much! The perfect coat with a hood is out there. But it will require some searching. I like to touch, feel and try on, so online shopping isn't my favorite. But it's the way to go when you're looking for something really specific, such as your perfect coat. An online search for "hooded trench coat" (or leopard rain boot or whatever esoterica is on your wish list) will turn up a ton of options. In your case, I found a high-end lemon sorbet-colored taffeta Burberry for (gulp) $1,295 () and a cute Marc New York in black jersey knit with a hidden hood, $255 at ). Also: Gallery makes cute, colorful coats with detachable hoods, including one in bright spring green for $118 at . Happy hunting.Dear Answer Angel: Can you settle this dispute with my wife? We were in a restaurant, and the people at the next table were having a lively discussion about a movie we were about to see. We actually had just purchased the tickets for a ridiculous $11 apiece, I might add. I asked them in a pleasant way if they'd change the subject because we were about to see the film and wanted to be surprised. They seemed OK with that. But my wife wasn't. She was mortified and says I was out of line. I say I was just protecting my investment. Spoiler AlertDear S.A.: I'm on your side. As long as you were nice about it, you're fine. And, because your dining neighbors did stop talking about the movie, they, too, must have been OK with your request. Whether the issue is free upgrades on your cell-phone contract, honoring an expired discount coupon or a change of topic at the adjacent table, I say it never hurts to ask politely.Dear Answer Angel: I found the perfect jacket at a consignment store. The sleeves had been altered by the previous owner and it fit me perfectly. It's clear that whoever consigned it is exactly my size. Is it possible to find more clothes from whoever my body double is? How? No more tailoring billsDear No More: Yes! Many consignment stores such as the national chain Second Time Around () have computer software that can track all the clothes in the store from that same seller. Even without a computer program, managers of consignment stores often know their sellers so well that if you ask (preferably keep tags and receipts with identifying numbers), they can locate all the clothes in their shop from that person.Woof. Reacting to my advice to people complaining that their best friends' dogs leave them covered with hair, several e-mailers raved thusly: "Buy your friends a Furminator. Best dog comb ever. It is amazing." (furminator.com)Shop, drop, ask for helpYearning for a friend (only better) to tell you what to choose, where to look, how to get good value? Relax, now you've got an angel on your shoulder. Send questions large and small to Tattered, precious clothes: Can't bear to throw out your beat-up, beloved favorites? Those jeans? A baseball cap? A shredded sweater? Tell me your stories. Even send a photo! E-mail me atThe proprietor of Handbags in the City has a fashion sense that favors the classical, whether he's wearing a belted Burberry trench coat with a standup collar, lounging in a cashmere sweater or modeling a jacket lined with shearling.And Sparky's owner, George Sakellaris, also in Burberry, doesn't look too shabby, either. "He's a little old man, and he loves dressing up," says Sakellaris, co-owner of the store at 840 Aliceanna St., the shop where Sparky, a 13-year-old Brussels Griffon, can be found most days."Sparky has worn clothes ever since he was a baby; now he has two coats and about a dozen sweaters. Mostly, we dress him because he's short-haired and he gets really cold when he goes outside. If it's raining, he doesn't like to go out at all, but he minds it less if he's wearing a raincoat."Despite the recession, Baltimore dog owners have been snatching up sweaters, coats, raingear and, yes, even booties this winter to help keep Fifi and Fido toasty and dry."You're talking about a passionate product for a passionate consumer, and passion overrides any economic downturn," says Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at the NPD Group, the New York-based market research organization."Even during the recession, where the consumer was cutting back, certain items became identified as necessary luxuries. Pet owners wanted to insulate their and cats against the recession in the same way that they wanted to isolate and protect their children."For instance, Beth Crisman, who lives in Northwest Baltimore, can't afford designer duds for herself or her dog on what she earns as a practicing artist and part-time professor. (She teaches photography and art history at several area community colleges.)But Crisman would no more go without sweaters in winter for Cody, her 3-year-old Boston terrier, than she would go without a coat for herself."Bostons don't do well with either extreme temperatures of hot or cold," she says, adding that she orders Cody's clothes either through online sites or catalogues, spending about $10 on average for a sweater."But he looks really cute, and he loves the attention he gets when we go for a walk. What dog wouldn't?"Virginia Byrnes, co-owner of Dogma in Canton estimates that about 30 percent of her canine customers come into her shop wearing attire of some sort. Across town, Chris , co-owner of Pretentious Pooch in , estimates that canine apparel makes up between one-fifth and one-quarter of his winter sales.Cohen said that boutique-style stores peaked in popularity about five years ago or about the same time that such top labels as , and Coach decided to expand into the pet market.Once the recession hit, many boutiques had to branch out into other dog and cat products, such as food and bowls, to remain in the black.Baltimore is a city that places a high value on being down to earth, Woodside said, so frou-frou products that sell strongly in such cities as New York, Los Angeles or even Washington do less well here."People in Baltimore are definitely more practical," he says. "It became clear a year or so ago that we were either going to have to morph into selling other products or close the front door."Still, there's practical, and then there's "practical." A sweater or coat may be a necessity for short-haired dogs such as chihauhaus, terriers or even Dobermans who walk outside when temperatures are in single digits.And if that coat happens to be quilted, beige and made by Gucci (retail value, $280) or a striped Coach cashmere sweater ($148 and up), that doesn't make it less functional.For instance, Cathy Brennan, an attorney who lives in Rodgers Forge in , enjoys dressing Dante, the surviving member of a pair of Boston terriers, in sweaters, a cape and bow ties.After their two sons headed off to college, Bill and Carolyn Walter thought the time might be right to downsize. Coming from a large, single-family home in , they wanted something smaller with a strong community association to handle outdoor maintenance, and also in the same area of northern Baltimore County.The house-hunting ended when the two came across a lovely villa for sale in the nearby community of Pebble Creek. Carolyn Walter knew instantly she wanted to move into the traditional home that connected to four others on the street, resembling a row of cottages with deeply pitched roofs and front dormers. The interior design, with meticulous attention paid to details such as two wood-burning fireplaces, wide molding and oak flooring, appealed to her taste for traditional furnishings.In spite of herself, Carolyn Walter gushed over the great find. "I told her, 'Don't say you love it so much when I'm trying to negotiate price,'" Bill Walter said, decidedly, but with a smile that indicated the outcome was inevitable.The Walters, who would be the second owners of the house, paid $410,000 for a two-level, plus finished lower level, 4,000-square-foot home on approximately one-tenth of an acre. While the home, built in 1994, was in very good condition, the Walters have made several improvements and upgrades since they moved in in 1998. During the past twelve years, the couple added new kitchen appliances, cabinets and granite countertops, hardwood flooring on the home's second level, and a deck. They had the master bathroom renovated.The couple also added a decorator wall from the entrance to the kitchen. In keeping with the traditional aspects of the interior architecture, Carolyn Walter called upon a construction design company noted for its exquisite restoration, renovation and millwork, SouthFen Inc. to create the paneled wall over the original plain one. The raised panels, Colonial in style, are painted the same shade of eggshell found in the living and dining rooms, with the trim painted a deep shade of wheat. The sight of this angled wall, embellished with three brass sconces, upon entering the hall sets the formal tone for the rest of the home."We live in the kitchen and the family room that has two doors out to the deck," said Carolyn Walter. These rooms, with walls painted a deep shade of Duron's Burberry Red, contrast in a casually elegant style with her vast collection of Delft pottery and porcelain prominently displayed in every room, on every shelf and wall and in every cabinet. From platters to large bowls, houses, urns, plates and even an umbrella stand, the delicately painted blue and white pieces perfectly accent every room's decor and wall color.The formal elegance of the dining room is enhanced by a crystal chandelier that drops from the 23-foot ceiling. A mahogany suite of Chippendale-style furniture features a double pedestal table that will seat 12 and a china closet filled with a Royal Copenhagen service for eight.The living room boasts one of the home's two wood-burning fireplaces, while cherry furniture and an entire wall of framed prints depicting various scenes of horse and hound hunts give the room a decidedly English country feel. The look is carried out in the second-floor hallway, where several services of silver sit atop mahogany side tables.The second-floor bedrooms, especially the master, which is painted soft yellow, have a distinct, manor style achieved with artwork, artfully placed armchairs and benches, needlepoint pillows and rich fabrics on furniture and beds.The finished lower level follows the same circular flow as the two above it. A library filled with hundreds of books segues to a sitting area before moving to a craft studio and finally, a separate office for Bill Walter.The couple shares a laugh over the mention of their new home being almost as large as the one they left."Yes, but we're close to everything, and the community has strict covenants when it comes to exterior work," Carolyn Walter said."And it's maintenance-free. We lock the door and go!" her husband added.Have you found your dream home? Tell us about it! Send an e-mail to .Making the dreamDream location: Bill and Carolyn Walter's villa home is located in Pebble Creek, a neighborhood development in Timonium. Though nestled in a wooden area, they are close to the amenities on the York Road corridor.Dream design: The homes are painted a light khaki and cream color with wooden trim at windows and doors that feature arched transoms. Chunky stone chimneys, stone half-walls, double-car garages and sloping roofs with prominent gables contribute to the traditional design of each house in the row.Dream element: A large, angular entrance hall presents onto a winding oak staircase that sweeps to the open hallway of the second level. The circular flow of the first floor leads to a rear kitchen and breakfast room. The layout is, Carolyn Walter says, "great for parties. Everyone is comfortable, [and] every room is used." What is it about the British and great fashion?Even in his death, 's exhibit drew thousands upon thousands to this year. Effects of the royal wedding are dominating a number of fashion trends for women this season. Lace, fancy hats are still huge. Tartan patterns, tweed, fur accents are a must. Peter-pan collars are regularly sported by personality and British import Alexa Chung, And British songstresses such as Adele, Duffy, and Estelle are red carpet regulars. And let us not forget style icon . The British are here to stay. And so are browns, grays, and nudes, which will all be big colors this season. Pop colors such as red and blue will also be everywhere.Many of these trends don't come cheap. Yes, you could head to Burberry and dress like one of their mannequins, but what is the fun in that? Be authentic and go vintage for some of those classic looks that top designers are recreating right now. Plus, doesn't it sounds so much better when you can say that a piece of clothing is vintage?About the shootb teamed with CoverGirl and Towson Town Center to conduct a regional model search for this Fall fashion spread. The models: Christie Beran, Natalie Hessler, Farrah Palmer, Michael McVearry and Ramar Robinson, were chosen from more than 100 hopefuls. CoverGirl makeup products were used exclusively for the shoot.Styling: John-John Williams IVAssistant styling: Adee Lawal and Toria TurnerHair and Makeup: Leah Sarah Bassett, T.H.E. Artist AgencyPunters have donned their tin hats and are feeling defensive today.Riskier stocks -- including most of the mining sector -- dived to the bottom of the index with Vedanta Resources and Anglo American falling hard.Revelations of a mining scam in India pushed Goa to place a temporary ban on mining. The state is the country's second-biggest iron ore producer and the news has hit Vedanta Resources. Vedanta's Indian arm Sesa Goa is currently merging with Sterlite Industries and both have been hit by the ban. Vedanta lost 45p to 957.75p but experts expect the ban to not impact the business in the long term.Anglo American, down 83.5p to 1918.25p, which is facing legal action in the High Court from African gold miners who claim that health and safety conditions have caused their lung diseases, received a downgrade today. It denies liability. Analysts at cut its price target to 1750p from 1900p.A cautious feeling swept the City ahead of a German court's ruling on its participation in the planned European bailout.Defensive stocks were in favour with British American Tobacco leading the FTSE 100, up 47.5p to 3171.5p.Hopes of progress in the eurozone were crushed as a hurdle emerged in the process to sign off the 's bond-buying scheme, causing European markets to stutter.The FTSE 100 lost 19.63 points to 5773.57.Software giant Sage fell 1.9p to 302.45p despite being given a buy rating yesterday by Galvan Research on rumours of MA activity. Analysts said there was "the distinct possibility that Sage could be a target of German sector peer SAP".At the bottom of the FTSE 100, luxury fashion group Burberry found itself down 249p to 1125.5p, after a profits warning. The 18 percent fall saw this year's share price rise disappear. Its highest point this year came in April when it hit 1586p. But the fall today prompted some traders to start bottom-fishing and buy the shares.On Aim, drug discovery company Summit has signed a technology license agreement with US based and its shares gained 0.88p to a healthy 3.38p.Sefton Resources, the US focused oil and gas group, reported that oil production increased in the first half but it recorded a loss for the period as costs increased. The California and Kansas-focused explorer saw its shares tumble 0.24p to 1.58p. Unlike many other oil and gas explorers, Kazakhstan-focused Zhaikmunai Group has announced it will pay a dividend but its shares lost 0.46p to 9.14p.There was a bad smell in the air for environmental technology group Aerte. It needs more cash after an order of air disinfection products, that it manufactured and delivered in May, were cancelled by the Chinese buyer.It found itself at the bottom of the AIM index, losing more than 41 percent, down 0.24p to 0.34p.The board said it will be "difficult to recover payment for these devices in the medium term and it is no longer expecting to receive further orders from this distributor".___(c)2012 London Evening StandardVisit the London Evening Standard at Distributed by MCT Information ServicesHE'S QUITE ... blessed! says Calamity Chang, a British burlesque star who appeared with actor/leading man/hunk in some of the many nude scenes in the movie Shame.Fassbender is the one made a sexy reference to at the -- in case you've been under a rock. But the actor, of German and Irish extraction, has a real claim to fame. It is in being one of the hardest-working men in international films. He has completed a 20-month spell of work where he shot six movies.I just saw him onscreen being kicked through a door by martial arts expert Gina Carano in the perfectly silly movie Haywire. (This is the one your teenage male offspring are so crazy about.)WAIT FOR it! The'70s super band is about to release its first new song in 20 years. In April, their first album since 1994 will be out. It's titled A Twinkling Star to a Passing Angel. -- the hit musical based on ABBA songs -- is still seen worldwide, still making money since it opened in 1999 in London's West End.UGGIE, the dog from the award-winning silent film The Artist, is being retired by its trainer, Omar Von Muller. He doesn't want to put 'Uggie' through anymore long hours. Von Muller says, He's getting tired. But does this mean the adorable Uggie won't turn up at the ? Say it isn't so.THEY SAY only seven people turned up for actor Nicol Williamson's burial the other day. The bad boy of English theater had not worked since 1997 and had turned down some great offers in his time.His obit describes him as a hell-raiser; one of the patron saints of bad behavior, almost deliberately badly behaved, prone to walking offstage in mid-performance, throwing things, an exhibitionist and the last of a breed.One of Williamson's obits by Roger Lewis refers to the actor as being possibly influenced by and method acting. This led to the story of and in Marathon Man. To look sweaty, Hoffman ran around a football field. He was panting when Oliver remarked, Why don't you try acting, dear boy? It's far easier.I SEE why movie stars like don't like to give interviews. He gave one to the recently in which he cited his depression in the 1990s when he was coping with 'the celebrity thing.'Depression is serious stuff. But almost everybody suffers from it occasionally. Headlines reporting his remarks make it seem he is seriously down. But Pitt seems very happy these days. He has Oscar nods, a stimulating relationship, lots of good charity efforts and six children.IN THESE days when the 1 percent is being excoriated, guess what? Even though the global market is shaky and buying of luxury goods is a bit shaky, LVMH is still going strong. Sales of Louis Vuitton and Loewe handbags, Krug champagne and Hennessy cognac, Tag Heuer watches, and other spirits, leather, feather and fashionable goods, including Burberry, seem to be soaring.MICHAEL JACKSON began his showbiz career as an adorable, phenomenally gifted child. He didn't need a lot of razzmatazz to showcase his pure voice and amazing dance technique, a technique that even the great would come to admire.But as the years rolled on, Michael ramped up the sets, the style and the strangeness. Sometimes he appeared to get lost under the stuff, when all he really needed was to sing and dance, period. But when people pay hundreds of dollars for concert tickets, they want spectacle as well as talent. Perhaps more of the former than the latter.And spectacle is certainly the attraction of tribute show, titled -- with typical understatement -- Immortal. The show features all the usual Cirque bells and whistles: acrobatics, LED screens, huge balloons, animatronic recreations of Michael, and, but of course, his real image and voice, as compelling as ever.Apparently, although the show was a huge hit in Montreal and Las Vegas, raking in more than $100 million, some consider it tasteless, overblown, exploitive, especially as the Jackson family is involved. Well, they have to be involved. The Jacksons, in tandem with , control Michael's music and likeness. While Michael was alive, the Jackson family didn't seem to be thriving, nor did their golden goose.But now Michael is the most successful dead celebrity ever. His estate has garnered a whopping $450 million since the pop icon's tragic death almost three years ago. Michael, who loved to break records and boast of his accomplishments, would be so happy to know he's still the King of Pop, so crowned by his friend . Michael's children, Prince, Paris and will never know a day of financial need. Nor will anybody else in the family.Immortal has plans to move on to London and other spots in Europe. As one newspaper review stated, It's like a Michael Jackson tour, without Michael. But that seems to be good enough for Michael's fans.Oh, and these fans don't care if some condemn the show as tacky, sentimental and visually overloaded.It's as close to the old Michael Jackson experience as those who adored him can get. They love it.(E-mail at , or write to her c/o Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207.)Historically, travel hasn't been fashion-friendly. No matter how you pack, your clothes are destined for Wrinkleville. And that expensive bottle of perfume in your checked bag is likely to arrive broken or not at all.But fret not. Designers and cosmetic companies have taken note, launching mini-sized, wrinkle-free or collapsible products that help travelers stay fashionable while jet-setting. "So many designers and companies are conscious of travel-friendly fabrics and products," said Stephanie Bradshaw, a stylist based in Cockeysville. "And cosmetics have certainly come a long way particularly in the past few years."Wrinkle-free clothing has been downright hideous in the past. Not anymore. Designers such as Jude Connally and Desiqual offer colorful, trendy clothes that will hold up to the bumps of travel. And you don't have to go far to find them local boutiques have stocked up with plenty of the fashionable threads.At Trillium, a high-end boutique in Green Spring Station, some of the best-selling items are travel-friendly, said owner Sima Blue."Most of my customers travel a lot," Blue said. "They go back and forth to their second homes. They travel abroad. They want to look good when they travel."Travel-friendly selections at Trillium include wrinkle-free raincoats by Mycra Pac, cashmere ruanas by Minnie Rose and wash-and-go T-shirts by Michael Stars."These clothes are great because they are great on the plane," Blue said. "They are easy to pack. And they don't take up a lot of room."Frances Burress, owner of the boutique Caviar and Cobwebs, carries Desiqual, a popular line of clothing based in Spain that happens to be wrinkle-free."The colors are bold and beautiful," Burress said. "They are washable, and they hold up very well."She said the line has a distinct European feel that allows wearers to stand out in a crowd."They are contemporary, and they fit people," said Burress, who added that the designer has lines for men, women and children. "Their styles are for folks from 8 to 80."Octavia II, a boutique in Cross Keys, carries Jude Connally, an American line that touts its wash-and-wear clothing."You can just throw them in your bag and go," said owner Betsy Wendell, who was wearing one of the designer's dresses. "They don't wrinkle. I've slept in this dress. It looked just the same when I got out of bed. They are perfect for travel."In the past, customers would scoff at the thought of wearing wrinkle-free clothing, Wendell said. Those times have changed."The clothes have gotten much better," she said. "These clothes work into everyone's busy lifestyle."Cosmetics companies have also made changes to their products, mostly as a result of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Since the Transportation Security Administration limits the amount of liquid passengers can take in their carry-on luggage, a number of companies including cosmetics giant MAC have launched travel-size products that meet airline regulations.Travalo is a fairly new product that allows travelers to transport smaller amounts of perfume on airplanes. Other companies are offering new features aimed at protecting a product's pricey contents. Burberry, the luxury clothing line that also has a line of cosmetics, now offers lipstick packaged in magnetized gunmetal tubes to prevent spillage during travel.Stylist Bradshaw likes the new offerings for cosmetics and clothing. She said the latest advances have left travelers with no excuses to look sloppy when they are on vacation."It's just as easy to put on a pretty dress as it is to put on your juicy sweat suits," said Bradshaw, who added that the days of T-shirts, sneakers and khaki shorts are over. "Why not chose to be pretty? Pretty is fun. It also communicates to the rest of the world how you feel about yourself."Miles of styleCockeysville stylist Stephanie Bradshaw suggests packing these fashionable and practical items for a trip:Scarf: "I always carry a scarf with me when I travel," Bradshaw says. "Sometime you get cold on the plane." When you arrive at your destination, scarves are perfect to dress up an outfit. "You can put a scarf on any outfit and look chic in two seconds," she adds.Sensible shoes: Pack the more flexible shoes, and wear the bigger shoes on the plane, Bradshaw says. She also suggests that you put any sparkly shoes in a plastic bag so that the glitter doesn't get on your clothing.Fashionable bag with a comfortable handle: "I would like to take something a little more chic," Bradshaw says. Pick a bag with a supple, durable leather handle, according to Bradshaw. "It won't dig into your skin," she says.A good cosmetics bag: 's eco-friendly cosmetics bag works because it's a good size for fitting everything for a weekend getaway, says Bradshaw. "It's not too big and not too small. The fact that it is fabric means that it can squish down in your travel bag."With the holiday shopping season already under way, many of the nation's leading retailers say they plan to avoid the kind of deep, across-the-board discounts that gave last year's season an air of desperation -- and crimped profits.Instead, many are using more subtle, under-the-radar promotions to lure shoppers this year. Several big chains, including and Limited Brands Inc.'s Express division, are cutting back on the number of blockbuster discount events that they've relied on in past years to pack their stores.Even , whose buy-one-get-one-free deal helped spark a frenzy of similar activity among rivals last year, insists it's changing course."We think that particular promotion for our store has gotten a bit stale," said , a spokesman for the New York-based chain.Wall Street likes the new discipline."The trend has been to rein in harmful promotions," said Todd Slater, an analyst with Lazard in New York. This year, he said, "retailers may be prepared to leave some pockets of business on the table, which is healthy."Better outlookRetailers can't afford to reprise last year's disappointing holiday season, when sales of apparel, toys, electronics and other gifts rose by a modest 2.2 percent, according to the National Retail Federation in Washington. Early warning signals abounded last year: Sales actually slowed heading into the holiday season, prompting many merchants to rev up the promotional machine in earnest.John Morris, an analyst at Harris Nesbitt Gerard who has been tallying holiday discounts for several years, said the number and severity of markdowns increased 10 percent in 2002, on top of a 15 percent rise in 2001.This year, thanks in part to a healthier economy, retail sales are accelerating as the holidays near. And despite the better outlook, stores generally have refused to stock up on extra inventory, which means they have the luxury of being more measured in their discounting strategies."It is going to be a less-promotional holiday selling season," Morris said.Still, even while they are avoiding undignified 50 percent-off signs, some retailers are encouraging their best customers to come in early with special, targeted discounts."I think people are tired of the all-day sale," said JoAnn Brosi, general manager for the Galleria, a mall in California. "When they're on a mailing list and they're asked to be part of a small promotion, it makes them feel special."Invitation-only salesSharon Chortek, a Dallas-based TV producer, has a stack of special pre-holiday promotions she's received in the mail over the past three weeks. Each come-on has a little different twist.One, from -- a top-tier Texas mall anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and -- offers a $25 to $50 gift check to any number of Galleria specialty stores, including , Coach and Cartier.To qualify, shoppers need to spend $200 at the mall. The promotion, which began Nov. 7, runs until supplies last -- a "big incentive to get there early," Chortek said.Last week, Chortek was invited to the special three-hour sale at called Private Night, offering 25 percent to 40 percent off on such merchandise and products as Burberry, which rarely go on sale.Things just keep getting sexier along Stevens Creek Boulevard.To the north, diamonds and pearls shimmer at the newly expanded Tiffany Co. inside a Westfield Valley Fair mall that's gone gaga for glitz.To the south, 10-year-old Santana Row is bursting with new retail, residential and office projects. There's a new lingerie line at the beefed-up HM opening this week, a hipper-than-thou Italian coffee joint coming soon, and a high-end rental complex called Misora -- which, for those of you not fluent in Japanese, means "beautiful sky." With the dawning of Valley Fair's and Santana Row's "resort-style" rental apartments packed with status-hungry scenesters, the Stevens Creek corridor near Interstate 880 may well start calling itself the South Bay's Champs-Elysees. And its denizens and visitors are both fueling and feasting upon the region's ever brightening business climate."With the Silicon Valley economy coming around, especially in tech, you've now got 20-year-old entrepreneurs in flip-flops buying Cartier watches," said Valley Fair senior general manager Gavin Farnam, standing near the high-end jeweler, just one in a cavalcade of top-drawer stores settling into the mall's luxury lane. "And it's not just luxury items, but everything. We're at our highest sales level now in the history of the mall."This bifurcated boom could cause whiplash for passing motorists. With dozens of projects under way at bothsites, a tale of two malls is unfolding to the sound of jackhammers and ringing cash registers."This retail expansion is another indicator of the jobs and wage growth helping Silicon Valley lead the rest of the nation out of the recession," said Steve Levy with the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy in Palo Alto. "And for companies like Apple (AAPL) and (GOOG), employees are seeing their stock worth more, too, so it's kind of a perfect storm, at least within the tech world. People in the valley have more to spend, and that's spilling over into retail."Santana Row seems to be firing on all pistons as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary next month. Despite initial criticism that the upscale retail-residential complex would suck the life out of downtown San Jose, and naysayers who questioned whether the European-style village concept would ever work, the project now claims design awards and traffic numbers that would makeany shopping mall green with envy."It took people a while to sort of get this place," said Collette Navarrette, spokeswoman for the mall's publicly traded owner, . "It was a whole new concept when it opened in 2002 with just 35 tenants and no office space. Ten years later, we have 100 merchants, 403 rental homes and 219 condos, as well as 115,000 square feet of office space."As Santana Row's residential occupancy rates push 100 percent, Silicon Valley's boom is reflected in real time inside the erstwhile Borders on the faux village's faux main street. This week, the popular Swedish clothing retailer HM formally moves a few hundred feet down the Row into the closed book store, tripling in size to 27,000 square feet and adding new lingerie, maternity and children's sections.Lifestyle is the Row's middle name. And with a boutique hotel, spas, wine bars and enough luxury retail to satisfy the most discerning shopaholic, its owners are planning yet another phase of the expansion: They're planning to build a 220,000-square-foot office tower, then fill it with employees who can tap into the smorgasbord that surrounds them. Federal Realty's West Coast president, Jeff Berkes, said the tower is part of the economic evolution under way in the region."San Francisco and Silicon Valley are leading the United States through its economic recovery," Berkes said. "We started to see that first in 2009 in the performance of the Hotel Valencia and our restaurants, followed by the occupancy levels and rents we've been able to get for our apartments. Then we saw it in retail. And these are all signs of the confidence people have in the local economy."While it pretties itself up with new paint, a beefed-up valet station, and even plusher seating in its common areas, Valley Fair is welcoming a roster of luxury stores to a mall that has seen double-digit sales growth every month this year. Along with Cartier, a new Burberry, TAG Heuer and Wolford are joining the family.With business booming on both sides of the boulevard, the two malls say the synergy between them serves both well."Anytime you have retail nearby, it's competition," Farnam said. "But when you have that lifestyle component like you've got at Santana Row, with residential and offices, that brings more people to the area and helps all of us."Contact Patrick May at 408-920-5689. Follow him at Twitter.com/patmaymerc.A Tale of Two MallsWestfield Valley FairSpring merchandise has officially hit the stores, and one trend should be immediately noticeable: bright colors. They were everywhere on the spring-summer 2011 runways, including at the show, where candy colors managed to look minimal when shown with crisp white shirts or layered with sleek black coats, and at and Burberry, where various tones of shocking aqua and cobalt were paired for a cool (and somehow punchy) look. Color blocking, as seen on the runway, is another major trend.Other designer and contemporary brands explored the color wheel as well. "For spring we bought a lot of color, from acid pinks to orange-red to cobalt blue to tangerine," says Jeannie Lee, owner of 3rd Street's Satine Boutique, which stocks lines from designers including , , and . Retailer Hillary Rush, who owns her eponymous boutique, also on 3rd Street, has already starting seeing the color craze take effect with customers. " The oversized raglan shirt from Monrow has totally sold out in the hibiscus color," a coral-orange Rush says. "When a bright color like that sells out before the black or white, it's always a statement that people are wearing color that season."On the other end of the spectrum, shoppers are likely to encounter lots of white. The natural, yet luxe look of an all-white ensemble (which also works in winter, but is a lot more practical in the warmer months) looked fresh in the runway collections of , and . is also turning out a number of white items, from easy button-downs to wide leg trousers, all in shades of white and off-white and in stores this summer. And there's no shortage of white jeans, which are showing up in the spring and summer lines of J Brand, MIH and 7 for All Mankind.Shoppers may also notice a '60s and '70s aesthetic dictating the shape of denim this season."Denim flares are really hot," says Caprice C. Willard, vice president-regional planning manager for Macys, where brands such as and Levi's have incorporated the style. Flared and wide-leg jeans are also big sellers on the boutique level; Satine's Lee says wide-leg jeans have been flying off the shelves.On spring-summer 2011 runways such as 's, models wore wide-leg jeans with tucked-in white button-downs and chic wedge sandals. On the street we're bound to see a more relaxed version of the look, with women wearing bell bottom-style jeans with T-shirts and sandals or perhaps flared jeans with a tucked-in tank top and a blazer for evening.The other denim trend for spring is a gamine, '60s crop. The pant leg ends at least 2 inches above the ankle. The jeans look great with ballet flats or a low-mid wedge sandal.The '70s vibe also includes versions of the maxi-length skirt and dress. Floor-grazing styles were featured in the collections of and Jil Sander and are showing up in stores such as the Gap, and Club Monaco. "The maxi-dress is really important this season and we are seeing a resurgence with it," Willard says. "The maxi length actually stays important in Southern California all year long."Holiday travel is right around the corner, and you probably already dread some of the beauty pitfalls.Try to breeze through airport security with regular-size beauty products and you may find yourself pulled to the side of the line, in your stocking feet, subjected to a close, personal relationship with the worker giving you a full-body scan with a security wand. Travel by ship, train or car, and loose makeup in your purse can cause a gooey, gunky mess. A lipstick top falls off, an eye shadow shatters and you are left not only with a soiled handbag but often with ruined cosmetics too. But organization can turn holiday travel from frenzied to fabulous. A good makeup bag can help, and for everyday use, buy one that's easy to clean. During the holidays, many cosmetic companies include a makeup bag as a seasonal beauty promotion bonus, so whether you go with one of our selections below or receive one with a purchase, this is the time to find a better way to stow your toiletries.Carry onIf you're traveling by air, the first question is whether to carry on or check your cosmetics. First, get acquainted with the Transportation Security Administration's 3-1-1 : liquids, aerosols and gels must be in containers no bigger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) enclosed in a 1-quart clear plastic zip-top bag, with one bag allowed per person. (It's OK and a good idea to carry extra 1-quart plastic bags in your purse for emergencies).There are many 3-1-1 carry-on kits, but make sure yours comes with bottles that close properly and are made so that the product can be squeezed out readily. The Container Store sells a 3-1-1 Travel Pack ($7.99) that includes a clear 1-quart bag; three wide-mouth, BPA-free 3-ounce bottles, a pump, a mister, one 2-ounce jar, a pill case and labels. They also sell tiny Nalgene leak-proof jars and bottles at about $1.50 each. Bring a sleep/eye mask for beauty sleep.Check inIf you decide to check your beauty bounty in your luggage, make sure the tops on all liquid products close tightly to avoid shampoo or foundation spills all over your clothes. Squeeze out any excess air in plastic bottles. And double wrap your toiletry-makeup bag in something waterproof for extra protection. Tiny hotel toiletry amenities, perfume samples and store-bought beauty minis are terrific for short-trip travel.Packable options include the Household Essentials Nylon Hanging Cosmetics-Bag, which folds to fit in a suitcase and is made of easy-clean PVC microfiber with a waterproof vinyl lining ($22.99, ). Baggallini, founded in 1995 by two veteran flight attendants, makes a water-resistant Ripstop Nylon Cosmetic Bag with a detachable bottom pocket for everyday use ($29, Baggallini.com). The hang-able Emilie Sloan Paige Glam Roll ($35, Emiliesloan.com) is a pretty choice made of waterproof fabric in a variety of patterns. It's also a good choice for home use if you're short on space.On the caseGood train case options include Sephora Midnight or Metro Train Cases ($92, Sephora.com), Makeup Creation Pro Series Makeup Case ($99.95, Makeupcreations.com) and Bobbie Brown's ber-chic Limited Edition Deluxe Travel Kit with a detachable makeup bag ($115, Bobbibrowncosmetics.com). Flight001.com has travel-friendly makeup bags and Pacsafe.com sells the StowSafe Toiletry Bag, which has a secret pocket, tamper-proof zippers and what it says is a TSA-certified padlock to secure expensive face creams and perfume ($39.99).The bright sideA colorful makeup bag is easier to spot in the deep dark well otherwise known as the interior of your handbag, especially with today's extra-large purses. Sportsac and Stephanie Johnson bags allow you to mix and match designs and makeup bag sizes. Examples include the Stephanie Johnson Bollywood Pink Medium Flat Pouch ($26, Stephaniejohnson.com) and SJ Creations Sparkling Snakeskin Orange Pencil Case Cosmetic Bag ($11.99 Ulta.com). Marc Jacobs and Rebecca Minkoff have a few nice, bright cosmetic bags as well.ArtsyWhether your predilections lean toward watercolors, folk art or works by John Singer Sargent or Modigliani, some cosmetic cases prime the painterly mood. A few choices: Toss Designs Medallion Set of 3 Cosmetic Bags ($30, Tossdesigns.com); ProjectArt Peacocks Rounded Cosmetic Case it comes with a matching mini-mirror ($48, Endless.com); and Painterly Clutch Blue Motif by Stephanie Johnson ($32, Anthropologie.com).ClassicThe tried and true not trendy seduces you. You might go for the Haymarket Check Cosmetic Case in chocolate ($198, Us.burberry.com); Lantern Red Cole Haan Cosmetic Case ($68, Colehaan.com); or Kate Spade Foiled Again Large Black Pouch ($75, Katespade.com). MAC's signature Medium Softsac makeup bag is also a terrific, basic everyday option and is fully washable ($28, Maccosmetics.com).FestiveWhen it comes to cleaning, these may not be the most practical makeup bags, but they add holiday sparkle or can double as a festive evening clutch. Try the Tory Burch Mirrored Crinkle Small Cosmetic Case with metallic foil finish ($95, Toryburch.com), or Madrid Greta Medium Cosmetic Bag ($38, Stephaniejohnson.com). Bottega Veneta offers the stylish but pricey leather Nero Intrecciato Nappa Cosmetic Case/Clutch ($900, Bottegaveneta.com). Less expensive metallic options include Sephora Havana and Silver makeup bags ($7 and $18, Sephora.com) and Spiegel.com's Relaxed Glamour Signature Cosmetic Bags starting at $5 with a $10 purchase.It was who made me a foreign correspondent.Before she turned up, my newspaper career had consisted of listening to Baltimore policemen reminisce about great hangings and covering bush-league statesmen deploring the state of the world. I had also covered night rewrite: stickups, accidents, floods, fires, murders, from supper time to 2 in the morning. It wasn't a dead-end job, but neither was there a lot to look forward to except retirement after 40 years of good behavior.When the queen assignment came, I was 27 years old. Like all young reporters brilliant or hopelessly incompetent I dreamed of the glamorous life of the foreign correspondent: prowling Vienna in a Burberry trench coat, speaking a dozen languages to dangerous women, narrowly escaping Sardinian bandits the usual stuff that newspaper dreams are made of.For this reason I did not say "No" when one of The Sun's more godlike editors invited me to an elegant restaurant for a gin-soaked lunch late in the autumn of 1952 and asked, as the third round of drinks approached, whether I would like to be the paper's next correspondent.It was the most extraordinary question ever addressed to me, and I let it bounce round and round in my skull to make sure I had heard it correctly:Would I like to be the next London correspondent? That was what he said. He was offering me the job of London correspondent!Even under a heavy load of gin, it was possible to feel the earth move. Life was not going to be the same ever again.His conversation shifted immediately into discussion of how to cover a coronation, a subject of negligible concern to me until that instant, when it became clear that the pending coronation of an English queen was the cause of my rise to glory.The new queen was 27 years old. (I was, and still am, only eight months older.) I thought sending an innocent, ignorant youth to London suggested a management decision to match the tone of the coverage to the youthful spirit of the occasion.On the strength of this probably absurd conjecture, I guessed that that the paper wanted more impertinence than it usually got from the London bureau. From the outset, I decided to produce stories more likely to entertain Baltimoreans than the usual London bureau articles about diplomacy and decline of the pound sterling.Serious journalism need not be solemn. And so I came to London determined to keep the coverage unsolemn. It would include a look at pop-culture stars such as Danny LaRue, a female impersonator with a vast middle-class family following, and , an American pop singer who made audiences fill the London Palladium with screams of delight as he wept and wailed about a little white cloud that cried.The Sun was also present for 's first London revival and for the heroic display in Edinburgh of the largest assortment of Scotch malt whisky ever assembled. Its correspondent checked out Manx cats at a convention on the Isle of Man and traveled to a frigid Scottish town on the Irish Sea to inspect a decaying estate inherited, along with a knighthood, by a Maryland farmer.Movie stars, kings, sheiks, chiefs, war heroes, newspaper columnists and Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro the Elder appeared in the cables to Baltimore, along with Prince of Japan, the queen of Tonga and an embalmed whale that was attracting a big, paying audience to a London street corner.Despite the heavy file of good-time coverage, the normal meat-and-potatoes diet of political and diplomatic stories did not much decline. There were frequent visits to the House of Commons, where was prime minister again, and I never missed one of Foreign Minister Anthony Eden's briefings for American correspondents, though everybody knew they were a waste of time.I saw a consummate piece of Churchill's theatrical oratory at a party political conference in which he succeeded in persuading Conservatives that he was still capable of serving as prime minister in spite of a stroke suffered a few months earlier.Reporting the actual ceremony of Elizabeth's coronation, which was the fundamental reason I had been sent from the rewrite desk to the north transept of , was perhaps the least interesting aspect of the assignment. Nowadays a coronation would be reported as just another television spectacle from London, where they do spectacle so well. Sending a print reporter to England would be absurd.In 1953, with no satellites to bring the show instantly into American living rooms, the TV networks could only fly their pictures across the Atlantic for showing next day. It was almost surely the last time a print correspondent would struggle with words to give the public an inadequate impression of a show too gaudy for anything but television's best high-def cameras.Russell Baker is a retired journalist whose books include "Growing Up," "The Good Times" and "Looking Back." He worked for The Sun from 1947 through 1954 as a local reporter, London correspondent and reporter.Part 2 in a series of occasional articles.In the music video for hit single " the pop diva vamps across several nightmarish tableaux wearing a variety of barely there lingerie get-ups. The flashy clip caused a sensation when it debuted in November and has racked up 85 million views on . But perhaps its most striking aspect is the unabashed product placement -- conspicuous visual shout-outs to Nemiroff vodka, , Burberry and other brands. Back in the proverbial day -- say, the era, punk rock's '70s heyday, the slacker-era '90s -- a song was a song and a jingle was a jingle and rarely the twain did meet. But now, with CD sales in free fall and opportunities for radio or television airplay increasingly rare, the rules governing the interplay between and advertising are being rewritten. It's no longer possible to "sell out" -- at least, not within a certain time-cherished understanding of the term. Rockers, rappers and up-and-coming pop titans of all stripes are licensing music and image as an integral part of brand-building, which largely has usurped selling music and concert tickets as many musicians' professional end goal.Consider 's smash hit "Forever," which cracked the Top 10 in seven countries in 2008 (before his career-derailing assault on ) and went double platinum. At the start of the song's video, Brown is shown sliding a piece of gum into his mouth before heading out for a night on the town. On "Forever's" chorus, he croons: " 'Cause we only got one night / Double your pleasure, double your fun." Turns out the song was commissioned by Wrigley to promote -- you guessed it -- Doublemint gum. Three months after releasing the single, the chewing gum conglomerate aired its "reveal": a TV commercial version of "Forever" featuring Brown singing about gum and dancing with a pack of Doublemint.The spot generated outcry among music purists, but marketers greeted the spots with awe. "When the reveal happened, some people got upset," recalled Steve Stoute, founder of the firm Translation Consultation & Brand Imaging. "But the number of spins went up and Doublemint went up in awareness."Stoute, who was behind "Forever," also is responsible for 's "I'm Lovin' It" spots for as well as Beyonc's endorsement deal for 's True Star perfume and the career game plan to treat "like a brand" in her own right. "Using entertainment assets to introduce products is a platform that needed to get exploited," said Stoute, a former executive vice president of Interscope Records. "The lines needed to be blurred. When done correctly, there's consumer acceptance."Stoute said his marketing company gets several calls a week from "major artists" in pursuit of their own "Forever." It's not selling out, he argues, if there's an authentic relationship between the music and the product being hawked. "Marketing isn't successful if the consumer feels he or she is being sold something," Stoute said.Personal favorite products 's most recent CD, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," was accompanied by a 34-page mini-magazine bearing the R&B diva's image and emblazoned with an Elle magazine logo. It's a co-production between Carey's label Island Def Jam Music Group and Elle that features such brands as Angel Champagne, Elizabeth Arden and the Bahamas Board of Tourism intermingled with lighter-than-air Mariah-based editorial featurettes: "VIP access to her sexy love life," "Fantasy: the five-time Grammy winner goes behind the scenes of her new drama."Carey pointed out she is personally or commercially invested in everything advertised."Angel Champagne, I guess I'm part owner. The Bahamas, we have a house down there," Carey explained, between bites of caviar at the Polo Lounge. "It all has to do with things that are organic to me. And honestly? I'm a big kid. I thought it would be cute."Island Def Jam is exploring similar branded CD booklet deals for artists including , Rihanna and . It all makes rollicking 1967 concept album "The Who Sell Out" -- which featured faux commercials and cover art depicting band members shilling for deodorant and baked beans -- appear prescient. (In further irony, the Who's epochal 1965 single "My Generation" is currently featured in a commercial for Flo TV.)Scott Lipps, owner and founder of the New York modeling agency One Management, recalls a time not long ago when indie rock acts would sooner pack in their skinny jeans than appear in fashion ads. But now, Lipps has augmented the success of his agency (which represents such A-list glamazons as and ) with its offshoot One (M), dedicated to help place rock and pop stars in precisely such commercial environments. Among them: Alison Mosshart of the Kills and Dave Gahan of , who were featured in ads for the fashion line J. Lindeberg, and the New York pop-rock band the Virgins, who were photographed for a Tommy Hilfiger campaign."People's views on endorsements, doing magazine stuff -- any way to reach fans -- it's all changed. It's not taboo anymore," Lipps said.Lipps, formerly drummer for '80s rock group Black Cherry, remains attentive to the alliance of brand and band. "I'm never going to ask a very cool band to do business with a brand that they would never associate with," said Lipps. "It's about finding that right fit."After the rock quartet OK Go broke into mainstream consciousness with the homemade video for its 2006 single " (featuring the band members performing a synchronized routine on exercise treadmills), they were bombarded with offers to re-create the sequence for TV commercials. The group developed what frontman Damian Kulash calls OK Go's "hell-no criterion": "If it's a product we feel is demeaning or that cannibalizes the meaning or artistry of our song," he explained.Still, the band has remained receptive to overtures from corporate America. Last year, the musicians appeared in print ads and billboards for Banana Republic -- its spring fashion line campaign that also included such artists as , Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba and Sara Bareilles -- attired in natty suits, playing their instruments. "The recording industry has so entirely bottomed out, advertising is one of the only distribution methods that still works," Kulash said after returning from Japan, where he did a photo shoot for the fashion brand Uniqlo. "The music side has a deep ambivalence. It's a pretty major paradigm shift that requires a rethinking of how we see what we do."He added: "I wish we never had to get in bed with that stuff. It doesn't feel particularly good to wear the marketing hat. But our record label isn't paying to put up billboards across the country."It's become fashionableFashion designer John Varvatos faced a similar reluctance when he approached about appearing in print ads and billboards for his streetwise clothing line in 2005. But after convincing the alt-country singer-songwriter that there would be "nothing fakey about him appearing in the clothes," Varvatos went on to land , members of Velvet Revolver and , Perry Ferrell of and 's for subsequent ads.Varvatos said attitudes toward commodifying stardom have changed."I was besieged by people wanting to hook up with us," Varvatos said. "There are a lot of people coming after us now. It's almost the opposite problem now. We have to filter out."The designer was quick to dispel the notion, however, that the performers in his ads were selling out their images in return for some hefty payday. "We don't pay the artists much of anything," Varvatos added. "They've got to really want to do this."Katie Vogel certainly has no regrets over her decision to star in Sprite's online series "Green Eyed World," a digital marketing push that aired last year. The series used YouTube clips, social networking interfaces and the promotion of soda to help the London native launch her career; she brandishes a Sprite-green guitar in the clips and at times people around her are seen quenching their thirst with a certain lemon-lime-flavored refreshment. Asked if she was concerned that the association with the brand might limit her career prospects, Vogel, who now goes by the professional moniker Katie V., insisted there were no downsides."My music, it's being heard," Vogel said. "Even if one person says, 'She's the Sprite singer,' they've heard my music. So I'm happy either way."The following is compiled from police reports from the Towson and Cockeysville precincts. Our policy is to include descriptions when there is enough information to make identification possible.CockeysvilleSunnylake Place, between 9 p.m. Dec. 23 and 10 a.m. Dec. 24. Coins stolen from laundry room machines. Bridgelake Circle, unit block, between 2:30 p.m. Dec. 22 and 1 p.m. Dec. 23; and also between 7:30 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. Dec. 23. Coins stolen from two laundry room machines. Coin slots destroyed. York Road, 13800 block, at 10:33 a.m. Dec. 23. Two men entered PNC Bank branch, threatened with a gun and took cash. They left in gray Chevrolet Suburban.Northpark Drive, unit block, between 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 8 a.m. Dec. 22. Two laptops stolen from Pollard Associates. Rear window pried open.York Road, 1600 block, between 3 p.m. Dec. 16 and 11 a.m. Dec. 19. Cookies and cheese stolen from office. Door opened by reaching through mail slot.Valley Lake Place, unit block, between 12:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Several items moved around but nothing missing.Cranbrook Hills Place, 10400 block, between 3 p.m. Dec. 13 and 3:20 p.m. Dec. 17. Coins stolen from laundry room machines.York Road, 1200 block, between 5:30 p.m. Dec. 23 and 9:20 a.m. Dec. 24, two offices broken into. Cash stolen from office of Dr. Jun Park, DDS. Front door pried open. Cash stolen from Dr. Michael Sherlock. Entry through boiler room wall.TowsonBlair Hill Lane, 6300 block, between 6 p.m. Dec. 20 and 2:15 a.m. Dec. 21. Glass in side rear door and office door destroyed in building. Unclear whether anything was stolen.Overbrook Road, 400 block, 2:54 p.m. Dec. 20. Two men stole two UPS packages containing two Playstation 3 games, two cookie presses, a camera and a camera bag. Men left in teal Dodge Intrepid with temporary tags.Hopkins Road, 400 block, between 9 a.m. Dec. 17 and 6:15 a.m. Dec 20. Two copper rain spouts stolen from house.East Joppa Road, 1400 block, between 5 p.m. Dec. 15 and 8:21 a.m. Dec. 19. Two air conditioning units stolen from behind building.Southerly Road, 900 block, between Dec. 7 and 5 p.m. Dec. 21. Cell phone, tools and loose change stolen from apartment.Southerly Road, 900 block between Nov. 23 and Dec. 8. Safe containing money, topaz earrings, a Burberry watch, Bulgari sunglasses, and Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses stolen from apartment. No sign of forced entry.Hampton Lane, 500 block, at 12:21 a.m. Dec. 17. Anonymous called said somebody was stealing rain gutters from Towson United Methodist Church. Police caught and arrested Timothy Poole, 20, from . He had ripped off 75 feet of copper downspouts.Valewood Court, 1100 block, between 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21 and noon Dec. 22. Christmas wreath stolen from front door.If you have information about any of these crimes, call the Towson Precinct at 410-887-2361.If you shop at the at , you've probably noticed the plastic hanging up in the shoe department and the smell of paint lingering in the air at times.They're all signs of major remodeling taking place at the department store.When the upgrades are completed in September the store will get an extended kids and intimates section and new brands in the shoe department, among other enhancements. The store is one of the better performing in the Macy's chain and has been identified by the corporate office as an "extreme growth" location, said Macy's divisional vice president Mike Trafford.Hence, all the extra TLC the department store is getting.The retailer is also trying to keep up with recent enhancements at Towson Town Center, including the addition of a luxury wing with stores such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Tiffany's, Trafford said.The improvements will include new carpeting in 75 percent of the store andoverhauled fitting rooms. Brighter lighting will be added to the cosmetics section, which is also the core of the store.Children's will move from the second floor to the lower level where it will have more space and more of a selection. The intimates section will also be expanded.Macy's will also offer more brands as part of the overall enhancement, although Trafford said the store is still working out the details. He'll let us know more in September, he said.So, the renovations may make shopping a little awkward for now. But be patient because Macy's promises a better shopping experience in the fall.Trafford said there are no immediate plans for upgrades at any of the others Macy's in the region.Say "so long" to short skirts and hello (again) to the 1970s. Get ready to banish black from your wardrobe and get creative with color.Now that the spring runway shows are over in New York, Milan and Paris, it's up to department store fashion directors and boutique owners to package the big ideas. Chanel's garden party, Balenciaga's punk brigade and Marc Jacobs' 1970s show were all memorable on the runways, but will they make it to store racks? Here, retailers offer their takeaways from the season, and ideas about how the trends might trickle down to you.Ken Downing, senior vice president and fashion director, Big idea: The vintage effect, fueled by the major YSL retrospective exhibition that just closed in August in Paris. On the runway, designers nodded to Saint Laurent's rich peasant look, Orientalism and "le smoking" [his signature tuxedo].Must haves: Fluid, sheer fabrics and longer hemlines (just above the ankle or to the floor) as we saw at Lanvin, and wide-leg trousers and a white pantsuit with Bianca Jagger swagger. The tuxedo jacket, it's not just evening wear anymore. For accessories, it's all about flat sandals because as a woman begins to add longer hemlines to her wardrobe, flat sandals work best with the new proportion.I'm also loving what I'm calling the "Helmut language" [a reference to Helmut Lang's utilitarian designs from the early 1990s], and the idea of adding a sporty attitude to dressed-up clothing using color-blocking, buckles, straps or parachute fabrics.Will punk take to the streets? Not now. We just cycled through a moment when the 1980s were really influential, along with strong shoulders, so punk doesn't look new to me. But where it ends up, we'll have to watch the runways to find out.Colleen Sherin, fashion market director, Saks Fifth AvenueBig idea: The color story. Bold, bright, vibrant color worked into color-blocked effects and combining colors in unexpected ways.Must haves: A longer-length skirt or dress as seen at and Proenza Schouler in New York, DG and Fendi in Milan and Chanel in Paris. Open-weave knitwear in natural white, ivory or beige crochet, macram, mesh or fishnet, as seen at Rag Bone, Alexander Wang, for Tse, Alberta Ferretti and Celine. And a crisp poplin shirt. We saw it with slouchy wide-leg trousers and skirts for a pared-down look. We also saw it as a play on masculine and feminine at Balenciaga, Stella McCartney and Celine. A trench coat looks great with a longer hemline peeking out. I love the sheer organza ones at Phillip Lim and Christian Cota, and the matte python trench at Emilio Pucci.In terms of accessories, fringe is everywhere on handbags, jewelry and scarves. A shoulder or flap bag is key because it fits into the 1970s trend, as does a pair of platform wedges.Will punk take to the streets? Not in a big way. We've done that trend recently with leathers and studs and grommets, and not enough time has passed to go back. But it may be something we will touch on in our contemporary department.Stephanie Solomon, fashion director, Big idea: Color and print. And this is a serious shift because we've been in love with black for so long.Must haves: A dress or skirt with a hemline hovering around the knees or below. In New York, Alexander Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Derek Lam, Marc Jacobs, and Rebecca Taylor all had great longer lengths. In Milan, we saw it at Versace, Dolce Gabbana, Jil Sander and Roberto Cavalli. Sometimes these longer skirts have asymmetrical hems or slits, which we saw at Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Stella McCartney.It sounds like a myth that hemlines matter, but they do because when you go longer, you have to change your shoes and you have to change your coat. You need flat, wedge or platform sandals. And the long trench coat is chicest with this length. I'm also liking boyfriend jackets over longer skirts.Will punk take to the streets? In a way. You have to have the rock 'n' roll element, otherwise it would get too boring. I would take a studded leather jacket, something that looks worn and torn and ragged from Burberry Prorsum or Givenchy, and put it over a really frothy feminine dress like we saw at Dior. That dichotomy looks right. Or you can be a punk one day and a virgin the next!Follow 10 Things Before the Opening Bell and never miss an update! Please Note: Business Insider will never share your information with any other companies. You also have the ability to unsubscribe from these newsletters at any time simply by following the unsubscribe link located at the bottom of each email Another sign of how dependent the world is on China is that nearly one third of luxury shoppers in London are Chinese tourists.Chinese tourists account for 30 percent of the luxury goods market in England, CBRE tells the . They are followed by Russians, Arabs and Japanese, with British making up only 15 percent of the market.You may noticed the same trend if you go shopping in New York.While austerity-stricken Brits can't afford Gucci and Burberry, Chinese has been flooded with money. Shopping abroad Chinese can avoid the high taxes on luxury goods imposed by Beijing.High-end stores have started hiring Mandarin speakers to handle the new market, according to the Mail.Don't Miss: If you're wondering why would pay $1 billion for (a company that has no revenue) even though Facebook already has a popular photo-sharing app, the answer is that it's all about advertising revenue.We chatted with Simon Mansell, CEO of , a company that sells and manages advertising on Facebook. He gave us these insights into how Facebook might make money from its money-losing deal:1. People can follow and Like brands on Instagram the same way they do on Facebook. Instagram is one of the few social media where people voluntarily subscribe to brands such as . Brand Pages are enormously important to Facebook, as they're the bedrock and entry-level offering for most advertisers. Adweek adds:About a dozen brands, including , are already integrating their Instagram accounts with their Facebook pages through a product released by social media marketing company Vitrue last month. The so-called "tab module" allows brands to import their stream of Instagram pictures directly into their photo-friendly Facebook Timelines.2. It allows Facebook to copy . for its promoted tweets, which appear in users' tweet streams even if they don't subscribe to those brands. Instagram will allow Facebook to insert promoted or sponsored posts into Instagram users' photo streams. "Currently, if people you follow on Instagram like stuff you are not following you would NOT see that they liked this," Mansell says. Facebook could change that so that anything you like appears to your followers that it came from the original sourcethe advertiser, in this case. If Facebook allowed promoted photos, "people wouldn't think it was weird as they would have started seeing stuff from brands they are not following already."3. It keeps people addicted to photos on Facebook, and Facebook makes money by selling ads next to users' photo albums. A huge part of Facebook's stickiness revolves around photos. Who wants to leave the site that contains years' worth of family snaps? Instagram was proving so popular that it threatened that photo storage stickiness. Mansell believes this is why Facebook paid $1 billion to acquire the company even though it has no revenue: "Even if it's just 100th of a threat, and they [Facebook] pay 100th of their value, then it kind of makes sense."4. It hurts Twitter and with a single blow. Instagram currently uses the Foursquare's APIthe sign-in thingy, in non-nerd-speakfor access and location. Mansell believes Facebook will switch that to Facebook's API. That immediately renders Foursquare less relevant. With Facebook/Instagram users continuing to post Instagram pics on Twitter, the new company will now throw off a stream of data about how far its photos reach inside the Twitter environment. That's data Facebook didn't previously have on the micro-blog company. "This gives them more info on whether they're losing market share to Twitter, that's my theory."5. It helps Facebook gain local advertisers. "The Instagram/Facebook API creates a lot of location data linked to the identity information Facebook holds, and thus creates new opportunities on the site for advertisers on Facebook to target against. This could be especially interesting for local businesses for example," Mansell says. "They can get more cupcake companies and local retailers advertising on Facebook, and that will be a huge market."See Also:Singer Adele is in talks to design a plus-sized collection for luxury brand Burberry, according to a .She was reportedly approached by creative director Christopher Bailey about designing a line for "voluptuous" customers, wrote reporter Sarah Karmali.As far as we can tell, she would be the brand's first plus-sized spokesmodel.Luxury fashion houses have notoriously eschewed plus-sized customers, even as the global population gets bigger.Burberry's past spokesmodels have included lithe actresses and models like Emma , Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Agyness Deyn.But despite the fashion world's obsession with skinny young people, the people who can afford to buy Burberry and other luxury brands are olderand probably biggerthan the women they're hiring to advertise the brand.Burberry has fallen on tough times recently, on macroeconomic uncertainty.It's possible that catering to a major segment of the population will provide Burberry with the boost it desperately needs.Will other luxury brands follow suit? Time will tell.DON'T MISS:APSlimy Slinky Winfield aka Slinky Sunbeam left Adele... for a Burberry model.After the world wondered who the wretched fellow was who broke the beloved Adele's heart so badly that she later won six Grammy awards singing about it, has uncovered the now notorious man who "could have had it all."Meet Slinky, the singer/actor who hails from a faded seaside resort town in England and is described by friends as a "popular guy, the life and soul of the party.""Hes a seriously good-looking guy. He has a great body and likes to wear vests to show it off," a source (Slinky?) close to Adele told the NYP. "And he has this crazy hair which reminds me of Jimi Hendrixits really wild and untamed."Slinky and Adele initially met through mutual art world friends in London and bonded over their shared love of music, although his "material is more underground and kind of art-school trendy.And as hard as we tried to get over the fact that Slinky apparently has a penchant for wearing vests with nothing underneath, it's this video below that has us seriously questioning Adele's taste in men.But just how serious the relationship was seems to be up for debate.They never lived together, and I cant really recall Slinky ever describing Adele as his girlfriend, admits the source.Adds a music industry insider, "Im not saying she made it up, but theres a strong suspicion that shes gilding the lily.Meanwhile, as Slinky remains under the radar, some hilarious genius has created a parody account under the name, @AdelesExBF.The @AdelesExBF handle already has over 4,000 followers and has tweeted gems such as: "One time a black pen exploded in Adele's mouth and she actively did nothing about it," "Adele would print out old transcripts of 'Caroline in the City' and make me watch as she performed every role," and "Adele used to microwave single pieces of bologna because she liked it 'dry.'"One of the most interesting parts about Raj Rajaratnam's trial at the U.S District courthouse in downtown Manhattan -- ostensibly Clusterstock's second home for the next six weeks -- are the people who won't admit why they're there.People who are attempting to go unnoticed; people who say: "I'm just an observer" or "just thought I'd take a look" or "just watching."I met my first Observer in line this morning, waiting to be escorted to the courtroom. He was a slim man wearing a felt grey coat, a checked scarf, glasses and he was reading a New Yorker. Watchless and Blackberry-less, I asked for the time and if there was a special area for press.Yes, press were already being assembled upstairs, but only those with credentials. My NYPD press credentials still en route (we applied yesterday), I was doomed to wait in the "Raj Rajartnam overflow" line.I asked the man if he was credential-less press too. He was not. "I'm just an observer," he said, and went back to reading his magazine."Just an observer?" I prodded."I'm a lawyer." Pause. "I'm part of a group of lawyers for another party... I represent another party that's in the mix."In the mix = Raj's trial obviously involves a ton of other defendants, and the wider Galleon probe, even more. This man obviously represented one such person. Or people.He went on."There are a lot of people... companies... here."Ah. Of course. Characters from companies like Intel to Google to Hilton Hotels (whose stocks were traded based on alleged insider information) to hedge funds including Galleon and Spherix (who's employees are implicated) to corporate behemoths like Goldman Sachs and McKinsey (who's current and former partners may be called to testify), all have an interest in watching this trial with a hawk-eye.Suddenly the courthouse took on a sinister spirit -- I felt like there were coated, hatted individuals roaming the halls on every floor, looking for clues and intelligence to take back to more featureless faces at corporate headquarters across Manhattan. Obviously, I've watched too many movies... Or maybe I've just seen to many commercials for the new Matt Damon movie. Either way, I told myself to start thinking about Rajartnam's cherub-like face and contented demeanor before I totally lost my cool.Later on, as I was leaving the courtroom, three men in black coats walked out ahead of me. One of the men, with blonde slicked back hair, pressed the button for the elevator, and turned around and said something along the lines of -- what a blast -- drenched of course, in sarcasm."I'm waiting for the all the questions about Wall Street," I said as we stepped into the elevator."Wall Street? Which questions?" the man said."Yeah, there's a part of the questionnaire where they ask jurors if they're biased against Wall Street, and if they think bankers are greedy, and if they think they're dishonest... I cover Wall Street, so I think that will be interesting."The man nodded slowly, and said "yeah, it should be interesting."On the ground floor, we headed toward security to collect our confiscated electronics and I asked what they were doing here. A man with black, thinning hair -- taller than the other two -- in a Burberry-like tartan scarf said, "just watching.""No you're not," I said. "No-one comes here just to watch. And there's three of you. You didn't just drop by.""If you don't mind, can I ask who you report for?""Business Insider. Now will you tell me who you work for."The man smiled and repeated his earlier refrain about just-being-here-to-take-a-look.We walked through the revolving doors out onto Pearl Street."Look," I said. "I know there are a ton of lawyers here for other defendants; people watching for companies. At least tell me which company you work for, off the record."He smiled and put on a black beanie, and said, "You'll know who we are, soon enough." And then the trio walked west, phones out and ear-poised, along Pearl Street.Skyrocketing social networking andmobile usagehas led many to speculate on the key business model for mobile-social services. The most common answer is local commerce.But, checking in is not becoming a mainstream activity (see chart) and local couponing experiments aren't working so well.In a from, we analyze how another potential solution, social discovery, could become the future for mobile social-apps.Here's how it could work:In full, our:Skyrocketing social networking andmobile usagehas led many to speculate on the key business model for mobile-social services. The most common answer is local commerce.But, checking in is not becoming a mainstream activity (see chart) and local couponing experiments aren't working so well.In a on Mobile and Social from, we analyze how another potential solution, social discovery, could become the future for mobile social-apps.Here's how it could work:In full, our:disneydreaming.comPre-social media, the biggest benefit of building online stores for large brands like Nine West, Burberry or La Perla has been the ability to listen to customers. The direct link on the home page, whether its info@, assistance@ or customerservice@, has opened an easy-to-use communications tool between brand and customer that had not existed prior to the old school suggestion box.When launching NineWest.com in 1998, we immediately started getting emails from customers when we moved sandals off the site in September. They were being moved off the selling floor in the Northeastern United States, so why not on the website, which was being managed out of New York?Well, we had customers from Texas, California and Florida who had their eyes on sandals on the site, and when we moved the inventory to make room for boots, those customers were very vocal. That was my first lesson in online merchandising- you need to keep in mind customers from varying locales.While working at Burberry in 2004, one day we had increased traffic to a trench coat on Burberry.com from a Sony URL. It turns out a rap artist under the label blogged about buying the coat for his girlfriend with a direct link to the product page. Not only did he drive traffic to the page, but we also sold out of the coat. Lesson here is never underestimate the power of influence.While managing the e-commerce of LaPerla.com, another lesson learned was to pay attention to cultural influences. In 2009, while reviewing daily analytics and seeing a spike in traffic but flat conversions, when I checked the most popular key words and site referrers on Google Analytics, I noticed traffic and words related to james bond or james bond swimsuit.It turns out that three years after the theatrical release of Casino Royale, Turner was celebrating James Bond week and was running the trailer of Daniel Craig coming out of the water, wearing his La Perla swim trunks and looking like a demigod. Unfortunately, we couldnt convert the traffic since we had sold out of the trunks three years prior, and it had also been discontinued. Our team managed to order 20 remaining swim trunks from Bologna in a different style, received the product five weeks later and put them live on the site, where they promptly sold out. It is still unknown to me how many of those swim trunks we could have sold. Lesson learned- you cannot predict demand and supply. Or can you?StyleTrek is my vision for where e-commerce is headed: very social and where the influence of many and the few matter. I wanted to utilize the power of viral marketing and social media to promote unknown designers and help them sell their products online, to provide a way for designers to get input from their customers and for customers to be involved in supporting designers, either through posting encouraging and uplifting comments or participating in the creative process. I wanted to apply all my lessons learned to support emerging designers and create a forum where style experts and novices alike can have a say in which designers we feature and what products we sell on StyleTrek.Engagement with customers is often unpredictable. For established brands that have invested 50-plus years building a customer base on carefully articulated messaging sometimes based on artful illusion, social media can be intimidating. For emerging designers, social media is an opportunity to be heard, promoted and compared along with more established brands. At StyleTrek we do not fear engagement, we relish in it.Within a short timeframe, we were able to find 25 talented designers from five continents through crowd sourcing. As StyleTrek continues to evolve, we look forward to mining data so we may determine not only which designers our customers want the most, but also which trends are passing or here to stay, which colors, patterns, skirt lengths are most desirable. The evolution of e-commerce has come a long way, and StyleTrek plans to be a large part of this movement.--CPEditors Note: StyleTrek CEO Cecilia Pagkalinawan will be a featured speaker at MESA Presents: Social Commerce on Tuesday, March 15 in NYC.iframe src=http://www.businessinsider.com/embed?id=4ea1bbb185b582f765000027amp;width=600amp;height=430 width=600 height=430 border=0 frameborder=0/iframeHeres a sneak preview of the Burberry Autumn Winter 2011 ad campaign shot by Mario Testino. The winter collection for men and women is ever so British, and ever so Burberry. We are quite in love with the military wintery looks and colours. Do you have a favorite? Share your thoughts in comments belowRead more posts on Even companies at the top of the retail food chain are suffering. Luxury brand Burberry is cutting up to 540 jobs (roughly 9% of its workforce) in Great Britain and Spain, despite a 30% rise in revenue at the end of 2008. The fashion label hopes that the cuts will save as much as $50 million a year.: Burberry's decision to cut staff reflects broader troubles among makers of luxury goods, which had hoped to be safe from the hardship elsewhere because of their affluent clientele. But while some, such as Compagnie Financire Richemont SA, owner of glamorous brands such as Cartier and Chlo, have reported sales declines or laid off temporary staff, Burberry is the first to announce cuts to its permanent workers.Analysts say they expect more cuts to come at other luxury-goods companies. "In the same way that we see a trickle-down effect, in retail, we also see a trickle-up effect," said Bryan Roberts, global research director at consultancy Planet Retail in London. "High-end players are less vulnerable to the downturn, but that doesn't mean they are not affected."See Also: Burberry just warned that its Q2 earnings would come in at the low end of analysts' expectations.The stock is getting slammed.In a , the luxury goods maker said that sales had decelerated:Against strong comparatives last year, retail sales growth at constant exchange rates was 6% in the 10 weeks to 8 September 2012. Of this, new space contributed 6% while comparable store sales were unchanged year-on-year, with a deceleration in recent weeks. Ahead of the key retail trading period in the second half, Burberry currently expects adjusted profit before tax for the twelve months to 31 March 2013 to be around the lower end of market expectations.Angela Ahrendts, Chief Executive Officer, commented:"As we stated in July, the external environment is becoming more challenging. In this context, second quarter retail sales growth has slowed against historically high comparatives. Given this background, we are tightly managing discretionary costs and taking appropriate actions to protect short term profitability, while continuing to execute on our proven five key strategies.Heres the Burberry Eyewear Summer 2012 collection for men and women. The new collection features timeless aviator eyewear styles for men and women, reflecting the effortless attitude of the English brand. Burberry Eyewear is available from , Burberry stores and selected retailers worldwide from April 2012.Also, Burberry presents British musicians One Night Only, Life in Film, The Daydream Club and Marika Hackman. Curated by Burberry Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey, the campaign, shot in London, celebrates emerging British talent. The campaign features Burberrys iconic eyewear styles and encapsulates the spirit and energy of the brand, music and the British summer.Read more posts on , lead by creative director Christopher Bailey, showed its Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2013 collection in Milan earlier today. Guests included British musicians Roo Panes, George Craig and Rob Pryor and British actress Michelle Dockery as well as Nicolas Vaporidis, Giorgia Surina, Elyas M’Barek, Eros Galbiati and Alex Uhlmann. Burberry ad campaign models Seb Brice, Johnny George and Charlie France walked the runway.Read more posts on Burberry Prorsums Womenswear Autumn/Winter 2012 collection hits the runway in London today, and you can watch it live on . The Burberry show starts at 4PM London time, Monday 20 February, 2012. Once it begins, you can watch the Burberry Prorsum Womenswear Autumn/Winter 2012 live stream video directly below – . Burberry chief creative officer Christopher Bailey is also around the collection, demonstrating (yet again) the that just won the brand International Retailer of the Year honors. embedSyndicatePlayer("syndicate-player-container", width: 560, height: 400, language: "en", country: "gb" ); Read more posts on Shot in London, heres the first look at the Burberry Spring/Summer 2012 ad campaign, featuring new British models Eddie Redmayne and Cara Delevingne. According to Burberry, The cast reflects different facets and attitudes of the Burberry guy and girl. The campaign reinforces the brand’s heritage in protection from the weather, showcasing outerwear including trench coats and parka. Photos © Copyright Burberry/TestinoRead more posts on The purveyor of overpriced plaid saw it's stock sink to lows not seen since it's IPO, as it warned of sluggish demand. Burberry's CEO, Angela Ahrendts says, "After 30 years in the industry, I have never been more concerned about the market environment." But it doesn't haver her feeling pessimistic, quite the opposite: "I have never been more optimistic about the prospects for our company."What's got her feeling so great? The new line of goods, of course, which includes a $187 denim handbag for the poors, and more stuff with the famous plaid pattern on it, as well as a new shipping method--no more through the air, it's on the sea. How luxurious!: Burberry Group Plc fell the most in London trading since going public in 2002 after predicting profit in the lower half of analysts' estimates and slower store openings as the global economic slump saps luxury-goods demand.Burberry slid as much as 18 percent, wiping about 160 million pounds ($240 million) off its market value. Pretax earnings may be at the ``mid to lower'' end of analysts' projections in the current fiscal year, and its average selling space will increase less than 10 percent next year, said the London-based company, which reported higher first-half profit as well.The clothier also said sales to department stores and other third-party distributors may drop in the current half after predicting no change previously. Demand for luxury goods is slowing as shrinking economies and market turmoil cause even the wealthiest shoppers to cut back, weighing on sales and profits at companies from Bulgari SpA to PPR SA.Bummer for some, but this doesn't affect us. The only time we wear Burberry is to swim:L2, a company that conducts research on digital business innovation, has released a study on the most web-savvy designers. Burberry, which this week reported a 30-percent revenue rise for the first half of the financial year mainly due to a boom in the Chinese market, came out on top proof that digital investments translate to shareholder value, according to L2.Judging from its analysis, it is safe to say that those brands that connected the dots between social media and e-commerce fared best in the ranking. Cultivating something extra, like Burberrys music division for instance, resulted in one of the top spots.Released this week, the reports top ten also include Kate Spade thanks to the highest social media score, Gucci with its shoppable video content and recent Tumblr launch, and Tory Burch whose Facebook store leads the fashion F-commerce (r)evolution.“From live streams to runway shows to an arms race on social media platforms,brands are seeking the halo of innovation that comes from inspired online programming. However, most fashion brands still approach digital as a series of pet projects rather than presenting a coherent multi-platform strategy. Although 94 percent of brands in the Index have a presence on Facebook, one in five still lacks e-commerce capability, said Scott Galloway of L2.Hugo Bosss interactive YouTube channel, Louis Vuittons Amble travel app (and a leading performance on Foursquare), as well as Donna Karans social media personality DKNY PR Girl (whos up for a Mashable award from the tech website) also resulted in high scores in the ranking.The full study can be found .Read more posts on Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts faces pushback from one of the UK's biggest lobbyist groups, which advised shareholders to take a hard line next week, when the luxury goods company holds its annual meeting. that last year Ahrendts took a $9.2 million share payment, about six times her base salary, which Pirc found "excessive."Granted, the company is doing well: its stock rose 237% over two years. In May, the London-based company announced plans to double spending on new stores and renovation around the world -- especially in China, where business is up 30%."The luxury market has turned around," Ahrendts in a recent interview. "It's up double digits around the world."For the first time in history, rich people are actually getting poorer, and luxury retailers are freaking out about it.The average income for the top 5 percent of people fell from $358,700 in 2006 to$313,298 in 2010,Pam Danziger, president of luxury research firm Unity Marketing said in a report. That means that swanky retailers are furiously vying for customers' discretionary income.We saw this trend , whose shares slid 20 percent after the retailer reported sales were down. CEOAngela Ahrendts blamed the trend on the "external environment."Danziger explained why declining incomes are hitting the luxury retailer especially hard:"Because these same consumers are significantly invested in their high-end lifestyle with income committed to a wide-range of fixed expenses to maintain that lifestyle, it's in discretionary spending where they are going to take their cuts. So that translates into less money to spend each month for clothes, shoes and handbags, jewelry and home decorative accessories. These folks have plenty of all that stuff already, so it is the easiest, most painless way to adjust one's budget when there is less money coming in each month."The days of "shop 'til you drop" for the wealthy are long gone, Danziger said. This means that luxury retailers are working hard to figure out how to catch consumers' attention.We checked out some luxury retailers for signs of the trend:To get the consumer's attention, even the luxury retailers are working harder than ever.DON'T MISS:If youre a big fan of China trademark squatting, or rather stories about the issue, check this out. have done a bit of digging and come up with some good examples of China trademark squatters who have registered famous UK brands:Investors in UK companies from Mulberry to Burberry owe much of their recent new found wealth to China’s love of prestige marques. But the country’s love of a name has taken a fresh twist.An investigation by the The Daily Telegraph has found that it’s not just handbags that the Chinese are snapping up. It’s the names of the brands themselves.In a revelation that will shock many UK business leaders, it has emerged that High Street names are being registered by Chinese individuals in their droves.Nice article, although if any UK business leaders are shocked at this information, they probably shouldnt be leading anyone about anything. This is a well-known story that international business types should already know about.Some nice quotes in there by China Law Blogs Dan Harris. I think some additional context might have been helpful to explain this one, however:Chinese courts look dimly on Western companies who complain their brand has been registered by another party in “bad faith”.This is one of those it depends situations. If you go to court (or, more likely, the Trademark Review and Administrative Board) with sufficient evidence, then TRAB will, eventually, be happy to rule on your trademark cancellation action. It might take a couple years, though, which might be a non-starter for a lot of folks. Thats why Dan suggests that a re-branding might be necessary. However, for brand owners like Hermes and Chivas, the problem was lack of evidence that they were well-known in China at the time the mark was registered by the squatter.Anyway, good stuff. Go read it.© Stan for , 2012. Add toPost tags: , , Read more posts on China posted yet another quarter of stellar economic growth in the first quarter of 2011, with its gross domestic product (GDP) growing 9.7%. However, analysts are worried about some of the side effects that have accompanied that growth- namely soaring inflation and the emergence of speculative bubbles.Inflation in China hit a 32-month high in March, and the country's real estate market is beyond scorching.Policymakers in Beijing insist they have the situation under control, and they've been trying to rein in liquidity and curb speculation to prove it. That's why China's economy, accustomed to double-digit growth, is only expected to grow 8% to 9% this year.Of course, while China may be experiencing some acute growing pains, its economy regressed the least in the wake of the global financial crisis - and it will continue to operate as the engine of global economic growth going forward, even if the United States relapses into recession.In fact, China's GDP will rise from $11.2 trillion in 2011 to $19 trillion in 2016, while the U.S. economy will increase from $15.2 trillion to $18.8 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). That means in five years China will have supplanted the United States as the world's No. 1 economy.China's share of the global economy will ascend from 14% to 18% in that time, while the United States' share will descend to 17.7%.A Guide to China's EconomyThe rise of China's economy - now the world's second largest - has been meteoric. But the time has come for the country to evolve from a source of cheap labor and manufacturing to a fully developed economic power with a consumer class that's capable of sustaining domestic growth.China already has made some remarkable progress in rebalancing its economy. The country's trade surplus is narrowing and wages are on the rise.The central government is targeting an increase in minimum wages of 13% a year through 2015. Additionally, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao aims to increase per capita household income by 7% a year in real terms during that period. He's also pledged to improve the social security and healthcare systems to help low-income households and to raise the personal income tax threshold - all in an effort to give the country's 1.3 billion people more spending power."We will ensure that people's income increases keep pace with economic growth and people's salary growth keeps pace with the productivity rise," Wen said last month in an online chat with the Chinese public.China's 31 provinces boosted minimum wages by an average of 24% last year, according to Yin Weimin, China's minister of human resources and social security. Meanwhile, the average monthly income for migrant workers rose 13% to $256.89 (1,690 yuan).Six provinces have already raised minimum wages this year, with labor shortages and government mandates likely to compel the remaining 25 to follow suit.Rising wages have directly translated to an increase in retail sales, which rose 16.3% to $657.29 billion (4.2922 trillion yuan) in the first quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Sales in March rose 17.4% from a year earlier, and edged up 1.34% from February."China is trying to rebalance its economy to become more consumer oriented. Wages are rising. People are earning more and will shop more, and that's good news for Chinese retailers," Andrew Sullivan, Director of Institutional Sales Trading at OSK Securities in Hong Kong, .Shockingly, the country that for so long has been infamous for its thriftiness As of December 2010, sales of luxury goods in China rose to $10.7 billion, or 30% of total global sales, up from $9.4 billion in 2009, according to the World Luxury Association (WLA).Luxury brands like Coach Inc.(NYSE: COH), LVMH Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton SA (PINK: LVMHF), Burberry Group PLC (PINK: BURBY), and Hermes International SCA (PINK: HESAF) have all benefited from China's splurging.Coach last week reported a better-than-expected 18% increase in fiscal third-quarter profit, thanks largely to China. China revenue currently totals about $185 million and continues to increase by double-digit percentages, the company said.Rolls Royce saw its China sales rise 600% last year, putting it above Britain as the company's second-biggest customer behind the United States.China's luxury car sales are expected to rise to more than 909,900 units this year, up from about 727,200 last year, according to forecasts by IHS Automotive. And that number could climb to 1.6 million by 2015.China is already the world's largest auto market, with 18 million units sold last year. That figure is expected to grow to 23 million by 2015.As further testament to China's newfound consumer wealth, the GroupM Knowledge-Hurun Wealth Report 2011 showed the number of millionaires on the mainland is up 9.7% from a year ago. And the country has 115 billionaires according to Forbes magazine's 2011 list -- second only to the United States.Indeed, China's domestic consumption has shown the rapid growth that has become the country's trademark. But more importantly, it's advanced the central government's goal of a more balanced economy by helping to reduce the nation's disproportionate trade surplus.China in March posted its first trade deficit - about $1 billion - since 2004.Strong demand for imported consumer goods and higher prices for commodities drove the value of China's imports to $152 billion in March. The value of China's imports hit a record high of more than $400 billion in the first three months of the year.Last year, China ran a trade surplus of about $15.25 billion a month. However, 2010 also was the second consecutive year in which the trade surplus shrank, falling 6.4% from 2009 to $183.1 billion.The State Information Center forecast China's imports to rise 20% in 2011, while exports will increase by 16%. That would trim the trade surplus by 13.2%.China wants to double its imports by 2015, reducing the trade surplus to zero and emancipating itself from an export-reliant economy.Potential Setbacks to China's EconomyOf course, China's rapid transformation has not gone off without a hitch. Inflation remains uncomfortably high, and there are fears of a growing bubble in the nation's red-hot property market.The most recent consumer price index showed inflation rising at 5.4% in March, the fastest pace in three years.China's inflation rate will likely rise above 5.5% in June, a team of economists at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch said in a report yesterday (Wednesday). However, that's likely to be the peak as Chinese policymakers are working overtime to stifle inflation at the expense of growth.The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has raised the benchmark interest rate four times- an increase of 100 basis points - and the reserve requirement seven times since October."Stabilizing prices and managing inflation expectations are critical," the PBOC said in a first-quarter monetary policy report published yesterday.Still, China's economy is overheating because capital is flowing into the mainland faster than it is flowing out. China's foreign exchange reserves, having increased by $197 billion in the first three months of the year, now exceed $3 trillion.Indeed, huge trade surpluses and the large-scale purchases of U.S. Treasuries - which China makes to suppress the yuan's value - have resulted in a 17-fold increase in the country's reserves over the past decade.For every dollar that goes into China's reserves, the country prints 6.5 yuan.Furthermore, lending and money supply in the country continue to grow faster than expected.China's top four state-owned banks dispersed $40.1 billion (260.6 billion yuan) in new loans in April, slightly higher than the $37.3 billion (242 billion yuan) issued in March, according to local financial news provider Caixin. This is despite the fact that China's biggest banks are required to keep 20% of their deposits on hand as reserves."What China calls total social financing' - conventional bank loans and most other external sources of finance - was still 38% of GDP in the first quarter of 2011, almost as high as in 2009 when China implemented a credit-centric stimulus program," UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) economist . "The credit intensity of growth, or the amount of new credit generated for each unit of GDP growth, has risen from 1-1.3 before 2009 to 4.3 in 2011."Many of the new loans are going into China's property market, which is accelerating at a dangerous pace.The value of homes sold in the first quarter increased to $132 billion (860.7 billion yuan), the Statistics Bureau said last month, driving overall property transactions 27% higher to $157 billion (1.02 trillion yuan).The total value of homes sold in March alone rose to $63.7 billion (414 billion yuan), which is close to the total of the first two months of this year combined. New home construction rose 20% in the first quarter to 310.2 million square meters (3.34 billion square feet), the statistics bureau said.Overall investment in China's real estate rose 34% to $136.4 billion (885 billion yuan) in the first quarter, according to the government data.Startlingly, these figures suggest that Beijing's attempts to cool the property market so far have been ineffective."While these growth rates are below ones seen in early 2010, they remain high relative to what developers are reporting and what the policy tightening would have suggested," Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) analysts said in a report. "We see this as a sign that the tightening probably has not yet been fully implemented at the local level."A rising number of institutions are growing concerned about China's real estate market.Even China Citic Bank Corp. Ltd. (OTC: CHCJY), the seventh-largest Chinese lender by assets, said yesterday that the country's property market has become too risky and it plans to cut lending to the sector."Citic Bank relatively clearly sees that real estate risk this year is severe," Shi Yuan, the general manager of the bank's risk management section, said on a quarterly teleconference. "We especially are paying attention to risks in the funding chain for developers. We believe as tightening continuously gets stronger, the true real estate risks will appear."Still, it's important to remember that while bubbles may be forming - especially in the property market - the overall trend of China's growth is positive."Yes there are probably pockets of bubbles in China and in the real estate market, but against that backdrop you have 500 million people expected to move into Chinese cities by 2020. That means the number of people expected to move into cities is almost double the population of the United States," said Money Morning Chief Investment Strategest Keith Fitz-Gerald. "So in the context of China's explosive growth, what we're looking at are some moderate setbacks over an extended period of high growth."China Investment PlaysIndeed, China is a growth story too compelling to pass up. However, investors should focus on parts of the Chinese economy more stable than the real estate sector.That means playing trends like consumption.The Claymore/Alpha Shares China Small Cap ETF (NYSE: HAO) has a large percentage of its holdings in consumer-focused firms. Consumer staples and consumer discretionary sectors represent 9.3% and 15.8%, respectively, of the fund's holdings.You might also consider large U.S. multinationals that have a sizeable footprint in China. These companies continue to benefit from China's fast-growing consumer class and are less susceptible to potential setbacks.McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) and Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) are two food operators Additionally, the revamped General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) has a very strong presence in China. GM is expected to retake the crown for most global auto sales from Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE ADR: TM), which has been devastated by the recent disasters in Japan.The company intends to introduce more than 60 new or upgraded models for the Chinese market and aims to double sales to around 5 million units by 2015.There's also China Yuchai International Ltd. (NYSE: CYD), which manufactures and sells diesel engines - most of which are distributed in China.As mentioned earlier, luxury sales in China continue to rise as well. That stands to benefit luxury brands like Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH), Burberry Group PLC (PINK: BURBY), and Compagnie Finciere Richemont (PINK: CFRUY).Finally, Money Morning's Fitz-Gerald likes the Morgan Stanley China A Shares Fund (NYSE: CAF)."I particularly like CAF because small business ventures in China have the most to gain and most of those companies are traded only in China A shares," said Fitz-Gerald. "And CAF is the only fund that gives U.S. investors direct access' to the A-shares." A recent portfolio allocation of the fund showed 28% of its holdings were in consumer goods and services, 26% were in financials and 18% were in basic materials.CAF also holds shares in companies that make auto components and beverages, among other products, and has numerous stocks in the metals and mining sectors.This originally appeared at . American magazine editors, prepare to be jealous of Angelica Cheung.The EIC of Chinese Vogue has a great problem: too much advertising."I have to sit down at a desk to flip through it," she the Guardian. "It is going to get very difficult to read. It's too heavy. Maybe it will have to be two magazines in future."China has a huge population of millionaires -- almost a million -- and their taste for expensive products is almost exponentially increasing.According to the Guardian article, Burberry is building almost 40 more stores in the next five years, and the country will become the world's biggest luxury market in four years.All this leads to massive profit for a magazine industry that has seen advertising spending jump from $166m to $450m in a decade.Publishers are taking note. Conde in 2009, GQ in October of that year. Hearst also is in China where Harper's Bazaar .Soon, Cheung might have some new colleagues with whom to "commiserate."()Follow Closing Bell and never miss an update! Please Note: Business Insider will never share your information with any other companies. You also have the ability to unsubscribe from these newsletters at any time simply by following the unsubscribe link located at the bottom of each email wallstcheatsheet.comIn a new note, explains that one of their big investing themes is hot brands in emerging markets.The company identified these 20 stocks as being best to capitalized.They're based on a an Emerging Consumer Servey. Each stock has the characteristic of becoming more popular among higher income groups, suggesting big opportunities as people get wealthier.AP/Eugene Hoshiko was quick to lower price targets today on eight luxury good conglomerates following the close of Paris fashion week., fears that a slowing Chinese consumer will cut back put pressure on the mostly French firms. AnalystFrancesca DiPasquantonio noted that markets remain focused on 2012 uncertainty as opposed to current healthy returns.PPR, the owner of Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Puma saw the deepest cut. DiPasquantonio lowered the $14 billion firm's target price by 17% to120., holder of iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Tag Heuer, had its target price cut 8%.Smaller brands Salvatore Ferragamo and Burberry took haircuts of 12% and 14%, respectively. Deutsche Bank maintained mostly buy and hold ratings on the sector, expecting segment growth of 6% to outpace global GDP growth of 3% next year.Hermes remained the only company on the list with a sell rating, trading 40% above target.Harry Potter has been doing well for all-grown up Emma Watson.Emma, a 19-year-old college student in Rhode Island, was doled out $30 million in 2009, more than any other actress in Hollywood.She was also the youngest person on the list, which included Cameron Diaz and Sarah Jessica Parker, according to .She got $15 million paychecks for both Parts 1 and 2 of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.'Watson also has lucrative advertising contracts with fashion companies like Burberry.Even though she was the top-paid actress on the list, she was No. 14 on the full list.The top ten are:1. Michael Bay, producer-director ($125 million)2. Steven Spielberg, producer-director ($85 million)3. Roland Emmerich, producer-director ($70 million)4. James Cameron, producer-director ($50 million)5. Todd Phillips, director ($44 million)6. Daniel Radcliffe, actor ($41 million)7. Ben Stiller, actor ($40 million)8. Tom Hanks, actor ($36 million)9. J. J. Abrams, producer-director ($36 million)10. Jerry Bruckheimer, producer ($35.5 million)Forexpros – European stocks closed mixed Tuesday, on slowing German and Chinese industrial output amid Greek debt talk concerns . After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.25%, France's CAC 40 advanced 0.18%, while Germany's DAX slipped 0.16%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 dropped 0.03%. Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papdemos is gathering the nation’s leaders to reach consensus on the fiscal cuts required for another European Union led bailout package. Greek policy makers have already agreed on cuts equal to 1.5% of the island nation’s gross domestic product. However, they are yet to agree on how to recapitalize banks, reduce wages and ensure the survival of pension funds. Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that the nation’s industrial output will likely slow this quarter due to the euro zone debt crisis and worldwide economic cooling. Adding to the Chinese bearish projection, the International Monetary Fund stated that China’s economic expansion may be cut in half by the euro zone’s debt crisis. This Chinese crisis would warrant significant fiscal stimulus from the nation’s government. The IMF went on to state that China’s growth would drop as much as four percentage points from the fund’s current projection for an expansion of 8.2% in 2012. German industrial output surprisingly declined the most in three years in December. Production gave back 2.9% from November where is stagnated. Carmakers fell on the negative economic forecasts with BMW slipping 2.7% and Renault giving back 1.3%. The world’s largest watch maker, Swatch fell 4.2% after missing operating profit projections. Luxury company shares followed Swatch lower with Burberry dropping 2.2%, Christian Dior fell 3.2% and Hermes gave back 3.1%. In bullish news, Banco Comercial surged 21% after stating it will sell new shares and draw state funds to boost its capital levels. This is despite the bank posting a full year loss of EUR786.2 million. In the U.S., stocks are higher with the Dow up 0.20%, the SP 500 gaining 0.17% and the Nasdaq advancing 0.14%. Investors are awaiting Australian consumer sentiment, New Zealand employment, Canadian housing starts, as well as U.S. crude oil inventories on Wednesday.&nbForexpros - Forexpros offers an extensive set of professional tools for the Forex, Commodities, Futures and the including real-time data streaming, a comprehensive economic calendar, as well as financial news and technical & fundamental analysis by in-house experts.Read more on Forexpros.com or Follow us on Twitter at @Read more posts on Remember long, long ago, when you frequently heard complaints about Europeans coming to New York, treating it as a weak-dollar playground. Right in front of our eyes, they were plundering our homegrown luxury goods, and supposedly even Europeans with a secretary's salary could afford to buy a second home in Manhattan. You might have even met some of these interlopers at cocktail parties, where they could be heard bashing US foreign policy, while bragging that they only return home when the need some free dental work. Once we heard a tale of a high-end real-estate brokerage that listed all of their properties in euros, but that could have been purely apocryphal.Here's what the New York Times wrote :Jonathan Fletcher, who works in information technology, and Aine Marshall, a dentist, came to Manhattan from London to buy a $1 million investment property. Mr. Fletcher, who is considering buying in the financial district, where he believes there is opportunity for appreciation, plans to put down his deposit money first and wait for the dollar to weaken more before paying for the entire apartment. Even if he does not buy an apartment, the savings from shopping in the United States covered the cost of the trip, he said. They spent a total of $8,000 on clothes, a camera and a $5,000 drum set that would have cost about double back home.Foreign buyers often purchase quickly because they largely view these apartments as investments like a bond or a stock. Dorothy Somekh, a Halstead broker, said that in an afternoon a Belgian couple she represented bought a $1.7 million two-bedroom condo at the Sheffield in Midtown to rent out for about $7,500 a month. After the couple signed the contract, they headed to Abercrombie Fitch to shop for clothes for their daughters.Barf, right?Anyway, er, good news(?), that's all coming to an end.: Sales of apartments by foreign investors are down by at least 50 percent year to date. Industry leaders say that a number of foreigners that bought downtown are being forced to sell residences as a result of the world financial crisis. According to Melissa Cohn, president of Manhattan Mortgage, mortgage financing for foreign investors is very difficult. Commercial banks which previously provided financing to foreign investors are pulling back. Earlier this year, she said she was able to secure financing from at least ten active lenders, but today that number is down to three or four.Technically, this doesn't mean that we'll hear fewer foreign accents the next time stop in the Apple store or the Burberry store, but... well, that's exactly what it means. When the sting of reduced commerce, lower-tax revenue and declining home values, we imagine there will be more than a few people who will regret cursing the Euro influx.But don't lose hope. The New York Times in 1984(!) offers this hopeful note: .. At such stores as Hemispheres, the chic men's and women's clothing store at 1 Boulevard Emile Augier in the fashionable 16th Arrondissement, the clothes can seem like bargains. Where else, for example, can you find four-ply cashmere sweaters for $177?Of all the stores in Paris, Hemispheres offers the most satisfyingly proper but unstuffy selection of men's clothes, such as classic English suede zip-front jackets for $330. For women, there are the tailored women's clothes of Peggy Roche, one of the best-kept secrets of Paris fashion. Her navy knit suits, spare, dry and dignified, sell for $300.Forex Pros – European stock markets were broadly higher on Thursday, as shares in the financial and raw material sectors led gains, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a higher open on Wall Street. br /br /During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.22%, Francersquo;s CAC 40 gained 0.35%, while Germany's DAX 30 edged 0.18% higher.br /nbsp; br /The Financial Times reported earlier that European Financial Stability Facility Chief Executive Officer Klaus Regling said China was ldquo;clearly interestedrdquo; in buying Portuguese bailout bonds when the EFSF sells them in June.br /br /Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings said that the exposure of German banks to Greece was manageable, boosting lenders across the region.br /br /Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank saw shares jump 2.35% and 1.2% respectively. Shares in Spanish banking giant Banco Santander advanced 1.9%, while Europersquo;s largest financial group BNP Paribas added 1.4%.br /br /Shares in Swiss dental implant maker Nobel Biocare soared 7.35% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock two notches to lsquo;overweightrsquo; from lsquo;underweightrsquo;.br /br /French tire maker Michelin saw shares gain 1.3% after JP Morgan upgraded the company, saying a 20% drop in natural rubber prices makes tire producers the best medium-term prospects in the automotive sector.nbsp; br /br /In London, the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 rose 0.4% as commodity producers led gains after Deutsche Bank upgraded the raw material sector, saying it expected stocks in the sector to deliver a 20% return on equity this year. br /br /Shares in BHP Billiton climbed 1.1%, while copper producer Xstrata gained 1.3% after Deutsche Bank named them as its top choices in the sector. br /br /On the downside, luxury retailer Burberry saw shares drop 2.5% after it reported full-year earnings that were broadly in line with market expectations. br /br /The company said annual earnings rose 39% to GBP297.9 million however the company failed to upgrade its earnings outlook for the current fiscal year, disappointing investors.br /br /The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.3%, Samp;P 500 futures indicated a rise of 0.32%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.15%.nbsp; br /br /Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish revised government data on first quarter economic growth as well as a weekly report on initial jobless claims.br /br /ForexPros.com - Forex Pros offers a diverse set of professional tools for Forex, Futures and CFDs. These include real-time data streams, technical and fundamental analysis by in-house experts, and a widely used economic calendar and .Read more posts on Forexpros – Forexpros - European stocks retreated in Friday trade, dragged down by inflation concerns and the dimming prospects for a quantitative easing from the European Central Bank.At the end of Friday’s European session, the STOXX 50 Index lost 1.48% to 2,179.66, France’s CAC 40 fell 1.50% to 2,981.96, Britain’s FTSE 100 shed 1.32% to 5,128.48, and Germany’s DAX declined 2.44% to close at 5,502.02.In Thursday trade, U.S. and European stock markets got a lift from a German parliamentary vote approving an expansion of the USD600 billion European Financial Stability Facility.But the release Friday of an unexpected drop in German retail sales sent European shares lower late in the day’s session. Germany’s Federal Statistics Office reported that retail sales fell by a seasonally adjusted 2.9% in August, down from a 0.3% gain the previous month. Market forecasts for retail sales in Europe’s largest economy were for a 0.5% decline.Additionally, the European Union’s Statistics Office reported that euro-zone inflation jumped by 3% in September, up for 2.5% in August, the largest year on year increase since October of 2008.The rise in prices quashed hopes that the European Central Bank would be lowering interest rates any time soon, complicating the ECB’s options for addressing the region’s debt concerns.Among top losers in the session were banks and financial issues, as Europe’s sovereign debt crisis weighed heavy on investor sentiment. In Paris, Societe General SA slumped 5.1%, while Deutsche Bank AG sank 4.9%.The French and German indexes closed out the quarter ending September 30, down 25%.Figures showing a contraction in China’s manufacturing sector, the third monthly drop in a row, took a toll on retailers in the region, as dealers anticipated a drop in sales for luxury goods.Burberry Group PLC fell 2.2% in London, with PPR SA, parent company of Gucci, sank by 6.1%. LVMH Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton SA dropped 3.4% in Paris.Meanwhile in late afternoon trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.78% to 11,067.29, the Nasdaq Composite Index gave up 1.18% to 2,451.47 and the SP 500 was lower by 1.04% at 1,148.37.Europe’s Markit Economics was due to release its Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index for the euro-zone on Monday.Forexpros - Forexpros offers a diverse set of professional tools for Forex, Futures and CFDs. These include real-time data streams, technical and fundamental analysis by in-house experts, and a widely used economic calendar and .Read more posts on Forexpros – European stock markets fell sharply on Monday, on reports Greece will not be able to meet deficit targets this year, leading the country closer to a potential default.During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 2.44%, France’s CAC 40 dropped 2.55%, while Germany’s DAX 30 posted a 2.63% decline.European equities were hit after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced on Sunday that the country would not meet deficit targets this year. A draft of the 2012 budget approved by the cabinet on Sunday showed a deficit of 8.5% of gross domestic product for 2011, falling short of a target of 7.6%.Inspectors from the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank held discussions in Athens over the weekend and will soon decide whether the country is eligible to receive further financial assistance. Shares in the financial sector led losses, with France's BNP Paribas plummeting 5.67% and Societe Generale tumbling 5.44%, while Germany's Deutsche bank fell 2.74%.Belgium's Dexia also saw shares plunge 8.78%, amid media reports that French and Belgian officials are set to meet to discuss a rescue package for the bank, due to its heavy exposure to Greek debt.Peripheral lenders also contributed to the fall, with Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo dropping 2.80% and 3.36% respectively, while Spain's Banco Santander fell 2.47%.In London, the FTSE 100 shed 2.18% as U.K. lenders shadowed losses posted by their counterparts across the Continent. Barclays saw shares tumble 4.67% and Royal bank of Scotland posted a 4.04% drop, while shares in Lloyds Banking fell 2.94%. Copper producers Xstrata and Kazakhmys also saw shares decline 2.75% and 2.90% respectively, as copper tumbled to a 14-month low, while mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton dropped 2.81% and 2.26%.The luxury-goods sector also came under pressure, extending the previous week's losses linked to concerns over China's growth. Shares in Burberry's tumbled 4.94%.Elsewhere, U.S. equity markets pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a drop of 0.53%, SP 500 futures signaled a fall of 0.52%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.76% decline.Later in the day, the U.S. Institute of Supply Management was to publish data on manufacturing activity.Forexpros - Forexpros offers a diverse set of professional tools for Forex, Futures and CFDs. These include real-time data streams, technical and fundamental analysis by in-house experts, and a widely used economic calendar and .Read more posts on Forex Pros European stock markets were mixed on Tuesday, as shares in the financial sector led losses amid persistent fears over the euro zones debt crisis, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a higher open on Wall Street.During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 slumped 0.25%, Frances CAC 40 dropped 0.5%, while Germany's DAX 30 edged 0.08% lower.Fears that Portugal was close to seeking outside help to resolve its debt problems continued to weigh on shares in the banking sector. Spains largest lender Banco Santander saw shares fall 1.1%, Societe Generale dropped 2.3%, while Unicredit shares were down 1.3%.Also Wednesday, Deutsche Bank saw shares drop 1.95% after the Wall Street Journal reported that the lender would seek a shareholder approval to raise as much as EUR18 billion in fresh capital.However, shares in Commerzbank climbed 2.3% after it announced plans to repay nearly EUR14.3 billion of state-aid by June.Meanwhile, shares in Frances largest utility provider Electricite de France dropped 3.5%, while GDF Suez slumped 1.45% after French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the government would freeze a planned hike in natural gas prices in July.In London, the FTSE 100 added 0.3%, as shares in retail giant Marks Spencer jumped 5.1% after it said that fourth quarter sales in its U.K. stores rose by 0.1%, defying expectations for a 2.5% drop.The upbeat data boosted other shares in the retail sector. Clothing retailer Next saw shares climb 2.9%, while shares in Burberry added 1.7%.Meanwhile, shares in miners performed strongly after gold prices rose to a record high. Randgold Resources saw shares climb 1.9%, African Barrick Gold added 1.35%, while shares in silver producer Fresnillo jumped 1.75% after silver prices rose to a 31-year high.The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.18%, SP 500 futures indicated a rise of 0.19%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.25%.Later in the day, the U.S. was to release a report on crude oil inventories, while the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Dennis Lockhart was to speak at a public engagement.ForexPros.com - Forex Pros offers a diverse set of professional tools for Forex, Futures and CFDs. These include real-time data streams, technical and fundamental analysis by in-house experts, and a widely used economic calendar and .Forex Pros – pros ndash; European stock markets were mixed on Wednesday, as upbeat economic data from China eased fears over an abrupt slowdown in the worldrsquo;s second largest economy, while lingering concerns over the euro zonersquo;s debt crisis limited gains.nbsp; br /br /During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 eased down 0.1%, Francersquo;s CAC 40 dipped 0.2%, while Germanyrsquo;s DAX 30 edged 0.2% higher. br /br /Official data released earlier showed that Chinese gross domestic product expanded by 9.5% in the second quarter, broadly in line with expectations. A separate report showed that industrial production rose by 15.1% in June, the most since May 2010, outstripping expectations for a 13.7% increase.br /br /European exporters with high exposure to China, such as automakers performed strongly. Shares in Volkswagen climbed 1.7%, BMW shares rose 2.2%, while Peugeot saw shares gain 1.3%.nbsp;nbsp; br /br /Meanwhile, Ireland joined Portugal and Greece as the third euro-zone member state to have its credit rating reduced to junk status, following a downgrade by ratings agency Moodyrsquo;s on Tuesday.br /br /Shares in the financial sector were mixed. Bank of Ireland saw shares tumble 4%, Deutsche Bank dropped 1%, while Italian lenders Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit gained 3.3% and 2.5% respectively after Italian lawmakers pledged to speed up efforts to approve an austerity package.br /br /Europersquo;s largest semiconductor-equipment maker ASML Holdings sank 4.8% after it said it expected orders to pull back sharply in the third quarter as customers become more hesitant to place big orders.br /br /In London, the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 rose 0.2% as raw material producers gained after oil and metal prices advanced and as fears over a slowdown in demand from China eased.nbsp; br /br /Mining giant BHP Billiton saw shares jump 1.6%, silver producer Fresnillo rallied 6%, while shares of oil major British Petroleum added 0.9%.br /br /Fashion retailer Burberry saw shares advance 2.6% after reporting a 26% jump in second quarter revenue, as sales grew across all regions and categories.br /br /The outlook for U.S. equity markets was upbeat. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.55%, Samp;P 500 futures rose 0.65%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated an increase of 0.75%.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /br /Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish official data on import prices and crude oil inventories, as well as a report on the federal budget balance. br /br /In addition, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is to give prepared testimony on monetary policy before lawmakers in Washington.br /br /Forexpros - Forex Pros offers a diverse set of professional tools for Forex, Futures and CFDs. These include real-time data streams, technical and fundamental analysis by in-house experts, and a widely used economic calendar and .Read more posts on Forex Pros European stock markets plunged on Tuesday, as mounting fears over Japan's escalating nuclear crisis sparked a global selloff in equities, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a sharply lower open on Wall Street. During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 dropped 3.46%, Frances CAC 40 tumbled 3.33%, while Germany's DAX plunged 4.83%.Earlier in the day, Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan warned that radiation levels had become significantly higher around the Fukushima Dai-Ichi power plant, following another explosion, this time at the stricken plants No. 4 reactor.Shares in the worlds largest maker of nuclear reactors Areva plunged 9.5% amid concerns damage to Japanese nuclear power plants would hurt demand for reactor fuel. The stock has lost nearly 18.5% this week.Utility providers linked to nuclear energy also performed poorly, as Germanys largest renewable energy provider RWE AG saw shares tumble 5.7%. Rival E.ON plummeted 6.1% after the Deutsche Presse reported that the German environment ministry wanted to temporarily shut E.ONs Isar 1 nuclear reactor in Bavaria. Meanwhile, shares in luxury goods retailers were broadly lower amid concerns over the long-term sales impact of the massive earthquake in Japan, which accounts for nearly 11% of global luxury sales.Shares in LVMH dropped 6.4%, rival Hermes slumped 5.8%, while Burberry saw shares plunge 6.7%.In London, the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 sank 2.4% as commodity prices retreated amid increased risk aversion. Shares in silver producer Fresnillo tumbled 7.1%, copper producer Xstrata dropped 4.05%, while oil giant British Petroleum saw shares slump 4.1%.The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was sharply lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a drop of 2.39%, SP 500 futures indicated a loss 2.82%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures pointed to a decline of 2.85%.Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish official data on manufacturing activity in the New York region, as well as government reports on import prices and the balance of domestic and foreign investment. In addition, the Federal Reserve was to hold its policy setting meeting before announcing its federal funds rate. ForexPros.com - Forex Pros offers a diverse set of professional tools for Forex, Futures and CFDs. These include real-time data streams, technical and fundamental analysis by in-house experts, and a widely used economic calendar and .We couldn't bring ourselves to actually attend the second round of Fashion Meets Finance. Last year's party was still too fresh in our minds. Fortunately, somebody made the New York Press's ace party reporter Matt Harvey go to the thing. He survived and came back with this news: models still want bottles paid for by bankers.Broke bankers and struggling models mobbed the rooftop of the Empire Hotel last night for the latest installment of Fashion Meets Finance. A tipsy brunette on crutches was trying to put her Burberry coat on so she could leave, but guys wearing suits sans ties kept jostling her as they moved past. Struggling to anchor herself with the crutches she told me her deal. I was running to work to get there on time when I fell. Its not funny! As the tiny metaphor hobbled away, a bushy-haired suit eyed my black notebook and smiled. How many numbers you get tonight? With an obscene bro-wink he added, Im just chilling because Im engaged.---The party was billed as a return to the halcyon excesses of 2007, and enough unemployed finance types fished the necessary change from their couch to pony up for a bottle of Absolut. Liz, a 20-something fashionista in a low-cut black cocktail dress, eyed them skeptically and said, just look at all the douches in those seats. Theyre all so broke. A line-up of seven models was in the DJ booth nodding to anemic dance music. One of them, Sabrina Roberts, a six-foot Afro-Chinese stunner wearing a tiny creme-brulee-colored dresstold me she wasnt giving up on finance dudes. One, theyre more interesting; and two, can you imagine if everyone was in fashion? I asked her if she had ever thought of dating so-called normal people. She twirled around, took a sip from her champagne flute and asked happily, How do normal people pay for champagne?Did any readers attend this thing? We'd love to hear more about it. Email [email protected]A social media study of FTSE 100 companies from The Group confirms what we found in a last November: firms remain wary of but are exploring the options available to them, especially Twitter.[]The Group, which has been monitoring corporate use of social media in the UK for just over a year, finds 45 percent now have corporate Twitter accounts, up by 50 percent on a year ago. :Twitter is easy to set up, easy to use and, some well-documented failures apart, a fairly foolproof way for companies to connect with various people online. Which explains why, of all the social media channels weve been monitoring, Twitter use is in the rudest health.As you can see from the chart, Facebook and blogs are used far less, however. The low uptake of Facebook is probably down to the cost and effort required to do it right, says The Group.YouTube is more popular, being employed by two fifths of UK blue chips. Of the social media channels reviewed by the consultant, however, YouTube is the least well used. More from The Group:There are some exceptions Aviva and Burberry have both put thought into their YouTube channels. The majority, however, seem content to add the odd video to the (frankly awful) channel template without much thought as to how their content will be consumed.For , it helps to broaden your sample and look to continental Europe. Here, companies like SAP and BASF are showing others how to do it with .Source: Investors pulled $15 billion out of the BRICs in 2011 as the European sovereign debt crisis escalated and the world economy decelerated.In China, all the chatter was about its problems, its property bubble, and its risk of a hard landing.Naturally, investors are anxious about pouring their money into emerging markets. And China, once an emerging market darling, is seeing bearish sentiment on the rise.Speaking at the Peter Chiappinelli, portfolio strategist at Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo Co. (GMO) said Wall Street has sold GDP growth as "the road to riches," but argued that there was no correlation between GDP growth and stock market returns. Chiappinelli spoke of a three tier short on China:"We've applied a more surgical approach to how we wanted to construct a short. We call it a three tier short. Three themes all tied to infrastructure and real estate.Tier 1 would be those names that are directly tied to China real estate, China development, China banks, China cement manufacturers, with an obvious link to China real estate.Tier 2 we would describe perhaps as less obvious, think Australian mining.Tier 3 even less obvious back to your global comment, everything is tied together. You can play a China short through European luxury goods, through , through Burberry, those kinds of names, vast majority of incremental growth is coming from mainland China. And we think they are very very exposed right now to a potentially dangerous situation. So it's more of a China theme that goes well beyond China's borders."Don't Miss: Many companies were disappointed when Google+ rolled out and banned the creation of accounts specifically for businesses and brands. Fortunately, today, , for them to start connecting with customers and followers.For an example of what a Google+ Page looks like, check out the one for the :You'll notice that you can +1 the page, see how many followers they have, add them to your circles, and confirm that the page is verified. You can share the page on your own stream. Check out all the differences here on the Google+ support page. (Bonus: are having a hangout at 4PM PST today!)Unfortunately, it doesn't look like just anyone can create a Google+ page. This is what I found, when I tried to click on the "Create a Google+ page" button:But you can see what Google+ is trying to encourage in the background. You can define whether your page is for a local business or place, whether it's a product or brand, and whether it's a company or institution. You can also further categorize it in "Arts, Entertainment, or Sports" or "Other". There's a message encouraging you to host hangouts, and create circles, and ask people to +1 you. You can get more advice from the . According to , he's been assured that .There's also Direct Connect, which simplifies searching for brands and businesses in Google search. Just go to , and type in the [+] symbol, along with the brand you're looking for. For example, when you search for "+Google", you'll be automatically taken to the . Currently this option only works for a few pages, but more is coming. In addition to the brand page, there are also a bunch more Google pages you can follow along with, including , , and . You can check them all out . Here are the non-Google brand pages that are now up and running:Have you spotted any more great brand pages? (By the way, the . How do you think the page will stack up?) Via on .Read more posts on 1) Luxurybrands have started out carefully.The article shows a great example of how Burberry back in 2009 created a, but moved cautiously, first with professional photographers then opening it up to the public (and even then maintaining some editorial control).What does this mean to you (the local business owner):You too can start out slowly. Forget what the daily deal sales person is telling you. There is so much competition in the daily deal space, you don't have to give away steep margins and creative control to participate. You should choose a vendor that uses professional photography (more cost to them) and will let you approve how the promotion is written. You should also ask the daily deal site to segment their mailing list and give you visibility into what kind of consumer is getting your email offerbeforethey send it. You should absolutely negotiate on margin and limit the number of offers you sell so you can test results.2) They've worked hard to maintain the sense of exclusivity.This article gives you a great example of Oscar de la Renta buildingwith the concept of a backstage pass to make consumers feel special.What does this mean to you:You don't need to call your promotion a deal. Think of this more as crafting a unique experience for your favorite customers. Many of the daily deal sites now have things like travel escapes, tastings, adventures, tour like bundles so they will have opportunities to package up unique local experiences. Work with your sales person to explore ways you can work creatively with other merchants in town to package a showcase of your business that feels more in line with your brand. Look at,, andas brands doing a good job of this.3)They are reaching bigger audiences.Derek Lam knew eBay could help his brand reach millions of new consumers, but these customers wouldn't all be right for his high-end products. So he was careful about which products he promoted on eBay, but he didn't ignore this audience.What does this mean to you:Don't avoid the promotion power of daily deal email lists. They can be the most effective way to put your business in front of millions of local consumers. The key is use select inventory. Control and limit your offering so that you showcase your business.This economy has made it feel like we only buy what is on sale, but that's not true. Consumers will always buy things that make them feel unique and special. Daily deal sites can get local businesses closer to thousands of local consumers without discounting what makes themspecial. The next generation of these products must deliver on that promise.This is not the student. Joe Mihalic graduated from Harvard Business School with his MBAand $95,000 in student loansin 2009. After two years of loan payments, Mihalic resolved to pay them off in 10 months.He started a blog, No More Harvard Debt (), to chronicle his experiment in cutting costs and earning more money. In March, he paid the last of hisseveral months ahead of schedule.[See.]U.S. Newsrecently spoke with Mihalic about his creative cost-cutting strategies. Excerpts:When and why did you decide to get more aggressive about paying off your student loans?In August 2011, I logged into my student loan accounts and the total came up to somewhere just shy of $91,000. This was after almost two years of paying down the loan at $1,057 every month. I had put over $22,000 into these loans that started out at $101,000. The principle was still at $90,000 because most of thewas going towards interest for the first couple of years. I looked at that total and it blew me away. I realized that I wasn't really happy with that trajectory of those loans. I felt like I was trapped. Emotionally, I felt it would just be better to be debt-free.In aclass that I took at Harvard, the professor said that debt was good. They're being held accountable to make a monthly payment to their debtors every fiscal quarter, so it keeps them focused and on track. I agree with that. The question is, "What's the right level of debt for an individual?" I thought that awas plenty of debt for an individual. This student loan debt was a little onerous for me. The pressure was too high.Do you think it was worth taking on that much debt to get your MBA?I do. I met a lot of really smart, talented, ambitious people who I probably wouldn't have met otherwise. I made great friends. The case method taught me to think in a whole new way. It made me a better decision-maker. Because of that, I was a more effective employee. I really don't think that it was that much debt when you consider that my salary doubled, as well as the fact that I was able to pay most of it down in seven months.What steps did you take to cut expenses and boost your income?I threw security and common investment wisdom to the wind and I used my life savings to kill a $25,000 loan to start my debt snowball. I stopped contributing to my 401(k), but I still have about $45,000 in my 401(k) that I didn't touch. I also had a $12,000 IRA from my old job. It started out as a 401(k), but I rolled it into an IRA and used it to pay down my loans. I took a hit on it, of course, when I did the early withdraw so it turned into $8,000.[See.]Certainly, if I had a qualified financial officer, they wouldn't say, "Withdrawing your IRA is the right thing to do," because you'll realize some loss. My situation does not apply to everyone, but it was my choice. Emotionally, I'm in a way better state now than I was this time last year.I gave up my privacy and got two roommates on . I also started a landscaping business, which was mildly successful. I also sold my motorcycle for $2,000, and I sold my bicycle for about $1,000. Then I sold some miscellaneous stuff on Craigslist: an , motorcycle accessories, bicycle accessories, even an old pair of Burberry reading glasses that I had sitting around from grad school.I saved 74 percent of my income. At the beginning of the challenge, I was making $103,000, which is really only $70,000 after taxes.I didn't go home for Christmas or to friends' bachelor parties or weddings. I didn't go on any dinner dates or to the movies. I'd hike around the park. I'd get bagels and coffee, random things that didn't cost a lot of money.How did people react in your life to this sudden lifestyle change?It takes a certain type of girl to go on a hiking date instead of a dinner date, but that's kind of the girl I'm looking for. As far as my life, I still have a great time. I hang out with friends a lot but I bring a flask to bars, which some of them thought was a good idea.For the most part, my friends were pretty frugal. I think I just may have subconsciously chosen frugal friends. Yes, most of them have houses and they do travel, but they don't really throw their money around unwisely. So, when they saw me tighten my belt a little bit they were like, "Yes. We get it. That's cool." They didn't go out of their way to do really flashy things and exclude me. I appreciated that.[See.]Do you think that the accountability of blogging played a role in helping you reach your goal?I'm pretty intrinsically motivated to begin with, but I knew that I would be held accountable at the end of every month with my progress report. "Here's how much I made, here's how much I spent, here's why." Just knowing that at the end of the month I would have to admit to my sins, so to speak, made me think twice about buying things and doing certain things.For example, when I quit my pedi-cabbing gig, it was very humbling to report that on the blog. It made me approach future revenuewith a lot more caution. There are so many pedi-cab drivers in downtown Austin just driving around without anybody in their trailers. I should have seen that and made the connection. I was just excited to be a pedi-cab driver. I thought it would be really fun. I didn't really do the due diligence. I had to admit on my blog that I failed in pedi-cabbing. It was kind of humiliating.Now that you've paid off your, will you continue some of your cost-cutting measures or go back to the lifestyle you had before?The roommates signed their lease until the end of June, so they're entitled to stay there until the end. After that, I'm thinking of renting the house out and getting a studio closer to the city, because the house is really too big for me.Spending is pretty similar to when I was paying off the debt. I haven't gone on a dinner date yet. I'm still driving my 12-year-old Honda. I'm still packing a lunch every day. My friends and I are still hitting up the BYOB place before we go downtown. I bought a couple of shirts for the first time in a year.I need to build back up mycushion to get six to eight months of living expenses in the bank just in case anything happens. Then I'll have the option to spend more. Right now, I just got used to the lifestyle I was living.People who win the lottery, their level of happiness actually returns to the baseline even though they have so much money. People who lose all their money, there will still be some dark days, but they'll rebound. I got used to that lifestyle. So, I haven't been in a rush to go spend crazy amounts of money or do anything really wild.Ethan Miller/GettyQuintessentially British label Paul Smith is attempting to crack China once again, with a flagship store in Shanghai and 24 new boutiques in the pipeline.Sir Paul Smith has cited the opening of his first as one the proudest moments of his career, and his foray in the Far East is set to continue as he takes on China next.His brand will set up a 5,000 sq-ft store in Shanghai - where European fashion houses Christian Dior, Gucci and Jean-Paul Gaultier have recently staged catwalk shows - in December and add 24 shops in China over the next five years, according to .Chinas clothing market is predicted to more than triple to 1.3 trillion yuan (128.3 billion) by 2020 from 400 billion yuan (39.4 billion) in 2010 as rising incomes fuel demand, Boston Consulting Group Inc found.This is the right time to join the race, said Balbina Wong, chief executive officer for ImagineX Group, Paul Smiths Greater China distributor. Chinese consumers are becoming more sophisticated and brand-conscious. Chinas overall GDP may slow, but the middle-class is growing.It is the second time the London Fashion Week label is attempting to crack China. The brand retreated from the country with large losses five years ago, with Smith telling the Financial Times that the Chinese market was extremely dangerous due to its high rents and because the majority of the population only sought clothes to cover their bodies.Paul Smith will be taking on earlier entrants Michael Kors and Burberry alongside fellow newcomers, Italian brands Prada and Salvatore Ferragamo.ScreenshotHow many of these are ads?The future of mobile advertising is display. To clarify: it's not in iAds or other software from OS makers and carriers. Tapping on those teeny-tiny "x"s in pop-ups requires an annoying amount of precision, and users generally ignore the ad content. The versus the enormous time spent on mobile is real, and it exists partially because of these unappealing little ads.Instead, the company proving that display advertising works for mobile is Instagram, the photo-sharing app that . Instagram's 27 million users not only look at mobile ads -- they rate them, share them, comment on them, and perhaps even like the brands using them a little bit better.Just don't call them ads. Instead, call them pictures, and if you're a brand, make sure they're interesting or beautiful to look at. See for example Burberry's hazy, over-exposed "behind-the-scenes" shots of models and fashion shoots. They're appealing in a way that glossy magazine pictures aren't, because they're not the commoditized images that consumers might expect. Instead, they're a hip, attractive, insider-y collage. And they probably make consumers think of the Burberry brand more favorably.You can hear more about smart mobile marketing and ad tactics at the , taking place June 14 in New York, hosted by . are now on sale. The covers everything from in-app experiences and stealth ads like those on Instagram, to content integration, traditional display, and geo-local targeting.You'll hear from including:They'll dive into the , such as:, and join the discussion on June 14 for a day of intense industry insight and valuable networking. Meanwhile, you can follow @BI_Events on for discounts and updates. See you in June!() - Inc, the world's largest home improvement chain, will close all seven of its big box stores and cut 850 jobs in China as the retailer changes its focus in the Chinese market to online and specialty stores and becomes the latest retailer to feel the chill from China's slowing economy.Earlier this week, British fashion house Burberry Group Plcwarned a slowdown in China could hit earnings. The profit warning came as recent Chinese data signaled a further slowing of the world's second-largest economy.Chinese home appliance retail chain operators such as Suning Appliance Co Ltdand GOME Electrical Appliances Holding Ltd, who are seen by some as China's answer to Co Inc, are also slowing their expansion to focus on raising efficiencies at existing stores and refining their e-commerce operations.China's retail sales growth in all consumer goods categories slowed to 13.2 percent year-on-year in August to 1.67 trillion yuan ($263.84 billion) from 18.1 percent in December, official data showed.Home Depot will retain two recently opened specialty stores in Tianjin and is "developing relationships with several of China's leading e-commerce websites," it said in a statement late on Thursday."China is a do-it-for-me market, not a do-it-yourself market, so we have to adjust," Home Depot spokeswoman Paula Drake told Reuters late on Thursday.The company made its first foray into the rapidly-growing Chinese market in late 2006 through its acquisition of a 12-store Chinese chain called The Home Way.However, it has struggled to expand ever since as it was a relatively late entrant into the market behind other international chains such as Britain's Kingfisher Plcwhich ventured into the world's most populous country in the late 1990s. http://r.reuters.com/far62tThe company expects to incur a $160 million charge in the third quarter as a result of the closures, but said this will not affect its full-year earnings forecast.Home Depot said it will continue to employ about 170 associates in China working in the sourcing offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Shares of the Atlanta-based company closed up 2 percent at $58.30 on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.Last week, Suning Appliance announced the launch of a network of super stores to offset slow growth in its core business in China. The super stores will sell home appliances, general merchandise, books, and daily necessities, a move that put it in direct competition with local operators such as Sun Art Retailand Wumart Stores, as well as foreign giants like Walmartand Carrefour.($1 = 6.3296 Chinese yuan)(Additional reporting by Tej Sapru in Bangalore; Editing by Matt Driskill)A baby may be the ultimate accessory, but for women who love designer brands, it can also be an awkward wardrobe fit.Okay, we're half kidding--but fortunately for those women, high-end designers such as , Lanvin, Versace, and have all recently launched or plan to launch clothing lines for kids.Upscale children's lines started entering the scene about three years ago, but made a surge this season with Fendi showing its collection at its Fifth Avenue store in New York City and Gucci hiring Jennifer Lopez and her twins for its advertising campaign.The prices for many pieces, which children will likely only wear for one season, border on ridiculous. For example, a Gucci's , designed for girls ages 2 to 8, costs $595 dollars.But as the luxury market makes a slow comeback, the wealthy are willing splurge these items, said the Doneger Group's Creative Director Jamie Ross.We spoke to her this week about designer baby fashion became such a trend; here's what she had to say.When did we start seeing designer children's clothes become a trend?About three years ago, we started to see designer clothes for children enter the market. But the past year, we've seen it enter a good mainstream consciousness. These moms who wear the brands themselves and place their identity in them, and want their children to have matching aesthetics.Why is expanding to children's wear smart for designers?The fact that they are building costumers base that young, helps them build customers for life. If a child associates themselves early on with a brand, they have a guaranteed customer later on.So what are the trends in children's designer fashion? It's a take away from the grown-up clothes. Especially Gucci, Lanvin, and I'm sure Versace are all taking trends from their adult lines.Is it cost-effective for designers to create children's lines?Yes, absolutely. The fact that Fendi had their show at the Fifth Avenue store just generated so much hype for the line and I would say people were more excited for the Lanvin kids line than the woman's. Just generating the buzz helps the designer.As the luxury market made a small comeback in the past few years, is this how people are spending their money?For the infant clothes, we're seeing them mostly gifted. The doting grandparents are a large part of the people spending on these lines.So if the mother of the child is clad from head to toe, is there an etiquette about what type of clothing to buy the child as a gift? If it's a known fact that a mom leans in the direction of designer, it's probably best to step up to the plate and buy the designer clothes. If you even think how far diaper bags have come, women don't just carry a basic bag anymore.What designer children's line do you like the most right now?Looking ahead, Fendi looks good. It's a direct interpretation of their woman's line. The clothes are kid friendly, the prints and colors are just right. They are pushing the envelope forward. The clothes are user-friendly, some of the kids clothes (from other designers) almost look too precious to use. Fendi has utility safari fabrics, others look more washed and comfortable. They have fashion pastels for boys. It looks great, because sometimes compared to the girls, the boys lines can be boring.Children are the ones wearing these clothes, so do you think it comes with a level of understanding that the clothes will get dirty?If you're a mom and spending on this, you're prepared to have a good dry cleaner as well.WikipediaWhen Bill McComb took the helm of in 2007, he laid out an ambitious plan for kate spade new york, Lucky Brand and Juicy Couture: Build each of these marquee labels into a global lifestyle brand.Four years later, while in July, we see signs that McCombs vision is paying offkate spades sales are up 64% compared to 2010, and Lucky posted a 13% increase. And McComb says its only a matter of months before Juicy starts jumping too. Liz Claiborne Inc.s CEO talked to The High Low about these diverse brandsand the shared strategy that has put all three on the path to double-digit growth.The High Low: So direct to consumer sales grew by 77% this quarter. How did you unlock the potential of this 18-year-old brand?Bill McComb: The first step was to bring in our brilliant creative director, Deborah Lloydwhod had hugely successful runs at Burberry and Banana Republicand pair her with Craig Leavitt as CEO. Because kate spade was the last brand acquired under my predecessor, the business wasnt yet caught up in the corporate structure of the parent company which was built around sales channels, not brands and, frankly, was beginning to unravel. So I allowed kate spade to remain an independent, yet fully integrated operating company; we kept it highly entrepreneurial, and we kept it small.THL: How did this new team rethink the brand?WLM: Deborah had a clear road map for kate spade new york in terms of its handwritingits visual and product expressionand a big part of the plan was to introduce apparel, which was a risky venture and not one that many handbag companies had done successfully. In April of 2009 we were looking forward to an exciting apparel launch in the fall, but our stores were still little white handbag museumsvery plain and simpleand our traffic was plummeting. So I gave Craig, Deborah and their head of marketing, Kyle Andrew, a challenge to remake the small 5th Avenue store [in New York City] with a minimal capital expenditureand by minimal I mean $25,000 to $30,000. We would use that store as a lab, and if the concept was successful we would scale it.THL: What was riding on this experiment?WLM: Its always darkest before the dawn, and April 2009 was 3 a.m. for kate spade. Within six weeks, the team executed a colorful, energetic store format, which immediately drove major increases in traffic. Each store now is designed to look like the kate spade customers idealized apartment, which meant we defied some laws of modern retail. We actually put walls up and chopped the store up to make it feel like rooms in a home. The fall came, the new product launched, and it all worked togethercentered on a crystal clear target audience definition, a thats written up on a big wall behind the cash registers in every store.THL: You refreshed too, but in a different waywhich strategies carried through and which ones did you have to tweak?WLM: The recipe is the same: the right leadership, great product, andwithout major capitalizationnew visual merchandising to bring the stores to life. Lucky has always had a clear look and feel, but the stores were poorly edited, which left the brand too wide and uncommitted. Creative director Patrick Wade and CEO Dave DeMattei, who took over in 2009, put a laser focus on denim and the denim lifestyle, but with modern handwriting, not just the 70s peace vibe or 80s rock-and-roll. The stores now are much more consumer-friendly: its easier to find and navigate sizes and styles; its easier to see the array of washes relative to sizes and styles. Second-quarter sales were up 22% compared to 2010.THL: is the trendiest of these three brandswhy was it third in line for renovation?WLM: The founders left the business only at the end of 2009, and there was a state of suspension, creatively, before I was able to bring in LeAnn Nealz as President and Chief Creative Officer. Shes been at , Calvin Klein, Theory, and she came to us from American Eagleshe really understands the womens contemporary space, she understands the LA girl, and she has an amazing vision of where Juicy needs to go. What Juicy is really about is Southern California casual luxurya certain Laurel Canyon, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles look and feelthat is timeless. And its a look that transcends global tastes even better than traditional American preppy.THL: So whats the new Juicy going to look like?WLM: Youll see a re-couturing of the stores this falldifferent properties and elements than what we brought to kate spade, but the same lift and renewal: new art packages, new merchandising systems and, starting with spring 2012, fantastic new product. LeAnn has said that shes going to be celebrating the couture more in Juicy Couture. Its still a casual California lifestyle brand, but the quality is up, and the attention to detail on fit is tremendous. The aesthetic has a whole new beat of relevanceand the reflects that.THL: How big can these brands be?WLM: Any of them could join the ranks of Coach, Guess and Ralph Lauren, the very enviable monobrand companies, because Im recruiting people that are uniquely passionate about the brand they are buildingtenured apparel-retail veterans who run their business with a high degree of entrepreneurship and flair. Theres an affinity between each team and the product, the lifestyle, the positioning. And what that unlocks is the high double-digit growth were already seeing in some of these brandsI believe that globally, each of these brands has the potential to do $1 billion and more in sales.This originally appeared at .Earlier this summer, Mot Hennessy won a for its digital magazine, , which it launched in early 2010. The French fashion house -- and the world's largest luxury company, run by billionaire -- says its content is editorially independent, and calls the site an "information reference." It's reminscent of French or Italian , with multimedia (e.g., the short film "" was popular in fashion circles). No matter how it's packaged, it's a marketing win for , and follows a new wave of advertising for luxury brands (in 2009, Burberry launched a similar site, the ). reports that:Many luxury-goods companies, for example, have built editorial teams to socialize their brands: they are transforming the customer relationship by producing blogs, digital magazines, and other content that can dramatically intensify both the frequency and depth of interactions. on the trend earlier this year, and spoke with Miki Berardelli, chief marketing officer for Tory Burch, about how luxury advertising is changing:Were publishing content in an authentic way, and if its increasing our brand awareness, then it could be defined as advertising. Its a new way of communicating with consumers. Its taking an editorial approach to telling your brand story, and the social media space just lends itself so beautifully to that combination.Sites like NOWNESS , but those lines have been blurred since the inception of (1892) -- just a few decades after was born (1854).Social networks have changed the way we workand live.For example, 18 percent of consumers use social networking sites before even getting out of bed, according to a May 2011 Ericsson ConsumerLab study.They have also changed the way we travel, morphing business trips from a mundane experience into a data-rich opportunity to make new connections and discover or strengthen relationships. "The simplest way to think about it is that you used to fly into a city, and unless you knew someone who was there, there's no chance that you ever got in touch with anyone," notes , the -based head of location-based marketing at , an integrated global communications company."We all tend to hover around in these bigger metropolitan areas and we're closer to so many people we know than we think we are, but we just don't know it. So social media kind of tightens up that six degrees of separation, and it also makes for serendipity."But how do you keep it professional and make the most out of your next trip by utilizing social media? Here's what the experts advise.How Social Media Has Changed Business Travel: Before You LeaveBefore you ever book your trip, social networks allow you to research, interact, and enhance the experience.From a research perspective, some hotels have started to offer room specials exclusively for fans of their page. Morever, travelers can see reviews of properties from trusted colleagues, friends and strangers to make sure it's the right spot long before arriving.Lastly, you can figure out where your connections and contacts are staying if they'll be in town at the same time to simplify that process later on (travel-organizing app TripIt makes this easier with its integration into ).Travelers can also use Facebook, and LinkedIn to communicate with existing contacts to figure out details about where to stay and what to do while travelingincluding whom else might be in town. You'd be shocked sometimes at where old connections that you haven't seen in years might be living or have lived, allowing you to solicit opinions or schedule meetings with folks you never envisioned."A lot of hotels are adopting this that if they become more social-media friendly, people will start staying there," Strout says."Before I leave, I can figure out if someone I know will be there and then triangulate that data to connect for dinner. You have micro-control of it too, because you can broadcast out what you like or keep things private."Social Networks and Mobile Apps to Use Before You Travel: Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn: Let your contacts know you're planning a trip to see what fellow connections are going to be in town so you can schedule meetingsformal or informaland determine places to go and things to do in your down-time. Follow hotels or airlines on the networks to get exclusive discounts not available elsewhere. book your travel wherever you choose, and forward your itinerary to . The free organizational service does the rest of the work, allowing you to access the data anywhere and also telling you if any connections are in the same area. still a relatively new service, GTrot (short for globe-trotting) connects users with Facebook friends who live where you're visiting, have visited there previously or are there at the same tim as you. With one click, you can notify those friends of your plans and solicit input or suggestions. , , or : whatever your car rental needs are, there is a way to access the best deals here. Autoslash and allow you to input dates and times of arrival and departure and then scours the Web for the best deal. With Autoslash, if you book a rental and a better deal comes across the site, it automatically rebooks you at the lower rate. is a well-known service that allows you to rent a car for hours, days or longer, often cheaper than car rental companies and with nicer vehicles (but including a membership fee). part of the rising trend of social car sharing and luxury car services, this is changing the way we get around in town. , the winner of last month in , allows car owners to safely rent out their unused car to trusted drivers when they need it most.Cyndi Lauper said it best when she stated that girls just wanna have fun. No matter what city you place a group of girls, they will inevitably find something fun to do and is no exception. Often described as a young and diverse city; it has a fascinating vibe that is ready to be explored and the perfect destination for a girls getaway. Purple Cafe and Wine Bar: What better way to enjoy the night than to chat over a few drinks and a warm meal? Purple Cafe Wine Bar may sound like a simple place to visit, but it is the Mecca for savory dishes and fine . Full of flavorful dishes like Lobster Macaroni and Cheese or Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, it's worth every calorie. A superb wine list is a fantastic invitation to let loose and order the bubbly. Catch up on the latest gossip and feel like a local at the same time at this chic wine bar. Twist: Since girls just want to have fun, why not look for some boys that want to as well. Even if you are taken, it is fun to flirt at Twist; an upscale bar and lounge. It was recently rewarded for having the best liquor selection with a roster of 150 choices. If you don't fall in love with a cute local, you'll fall in love with their happy hour with no drink priced over $10. This bar can easily feel laid back at first, but as the night progresses it is the perfect spot for a girls night out to enjoy the local scene. Seattle Premium Outlets: What would a weekend be without shopping? Seattle Premium Outlet features all the faves like Coach, Burberry and Calvin Klein. Beware of where you can save even more money; which means you might even have to bring an extra bag with you!Salish Spa and Lodge: Live luxuriously at the Salish Spa and Lodge. Only 30 minutes from Seattle, it's close to the fun hustle and bustle of the city, yet close enough to nature. Most rooms have fantastic views of Snoqualmie Falls and other scenic landscapes. Or make a day trip out of it for the full spa experience. Just reading the spa menu is relaxing enough, with choices like the Green Tea Northwest Seaweed Salt Glow or the Cascade Escape: The Ultimate Salish Spa Experience. Treat yourself from head to toe and enter Seattle like a new woman; a $500 treat that brings the serenity of the mountains right into your very pores.Girls Night Out Classic Yacht Cruise: A great way to end your girls weekend is toasting to good times on an exclusive Ladies Night at Sea yacht cruise. Seattle is known for its dazzling waterfront, shining with city lights and skyline. range from harbor tours to cruising out to Lakes and Islands in the Seattle area.Silicon Alley Insider is a community news, information, and discussion site. Please participate in any of the following ways: By sending us background tips and ideas, by submitting comments, by posting on our , by joining our room, and/or by becoming a formal contributor.Tips. We crave news, rumors, and other info. Please send to [email protected]. Unless you say otherwise, we'll assume you want to remain anonymous.Comments. You can publish comments directly on articles or posts. You'll need to provide a valid email address, and please follow our Posting Rules. The content on our Community page is contributed by Silicon Alley insiders and other readers (including our staff). 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Contributing posts or photographs is a great way to share thoughts, knowledge, andexpertise and build your profile. If you would like tobecome a contributor, please email us a short bio and an initial post. If we like the post, we'llpublish it and give you a password so that you can contribute futureposts directly. Alternatively, you can just let us co-post from your blog (Just send us an email telling us the URL and saying "Please feel free to co-post.")Before contributing to or using this site, please read our and . Thank you.Shutterstock.comGlobal luxury brands usually boast about the superior shopping experience they offer. Their sales staff is supposed to be thoroughly familiar with the products on display and understand the needs of the customer.However, this level of professionalism is sadly lacking in India. At the recently concluded CII-ET Dialogue on Luxury in Delhi, Yashovardhan Saboo, CEO, Ethos Boutiques - a retail chain of Swiss watches in India - blamed deeply ingrained social and economic prejudices for the not happy-to-help attitude. Even regular buyers of luxury brands complain that sales staff tends to judge buyers by their appearance. "If a woman wearing a sari walks into a Jimmy Choo store, the attendants will not see her as a serious customer. On the other hand, anyone in a dress and stilettos is paid much more attention," says Ragini Jaiswal, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur.Fashion consultant Harmeet Bajaj, who counts her shopping experiences at Max Mara and Marni among the best, says that selling luxury brands is a fine art. "Store attendants have to talk to the customer, understand her background and style. They should never force any product on you. In stores abroad, the attendants know their regular customers and give them personalised care. And if you are new to the brand, they are trained to assess you in a matter of minutes and guide you around. Such inter-personal skills are missing in India."When Burberry launched in India in 2008, customers were promised personalised shopping, a USP of the brand. However, when Priyanka Bhattacharya, a freelance beauty writer from Bangalore, walked into a Burberry store in Delhi, she didn't find the staff very forthcoming. "In India if you walk into any luxury store all that the staff tells you is the price of products because that is not mentioned. That does not make the service exclusive. They rarely offer you any style tips - what kind of bag will work for you? Will a short dress suit a short frame? They are not trained to assist shoppers."Luxury Stores Not Up-to-DateLuxury shoppers also find that the stores are not stocked with the latest collections. This is reported to be especially true for beauty and make-up brands. Even though the autumn-winter collections are out elsewhere in the world, in India you will continue to find lipstick from the last season. It's also been observed that luxury apparel brands prefer to keep more pret-a-porter, or ready-to-wear, collections in Indian stores rather than haute couture lines.The recent CII-A T Kearney India Luxury Review 2011 has also taken note of this gulf between customer expectations and supply. Customers, it reports, seem to be saying, "have money, will buy, but please treat me well". The Review further states: "High quality talent continues to be limited. With the entry of new brands and footprint expansion by most companies, luxury players are facing high attrition rates resulting in increasing personnel costs."The way out, feel experts, are intensive training programmes for luxury retail professionals. "Right now there's very little investment in retail training. We need to introduce long-term training programmes instead of organising sporadic workshops. It will also help to offer retail professionals opportunities to work abroad," says Saboo.Anil Chopra, former CEO Lakme Lever Pvt Ltd, cites the example of the aviation industry to emphasise the importance of right training modules. "On any given flight the same set of crew is servicing passengers in the A class, business and economy class. How do they manage this? It is possible because there are good schools and institutes training them. This can be replicated in luxury retail industry."This originally appeared on .This story was originally published by.With the removal of the cap on foreign ownership in single-brand retail, global luxury brands are expected to ramp up their presence in the domestic market."In one stroke, India may have opened the floodgates," said Sanjay Kapoor, managing director of Genesis Luxury, the joint venture partner of Burberry in India, which also represents other luxury brands like Canali, Jimmy Choo and Bottega Veneta.Most luxury brands operate through the franchise or licensing route, while some like Louis Vuitton and Burberry have joint ventures in which they own 51 percent shareholding. Many such brands which have silent partners in India may now want to buy out their Indian partners. "A lot of brands were concerned about holding only 51 percent in India. Now, there is a better chance of them coming into India," said Dinaz Madhukar, vice-president at DLF Emporio, in an report.India to Become a Preferred MarketTikka Shatrujit Singh, chief representative in Asia for French luxury firm , the parent company of Louis Vuitton and many other luxury brands globally, said the appetite to invest in India is bound to grow now. "This was the last frontier to be opened. It will make India a preferred market," he said.With the rapid rise in high net worth individuals, Indian luxury market is estimated to triple to $14.7 billion by 2015, from $4.76 billion in 2009. In a recent report, Swiss wealth manager forecast that the number of HNIs in India, with assets of $1 million or more, would more than double to 403,000 by 2015."We expect investments in India from luxury and fashion companies to benefit from this decision and the process of development of infrastructures will improve and boost the growth of luxury industry in India," said Michele Norsa, CEO of Ferragamo Group.Luxury Plans for the Country"We are waiting for the fine print. If the conditions are favourable, we will look at scaling up our stake from 51 percent to 100 percent in our Indian subsidiary," Damien Vernet, general manager, Middle East India at Louis Vuitton, said. Louis Vuitton has a 51:49 joint venture in India, with four stores. In contrast, it has 36 stores in China."I expect people sitting on the fence to now make a beeline (for India). After China, India is the next big market for luxury brands. India is expected to be the next China," said Abhay Gupta, executive director of Blues Clothing Company, which has franchise deals with luxury brands like Versace, John Smedley, Cadini and others in India. Just a couple of months ago, , who runs the fashion and leather goods unit at LVMH said the 51 percent cap was holding back foreign investments.This originally appeared on .This story was originally published by.InstagramKim Kardashian On Instagram.No, there's no dashboard or back-end metrics. And no sales team to support advertisers--yet. But Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service that , is Mecca for brand advertisers.Why?It's a place where display advertising actually works. Yep, that's right: people want to look at your ads. Just don't call them ads. Instead, call them images, and make sure they're (actually, truly) interesting or beautiful to look at. One smart angle is the "behind-the-scenes" approach taken by brands such as General Electric, , and Burberry. As a consumer, I don't know much about GE's engineering division, and I might not profess to care. But amazing, color-saturated photos of engines and repairs, which turn my into a portable gallery of industrial-flavored art? Yes, please. CEO has suggested Instagram may be the , and he now has the resources of --expected to IPO at $75-100 billion later this month -- to back him up in developing it.So how can you use Instagram and other social platforms smartly? You can find out more at , Business Insider's one-day conference diving deep into the best practices in social-media marketing, sales, branding and engagement.The Summit takes place June 7 in Chicago. You can .Brand marketers from Walmart, , , Gatorade, and more Fortune 500 companies will convene to share strategies, alongside emerging private companies and leading investors. Speakers include:They'll share industry insight on topics including:See the and for additional information, and @BI_Events on for updates and discounts. We'd love to in June! is the app that every mobile developer dreams of building.Since launching last October, the for has gone completely viral, with more than 13 million downloads. It is now adding a million new users every couple of weeks, including celebrity users like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. Its runaway success has propelled cofounder and CEO into sudden fame in the tech world, landing him on lists like Fortune's .And yet, Instagram has never spent a dime on marketing, and the company is still tiny, with only 7 employees working out of a space in San Francisco's South Park neighborhood.We caught up with Systrom last week before Thanksgiving to ask him how he did it and what's next for the company.Here's what we learned:Here's a transcript of our conversation, lightly edited:: How's life? How's business? You guys are up above 13 million users now right?Kevin Systrom: It's funny that you say that because you really can swap "life" and "business" in the same sentence. Life's great. We're growing like a weed, both in people joining the company and also in usage. We have over 13 million people now on the app. It's been a crazy year. It's unlike any social network trajectory in the first 12 months and we're really excited to see where it goes.BI: Why do you think the app took off so quickly?KS:We took a very basic action that everyone does in the world, taking a photo, and we put some meaning behind it, some reason behind it. The reason is suddenly all your friends can see that photo immediately, in an instant. But also we make the photo more beautiful. It doesn't take very much to convince people to do what they do every day anyway and then do it through you're product. Really we're just taking people and shifting them from taking photos anyway to taking them on Instagram.But then, because of the encouragement through making photos beautiful, people are taking way more photos than they would have otherwise because there's a reason to share them.BI: But what advice would you give somebody to get that initial notice and get that spike in usage? KS: It's interesting because I've started to work more closely with startups trying to do exactly this, and a lot of people think it's a marketing game. But really, if you build a quality app you will naturally rise through the ranks. I don't know how many apps are in the App Store, but everyone knows a fraction of a percent are really well done, quality, thought out apps. There are a lot of apps that are fun to use, they're utility apps, they're fine. But there are a fraction of apps that are in the cream of the crop. You just need to be in the cream of the crop to get noticed.I think far too many people focus on how many emails can I send the user to get them to come back at the end of the week. If you build something beautiful and useful they will come back. And sure, you should also do those things, but I don't remember the last email I got from saying "hey, you haven't been back to our site in a while."There are gimmicks, paying for downloads and stuff. But we've never spent a dime on marketing. Great products sell themselves.BI: What does your average user look like? Do you have a few "whales" who are taking tons of photos and then a bunch more casual users, sort of like with games?KS: You can split it up into personas. There are definitely people who don't take any photos but like photos and comment on photos. Like people who joined for Justin Bieber -- a lot of them are there for one reason, and the reason is Justin. At the same time, there are people who subscribe to thousands of people and not only like and comment on their photos but take beautiful photos as well.BI: You only have 7 employees, right?KS: We're going to be 9 pretty soon.BI: What are you hiring for?KS: Right now we're hiring engineers and designers. That's what we're focused on. We've had a tremendous amount of luck in the last six months finding people that we really love to work with, and the team we've built is unparalleled for what we're doing.BI: What's the kind of person you're looking for? Fresh out of college? Lots of experience in mobile?KS: Actually I really value passion for the product above experience. Right now, most of the people are within a few years, three to six years out of college. But that's not necessarily true going forward. A lot of people coming aboard are a little more senior than that, and I'm totally cool with that. We just want to build a company that focuses on the love of Instagram.BI: It doesn't seem like you need to hire any marketing people.KS: It's funny, I was talking to somebody about getting a job as a growth strategist at a company and I started thinking to myself that's the opposite of what we need right now. We need somebody [who can tell us] how do you deal with growth. At the same time, even though we're growing at our peak over one user per second, we still need three or four times that to make us happy. That'll require things like Web, things like Android, a concerted play on those areas.BI: What is the next platform?KS: The next mobile platform is definitely going to be Android and we've got some cool stuff coming, that's all I can say.BI: Are you going to target only the most recent version?KS: You mean like versus others? We're going to try to be compatible with all modern phones. I don't know enough, so I can't comment to specifics, I'm not the guy who knows a lot about Android. But in our discussions, there's always a tension between just supporting the latest or supporting a bunch of different ones. We're going to try and support as many as we can.BI: There was an , a developer told Rafe Needleman that it's sometimes better to support limited platforms because you get more marketing support.KS: The stronger point is not that will give you preferential treatment, because I don't think they do if you're not on Android, it's not that at all. The stronger point is the focus that comes from being on a single platform. We were able to iterate much more quickly than -- I don't think anybody even names any of our competitors anymore. One of the reasons why is we were able to focus on Android and really focus on the experience on the Apple platform. There will always be folks coming up with interesting innovative stuff, I'd never write anybody off, but focusing on iPhone really helped us take that market.BI: So you guys see yourselves as a platform, right? I hear that from a lot of startups these days -- everybody wants to be a platform.KS: I don't think platform means you support other people, necessarily. A platform is the base from which something big happens. In our case we're an entertainment platform in the sense that there are people signing up like , Burberry, folks like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. And why? Because it's their channel to control their entertainment to their fans. Whether you're a brand, whether you're a big artist, or whether you're me, just a photographer, it's a platform upon which to broadcast. What we're seeing is people spending more and more time on these things [picks up his iPhone] and this is where we're consuming entertainment. Instagram is definitely becoming a new entertainment source for people day after day.And right now we're still images, right? Imagine what happens when in the future, this really becomes an entertainment platform. I don't want to say this is an entertainment platform in the way TV is a platform because we're not going to go producing content. That being said, you could see where professional producers do produce content, do produce photos of behind the scenes things -- Audi produces gorgeous photos of all their cars and I'm sitting there and flicking through it and I'm addicted. That's very much like people sitting down on a Friday night to watch their favorite show. It's just a different platform, meaning it's a different medium, and they're consuming different kinds of content. But they're engaged, they just sit there and they open it up every 10 minutes. That's the kind of behavior that unlocks the potential of a big advertising business.BI: So that's the opportunity -- sponsorships, affiliates, advertising, something like that. Not subscriptions?KS: I haven't thought very specifically what form it takes, I've thought very generally about the direction we're moving. I don't think you should ever start a business and move in a direction where you can't see it becoming a business. Those thoughts have crossed my mind, can people buy things from the app, or sponsored things in your feed or whatever. I don't think we've landed on any one, but the good news is we add a million people every two weeks, that's a big number. When you have a big part of someone's time, there's a big opportunity, especially as dollars shift off these traditional entertainment mediums and onto online.Search ads is a very specific implementation of advertising. The question is, is there an opportunity beyond group buying, search advertising, to make a whole lot of revenue on the iPhone, on Android. I believe the answer is yes, that's what we're going after.BI: When do you have to turn the corner and show revenue? You're showing such fast growth I'm sure you could raise more money whenever you need it, and you have less than 10 people so that's a slow burn rate, but when do you start looking at the business side?KS: It was a concern from day one. I don't think it's healthy to ignore it. I look at our numbers every day and I see how much we're spending, and I understand that goes up exponentially as you get bigger. So it's on the top of my mind. It's a good problem to have. I'm not sure there's a specific time we need to turn on the faucet. It's a progressive process.We're trying to figure out a lot of things before that. How do we build a team such that we can support partners? How do we build the technology so that every weekend we're not stuck in the office trying to fix things from going out.BI: What do you think of native apps for mobile phones vs HTML5 apps? I talk to some people who think HTML5 is the way to build one app that works on multiple platforms.KS: I don't buy it, mostly because we started off as HTML5.What I don't buy is just your statement. I totally buy HTML5. It's great for some companies. For instance, I think it's awesome for bigger brands who are not technology companies to invest in HTML5. It's much more accessible, the refresh cycle's much smaller, it's just better for the organization to spend their time doing what you do well. If you're a larger brand, having the flexibility to do HTML5 is also great.But to do what we do, there's no reason why we should do it in HTML5....We were HTML5 when we were . But there were so many stumbling blocks getting it out to consumers, the second we went native it was the best decision we ever made. I think that's true, for folks to have a strong consumer experience that needs to be completely polished. I don't buy the cross-platform thing.BI: What about writing in HTML5 and then wrapping it for each different platform?KS: Why would you do that? You might as well learn Objective C. I think the big stumbling block is a lot of developers are worried that they don't know this other language so let's build it in HTML and JavaScript. But it turns out if you spend a couple of days learning Objective C, you can get really far. The experience is great, too.BI: You mentioned a Web platform, what's up with that?KS: I don't think there's any reason people shouldn't be able to consume photos on the Web. We just focused on mobile first.BI: You also hinted at moving beyond photos into video?KS: I've been mentioning this a lot lately because I don't want people getting stuck with the idea that Instagram is a photo-sharing company. Instagram is a media company. I think we're about visual media. I explain ourselves as a disruptive entertainment platform that enables communication through visual media. I don't think it's just photos. There's a reason we don't allow you to upload photos on the Web as albums. It's not about taking all these photos off your DSLR putting them into an album and sharing them with your family. It's not about that. It's about what are you up to right now out in the real world, how can you share that with everyone. It's about what's happening out in the world. It's about can I consume media from folks like Taylor Swift. That's really interesting to people. What's not interesting to me is becoming a photo storage platform.BI: has that locked up. has it, . We're not in the business of making mugs with photos on them. That's not our thing. So the reason I describe is it pushes people's boundaries of what Instagram is. Video is definitely somewhere in our future.BI: Video requires a lot more resources.KS: Everything does. So does Web. We get six million visits a day to our Web site. Imagine us launching a Web site [for sharing], how much more infrastructure would we need? All of these things are commitments. We have to see where they make sense in our lifecycle?BI: So do you want to stay independent as a company?KS: You mean versus selling? I'm excited about what we're doing, I love what I do every day I come in to work and get to work with my team, that's what I want to do as long as possible.BI: Are you a photographer?KS: It's funny, I was a photographer before I was a programmer. But in high school I basically got them to waive a bunch of science requirements so I could take more computer science. I got to college and decided I didn't want to concentrate on computer science for some random reason. But I've always done photography, in the darkroom, and I've always really been into digital photography. If you go on to , you'll see a photo that looks like an Instagram photo, from about 2007. I've always been into taking my photos, cropping them square, putting them through a filter in Photoshop. We just reverse engineered how to do filters, now we opened it up to the masses....I've done all our filters except for a few. We worked with , one of our users, who did a fantastic job on Amaro, Rise, and Hudson. He did the first three on the list and they're awesome, I use them 24/7. But we're definitely itching to get new ones out there. We talked about doing limited Christmas holiday ones, or whatever, but we're not Seasons or anything like that yet.FacebookPressing the like button on a company's Facebook page can have a much more wide-ranging impact than you might have guessed. A new study finds a possible correlation in the relationship between the financialperformance of public companies and their consumer following or fan count on Facebook.What the researchers found was that the more popular the company was on Facebook, the better its stock price seemed to do."The results suggest that changes in fan count trends could signal changes in consumer brand company stock prices, creating the potential for new applications of metrics as economic indicators," the researchers said.There is an association between a company's and how active its Facebook users are and its stock price, Pace University researcher Arthur O' Connor told BusinessNewsDaily."I am not saying because these are the most popular brands that have the greatest following of consumers on Facebook that that causes stock prices to go up," he said. "The study suggests a relationship between the popularity or greater numbers of people thinking and posting comments or sharing experiences about brands and the economic performance of the brand."O'Connor, in association with social media analytic service , which ranks and tracks social media followers, took the 30 most popular brands on Facebook and broke them into two groups. The first group included companies that sell smaller ticket impulse-based purchases and included Abercrombie Fitch, Adidas, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Burberry, , Puma, Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, McDonalds, Oreo (), Pepsi, , Taco , , , Whole Foods and . The second group included 11 companies that offered larger ticket purchases including , , , , , Blackberry (RIM), , , Harley-Davidson, JetBlue and Southwest airlines."Fan counts for the most popular brands associated with small ticket and/or impulse purchases were found to have stronger correlation with their respective stock prices than those for the most popular brands associated with larger-ticket items and/or more complex buying processes," the researchers wrote.O'Connor believes his research has implications for how brands ."The most notable thing is that people need to start to understand that social media really does have some relationship with the conformity of behavior," said O'Connor, an information technology management consultant enrolled in the executive doctoral program at Pace University. "If everyone is thinking about and talking about your brand, that may mean something in terms of your stock price or corporate performance."With more than 800 million active Facebook users, the significance of these findings can signal a change in the way companies look at social media and its ability to serve as an indicator and even predictor of economic performance. O'Connor said he believes companies will have to be careful how they wield their newfound social media power."Popularity is a two-edged sword," said O'Connor. "The more people look at you and think about you (especially) if you do well and do right by your customers, it can be a tremendous benefit. However, if you dont do those things, it can work against you in a big way. The one thing you can take away from it is that social media is becoming a more respected and established communication channel with customers, investors and the general public. It is something to take just as serious as shareholder communications, marketing communication or other more established communications."This originally appeared on .SHANGHAI () - Louis Vuitton is courting China's wealthy with one-of-a-kind shoes and bags it is branding as unique works of art to reclaim its exclusive cachet in the luxury market.The French luxury brand, a unit of , is set to open its largest China store in Shanghai on Saturday, complete with a gilded spiral staircase and an invitation-only private floor where big spenders can get their hair done while dreaming up designs for custom bags."The made-to-order concept is the ultimate luxury," Louis Vuitton Chief Executive told Reuters during a tour of the store, which the company calls a "maison"."It's the same with art. If you are interested in art, the ultimate is to commission an artist rather than buy a piece that is already done," Carcelle said.Louis Vuitton routinely ranks among the most admired brands in surveys of Chinese consumers. But ultra-luxury names such as Hermes are making inroads, and some top-tier consumers now look down on Louis Vuitton as too common.The company hopes to cement its exclusive luxury status with the new Shanghai store, which boasts steel sculptures and carries a wide array of goods ranging from chic coats and hats to brightly colored bags made from python or alligator skin.It also sells carrying cases for tiles used to play the Chinese game mahjong and made-to-order trunks for tea sets.China is the world's third biggest market for personal luxury goods, worth at least 160 billion yuan ($25 billion). In the next three years, it is expected to leapfrog over Japan and the United States to take the top spot, with the luxury segment expanding to 180 billion yuan ($28 billion).BAD TIMING?The Louis Vuitton maison, one of 16 similar boutiques in the world, is located in Shanghai's address for luxury goods: the swanky Plaza 66 mall, where rival brands such as Chanel and Prada also have stores.Spanning four levels and with more than 100 staff, the store is currently the only one in China that offers custom bags and shoes. The company declined to say how much it spent on the boutique."Being in this made-to-order market needs sophisticated customers who know what they are talking about and own several bags, if not dozens of bags," Carcelle said."That's why the haute maroquinerie and made-to-order-shoes... are important to demonstrate in China," he said, using the French word for luxury leather crafts."As long as we didn't have this space to show them to our clients, in a world that is changing fast, we were missing our weapons," he said.Louis Vuitton's timing, however, may be less than ideal.Luxury spending is softening in China as the economy weakens. Economic growth slowed to its lowest level in three years last quarter. Britain's Burberry said last week its sales had been hit by the slowdown in China.Carcelle declined to comment on the state of the Chinese economy or its impact on luxury spending, but said he sees more "maisons" opening up in the capital Beijing and Hangzhou, a thriving trade hub in eastern China.He said Chinese consumers had rapidly matured into luxury connoisseurs, and the company needed to cater to both first-time buyers and sophisticated shoppers."Maybe in the West, this trend took 20 years but here it takes 5 years from the first purchase to the willingness to have more sophisticated products and services," Carcelle said.($1 = 6.3729 Chinese yuan)(Editing by Emily Kaiser and Miral Fahmy)- A curated list of the good things in life- Contributors from Forbes, TechCrunch, Condé Nast Traveler, Mashable and Luxist- Advertising managed by Halogen Media Group, with initial advertisers including BMW, Coach and Burberry- Upcoming functionality will include community reviews, luxury ranking and on-the-go recommendations with the Pursuitist iPhone AppPursuitist, the premiere luxury lifestyle blog, has officially launched at While in beta, the Pursuitist editors have diligently curated a rich list of the good things in life to share with affluent readers. With categories that include Arts, Auto, Epicurean, Family, Green, House, Style, Tech and Travel, the Pursuitist aspires to be the Huffington Post for Luxury. Coinciding with the launch, a few of the new contributors sharing their favorite luxuries include Carrie Coolidge (Luxist, Forbes), Paul Carr (Techcrunch, The Guardian), Gretchen Kelly (New York Post), Erica Swallow (Mashable, CosmoGirl.com), Shandana Durrani (Condé Nast Traveler, Glamour) and Leila Cohan-Miccio (Saveur).International contributors include Holly Boyle in London and Vilte S. Holstad in Paris, capturing the excitement and pulse of fashion, art and life in these vibrant cities.“Pursuitist is luxury redefined. It’s about finding and sharing the good things in life. To inspire, educate and be relevant. Pursuitists are ahead of the curve and authentic,” said Christopher Parr, CEO and Publisher of Pursuitist. Parr is an award-winning 10-year luxury online marketing veteran, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. In 1996, Michael Wolff’s NetGuide named Parr’s inaugural online magazine as “The Best Site of the Year” at MacWorld.The Pursuitist is also a targeted advertising platform for luxury brands to connect with affluent readers. While in beta, advertisers on the site have included Burberry, BMW, Coach, Broadmoor Hotel, Chase Bank, Audemars Piguet, Cosmopolitan Hotel and Effen Vodka. Halogen Media Group, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, manages advertising for the site.Bringing on world class content producers exemplifies Pursuitists understanding of influencer media and the importance of providing brand advertisers with an environment where they can interact with consumers alongside relevant content. Were thrilled to bring branded content from the worlds best brands to Pursuitist and its loyal readers, said Greg Shove, CEO of Halogen Media Group.Luxury fashion brands featured on the site include Prada, Louis Vuitton, Dolce Gabbana, Hermès, Gucci, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Dior, Fendi and Roberto Cavalli. The editors have also highlighted amazing luxury destinations, including Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Disneyworld’s Grand Floridian, InterContinental Resorts, Conrad Hotels, The Plaza and the Waldorf Astoria. Bentley, BMW, Lexus, Bugatti, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Audi, Lamborghini, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz are a few of the luxury auto brands that have been spotlighted on the blog.Upcoming functionality to the site will include community reviews, luxury ranking, flash sales, Facebook integration and on-the-go recommendations with the Pursuitist iPhone App.On the web at: Read below Christopher Parrs interview with Luxury Daily, regarding working with BMW, Marc Jacobs and Jimmy Choo:Read more posts on Luxury companies are complacently selling to their established customers while ignoring the next generation of millennials.This attitude could jeopardize future business because millennials are "skeptical" about luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Burberry, according to a report by So far, luxury brands have taken the easy way out and marketed to their reliable customers."Luxury marketers face a challenge repositioning their brands for this next generation of highly-educated, soon to be affluent young people," Danziger says."Luxury brands will have to adapt to meet this next generation of luxury consumers in the marketplace."Reaching the younger generation is challenging because research shows that young people think that luxury brands are overpriced and aren't worth the expense.While millennials aren't making up much of the market now, Danziger predicts that by 2020 many will be affluent and buying more expensive goods.Marketing to younger people should be luxury brands' top priority, according to Danziger:"Understanding the aspirations of Millennials for a luxury lifestyle is critical for luxury brands, including what money, status, and success means to them. They will need to both innovate with new products, services, marketing strategies and branding concepts, as well as let go of old ideas that will prove ineffective, even counterproductive, for marketing to this new generation."DON'T MISS: Joshua Linam of IGNs Askmen.com has named the . Christopher Parr, Pursuitist CEO EIC, is included on this great list, which also includes Luis Fernandez, Timo Weiland, Michael Macko, James Andrew and Ryan Cook. The bloggers, designers and luxury marketing gurus showcased on the list share their favorite fashion brands and style advice. Parr, our very own EIC, shares his go-to style staples which includes J.Crew, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Belstaff, TAG Heuer, Cole Haan adding When traveling, I grab my Belstaff jacket and go with a Barbour bag tossed over my shoulder its stocked with my iPad 2, a few Cuban cigars and Johnnie Walker Black flask.Christopher Parr might be described as the renaissance man of luxury fashion. An award-winning luxury marketer, writer, web-publishing pioneer, and go-to speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences, the man stays busy. Presently CEO and chief editor at Pursuitist, Parr launched the site as a curated list of all the good things in life. He recruits contributors from Forbes, TechCrunch, Glamour, Saveur, and more, to share their favorite luxury items and adventures. For over 15 years, Parr has consulted with brands on , online buzz marketing to online engagement – and has been a pioneer in web publishing, content creation, iPad app development, blogs and viral videos. In 1996, Michael Wolffs NetGuide named Parrs inaugural online magazine as The Best Site of the Year at MacWorld.Read more posts on Christopher Parr is an industry leader with over 15 years of experience in digital marketing. He is an award-winning veteran, writer, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. He launched as a curated list of the good things in life, with guest contributors from Forbes, Mashable, TechCrunch, Glamour, Saveur and more sharing their favorite luxuries. Askmen.com recently named him , his family is featured in , , and Milton Pedraza, CEO, Luxury Institute, calls him One of the top expert practitioners in global luxury in marketing with a particular expertise in marketing, selling and engaging customers in the digital world. He is one of those professionals who executes brilliantly. He is innovative while looking out for the return on investmentIn 1996, Michael Wolffs NetGuide named s inaugural online magazine as The Best Site of the Year at MacWorld. He holds a MFA from Brandeis and a BA from Viterbo. Heres a QA with as he shares his digital strategy behind creating an authentic luxury platform to engage affluent readers and connect with luxury brands. Its a new age of blogging and editorial intersecting with digital luxury marketing and social media to create online buzz for the worlds best luxury brands. Can you talk a little bit about where you got the idea to start Pursuitist.com?The idea of Pursuitist.com was to create a travel, style and leisure destination for affluent consumers. For readers pursuing amazing fashion brands, hotels, restaurants, gadgets, experiences, and autos – Pursuitist is a destination site that curates the good things in life. We’ve brought in world-class content producers — remarkable writers sharing remarkable experiences. How has the experience of the site differed from what you expected it would become?It’s been a blast. As I tell my writers — write about remarkable people, products and experiences. We aspire to go beyond the bling – Pursuitist is luxury redefined. We focus on the artisans that make amazing handcrafted products – from a designer at Louis Vuitton to a 2nd generation organic winemaker in Napa. We pursue to tell the story and go behind the scenes. We officially launched in July. While in beta, the Pursuitist editors have diligently curated a rich list of the good things in life to share with affluent readers. Coinciding with the launch, a few of the new contributors sharing their favorite luxuries include remarkable writers.How does the site plan to attract affluent individuals?To build awareness, we’re launching a 360-degree advertising campaign. To attract and keep the right readers, our strategy includes word-of-month, PR, campaigns with Facebook, Twitter, banner ads on other affluent websites, and email marketing. Facebook integration is also a major tactic – the sharing, liking, and commenting is exclusively powered by Facebook to help us go viral and obtain more likeminded readers.What is your relationship to the brands you write about?As we’re able to serve up a targeted audience, luxury brands love our platform. We’re also very selective of the advertisers that appear on our site. Pursuitist is truly a targeted online destination for luxury advertisers to connect and engage with affluent consumers. Advertisers have included Burberry, Coach, Intel, BMW, Chase Bank, Audemars Piguet, Broadmoor Hotel and Cosmopolitan Hotel. The Pursuitist is a great place to be seen – as our readers are affluent (65% with an annual income of $75k and up) and influencers.How do you keep your content authentic?There’s a shortage of online destinations for affluent consumers seeking authentic experiences. Plenty of cold bling sites exist, focusing on editorial content with ultra premium and inaccessible luxuries. That’s the void, and why Pursuitist was created — there’s not another site like us. Pursuitist is one destination site with 9 targeted sections (Arts, Auto, Epicurean, Family, Green, House, Style, Tech and Travel) – best described as an online mashup of The Huffington Post and Conde Nast.Our editorial is also different — from our travel journals to our features on amazing artisans and clever destinations. With friendlier and accessible narratives – our readers tell us they feel like insiders, along for the ride.In general, what kind of lift can this kind of content offer brands? Is this something they should focus on getting more of?We’ve also worked quite closely with other luxury brands to organically integrate and feature their products – from Four Seasons, Hermes, Patron, Gucci, Prada, Robert Mondavi Wine, Ralph Lauren, Lobel Steaks of New York, to Chanel. As we only focus on premier brands and destinations, we are selective of the brands we feature. It’s a terrific halo effect – to be “Pursuitist Recommended.”Do most brands react to what you write? How do they respond to your content?They love it. The brands, from Marc Jacobs, Land Rover to Viking Range prefer to re-tweet and link to our editorial on their social media channels. (See an example of Marc Jacobs leveraging Pursuitist’s editorial .)Also read, Luxury Daily News: Read more posts on Luxury brands including Louis Vuitton and Burberry are having difficulty expanding in China because there isn't enough prime real estate to go around.According to a, four out of the five fastest-growing real estate markets are in China. But luxury retailers have trouble finding commercial space that's up to their standards and won't settle for the more up-and-coming neighborhoods.Still, China will continue to dominate development, according to the report: eight out of the 10 fastest-growing markets are there. Even though luxury retailers are puzzling over how to expand, middle-class shopping malls are popping up everywhere.- A curated list of the good things in life- Contributors from Forbes, TechCrunch, Condé Nast Traveler, Mashable and Luxist- Advertising managed by Halogen Media Group, with initial advertisers including BMW, Coach and Burberry- Upcoming functionality will include community reviews, luxury ranking and on-the-go recommendations with the Pursuitist iPhone AppPursuitist, the premiere luxury lifestyle blog, has officially launched at While in beta, the Pursuitist editors have diligently curated a rich list of the good things in life to share with affluent readers. With categories that include Arts, Auto, Epicurean, Family, Green, House, Style, Tech and Travel, the Pursuitist aspires to be the Huffington Post for Luxury. Coinciding with the launch, a few of the new contributors sharing their favorite luxuries include Carrie Coolidge (Luxist, Forbes), Paul Carr (Techcrunch, The Guardian), Gretchen Kelly (New York Post), Erica Swallow (Mashable, CosmoGirl.com), Shandana Durrani (Condé Nast Traveler, Glamour) and Leila Cohan-Miccio (Saveur).International contributors include Holly Boyle in London and Vilte S. Holstad in Paris, capturing the excitement and pulse of fashion, art and life in these vibrant cities.“Pursuitist is luxury redefined. It’s about finding and sharing the good things in life. To inspire, educate and be relevant. Pursuitists are ahead of the curve and authentic,” said Christopher Parr, CEO and Publisher of Pursuitist. Parr is an award-winning 10-year luxury online marketing veteran, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. In 1996, Michael Wolff’s NetGuide named Parr’s inaugural online magazine as “The Best Site of the Year” at MacWorld.The Pursuitist is also a targeted advertising platform for luxury brands to connect with affluent readers. While in beta, advertisers on the site have included Burberry, BMW, Coach, Broadmoor Hotel, Chase Bank, Audemars Piguet, Cosmopolitan Hotel and Effen Vodka. Halogen Media Group, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, manages advertising for the site.Bringing on world class content producers exemplifies Pursuitists understanding of influencer media and the importance of providing brand advertisers with an environment where they can interact with consumers alongside relevant content. Were thrilled to bring branded content from the worlds best brands to Pursuitist and its loyal readers, said Greg Shove, CEO of Halogen Media Group.Luxury fashion brands featured on the site include Prada, Louis Vuitton, Dolce Gabbana, Hermès, Gucci, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Dior, Fendi and Roberto Cavalli. The editors have also highlighted amazing luxury destinations, including Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Disneyworld’s Grand Floridian, InterContinental Resorts, Conrad Hotels, The Plaza and the Waldorf Astoria. Bentley, BMW, Lexus, Bugatti, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Audi, Lamborghini, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz are a few of the luxury auto brands that have been spotlighted on the blog.Upcoming functionality to the site will include community reviews, luxury ranking, flash sales, Facebook integration and on-the-go recommendations with the Pursuitist iPhone App.On the web at: Read below Christopher Parrs interview with Luxury Daily, regarding working with BMW, Marc Jacobs and Jimmy Choo:Read more posts on  flagship store in Herald is getting a $400 million facelift, scheduled for completion in 2015.The overhaul of the landmark department store, which was built in 1902, will add some 100,000 square feet of space and give the shopping mecca a sleek new look, .Some parts of the renovation have already been completed. Macy's recently debuted its revamped shoe section, dubbed "The World's Largest Shoe Floor," which includes a cafe space that serves coffee, Moet Chandon champagne, and hand-made chocolates from Vosges Haut Chocolate.And the store plans to debut its new main floor in time for the upcoming holiday season. It will feature a trio of luxury shops from Burberry, Longchamps, and Gucci that will be "second only in scale to each brand's own flagship location," according to Macy's.Macy's shared a few photos of its new shoe department and a rendering of the new main floor with us.Here's what the luxury shops will look like when they're completed in December 2012Courtesy of Macy'sMacy's new shoe department opened earlier this month on the second floorCourtesy of Macy'sThe department offers 280,000 pairs of shoes, according to the AP.Courtesy of Macy'sThe new department is sleek and white, and designers are given top billing.Courtesy of Macy'sIn 2006, the Wisconsin State Journal interviewed Madison web designer, writer, online marketing and social media professional of about web design and marketing for Madison, Wisconsin businesses. Wisconsin State Journal published the interview in the articles: , and . He recently rediscovered the original QA with the Wisconsin State Journal reporter and is publishing the original interview, in its entirety, as a perspective on the short history of successful online marketing and strategy. Q. Why should a Madison business have a website?A website is a spoke on the communications and branding wheel. It helps to convey a message, along side of TV, print, mobile, point-of-purchase and enewsletters. An effective company utilizes all of these mediums to their advantage. Consumers have many options, so you can’t just rely on TV or the web to get your message out. Some consumers use the web to perform research, some use magazines. A website helps to complete the picture and capture your audience. However, a website is the most engaging medium. TV and print are passive. The consumer can only watch or turn the page. A business can’t tell the whole story with a print ad. Print is great for grabbing attention, but you need to learn more. With a website, on the other hand, consumers can delve further. It’s interactive; they control where to go, what they want to learn. Q. What kinds of businesses need what kinds of websites? Are there specific types of sites that fit specific types of Madison businesses?A. All businesses, large or small, need a website; from a Fortune 100 company, to a coffee house, to a local artist. For a local company, like a restaurant or coffee house, present hours of operation, directions and the menu. And add interactive components, like the ability to create online reservations or sign up for e-coupons. Everyone is busy, so tell the story of why people should go out of their way to visit your store. And personalize it; incorporate humanistic touches to your site. Computers and most websites are cold, you can’t connect. Add in a greeting from the owner or include a picture of the staff. Make it real. In creating an effective website, content is king. Perhaps a coffee house could have a blog; write about new blends or recommendations, stories at the coffee house, feature the baristas. My wife, Alison Relyea-Parr, is a children’s book illustration – she has a website at She no longer needs to be based in New York. Publishers search and find her, which is a reversal on the selection process when artists would take their portfolios door to door to the publishing houses. The editors find her, and browse her work, at their leisure. So from blogs, websites to creating a profile for your business on Facebook, use the web to network with your customers online. The ability to connect to prospects, and nurture your current customer, is key. Q. If you had to categorize different kinds of Madison business websites out there, how would you categorize them?A. There are 100 different web strategies for 100 different Madison companies. Look at your objectives and business plan. What fits, what doesn’t? If you don’t need to go overboard, don’t do it. Some companies create an informational site to educate consumers and capture leads, so they can remarket to them via email or brochures. E-commerce is the way to go with companies offering tangible goods – in creating a national customer base. Q. What are some common mistakes Madison businesses make when theyre trying to get on the web? What do people tend to do wrong when theyre developing a web presence and selecting a Madison web designer?A. There can be many mistakes in creating a website. Speed is an issue, creating a slow site will make your customers quickly click away. Many print designers create all graphic sites that uniformly fail; while they can design fantastic brochures, the web is a totally different medium. Spend time on usability and how people access information. It’s the flow of information, hold the hand of your customer and guide them through your website. Don’t make it a mystery. Know your audience. Create a site for the customer, not what someone in your company or an agency “thinks” the site should say or do. Also, consider the new visitor — look at your site with this fresh perspective — and explain who you are and what you offer at a brief glance.Get the facts. You may go with a Madison web designer or developer because you admire one of the sites they created — but the web designer who created the site is no longer there or it was outsourced. Perhaps they just host the site — and someone else designed it. Ask who’s working on your project; find out skills and experience; call their clients and ask if they delivered as promised.The other mistake is being tied to a proprietary technology which drives your website. You end up getting married to a vendor that will milk the relationship for all it’s worth. Ask for a site that can be completely handed off to your internal staff or to another web firm, if need be. Go open source. Consider WordPress. Q. What is something that all Madison businesses should do with their web presence that not a lot do?Ideally, use your business to add value to my life. Make it worth my time – and be creative about it. Even local companies can get into the game. Great examples include Milios and Klinke Cleaners. At milios.com, customers can order their sandwiches online, for pickup or delivery. Over at klinkecleaners.com, customers can download coupons and can be alerted via email when their garments are ready for pickup.Q. If you dont have an e-commerce section to your website (and youd like one) how do you know youre ready to start it up? And, how do you make that happen?E-commerce can be a blessing and curse. If you begin receiving orders, you need to have the infrastructure in place to handle customer service, order status, product availability and delivery. Everyone wants their stuff fast – you need to meet or exceed their expectations. If you’re a larger company, turn to a web consulting firm to implement an e-commerce solution. Ideally, find a company that’s done this numerous times. They should provide a turn-key solution. Always select a web design and development firm with a track record; otherwise, they’ll stumble and delay the process – which will probably cost you more in the long run.For smaller Madison businesses, or a one-person business, you can also create an inexpensive e-commerce solution offered from Amazon, Yahoo or Ebay. Their “stores” offer low overhead, wide distribution – and you don’t need to be on the Geek Squad to set it up., CEO of , is an award-winning writer and online marketing strategist. Since 1995, the Madison, Wisconsin-based internet pioneer and marketer has launched numerous successful web projects, viral videos and online marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies. In addition to creating blogging and buzz marketing platforms, services include . In 1996, Michael Wolffs NetGuide named s inaugural online magazine as The Best Site of the Year at MacWorld. He holds a MFA from Brandeis and a BA from Viterbo. Visit to learn more.Does a great job of generating an experience- Douglas Coupland (author of Generation X)Delightfully rich and original- Roger Black (author of Web Sites That Work)Christopher Parr one of the Top 20 Most Influential People in Madison- Madison MagazineLuxury Daily News: Askmen.com names Christopher Parr NYTimes: Wisconsin State Journal: Read more posts on Last year, British retailer Marks Spencer convinced to leave Victoria Secret and promote its new Brazilian-cut underwear.The line has been so successful, reports the , that it saved new CEO Marc Bolland from a battle over his pay package, which includes a 250% bonus on his 950,000 base salary.There was talk of a shareholder's revolt at the company's annual meeting at Festival Hall on London's South Bank this week, but since lingerie sales jumped by 3.2%, analysts say he was protected against the pushback., a UK lobby group that recently encouraged shareholders to revolt at , was behind the potential revolt.The that it wasn't only the underwear sales that appeased shareholders; it was the meeting itself. Guests at Festival Hall were greeted with vanilla ice cream and wine, and a presentation by model Twiggy. The company's chairman also introduced a new edition to the lingerie line.At the previous , there were shareholder revolts over CEO pay packages.If the top luxury brands collided with McDonalds, youd get a mashup similar to the below. The concepts are created by Access, a design agency from the mind of The Cool Hunters Bill Tikos. Imagine a high-fashion makeover of McDonalds and youd have, ta-da, McFancy Who wouldnt want a Burberry Burger, Gucci Fries, Paul Smith Sundae, or DG water.?Waiters in tuxedos, silver service, private dining areas, and packaging co-created with the fashion brands that present at Fashion Week — Burberry burgers, Chanel fries on black packaging, Paul Smith Sundaes…A bit of fun among the serious business of fashion. A bite of comfort food among all the elaborate cocktail fare, Private dining rooms, a raised catwalk that winds around the perimeter of the space, and with a central bar area providing a dramatic focal point. The ceiling is constructed from stretched fabric, ribbed to provide articulation and define zones. The form of the ceiling is accentuated through the use of LED lighting. Read more posts on ReutersHermes in Mumbai. By Boby Kurian Reeba ZachariahEver noticed how the staffers at a luxury store look as premium as the products they sell? Maybe that's because they've been powdered and puffed, pampered and indulged enough to ensure they never leave. At Aditya Birla's luxury fashion chain, The Collective, for instance, they are the million-dollar employees - the ones who bring in annual sales worth $1 million. And keeping them in high spirits can only result in more moolah.Gone are the days of the over-eager 'salesman' with his oily smile and sweaty handshake. The new store executive is sharp and suave, and effortlessly showcases the product he's selling. Marquee global brands are lavishing attention on picking, training and retaining high-class staff only for the close ties they strike with the upper crest of India's spending class.So while some brands offer their employees a retention bonus to stay put, others such as , Ermenegildo Zegna and Dior have gone a step ahead and reinvented the look and feel of their store to attract well-groomed and qualified staff that has now taken on the role of brand custodian and fashion consultant.Why Employees Are PamperedConsultancy firm McKinsey estimates that over nine million Indian households are a target for luxury brands, and about 40 per cent of them - some of whom don't mind spending a few lakh rupees on a single store visits - are between Mumbai and Delhi. Not surprisingly, picking the right staff is top priority-luxury brands are focusing on making experienced hires from aviation and hospitality backgrounds while many more CEOs are descending on fashion institutes and finishing schools for campus recruitment. "There's a new store culture attracting staff from good middle-class families," says Tommy Hilfiger CEO Sailesh Chaturvedi. "We make it a point to listen to them and provide them direct access to the top brass. They drive the shopping experience that is crucial to branding these days."It pays to be an executive at a high-end store. The store manager of a luxury retailer in Mumbai's Palladium Mall takes home more than Rs. 20 lakh per year, while store staff is paid between Rs. 4 lakh and 6 lakh annually. Retired models and India-returned NRI housewives take up jobs as consultants at some stores, much like students from pedigree institutions and working models in Europe and the Far East take up commission-based work at Gucci or Prada stores on weekends."These people look at life and a career differently," says Shital Mehta, who heads The Collective. "They're not terribly excited about becoming mere store managers; it's interacting with the well-heeled that draws them." And working at a luxury store is a definite step-up in the food chain for any executive. "It connects me with the wealthy," says Navin Sonawanneya, 30, assistant store manager at Tod's which is known for its shoes and bags. "You develop a bond with them, they value your suggestions, and on occasion they call you home."Some brands go so far as to prepare a career road map as part of their employee retention strategy. Diesel, for instance, puts every store employee on a professional enhancement programme. "There are store staffers who have gone on to become visual merchandisers, buyers and designing talents," says Darshan Mehta, CEO, Reliance Brands, which operates a JV with Diesel.Burberry's country head, Nalini Gupta, argues that India's retail story has become a serious career option as several luxury and high-street retailers like Hermes and upscale men's clothier Tom enter the country, braving economic uncertainties. "A talent pool for selling luxury brands has now started to build up in India," says N S Rajan, partner, Ernst Young, "and business school grads are adding to the intelligence quotient of their sales personnel".This originally appeared at .iframe src=http://www.businessinsider.com/embed?id=5063cc6c6bb3f73b01000015amp;width=600amp;height=430 width=600 height=430 border=0 frameborder=0/iframePerhaps its the Pinterest Effect the social media network that is all about the visual side of life, but more and more brands, especially the big boys on the brand block, arejoining the mobile only app that, as per allows users to take a photo, apply a digitalfilterto it, and then share it with other Instagram users they are connected to on thesocial networkas well as on a variety ofsocial networkingservices.Originally available only to owners and now available to users as well, Instagram has seen a remarkable growth in the first seven months of 2012 going from 15 million users in early 2012 to 80 million in July an increase of over 400% in just seven months. Now I was hardly a math major in school but thats some pretty impressive numbers I would say.Apparently big brands are taking notice as according to a study conducted by, 40% of the brands listed inTop 100 have set up shop on Instagram.Now obviously the penetration rate for Instagram among the big brands is light years behind the big dogs -Facebook(which happens to own Instagram) and but you have to remember that Instagram is still a young company and is, as previously mentioned, available only via a mobile platform. Its for those reasons Simply Measured referred to Instagrams growth as very impressive and I would surely agree.And I would surely agree and recommend that all brand managers and brand marketers, who are not currently active on Instagram on behalf of their brands, get active in a hurry.The Good Reason Part Of My TitleBack in MayI wrote.The rationale behind my statement was for the simple fact that Pinterest was extremely popular among women, AKA the people who make the majority of household purchase decisions.And Instagram while not yet possessing the same gaudy numbers as Pinterest when it comes to the number of female users or the amount of trust women place in it, does have a user base that is nearly 70% female according to data from.According to Simply Measured, the leaders in the Instgram clubhouse right now are luxury brands with Burberry, and Gucci among the brands with highest number of followers. From the chart below you'll also see that andStarbuckshave the highest number of followers overall among brands but upon further review you can see that brands such as Audi and are doing a better job in terms of engagement as witnessed by the number of likes and comments in relation to their overall number of followers.In ClosingObviously if youre a brand manager or brand marketer you need to stop what you are doing and set up an Instagram account right away for the future of the free world depends on it.Ok, maybe not the entire free world and perhaps I am being a bit melodramatic but the fact remains that consumers more and more of them, are using Instagram, just as they are, Twitter,Google+ and Pinterest. And if youre not including Instagram as part of your social media strategies which should be part of your overall, you are missing out on a golden opportunity to move that needle.From the conclusion of the Simply Measured study:For brands that continue to hold out and watch as their competition is engaging users and measuring results, 80 million potential customers are being ignored.Put that in your marketing hat and smoke it 80 million (and growing) potential customers being ignored.Sources:,,GoogleImagesNamed one of the(#41) by Social Technology Review and aby Kred,is a freelance copywriter/blogger currently looking for full-time work. He has worked on some of the biggest brands in the world and has over 20 years experience in advertising and marketing. He lives in Philly and can be reached via,,or his.Readers of New York Magazine's fashion blog The Cut are in for a treat when they check in on the site Monday morning.That's when the the company plans to reveal its all new version of the bloga standalone website that will move outside its current editorial milieu of style and gossip to take on a wide range of topics that interest women, from sex and relationships to health and media. And it's putting a whole new emphasis on photos."Our goal was to create a mash-up between a high-end fashion magazine and a blog," said , editor-in-chief of New York Magazine.From what we saw, The Cut's new format could give traditional print glossies a run for their money. Images on the site appear at a super-high resolution and slideshows will feature a zoom function, meaning readers can get up close and personal with a sexy pair of shoes or a makeup smudge on a runway model's face.The site also invested heavily in its image inventory, creating 100 new celebrity Look Books (in the style of the ) and hiring freelance street photographers around the world to capture the looks of the moment.Maureen O'Connor, formerly of Gawker, will helm the new site's features section, Love War, which she said would experiment with "first-person confessionals" alongside commentary and longer pieces. Another new feature we're eagerly awaiting is "Celeberotica," in which a romance novelist is asked to reimagine tabloid stories.Altogether, there are now 11 editorial staffers on the website, including seven new hires. The new Cut will also make heavy use of outside contributors, Moss said.The launch comes as women's sites in generalBuzzfeed's , The Grindstoneare on the rise. Moss said that by expanding outside the sphere of fashion, the website hoped to capture a wider audience.It's also a boon for advertisers. Fashion is the largest single advertising category for New York Magazine, up 34 percent from last year, and digital now accounts for 40 percent of its ad revenue, said publisher Larry Burstein. Five advertisers, including Bottega Veneta, Burberry, and Cartier, have signed on for the site's launch, for campaigns that he said would "replicate print ads."While the site doesn't have any specific e-commerce plans in place for the launch, that could come next, Burstein said. And it makes sense, considering that another section of the site, Goods, will feature a range of click-to-buy products, from bargain finds to looks straight from the runway.We were big fans of The Cut before, and are excited to see what the new version brings.Here's a preview of the new homepage, TheCut.com. Click to enlarge.One of the first people to go to trial for criminal acts during the London riots is a 31 year old primary school teacher named Alexis Bailey, reports . He plead guilty to burglary with the intent to steal. He's out on bail, but has been given a curfew.London Magistrates and their staff have been working around the clock to deal with large numbers of individuals arrested during the riots. But they don't always have the power to sentence them.Chair of magistrates Melvyn Marks told the court many of the cases had aggravating features, occurring "in the middle of a very violent riot", which meant magistrates had insufficient sentencing powers."Because of the nature of this offense and because of the circumstances, we have taken the view that there are too many aggravating features on this case and our powers of punishment are not enough."Naturally, most of the crimes that the court has been related to looting -- robbing a , stealing Burberry shirts, two men went to trial for pushing around a shopping cart full of power tools that they had "found".Here's a video of Bailey leaving Wood Green Crown Court, where most of the sentencing is being done. He's covering his face with a newspaper, but you can see it clearly around second 7.Follow 10 Things Before the Opening Bell and never miss an update! Please Note: Business Insider will never share your information with any other companies. You also have the ability to unsubscribe from these newsletters at any time simply by following the unsubscribe link located at the bottom of each email Warning: This video (below) is gross.Bet she is wishing she had all those high-powered handlers around her now to prevent this embarrassment.Even Fox News is covering this.Oh, and check out the Burberry scarf she's wearing in the video (below). Fancy, fancy!: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin officially pardoned a turkey for Thanksgiving at a farm in Wasilla, Alaska on Thursday, then conducted a television interview as another bird was clearly seen being slaughtered in the background.As the former Republican vice presidential nominee spoke with a KTUU-TV reporter about returning to work in Alaska, just a few feet behind her a Triple D Farms worker is seen feeding a turkey into a grinder, periodically turning around to watch the on-going interview.Palin, who called the pardoning experience "neat" was reportedly told by the station videographer what was going on behind her, but allowed the interview to continue.Pardoning a turkey is tradition for governors in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, following a White House custom that began in 1947.Within the last couple of years GQs multi-winning designer-of-the-year Paul Smith has opened shops in and , hoping to finally crack that American market. Each of these buildings reflects an architectural through-line back to Paul Smith himself: colorful, drawing influences from sport, history, art, pop-culture or modern architecture. Paul Smith the brand continues to open stand-alone shops throughout the world, including this past month with a new 3-story flagship in Seoul, South Korea, featuring Paul Smiths personal art collection on its walls. British designer Paul Smith is not a household name in America; not yet. Where the French have always had a reputation for womens fashion, it is the Brits, well, Londons Savile Row specifically, that has the well-earned reputation for turning out men in bespoke suits, fitting the countrys elite and sophisticated and, yes, the wealthy in clothes that definitely make the man. But, truth be told, these companies churning out high-end mens fashion havent been British in the strictest sense for decades; they can be, and are often, owned by multinational corporations headquartered in France, Italy or Japan. The designers, and their sense of style, most assuredly rock a British idiom that push past typical Savile Row boundaries, leaving the shores of England as fast as any Virgin airlines jet can whisk them away. The globalization of British mens and womens fashion is certainly alive and well from Asia through to America, with the likes of British (and award-winning) designers like Christopher Bailey (), John Galliano (), and recently departed influencing the way men and woman are dressing. Bringing us back to the iconic British designer Paul Smith, who is arguably the most successful designer in British history. Knighted by the Queen in 2000, Paul Smiths fashion strengths have always played to a mans sensibility: well-made clothing with just a touch of unique style as seen in his signature multicolored stripes. Sir Pauls fashion house, still independently owned, supposedly has revenues now past $600 million from 48 different countries, including 12 different mens and womens lines, licensing and limited edition deals with Evian water, cameras, Cross pens, Barneys New York, luggage, furniture, skis, and the list and revenues go on (and on). In his book Paul Smith: you can find inspiration in everything (2003), Sir Paul says that we should seek to be childlike, not childish; and that the key to staying inspired is to see and to think about the world horizontally, where we can find inspiration from all of the things around us (not other designers). As Paul Smith expansion continues around the globe, his personal inspiration is sure to follow. Diamonds, Burberry, Rolex, Lacoste - yes, they may have more sales and inventory problems than 2003, but they are surviving. What can the small business owner learn from these individuals?...When in doubt, they're buying the most expensiveEntrepreneurs, upon going into business frequently make the mistake of lowering the cost of their product or service due to the perception that this is the only way to gain new business. They think that paying the "no profit dues" is the sole means to get in the door.As a small business, pricing your product or service correctly is nothing short of critical.When it comes to deciphering what you should charge for a given product or service, I've compiled three of the most crucial pricing tips to help your start-up sustain growth, successfully maintain the company's existing client base, as well feel that you are being compensated adequately for your expertise:If You Want A Nice Diamond, Go To Tiffany'sWhen clients call into a potential vendor, they typically have no idea about the product or service that they are inquiring about. If they did, more likely than not they wouldn't be outsourcing the job.Therefore, many clients judge the quality of a product or a service based on its price. After all, the higher the price tag, the better it is likely to be.Although logic would say that the aforementioned statement proves to be entirely false, it is what your potential clients are thinking when you answer that RFP with an astonishingly low price.Another reason why you should shy away from being the price competitor at first is that the firms that are ultimately going to use you and that are going to become your clients are not going to want to deal with future price raises and are much less likely to be successfully sold on a parallel product or service that you're offering.Cheap Clients Don't Like Price IncreasesDon't go into the game thinking that the price increase that is going to strategically be implemented in a few months won't lose you clients.Any client, especially the bargain hunter is going to be livid when you convey the news that they had the introductory offer that has now expired. Either be prepared to be known as the cheapest and form your business plan accordingly or begin in the price tier that you believe you have the best chance of competing in.If you don't want to be the cheapest, there are a few highly persuasive ways in which you can implement that will result both in you getting the fee that you deserve and will also result in the client feeling that he or she got a fair price.Cushioning The Blow - Higher Price 1stI like to refer to this tactic as cushioning the blow because upon giving a quote, you always want to give two different options or packages. The first or more expensive package can even be a dummy product.Whether the package is real doesn't matter because the buyer is going to often opt for the second mentioned or cheaper package your firm offers to its clients.Essentially, what you are doing is easing the blow regarding your costs and mitigating the chances of the potential client leaving to further price shop by stating and describing the more costly package first.This way, the regular package that you are seeking you sell them on seems very reasonable and logical to purchase.The Non-Exist ant CFOJust as you can soften the blow by quoting the higher price first, you can also soften your own image in your client's eyes by relying on a third party to play the bad guy when it comes to pricing.If your "CFO" has set a certain price minimum, or if you have otherwise number-based "rules" to follow, it is harder for a client to argue the price.Since numbers are what they are, and do not depend on your positive feelings for one client or another, setting up a third party bad cop (you could be the CFO of your start-up, but they don't know that) takes the potential for taking it personally out of the equation.APModels walk in the finale for Burberry's Mens Fall-Winter 2012/13 runway, at the start of Milan Fashion Week.Burberry, the British luxury firm known for its iconic check pattern and trench coat, saw revenue surge 21% to 574 million, or $883 million, for the three months ending December 31.Top line results were bolstered by 13% comparable sales growth, as London, Paris, Beijing and Las Vegas flagships performed above the company's financial plan."Our investment in flagship markets and digital technology has enabled our global teams to continue to drive customer engagement, enhance retail disciplines and improve operational effectiveness, further strengthening brand momentum," CEO Angela Ahrendts said.Burberry saw lift from the launch of its news women's fragrance line, Burberry Body, as well as the opening of six mainline stores, including one in So Paulo.However results were again driven by its core outerwear and large leather goods product, accounting for close to half of retail sales. The company said its fastest growing categories were knitwear, mens accessories and tailoring, perfume and watches.Burberry showed its men's fall 2012 collection in Milan this weekend to critical review. Following on past success, the company will allow customers to pre-order goods seen on the runway directly after the show, an uncommon practice amongst luxury players.Ahrendts' firm has benefitted from this strong online format, which includes the ability to tap demand at its height after a show, and through social media pushes like ArtoftheTrench.com."Looking ahead, we remain focused on executing our proven core strategies to achieve long-term sustainable growth, while staying mindful of the challenging macro environment," she said.Burberry will announce full year results on May 23APRetail sales are expected to climb 3.4% in 2012 to $2.53 trillion, cooling from growth of nearly 5% last year, the .The NRF attributes the slowing gains to a stalled employment picture and slow job creation.Our 2012 forecast is a vote of confidence in the retail industry and our ability to succeed even in a challenging economy,"NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. "Retailers have played a key role in driving growth, but to continue this momentum we need Washington to act on proposals that will spur job creation and unleash the power of the private sector.Retailers had mostly finished 2011 on a positive note, with , the owner of brands like T.J. Maxx and Home Goods, posting comparable sale gains of 8%. Others saw similar improvements: , up 7%, (including its high-end Bloomingdale's brand) up 6.2%, and up 8.7%.But the industry started off the new year on unstable footing. While luxury players like , other big firms have issued profit warnings. New York Company, the mid-sized apparel company that has struggled with profitability over the past several quarters, said last week it expected gross margins to erode further.Over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend, big-box stores including announced near fire sales. Discounts reached up to 80% at the Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, chain, with ruffle dresses priced at $13.60, from $60.If the 3.4% growth estimates hold, the sector would outpace economic expansion in the U.S., with economists now forecasting growth slightly above 2%.According to local report, Shanda is investing over RMB 2 billion (US$ 309 million) in ecommerce site with two other undisclosed participants. Founded by Ge Binbin, the former head of Goldcool Games, Pinju is set to debut in this Oct. Ge said that Shanda accounts for 40% of the total sum, or US$ 1.23 million.Pinju is still under beta testing, the latest comer to the highly crowded and fierce competing Chinese ecommerce market is featuring all kinds of goods ranging from cosmetics, clothes, maternity and baby products, electric appliance, home supplies, health products, 3C products to luxurious brands including Hermes, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Armani, Gucci and so on. It seems Pinju is positioned to be an online general store.Its known to all that majority of Chinese online shopping sites(except for 360buy, the Chinese B2C giant announced its departure with Alipay because of high commission fee) partner with, using the latters online payment solution, whereas Pinju will feature, the online payment offering by shanda. That makes sense, just likerefers its customers to, Tencents approach to online payment.Shanda has long been rumored to keep an eye on the lucrative and promising Chinese ecommerce waterfront, according to the Beijing-based market research firm iResearch, the market size will passes RMB 10 trillion (US$ 154.6 billion) by 2013, how can one miss out on a chunk from this.Sina has launched a luxury B2C site called Sina Shepin (????) at the URL .Sina Shepin has different categories such as handbags, apparel, watch and jewelry, covering over 50 brands includes LV?Balenciaga?Gucci?Dior?Burberry. Sina asserts that all products sold on the site are genuine, quality products.Sinas entry into online luxury follows a number of other Chinese internet giants, including Netease (NASDAQ: NTES) and Tencent (0700.HK). Netease launched its luxury shopping platform, , in July 2010. Tencent invested in B2C jewelry site  in July 2011.Research agency Analysys International finds that luxury e-commerce sales reached RMB 3.45 billion in Q2 2011. Annual sales are expected to reach RMB 16 billion by the end of 2011.Original Chinese Source:  Read more posts on Burberry is officially the worlds most popular luxury brand online, having amassed more than 10 million Facebook fans on the social networking site. The London-based fashion house has embraced social media and digital marketing, and theyve been rewarded as their revenue has increased 29%. Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry, : “Burberry has delivered a strong first half, reflecting our continued investment in innovative design, digital marketing and retail strategies.”Ten million Facebook fans! Thank you so much for all your incredible support, Christopher Bailey, Burberrys Chief Creative Officer, posted on the Burberry Facebook page (with multiple images and a YouTube video, ). 10 million Facebook fans is a major achievement for Burberry as they take leadership on the social media platform this is almost more than Dior (5,920,960 fans) and Gucci (5,811,295) combined. Chanel is also at 5 million fans, followed by luxury brands Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Dolce Gabbana. Burberry is regarded as one of the most forward-thinking luxury brands in the world. The New York University think-tank LuxuryLab the Worlds most Digitally Competent Luxury Brand in October. From live streams to runway shows to an arms race on social media platforms, brands are seeking the halo of innovation that comes from inspired online programming, Scott Galloway, professor and co-founder of LuxuryLab, . However, most fashion brands still approach digital as a series of pet projects rather than presenting a coherent multi-platform strategy. Although 94 per cent of brands in the Index have a presence on Facebook, one in five still lacks e-commerce capability.“Almost 100 percent of brands cite Facebook as a source of upstream traffic,” Galloway in August, 2011. “[Burberry] is getting more traffic from Facebook than Google. It’s the largest source of traffic to its site. Brands are transitioning from spending money on Google into Facebook programs. All of this [Facebook] traffic and investment is leading towards commerce.”What can you learn from Burberry?Luxury brands need to be focused and targeted online. On Facebook, they’re unique clubs that discerning fans want to join, the opposite of a Walmart for the masses that offers everything for everyone. The attraction, and connection, to a luxury brand is all about affiliation to a unique experience – it is a dream, a desire and something to aspire to. If you’re a Mercedes-Benz owner, you want to make a connection with that brand on social media channels and share your affiliation. You want to mingle with like-minded friends, share stories and reminisce.Luxury brands need to be on the cutting edge, as the affluent consumer is demanding – and always up on the latest technology, from amazing apps to the latest Apple iPhone. Luxury brands need to create killer content for these devices and social media platforms – from inspiring videos, cool apps, to exclusive content that offers an insider’s look into the brands. Louis Vuitton has numerous travel apps for the iPhone, with city guides for cities like Paris and New York, featuring Sophia Coppola and Rachel Weisz sharing their favorite restaurants and shops. Pull back the curtain and allow customers to have an emotional affinity with the brand. Karl Lagerfeld brilliantly unveils videos on the Chanel Facebook page previewing first with teaser images and videos – and then full-length videos. A luxury brand that basically recycles a TV spot or a magazine ad will ultimately fail at social media and engagement with their fans.Affluent consumers are active and vocal. Never passive. They’re in the know, they’re insiders, they love to be engaged and share their favorite fashions, autos and destinations. It’s all about social, and sharing their favorite things with their friends. As a luxury brand, you need to engage your affluent consumers. Invite them in, inspire them – and in-turn, convert them into brand-advocates.Christopher Parr is an industry leader with over 15 years of experience in digital marketing. He is an award-winning veteran, writer, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. He launched as a curated list of the good things in life, with guest contributors from Forbes, Mashable, TechCrunch, Glamour, Saveur and more sharing their favorite luxuries. Askmen.com recently named him , his family is featured in , and .Read more posts on Burberry is officially the worlds most popular luxury brand online, having amassed more than 10 million Facebook fans on the social networking site. The London-based fashion house has embraced social media and digital marketing, and theyve been rewarded as their revenue has increased 29%. Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry, : “Burberry has delivered a strong first half, reflecting our continued investment in innovative design, digital marketing and retail strategies.”Ten million Facebook fans! Thank you so much for all your incredible support, Christopher Bailey, Burberrys Chief Creative Officer, posted on the Burberry Facebook page (with multiple images and a YouTube video, ). 10 million Facebook fans is a major achievement for Burberry as they take leadership on the social media platform this is almost more than Dior (5,920,960 fans) and Gucci (5,811,295) combined. Chanel is also at 5 million fans, followed by luxury brands Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Dolce Gabbana. Burberry is regarded as one of the most forward-thinking luxury brands in the world. The New York University think-tank LuxuryLab the Worlds most Digitally Competent Luxury Brand in October. From live streams to runway shows to an arms race on social media platforms, brands are seeking the halo of innovation that comes from inspired online programming, Scott Galloway, professor and co-founder of LuxuryLab, . However, most fashion brands still approach digital as a series of pet projects rather than presenting a coherent multi-platform strategy. Although 94 per cent of brands in the Index have a presence on Facebook, one in five still lacks e-commerce capability.“Almost 100 percent of brands cite Facebook as a source of upstream traffic,” Galloway in August, 2011. “[Burberry] is getting more traffic from Facebook than Google. It’s the largest source of traffic to its site. Brands are transitioning from spending money on Google into Facebook programs. All of this [Facebook] traffic and investment is leading towards commerce.”What can you learn from Burberry?Luxury brands need to be focused and targeted online. On Facebook, they’re unique clubs that discerning fans want to join, the opposite of a Walmart for the masses that offers everything for everyone. The attraction, and connection, to a luxury brand is all about affiliation to a unique experience – it is a dream, a desire and something to aspire to. If you’re a Mercedes-Benz owner, you want to make a connection with that brand on social media channels and share your affiliation. You want to mingle with like-minded friends, share stories and reminisce.Luxury brands need to be on the cutting edge, as the affluent consumer is demanding – and always up on the latest technology, from amazing apps to the latest Apple iPhone. Luxury brands need to create killer content for these devices and social media platforms – from inspiring videos, cool apps, to exclusive content that offers an insider’s look into the brands. Louis Vuitton has numerous travel apps for the iPhone, with city guides for cities like Paris and New York, featuring Sophia Coppola and Rachel Weisz sharing their favorite restaurants and shops. Pull back the curtain and allow customers to have an emotional affinity with the brand. Karl Lagerfeld brilliantly unveils videos on the Chanel Facebook page previewing first with teaser images and videos – and then full-length videos. A luxury brand that basically recycles a TV spot or a magazine ad will ultimately fail at social media and engagement with their fans.Affluent consumers are active and vocal. Never passive. They’re in the know, they’re insiders, they love to be engaged and share their favorite fashions, autos and destinations. It’s all about social, and sharing their favorite things with their friends. As a luxury brand, you need to engage your affluent consumers. Invite them in, inspire them – and in-turn, convert them into brand-advocates.Christopher Parr is an industry leader with over 15 years of experience in digital marketing. He is an award-winning veteran, writer, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. He launched as a curated list of the good things in life, with guest contributors from Forbes, Mashable, TechCrunch, Glamour, Saveur and more sharing their favorite luxuries. Askmen.com recently named him , his family is featured in , and .Read more posts on Louis Vuitton is by far the most valuable luxury brand in the world, worth $23.577 billiona 2 percent increase from last year's valueaccording to a new survey from brand consulting firm Interbrand.It was a good year for the luxury conglomerate. The company improved its digital experience and launched several apps, entered the fragrance market for the first time, and remained a blockbuster brand in China.It even got Michael Phelps to star in a .In addition to Louis Vuitton, seven other luxury brands made it onto of the world's most valuable brands. Most experienced major growth, and there were two newcomers to the list.Interbrand takes into account brands' financial performance, role in influencing customer choice, and ability to command premium prices.BRAND2012 RANK2011 RANK2012 BRAND VALUE ($millions)% CHANGELouis Vuitton1718$23,5772%Gucci3839$9,4468%Herms6366$6,18215%Cartier6870$5,49515% Co.7073$5,15915%Burberry8295$4,34216%Prada84N/A$4,271NEWRalph Lauren91N/A$4,038NEWSEE ALSO: It seems increasingly difficult to find a Hollywood star these days that is equal parts screen icon and fashion muse. There aren’t many Katherine Hepburns or Joan Crawfords running around L.A., which is why the Neiman Marcus Art of Fashion campaign featuring none other than Drew Barrymore is such a breath of fresh air. Rebellious teenager no more, Barrymore is photographed by Norma Jean Ray in the most coveted looks of the season, from Chanel to Valentino. Models like Daria Werbowy and Josephine Skriver are ethereal and gamine beauties to be sure, but there’s something to be said for using a household name in a luxury fashion shoot. Audiences grew up with the Barrymore dynasty and Drew herself has been in the public eye since E.T. Through her film and T.V appearances, people feel as though they know Ms. Barrymore and her quirky personality in a way that few top models are known. Shot over the course of 16 hours, Barrymore donned fur-trimmed Burberry Prorsum, stunning Lanvin, tribal-inspired Etro and a show-stopping emerald green Emilio Pucci cut-out gown. The shoot had the potential to be lifeless, but Barrymore’s presence and the artistic feel of the photographs give the clothing- and the overall campaign- a warm, approachable look that almost comes off as more vignette than photo shoot. And it’s a storyline you’ll want to keep following. For more information regarding the Art of Fashion and the looks featured in the campaign, visit . Read more posts on Vanity Fair's Maureen Orth on how the Church of allegedly controls Tom Cruise's life and relationships.We scored a copy of Vanity Fair at a nearby newsstand (the issue is currently only available in NYC) and read Orth's story.Here are some of her most interesting claims:The Vanity Fair issue with the full story is scheduled to hit newsstands nationwide on Monday.DON'T MISS:I'm greeted by a charging springer spaniel, wet from the morning's rain, tennis ball in mouth -- a dog whose sprightly mug I've seen before inFadermagazine and on the Urban Outfitters blog. Lancey, named for Delancey Street in's Lower East Side, is a wily hound. The dog put a drool-covered tennis ball on the back of my chair on the sly and got my chinos a little wet in the crotch with the same. A good dog.You don't typically see a dog with that much room to play in New York, but Michael Williams works out of a relatively massive showroom filled with clothing, shoes and accessories belonging to clients of his PR firm, Paul + Williams, and decorated with pieces of Americana he's picked up while digging around flea markets.Michael is wet, too, from the rainy walk between his apartment next to the World Trade Center site to his office in the Soho Building on Greene Street. It's a nice building on a block of expensive retail shops like Louis Vuitton and Adriano Goldschmied. The place looks pretty much how I expected from reading his blog,(ACL): A well-kept hybrid of men's clothing boutique, factory floor and antique barn. The floppy-eared spaniel is almost too much.Williams is what you'd call a lifestyle blogger, part of a growing contingent of guys who write about gear, fashion, food, and so on, just like what you'd find in a traditional men's magazine except that instead of a whole editorial staff, it's just one or a few people writing through a more personal lens about a niche, focused topic. Zeitgeisty stuff, mostly things you can buy. Lifestyle.Michael Williams on his hit blog, A Continuous LeanThe blog should be hyper-focused, nicheTalking to successful bloggers, guys who can or could live off of the revenue theirgenerate (directly or indirectly), I whittled down three maxims that can help us understand this whole blog thing: What it is, where it's going, and how to be successful at it -- the wholetelosof the thing.Maxim No. 1:The blog should be hyper-focused, niche. ACL was born of Williams' interest in Americana, especially American-made clothing and products. I worked for a Japanese company, so I saw all these Japanese magazine interpretations of Americana, he said. I thought it was interesting that they were so into it and that they understood it very well and at the same time didn't understand it at all... And I thought, this is something that I find interesting that's maybe worth exploring.You also get the sense that Williams, there having a game of catch with Lancey -- that damn dog is so endearing -- has an abiding interest in America that's deeper than clothes and products. He gets worked up talking about the state of things:If you look at companies like, a client of mine, they fought to keep their factories open in the States. Everyone was saying move offshore. The owner was like, I don't care. All these public companies, that sh*t would never fly. This country has a terrible three-month view of the world. It's all based on quarterly earnings. They don't give a f*ck what happens five years from now. There's no skills, no facilities, no infrastructure. What's gonna happen when it's super-f*cking expensive to make stuff in China?Thisoriginally appeared at.An age-old tale: teen throws party at her parents' house, teen guests get out of control, home gets messy and things go missing.But when the parent of the teen is Grant Eisenhofer name-partner Stuart Grant, this scenario ends in a lawsuit.Zach Lowe of reviewed the Delaware suit, which alleges the teens ransacked a part of the house they were not supposed to be in, stole a milk jug with $500 worth of coins, snorted prescription drugs they found, and took "household items."This one is a lot of he said/she said -- some of the items were returned, the defendants claim they were invited and it's questionable, the report said, whether Grant can get compensatory damages because he hired a private investigator rather than going to the police.Lowe's full report is , but needless to say this is one teenage party that ended way worse than with just your run-of-the-mill grounding.Note: the teens pictured are not the teen defendants. These are young British people enjoying a night out. The excessive Burberry is the tip-off. Morning Notes- Asian markets closed down over 1% as they were in catch up mode after Mondays weakness on SP downgrade of US credit rating- In China, the HSBC Manufacturing PMI number came in flat m/m- may suggest growth is stabilizing- In Japan, chipmakers/semi name were weak following TXNs statement yesterday that the earthquake would slow production in Q2- European bourses are trading higher- Fairly strong earnings out of Novartis (NVS) and Burberry- Positive Eurozone Manufacturing PMI number- France Services PMI came in at the highest level since September 2000- Successful Greek bond auctionclick for full articlehttp://www.hedgefundlive.com/blog/tuesday-morning-recap-positive-tone-following-solid-housing-numbers-and-gs-earningsiframe src=http://www.businessinsider.com/embed?id=4d20d75549e2ae9005110000amp;width=600amp;height=430 width=600 height=430 border=0 frameborder=0/iframeWelcome to a holiday-shortened trading weekIn the US, Memorial Day weekend serves as the unofficial beginning of summer which typically means lower trading volume, and sleepy action. This is the week when Wall Street portfolio managers start to escape the city and head for the Hamptons, and retail investors focus on travel plans rather than trend linesBut this year, the summer investment environment is a bit different. While US traders used Monday as a chance to take in a ball game or fire up the barbecue, traders in Europe continued to handicap the debt crisis with Spain now challenging Greece for the most sensational headlines.On Friday, SP downgraded 5 Spanish banks, as losses from the countrys property bust continue to mount. While Prime Minister Rajoy continues to claim that the country will NOT need a bailout, Spain has been urging the ECB to lower borrowing costs so they can roll debt obligations and still manage to keep up with interest payments.To be sure, the European debt crisis isnt new news. It seems that the continent has been in the slow train wreck process for years now and there is still plenty of motivation to continue to prop up failing banks (and countries) in order to avert the inevitable crisis.But the problem is that investors are losing faith when it comes to the crisis averted statements and with a more skeptical global investor base, comes the risk of massive capital withdrawals, from both deposit institutions as well as global equity markets.So heading into the new trading week, theres certainly a possibility for the traditional slow-sleepy trading environment, but we also see plenty of opportunities for sharp price dislocations and significant trading action. It just depends on how the chess pieces in Europe are played along with traders responses to the political maneuvering.Looking at the recent action in US equities, its pretty easy to make a bearish case for stocks.  All four of the major indices (Dow Jones Industrial Average, SP 500, Nasdaq Composite and Russell 2000) have broken below key support levels and then consolidated or drifted higher.click to enlargeConsidering the bearish patterns for the major market indices, its no surprise that there is a large number of bearish trade setups in the queue. Below are a few of the areas we are particularly interested in for the coming week: Sign Up For the Mercenary Dispatch Get our best content delivered FREE to your inbox!Check out the page to learn more.Luxury Retail Sentiment DropsLuxury retail stocks are taking it on the chin as investors adjust to slower growth expectations.  The group weathered a challenging domestic economic environment relatively well as US and European consumers reined in spending.  But now that emerging markets are also reporting decelerating economic growth, the groups prospects are becoming much less attractive.In last weeks , we made a bearish case for the retail apparel group as a number of key constituents offered disappointing outlooks.  Luxury retailers are following the same pattern with stocks breaking down as executives outline a distressed environment for selling to high net worth shoppers.Consider this, from regarding Tiffany Co. (TIF)s revised earnings outlook:Tiffany also said spending by financial sector employees has continued to slow while “substantial competitive discounting” remains a problem.Meanwhile, shoppers balked at entry-level silver jewelry after Tiffany raised prices to offset the rising cost of materials, from precious metals to diamonds.While visitors from abroad still drove sales in the Americas, Tiffany said it saw a drop in sales, especially to European tourists, at its New York store.In China, sales have slowed, echoing remarks made by such European counterparts as Burberry and LVMH. Still, Tiffany said its store growth plan there remains on track.A worldwide slowdown in luxury spending could set up some tremendous trading opportunities. This months 21% decline in Sothebys (BID) along with Tiffanys ominous warning has set up some sharp breakdowns that are now giving way to consolidation or drift patterns., has a pending short trade for Coach Inc. (COH) as the stock has completed a rounding top pattern and is now poised to continue the bearish action with any help from the overall market environment.Facebook Faceplant Creates Social Media OpportunityIts hard to overstate the importance of the Facebook Inc. (FB) IPO just over a week ago.Not only did the transaction mark the culmination of literally years of hype, the deal was also completely botched by both Morgan Stanley (MS) downgrading the stock ahead of the offering and Nasdaq OMX (NDAQ) screwing up executions on the most highly anticipated IPO in years!As noted in last weeks , the fun is just getting startedThe actual IPO transaction had the unintended consequence of , and then when the IPO started trading lower it created a cascade effect across the entire social media group.This week, were keeping a close eye on social media candidates as the initial breakdown which coincided with the Facebook transaction should lead to a continuation pattern and further bearish action.Homeaway Inc. (AWAY) looks particularly vulnerable as the stock has tried repeatedly to break above its $27 IPO price, but has met significant resistance. A fresh breakdown in conjunction with more weakness from the group could be the first step for a much more significant drop.And considering the premium multiple investors are currently paying for the stock, there is plenty of room for lower prices before value investors would start getting interested in supporting the stock.Gaming Rests Hope on Faltering ChinaFor the gaming industry, Las Vegas is just another cityThe true growth for casino operators comes from Chinas Macau province, where gambling is legalized and throngs of affluent Chinese visit for both the gaming and atmosphere, shops and restaurantsProblem is, with the Chinese growth engine decelerating, investors are starting to worry about the growth expectations for the gaming industry in Macau.Of course the industry isnt going to evaporate or turn unprofitable overnight.  In fact, we expect profitability to continue to grow over the next few years but at a slower rate than investors have become accustomed to.But as Chinas economy approaches stall speed, and economists debate whether the country will experience a soft or hard landing, Chinese consumers are likely to pull back on how much they travel, on their level of luxury spending, and even on how much they wager at the baccarat tables.Gaming stocks have already completed major topping patterns with capital flowing out of stocks like Wynn Resorts (WYNN) and MGM Resorts International (MGM).Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has completely reversed its first quarter breakout, and has spent the last week etching out a narrow wedge pattern.  A break lower would confirm the bearish trend in a sector that has already established a bearish pattern.While US equity markets were closed on Monday, Globex futures markets were relatively active with the SP contracts advancing marginally and precious metals inching slightly higher.Modestly bullish action would not be a surprise, given the light amount of economic data and the absence of catastrophic news out of Europe. Were keeping our risk points relatively tight in case we get another euphoric all clear signal out of Europe. But the majority of our pending setups are on the bearish side of the ledger as we continue to respect the price action and the risks associated with the darkening macro picture.Trade em well this week!MM ([email protected]) p.s. Like this article? For more, p.p.s. If you haven't already, check out the Similar articles you might like:Read more posts on In July of 2011, Parr Interactive, a Madison, Wisconsin-based web design, digital marketing, online strategy and social media marketing company, launched Pursuitist at an online travel, style, food and leisure destination site. Contributors sharing their favorite luxuries include writers from Forbes, Mashable, TechCrunch, Glamour, Saveur and more. Advertisers on the site have include BMW, Best Buy, Intel, Gucci, Gap, Coach and Burberry. They also kickstarted Intels latest social media campaign featuring the Ultrabook on Intels official YouTube Channel: , CEO of , is an award-winning writer and online marketing strategist. Since 1995, the Madison, Wisconsin-based internet pioneer and marketer has launched numerous successful web projects, viral videos and online marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies. In addition to creating blogging and buzz marketing platforms, services include . Visit to learn more.Weve created more award-winning web sites, email campaigns, apps, blogs and videos than we can shake a stick at, says Christopher Parr. We know what works and what doesnt. Our projects drive real results. Increase market share, sales and leads. Make an impact.Does a great job of generating an experience- Douglas Coupland (author of Generation X)Delightfully rich and original- Roger Black (author of Web Sites That Work)Christopher Parr one of the Top 20 Most Influential People in Madison- Madison MagazineBio: After working in the TV, film and theatre industry, Christopher founded Parr Interactive in 1995. As Marketing/Creative Director of the award-winning interactive, digital marketing and e-marketing agency, he developed marketing strategies for many clients, included Insinkerator, Musicnotes, Rayovac, John Deere, Looksmart, Sub-Zero, Credit Union Executives, Microsoft, Bizfilings, WPS Insurance Epic Insurance. His projects have been featured in numerous publications, including USA Today, Wired, Ad Age and Entertainment Weekly, and case studies featured in Clear Blogging from Apress, Web Sites That Work from Adobe Press and HTML Unleashed from Macmillan Publishing.He was also a VP, Marketing/Creative Director for an e-commerce company, working with Warner Bros. Pub., BMG, AOL, leading the marketing team, branding and PR. Christopher also financed and co-owned an internet e-commerce startup, featuring luxury home garden goods. Christopher managed global brand communications, brand ID and guidelines, CRM, interactive, media and planning for Sub-Zero and Wolf, maker of luxury kitchen appliances. From product launches to e-commerce, he also managed B2C, B2B touch points and all things internet; social media marketing, interactive, promotions, media, video, branding, e-newsletters, blogging podcasts and developing campaigns with HGTV, New York Times, Food Network, Oprah and Epicurious. For Sub-Zero, Christopher launched an integrated campaign for Sub-Zero Wine Storage, featuring print ads, brochures, e-newsletters, online banners and a new wine blog, including wine events at Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton, with magazine support from Conde Nast Traveler, Wine Spectator and Food Wine.Luxury Daily News: Askmen.com names Christopher Parr NYTimes: Wisconsin State Journal: and , and Hes also married to .Read more posts on It was a choppy week for the FTSE-100 (UKX) this week. Chancellor George Osborne reportedly blamed the weather for an unexpected half percent contraction in the size of the UK economy during the fourth quarter of last year. Whether or not his assessment was correct, the figures sent a chill through the market.  Supporting Osborne’s view, the UK’s Office for National statistics blamed December’s snow for a market decrease in pre-Christmas trading, with advisory firm Deloitte calculating that retailers alone lost £750m of sales because of the weather. With VAT rises, inflation rises and fuel rises all expected to dampen public enthusiasm for getting out to the shops, Deloitte said it expected no growth, and possibly a dip, during the rest of 2011.After a bright start on Monday, the FTSE 100 lost ground Tuesday on the GDP data news but went on to rise through the week before jitters set in on Friday ahead of US GDP figures and a return to worries over sovereign debt. In a note to investors on Friday, Angus Campbell, head of sales at trading firm London Capital Group, said concern had shifted away from Europe towards Japan, whose credit rating was cut by Standard and Poor's on Thursday. Japan is one of the worst offenders when it comes to budget deficits, with a public debt that is double the size of economy.With this somewhat gloomy backdrop, it proved a good week for the insurance sector. The best FTSE 100 performer was Resolution (LON:RSL), the insurance focused investor focused on buying and merging U.K. life insurers, which saw a 7% gain. The has suffered in the last year as prospective acquisition targets have rebounded from the financial crisis. However, CEO John Tiner indicated in an interview this week that the Company will achieve its annual rate of return target even if it doesn’t make another acquisition. Separately, the company announced that Andy Briggs, ex CEO of Scottish Widows, will become chief executive of Friends Provident , joining from Lloyds Banking Group where he is currently CEO of General Insurance.Elsewhere in insurance land, while the U.K.’s largest insurer by market value, Prudential (LON:PRU) also had a good week, with the   CEO, Tidjane Thiam indicated in an interview at the Davos Forum that he was  unconcerned by rising inflation in emerging markets as the company seeks to grow in Asia. He indicated that:“We are in a sector that is relatively insulated vis-a-vis the macroeconomic situation in Asia… Our market is so under penetrated we are still in the growth phase. We are lucky we have many, many years of strong growth ahead of us.”Speaking of Davos, it was a curious week for satellite TV and broadband operator British Sky Broadcasting (LON:BSY), which found itself implicated in numerous headline news stores simultaneously. For shareholders, the big news was that pre-profits in the six months to December 31 soared by 26% to £467m on revenue up by 15% to £3.18bn. Those figures served only to heighten speculation about Rupert Murdoch’s desire to buy the 60.9% stake in BSkyB that his News Corp group doesn’t already own. Discussions over a price are understood to have been shelved until all the regulatory (and/or political) issues surrounding the deal have been resolved. Nevertheless, analysts suggested that any bid would need to be close to £8 per share on the back of the company’s latest figures. As it was,  during the week and was trading at 767.5p by the end. Murdoch Snr can now only watch and wait for an answer from regulators. In the meantime, the firestorm over phone hacking allegations at Britain’s biggest selling newspaper News of the World, will be an unwelcome distraction. In turn, his son James, the CEO of BSkyB, has is own irritations – finding a couple of new football pundits for Sky Sports.The sector hardest hit this week was banking, with Lloyds (LON:LLOY) the biggest blue chip casualty of the week. This followed the double whammy of the GDP figures  coupled with the news that the government's Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) was considering splitting up some of the banks under its remit, creating uncertainty over the future of the banking sector. on the week, although providing some respite was the testimony of the UKFI chief executive Robin Budenburg  to the Treasury Select Committee that if a ruling similar to the US Glass-Steagall Act was brought in, it would result in 'diminution of value' for shareholders. Currently UK taxpayers own 41% and 83% of Lloyds and RBS respectively. This uncertainty reduced , in contrast to it being so buoyant last week.   (LON:HSBA) and (LON:BARC) – which have remained out of state ownership, were in better shape, being flat and down just 0.5% respectively.  HSBC has however been feeling some heat after accusation of tax evasion in the US. It has emerged that federal authorities are considering serving a broad legal summons on HSBC to examine if its bankers sold tax evasion services to dozens or hundreds of its clients. The surprise downgrade to Japan's debt rating drove  down 34p to 1639p at Thursday’s close.In mining, the performance of the price of gold looked distinctly lacklustre given its sparkling upward trajectory through 2010. Gold has dipped since the start of the year and is currently trading at around $1,310 – down from the $1,400 it reached late last November. Those figures were enough to send the (LON:RRS) share price down by 4.3% during the week, making it one of the biggest losers in the FTSE 100. On the same note, the (LON:AFR) and (LON:KAZ) share prices also suffered. Elsewhere, , performing well but then sliding after news of its profits at its Australian uranium arm sliding badly. On a brighter note, the way was cleared for its £2.5bn takeover of Australia’s Riversdale after a consortium of Indian mining groups said they would not put up a rival bid. Finally, (LON:AAL) and (LON:BLT) both ended the week flat after seeing early gains wiped out as general sentiment towards miners waned.Elsewhere, no news but a great deal of speculation triggered . Ahead of its full year results on February 1, market chatter focused first on whether CEO Bob Dudley would reinstate the dividend that was scrapped to help pay for the damage caused by last year’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Equally, the tie-up between BP and Russian giant Rosneft announced two weeks ago, was in the spotlight. Shareholders in BP’s other (and at times troubling) JV in the country, TNK-BP, launched legal action claiming BP was obligated to carry out activities in Russia primarily through the TNK-BP vehicle. A resolution to that dispute could be resolved as early as next week.This week also saw weakness generally amongst UK listed retailers as investors in the sector grappled with the CGT increase and an uncertain economic outlook. Fashion house Next saw on the week, having reported earlier in January that the bad weather in the week before Christmas cost it £22 million of full-price sales. In similar fashion, , amidst concerns also that rising food costs . One clear exception to this retail malaise was iconic fashion company, Burberry Group (LON:BRBY) which enjoyed further strong gains. following impressive news last week that that its third quarter sales rose 27% to £470 million, ahead of market consensus of £434 million. Finally, pharmaceutical heavyweight Astrazeneca (LON:AZN) posted its earnings for the fourth quarter this week – despite declining profitability due to generic competition. Although it reported a 5% decline in net profit, the results exceeded analyst expectations, and the company also announced a $4 billion stock buyback program for 2011. It's a tough week for retail. Williams-Sonoma announced Wednesday it was cutting 18% of its workforce, which translates to about 1,400 employees. Company execs say they hope the move will reduce costs by $75 million in 2009. But the home company is not alone; several clothing retailers announced major job and price cuts yesterday.: Women's retailer Charlotte Russe Holding Inc. said it was considering a sale of the company.Phillips-Van Heusen Corp., which owns several clothing brands including Calvin Klein, said it would close about 175 stores and eliminate 400 positions...Other cost cutting measures? Price drops.Also on Wednesday, Coach executives announced plans to lower prices as much as 15% on handbags and other accessories. Mike Tucci, president of North American retail, told analysts during a conference call that the company would also bring more of its handbag prices into the "sweet spot below $300."Time will tell whether "below $300" will be enough of a price drop for consumers.See Also: Balance sheets and profit margins are not the first things that come to mind in the glamorous world of high fashion. In an industry where many of the great fashion houses sacrifice profits for prestige, it can be difficult for anyone interested in investing in fashion to make the right decisions.But vintage fashion investment is an increasingly lucrative area, and with substantial public demand for luxury clothes, fashion retail businesses have also seen impressive returnsso is there still room to get money for old rope?William Banks-Blaney, owner ofWilliam Vintagein London, shared his tips with on where to begin in the world of classic couture: "If I was going to start investing in fashion, the key things I would start with would be works by the great masters."Ossie Clarkfor British design,Diorfor French design,Norman Hartnellagain for British design. These are pieces by iconic designers that have a worldwide appeal and audience.""Most pieces appreciate quite substantially," he said. "We are finding there is between a 10 and 20 percent year-on-year uplift in good pieces of vintage."Kerry Taylor, founder ofKerry Taylor Auctions,stressed unprecedented demand: "There arent huge supplies for these things any morethey are running out."Every time I get something special now there is a battle royale between the private collectors, the very rich women who wish to buy to wear, and the museums, and when you get these three different parties all vying for the same lot, the prices escalate."Having the right eye for a collectible item is clearly important, and at a fashion auction, the prospective investor could find some real winners.Taylor told CNBC the three things to look for: "You should look for things with designer labels, you should look for things that are in good condition that dont need repairs. And you should make sure that they have not been altered."A garment with a history is an added bonus. "If it has been owned by someone like Audrey Hepburn or the Duchess of Windsor or Daphne Guinness, that adds a lovely little cachet too and makes it even more desirable and collectible in the future," said Taylor.An Audrey Hepburn gown from the film "Roman Holiday" sold for over $130,000, and Princess Diana's engagement dress went in 2010 for a massive $300,000.Steven Philip, co-owner of vintage clothes shopRellik,also shared his tips: "Look for a garment that kind of associates with the designer and look for labels."If you were going in forChaneland there was an acid green jacket (just) because the acid green is in vogue, avoid buying it. Go for a more classic piece. It will be more of an investment."If it's not vintage fashion investment you're after, business ventures in the retail industry are increasingly taking advantage of the massive boom in e-commerce and sustained public demand for great clothes.Sarah Curran, founder and CEO ofMy-Wardrobe.com, the online luxury fashion retailer, told CNBC what is takes to make online retailing pay."I started originally as a boutique in 2003 when I launched the business, so I understood the bricks-and-mortar model and the online and they are very different. The logistics behind them are very different. It is impossible to compare," she said.Since the launch of the website in 2006, Curran says the online model has gone from strength to strength, and that there are still opportunities for budding online retailers."Naturally because of the sector that we sell which is designers such asBurberry,MulberryandVivienne Westwood, they are very protective about their distribution, so it makes obstacles and barriers to entry quite tough but there is still opportunity."Online retailing can see huge returns, but Curran warned that it takes a sharp attention to detail to make it work. "It is quite a complex model. A lot of people tend to think that e-commerce is the easy option and the easy route to market, but actually it takes a lot of investment."That investment comes in the ease and navigation and performance of the site, but also in terms of the photography of the site. Equally, it's about a strong customer experience and customer service, from entry to the site to delivery to also handling of returns."Curran agreed that prospective investors should be looking to the big fashion houses like Chanel,Dolce and GabbanaandVersacefor those pieces that keep their value. And above all, she said, you shouldn't wear them."It's like if you're going to invest in wine, dont drink it. If you are going to invest in clothing, dont wear it."This originally appeared at .This story was originally published by .101 Christmas gifts for ALL ages and ALL budgets - Part TwoBy UPDATED:10:58 GMT, 11 December 2010UNDER £100 LUXURY BUY GET IT SENT Go back to part one30 SECOND GUIDE: Company makeoversPUBLISHED:08:44 GMT, 30 August 2012 UPDATED:08:50 GMT, 30 August 2012Free pedicures? We're not talking about complimentary pampering for employees. So what are they? Company makeovers are when firms try to give themselves a facelift by rebranding, changing slogan, or decking out branches or shops with snazzy new furniture. They can also involve more fundamental changes such as new products catering for a different breed of customers. Why do firms do this? One reason is that they are not doing so well and need to give the business a boost. A takeover is also a prime reason. A company makeover is the corporate version of attention seeking. Sounds like an extravagance Insurance giant Aviva was accused of squandering money when it spent £80m rebranding subsidiary Norwich Union under the same banner. This campaign featured celebrity-packed ads starring Bruce Willis, Ringo Starr and Elle Mcpherson. Surely it must work sometimes? Some makeovers have involved root and branch reform rather than cosmetic changes. Fashion designer Burberry managed to transform itself from a favourite among chavs and hooligans in the 1990s to a high-end label in the 2000s and beyond. This has been achieved by new clothing ranges and an advertising push featuring Kate Moss and Emma Watson. Accolade for Burberry's BravoBy UPDATED:00:00 GMT, 27 February 2002ROSE Marie Bravo, chief executive of Burberry UK, has been named the most successful businesswoman in Europe by the Wall Street Journal. Bravo, who transformed Burberry's distinctive tartan from frumpy to high fashion, shares the top slot with Sari Baldauf, of Finland's Nokia. Also in the top 10 is Go airline chief Barbara Cassani at number six. Gail Rebuck, head of publisher Random House, is joint ninth with Kim Winser, chief executive of knitwear company Pringle Scotland. US-born Dame Marjorie Scardino, chief executive of Pearson and last year's number two, dropped out of the charts. According to Burberry's new shopper system, are you Brit, London or Prorsum?By UPDATED:10:39 GMT, 18 November 2009It fought hard to shake off an unfortunate association with chav culture. But now Burberry has divided the country into three categories according to how smartly they want to dress.The luxury fashion house has introduced a new tripartite system, splitting glamour queens who opt for silk catwalk dresses from those more comfortable in scruffy jeans. Tripartite: Harry Potter actress Emma Watson models Burberry London, left, Burberry Brit and Burberry Prorsurm, rightUnder the categories, high-end, high-cost evening wear for fashion gurus will continue under the label Prorsum, which means forwards in Latin.A new collection called Burberry London will include day time work outfits such as smart tailored suits, dark suede and dense wools. The name is designed to reflect the clothes cosmopolitan feel.Casual dress including denim andsportswear will be branded Burberry Brit to capture the relaxed,scruffier side of the population.It will appeal to a younger market with linen jackets and cropped trousers, and a slightly lower price tag than the other ranges, a spokesman said.But after ditching its associations with chav icons such as soap star Daniella Westbrook, Burberrys distinctive house check pattern has been toned down.An advertising campaign shows Harry Potter actress Emma Watson showcasing all three labels. Thetrench coat, which she has modelled, will remain Burberrys signatureitem. The categories are currently housed in the same shops, butBurberry is looking for locations for stand-alone stores afterlaunching two in New York this autumn.Burberry shield: Madonna and boyfriend Jesus prefer to use their trench to hide from paparazziA spokesman insisted: Were not reallytalking about appealing to three different markets. This is supposed tobe Burberry girl, who can opt for evening, work and weekend wear withclear labels to differentiate them. Some department stores will havethree different sections, giving us more space. Burberry is currentlylooking for locations for stand-alone stores.The new categories will signal a fight-back after Burberry announced a 19 per cent drop in profits yesterday, despite a solid performance in the UK.Demand for handbags, sling shoulder bags, snoods and scarves helped it to reach pre-tax profits of £78.4m in the six months to September 30 this year.But the figure is down from £97m last year after the effects of discounts hit profit margins and wholesale orders were reduced.The luxury fashion house won praise after its return to the catwalk at London Fashion Week this autumn.It also said it had seen exceptional growth in London stores after the weak pound attracted foreign shoppers.The retailer said its non-clothing ranges represented its biggest growth, contributing more than a third of revenue.Shoes and childrenswear were also identified as key growth areas, anticipated to grow to make up 10 per cent each of revenues. The firm, which was founded in 1856, opened a children's store in Notting Hill this year.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said: Burberry delivered a solid first half performance, reflecting the strength of the brand, business and team. 'We enter the second half confident in our core strategies, capitalising on product, region, channel and operational opportunities.October 2012Prize valueWinning bond No.Area£1,000,000176ND537520Overseas £100,000190YL731192Dudley £100,00086ZY785587West Sussex £100,000186AQ461669Derbyshire £100,000183SA844038Sheffield £100,0005EJ713506Northern Ireland £50,000189HA961605Bradford £50,00017QC030688Nottingham £50,000150ZZ067504Hertfordshire £50,000126RT689109Southampton £50,000111CA212785Greater Manchester £50,00024JC837905Edinburgh £50,000110ZL786330Kent £50,000147QP328139CumbriaHurrah! Cherish that crumpled skirt - it's chic to look a mess UPDATED:18:56 GMT, 16 January 2009 One of the most enchanting fashion shows of the past season was by Burberry, where Christopher Bailey conjured up, in faded linens, flowerpotmen hats and dusty colours, a vision of Englishness through the prism of fashion. His models, with their natural-looking skin, slightly dishevelled long hair and even their slight slouchy shuffle, set the mood for one of the big trends of the spring - beautifully worn-looking, crumpled clothes. Add the crumpled satins of Prada's lingerie-style suits and the trend was confirmed - big time. Of course some of us, in fact probably half the female population, naturally subscribe to this look already and if you scan a room full of women you will see the great divide is between those whose appearance is pristine almost as if they have been dressed with hospital corners and those who, no matter what they might be wearing, will always have made it look slightly rumpled and lived-in. No matter what the dictates of fashion, our crumpled or our crimped style overrides our dress. If you are a crumpled type of person, you will find a way to make an Armani suit look slouchy, but if you are a crimper you will appear calmly immaculate in the same outfit, just like Condoleezza Rice. Some women I know appear effortlessly never to have creases on the back of their skirt, wear neatly ironed shirts whose collars stay upright and cuffs remain sharply rolled back, are never seen with scuff marks on their shoes and although their jeans might be as boyfriend baggy as the next girl's, somehow manage to make them look smart. Others can just as attractively and effectively make everything they wear appear comfortable and easy. They rumple up layers of T-shirt sleeves, wear skirts and dresses of soft jersey or linen and even manage to make a gala gown look as natural to be wearing as a pair of pyjamas. That worn-in look is a much more female idea of fashion than male. Men tend to want to make women look perfect - think of Roland Mouret with his fitted dresses, Ralph Lauren with his pared down preppy style or Dolce Gabbana with their cocktail glamour. Women are far more likely to make a woman look comfortable.British designers such as Betty Jackson with her slouchy shapes, Nicole Farhi with her knits and feminine skirts, and the new names like knitwear designer Clare Tough, bring us clothes that have an inbuilt crumple factor to them. Although not British, increasingly popular French middle-market brands from designers such as Vanessa Bruno and Isabel Marandt also possess that immediate lived-in feel. To look the perfect mess takes time and effort - it's not about losing the ironing board. A twist to the cardigan, the right degree of fold in the sleeve, artfully dishevelled hair tied up in a knot - this takes practice, but you could start with a Burberry summer coat.Why a good gossip really is priceless Gossip is the new currency. As everyone's purse strings are tightened, delicious morsels of information are the cheapest way to win your way into someone's affections. With the expansion of the net and personal technology, the speed at which you can discover information and pass it on increases daily. One rumour that swept town recently was emailed to me by ten people within an hour. People are offering up titbits of salacious chat to those they want to impress and good gossips are top of everyone's guest list. In offices, those eager to impress vie to be first to Blackberry some breaking news, while others use gossip as a deflecting preamble to some possibly more unwelcome subject matter. It's inexpensive and entertaining - what more could you want. But beware stale news - it's got to be fresh from the oven or you're a sad loser. Now 'ear this: Earrings are back!It's no accident that accessories are the big story in fashion. While it's the clothes that create the image of a label, accessories are usually the more affordable 'entry point' to the brand. If you buy the key ring, you might graduate to the shoes. If you've got the shoes, you'll want the handbag and then, hopefully, you'll soon be saving up for the whole outfit. With a certain amount of well-deserved It-bag fatigue, the industry has been looking for new items to tempt us and has come up with a jewellery renaissance. Last season, enter the bangle. Simultaneously, we have all been learning to love the 'statement' necklace, which dominates the sartorial look with its splendour rather than acting as a retiring bit part, and now we're going to be all over, guess what - earrings. For years, earrings have been out of fashion. Yes, we've all worn them, and more and more of them, since only people over 40 still have one piercing in their ear, but they haven't been fashionable. The death knell of the earring really came in the late Seventies when every hemp-wearing, Marxist-leaning girl I was at university with had huge earrings dangling from her lobes - the only nod in the direction of conventional feminine adornment she was prepared to make. There was the odd pearl bauble and gold hoop to accompany the power suiting of the Eighties, but then nada. Earrings as a fashionable accessory went underground. Until now. At the last Jil Sander show, Raf Simons accessorised his girls with beautiful thin jewel-tipped spears piercing one lobe, creating a cool march of minimal warriors. Then Marc Jacobs went completely loco and piled on every accessory for his triumphant Louis Vuitton show, including amazing tribal hoops with everything imaginable hung from them. So prepare to be brave. Earrings now are brazen and enormous. They take pole position in your jewellery (there's no way you can wear both them and the show-off necklace), but they are an easy, stylish and enjoyable addition to the spring scene.It's time to have a ball (if you can afford it) No signs of dressing down at the Golden Globes - the first of the red carpet triumvirate that includes the Baftas and the Oscars.Kate Winslet might have chosen black, but it was chic YSL, and the host of presenters and other movie stars to a woman wore girlish, feminine, shimmering gala gowns.A sense of occasion and the quest for glamour persist no matter what else is happening around. For instance, it has been fascinating to see pictures of the attendees at the recent Parisian Bal de Crillon, the new Queen Charlotte's Ball where girls of 'good' families parade couture and dance with acceptable young bucks.When I first heard about the existence of this ball, I couldn't believe that anybody would want their daughter, or indeed son, to take part in this anachronistic occasion. I was amazed a few years ago when my friend Nejma, married to American photographer Peter Beard, told me she was taking their daughter to Paris to have a Dior gown fitted for the ball. At the last ball, none other than Demi Moore's and Bruce Willis's offspring and Carrie Fisher's daughter (surely Hollywood aristocracy) were debutantes alongside a smattering of the Guinness gang and European aristos.It still seems curious to me that such an occasion is flourishing and in particular that any young person should want to play a part in it. But it's possible that now more than ever, people will seek out spectacle and extravagance as an escape and antidote to the gloomy world around them. The Eighties revival is hitting hard. We've already had to get used to jumpsuits and metallic leggings, and now Bananarama-style mussed-up hair is getting back in the picture, as seen for example at the Topshop Unique show. We must pray that there isn't going to be an Eighties-style music revival, too. Batwing sleeves and ra-ra skirts are perfectly acceptable, but nobody can live through another era of a-ha, Devo and Cyndi Lauper-style sounds. Or can they?Share this article:Smashing style: Andy Murray and his girlfriend join the fashion set at Burberry runway showBy UPDATED:09:31 GMT, 22 September 2010He's more comfortable with the court than the catwalk. But Andy Murray was putting on a brave face yesterday as he attended London Fashion Week. The tennis star accompanied his girlfriend Kim Sears to the star-studded Burberry Prorsum show, exhibiting a little more style than usual. Dressed in dark blue jeans and a black felt coat, he cut a respectable figure among the well-dressed crowd. Those at the premier show included fashion stalwarts Sarah Jessica Parker and American Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Miss Sears, 22, who recently graduated from Sussex University, looked very much at home by the catwalk in her ensemble of a blue mac, black skinny trousers and spike-heeled boots. Meanwhile Murray admits he is no closer to appointing a new coach ahead of his return to ATP World Tour action next month.The world number four had hoped to find a successor to Miles Maclagan, who he sacked in July after two and a half years together, before the China Open in Beijing, which begins next month.Murray said: 'The situation is the same as it was before the US Open. I'm still looking into it and trying to find the best person that can help me.Will Wimbledon be followed by wedding bells? Kim has loved Andy for seven years and now the talk is of an off-court happy ever after By PUBLISHED:23:24 GMT, 11 September 2012 UPDATED:07:46 GMT, 12 September 2012At the moment of victory, sheer unbounded Grand Slam-sized joy was written all over the face of girlfriend Kim Sears.That enviable mane of glossy hair was whipped by the wind into a golden crown as Murray made his way, shoeless, to embrace her very much as he did after winning Olympic gold at Wimbledon last month.Later he posed with his arms around Kim and the cup quite a mark of devotion.Kim has loved Andy for seven years and now the talk is that they will find the time to formalise an off-court happy ever after, too. Perhaps a wedding after Wimbledon next summer. When asked recently about such rumours, Murray demurred: 'I have no plans to get married right now. I am still fairly young. But we'll see.'It was a half admission. If true, it would delight all his family and his team of coaches, moneymen and advisers because Kim is universally recognised as a perfect tennis wife.By her background her father is a leading tennis coach and by virtue of her polite, uncomplaining nature, she is well fitted to a supporting role. She doesn't chafe at the 35 weeks a year which professional tennis players spend on the road.Shy, polite and clever, she attends all major tournaments, but otherwise spends most of her time at home in Surrey.A typical 'tennis wife' task was to carefully dry in an airing cupboard the bouquet Andy was given after his Olympic win. It now hangs in her studio office.The versatile Kim is known for her domestic skills making a mean sloe gin from berries picked by her mother.She is 24 but looks younger in fact, she was asked to show her ID in her local Waitrose in Cobham when buying a bottle of spirits. And after dabbling in acting, fashion and design, and weighing up a career in publishing, she now makes portraits of dogs and cats for wealthy owners.Andy says approvingly: 'She wants to have her own career, not just pose in Hello! magazine.'Awaiting her return from New York are commissions for paintings of a cat, a labradoodle and a labrador. (She's believed to charge about £1,500 per canvas.) Her website boasts several apologies to potential clients for her backlog of work. She works in the guest wing of the £5million home which she and Murray share in the footballer-and-stockbrokers territory of Oxshott, Surrey.While Andy's daily life is travel, training, ice baths and Grand Slams, Kim's is a gentle round of activities.Painting aside, she takes daily walks with border terriers Maggie May and Rusty. Recently she bumped into footballer John Terry's wife Toni, who was walking their bulldog. Kim, who was an A-grade student at the private Burgess Hill school in West Sussex, likes to listen to Classic FM, and drink tea.An English literature graduate, her circle of friends include a cupcake baker who has made special cakes decorated with pictures of Kim's dogs which she served Andy on the silver tray he got as Wimbledon runner-up this year. Theresulting photos were then posted on Maggie May's Twitter page, which Kim runs. (Indeed, she has been asked if she will write a book in MaggieMay's name an offer she is considering.) Andy's mum Judy always stays with the couple during the Queen's Club and Wimbledon tournaments in the early summer.The two women are firm friends and Judy doesn't see it as a slight that Andy embraced Kim before her after both his Olympic and US Open victories.Kim is so sweet-natured that she is happy to put up with anything that makes Andy happy. The couple met when she was still a teenager in the sixth-form. Her father Nigel was the head of UK women's tennis coaching and she was visiting him at a tournament in America. Andy wooed her with flowers and texts.They moved in together in 2009, but then split briefly for six months to give each other 'space'. Both of them were miserable apart.In the early days, she used to act as his chauffeur because he couldn't drive he bought her a £40,000 Mercedes as a thank you. An associate who had dinner with the couple recently said: 'Kim's just a lovely, young middle-class girl. She is very sweet and quite shy.'How long, then, before Andy Murray proposes a romantic game of doubles at the altar?VIDEO: A happy man. Murray looked delighted, posing with his US Open trophy in New YorkMurray, Khan, Pendleton and more swap sport for style at London Fashion Week By PUBLISHED:09:09 GMT, 18 September 2012 UPDATED:10:09 GMT, 18 September 2012Forget about training for a while - it seems like the Burberry Prorsum's London Fashion Week show was the place to be for some of Britain's top sports stars on Monday.US Open winner and Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray left his racquet behind as he was given a front row seat with his girlfriend Kim Sears at London's Kensington gardens. Scroll down for videoThe Scottish tennis star was not the only Olympic star spotted at the event. Boxing star Amir Khan, who won silver in Athens in 2004 and Victoria Pendleton who retired after the 2012 Games were also present.Khan was in attendance with his fiance, Faryal Makhdoom. The boxer has recently split from his coach Freddie Roach after defeats to Lamont Petersen and Danny Garcia but was clearly in a light-hearted mood as he enjoyed some downtime. Pendleton, meanwhile, took some time out from her Strictly Come Dancing training to make an appearance at the show. She has been partnered with ballroom dancer Brendan Cole in the BBC programme. The former Olympic cyclist bowed out after winning gold in the women's keirin in August. Paralympic sprinter Jonnie Peacock and Olympic rower Pete Reed also showed up, both having won golds in the summer. The former picked up his medal in the T44 100m sprint and the latter in the men's coxless fours, a category he also won gold in four years before, in Beijing. Argos and Burberry star at GUSBy UPDATED:00:00 GMT, 20 November 2003RECORD results from Argos, Burberry and its Experian credit checking arm helped GUS push its profits up by an impressive 44% to 354m over the first half-year. Shareholders are rewarded with a 16% increase in the interim dividend payment, to 8p.Chief executive John Peace said each of the group's main businesses had continued to perform strongly and there had been 'considerable progress' at the Homebase DIY operation.'Although we face some challenges in the second half, we remain confident in the outlook for the future,' he added.Group sales for the six months to 30 September were up by 24% to 3.77bn and the 44% profits rise was achieved before goodwill and exceptional items. Even after adjusting for acquisitions and disposals, GUS said the profits increase was 27%.Argos continued its stellar performance, with a 14% increase in sales, or 7% like-for-like, to 1.39bn and a 27% profits jump to 73.9m.Earlier this week Burberry reported doubled profits and GUS yesterday cut its stake in the luxury goods business by 10% to 67%, raising 180m in the process.The cash will initially be used to reduce debt but GUS raised the prospect of a cash return to shareholders.GUS said it remained 'a committed investor in Burberry', but did not rule out further sales of the luxury retailer's shares. It also signalled the prospect of a further windfall from elsewhere within the group, indicating that the flotation of its South African Retailing business should occur next year. Argos and Burberry stars at GUSBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 15 April 2002CATALOGUE stores chain Argos and the Burberry luxury brands business continue to show strong sales growth for parent company GUS but there has been a slowdown at the group's North American business information arm, Experian. A second-half trading update from chief executive John Peace showed an underlying decline of 2% in North American turnover at Experian, although the UK and international operations turned in improved figures. Experian is GUS's biggest profits earner and overall sales were ahead by 2%. Burberry, which is scheduled for a partial flotation on the stock market in June, enjoyed a recovery after the 11 September terrorist attacks on America, with like-for-like sales ahead by 5%. But Argos remained the star performer, with like-for-like sales jumping 13%. GUS will report its full-year profits at the end of May, when it is expected to give further details of the Burberry float. Arm candy! Downton's Michelle Dockery surrounds herself with some sexy rising British stars at Burberry show in Milan By PUBLISHED:21:30 GMT, 23 June 2012 UPDATED:22:33 GMT, 23 June 2012In real life she lives with her architect boyfriend and on-screen she finally got her man after Matthew Crawley proposed in the snow at Christmas.But that's not to say that Michelle Dockery doesn't appreciate a bit of arm candy from time to time - and with that line-up, it's hardly surprising. The Downton Abbey star, 30, was a guest at the Burberry Prorsum catwalk show as part of Milan's Men's Fashion Week and was surrounded by handsome young rising British stars.As she took her front row seat at the show for the Spring/Summer 2013 collection by British designer Christopher Bailey, she was joined by George Craig, lead singer of band One Night Only and the former boyfriend of Harry Potter star Emma Watson.He is also a model for Burberry as is Rob Pryer, who sat next to George, and singer songwriter Roo Paynes, who is fronting the fashion house's autumn/winter campaign. But if Michelle was excited about her handsome fellow attendees, she certainly didn't show it as she sat engrossed in the new collection.She was dressed in a very unusual outfit that many could not pull off but looked lovely on her tall, slender frame. She wore a calf-length dark teal velvet skirt which she accessorised with a skinny tan belt tied in a bow at the front.Sheteamed that with a dark grey T-shirt which was decorated with a bejeweled owl design and she wore brown heeled brogues on her feet.Michelle was taking a break from filming the third series of Downton Abbey in which she plays Lady Mary Crawley.It was last on screen for a Christmasspecial in which Lady Mary finally found love after Matthew Crawley, the heir to her father's fortune, proposed to her in a very romantic moment in the snow.And having worn some stunning costumes during the first two series, which were set between 1912 and 1918, Michelle said they had finally moved on to more comfortable attire.Shesaid: 'Were over halfway through the filming, and were moving into the Twenties now - its very feminine and the corsets are definitely softer. we feel much more free!' As Bob Diamond waits on multi-million bonus we reveal other lavish fat cat perks By and PUBLISHED:07:37 GMT, 27 April 2012 UPDATED:07:37 GMT, 27 April 2012When the shareholders of Barclays file into the Royal Festival Hall today for the banks annual meeting, they will be heading for a showdown with chief executive Bob Diamond that could prove a watershed for boardroom pay.Diamonds multi-million-pound jackpot this year has ignited a furious battle with big City investors, and a last-minute attempt by the bank to placate shareholders fury by attaching performance conditions to one of his bonus schemes failed to soothe tempers. It is being predicted that as many as a third of shareholders could vote against his pay package today.Some leading investors are so frustrated at the banks stubborn behaviour over top pay, which has remained in the stratosphere despite the austerity sweeping the country and Barclays poor investment performance, that they are threatening to retaliate.Barclays controversial decision to make a £5.75 million payment to the U.S. tax authorities to cover Diamonds personal bill was the catalyst for anger from normally quiescent shareholders, some of whom are poised to vote against the banks pay report. Influential City lobby group the Association of British Insurers has slapped Barclays with an amber top alert on pay the corporate equivalent of footballs yellow card signalling there are serious concerns with its pay strategy. The tide, it seems, is turning against unfettered rewards for bank bosses even on Wall Street, the birthplace of the monstrous bonus. Earlier this month, shareholders voted down mighty Citigroups pay report, forcing the board to reconsider top executive pay levels.Whatever happens at Barclays meeting today, the High Street lender has already inflicted serious embarrassment on itself.By now, perhaps, we should all be inured to any sense of shock when it comes to the obscene levels of pay in Britains board rooms. After all, the outsize rewards routinely given to bosses, virtually regardless of their performance, have been a stain on corporate Britain for two decades.But the truth is that, despite the financial crisis and economic worries enveloping the country, the indulgence bestowed on these captains of commerce has not abated one iota.In fact, the latest round of pay reports shows them to be more rapacious than ever. Diamond is a case in point of just how ingenious companies have become in finding new ways to milk shareholders who are, ultimately, ordinary British pension-fund members on behalf of their top management.Diamond, who is paid through a U.S. subsidiary, has convinced his board not only that the bank should foot his £5.75 million personal tax account, but also that it should pay any further tax demands from the U.S. authorities for as long as he remains in his post.In addition, as part of a £474,000 benefits package, Diamond has been given money to spend on personal financial advice even though you would expect him, of all people, to understand money management.Barclays decision to pay his £5.75 million tax bill takes the total rewards disclosed in the annual report for Diamond to an astonishing £26.6million, including long-term incentive packages that are linked to performance and pay out over a number of years.In 2011 a year in which the banks share price fell sharply Diamond made £13 million, if his latest long-term share awards are taken into account, including the £5.75 million tax payment.It is not as if the company has met its performance targets quite the reverse, in fact. Barclays shares have fallen over the past five years by 70 per cent, and Diamond him-self described the performance as unacceptable. This greed in executive remuneration makes a nonsense of his public commitment during a Radio 4 interview to good corporate citizenship.It has resulted in howls of outrage from senior political figures. The bank has also attracted the ire of organisations such as the Association of British Insurers and the National Association of Pension Funds, both thoroughly capitalist outfits representing investors, many of whom are appalled by what they perceive as an unconscionable reward for failure. But then, while hard-working families stump up their tax, make ends meet on modest salaries and pay for their own homes, clothes and childrens education, life is rather different for pampered executives and not just at Barclays.And it is not just the seven-figure salaries: the company bosses lavish lifestyles are also heavily subsidised by shareholders. Perks such as clothing, housing and travel allowances, even subsidised energy bills, are scattered like confetti at their feet by the fawning pay committees that rubber-stamp their rewards.For example, Angela Ahrendts, the impressive chief executive of Burberry, can afford to buy her own trench coats, courtesy of her £3.5 million package and a £7.3 million incentive to stay in her job to 2015.Yet she receives a five-figure annual clothing allowance £25,000 in 2009, the latest figure available plus a hefty staff discount on her purchases from Burberry.Sam Laidlaw, chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica, receives a multi-million-pound pay, bonus and long-term incentive package, making him one the few people who can pay his fuel bills without flinching. That did not stop him from being awarded a staff discount of up to £684 on his energy bills, even as pensioners shivered because they were too poor to turn up the heat.And Mick Davis, chief executive of mining giant Xstrata, received a £6 million pay, pension and bonus award in 2011 after a record year for the company he built. So it is unlikely he really needs the annual housing allowance of £114,000 to live in his palatial, art-filled home in Hampstead, North London. Davis also received £300,000 for his personal use of a corporate jet, along with a pension contribution of £2.7 million last year.Parents struggling with private education costs may grind their teeth to learn Peter Voser, head of Shell, took £97,000 in benefits including school fees and tax compensation.Similarly, Nicandro Durante, who leads British American Tobacco, took more than £323,000 benefits including home security on his homes in Britain and Brazil. What is most galling is that this tsunami of excess continues unchecked despite endless promises by governments and big investors to curb it. Even the Institute of Directors which, as its name suggests, represents the executive class across the country concedes people have lost faith in the way company pay is set.The tragedy is that business leaders have succumbed to a sense of entitlement that has overwhelmed any semblance of common decency. They are quite unabashed as they cut the pay of employees and slash their pension benefits while luxuriating in their own ever-expanding packages.The claim firms make to justify such pay-outs is that they are approved by shareholders the individuals, investment firms and pension funds that own their companies. But the prevalence of hedge funds that think in the short term, as well as the number of overseas shareholders, means only a small band of long-term British investors can be relied on to act as responsible stewards.And even if the shareholders as a whole do vote through the pay awards, they certainly do not win public approval.Perhaps that is why some major companies try to sneak out their pay reports at times when they hope the embarrassingly large numbers will slip under the radar. This year, a number of firms that should know better delivered their reports online on a Friday afternoon, when newspaper business pages have already been written and the City is packing up for the weekend. They included Centrica and state-controlled Royal Bank of Scotland.Of course, there is nothing new about unrestrained greed in the boardroom. Two decades ago, John Majors Tories were embarrassed by the huge pay rises for public utility chiefs post-privatisation notably the 900pc pay rise over a few short years for British Gas boss Cedric Brown (who retired with a £5.5 million pension pot).Around that time, ministers asked Marks Spencer chairman Sir Richard Greenbury to examine how best to curb excess. In his 1995 report, he came up with the idea of long-term incentive plans that would link rewards to performance over several years.But instead of displacing the bonus and short-term share awards, long-term share plans became an added extra the icing on an already over-rich cake. Such multi-million-pound, long-term options act like time-release pills, filling the coffers of executives each year, even in economic bad times.At the heart of the great pay robbery are the remuneration committees that set the pay of executive directors.These are supposedly independent, but in reality often represent a back-scratching old-boys club. At least nine chief executives of the nations top FTSE-100 companies sit on the pay panels of other leading companies.Paul Walsh, chief executive of global drinks giant Diageo, earned £3.2 million last year. He sits on the pay committee of Unilever, where chief executive Paul Polman collected a package of pay, allowances, share awards and other benefits worth almost £5.5 million in 2011.Similarly, Centricas Laidlaw is on the pay committee of global banking giant HSBC, where boss Stuart Gulliver received a £7.2 million pay cheque.Research by the High Pay Centre, an independent think-tank set up to monitor rewards at the top of the scale, found that no fewer than 46 per cent of people sitting on the remuneration committees are current or former top executives at other top firms.Pay committees invariably set awards by looking at what their equivalents in other FTSE-100 companies or firms in the same sector are paying. The higher they ratchet up the pay-outs at the company where they sit as independent directors, the more likely it is that they, too, will hit the jackpot in their main job.Committees also rely heavily on highly paid consultants who often double up as head-hunters to draft their complex pay schemes. Any consultant recommending a pay cut would be unlikely to last long, so no one has any incentive to advocate restraint.Pay in the UK is set using data from around the world, mostly the U.S., where the pay of directors is often off the scale.Apple boss Tim Cook recently received a share package worth an astonishing £236 million.By using these transatlantic comparisons, British bosses can argue they are underpaid and must be handed more if they are not to be poached.The reality, of course, is that it is only too rare that the boss of a UK firm makes it to the top of a U.S. corporate giant. This so-called global market is something of a fiction.Another wheeze the big firms have developed is to put out reports on corporate pay and behaviour, which are screeds of meaningless jargon.At HSBC, for instance, the report runs to 25 pages of tiny type, much of it legal gobbledegook. This has made it all but impossible to give a single definitive figure for what any given executive takes home in a year.HSBC gives three widely different figures for its boss, Stuart Gulliver, for 2011: £7.1 million, £6.6 million or £4.1 million, depending on how it is calculated.This makes a mockery of the idea of transparency and allows corporate PRs to present figures that vastly understate the full rewards as the real or fair ones.Within the world of chief executives, there does appear to be a slowly growing realisation that the gulf between rewards in the boardroom and pay elsewhere needs to be bridged.The bandwagon that saw directors in FTSE-100 companies achieve a 45pc pay rise in 2010 and possibly even more in 2011 a year in which the economy barely grew needs to be addressed urgently.Even some of those who receive big pay-outs recognise the need for change, though they will rarely look a gift horse in the mouth.Sir Andrew Witty heads one of the UKs most successful enterprises, GlaxoSmithKline, which pours £5 billion of resources into new research each year. He is one of the Coalitions favourite businessmen.He accepted a pay freeze in 2009 and 2010, recognising the hardships of those losing their jobs in his own company and the strains on ordinary households.But last year the dam burst and all the admirable restraint was cast aside as Witty saw his pay, benefits and bonus package rise to £6.8 million, including incentive awards that matured in 2011.So who will tackle these corporate behemoths? Director- general of the Institute of Directors, Simon Walker, a former Downing Street adviser, is a powerful voice advocating change. He argues that the old practice of signing up retired chief executives to serve on pay committees must be stopped.U.S. fund management giant Fidelity Worldwide, a big investor in most FTSE-100 companies, is also demanding that City shareholders tackle the problem and use annual general meetings as a chance to vote against big pay deals.It believes the pay of corporate chiefs should receive the support of 75 per cent of shareholders before approval.Thus far, much of the anti-fat-cat venom has been directed at bankers, whose mistakes led to the biggest fall in household income since the Twenties.But chief executives in other industries, from retail to mining, have also been paid sums totally divorced from the rest of society. The clubby atmosphere in the boardroom and the supine attitude of big shareholders have allowed a culture of sheer avarice to flourish.It has spawned the most cosseted and grasping generation of bosses ever seen in this country and it is time for shareholders to call a halt.As Burberry snaps up the pretty Harry Potter actress, is Emma Watson the new Kate Moss?By UPDATED:22:39 GMT, 14 June 2009While Kate Moss and Peaches Geldof continue to make headlines every time they unveil an outrageous look, a new British style icon has been gracefully emerging. When Emma Watson first appeared as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, at the age of nine, she was a photogenic schoolgirl. Ten years later, she's undergone a metamorphosis and for the past few years has been quietly building a modelling portfolio that's beginning to rival her acting career. In 2008 Chanel appointed her the face of their perfume Coco Mademoiselle, replacing Keira Knightley. Since then, the fashion house's supremo Karl Lagerfeld has become her new best friend. A touch of elegance: Emma's smokey eyes and softly tousled hair add to Burberry's sophisticated feelPicture perfect: Kate Moss pictured in her 2006 Burberry campaign holds a similar profile to the young and blooming Miss WatsonLast month, he photographed her for an edgy French magazine. 'This was a dream come true,' she said. (And that's the other thing about Emma: you won't find her being less than gracious, a welcome contrast to mouthy types such as Lily Allen.) Emma's latest coup is the lucrative Burberry campaign. With smoky eyes and softly tousled hair (right), she adds a touch of sultry elegance to the British label's signature trench coat. Here's hoping she inspires the next generation of teenagers to turn away from tacky tattoos and jeggings. Well, we can dream, can't we? As Emma Watson wows at Burberry's London catwalk comeback, we look at the history of the luxury brandBy UPDATED:10:24 GMT, 24 September 2009 It wasn't so long ago that Burberry check was the fabric of choice on council estates, defining chav fashion. Fast-forward five years, and the luxury brand is virtually unrecognisable. The label's first show at London Fashion Week for more than adecade was this week's hottest ticket, with a front row bristling withA-listers and fashion editors including Vogue's Anna Wintour, current'face' Emma Watson and long-term fans Victoria Beckham and GwynethPaltrow. Huge relief, then, for the brand that has endured a somewhatcheckered history since its humble beginnings in a Basingstoke store in1856... 1879Thomas Burberry invents gaberdine, the world's first breathable fabric. The beginnings of the label's trademark coat are born. 1914During World War I, Burberry designed mackintoshes forofficers of the British Royal Flying Corps, later the RAF. The militarymodel became known as the trench coat, and would later be adopted bycivilians. 1924The famous Burberry check, registered as a trademark, was introduced as a lining to the trench coat. 1983The Prince and Princess of Wales (above) are photographed in Burberry ensembles while holidaying in Nova Scotia. 2001Designer Christopher Bailey (right) takes the helm and downplays the Burberry check as part of the label's unofficial re-branding.2002Burberry's heritage chic becomes the look of choice for celebrities from Madonna to Mr and Mrs Beckham, with the check print scarf selling out in stores from New York to Tokyo. 2004Daniella Westbrook and her daughter are 'papped' in head-totoe Burberry. The soap star and some-time cocaine addict is crowned Queen Chav. Her response? 'It's a real compliment.' 2006Kate Moss returns as the face of Burberry in a campaign shot by Mario Testino nine months after the fashion house scrapped her campaign following tabloid accusations that she used drugs. 2007Burberry discovers model de jour and former fish and chip shop worker Agyness Deyn, who stars in its autumn campaign of this year. 2008Burberry begins its ascent to global adoration. With a 25 per cent jump in profits, the label makes the top five luxury goods brands in the world. 2009In A bold move, Harry Potter star Emma Watson (above) becomes the label's new face. Runaway success at London Fashion Week galvanises Burberry's starry future, with the company worth £1.2 billion. Asian boom lifts Burberry to new highsBy UPDATED:00:13 GMT, 20 April 2011Shares in Burberry soared to anall-time high on the back of strongsales in China, Hong Kong andother emerging markets.The 155-year-old fashion retailer,best known for its distinctivecamel, red and black check, beatCity expectations yesterday whenit revealed in a trading update itscore fourth quarter sales had risen33 per cent to £390million. Analysts hadexpected the firm to post revenuesof around £350million.The London-based businesswent on to raise its full year forecaststo between £279million and£300million. In January it had set arange of between £250million to£290million.The stock initially rallied 8.6 per cent to1245p, before easing back to closeup 69p at 1215p.The firm also said it planned toboost its retail space by 12 per cent year,and would look at sites in Asia,Latin America and the MiddleEast.Burberry opened seven newstores in the second half of thiscurrent year, including São Paulo,New York and Milan, and plans toadd 20-25 stores next year, mainlyin China, Latin America and theMiddle East.Chief executive Angela Ahrendtssaid: Burberry had a strong finishto the year. While the luxury industryfaces global challenges in theyear ahead, we remain confidentin our teams ability tooutperform.Burberry shares have surgedmore than sixfold over the pasttwo-and-a-half years after thegroup slashed costs during theeconomic downturn and then benefitedfrom a faster-than-expectedrecovery in the luxury sector.Richard Curr, an analyst BrandCommunications, said: Five or sixyears ago the brand was not seenas being worn by trendsetters inthe UK. But it has since traded onits strong English name in the FarEast and has not looked back.Burberrys stock was hit after theearthquake and tsunami in Japanlast month raised fears aboutdemand from the worlds third-biggestluxury goods market. Fashion-forward Emma Watson is a Burberry beauty as she dazzles at pre-BAFTA bash in £1,700 coatBy UPDATED:17:11 GMT, 12 February 2011She may not be the face of Burberry anymore, but Emma Watson showed her loyalty to them remains last night by stepping out in the luxury label.The Harry Potter star looked gorgeous in a new take on the brand's iconic trench coat.The 20-year-old attended a pre-BAFTA Awards party thrown by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein at Almada bar and restaurant in Mayfair wearing a £1,700 Burberry Prorsum trench coat with eye-catching leather sleeves. The party was in honour of Colin Firth and The King's Speech, the runaway success of this year's awards season, which The Weinstein Company produced.The party continued well into the early hours, with Emma arriving at nearby Mahiki nightclub in the film chief's Rolls Royce.When they were accosted by eager autograph-hunters in between parties, Weinstein jumped in to chivalrously guide Emma through the crowd.For Firth and many of his fellow revellers, who included flame-hairedMad Men star Christina Hendricks (in a stunning low-cut floral print silk gown), it was the start of a party-packed weekend in the run-up to Sunday's BAFTA Awards. Other stars feted at Almada's included Amy Adams, star of The Fighter, Rosamund Pike, Dougray Scott and Claire Forlani, Neve Campbell, new 'It' girl Felicity Jones, Ralph Fiennes and designer Vivienne Westwood.Ronnie Wood spent the night flirting with a variety of young female delights, but left arm in arm with girlfriend Ana Araujo.Sam Taylor Wood and Aaron Johnson also took in the heady atmosphere along with Noomi Repace, Elizabeth Mcgovern star of TV hit Downton Abbey, Sally Hawkins, Matthew Freud and wife Elisabeth Murdoch. Appropriately, theatrical knights Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ben Kingsley were in attendance. Sitting chatting with friends was Ricky Gervais, he was keeping a low profile and didn't insult anyone.'It's my night off', joked the comic who hosted January's Golden Globe ceremony.Tom Hooper , director of The King's Speech praised his film's leading man for helping to turn the movie into a global phenomenon.'We all hail King Colin', Hooper told guests. During dinner executives from Momentom Picture, the film's UK distributor, revealed that Friday night's ticket sales for the movie hadpushed the UK box-office takings to well over the £32 million mark.Firth said he would be pacing himself at all the BAFTA festivities. 'People don't come up to me and say, 'Oh congratulations' or whatever. 'They just want to know how I'm coping with all the travelling back and forwards from London to Los Angeles and back again,' the actor laughed.'I am now in the possession of so many cures for jet-lag I could open a chemists.' Firth, who arrived at the soiree in time for dessert, added: 'But in-between going to awards shows I have to fit in the school run when I'm home in London. 'But that keeps you grounded and I love to do things with my family.'He and his wife, Livia Giuggioli had their first courses at Cecconi's, where Vogue magazine threw a pre-BAFTA bash.On Saturday there are several 'happenings' for the stars in town.Momentum are hosting a brunch at the new hotel Corinthia in Whitehall while Charles Finch will be 'at home' at Mark's Club, the private members' dining club in Mayfair.On Sunday there are post-BAFTA parties all over town including the Fox and Pathe studios combining to host an after midnight affair at Sketch while Momentum and the Weinstein film company will be in high octane party mode at the new W hotel in central London.Do you have a story about a celebrity? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683. For U.S. stories, phone 310 642 2317.Behind the scenes of Burberry's atmospheric autumn/winter campaign starring Gabriella Wilde and Roo Panes By PUBLISHED:16:35 GMT, 1 August 2012 UPDATED:07:00 GMT, 2 August 2012Burberry is continuing to create a buzz on social networking sites after embracing the power of social media to promote their Autumn/Winter campaign starring Roo Panes and Gabriella Wilde. Since images of the campaign have been released, the fashion house's Twitter and Facebook fans have rocketed whilst also raising Wilde and Panes's profiles.Now the fashion brand have released behind the scenes pictures of their atmospheric shoot which was filmed at night by Mario Testino under the creative direction of Burberry's Christopher Bailey at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich London.One of the pictures shows St Trinians actress Wilde in make-up as she prepares for her close-up. Another shows Testino and Bailey behind the camera as the glamorous shoot takes place.Bailey said they were delighted with the resulting pictures and videos that were produced following their night of filming. He said: 'Using London as the backdrop, we shot the series of cinematic, emotive black and white images and short films with the incredibly talented Gabriella Wilde and Roo Panes, who effortlessly bring the campaign and our collections to life across all of our platforms.'The resulting pictures and videos have been cleverly trickled out via social networking sites and Burberry's own website. Today, as well as the behind the scenes pictures, the fashion house also released more pictures of Wilde and Pane modelling clothes and accessories from their range with the titles 'the long wait' and 'footsteps and shadows'. A video called 'London Streets' has also just been released which is a continuation of previous short films starring Wilde and Panes in the classic old Hollywood movie style. The campaign has been well-received with Burberry currently up to 13,180,946 likes on Facebook and1,162,741 followers on Twitter.As well as Facebook and Twitter, their cross platform campaign has also been sent directly to Burberry's fans on Burberry.com, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Sina Weibo, Douban, Kaixin001 and Youku. Thanks to the involvement of Panes, who can add singer-songwriter to his list of talents, Burberry have also released an official soundtrack on iTunes featuring Pane's songs which have also been used on some of the campaign videos. The latest 'London Streets' video however, which you can view below, uses British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading's 'It Could Have Been Better' as the backing track.Fans of Panes will hear more from him though as the Burberry campaign continues to be released while Wilde will be seen again on the big screen soon as she is to star in the remake of classic horror film Carrie, which will be out next year. Bespoke on a budget: Now you don't have to be A-list to afford made-to-measureBy UPDATED:09:21 GMT, 1 February 2011Burberry has announced it is to launch Burberry Bespoke - a website where you can customise one of its iconic macs to make it just the way you like it. But if you want to put your own stamp on your style, high-end fashion houses arent the only places to go. There are a host of companies offering you the opportunity to design your very own wardrobe, for a ­fraction of the price.CLOTHES styleshake.comSick of not being able to find the clothes you want in the sizes, fabrics and styles that you like? Help is at hand in the form of StyleShake.com, a brilliant website that gives you the chance to design your own dress.Youcan customise one of their existing designs or start from scratch, choosing the colour, fabric, length, neckline, sleeves and trimmings. You then choose a standard size or, for an extra £5, give them your exact measurements and get it made to measure.Jerseydresses start at £41, 100 per cent silk frocks at £71 and you can also make skirts, from £37, tops from £41 and matching accessories including shrugs, £30, and clutch bags, £30.Standard delivery (up to ten days) is £7 and they will even do free alterations to ensure that your outfit fits you perfectly.KNITWEAR granniesinc.co.ukIfyour own grandmother is not much cop with a pair of needles, but you still like the idea of handmade knitwear to your specifications, then atGranniesInc.co.uk you can pay someone elses grandma to make you a hat,scarf, snood or wrist-warmers. You decide on the colours youwant it made in, pick the size and any extras a pompom, bow or some ­tassels, perhaps and then a granny gets knitting for you. The prices start at £34 and all items are made from 100 per cent British spun merino wool. Deliverytimes will vary depending on which granny you choose and how busy she is. But expect to have your item within eight days, sent by first-class post for £3.95.COATS KatherineHooker.comA good coat or jacket is the ­definition of an investment buy and the right one will last you for years. But finding a coat off the peg isnt easy, which is where Katherine Hooker comes in. Shes the woman whom the likes of Kate Middleton, Sarah Brown and Jerry Hall trust for ­stylish outerwear. This ­winters ­collection has seven coats, ranging from the fashion-­forward cape coat to a classic belted coat, ten jackets and two waistcoats. Choose from a wealth of fabrics and ­colours, select the lining and trims, and between four and six weeks later youll have your own designer coat. Coats start at £520, jackets at £470 and waistcoats at £295. Delivery will cost you £10.Made-to-measure: Examples of a StyleShake.com's dress, a Granniesinc.co.uk scarf and KatherineHooker.com coat LINGERIE GildaPearl.co.ukInspired by the sirens of the silver screen, Gilda Pearls silk and lace confections are Agent Provocateur without the scary dominatrix ­overtones. Whether you want jet black, jewel-like tones of red and ­purple or creamy ivory, theyve got something to suit. And if they havent, or you want it without the bow or with an extra ribbon, theyll make it for you. Every item they sell is handmade in ­Britain, so they can tweak their designs to suit your needs.The semi-bespoke underwired bras start at £78, while knickers are from around £52. You can get a semi-bespoke ­garter from just £22. Standard delivery is free and ­usually takes two weeks.WEDDING SHOES emmyshoes.co.ukThis luxury, custom-made ­wedding shoe venture is the brainchild of Emmy Scarterfield, who started out designing shoes and ­accessories for top labels Bottega Veneta and Giorgio Armani.She later returned to ­Britain to set up glamorous accessory ranges for French Connection and Reiss.Emmy has devised a series of ­beautiful ­vintage-inspired designs that can be ­customised, according to what you want. So you can choose every tiny detail, from the height of the heel and shape of the toe to whether you want them in cream leather, ivory suede or any number of other luxury materials.You can also add any embellishments that take your fancy. Prices start at £260, but creep up if you decide on Thirties pearl detail or some hand-embroidered ­daisies. The delivery charge is £10 and can take between ten and 12 weeks. Perfect fit: A GildaPearl.co.uk bra, an emmyshoes.co.uk wedding shoe and a bag from bagsoflove.co.ukPHOTO BAGS bagsoflove.co.ukWe know it was Anya Hindmarch who started the craze for photo bags, but while her offerings are undoubtedly exquisitely made, they do start at £115 for a washbag. Instead, check out the far more affordable offerings available from Bags Of Love.Their make-up bags, which can be personalised with a photo of your choice, start at a more pocket-friendly £35 (and unlike Anyas, which can take up to ten weeks, theyre ready for delivery in just a couple of days).You can order totes from £89 and laptop bags from £49 all personalised with your favourite photographs.Standard ­delivery is £3.85.SPORTSWEAR store.nike.comAt the online Nike store, you can ­personalise a whole range of sports kit and were not just talking about getting your name printed on the back of a football shirt. While the Nike ID concept started with trainers, its expanded and you can pick the colours, badges and slogans on a complete range of kit from hoodies, £65, and sports bags, £60, through to the ­original Air Max trainers, from £115. Delivery takes a fairly long three to four weeks and costs £6.50. But there is ­something quite appealing about getting shoes, or a hoodie with whatever you want embroidered on the back.HANDBAGS belenechandia.comA handbag created to your specifications in the colours of your choice sounds like the sort of thing only A-listers can get their hands on.But luxury bag brand Belen Echandia offers that for half the price of your average It Bag. Simply go to the website, browse the archive of handbag styles from clutches to totes pick one and start to customise.Prices start at £400. You can choose the leather and lining, a zip or magnet closure and whether you want an extra internal pocket or studs on the outside. Your bag is handcrafted in an Italian atelier using traditional techniques.You can expect to receive it a couple of weeks later and delivery costs £9.Now that's what you call a ball-gown! Tennis player Bethanie Mattek-Sands goes Gaga at pre-Wimbledon party in wacky yellow dress By Created 11:02 PM on 16th June 2011Bethanie Mattek-Sands has described herself as the Lady Gaga of the tennis world due to her flamboyant fashion taste.So who better to dress the American tennis player than one of Gaga's own designers.The 26-year-old made an attention-seeking entrance at the Women's Tennis Association pre-Wimbledon party in association with Range Rover in London last night in a tennis-inspired dress.Scroll down to see a video of how the dress was madeThe startling dress included a neon green corset made of parts of tennis balls, with matching shoulder pads.More tennis balls were then attached to some neon green chiffon to create a Mohican-style hat.Mattek-Sands, who is currently No.31 in the world rankings, commissioned British designer Alex Noble to create her flamboyant gown for the bash at the Kensington Roof Gardens.Sony Ericsson Xperia Tennis Hotshot Mattek-Sands is no stranger to breaking the style rules, who was fined for wearing a cowboy hat on the court in 2005.A lover of crazy fashion, Mattek-Sands knows she will have to tone down her wardrobe to adhere to Wimbledon's strict dress code.So the pre-Wimbledon bash was the perfect opportunity for her to show her individualism outside the rigid rules of the South West London club.She said last month: 'I don't think I can really challenge the colour rule right now.'You know, I got to figure something out. Obviously the white, you got to work with a lot of the cuts. Obviously I'll be wearing my high socks. But yeah, it's always challenging to think of new things for Wimbledon.'I think the fans that come to Wimbledon appreciate everything I do. I think it's more probably the members and the people higher up that are tut-tutting me.'Mattek-Sands and Noble met up in Madrid and Copenhagen earlier this month and was open to his idea of making the gown out of tennis balls.In an online video following the making of the gown, Mattek-Sands said: 'Fashion has always been super-interesting for me.' All white on the night: (L-R) Singer Eliza Doolitte wore a daring little white dress, Holly Branson opted for a white, blue and glittery shift, while Holly Valance kept it laidback in a shirt and skirt Going to the dark side: (L-R) Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki wore Stella McCartney, actress Patsy Kensit looked sleek in a long shift, while Sinitta wore a maxi dress and flip-flopsDescribing the dress, Noble said the corset section made of tennis balls 'is like an armour, which really suits Bethanie's personality.Wondering what the reaction would be on the red carpet, she admitted: 'I like keeping everyone on their toes'.While lots of guests at the bash were horrified by Bethanie's outfit, some applauded her for her sense of fun. Feeling blue: (L-R) Spanish model Elen Rivas in a floral maxi dress, Pussycat Doll Kimberley Wyatt in a silk Sixties dress and RB singer Alexis Jordan in an asymmetrical mini Leggy: (L-R) Socialite Tamara Ecclestone wore a very tight cream dress, Jelena Jankovic looked red hot in Vivienne Westwood, while retired tennis player Annabel Croft wore a blue summer dressAustralian player Casey Dellacqua Tweeted her: 'Totally love your dress Bethanie...u look smashing!!!!! :)'The event saw 15 female tennis players wearing gowns by the best British fashion designers.All the dresses will then be auctioned off during the tournament with proceeds going to WTA charities and the British Fashion Council's Princess of Wales Charitable Trust.Guests at the star-studded bash braved the downpour to feast on a summer barbecue and sipped cocktails, champagne, Evian water and Jacob's Creek wine - the official wine of Wimbledon.Tennis stars Serena Williams and Maria Sharipova joined Holly Branson, Holly Valance, Tamara Ecclestone and Eliza Doolittle for the raucous party.The grey weather didn't dampen the party spirit as the A-listers dancing to old-school tunes on the dance floor until the early hours and play dress-ups in the photo booth.Big spenders help Burberry defy recessionBy UPDATED:08:36 GMT, 20 January 2010The rich are still spending in spite of the recession according to the latest figures from luxury good retailers. Burberry, the 154-year-old maker of trench coats and handbags, yesterday showed that an appetite for designer goods remains strong as it smashed forecasts to report a 10pc rise in underlying sales. This compares with analysts' expectations of a rise of 3pc for the three months to December 31. The group, famous for its camel, red and black check, has cut costs and jobs and managed stocks to ensure it can perform well through the downturn. Shares in Burberry jumped 8pc to close the day 49.5p ahead at 649p as the retailer, which features Harry Potter star Emma Watson in its advertising campaigns, forecast profit growth in 2010-11. Evolution Securities analyst Dennis Weber said: 'Burberry is beating its competitors on all counts and the trend is still getting better.' The group has enjoyed strong growth in Europe and Asia. The news came as upmarket jeweller Theo Fennell said it expected to post only a marginal loss this year following a bumper Christmas with sales up 25% in the three weeks to December 24. The company, whose pieces have been spotted on David Beckham and Sir Elton John, has managed to turn itself around after suffering losses of 3m last year. Shares added half a penny to 48.5p. Earlier this week, Richemont, the group behind Cartier watches and Chloe fashion house, said shoppers have started splashing out. Tiffany recently said that its profits should beat expectations following strong sales. Thank you for your excellent website, and in particular please thank Joanne Hart and her team for their expert stock picking advice, which is serving me much better than I had even hoped for. - R Jeffery I've followed your column for many years and really appreciate all the good tips. Of course, one can't act upon all the info, but, most recently, I did buy 1,000 Immupharma and was impressed when I saw that they'd won a prestigious award. - David M Midas is the first thing I turn to when we get the paper! - Karen Love the Midas section of the Mail on Sunday - keep up the good work. - Simon P Blue-chip boards still lack women By UPDATED:08:27 GMT, 2 December 2010The glass ceiling in the UK looks shatterproof: despite efforts by the government and the chairmen of our largest businesses to increase female representation, the number of women at the top of FTSE 100 companies has remained stagnant for the third year in a row. The 2010 Female FTSE report from Cranfield School of Management reveals today that women hold just 135 directorships out of 1,076 total board positions in the blue-chip share index, or 12.5 per cent, barely up on last year's figure of 12.2 per cent. Of the 135 new appointments to top corporate boards, only 18 were women and there was a net rise of just three female directors over the year, taking the total to 116 women holding 135 positions. One glimmer of hope is that the number of companies with no female directors at all decreased to 21, from 25 in 2009. Smaller companies are even worse at promoting women to board level than their bigger brethren, with an 'unacceptable' 52 per cent of firms in the FTSE 250 having all-male directorates. The new UK Corporate Governance Code calls on companies to 'pay due regard' to diversity on boards. Former trade minister Lord Davies of Abersoch is spearheading a government drive to get more women on boards. Roger Carr, the chairman of Centrica, and Sir Win Bischoff, chairman of Lloyds Banking Group, have founded the 30% Club, a group of chairmen aiming to get that proportion of women around their boardroom tables. Leading the Female FTSE 100 is fashion retailer Burberry, led by chief executive Angela Ahrendts, with women as three out of its eight board members, followed by Alliance Trust, whose chief executive is Katherine Garrett-Cox. Dr Ruth Sealy, co-author of the report, said women had won positions on executive committees just below board level in 82 of the FTSE 100 companies but too few were making it to the directors' suite. 'These women are a rich resource pool for future board directorships,' she said. Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said: 'Making boards more diverse is not about political correctness - it's about making sure companies draw senior staff from the widest possible pool of talent, which is good for business, good for staff and good for customers.' The UK lags behind other countries for boardroom diversity, including Australia, where nearly a third of new appointments this year went to women. In France a quota law is in the pipeline stipulating at least 40 per cent of directors must be female. Norway introduced a 40 per cent quota in 2004 in a move that is widely seen in that country as having been successful. Boom time for Burberry as company bucks the trendBy UPDATED:20:53 GMT, 22 May 2011The belt-tightening taking place elsewhere in the economy does not appear to have affected luxury fashions, which are going through a boom period.Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts, pictured, is in line for a £12m pay and bonus package, thanks to strong demand for her pricey wares. The group is expected to announce a 40 per cent profit rise to £300m this week. And womens love of stilettos has proved lucrative for Tamara Mellon, whose 17 per cent stake in the Jimmy Choo brand she founded was valued at £85m in a takeover by luxury goods group Labelux last night. She will reinvest in Labelux and continue as chief creative officer.Bravo poised for Burberry windfallBy and UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 23 June 2002BURBERRY'S chief executive Rose Marie Bravo is in line for a windfall of more than 10m, if the float gets off to a good start. GUS, which owns the luxury fashion brand, will today unveil details of a bumper package that will make Bravo the most highly paid female boss of a quoted British company. The 51-year old Italian-American already earns about 2m in salary and bonuses each year. The glamorous New Yorker is also paid a clothing allowance of more than 10,000. But these amounts will be dwarfed by the shares and options award that GUS has agreed to give her when Burberry floats. Some argue it is a price worth paying, but the package will inevitably raise questions about excessive executive rewards. When Bravo was poached from US department store Saks Fifth Avenue in 1997, Burberry was estimated to be worth just 200m. Now it is worth more than 1bn, with 500m annual sales. Bravo is credited with revamping the brand, now worn by the likes of Madonna and supermodel Kate Moss. GUS chief executive John Peace will today defend the award and announce the price range for Burberry shares. The retailer, which also owns Argos, is floating about 25% of Burberry. It is valued at 1.2bn to 1.5bn, though analysts reckon it will be priced at the lower end of the range. Bravo gets a large chunk of shares immediately, but her option award will be based around a longterm incentive plan which depends on the performance of the group. British luxury brand Burberry to terminate tie-up with Inter Parfums as it seeks more profitable relationships By PUBLISHED:20:56 GMT, 27 July 2012 UPDATED:08:34 GMT, 28 July 2012British luxury brand Burberry will terminate its tie-up with French fragrance-maker Inter Parfums as it seeks more profitable relationships.The group, best known for its trademark camel, red and black check pattern and raincoats, yesterday said it had ended talks after failing to agree new terms. Burberry continues to pursue various strategic options to develop fully its fragrance and beauty business in the future, Burberry said.A week ago the company marked its tenth anniversary on the London Stock Exchange, a decade which has seen its market value leap from £1.2bn to £5.6bn larger than Marks Spencer.Analysts say Burberry (up 6p to 1284p) aims to boost its fragrance and make-up business by developing new products, strengthening control over its brand and enhancing profits.The group is still a minor player in the fragrance business, which is estimated to be worth only about 2 per cent of its sales.But perfumes and cosmetics accounted for around 21 per cent of the 191bn global luxury market in 2011, according to estimates by consultancy Bain Co and industry body Altagamma. Buoyant Burberry beats forecastsBy UPDATED:00:00 GMT, 16 November 2004LUXURY goods group Burberry topped analysts' expectations with an 18% increase in underlying profits to 78.8m over the first half and a big increase in the dividend. The group, headed by chief executive Rose Marie Bravo, is also planning to buy back up to 250m shares. Its shares responded with a 22p surge to 417p. Womenswear did particularly well, with underlying sales ahead by 18%, and the new Brit fragrance for men also had a successful launch. But the group sounded a warning note about the current-state of the retail market. Finance director Stacey Cartright said 'There has been some softness on the retail side, particularly in the United States.'She added: 'We are outerwear-dominated, so the mild weather has not been particularly kind to us.'Based on this subdued demand, Burberry said it is 'planning retail sales conservatively for the second half'.Total sales were ahead by 14%, at 347m and the interim dividend is raised by 33% to 2p. A big beneficiary will be retail conglomerate GUS, which holds a 66% stake. Buoyant Burberry looking to growBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 14 April 2003BURBERRY's underlying retail sales have soared by 30% over the winter half-year, the luxury goods group reported, though the gloss came off the figures after it warned of the effects of the Iraq war and the deadly flu virus Sars. The growth figure for its fourth quarter, the three months to the end of March, indicated slowing sales as it came in at 28%. 'During March, various factors increasingly affected performance, particularly in the UK and Hong Kong markets,' the company said. The company, which floated last summer, said underlying sales climbed 15% in the six months ended March, with total revenues ahead 30%. After opening seven new stores in the past six months, Burberry aims to open another eight this year, including in the fashion capital of the world Milan. The shares rose 15p to 247p. Burberry beats forecasts with 24% first-quarter growthUPDATED:08:17 GMT, 13 July 2010Luxury group Burberry beat forecasts with a 24 per cent rise in first-quarter underlying revenue, helped by a bringing forward of wholesale orders and strong demand for outerwear and accessories.The 154-year-old maker of raincoats and handbags said it made £282million of revenue, excluding a restructuring at its Spanish arm, in the three months ended June, led by growth in Asia and the rest of Europe.That compares with an average forecast of £263million in a Reuters poll of eight analysts.Sales at the group's retail outlets rose an underlying 16 per cent,including a 10 per cent increase at shops open at least a year, whilewholesale revenue leapt an underlying 46 per cent, helped by a pullforward of orders into the first quarter.Burburry, bestknown for its camel, red and black check pattern, said it was keepingits guidance for a high-teens percentage increase in first-halfunderlying wholesale sales.Luxury goods firms mostly enjoyeda strong start to 2010 as the world economy moved out of recession. Butmoves in several countries to rein in government borrowing, like highertaxes and public spending cuts, have raised fears demand will slowagain.Burberry weathered the recession better than manyrivals thanks to a quick response which saw it cut costs, jobs, stocksand ranges. In May it announced plans to step up its expansion, with afocus on emerging markets, e-commerce and menswear.Burberryshares have beaten the STOXX 600 personal goods sector by 25 per centthis year. They closed on Monday at 789.5 pence, valuing the businessat about £3.5billion. Burberry: 'Float is still on track'By UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 10 July 2002FASHION house Burberry is seeking to dispel fears that it could pull its float on the London Stock Exchange, scheduled for Friday. A spokeswoman said: 'Nothing's changed. The float is still on track.'Earlier reports, citing banking sources, said parent GUS could drop the plan if markets kept falling. The retailer wants to float 25% of Burberry, valuing the business at 1.14bn to 1.45bn. Brokers Tullett & Tokyo quoted a grey market spread of 239p to 244p for the shares, down from Wednesday's spread of 242p-248p and compared with the indicative price range for the float of 230p-290p.The Burberry listing has taken centre stage after several other market hopefuls pulled their plans to float, blaming turbulent markets. SAB Miller, the world's number two brewer, late on Wednesday shelved a share sale to raise about 614m, within hours of unveiling the plan. Irish drinks and snacks firm C&C pulled its float on Monday.Trench coats boost for Burberry as movie stars helped attract younger shoppersBy UPDATED:07:52 GMT, 19 January 2011A raft of star-studded celebrity backers including actress Gwyneth Paltrow have helped luxury fashion group Burberry boost trading over the key Christmas period, writes Rupert Steiner. Endorsements by movie stars helped attract a younger, more aspirational shopper to the 155-year-old firm, which saw underlying sales rise a hefty 14 per cent over the three months to December 31. The shares rose 5 per cent after finance director Stacey Cartwright said full-year profits, which analysts forecast at between £254million and £291million, would be at the higher end of expectations. Burberry (up 56p to 1115p) has benefited from wealthy tourists splashing out on its trademark camel, red and black check trench coats, boosting total revenues to £480million from £380million for the period, and is aiming for continued success with its spring collection, pictured. It follows Cartier owner Richemont and France's LVMH in posting stellar festive sales. Cartwright added: 'We are seeing an influx of newglobal luxury consumers in India and the Middle East which counters anyissues in the traditional core market.' Burberry a star for upbeat GUSBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 10 April 2001BURBERRY, the luxury goods brand best known for its plaid-lined raincoats, continues to pile up spectacular sales gains ahead of its 1bn-plus flotation.The business, part of Great Universal Stores, raised its underlying sales by 41% in the second half of the year, with significant growth reported on the wholesale and retail side. Burberry was the best-performer in the GUS empire, which ranges from the Argos retail chain to Kay's and Great Universal home shopping catalogues. By far the biggest part of the group, however, is its Experian credit-checking business, which accounts for 40% of profits. Experian's progress cheered GUS followers, sending the shares up 43p to 490p. Experian's operations in North America alone account for more than a quarter of GUS's profit and there have been fears about the impact of the US slowdown on the business. But GUS said that while the outlook for the US economy remains uncertain, sales at Experian North America had continued to grow in the second half after a better fourth quarter last year. Worldwide, Experian sales were ahead by 7%, including a 4% rise in North America, where the group said business was boosted by strong demand for credit reports related to mortgage financing. British sales jumped by 14%. Argos pushed like-for-like sales up by 6%, reporting particularly strong sales of mobile phones, furniture and jewellery. Margins also remained firm. In home shopping, sales were down 5%, which GUS said was in line with its plan to reduce the business. Sales per customer increased as the group continued to target more profitable customers. GUS has previously indicated that it would float around 25% of Burberry by summer 2002, raising more than 250m for the company.Finance director David Tyler dismissed some analysts' fears that the Burberry brand may be fast moving past its peak, damaged by a horde of downmarket imitations. 'Plaid is only one very small part of the Burberry offer,' he said. 'It is less than 20% of what we sell and we are not unduly concerned. Imitation is the price of success.' Results for the year to 31 March will be released by GUS on 5 June and the group also promises further news on the Burberry flotation plans. Burberry and Argos boost GUSBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 25 July 2000Burberry continues its remarkable renaissance with sales of the luxury goods business well ahead over the first quarter. Parent company Great Universal Stores also highlighted continued double-digit like-for-like growth for Argos, at 12%, and said margins at the catalogue showrooms chain had also risen. GUS's biggest profits contributor, the financial information business Experian, staged a recovery over the first quarter after last year's disappointing performance, while the group's traditional mail order operation saw sales slide by 6%. GUS said the decline reflects continued weakness in the clothing market together with the planned reduction in spending on customer recruitment. Overall, the group says, trading for the three-month period is broadly in line with market expectations. Burberry and Bailey unveil the thorn birdsLast updated at 10:53 14 June 2007They are the new English roses - only these girls havethorns.British models Agyness Deyn, Lily Donaldson, Kiera Gormley andGeorgia Frost have been chosen to front Burberry's newautumn/winter advertising campaign. The results are seen hereexclusively.While the models' complexions are pure English rose, theirthorniness derives from the clothes they are parading - thetoughest, sexiest collection to date from erstwhile romanticChristopher Bailey.Scroll down for moreYorkshireman Bailey has had a long love affair with prim Englishdressing, but for autumn he has traded Princess Margaret for Queen- not our monarch but the rock group.One image is reminiscent of the cover for their 1974 album,Queen II, featuring the four band members' heads on a blackbackground.The edgy Burberry pictures, photographed by Mario Testino, arewell suited to the rock-inspired spirit of the campaign, which alsofeatures members of modern bands such as The Paddingtons, The Viewand Larrikin Love and singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf.However, it is the pale blonde duo of Donaldson and Deyn thatdraws the eye.Both models were featured on the cover of last month's AmericanVogue as two of the influential magazine's 10 most promising modelsof the year.The Burberry campaign-one of the most prestigious in the fashionindustry, is likely to cement their reputations.Also featured is the new "It" bag for autumn, the Knight, socalled because of its studded, rugged appearance.Made of soft nappa leather, it will cost 1,595.That may sound expensive, but its predecessor, this season'sManor bag, was sold out within weeks.A regular Burberry fixture who does not appear this time is KateMoss. But Bailey insisted her absence was entirely innocent.He said: "Although she doesn't feature in every advertisingcampaign, she remains part of the Burberry family."Share this article: Feisty Adele is just the girl to get Burberry back on song By PUBLISHED:00:56 GMT, 16 September 2012 UPDATED:06:57 GMT, 17 September 2012Singer Adele may be looking forward to the birth of her first child later this month but shes already got a new project lined up working with Burberry. Fashionistas say that Burberry chief Christopher Bailey has approached the Someone Like You singer, offering her the chance to take on a role with the British fashion house.This could give Burberry a boost after last weeks profits warning saw about £1.3billion wiped off its stock market value.Bailey credited with reinventing a brand that was once linked to chav culture personally wrote to Adele, above, at the start of the year, inviting her to visit his studio, and she has since been working with the firm.He is said to be keen for the award-winning singer to take on a consultative role and, along with her stylist Gaelle Paul, create bespoke designs that reflect her position as an ambassador for stylish, curvy women. Adele has always had an interest in fashion and Christopher is keen to get her involved because she knows exactly what suits her and likes to be involved in the creative process, says an insider.He invited her to come to the studio with Gaelle Paul and together they collaborated on creating dresses for the awards season with her.Adele was hands-on with her dress for the Brits, and she did the same for her gown at the Grammys. There could well be a plus-size collaboration in the future.Bailey is also seeking Adeles backing for the Burberry Acoustic project, which seeks to showcase young British music talent.Burberry said: It is a private matter that we wouldnt comment on. A spokesman for Adele declined to comment.Meanwhile, the Burberry Prorsum dress worn by Samantha Cameron to last years Royal Wedding has popped up on eBay. The silk teal gown, which was praised by fashion critics, is being sold in aid of Save the Children. I love the dress and am thrilled to donate it to Save the Childrens Born To Shop auction, said Samantha, a British Fashion Council ambassador. The first bid, placed yesterday, was for just £12.99 lets hope bidders get more generous over the next few days!Milliner to the stars Philip Treacy will make his catwalk comeback tonight after a ten-year hiatus. Philip the go-to hatter for royalty and celebrities managed to bag all of fashions biggest stars Naomi Campbell, Yasmin Le Bon, Kate Moss, Stella Tennant and Christy Turlington for his debut in 1993, so big things are predicted for tonights London Fashion Week show at the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand. Im told Grace Jones, Bryan Ferry, Boy George and Duran Duran will all be at the show and that there will be a few musical surprises in store. Irishman Treacy, 45, has had a busy few years culminating in his transition into a Royal milliner, although the pretzel hat he made for Princess Beatrice at last years Royal Wedding wasnt well received.Wheelchair athlete David Weir received help from an unlikely source on his way to Paralympic glory fashion mogul Sir Philip Green. The 33-year-old, who won four gold medals at London 2012, has received private funding from the Topshop boss since a friend of Sir Philip saw him training in Richmond Park four years ago. A spokesman for Sir Philip said: He was delighted to help. He saw David last Thursday and will continue to keep in close touch with him.Burberry axes up to 290 to guard profitsBy UPDATED:11:55 GMT, 20 January 2009Fashion house Burberry today said it is axeing up to 290 UK jobs to protect profits. The luxury goods group is closing its sewing factory in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, as demand sinks for its traditional trench coats. Operations will now be focused on its plant in Castleford, West Yorkshire. Burberry, famed for its check design, was locked in a row with unions in 2007 when it decided to shut its poloshirt factory in South Wales. Burberry said like-for-like retail sales fell 3% in the final three months of 2008 but total revenues rose 9% to 329m, boosted by heavy discounting in December and an influx of tourists into its London stores, tempted by the weak pound. 'In a difficult and volatile environment, our performance has been very satisfactory, with menswear and childrenswear doing particularly well,' chief financial officer Stacey Cartwright said. Burberry forecasts a decline in the 'high single digits' in revenue at its wholesale arm in the second half of the year as US stores reduce orders.Burberry baby Mason Disick enjoys designer-clad park date with his parents By UPDATED:13:43 GMT, 22 September 2011Most of his famous family have tried their hand at modelling, with the youngest Kardashians Kendall and Kylie set to take the modelling world by storm.However 21-month-old Mason, the son of Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, looked ready to give the girls a run for their money when he went to the park with his parents today.He wore a checked baby Burberry jumper and some blue pinstripe trousers, along with a pair of tan leathermoccasins, for the family day out. He accessorised the adorable look with a pair of white-rimmed baby sunglasses, which he sported to cover up his recent injuries after a fall left the toddler with a bandage on his nose and one above his eyebrow.Kourtney, 28, had something of an overreaction when she whisked son Mason off to a plastic surgeon after he bumped his nose.And worried that he may injure himself further, she has since been seen carrying the energetic toddler around. But today as they filmed an episode for Keeping Up With The Kardashians, stylish Mason was living the life of a normal toddler as he played in the park.Kourtney and husband Scott, 28, took Mason for a stroll and the little boy appeared to be good as new as he raced his mother down a double slide in the playground.Meanwhile his mother wore a casual ensemble of cream knitted jumper, black leggings and brown and black riding boots.But the reality star managed to make the look glamorous with lashings of red lipstick and her brunette locks slicked back in a plait. The family spent the morning filming for the show in New York.Kourtneyrushed Mason to the surgery after his fall and kept a blanket covering him when she left her hotel and was snapped by photographers.But the reaction appeared to be slightly over-dramatic and Mason needed no more than a bandage.His parents were back on schedule later on in the day as they stepped out for a romantic dinner date. Burberry bags itself a hefty rise in profitsBy UPDATED:10:31 GMT, 26 May 2011The enduring popularity of Burberry handbags and the fashion houses allure for Chinese shoppers spurred a 39% rise in annual earnings.The luxury goods giant posted an underlying pre-tax profit of £298m for the year to March 31. Revenue increased 27% to £1.5bn, and the full-year dividend was hiked 43% to 20p.The 155-year-old maker of raincoats revealed sales of its non-apparel goods, such as handbags, jewellery and shoes, grew 35% in the year.The firm said its focus on non-apparel had paid off as the sector accounted for nearly half the group's sales growth.Burberry and the luxury sector have experienced a more rapid recovery than the rest of the retail industry, as sales are driven up by demand from Chinese shoppers and tourists.The company's underlying retail sales increased by 32% in the year, of which 12% was driven by China, where the group has 57 stores.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts hailed the strong operational and financial progress achieved during the year.While mindful of global macro challenges in the current year, we will continue to invest to drive growth across our portfolio by channel, region and product, she said.New store openings were focused on emerging markets, which make up 16% of retail and wholesale revenues, including India, Brazil and Mexico.The group has accelerated its store growth in the last year - mainly in China and emerging markets - and it has 174 mainline stores, 199 concessions in department stores and 44 outlets.Shares in Burberry were down 39p at 1,281p in trading today.View from the CityKate Calvert, retail analyst at Seymour Pierce, said Burberry operated in a market place with strong long-term growth opportunities.She added: We expect it to deliver continued outperformance relative to its peers.Broker Dolmen Securities noted that growth was quite strong across all of the groups regions, with Asia Pacific particularly strong. Those invested in the luxury goods sector should also take comfort this morning from Ms Ahrendts comments that she sees a modest improvement in the groups full year operating margin, which is in contrast to Ralph Laurens margin warning yesterday, it commented.Analysts at asset manager Investec said the results were slightly better than they forecast given Spanish losses were lower than expected.After a strong run the shares may pause for breath, but we remain buyers for the sustainable growth story, they said.Burberry benefits from the Kate Moss effectLast updated at 13:50 11 October 2006Burberry became the latest fashion house to benefit from theKate Moss effect today after sales of the luxury handbags shemodels soared.The London-based firm said retail sales lifted 23 per cent inthe first half of the year amid "extraordinary" demand for its newrange of handbags.See also...Among the most popular was the 750 Manor Handbag carriedby Moss in a high profile advertising campaign which also featuredfellow Burberry supermodel Stella Tennant.It came just a year after Moss was ditched from an advertisingcampaign by Burberry following allegations that she snortedcocaine.Today the company said Moss was an "icon" and insisted she wasalways "part of the Burberry family" as it posted a 10% rise intotal sales to 392 million for the first half of theyear.Burberry, famous for its camel, red and black check, said it wasalso boosted by the clamour surrounding its 150th anniversary.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said: "Continued strength inouterwear and womenswear, as well as the extraordinary consumerresponse to the launch of the Burberry Icons Collection of luxuryhandbags, have fuelled excellent retail performance acrossmarkets."Our distinctive 150th year advertising campaign andunprecedented editorial coverage contributed to the salesmomentum."As a whole, performance in the first half is consistent withexpectations for the full financial year."Alongside soaring sales at its 300-plus stores and concessionsaround the world, including in New Bond Street, Regent Street andKnightsbridge in London, wholesale revenues lifted 1 per cent inthe six months to the end of September.It sent shares up 5% to a record high today.Share this article: Burberry blazes a pink trailBy and and UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 24 May 2004THE great ambition among British upmarket retailers these days is to do a Burberry. You take an old-fashioned British brand, inject it with some design razzmatazz - and bingo, you have a success story. If only it were as easy as that. But one suspects Belinda Earl is going to find out at Jaeger that it is far more complicated. Burberry's great success under Rose Marie Bravo, the best rewarded woman in British business, is that she proceeds cautiously. The radical chic of Burberry stores, from Berlin to Tokyo, has been built around its traditional strengths of quality and outerwear. It is on this base that flair, design, colour and fashion have been added. As a result, it has become one of the most desirable luxury brands in the world. With the opening of new frontiers to riches, from Moscow to Beijing, Burberry has been quick to cash in. But it is careful to partner local companies and share the very generous margins, rather than take on too much of the risk itself. The formula, which delivered a big advance in profits this year and a 50% lift in the dividend, was based around pink and pastels, a far cry from the dull but staple fawn Burberry check-lined raincoat. Somehow Bravo and her team have convinced the fashionable that they need not just one Burberry coat, but several in different colours, and some coatstyle dresses to complete the ensemble. The careful branding has also been usefully passed down through accessories from umbrellas, delicately decorated with flowers, to perfumes. Menswear has been a little more tricky but is starting to get the Bravo makeover with the launch of Burberry Brit for men. One of the advantages that Burberry has over its rivals is that it still sources heavily in Britain, with some work done in Italy, which provides consumers with a traditional assurance of quality. The capital spend will continue at 40m to 50m in the next financial year, demonstrating a belief in the long term by the Burberry board and its main shareholder GUS. In any fashion business maintaining momentum, after a splendid year, is difficult. Bravo appears as confident as ever, even introducing the cropped trench coat for the new global warming age. Who knows what the next trick will be? Caz choiceONE institution having difficulty adapting to modern times is blueblooded stockbroker Cazenove. The 180-year- old broker, which represents many of Britain's top Footsie companies, is struggling since it converted from partnership to corporation. The change was seen as essential-so that it could properly pay its staff. But as an investment bank it is struggling to make waves. The advice of chairman David Mayhew, 64, is still sought in the City on critical transactions. In fact, Caz was the first financial institution to show Conrad Black the door after it felt it had been let down over a share placement. But in the world of the bulgebracket investment banks, Caz is a minnow. The choices it faces are to go ahead with an independent float, valuing it at 800m or so, or to sell itself to one of the big boys. The history of merchant banks taken over by international giants is not a happy one. After the initial burst of enthusiasm the accountants, compliance officers and marketing men eventually get the better of the enterprise and the culture is quickly gobbled up. That is certainly the case for a range of great British financial names from Flemings to Kleinwort Benson. Can Cazenove survive as a free- standing broker? There is no reason why not. Other less illustrious names like Close Brothers have done precisely that. In the case of Close, the trick has been to run its businesses as separate independent enterprises and not to be tempted into believing that clients of, say Winterflood, its broking arm, are necessarily going to be corporate advice customers. Independence is a far more attractive option than subservience. Vanishing reservesCAN anyone be sure of Shell? The blue-chip oil giant has been forced to cut its oil reserve levels for the fourth time this year as it has come under pressure from regulators and auditors to clean up its accounts. As a result, the company has had to jettison several key executives, including former chairman Sir Phil Watts, has lost its 'triple A' topgrade investment rating, and suffered enormous reputational damage. If it wants to salvage its reputation, it has no time to lose in unifying and streamlining its British and Dutch boards. Burberry booming in the Far East and outlets expected to grow By UPDATED:00:05 GMT, 18 January 2012Burberry, best known for its posh raincoats and handbags, is cashing in on the boom for its pricey wares in China.Sales in Asia Pacific most of which are in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan grew by 36 per cent in the final three months of last year, said Burberry yesterday.Asia Pacific now accounts for well over a third of group sales. The company expects its number of outlets in the region to rise from 60 to 100 within five years and the average size of outlets will double. Burberry predicts it will see continuing increases in like-for-like sales.Even in crisis-torn Europe, the rich are continuing to splash out on Burberrys goods: sales were up by an underlying 20per cent.Burberry, which has recently signed model Cara Delevingne (pictured above) for its summer advertising campaign, said its global sales grew by more than a fifth in the final quarter of the year to reach £574m.The only area of the world to see sluggish growth was the Americas, where sales rose only 4 per cent. But Burberry said that was because it had stopped supplying discount department stores. Burberry shares edged up 1p to 1301p. Burberry boosted by China and EuropeBy UPDATED:09:19 GMT, 15 October 2009Chinese and European tourists taking advantage of the low pound have boosted Burberry's UK sales. The luxury fashion group, famed for its check trench coats, says people are still shopping but are being more discerning about purchases. Its shares, which have had a stellar run recently, rose a further 28.5p to 565.5p after it posted a better-than-expected second-quarter performance. Total underlying global revenues were down 5% to 343m, hit by a drop in wholesale volumes. Underlying retail revenues rose 5% with a double digit rise in Europe and Asia. The Daily Mail City team looks at how the snood - a cross between a scarf and a hood - is driving sales at the likes of Burberry.Pardon? Think fashion not finance. A snood is a cross between a scarf and a hood. A tubular item, it looks rather like a balaclava without the face hole.Traditionally favoured by women trying to protect long hair, a snood can be pulled over the head like a hood, or pushed down around the neck like a scarf that can't come undone.A throwback to the '80s?Snoods were rather popular among teenagers of 20 years ago. In garish pink or bright jade, they made sure the wearer was always visible after dark, even if they didn't flatter the skin tone.But snoods are actually far older than this. The word was widely used in the Middle Ages for cloth or net head coverings.Crocheted snoods were popular in the 1940s and '50s to keep women's hair in place while they went about their work.Snoods are also popular with Orthodox Jewish women.And now? Snoods are making a comeback, albeit on a far grander scale. Luxury goods group Burberry says bumper turnover of snoods and leather handbags is driving sales. But its 'pull on scarves' are nothing like the £5 snoods found on market stalls in the 1980s.These luxury wool and cashmere items, complete with trademark Burberry check, go for £175 a pop. If you are short of cash, just knit a short fat scarf and sew the two ends together.Burberry boss Angela Ahrendts bags big salary and bonus By PUBLISHED:21:09 GMT, 8 June 2012 UPDATED:09:40 GMT, 9 June 2012Angela Ahrendts, the chief executive of Burberry, received a total of £16million last year in pay, bonuses and long-term incentive schemes that bore fruit in 2011. She is one of the best-rewarded female bosses in the UK thanks to the stellar performance of the luxury group. Burberry, famous for its distinctive red, black and beige check, has been one of the best performers in the FTSE 100 under her leadership.Ahrendts received a package for 2011-12 that added up to £3.7million, including a salary of £990,000, a £255,000 pension supplement and £76,000 of benefits. She receives a five-figure annual clothing allowance £25,000 in 2009, the latest figure available plusa hefty staff discount on her purchases from Burberry to help maintain her polished appearance as a global ambassador for the brand. She reinvests her bonus in the business each year.In addition, during 2011 she received £12.3million of shares and dividends from a Co-Investment Plan awarded in 2008 and an Exceptional Performance Plan awarded in 2007. Burberry said that under her leadership the company produced exceptional returns for shareholders in a period of economic turbulence. It added that last year Burberry delivered record revenue and profit, along with job creation in the UK and abroad.Michael Spencer, the boss of currency dealer Icap, which suffered a stinging pay rebellion last year, enjoyed a pay and bonus package for last year of £5.5million and also gained access to shares worth £4.2million from previous incentive plans, taking the total during 2011 to £9.7million.Spencers pay and bonus deal was reduced by 27 per cent from £7.6millionlast year. The company has overhauled this years pay scheme after shareholders urged the company to link pay more closely to performance. According to Icaps annual report, directors will face higher hurdles to reach the criteria for their bonus, with the targets rising each year. The chief executive of credit checking firm Experian took home a total of £9.1million from his 2011 package plus incentives maturing last year.Don Roberts was awarded a basic salary of £973,000 and received a bonusof £1,9million, which he will take in company shares.He also has a company car and petrol allowance, as well as healthcare and life insurance worth a total of £285,000, including a housing allowance of £250,000. Three long-term plans from 2004, 2005and 2006 paid out during the year netting him a further £6million, and taking his haul to £9.4million. INVESTMENT EXTRA: Burberry boss Angela Ahrendts snaps up shares after 20% plunge By PUBLISHED:20:51 GMT, 14 September 2012 UPDATED:09:20 GMT, 17 September 2012Burberry issued a profits warning this week which immediately knocked over 20 per cent off the value of its shares. But this led to an interesting response from the luxury goods retailers chief executive, Angela Ahrendts. She immediately showed her continuing confidence in Burberry by acquiring £543,000-worth of shares in the group. A number of other directors bought with her.Ahrendts has been chief executive of Burberry since 2006. She is reported to have earned a total of £15.6m last year in salary, bonus, cashing in shares and her clothes allowance. The luxury goods giant has enjoyed a sustained period of growth despite the economic downturn. It blamed this weeks earnings alert on fewer of its wealthy customers travelling abroad on shopping trips, uncertainty over the eurozone debt crisis knocking consumer confidence and the rich in China spending less as export-led Asian economies slow down due to contracting demand. Burberry boss feels the heat over success of turn-around plan By PUBLISHED:21:06 GMT, 5 October 2012 UPDATED:11:33 GMT, 6 October 2012Burberry boss Angela Ahrendts is under pressure to set out a series of new initiatives aimed at reversing the fortunes of the luxury fashion chain when she updates on trading next week. The firm issued a surprise profit warning last month.Investors will want reassurance sales have picked up or details of Ahrendts self-help plan.The American had blamed fewer wealthy customers travelling abroad, and the eurozone crisis denting consumer confidence, for flat sales over the 10 weeks to September 8. But shoppers appeared to have made it through the doors of rival Hermes, which beat first half forecasts last weekend. Burberry admitted trading conditions were becoming more challenging but it is too early to tell whether theproblems are industry wide or company specific. October 2012Prize valueWinning bond No.Area£1,000,000176ND537520Overseas £100,000190YL731192Dudley £100,00086ZY785587West Sussex £100,000186AQ461669Derbyshire £100,000183SA844038Sheffield £100,0005EJ713506Northern Ireland £50,000189HA961605Bradford £50,00017QC030688Nottingham £50,000150ZZ067504Hertfordshire £50,000126RT689109Southampton £50,000111CA212785Greater Manchester £50,00024JC837905Edinburgh £50,000110ZL786330Kent £50,000147QP328139CumbriaBurberry braves tough tradingBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 13 October 2002LUXURY goods group Burberry reported continued sales growth over the second quarter, pushing underlying sales ahead by 9% over the six months ended September. Retail sales, which account for just under a third of the group total, rose 17%, or around 8% like-for-like. 'These results were particularly notable given the trading conditions,' said chief executive Rose Marie Bravo, although she cautioned that the trading environment remains uncertain. The figures were at the top end of analysts' expectations and compare with underlying growth of 5% in the first three months. Burberry opened five new stores in the first half. It will open or replace eight in the second half, including a new store in London's Knightsbridge. The group, famous for its beige check, floated on the stock market in July, at 230p, but swiftly fell to a discount and its shares are currently trading at 209p, up 9p. This values the business, in which GUS retains a 77.5% stake, at just over 1bn and Bravo's stake at just over 10m. Burberry buoyed by strong tradingBy UPDATED:12:49 GMT, 21 April 2009Sales at fashion chain Burberry showed no signs of wilting in the recession today after the luxury retailer reported improved trading so far this year.The group said store-based sales, which account for nearly 60% of its business, were up 3% on a like-for-like basis in the three months to March 31, compared with the fall of 3% seen in the previous quarter.Though still challenging, Burberry said its markets in the United States, Europe and Spain all performed better, with operations in Korea and the UK posting 'exceptional' performances in the period.With the company also on track to deliver £50m of annual cost savings, Burberry said it expected results for the 2008/09 financial year to be around the middle of the current range of market estimates.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said: 'Burberry made good progress in the second half.'Shares rose by more than 1% following today's update.Burberry said non-clothing ranges delivered the strongest growth, while a move into childrenswear continued to go well after the opening of five trial stores - in the US, the Middle East and one in Notting Hill, London.The better performance in retail was offset by second half declines in wholesale and licensing revenues, down 11% and 13% respectively. Burberry said the drop in wholesale business was partly due to conservative inventory management by department stores.Numis Securities said the two figures were slightly weaker than expectations and highlighted the tough trading conditions facing the group.Analyst Nick Coulter added: 'This release will reassure and offers some evidence that consumer resilience is not confined to the UK. However, we remain extremely cautious on the outlook for the global luxury goods market in 2009/10.'Numis raised its forecast for full-year profits to £174m, with a similar figure expected for the following financial period. Burberry's talented new models Gabriella Wilde and Roo Panes spark Facebook and Twitter storm with new multi-media campaign By PUBLISHED:15:02 GMT, 4 July 2012 UPDATED:15:53 GMT, 4 July 2012It is the social networking world's favourite fashion brand. With 13 million 'likes' on Facebook and well over a million followers on Twitter, Burberry has made the transition from heritage brand to multimedia hero with ease. And today, as Burberry releases its latest autumn/winter campaign via a dozen different social networking sites, complete with video, and a song composed by the hot young musician starring as model, the British brand scores another massive social media win. For while other brands drag their feet where modern media is concerned, Burberry have jumped in with both.This latest campaign has been launched in what is called in the social media world a cross platform experience, with imagery, video and music sent direct to Burberry's fans on platforms including Burberry.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Sina Weibo, Douban,Kaixin001 and Youku. In social media terms, Burberry is the most popular kid in the class. Campaign star Roo Panes, who follows in the footsteps of musician and model George Craig and actor Eddie Redmayne as a Burberry face, wrote the accompanying song 'Indigo Blue' exclusively for Burberry - and it has been released on iTunes as the official soundtrack.Of course, it helps that the models Burberry choose to front their campaigns are never just pretty faces. While Panes has his musical talent too, hisco-star in the Burberry campaign, Gabriella Wilde, is one of Britain's most sought-after new actresses. Born Gabriella Zanna Vanessa Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, she is the daughter of businessman John Austen Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe and Vanessa Mary Theresa Hubbard - a former model who was photographed by David Bailey during her career. Wilde - whose moniker, as it sounds, was inspired by the legendary Oscar of the same name - starred in her first film St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold in 2009 at the age of 20, and is set to play one of Hollywood's most coveted roles alongside Chloe Moretz and Julianne Moore in the 2013 remake of classic horror film Carrie.Burberry say that this 'innovative digital experience', which allows visitors to explore and purchase from the campaign through short films, imagery andmusic, will bring the campaign and collections to life every month. The 'live' campaigns are a continuation of the brands Runway to Reality concept, which has seen consumers able to buy the Autumn/Winter 2012collection directly through the campaign gallery on Burberry.com for the first time. Burberry checks in big sales riseBy UPDATED:00:00 GMT, 13 January 2004LUXURY goods group Burberry today reported further double-digit growth in sales, despite a sluggish performance in Britain, and strong consumer response to its spring/summer ranges. Chief executive Rose Marie Bravo, Britain's best-paid businesswoman last year, said sales over the fourth quarter to the end of December were ahead 15% on an underlying basis, with the retail arm up 11%.On the wholesale side, the group expects high single-digit growth for the spring/summer season, after a 23% jump over the third quarter.Bravo pointed out that the figures were achieved against the 'exceptional' numbers seen in the previous year. With healthy order books, the group 'enters the remaining quarter of the year with continued momentum', she added.Growth on the retail side was driven by new stores, with only a 'marginal' performance from existing outlets. New stores were opened in Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore.The US market remained strong while Korea was resilient in a 'volatile' environment. In Europe, the UK performance reflected the 'sluggish' market while continental Europe continued to gain momentum.There was strong growth in licensing, with an underlying sales rise of 18%, although the important Japanese market was static after two years of substantial gains.The group did particularly well in fragrances, following the 'outstanding launch' of its Burberry Brit perfume. YESTERDAY'S FTSE TRADING: Burberry checks into the FTSEBy UPDATED:12:38 GMT, 2 September 2009It's a big month for Burberry. The 153-year-old British luxury fashion house will be showcasing its spring 2010 Prorsum collection at the 25th anniversary of London Fashion Week on September 22. It will be the first time it has shown its collection on home soil, having decided to switch its show from the catwalks of Milan. But before then, on September 9, chief executive Angela Ahrendts and the rest of her board should be popping pink champagne corks in celebration of the group's first admission to the elite Footsie index since floating on the London Stock Exchange in July 2002.Trendy tracker funds busily bid for stock in anticipationyesterday, chasing the shares up to 502½p before they closed 5.6pbetter at 489¼p.Burberry, whose trademark black-red-tan tartan is known the worldover, has displayed resilience during the recession. Retail hascontinued to see strong double-digit sales growth in Europe, especiallyin the UK, helped by tourist traffic and Asia. The U.S. and Spain hasremained difficult. Following first-quarter figures in July, Investec upgraded its2010 pretax profit forecast from a bottom-end-of-the-range £161millionto £171million, and from £185million to £202million for 2011. Historically a weak month for equities on both sides of thePond, September began on a dull note. Some profits were taken off thetable following the recent strong summer advance. The FTSE 100 closed 89.20 points down at 4,819.70 and the FTSE 250 197.83 off at 8,619.68. Shanghai's 6.7 per cent fall overnight on concerns that lending curbsin China will dampen growth in the world's third largest economy rockedthe boat. Then dealers heard that broker Credit Suisse had reduced itsweighting on the UK equity market to 5 per cent from 15 per cent. Wall Street slumped 152 points in the early stages despite aleading survey showed the U.S. manufacturing sector returned to growth inAugust after a prolonged slump. Buyers were all over drugs giant AstraZeneca like arash and the shares touched 2930p before closing 16p better at2855½p. They were excited by news that in a clinical trial, Brilinta,its blood thinning pill, had significantly reduced patients' rate ofsuffering a heart attack or dying from cardiovascular problems whencompared with the blockbuster drug Plavix, sold by Sanofi-Avents andBristol-Myers Squibb. Goldman Sachs raised its AZ 12-month target priceto £30 from £28. Reports of a pending upbeat circular lifted household goods giant Reckitt Benckiser 27p to 2880p. Growing fears that a £600million rights issue is on the agenda left insurance group RSA down 6¼p to 124.4p. Renewed buying in anticipation of pleasing half-year figures later this month helped insurer Gable Holdings edgea fraction higher to 10½p. Chief executive Bill Dewsall's strategy isto tap into profitable niche insurance businesses in a number ofEuropean markets. Computer games retailer Game Group zapped 4½p higherto 165p amid industry gossip that the price of Nintendo Wii is about tobe reduced to £149 from £199. Altium Securities says were it to happen,it would be the third of the three major consoles to cut its price in alittle over a week. Hardy Oil Gas gushed 21p to 362½p afterdrilling the first well on the group's D9 exploration licence. It holdsa 10pc participating interest in D9 which is operated by RelianceIndustries. It is located in Krishna Godavari basin on the East Coastof India. Kiwara cheapened 2p to 40p on profit-taking. Sellersmight well rue the day because rumours doing the rounds last nightsuggested a further upbeat resources statement on its Kalumbila copperprospect in Zambia is imminent. Canary Wharf's largest landlord Songbird Estates added1p at 34¾p. Qatar Holdings, part of the Gulf country's sovereignwealth fund, has said it plans to become its biggest shareholder.Songbird last week revealed plans to sell shares to institutionsincluding Qatar and China Investment Corporation, to repay an£880million loan. Demand ahead of today's interims helped K3 Business Technology climb 7p to 92½p. The provider of retail and manufacturing software to Adidas andRymans said in July that the business remains strongly cash generative. Burberry checks out male marketBy UPDATED:13:22 GMT, 10 July 2006UNDETERRED by the sight of English football fans in Burberry baseball caps, Angela Ahrendts, the new boss of the iconic brand, is planning ' menonly' stores in a move to reach a wider audience. The American, who last week replaced Rose Marie Bravo as chief executive of Burberry, downplayed the company's reputation as the brand of choice for 'chavs'. 'This is a very British notion,' she said, adding that Burberry is perceived as a 'modern classic brand' globally and that different formats, including dedicated accessory stores, will be looked at. New ranges for men will be modelled by singer Bryan Ferry's sons Otis and Isaac, as well as members of the band Kasabian. Kate Moss and Stella Tennant will be among the models promoting Burberry's creations when it launches an autumn advertising campaign. Ahrendts, former vicepresident of Liz Claiborne in the US, added that she was keen to expand Burberry's presence in North America. Burberry will report firstquarter trading on Wednesday. Analysts at JPMorgan expect a 16% rise in sales to 131.6m.Burberry cuts 300 jobs and closes factory as credit crunch hits luxury brandsBy UPDATED:11:38 GMT, 20 January 2009 Luxury clothing brand Burberry said today that it was cutting up to 300 UK jobs and closing one of its factories.Burberry said the plant in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which sews basic outerwear for the label, is to shut with the loss of 170 jobs.Further UK staff whose work relates to the Rotherham factory could also lose their jobs. Hit by recession: Victoria Beckham steps out in a Burberry headscarf in 2000 while Kate Moss models for the luxury clothing brand in 2003The cuts could mean the loss of up to 290 UK workers.Burberry, which employs 2,000 staff in the UK, said production would be consolidated at its other Yorkshire factory in Castleford.Meanwhile there further job losses at a food firm that supplies Marks and Spencer. Dutch-owned Vion said 470 jobs will be lost at its Haverhill site in Suffolk, 200 at Malton in North Yorkshire and 150 at Cambuslang in Scotland.Burberry said the measures were part of a global cost-cutting campaign which will see a total loss of around 540 jobs in the UK and Spain.It said the move would save the company between £30 million and £35 million.Tim Roache, regional officer of the GMB union, said: "This is very bad news for Rotherham. We will want to have a thorough discussion with Burberry on the logic of this rationalisation before we are able to move forward."We have been around the blocks with Burberry before as they sought to move jobs from the UK to China - we want to make sure nothing like that is happening this time." Job cuts: Burberry has annonced that it is cutting up to 300 UK jobs and closing one of its factories. Agyness Deyn (middle) pictured in the Spring 2008 campaign In 2006 Burberry announced the closure of its factory in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, which employed 300 people. The move prompted a celebrity-backed union campaign but the closure went ahead.The company, which employs 6,000 staff globally, said it had no plans to leave the UK.Burberry said the job cuts were linked to "evolving its supply chain" and were not prompted by the global economic downturn.However, Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts said: "This will position us to trade through the current difficult environment and emerge even stronger when the global economy recovers."The Rotherham sewing facility has been owned by Burberry for less than five years.Other UK jobs affected are at the firm's Castleford and Keighley factories, neither of which will close.The company said only 7 per cent of its sales were in the UK.Burberry also announced today that underlying group revenues grew 9% in the three months to December 31.It said profit would be in line with previous guidance, which was in the mid to lower half of market expectations. Burberry cuts a fine figureBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 13 October 2002LUXURY goods group Burberry reported continued sales growth over the second quarter, pushing underlying sales ahead by 9% for the six months to end-September. Sales on the retail side, which account for almost a third of the group total, were up by about 8% like-for-like. 'These results were particularly notable given the trading conditions,' said chief executive Rose Marie Bravo. Burberry floated on the stock market in July at 230p but swiftly fell to a discount and the shares are trading at around 196p. Burberry trench coat and bag sales defy fears of slowdown in demand for luxury goods By UPDATED:10:28 GMT, 12 October 2011Burberry has shrugged off concerns about the global economic outlook, stressing demand for its luxury branded coats and bags remains strong.The company said bumper sales through its Chinese outlets and flagship stores in London, Paris and New York helped half-year revenues jump by 30 per cent to £830million in the six months to September 30.Although the update beat City hopes, Burberry shares slumped when the markets opened, but they recovered to trade 2 per cent or 29.5p ahead at1,293.5p by mid-morning.Burberry, which is famous for its red, black and camel-checked clothes and accessories, said Chinese outlets acquired a year ago showed same store growth of 30 per cent over the past six months.Worldwide retail revenues rose by 45 per cent, with like-for-like sales growth up slightly in the second quarter to 30 September to 16 per cent, from 15 per cent in the first three months.Total retail growth slowed to 42 per cent in the second quarter from 49 per cent in the first.Outerwear and large leather goods accounted for half of the growth, with the Burberry London trench coat range a major contributor.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said the company's first half performance 'clearly demonstrates' the continued global momentum of the Burberry brand, though the group was prepared to 'respond appropriately' if there was any significant change in demand in the luxury sector.Burberry said wholesale revenues rose by a better-than-expected 20 per cent excluding China. Shoes, childrenswear, menswear and men's accessories all did well, Burberry said, especially in the U.S. and emerging markets.Licensing revenue rose by 4 per cent, but like the retail arm, both licensing and wholesale's growth slowed in the second quarter compared to the first.Over the remainder of the year, wholesale revenues are expected to slow again and rise by mid-single digits, against 9 per cent in the first half, with licensing to rise by a similar percentage to the first six months.Margins improved slightly over the half with a modest rise expected for the full year.Burberry added it expects to add 15 per cent more store space over the rest of the year through between eight and 10 new stores, including a store in Paris and outlets in Latin America and China.At the end of September, the group had 187 retail stores, 210 concessions. 44 outlet shops and 52 franchises.View from the CityDavid Jeary, an analyst at asset manager Investec Securities, said concerns about growth in China had been overdone and today's update underlined the strength of the group's strategy. He forecast profits for the year of £365million.Dolmen Stockbrokers, which has a buy recommendation on the shares, said: 'Overall, this is a strong set of sales numbers by the luxury goods retailer who has outperformed the FTSE 100 by 18 per cent year to date and while the stock trades at over 17 time earnings, the brand is still clearly still in vogue.' Burberry defies UK gloom as top global shopping cities hold up demand for luxury goods By UPDATED:13:46 GMT, 17 January 2012Burberry reported strong trading in the last quarter of 2011, shrugging off concerns over faltering demand within high-end markets thanks to its popularity in the worlds top shopping cities. Strong performance in London, Beijing, Hong Kong and Paris helped the luxury brands revenues up 21 per cent in the three months to December 31.The luxury brand, famous for its check design and trench coats, said retail like-for-like sales were up 13 per cent thanks to growth in knitwear, mens accessories and tailoring, fragrance and watches along with strong sales of traditional Burberry favourites such as jackets and leather handbags. Overall underlying revenues were 36 per cent higher in booming Asia Pacific markets, offset by more subdued growth of 4 per cent in the Americas. In Europe, underlying revenues were up 20 per cent, helping Burberry offset fears of dampened demand for high-end goods in the wake of the eurozone crisis.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts pointed to the brands investments in flagship markets and digital technology as the key to the growth in sales. She said: Looking ahead, we remain focused on executing our proven core strategies to achieve long-term sustainable growth, while staying mindful of the challenging macro environment.Burberry continued to expand during the period into markets with new-found disposable income for luxury items, such as Brazil, but also consolidated in more traditional shopping cities, with six new stores opening in cities such as Sao Paulo and Paris. The company also said its social media strategy was helping as it attracted over 10million fans to its Facebook page. Burberry enjoys 49% profits rise but shares slipBy UPDATED:11:23 GMT, 16 November 2010Luxury goods group Burberry beat forecasts with a 49% jump in first-half profit as fewer markdowns and better management of stock combined with an already-reported rise in sales.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said she expected the group's trademark trenchcoats to sell particularly well this Christmas.'We cannot keep them on the shelves. I think trenchcoats are going to be a best seller this year,' she told reporters, adding the 154-year-old firm would launch an online service allowing shoppers to create a bespoke coat early next year.Burberry, known for its camel, red and black check pattern, made a pre-tax profit of £129m in the six months to September 30, beating a forecast for £114m in a Reuters poll.The group's positive tone echoed that of other luxury firms such as LVMH and PPR as the world moves out of recession and high-end companies benefit from a surge in big-spending Chinese tourists.However, US consultancy Bain forecast last month that luxury sales growth would slow to 3-5% next year from 10% in 2010, as the basis for comparison becomes higher and currency moves could hamper tourist flows.Burberry said last month it expected full-year profit in the top half of analysts' forecast range of £240-270m , after a 21% rise in first-half revenue boosted by sales of coats and leather goods.Finance chief Stacey Cartwright said she did not expect analysts to change their forecasts after upgrades then.Citi analyst Thomas Chauvet, however, said he thought the consensus profit forecast would rise to £280-285m , though he kept a 'hold' investment rating on the shares, saying the good news was largely priced in after recent strong gains.Burberry shares, which have surged by around 70% in value this year, periodically boosted by bid speculation, were up 0.5% at 0850 GMT but fell back by 1100 to stand 2p (0.2%) down at 1,018p.'The shares may have fallen foul of high expectations in early trade, despite having beaten most analyst forecasts,' said Richard Hunter, head of UK equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.'The increase in both margin and in particular profit is stellar, even if this had been largely trailed at the trading update in October,' Hunter said, but added that the second half may be more difficult.The company continued to expand, opening 20 stores in the first half in addition to 43 stores acquired in China as it converted operations from wholesale to retail. Burberry said it plans to open 10 more stores in the second half, with half of them in China.Burberry said it had net cash of £181m, but Cartwright declined to be drawn on how this might be used apart from the already-announced expansion plans, and said the board believed it was right to retain a prudent balance sheet.The group, which is opening stores and investing online, lifted its interim dividend by 43% to 5p a share.Burberry enjoys Asia swingBy UPDATED:22:14 GMT, 17 April 2010Burberry is expected to confirm on Tuesday that its sales are continuing to boom in Asia. Sales in countries such as Japan have jumped by a fifth in the past three months on the popularity of expanded ranges of shoes and childrenswear introduced across the globe. Worldwide own-store sales are believed to have grown by more thanten per cent in the second half of its financial year to March,excluding the impact of foreign currency changes.Dennis Weber of broker Evolution Securities predicted 'strong' figures. Analysts expect profits to have grown by 14 per cent to £200 million on annual sales of £1.3billion. Burberry enjoys Asia upswingBy UPDATED:11:21 GMT, 18 April 2010Burberry is expected to confirm on Tuesday that its sales are continuing to boom in Asia. Sales in countries such as Japan have jumped by a fifth in the past three months on the popularity of expanded ranges of shoes and childrenswear introduced across the globe. Worldwide own-store sales are believed to have grown by more than ten per cent in the second half of its financial year to March, excluding the impact of foreign currency changes. Dennis Weber of broker Evolution Securities predicted 'strong' figures. Analysts expect profits to have grown by 14 per cent to 200 million on annual sales of 1.3 billion. Burberry entrenches its market shareBy UPDATED:10:48 GMT, 15 October 2008Shoppers' continuing love affair with Burberry trench coats and its iconic camel check helped the luxury goods retailer rack up a 13% rise in revenues to £539m for the six months to September. Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said she was pleased with Burberry's performance 'against the background of an increasingly challenging external environment'. But in a sign Burberry (down 33p at 288p) may not be recession proof, underlying sales growth slowed from 4.5% in the first quarter to 2.5% in the second quarter.In light of the slowing growth, the firm said Christmas would be difficult to judge. Stacey Cartwright, Burberry's finance director, was hopeful the group's focus on unique gift items ranging from exotic handbags to jewellery, hats and scarves would help keep sales buoyant. 'The fact that we are delivering positive like-for-like sales in almost all our markets shows there is still confidence at the higher end. It's not all about gloom,' she said. However, the group admitted a lower percentage of merchandise was sold at full price, impacting gross profit margins by around two percentage points. Cartwright stressed this was offset by tight control of discretionary expenses and was 'entirely manageable'.Burberry eyes expansion after robust resultsBy UPDATED:17:09 GMT, 26 May 2010Shares in Burberry rose on Wednesday as the luxury goods group posted better than expected results, boosted by new stores and an online marketing drive. The firm, famous for its camel, red and black check pattern, said profits before tax jumped by 23 per cent to £215million for the year to the end of March, beating City forecasts of £205million. Retail sales increased by 19 per cent to £748.8million, accounting for 58 per cent of total sales following the opening of 21 outlets in the year and the closure of nine. 'We do believe that Burberry, distinct from what's happening in themarketplace, has got specific momentum in the brand right now,' StaceyCartwright, the groups chief financial officer said.Burberry said it would almost double its capital spending to £130million to support its expansion drive. Its plans include new stores inemerging markets such as Brazil, Mexico and India as well as furtherinvestment in e-commerce and menswear. Cartwright also said that the company would launch a new digital platform later in 2010 to replace a number of local websites. The full-year dividend was lifted 17 per cent to 14p a share. Burberry eyes expansion drive after strong end to the yearBy UPDATED:09:28 GMT, 19 April 2011Shares in Burberry jumped nearly 8 per cent during early trading on Tuesday after the fashion house reported strong results.The company, best known for its camel, red and black check, said it expected full-year profits to be at the end of expectations after posting a 32 per cent increase in revenues to £390million in the three months to March. Retail revenues came in 42 per cent higher to £596million in the six months to March, while wholesale revenues rose 14 per cent to £214million in the same period. Burberry said wholesale revenues were driven by soaring sales in China, while the Americas and Asia Pacific also outperformed. Burberry had a strong finish to the year, driven by our design,digital marketing and retail initiatives, as well as good earlyprogress in China, said Angela Ahrendts, Burberry chief executive.She added: While the luxury industry faces global challenges in theyear ahead, we remain confident in our team's ability to outperform,underpinned by the consistent execution of our key strategies. Burberry also announced ambitious plans to step up its overseasexpansion by increasing store space by 12 per cent to 13 per cent inaverage retail selling space in the financial year to March 2012,mainly in China, Latin America and the Middle East. Analyst Katharine Wynne, of brokers Investec, said the fashionhouses expectation of full-year profits to March 2011 at the top endof forecasts implies a figure of £290million. Burberry eyes up Laura AshleyBy UPDATED:00:00 GMT, 22 February 2004ROSE Marie Bravo, the chief executive of the Burberry fashion group, is believed to be looking at a bid for beleaguered store chain Laura Ashley. Bravo, the highest-earning female boss at a British quoted company - she has a pay and bonus package worth 6m a year - has told close friends she is considering a number of options and is keen to take on a new challenge. According to one source, Bravo has sounded out a major US private equity firm, thought to be KKR, about a deal to buy Laura Ashley. The company, famed for its floral print dresses, is 43 per cent-owned by Malaysian United Industries. The business has spectacularly failed to return to the black despite millions in investment. Laura Ashley reported an eight% fall in fashion sales in the 24 weeks to 10 January, though there was a three% rise for home furnishings. Shares ended last week at 11 1/4p - compared with a 12-month high of 17p - valuing the company at slightly more than 84m. Though family commitments mean that the American-born Bravo would like to spend more time in her native country, she has also been closely linked with the chief executive post at luxury goods and fashion group Gucci. Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, which owns Gucci, has made repeated offers to Bravo to succeed Domenico De Sole, who leaves in April. The latest deal, said to be 'breathtaking', was offered just a few weeks ago, according to another close source. Bravo has headed Burberry for seven years and was recently named as the 'most powerful woman in fashion', outranking Vogue's Anna Wintour and fashion guru Donna Karan in a magazine poll. She is credited with turning the 148-year-old Burberry plaid into a style icon, used on everything from umbrellas to ball gowns. But although Burberry recently announced an 11% rise in retail sales, the UK market has been tough. Bravo has endured shareholder revolts over the size of her pay package. If her contract were to be terminated she would be in line for a 12m pay-off. Neither Bravo nor Burberry would comment. Burberry fashions bumper trading to shrug off gloom By UPDATED:21:00 GMT, 12 October 2011Soaring sales of mens shoes and trench coats helped Burberry smash through half-year trading targets. The bumper update from the UKs biggest luxury goods firm catapulted Burberrys stock market value ahead of its more pedestrian rival Marks Spencer. The firm famous for its camel, red and black check has been a stellar retail performer shrugging off the gloom engulfing the High Street as its wealthy followers of fashion, seduced by a raft of fancy new products, continue to spend through the downturn. The fashion house beat forecasts with a 30 per cent rise in total sales to £830m for the six months to September 30, with underlying sales at its store network grew 16 per cent. Revenues from wholesaling rose 9 per cent to £248m while licensing grew 4 per cent to £54m. Burberry along with rival luxury goods firms LVMH and Richemont has seen strong demand from a burgeoning middle class customer in China and Brazil. Finance director Stacey Cartwright said while the firm was not immune to the downturn there is some insulation for the luxury sector as a result of new wealthy clients you see around the world. She added there was no evidence of any slowdown what we have seen is consistent strong brand momentum and business growth.Burberrys shares rose 4 per cent or 50p to 1314.03p on the back of the update, pushing its market value to £5.7bn, well ahead of Marks Spencer at £5.2bn. New products in menswear including trainers, shoes and leather skins for iPads drove sales, along with new store openings and tourists from around the world, including China, Brazil and Russia. Spending by travellers accounted for half the revenues seen in flagship Burberry stores in many of the worlds major cities.Over the past six months customers have piled into the firms trademark trenchcoats, which can cost anything from hundreds of pounds to as much as £12,000. While Burberrys new fragrance for women has also sold well. A slowdown in the Chinese economy, which wiped 16 per cent off the value of Burberrys shares earlier this month, has yet to show any sign of affecting sales. David Jeary, an analyst at broker Investec, said: Concerns about Chinese growth have weighed on the shares of late we feel this is overdone, and the statement demonstrates the continued momentum of the group and the strength of its strategy. There has been no slowdown in China stores. Burberry fashions fuller figuresBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 23 May 2004TOP fashion outfit Burberry's full-year profits rose 21%, as its colourful new lines cut a dash in a resurgent global luxury goods market.Earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (EBITA) came in at 141.2m, up from the previous year's 116.7m as total revenues rose 15%.The 150-year-old company, whose trademark beige check still ranks among the top sellers of a range that now includes candy check pink accessories, said it looked ahead to the current financial year with confidence as its EBITA margins rose to 20.9% from 19.7%.Shares in Burberry, which is majority owned by retailer Great Universal Stores, closed at 367 3/4p on Friday. The shares have underperformed the UK retail sector by about 5% this year.A final dividend of 3p per share was proposed, making the total payout for the year 4.5p, a 50% increase.Burberry shares closed on Friday at 370p, valuing the group at 1.85bn.Burberry feels the pinch as rivals cut pricesBy UPDATED:11:31 GMT, 12 January 2005SALES growth slowed at luxury goods group Burberry over the third quarter, hit by a combination of weaker consumer spending in Britain and price-cutting by rival fashion chains.Underlying sales, which exclude the impact of currency movements, were ahead by 7% in the three months to 1 January, a performance described by chief executive Rose Marie Bravo as 'solid'. She expects the group to meet City analysts' full-year profit expectations of up to 160m.Best sellers over Christmas were charm watch bracelets, small leather accessories and ponchos. For the current season, Burberry's 495 Cinda bag is selling particularly well, with a waiting list at stores. US retail sales increased in line with space growth, while in Asia, Korea remained 'volatile' and there was 'vigorous' growth in Hong Kong. The UK market, which accounts for around 10% of group sales, was weak. Finance director Stacey Cartwright said Burberry's popularity with so-called 'chavs', who have hijacked its traditional plaid pattern, 'won't have helped'. But she added: 'As we move into 2005, it's yesterday's news.' Burberry shares were down 13p at 404p by mid-morning.Burberry finance chief heads for exitBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 4 August 2003ROSE Marie Bravo's Burberry is losing its chief operating and financial officer, Michael Metcalf, who has decided to 'look for new opportunities' outside the fashion and luxury goods group. Burberry dismissed suggestions of any boardroom rift, saying the departure is entirely amicable. Metcalf, who earned almost 1m in pay and bonuses last year, will stay until the end of next March and will not get any compensation payment. The search for a replacement is already under way. Metcalf has been with Burberry for five years but, at the age of 51, is thought to be keen to secure a chief executive position. Before joining the luxury goods group, he was chief executive of Thorn. Bravo was generous with her praise for Metcalf: 'We will be sorry to see Mike go but we respect both his decision and the thoughtfulness with which he is orchestrating his departure.'Burberry braved turbulent markets when it floated last year. Former parent company GUS retains a 77% stake. Burberry shares were today down 3p at 294 1/2p, against the float price of 230p. Metcalf will retain options on more than 194,000 shares, exerciseable at the float price. At today's level, they are worth 577,000. Burberry first quarter in the pinkBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 18 July 2004FIRST-quarter revenues at Burberry made good gains driven by strong retail sales, the British fashion house said on Monday. Burberry said sales for the three months to 30 June rose 14% at constant exchange rates as retail sales pushed 15% higher. The company, whose traditional beige check remains a British design icon, did not provide a cash value for its first quarter sales performance. 'The financial year is off to a good start ... we achieved strong sell-through of remaining spring/summer merchandise and experienced an encouraging initial consumer response to our autumn/winter collections,' Bravo said in a statement.Burberry's traditionally conservative image has been radically re-engineered in recent years, and the company said in May new lines such as a pink version of its classic raincoat had helped it post a 21% increase in earnings for the year.Burberry shares closed at 398 3/4p in London on Friday.Burberry flotation on courseBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 6 July 2002FASHION Group Burberry is shrugging off market turmoil and pressing ahead with its flotation this week. The 150-year-old company that trades on its British-ness is said to be attracting a large number of investors because of its strong sales potential in Asia and the USA. It recently opened stores in the trendy SoHo district of New York and in Beverly Hills, California.Shares are expected to start trading on Wednesday towards the bottom of their 230p-290p price range - probably around the 250p mark, say City bookies.Burberry follows Avatar's lead as first label to stream 3D show at London Fashion WeekBy and UPDATED:16:57 GMT, 8 February 2010Red and green glasses are not much of a fashion statement - but this appears little obstacle for British fashion label Burberry, which is set to make history by broadcasting its upcoming catwalk show live in 3D.The 154-year-old brand, which continues to defy the recession with soaring profits, has announced plans to stream its upcoming London Fashion Week show at a string of parties in New York, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo and Los Angeles. Guests can expect to enjoy something akin to a front row experience - which was limited last season to A-listers including Gwyneth Paltrow, Freida Pinto, Alexa Chung, Mary-Kate Olsen and Liv Tyler - to see details such as the texture of fabrics.Taking fashion to a new dimension: Burberry will be streaming its upcoming London Fashion Week show in 3D at a string of parties in New York, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo and Los Angeles in FebruaryThe parties will be by invitation only, but fans of the label can watch the show like - albeit in 2D - on the Burberry website.Christopher Bailey, Burberrys chief creative officer, said: 'We are very excited we are hosting the first ever truly global fashion show. 'This unprecedented event will enable people to experience the energy and atmosphere of this show from around the world.'3D technology will bring our global audience into the London show space allowing them to see the colours and fabrics, to hear the music and to be a part of that moment when it all finally comes together.' By Invitation only: The stars will no doubt steal the show again, as they did last September. From left, Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Alexa Chung, Mary Kate Olsen, Liv Tyler, Emma Watson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario TestinoHe added that there would also be pre-show behind the scenes coverage, backstage footage and red carpet arrivals.The decision to broadcast the show in 3D follows the success of James Cameron's latest epic, Avatar, as well as Sky's plan to show weekly 3D football matches in pubs from April.Burberry's innovative business acumen has resulted in sales soaring to £380 million in the final three months of last year, following the launch of an advertising campaign starring Harry Potter star Emma Watson, 19 - last week named Hollywood's highest-paid actress. The label returned to London last September, after a decade of showing in Milan bringing along an A-list audience, including Anna Wintour.The U.S Vogue editor made an appearance at London Fashion Week for the first time to attend Burberry's show. The upcoming autumn/winter 2010 womenswear collection is to be shown at the Chelsea College of Art on 23 February.The British Fashion Council revealed last week that it will be streaming shows live in 2D via the London Fashion Week website.Magic moment: Emma Watson, who is the face of the label, was named Hollywood's highest-paid actressBurberry hits 10 million mark to become most popular luxury brand on Facebook - and unveils new Eddie Redmayne and Cara Delevingne films to thank fans By UPDATED:18:47 GMT, 4 January 2012As Burberry today unveils its new spring/summer campaign in store windows and across social media networking sites, millions of ardent fans will be watching.Just last month, it was announced that the British company had become the world's most successful luxury fashion brand on Facebook and Twitter, with a record 10million fans on Facebook, and almost 700,000 following the brand's regular UK feed on Twitter. Meanwhile, they have thousands more global Twitter fans following their international feeds and post exclusive content on their own YouTube channel.Burberry's social media success has grown exponentially - and it is still growing fast. The secret, say consumer experts, is the fact that Burberry share so much unique content exclusively with their followers on social networking platforms, and post new and different content to each one. What is posted on Facebook will be different from that on Twitter, and dialogues are constantly being carried out across both.Just this morning, Burberry placed three new videos from their latest campaign, starring My Week With Marilyn star Eddie Redmayne and Cara Delevingne, onto their YouTube channel.And at the news that the brand had reached 10million Facebook fans, Burberry Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey uploaded a personal thank you via a video message to the site. Days later, a further 163,000 had joined.BURBERRY'S NEWLY RELEASED FILMS FOR SPRING/SUMMER, STARRING EDDIE REDMAYNE AND CARA DELEVINGNE, AND A PERSONAL THANK YOU FROM CHRISTOPHER BAILEY: About the videos, Bailey says: 'We wanted to capture a moment in the lives of two exciting and inspiring British actors who have been part of the Burberry family for several years. 'The images reflect the mood of the collection through Eddie's and Cara's energy, playfulness and effortless elegance and I have such huge admiration for them both.'Follow Burberry at www.facebook.com/burberry, www.twitter.com/burberry, www.youtube.com/burberry, www.burberry.com and www.artofthetrench.com. Burberry hits high note in public debutBy UPDATED:00:00 GMT, 19 November 2002LUXURY goods group Burberry delivered an impressive 32% jump in first-half profits today to 55.1m in its first set of results as a publicly quoted company. Its 1m-a-year chief executive, Rose Marie Bravo, said there had been good gains in the core womenswear operations and further expansion in the higher-margin accessories business, which now accounts for 28% of sales, up from 25%. Menswear also staged a recovery after its recent sluggish performance, benefiting from higher sales of suits and ties. 'Gentlemen are getting back to dressing up again,' said Bravo. Group sales for the six months to 30 September were up 15% to 273.7m, including a 32% jump on the retail side, or 17% like-for-like, to 85.6m. Profits, which were at the top end of expectations, excluded costs related to the group's July flotation. After tumbling as low as 150p at one stage, the shares have since bounced back to outperform the market by 15%, and added 3p today to take them to 250p. There is a maiden interim dividend of 1p. Although highlighting the uncertain economic outlook, Bravo said: 'There will be a Christmas and people will, as usual, exchange gifts.' Top sellers will be cashmere scarves at 150 a throw, as well as handbags and small leather goods. Burberry in defiant mood despite growth slowdownBy UPDATED:08:21 GMT, 15 July 2008The global credit crunch and the worst retail environment in a decade have not stopped luxury fashion house Burberry - yet. The company still best-known for its distinctive check designs says sales continue to rise, but the speed of growth has slowed. Sales in stores rose at 4.5% in the three months to the end of June, against a 6% rise the previous six months. Only 7% of Burberry sales are in the UK, meaning the company is hardly a barometer for the health of the British High Street. But analysts will take heart from signs that the luxury industry is defying the downturn. The troubled Spanish arm remains the only blot on the success story, with sales in Asia and America continuing to soar. The latest must-have item for the fashion-conscious woman-about-town is the Lowry handbag, which at a mere 1295 is a bargain compared with its predecessor - the 11,000 Warrior. Total sales for the period, including new-store openings, are up 22%. Chief executive Angela Ahrendts claims that Burberry remains under-exposed across the world. HSBC, which rates the shares a buy, agrees. It said in a note to investors: 'Burberry's less-mature state of development-than its peers in many markets should enable it to gain new clients.' It is the only major luxury brand with a British heritage, giving it a niche position. Burberry shares have suffered with the rest of the retail sector, down from a year's high of 681p. Today they fell 3p to 393p. Finance director Stacey Cartwright has been working to improve the company's supply chain, so that goods ship when they should. She said today that while more work remained to be done, 'we have certainly made enormous improvements'. Ahrendts said Burberry had made a good start to the year in 'an increasingly challenging environment'. Call the fashion police! Burberry introduces risque $695 leather dress - for TODDLERS By UPDATED:16:48 GMT, 29 October 2011They may be most famous for their trench coats, but Burberry is stirring the fashion pot with its fall line that includes a leather dress - for toddlers.With a price tag of $695, the dress features a round neckline and a back zipper with a flared skirt that comes just to the girls knees.The fashion giant presents the dress as 'finely tailored in buttery soft lambskin from Italy, creates a look of modern luxury.'A post on the website TotSnob.com protested that the Burberry frock is 'wrong on so many levels.'The rant, posted by 'Bag Snob Kelly,' read: 'A leather dress for a little girl? For real? Burberry, you've gone too far Sticky! Uncomfortable! Unbreathable! Sexy! Unseemly!Burberry, with hundreds of stores across the globe, is likely pushing the dress as its latest attempt to target a younger audience with its brand. Fashionista: Harry Potter star Emma Watson poses with her younger brother Alex for Burberry's Spring/Summer 2010 campaignIn 2009, Burberry inked a deal with Harry Potter star Emma Watson after creative director Christopher Bailey claimed she was the obvious choice for their campaign.Miss Watson described it as the 'biggest ego boost of my life.'The British fashion house named Transformers actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as the face of fragrance Burberry Body in July 2011.And Kiernan Shipka, 11, who plays Don Drapers daughter Sally on AMC hit Madmen, was recently photographed donning a Burberry hat. Burberry is top UK label for foreign richBy UPDATED:09:12 GMT, 30 January 2007Burberry may have had a chequered reputation in Britain, but new research shows the raincoat group's reputation is waterproof with overseas label-hunters. Global investment bank UBS has cited 500 international businesses that play to the fantasies of the rich and beautiful. It picks Burberry as the principal UK-listed luxury goods company. The research reflects how, with the help of Kate Moss and some stylish advertising surrounding its 150th anniversary, the company has cracked the international market. It has also overcome the stumbling block that most customers at the luxury end are wealthy middle-aged people in the US and Japan looking for status symbols rather than clothes. Maureen Hinton at retail research group Verdict said: 'Burberry is doing very well at the moment and a lot of the growth there is down to accessories such as the 425 Cinda bag.'In Britain, Burberry's image was pulled down after its clothes became essential kit for chavs - street kids obsessed by labels and jewellery. However, the company has recently re-rated itself under new chief executive Angela Ahrendts, and the shares have risen 50% over the past 12 months.Most of the companies cited in the 176-page research report are Italian and French but there are 22 British clothes groups ranging from Aquascutum to one-time punk designer Vivienne Westwood.Eleven jewellers are also named, including Asprey Garrard, Bentley Skinner and Longmire. There are 24 leather goods and shoe groups ranging from the well-known Church's and Mulberry to the recherch such as WH Gidden, plus perfumes and pens such as Jo Malone and Conway Stewart. Yasuhiro Yamaguchi, UBS's luxury goods specialist, selected 10 companies, including Burberry, for detailed inspection. He tested the UK company alongside a powerful collection of French and Italian companies-with internationally known names - Bulgari, Christian Dior, Hermes, LVMH, Richemont, Swatch, Tod's, PPR and Valentino. Yamaguchi says British companies lag their Continental peers due to diffidence about selling themselves. 'French companies are very good at presenting their heritage and raising the brand value,' he says. 'UK companies make equally high-quality goods but their marketing penetration is weak to non-British customers.'Burberry joins the internet revolutionBy UPDATED:00:00 GMT, 1 November 2004BURBERRY has moved online in order to boost its push into America. The luxury goods group's finance director Stacey Cartwright says: 'It is very early days.' But she hints that internet shopping could soon become a massive source of revenue. When Burberry's US website started selling goods over the internet in September, the public started buying immediately. Cartwright says: 'There are great swathes of the United States where we have no presence. There is a pent up demand.' UK customers could be buying over the internet within a year. It is hoped that the venture will increase the value of the brand which has soared to 1.9bn compared to just 200m when boss Rose Marie Bravo took over in 1997. Burberry keeps rebels in checkBy and UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 25 May 2002RETAIL group GUS is to press ahead with the flotation of fashion house Burberry, despite fierce opposition from some shareholders. GUS, which declares its full-year results on Wednesday, aims to raise up to 375m from floating 25% of Burberry on the London stock market. The listing would value Burberry, which has been made fashionable in recent years by celebrities such as supermodels Kate Moss and Elle Macpherson, at up to 1.5bn. According to sources, Burberry is on track to list towards the end of June. GUS is expected to confirm the float on Wednesday. But investors have called for GUS to demerge Burberry. Under a full demerger, existing GUS investors would receive a share in Burberry and one in the remaining GUS group for each share they currently hold. A source close to the float told Financial Mail: 'Some shareholders made the management look at the possibility of a demerger. They are worried about Burberry not selling at a high enough price in a difficult market for new share issues.' But GUS's management, led by group chief John Peace and Burberry chairman Victor Barnett, are believed to have convinced rebel shareholders to accept a stock market listing. Peace and Barnett believe they can get the right price for Burberry stock in a flotation. GUS has hired American investment bank Merrill Lynch to manage the Burberry flotation. Merrill ran the flotation of pubs group Punch last week - which got away successfully at the second attempt. Punch priced its shares at 230p, raising 160m. It was hoping for 250m. But sources say Punch marked a turning point and convinced GUS to pursue its flotation. One banking source told Financial Mail: 'The market is wide open as long as the price is right.' Burberry lifted by new rangesBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 13 April 2004FRESH evidence the luxury goods market is on the mend came today as Burberry posted a 14% jump in retail sales for the first three months of the year on the back of strong demand for its spring and summer collections. The group, best-known for its trademark check design, said business in Britain was picking up after sluggish pre-Christmas demand. It enjoyed 'vigorous' growth in the US and strong orders in Asia. Chief financial officer Stacey Cartwright said: 'This time last year, we had Sars and the Iraq war affecting the UK, and certainly as we have gone through the quarter there has been an improving trend.' Just 15% of Burberry's clothing now carries its plaid design as chief executive Rose Marie Bravo, one of the best-paid women in the City, continues to rejuvenate the brand. She said colour was the 'key catalyst' for sales across the business with womenswear, floral designs and trench coats selling particularly well. Retail sales were up 14% in the three months to 31 March - the final quarter of Burberry's financial year - against 11% in the third quarter. Wholesale sales increased 16% in the second half. Burberry lifts sales in fine styleBy UPDATED:07:58 GMT, 12 July 2006BURBERRY'S new chief executive today said global sales were up 12% in the spring and early summer. Angela Ahrendts, the former Liz Claiborne boss who started in her post this month, said sales in the UK were among the strongest risers, up more than 10% in April, May and June compared with the previous year. The wet start to the British summer is widely expected to have benefited the group famous for its trenchcoats. Sales from Burberry stores were also strong on the Continent and in the US. Wholesale sales remained sluggish with a 2% increase. Ahrendts has declared that she would be pushing harder to expand the brand in the US. Burberry loves Chinese takeawaysBy UPDATED:15:21 GMT, 13 April 2006A sensational revival of Burberry's fortunes in London has been driven not by chavs but by Chinese. Finance director Stacey Cartwright said a new influx of big-spending tourists from China was splashing out on its classy new ranges in London's upmarket Burberry stores. They are rapidly adding to the more established fan base of rich customers from the Middle East and Russia. Sales from Burberry's shops in the UK were up 6 in the last three months. The figures will be welcomed by incoming chief executive Angela Ahrendt, who replaces outgoing Rose Marie Bravo in July. Burberry's better guesswork on its ranges in the past three months fuelled much of the improvement. A year ago, it put its lightweight spring/summer ranges on the shelves in January, when shoppers were still shivering in snow in many of its key capital cities. This time around, it kept its warmer lines out for longer, with the trademark Burberry trenchcoats and outerwear retaining their prominence. 'Cold weather was good for us this time,' said Cartwright. Sales at Burberry stores across the world in the six months to 31 March were up 13, although wholesale takings were down 7. Burberry makes debut Down UnderBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 21 October 2003BURBERRY has opened its first stand-alone store in Australia, in an upmarket shopping mall under a Melbourne casino owned by Kerry Packer. The London company's products have been distributed in Australia for 15 years through duty-free and wholesale operators, but only now is it dipping its toe into the retail market. The company, which is opening stores in Moscow, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong, also suggested it would look at other sites in Australia. Burberry Group president Thomas O'Neill said in Melbourne he believed the Australian market had the potential to support up to five Burberry stores. The company's decision to open in the Crown casino complex comes at a time when other luxury retailers such as Gucci, Tiffany and Armani have left the site on the south bank of the river to move into Collins Street, a stylish central Melbourne shopping thoroughfare. O'Neill said he might consider a Collins Street store too. 'For luxury brand retailers it's all about opportunities on the real estate side,' O'Neill said. 'We have been looking in Sydney for some time and frankly if something came up on Collins Street in Melbourne we wouldn't discount that.' Burberry last week announced revenues up 17% in the first half. Chief executive Rose Marie Bravo attributed the result to three new shops in Milan, Virginia and Las Vegas. The company has 70 stores and its strongest market in the US. Asian operations were hit badly this year by the Sars virus and the Iraq war. Burberry may be a luxury bargainBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 13 July 2002IN the face of turbulent stock markets and after a string of companies pulled their market debuts recently, retail group GUS managed to float its luxury goods business Burberry on Friday. But GUS, which also owns Argos, succeeded only by pricing the shares at the very bottom of its planned range. Issued at 230p, the shares fell even further and closed at 225p in restricted trading, valuing the whole company at about 1.1bn. Just 22.5% of the company has been floated, with GUS retaining the rest. Could the share price mean it is a bargain opportunity for private investors? Burberry, which will begin its independent life with 10m in cash, has come to market after a remarkable recovery engineered by its highly paid chief executive, Rose Marie Bravo. Operating profits have surged in the past two years and hit 90m in the year to March. They are expected to top 100m next time. This has been achieved by closing loss-making stores, opening outlets in potential growth markets such as East Asia and the US, and taking back control of distribution from licensees wherever possible. Compared with other general retailers, the issue price was slightly high given Burberry's earnings. But the group has expanded its range into products such as perfume and is successfully positioning itself as a luxury products group in the same vein as Gucci and Hermes. Shares in these luxury groups are typically valued at about 14 times forecast underlying earnings. At its present price, Burberry is valued at just ten times its predicted earnings for 2003. But there are dangers for Burberry. First, the sharp rise in profits has so far been brief and some analysts question whether it can sustain anything like that level of growth. Second, there is GUS's stake. GUS has guaranteed not to sell more shares for six months - a short period, which could make the market nervous. On the other hand, GUS is unlikely to undermine its own offspring by selling further shares at less than the original issue price. Midas verdict: Full trading in the shares starts on Thursday, and four days is a long time at present. At current levels, the shares look inexpensive but given the market's jitters they could go still lower. At 210p or below, they are a buy. Otherwise avoid. Engineer is a haven in times of trouble SINCE the technology bubble burst, many investors have turned to old economy companies such as engineers or traditionally defensive sectors such as food and tobacco. Specialist engineer Molins combines both characteristics. The group is a key supplier of machinery to the tobacco industry, with most of the world's big cigarette makers, including British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco, among its clients. Its other line of business is designing and making packaging machinery, and clients include the likes of Unilever. Molins' recent performance has been solid. In 2001, sales rose by 11% to 111m, with pre-tax profits up 40% to 9.4m. It was not always so good. The late Nineties was a difficult period for the tobacco business, particularly in China, where there was huge overcapacity. But the company has turned round its tobacco division and this was the driving force behind its surge in profits. Its packaging business has been less consistent and it made a small operating loss in 2001. But at this year's annual meeting, chairman Peter Byrom said the division was trading ahead of last year and was profitable. As an added extra, the company is planning to redevelop 17 acres near its UK factory at Saunderton, Buckinghamshire, as office space. Surveyors have estimated Molins could reap between 13m and 22m from this. Shares surged to 400p in early May, but the stock has fallen back and ended Friday at 320p. This is just over eight times historic earnings. Midas verdict: As a profitable business linked to highly defensive sectors, Molins offers a relatively secure haven in the troubled shares market. Assuming that it can realise the value of its property and deliver another year of profit growth as expected, it looks cheap. At 320p, the shares are a buy. Midas update SINCE Midas recommended Waste Recycling Group in March at 411p, the shares soared to a high of 463p in May before closing on Friday at 397 1/2p. But aside from the general stock market slump, there is little obvious reason for this fall. Last month, the company announced that chairman Pat Barrett was quitting for 'personal reasons'. While such a sudden departure is not ideal, there is no reason to suspect anything untoward about the announcement. Investors should hold their nerve through this difficult patch. Interim results next month should confirm that WRG is in line to hit full-year targets. Investors in Project Telecom, suggested as a buy by Midas in March at 77 1/2p, should also hold tight. The shares have dipped to 72p, but nothing fundamental has changed about this cash-rich and profitable company. In April it acquired TW Telecom, which manages mobile phone services for a number of organisations in Manchester, including Manchester Airport, and several local councils. Like WRG, Project Telecom will release half-year results next month that should show the group still enjoying rising profits. Burberry posts 13% fall in profitsBy UPDATED:15:24 GMT, 19 May 2009Luxury goods firm Burberry today reported a 13% fall in underlying profits, despite annual revenues topping more than £1bn for the first time.The company has endured one of the most challenging years ever seen in its sector, with profits down to £174.6m for the year to 31 March.Sales, up 21% at £1.2bn, were more than offset by reduced consumer demand which led to a lower proportion of full price sales.Steps taken by Burberry to tackle the global slowdown have included a £50m inventory reduction and a £50m efficiency programme.To date, some 800 staff have left the group - representing 15% of the total workforce. Nearly 300 employees have gone in Spain, with another 400 in manufacturing and the rest from across corporate functions. In January, Burberry announced 170 jobs were going as a result of its plan to close a sewing facility at Rotherham, south Yorkshire.Burberry said revenues in Europe increased by 17% on an underlying basis, helped by an 'exceptional' performance in its London stores.Retail operations contributed just over half the region's revenues, driven by favourable currency rates and increased tourism, as well as its new store at the Westfield shopping centre in West London and concessions in leading department stores.After a strong first half, Burberry said European wholesale revenues declined in the second half due to consumer conditions and store rationalisation.For the first half of this financial year, Burberry is planning to reduce its number of small wholesale accounts by more than 200 - as its own retail presence is increased. Retail now generates more than half the company's revenues, following expansion in regions such as the Middle East.Today's results were ahead of expectations, but shares fell more than 2% after Burberry outperformed the broader market by 40% in the past quarter.Burberry checks into menswear after 26 per cent jump in annual profit By PUBLISHED:21:04 GMT, 23 May 2012 UPDATED:21:04 GMT, 23 May 2012Burberry said it will trial a stand-alone menswear store in London as it posted a 26 per cent jump in annual profit.The luxury fashion brand, which started life 156-years ago selling raincoats sporting its trademark camel, red and black check pattern, overcame the general retail malaise to hawk its high end clothing and accessories.Luxury goods firms have largely been immune from the downturn as wealthy tourists continue to travel and snap up luxury brands. Burberrys chief bean-counter Stacey Cartwright said it operated from a different end of the high street than firms like Clinton Cards which recently collapsed into administration.Pre-tax profits rose to £366m from £295.7m for the year to March 31, in-line with expectations, on sales of £1.8bn.But the shares fell 5pc at one point during the day recovering to close down 17p to 1369p over fears that Europes long-running debt crisis could help trigger an economic slowdown in emerging markets such as China. The dividend was lifted to 25p-a-share from 20p. Burberry president quits after two yearsBy UPDATED:13:02 GMT, 15 November 2005FORMER Gucci top man Brian Blake is quitting Burberry as president and chief operating officer after just two years in the job. The luxury clothes group said that Blake, who oversaw its wholesale, retail and licensing businesses, was leaving for family reasons. He ruled himself out as a possible successor to chief executive Rose Marie Bravo on the same grounds last month. She is to be replaced by New York fashionista Angela Ahrendts, who joins in January on a 19m package. A decision as to whether to find a new chief operating officer will be taken once she has her feet firmly under the desk. Blake, 50, was paid 1.19m in the year to last March, including a 530,000 bonus. But he will receive no pay-off from Burberry when he leaves at the end of the year. He is not expected to take up another job. Bravo said the current cold snap in Europe and the US was welcome as it should trigger sales of the iconic coats and scarves, which had been slow in recent warm weeks. She said: 'With cold weather arriving and the holidays approaching, we enter our most important time of the year with cautious optimism.'UK sales have been hit by the slowdown in consumer spending and by the July terror attacks. Europe saw an underlying decline of 1% in sales with Spain and the UK soft but Italy strong. The US was the strongest performer with a 5% sales rise. Asian sales were 9% better if Japan, where there was a slight decline, is excluded. Emerging markets such as Turkey, Poland and Saudi Arabia improved sales substantially. Sales rose 2% in the six months to end-September with pre-tax profits slipping 1.6% to 78.1m. But before the 3m costs of the Atlas programme to redesign infrastructure, headline operating profits were up 2% at 78.8m. The interim dividend rises 25% to 2.5p. ? Argos owner GUS will reveal details of the demerger of its 66% Burberry stake, worth 1.9bn, on Thursday. Burberry profit warning wipes more than a fifth off shares as China's wealthy shoppers feel the chill By PUBLISHED:09:17 GMT, 11 September 2012 UPDATED:15:39 GMT, 11 September 2012A shock profit alert from luxury fashion house Burberry has knocked a fifth off its share price today.Investors fled the stock, wiping £1billion from its market value, after Burberry admitted sales ground to a halt then started to fall in the past few months, and said profits would come in at the bottom end of current forecasts.The luxury goods firm spent much of the year bucking the gloomy trend in the retail sector due to its exposure to robust emerging markets, especially China. But an industry analyst said today's warning from Burberry showed it was 'not immune' to current economic conditions, as the lengthy global crisis shakes the confidence of even the most wealthy.Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts acknowledged the external environment was 'becoming more challenging'.'Given this background, we are tightly managing discretionary costs and taking appropriate actions to protect short term profitability,' she said.The flat like-for-like sales in the in the 10 weeks to September 8 are a sharp slowdown from the 6 per cent hike reported for the first quarter to June 30.Burberry reported a 24 per cent surge in annual profits to £366million in its last financial year, while total revenues were also up 24 per cent to £1.9billion, as key Asian markets showed more strong growth and flagship stores in London and Paris performed well.The previous range of market forecasts for the current financial year had been for Burberry to achieve profits of between £407million and £455million.Burberry has announced plans to add a further 12 per cent to 14 per cent of selling space in this financial year, but did not give details of store openings in today's update.The group has been focusing on larger format stores, such as its relocated site in London's Regent Street.It is due to issue another trading update on October 11 before its interim results for the six months to the end of September on November 7.Shares in Burberry had plunged 287p at 1,088p by late afternoon.The firm, which was founded in 1856, has 196 retail stores, 207 concessions, 48 outlet shops and 58 franchise stores worldwide,Income shares watch: Burberry hiked its total annual dividend by 25 per cent to 25p when it reported full-year results last May. The shares yield 1.82 per cent.View from the City'Burberry's latest results show that even the top-end of the market isn't functioning at full capacity in the current economic climate,' said Jaana Jatyri, CEO of fashion forecasting company Trendstop.com.'The global economic crisis is dragging on and the longer it drags on the less confident even wealthier individuals become. Unfortunately, people lacking confidence do not shop at Burberry.'By no means will Burberry implode, as it has an in-built hedge in its high net worth customer base and a CEO with an acute understanding of the market, but these figures show that even it is not immune to market conditions.'A percentage of the aspirational buyers that have driven Burberry upwards are starting to run out of steam. In recent years, Burberry has thrived in the emerging markets, where people crave democratic luxury, but even the emerging markets are slowing.'Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, said: 'While disappointing, the cautionary update is not a total surprise. The groups own "clean-up programme", where management is axing cheaper fashion lines in order to buoy prices, is likely to take some responsibility, while the groups exposure to China has already been extensively highlighted.'Comparatives have become increasingly challenging, while a still spluttering U.S. economy remains unhelpful.'In all, and given the additional profits warning, investor appetite is now being thoroughly tested. The connectivity between the developing and developed markets appears to be making itself clear, while management moves to protect the groups long term luxury brand status may now be denting short term performance.Investec Securities analyst Bethany Hocking said: 'We have been fans of Burberry, and remain of the view that the strategy, luxury positioning and management team should lead to long-term sector outperformance.'Today's statement does, however, imply a significant slowdown and Burberry is not immune from wider macro-economic turbulence.' Burberry profits jump by 24% lifted by strong menswear sales By PUBLISHED:12:47 GMT, 23 May 2012 UPDATED:12:47 GMT, 23 May 2012Trenchcoat maker Burberry today reported a 24 per cent jump in annual profits helped by good performance in its menswear division and overseas markets. The luxury fashion group said menswear sales were up 26 per cent thanks to attention to tailoring and enhanced ranges, while non-clothing sales, which include small leather goods, bags and accessories, increased by over 50 per cent. More strong growth in its key Asian markets as well as in flagship stores in London and Paris helped Burberrys total revenues up 24 per cent to £1.9billion in the year to March 31, with pre-tax profits lifted to £366million.The group, which currently has 63 stores in mainland China, accounting for 12 per cent of revenues, said it planned to open 15 new stores over the next year. There are plans for up to 10 new stores to be opened in Central and Latin America as the group continues to invest in growing luxury markets such as Brazil and Mexico. Its focus will be on larger format stores such as its relocated site in Londons Regent Street. As well as doubling its number of Facebook fans to 12million at the year end, Burberry has extended its presence on Chinese social media platforms and launched other initiatives such as Tweetwalk during London Fashion Week. View from the City Richard Hunter, head of equities at Hargreaves Lansdown stockbrokers, described the annual results performance as robust.He added: A 24 per cent rise in pre-tax profits defies some of the economic gloom, whilst the companys exposure to some strong local markets continues to propel prospects. Burberry pushes ahead with floatBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 23 June 2002RETAILER GUS has set an indicative price of between 230p and 290p for shares in the flotation of its luxury goods and fashion arm Burberry. It said the shares should start trading on 12 July. The partial float, via a global offer to institutions, will value Burberry at between 1.15bn and 1.45bn and could make its American chief executive Rose Marie Bravo a total of 10m. The luxury goods market has been struggling since 11 September, leading some analysts to question the timing and pricing of the float. The market had initially looked for a value of 1.2bn to 1.8bn.Last week Gucci posted a worse-than-expected fall in first-quarter profits. Burberry said its autumn/winter sales were likely to be flat, with wholesale orders of the new collection, 'broadly unchanged compared to the prior year'.Burberry denied this meant the brand's rejuvenation had been a one-off hit with the public, saying it primarily reflected 'the effect of the current difficult macro-economic environment on the luxury goods sector and soft domestic demand in Spain'. It also warned that the yen-sterling exchange rate would mainly wipe out the expected increases in Japanese licence income. Sales at Burberry's retail operations 'enjoyed double-digit revenue growth' in the first 11 weeks of the current financial year, but Burberry offered no information on like-for-like sales. Although this is the key measure for UK retailers, Burberry said it should be compared with other companies in the European luxury goods sector such as Gucci and LVMH, which do not reveal these figures. Selling 25% of the issued share capital at the mid-point of the price range would raise a net 282m. Most of this will be spent repaying inter-company debt, leaving Burberry with 10m in cash. Bravo will be paid a basic salary of 1m with a 100% performance-related bonus. She will be granted shares worth 1% of the company's value and options over another 0.5%, giving her a total package worth up to 10m over the next three years. Burberry also named Philip Bowman, group chief executive of Allied Domecq, as a non-executive director alongside the former president and chief executive of L'Oreal USA, Guy Peyrelongue, and GUS finance director David Tyler. Burberry will be chaired by GUS chief executive John Peace. Michael Metcalf, who worked with Bravo at Saks Fifth Avenue, is finance director. Analysts said Burberry had been 'priced to go' to get the float away. John Baillie of SG Securities said: 'If you accept it is a luxury brand, and there is some debate on whether it is, it has been priced conservatively.' Burberry would have a price-earnings ratio of 15-19 while Gucci generally trades at 25-30. Burberry is priced at between two and 2.5 times sales but shares in other luxury brand companies are nearer three times. Fashion that must check outBurberry recovers from downturnBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 13 July 2003LUXURY goods and fashion empire Burberry today reported sales of its distinctive checked clothes and accessories were recovering strongly from the poor start to the year. The designer and retailer, which boasts a host of celebrity clients from Madonna to Lyudmila Putin, wife of the Russian president, worried investors in the spring when it warned that like-for-like sales through its stores had fallen in the first seven weeks of the current quarter. It blamed the impact of the Sars virus and the Iraq conflict, which stopped upmarket tourists from travelling and splurging on its exclusive merchandise.But today, chief executive Rose Marie Bravo was able to deliver positive news on sales, saying that the group's like-for-like sales had turned positive since the first seven weeks, and had ended the quarter on 30 June with same-store sales ahead of last year's. Many analysts had been banking on a recovery at the group, saying the pick-up in international travel cited by airlines and hotel companies in recent weeks should follow through to Burberry, which relies on tourists for about a quarter of its sales.The statement should take some of the heat off Bravo, who has faced controversy over her potential 12.4m termination contract. At tomorrow's annual general meeting she faces shareholders who have been urged by activists including the National Association of Pension Funds to vote against her terms and conditions. Burberry reports 13% fall in profits despite sales riseUPDATED:10:17 GMT, 19 May 2009Luxury goods firm Burberry today reported a 13 per cent fall in underlying profits, despite annual revenues topping more than £1billion for the first time.The profits decline to £174.6million for the year to March 31 came as Burberry endured one of the most challenging years ever seen in its sector.Sales were 21 per cent higher at £1.2billion, up 7 per cent on an underlying basis, but this was more than offset by a decline in margins as reduced consumer demand led to a lower proportion of full price sales.When including restructuring costs of £54.9million and balance sheetwrite-downs of £129.6million, Burberry posted bottom-line losses of£16.1million, against profits of £195.7million a year earlier.Steps taken by Burberry to tackle the global slowdown have includeda £50million inventory reduction and a £50million efficiency programme.To date, some 800 staff have left the group - representing 15 per cent of the total workforce. Nearly 300 employees have gone in Spain, with another 400 inmanufacturing and the rest from across corporate functions. In January,Burberry announced 170 jobs were going as a result of its plan to closea sewing facility at Rotherham, south Yorkshire.Burberry said revenues in Europe increased by 17 per cent on anunderlying basis, helped by an 'exceptional' performance in its Londonstores.Retail operations contributed just over half the region's revenues,driven by favourable currency rates and increased tourism, as well asits new store at the Westfield shopping centre and concessions inleading department stores. Burberry sales jump on strong Chinese demandBy UPDATED:15:31 GMT, 18 January 2011Luxury clothing brand Burberry said on Tuesday it expected full-year profits to be at the top end of forecasts after it reported another better-than-expected rise in third quarter sales.The retailer, known for its red, black and camel tartan design, said group-wide retail sales surged by 36 per cent in the quarter to December 31, boosted by a strong performance in the UK and higher demand from Chinese consumers. Overall revenues jumped by 27 per cent on an underlying basis in the period, while underlying wholesale revenue increased by 15 per cent, the company said. 'As a result, we now expect adjusted profit before tax for the currentfinancial year to be at the top end of market expectations,' said chiefexecutive Angela Ahrendts. The news prompted Numis Securities to upgrade its pre-tax profitsestimation from £271million to £287million, while shares in the companyrose by more than 40 per cent on Tuesday.The fashion group said same-store retail sales jumped by 14 percent, while its operations in Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe alsodelivered double-digit growth. Burberry added that comparable store growth from stores in China was higher than 30 per cent. Burberry sales lifted by luxury goods boostBy UPDATED:20:21 GMT, 26 May 2010Burberry is accelerating its growth plans after strong sales helped the luxury goods group to a 23pc jump in profit in the year to March 31. The better-than-expected result catapulted the shares to the top of the FTSE 100 leaderboard as they closed the day up 46.5p, or nearly 8pc, at 659p. Burberry - which this year features Harry Potter star Emma Watson in its Spring/Summer advertising campaign (pictured) - reported pre-tax profits of £215m. Underlying retail sales increased by 15pc to £748.8m. The result provided further evidence that the market for luxury goods may be rebounding after Prada posted a near six-fold jump in first-quarter revenue on Monday. Both companies benefited from a strong increase in demand among emerging markets. The 154-year-old British company said it would almost double capital spending over the next year to £130m as it announced plans to open between 20 and 30 new outlets over the period, mostly in the Americas and Asia Pacific region. Burberry reported £433.6m of revenues from its wholesale business and £97.5m from its licensing operation, giving total group sales of £1.28bn. Burberry sales surge to 449mBy UPDATED:09:12 GMT, 16 October 2007Recession might be in the air and housing prices could be tumbling, but fashion house Burberry is not feeling the pinch. Sales at the check coats to pricey handbags group rose 19% to 449m in the six months to September, as the company continued to re-invent itself as a major player in the luxury market. The second quarter was particularly strong, thanks to pent-up demand for Burberry items from the newly rich in China and Russia. Finance director Stacey Cartwright said the numbers reinforce the fact that we have elevated ourselves into the luxury market - an industry that has natural insulation from wider economic downturns. Burberry admits a slight problem remains with its supply chain, putting pressure on warehouses. Chief executive Angela Ahrendts in the trading statement said: Our new luxury outerwear, apparel and non-apparel collections have again driven demand in both our retail and wholesale channels. Ahrendts, who took over more than a year ago, remains a low-profile figure but has been meeting investors to explain her long-term strategy. Burberry sees sales getting 10% smarterBy UPDATED:16:04 GMT, 14 November 2006Burberry today upped its sales forecasts after seeing stronger demand from retailers for its quintessentially British fashions. It had suffered from dwindling orders from fashion and department stores frustrated by poor supplies and a botched early move to light, warm-weather ranges in icy January 2005. But it has built up its retailer customers' confidence since then with a host of successful new ranges and a better supply system. Wholesale orders are expected to be close to 10% up on last year. Pre-tax profits in the six months to 30 September fell 2% to 74.6m because of the 9.6m costs of a new supply system but sales rose 11% to 392m. London store sales are booming in the run-up to Christmas. Burberry shares cool as eurozone crisis and US slowdown put brakes on emerging market growth By PUBLISHED:10:15 GMT, 11 July 2012 UPDATED:10:46 GMT, 11 July 2012Shares in Burberry fell 5 per cent today as the luxury giant posted a slight slowdown in quarterly sales amid 'more challenging' trading conditions. The group, which started life 156 years ago selling raincoats with its distinctive camel, red and black check pattern, said total revenues were 11 per cent higher than the same period last year, at £408million, in the quarter to June 30.The rise was lower than the 15 per cent seen in the previous quarter and below City expectations. Store sales were up 14 per cent to £280million, with underlying sales up 6 per cent, boosted by higher prices and a continuing strong demand for its men's clothing and non-apparel range. Burberry, which posted a 16 per cent jump in annual profit, said it saw growth in the UK, France and Germany,with double-digit comparable sales growth in China, with particular strength in Beijing, despite recent fears of a slowdown in Asia. Burberry's and other luxury goods firms' shares have wobbled in recent months over worries about Europe's debt crisis and slowing growth in some emerging markets like China, where runaway demand for high-end goods has offset weaker trends in the United States and Europe. Chief Executive Angela Ahrendts said: 'With continued brand momentum, Burberry has delivered a robust first quarter.'Building on our balanced business model and strong operational foundation, we continue to invest in our retail, digital and marketing strategies to drive long-term sustainable growth, while remaining responsive to the changing external environment.'The group, which opened six mainline stores including the fourth store in Brazil and Russell Street in Hong Kong, is set to reopen two large flagships in London and Chicago later this year.Burberry said it plans to increase its average retail selling space by 12-14 per cent by 2013, with a shiftfrom smaller to larger format stores, such as its relocated site in London's Regent Street. Its sales growth compares well against many of its high street counterparts, with Marks Spencer yesterday reporting a 6.8 per cent drop in non-food comparable sales - its worst performance for more than three years. However, there are concerns that Burberry's performance will slip as the global economic woes take their toll on some of its markets. Burberry's US arm delivered the weakest sales growth in the first quarter, at 2 per cent, as it continues to be hit by the planned rationalisation of wholesale distribution. The group said it expects double-digit percentage growth from its US department store customers, which should reassure that demand remains strong in a key market, according to Seymour Pierce analyst Kate Calvert. She said: China delivered double-digit comparable growth so there appears to be no weakness there which is a concern that has impacted the wider sector generally.We consider Burberry a strong long term growth story, she added.Helal Miah, investment research analyst at The Share Centre said Burberry had a good business model but remained vigilant of the global economic conditions. 'These weaker than expected revenue figures may be a reflection of the worsening confidence in the Eurozone and the Chinese economy experiencing a slowdown. 'Also, the share price has seen an impressive run in recent years and although there has been a moderate pull back in recent months, we continue to recommend investors hold until valuations become a little more attractive.Burberry shares knocked despite profit rise as fashion brand targets 25 wealthiest cities By UPDATED:11:04 GMT, 15 November 2011Burberry suffered a share price fall today despite meeting expectations of a 26 per cent rise in first-half profits thanks to resilient tourist spending.Luxury clothing and accessory brand Burberry posted a profit before tax and one off items of £162million in the six months to September 30, and also pledged to pushed ahead with plans to expand in the 25 wealthiest cities in the worldThis was slightly ahead of expectations - a Reuters poll had predicted £159million of profit on this basis.However, the result left investors nonplussed and Burberry shares traded lower today. A short time ago they stood 64p, or 4.5 per cent, lower at 1,357p.In a statement to accompany the results, Burberry said: 'We remain mindful of, and prepared to react to, any local or global uncertainties'The maker of raincoats and leather goods has performed well despite the financial crisis and responded to the 2008-9 economic downturn by cutting jobs and inventories.Today it said that it would stick to ambitious expansion plans, saying demand in top cities like Hong Kong, London and New York would prove resilient in any downturn.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said Burberry made 60 per cent of retail revenue in 25 cities that are home to the world's wealthiest individuals and attract high numbers of tourists.'Those top 25 markets are much more sheltered during a downturn,' she told reporters.Morgan Stanley analysts said while the company had good momentum, there was little scope for profit forecast upgrades.Nomura analysts noted Burberry shares trade at 20 times forecast earnings, compared with a multiple of 16 for the luxury sector, and kept a neutral rating on the stock. Burberry shares rise on 16% sales surgeBy UPDATED:16:05 GMT, 13 July 2010Shares in Burberry rose nearly 3% today after the company posted a big jump in sales.The luxury clothes maker and retailer, which has an ad campaign fronted by Harry Potter actress Emma Watson, said it saw strong demand for accessories and outerwear.Fresh from a 23% jump in profits to £215m, for the last financial year, Burberry said revenues were up by a better-than-expected 24% in the first quarter to the end of June. The company's share price rose steadily throughout the day to close up 24.5p at 814p - a rise of more than 3%.Sales in its stores were ahead 16% on an underlying basis - which excludes new outlets - and included another strong performance from its UK stores.Burberry said items such as handbags and other non-apparel items were its strongest performing area of business, while outerwear also did well.The company has introduced a pricing policy which has ensured that heritage products such as rainwear and cashmere scarves were never marked down.It has also brought greater clarity to its offering through the labelling of Burberry London as its wear to work range and Burberry Brit as casualwear. And a larger proportion of its marketing spend has been shifted online, boosting awareness and the reach of the Burberry brand. It has more than one million Facebook followers and its social media site, , has received more than several million page views since its launch in November.The company's plans for the current financial year include an increase in capital expenditure to £130m from the £70m spent last year. This will feature between 20 and 30 new stores in areas such as the Americas and Asia Pacific, as well as store refurbishments and investment in digital commerce.It has also sought to 'purify' the Burberry brand by closing inappropriate wholesale accounts. Meanwhile model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has been revealed as the new face of the brand while Watson takes a break from modelling.'Although it is early in the financial year, forecasts are likely to move up,' says Evolution Securities in a note to clients, keeping a 'neutral' rating on Burberry shares.'They need to in order to justify the premium share price rating. The shares are on a 17 times full-year 2011 price-to-earnings ratio, a 5% premium to the sector.'Charles Stanley analyst Sam Hart said the near-term trading outlook remains uncertain given the possible impact of austerity measures on global demand. He added: 'Our best guess is that demand will hold up relatively well and continue to slowly recover from the depressed levels of 2009.'Longer term prospects remain good, given the iconic Burberry brand and plans to leverage the franchise.'Burberry shares gained 170% in 2009 and are up almost 30% this year, compared to a 40% and a 12.5% respective gain for the personal and household goods sector.Burberry continues its global march as sales jump 23 per cent By PUBLISHED:11:03 GMT, 17 April 2012 UPDATED:11:10 GMT, 17 April 2012Strong demand for luxury goods in key markets including the UK, France and China lifted retail sales 23 per cent at Burberry. Sales of knitwear, men's tailoring and accessories, fragrances and watches were all up, and traditional Burberry favourites such as jackets and handbags also did well. Like-for-like store sales were 12 per cent higher, bringing in £743million from the whole 192-shop estate in the six month period to March 31. Broadly in line with the City's expectations, shares never-the-less dipped slightly in trading today after hitting a record high yesterday. They are currently down 80p (5 per cent) at 1,506p. The retailer wants to increase its selling space by between 12 per cent and 14 per cent in the current financial year, with growth weighted towards making stores larger.Across the group and including wholesale markets, revenues were up 18 per cent to £1.03billion in the half year.Burberry's profits are expected to be £372million for the year just ended, compared with £295.7million a year earlier, Investec Securities said.Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown stockbrokers, added that Burberry's growth was the envy of most other retailers, helped by its expansion in Asia and emerging markets.He said: 'Burberry's luxury brand status remains undiminished, with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations potentially providing a boost.' Burberry smashes forecasts after flaunting it at Fashion WeekUPDATED:09:47 GMT, 14 October 2009Luxury goods firm Burberry followed up its successful return to London Fashion Week today by posting sales figures at the top end of expectations.The group's shares rose by more than 3 per cent after it reported a positive response from shoppers to its autumn and winter collection, with handbags and casual outerwear particularly popular.Like-for-like sales in its stores rose by 5 per cent in the quarter to September 30, compared with the flat performance seen in the first quarter.The UK was again one of the company's best performing markets as visitors to London took advantage of the weak pound.Burberry, which was founded in 1856, received praise fromcommentators last month after the fashion house returned to the catwalkat London Fashion Week.After shrugging off its links with 'chav' culture in the UK in recent years, the brand has regained its upmarket reputation.Evolution Securities analyst Dennis Weber said: 'Today's statementconfirms our view that the Burberry brand is likely to continue tooutperform the rest of the luxury sector in the current difficultenvironment.' Out of the cold and into the black: How Burberry's snood is behind 10 per cent rise in profitsBy UPDATED:10:55 GMT, 20 January 2010If you're a luxury fashion house, it seems there is just one way to beat the recession - and the cold.Burberry has attributed strong profits over Christmas to the success of its snood - a cross between a scarf and a hood.The cashmere garment, which costs between £175 and £895, is marketed as the 'new scarf' and was one of the best-selling products in the run-up to a successful December for the business.It bears the classic Burberry print and was one of the key pieces behind the 10 per cent rise in like-for-like retail sales over the period.The snood is supposed to be worn over t-shirts and jeans for a 'casual chic' look.Harry Potter star Emma Watson modelled it in the autumn-winter collection and stars like Gossip Girl's Blake Lively have been snapped in it. There are 11 styles in the autumn-winter collection, from tweed cable knit and fair isle knit to reversible wool check, melange check and plain cashmere.Its success has led to high street versions appearing in shops like Warehouse.Burberry's classic trench coat and accessories such as the Sling and Woolf handbag also helped put the store's profits up.Stacey Cartwright, chief financial officer for Burberry, said sales of the snood had risen by five per cent in the three months between October and December compared to the previous three months.'Snoods landed in stores a few months ago and are proving popular,' she said.She added that consumers were 'willing to spend where they feel thatwhat they are buying is an investment piece, rather than something thatis frivolous and of the season.''Burberry is positioned well in that environment,' she added.The company's annual profits are now predicted to be 'towards the topend of market expectations' - which currently range from £175million to£200million.Meanwhile, Burberry, which has 127 stores throughout the world, is hoping to drum up interest in the brand among the younger generation with high-profile adverts featuring young stars like Emma Watson. It also has more fans on facebook than any other luxury brand.Britain was one of the key countries behind Burberry's rise in profits, with double-digit growth.Although the fashion house did not fare as well a year ago when the recession was at its height, its London stores have been bolstered by the weak pound, attracting foreign shoppers. Tighter stock control has also meant it has discounted fewer items in sales.The 10 per cent rise will come as welcome news to the business after analysts predicted a rise of just three per cent.Angela Ahrendts, chief executive officer, said: 'Burberry has delivered a strong performance in both retail and wholesale, as customers around the world responded positively to our collections.'As a result, we currently expect profit for this financial year to be towards the top end of market expectations. Burberry soars 13% as retailer beats the bluesBy UPDATED:23:45 GMT, 21 April 2009The recession has failed to dent demand for luxury goods from Burberry, sending the company's shares soaring more than 13pc. Burberry said sales through its own stores, which account fornearly 60pc of its business, were up 3pc on a like-for-like basis inthe three months to March 31. In the previous quarter, there had been a 3pc fall.The company said its markets in the United States, Europe and Spain all performed better, with operations in Korea and the UK posting 'exceptional' performances in the period.With the company also on track to deliver £50m of annual cost savings, Burberry said it expected results for the 2008-09 financial year to be around the middle of the current range of market estimates. Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said: 'Burberry made good progress in the second half.' The shares rose 43p to 374.5p, valuing the business at £1.4bn. Burberry sounds sales alarmBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 12 October 2004BURBERRY, the iconic designer label run by Rose Marie Bravo, today warned that it could see a slowdown in sales in its second half, with wholesaling of its spring/summer range for 2005 likely to show 'mid-to-high single-digit growth'.But it said its first-half performance and outlook 'is consistent with expectations for the financial year'.Burberry said in a trading update that wholesale sales, which account for 57% of the total, had moved ahead by 13% on an underlying basis, driven by the US and Asia, although this fell to 8% on a reported basis because of the strength of currencies in its main export markets.It made no comment on sales of its trade-mark checked baseball caps, which it is reported to have withdrawn after adverse publicity about them being worn by less desirable members of society than Burberry's normal target customers.New stores helped drive retail sales up by 12% on an underlying basis in the six months to end-September. Four stores opened in the first half and four more are planned to open in the second. The biggest growth came in the smallest division, licensing, which saw a 31% rise in sales thanks in the main to the launch of the fragrance BurberryBrit for men.Bravo said: 'We are delighted with our new fragrance licence which will deliver ongoing financial and marketing benefits.'The group has signed a new, long-term agreement with Inter Parfums, its existing producer of fragrances. Burberry steals the show at London Fashion Week with fake showers at Hyde Park By UPDATED:13:14 GMT, 21 February 2012London Fashion Week goers were left open-mouthed today when a rumble of thunder and crash of lightning roared through Hyde Park - followed by a downpour that was not predicted in this mornings forecast. But the heavy showers running down the glass windows of Burberrys specially erected show space were not an unexpected weather pattern but the work of a highly-skilled production team. The effects managed to raise excitement from the most jaded followers of fashion even Anna Wintour cracked a smile.Scroll down for videoCountryside colours were muted - burgundy, khakis and mustard tones.Bailey also proved a fan of peplum this season, working the trend into jackets and pencil skirts featuring pockets so large and deep you wouldnt need a handbag.As the last model exited the supersize runway, a moment of silence ensued before the rain started, followed by gold confetti falling on a cacophony of umbrellas for the finale.All looks are now available to buy on Burberrys website for the next seven days.And with clothes like these, you will be praying for real rain. Fashionfront line: 1) Bollywood beauty, Sonam Kapoor; 2) Black Eyed Peas rapper and music producer will.i.am; 3) Model and presenter, Alexa Chung; 4) War Horse star Jeremy Irvine, 5) Birdsong star Clemence Poesy;6) Birdsong actor and Burberry model Eddie Redmayne; 7) Model Rosie Huntington-Whitely; 8) photographer Mario Testino; 9) Actress Kate Bosworth Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Eddie Redmayne and Kate Bosworth attended the LFW presentationBurberry steps up its Olympic effort at the final hurdleBy UPDATED:20:40 GMT, 17 April 2011Luxury fashion house Burberry is in a sprint to beef up its presence in London ahead of next years Olympics.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said the retailer known for its distinctive check pattern was planning to ramp up purchases of retail space in the capital, in a bid to make London its flagship market.She said the increased number of Chinese visitors to Britain was a key factor in the decision, while the Olympics would bring in millions of foreign shoppers.October 2012Prize valueWinning bond No.Area£1,000,000176ND537520Overseas £100,000190YL731192Dudley £100,00086ZY785587West Sussex £100,000186AQ461669Derbyshire £100,000183SA844038Sheffield £100,0005EJ713506Northern Ireland £50,000189HA961605Bradford £50,00017QC030688Nottingham £50,000150ZZ067504Hertfordshire £50,000126RT689109Southampton £50,000111CA212785Greater Manchester £50,00024JC837905Edinburgh £50,000110ZL786330Kent £50,000147QP328139CumbriaBurberry surges 24% with new rangesBy UPDATED:13:44 GMT, 17 April 2007Outstanding demand for its spring outerwear ranges, luxury handbags and a much smaller January sale helped Burberry to a stronger-than-expected final quarter. Retail sales in the last three months of its financial year to March rose by 24%, matching those of the third quarter. Wholesale and licensing growth was as usual slower but still total sales for the year were 15% higher at 850m with much stronger growth in the second half than the first. Finance director Stacey Cartwright said the success of the new ranges had cut short the January sales and brought forward the spring and summer ranges. She said the closure of the Welsh factory last month had not damaged the brand. We announced the closure in September. Some celebrities gave their views without hearing our side of the story. 'But if you want to see the impact on the brand just look at the last half 's sales. Burberry takes a tumble as fears Japanese will slash spending spreadBy UPDATED:22:00 GMT, 14 March 2011Fears the fashion-conscious Japanese will slash spending on luxury goods have wiped more than £200million off the value of Burberry. Its shares fell as much as 6 per cent after investors counted the potential cost of the tsunami. Japan is the world's third-biggest luxury goods market after the US and China, but the Japanese still spend more on high-end brands when adding overseas purchases.Burberry (down 51p to 1122.5p) generates about 7 per cent of its sales in Japan. Concerns over Japan's nuclear crisis hit Amec, down 37p to 1125.1p amid fears of a slowdown at its nuclear services division. Investors placed their bets on providers of alternative energy. Shares in BG Group jumped 54p to 1504.66p on hopes that Britain's largest natural gas producer will be able to help fill Japan's energy breach. Drax, which operates Britain's biggest coal-fired power station, saw its shares rise 12.4p 408.4p. And Aggreko, which makes temporary power generators, soared 116p to 1483.94p, making it the steepest riser on the FTSE 100. Burberry takes axe to British staffBy UPDATED:00:00 GMT, 22 December 2002FASHION group Burberry is axing a quarter of the British workforce that makes its famous check cloth. It is the clearest signal yet that its no-nonsense chief executive Rose Marie Bravo is distancing herself from the beige, red, black and white plaid that has been Burberry's trademark for decades. Twenty-four staff at Burberry's factories in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and Keighley, West Yorkshire, are being made redundant and there is speculation that the two sites may be merged. Much of Burberry's manufacturing has already been moved abroad. Burberry's stock market flotation in July was seen as a bold move at a time when many other luxury brands were suffering. Investors expressed concern that the fickle world of fashion would soon turn against the Burberry check, which has graced everything from bikinis to raincoats and famously even 'It girl' Tamara Beckwith's dog. Bravo, who joined the company in 1997 when it was a subsidiary of mail order giant GUS, has already axed many of the brand's licensees and wholesalers. Sales have more than doubled to 500m in the past three years. However, the Burberry check has been a growing area of concern. Though clever designs and a bold advertising campaign by fashion photographer Mario Testino briefly revitalised the check, its popularity was recognised as fleeting. And as soon as it became the chosen uniform of some football fans, it was dropped by the fashion elite. The check still accounts for 26% of Burberry's business, but Bravo has tried to move the brand on by creating a 'Burberry stripe'. Shares in the firm, which is still 75% owned by GUS, closed on Friday 3p below its flotation price of 230p, valuing the business at 1.1bn. Burberry to defy 'chav effect'By UPDATED:07:38 GMT, 13 April 2005LUXURY goods group Burberry will beat profits expectations this year despite sluggish trading in Britain, where its trademark check pattern is a badge of honour among 'chavs'. Total sales for the second half, to 31 March, rose 6% on an underlying basis and retail sales were up by the same amount. On the wholesale side, the increase was 5%. Describing the figures as 'solid', chief executive Rose Marie Bravo said she expects profits of at least 162m for the year, against expectations of 160m. She added: 'We continue to be encouraged by the vitality of the Burberry brand and the opportunities it presents.'More new stores are in the pipeline, including outlets in Naples, Florida, San Antonio, San Diego and Atlantic City. In Europe, a new shop will be opened in Madrid. Burberry is two-thirds owned by Argos-to-Homebase retailer GUS. It said in January that its UK business had suffered from a lower number of United States tourists visiting London due to the strength of sterling against the greenback.It also said the so-called 'chav' factor 'probably had not helped' the previously upmarket brand's UK performance. However, it downplayed their impact on its business, saying the UK accounted for less than 10% of the group's worldwide sales.It said its fourth-quarter retail performance had been consistent with that of the third quarter.In its US business, as a result of a muted consumer response to early spring women's fashion styles and significant store refurbishment activity, sales growth was driven by extra store space.Burberry to open in MoscowBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 13 October 2003LUXURY goods group Burberry, famous for its raincoats and plaid check patterns, is to open its first store in Russia, chief executive Rose Marie Bravo said.News of the Moscow store came as the group reported better-than-expected sales for the first half, with underlying revenues jumping 16%.Bravo said the group had traded strongly in the six months to 30 September, as the improved conditions of the first quarter continued. It did particularly well in the United States.'Our retail investment, geographic expansion and product development strategies continue to deliver excellent results. With this performance, Burberry's trading is clearly in line with market expectations for the financial year.'Most analysts expect the group to push full year profits ahead from 85m to 128m.Total sales for the six months were up 17%, while underlying retail sales jumped 20% and now account for around a third of the group total.Growth was driven by new stores, with only a 'marginal' contribution from existing outlets. While the US performed well, there were 'varying degrees of recovery' in other markets.Three new stores were opened during the period, in Milan, in Virginia and a second store in Las Vegas. The group remains on schedule to open six new outlets in the second half.The Moscow store, which will be 5,000 square feet, is scheduled to open early next year and will be operated by a third party.On the wholesale side, sales rose by 14%, driven by double-digit gains for the autumn/winter season. Burberry trench biscuit, anyone? The afternoon tea treats inspired by the latest fashion trendsBy UPDATED:00:55 GMT, 19 December 2009Recession or no recession, new designer clothes each season were always out of our price range. Thank goodness then for the wittily-named Pret-à-Portea at The Berkeley, which features cakes and biscuits inspired by the latest collections as part of its afternoon tea. For a snip of the price of the real thing, you can dine on Dior macaroons and Matthew Williamson mousse in the hotel's deliciously-named Caramel Room.Louis Vuitton bunny ears (à la Madonna) feature in this season's collection, as well as Roger Vivier thigh-high boots complete with signature buckle and concave heel. And we adore Mulberry's coveted leopard-print tote, recreated in delicious coconut and white chocolate.Plus, to celebrate Burberry's return to the London catwalk in September, the talented pastry chefs even created a cinnamon trench coat biscuit.To complete the experience, the stylish confections are served up on Paul Smith china, and Champagne is served in Baccarat crystal flutes.It's a truly fashionable experience, but if the winter chill has deterred you from leaving the house, we've got two Pret-à-Portea recipes exclusively for MailOnline readers. CINNAMON BURBERRY TRENCH BISCUITMAKES 20-25 BISCUITSINGREDIENTSMETHODMix the butter with icing sugar, add the flour and cinnamon, followed by the egg whites and melted butter. Put in the fridge to rest for one hour. With a rolling pin, roll it down to ½cm thick and cut into trench coat shapes.Bake in the oven at 180C for approximately 8 minutes. Use two different colours of icing to create the design.TIP: Start with a line of icing on the contour of the coat, let it dry slightly and fill in the middle part. Let it dry completely before adding details like buttons.WHITE CHOCOLATE AND COCONUT MULBERRY HANDBAGMAKES 20-25 CAKESINGREDIENTSFOR THE GANACHEFOR THE MODELLING MARZIPANMETHODFor the ganache, bring the cream to the boil and pour on the chopped white chocolate.Let it cool to 35C then add the soft butter and Grand Marnier. Fold in the toasted coconut and pour on a tray to cool down and become solid. Cut into handbag-sized rectangles.Mix all the ingredients for the modelling marzipan together. Let it rest for 1-2 hours then roll very thin. Cut into a cross shape large enough to put your white chocolate and coconut ganache piece in the centre.Fold the sides of the marzipan 'cross' around the ganache, with the uppermost piece last.Roll a small piece of marzipan for the handle and use edible gold leaf for the clasp. Burberry turns fans' love into 'likes' as it beats Dior to become Facebook's most popular fashion brand By PUBLISHED:20:29 GMT, 19 March 2012 UPDATED:12:00 GMT, 20 March 2012Burberry has taken the lead as Facebook's highest fashion label recipient of post 'likes', surpassing previous leader, Dior.According to market research conducted by , just 18 posts on the British label's page in February, generated 138,537 'likes'. Dior, which was the second most popular fashion brand, generated 118,387 for the same period.Also in the top ten were Coach, Louis Vuitton, Armani and Dolce Gabbana as well as the lesser-known label Yepme which made a surprise entry in the ranking.Butit is the ongoing popularity of streetwear brands like Converse which continue to surprise fashionistas. Fellow footwear brand DC Shoes also made the top ten as well as Nike Football.It was Converse, though, that has the most popular Facebook page (rather than posts), with a mammoth 22.9million page likes. Burberry, by contrast, has just over 11million.It shows how luxury brands are being outdoneby the sportier labels when it comes to page 'likes'. Adidas has 13.2million page likes, making it the second most popular Facebook brand. Nike Football has more than 11million and Puma has just under 7million. Burberry's heightened Facebook presence may be thanks to the label's newest advertising campaign, starring It model Cara Delevingne and British actor Eddie Redmayne, and shot by famed celebrity snapper Mario Testino. It has also more than doubledits activity on the site since January, when it generated just 61,000 post likes.Burberry was also active in the lead up to London Fashion Week,which was staged mid-February. The brand featured preparation updates for its Fall 2012 women's wear collection on Facebook, and also streameda recording of the show. Froma marketing perspective, Facebook post likes are a valuable marketing tool. If a Facebook user chooses to 'like' a brand's content, it demonstrates first-hand approval. Gemma Craven, Head of New York said 'liking' something online can translate to actual sales. 'Brands such as Burberry have realised theres a new customer journey - one that is defined by the increasing impact our social networks have on our purchase decisions,' she said.It is becoming increasingly common for fashion brands to look to Facebook as an indication of product likeability.'The business case for being on Facebook is clear,' said Miss Craven. 'Recent numbers show 60per cent of Facebook fans are more likely to recommend brands they follow.'However, Burberry's current success is undeniable. The label's London Fashion Week showing for Fall 2012 was well-received by critics. Style icons Kate Bosworth and Rosie Huntington-Whitely were both seated front row.As for the show itself, the theatrics seemed endless. Staged inside a glass tent, faux rain poured in an extremely life-like fashion down the side of the glass walls.And elsewhere in the web-sphere, Burberry maintains a popular Twitter feed. Followed by more than 853,000 users, it has been reported that the brand relies on divvying up its exclusive content between social media platforms, to attract optimal fans.Burberry hold star-studded party to launch luxury new watch collection - accompanied by slick Mario Testino campaign By PUBLISHED:15:46 GMT, 3 October 2012 UPDATED:16:13 GMT, 3 October 2012Continuing with his plot for world domination, or at least fashion world domination, Burberry's Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey has launched his first collection of super-luxe automatic watches. The Britain is a range of slick timepieces created to celebrate 156 years of the brand - harnessing all the core elements that are the essence of Burberry: history, craftsmanship, and quality. The collection was launched with a stellar party at the new Burberry flagship at 121 Regent Street - 44,000sq ft of prime fashion real estate that has a hydraulic stage and concert-quality sound system. And that sounds system certainly got tested to its limits last night, as a host of young, beautiful Brits gathered to pay homage to Bailey's latest baby.Olympic gold medal winner Victoria Pendleton rubbed Burberry-clad shoulders with homegrown actors Olivia Grant and Gemma Chan, and singer Ren Harvieu, who performed at the event. Stars of the current Mario Testino-lensed watch campaign were in attendance - actress Gabriella Wilde, who is currently shooting a remake of the horror film Carrie in Los Angeles, musician Rob Pryor and art dealer Harry Scrymgeour.Musician Roo Panes, who composed the track for the autumn/winter campaign, again shot by Testino, was also there in his Burberry best.'The Britain is the embodiment of our rich, British heritage and all our inspirations,' Christopher Bailey said of the timepiece collection.'It is a very personal project that we have been working on for a long time The Britain is this powerful balance of modernity and tradition, mixing strong attitude and innovative design with craftsmanship and timeless quality.' Burberry warmed by rising revenuesBy UPDATED:15:25 GMT, 13 October 2010High street retail was warmed by news that fashion house Burberry revealed a 21% rise in half-year revenues as customers snapped up coats and leather goods. The company, which took centre stage at the recent London Fashion Week, said it continued to build momentum with strong performances in markets including Hong Kong, the UK, Italy and France.It is also targeting more of the Chinese market after recently agreeing a £70m deal to buy out its franchise partner in the country.The company's retail division posted sales growth of 22% in the second quarter, up from 16% in the first quarter after the addition of new space and the transfer of the Chinese operations.Same-store sales rose 8% in the quarter, down from 10% in the previous three months, with outerwear and large leather goods accounting for half the growth. Shoes, childrenswear and its Prorsum collection also did well.Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts said the company expected profits for the full year to be in the top half of market expectations, adding that new products, online and customer service initiatives and the Chinese expansion were helping to underpin confidence. However Nick Raynor, investment advisor at The Share Centre, was unconvinced about the figures as Burberry did report that sales were slowing.  'Although Burberry cautiousness is understandable in the current climate, we feel that bid speculation is keeping the share price above 1,000p and current figures are not backing up the share price.  'We therefore downgrade Burberry to a sell.'This afternoon its shares are down 27p or 2.6% to 1,012p.Burberry, Argos good for GUSBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 11 October 2000Burberry, one of the most globally venerated names in British fashion, has hitched up its plaid skirts and is dashing for growth. In a first-half trading update, parent Great Universal Stores reported that Burberry sales have leapt 38% at constant exchange rates, with wholesale orders for next spring pointing to more growth in the pipeline. 'Particularly pleasing is how widespread the gains are,' said GUS finance director David Tyler, 'extending to Asia and the US, and from womenswear into men's and accessories such as handbags and ties'. The glitterati were clinking glasses to celebrate the launch of the new flagship store in London's New Bond Street. Another big store will open in Tokyo in December, and Burberry is doubling the size of its New York store. The other big success has been Argos where, as with Burberry, new GUS chief executive John Peace has shaken up the management. Like-for-like Argos sales were up 11% in the half-year to end-September, led by sales of furniture and mobile phones. Analysts, concerned by a 16% sales slump in South Africa, are holding full-year profit forecasts at 470m. Burberry's Body: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley unveils Brit label's new fragrance By UPDATED:14:57 GMT, 1 September 2011After single-handedly turning the trench coat into a wardrobe staple, it seems Burberry's influence on fashion is going from strength to strength. So it was only a matter of time before the British label unveiled a new fragrance.And with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as the face of the scent, it won't be long before thousands of bottles of Body are flying off the shelves.The supermodel features in the new campaign to promote the range, wearing nothing but a gold trench - and a few drops of the scent of course.Shot by Mario Testino under the direction of Cheif Creative Officer Christopher Bailey, the campaign will be shown online and on TV and Burberry Body will be available in over 160 markets from tomorrow.The scent has so far featured on Facebook, giving users a chance to preview the scent.The page has had a staggering 8 million 'likes' as the brand continues to push the boundaries of digital media.It was the first high-end label to stream its shows live during Fashion Week - setting a new precedent.Bailey said: 'Burberry Body is the most exciting launch that we have ever created and captures the iconic spirit of the brand today in a striking and sensual way. The supermodel wears nothing but a trench - and drop of Burberry Body'Rosie's effortless style and her staggering beauty made her the natural choice as the first Burberry Body.'The Transformers actress, who has also been busy starring in the new MS campaign, was announced as the face of Burberry in 2010.She said: 'Itsa huge honour to be working with Burberry again, a brand that put my career on the map and helped launch me. To be asked to be the first 'Burberry Body' is an amazing compliment.'CLICK PLAY TO WATCH THE BURBERRY BODY COMMERCIAL...CLICK PLAY TO WATCH BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE OF ROSIE...Burberry's distinguished decade as luxury fashion brand goes from strength to strength By PUBLISHED:21:00 GMT, 19 July 2012 UPDATED:21:00 GMT, 19 July 2012Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts opened trading at the London Stock Exchange yesterday, ten years after the luxury fashion brand first listed on the bourse, and capping a decade of outstanding growth.Over that time Burberry has grown into a fashion powerhouse, using its English heritage to generate sales in Asia, the Middle East and the US.When Burberry first listed on the LSE in July 2002 at 230p, its market capitalisation was £1.2bn. Yesterday the shares closed up 57p at 1289p, a 460 per cent increase since it floated, giving the fashion house a stock market worth of £5.6bn larger than MS.Ahrendts, pictured centre, said the last ten years were a remarkable chapter for the business that was formed in 1856.Burberryfinance director Stacey Cartwright received stock worth £1.7m as part of a reward scheme dating back to 2009. She sold shares worth £1.5m. After buying stock worth £456,000, she was also gifted shares worth £1.9m. Burberry's fashion hothouse: Young talent stars in spring campaign By UPDATED:17:02 GMT, 10 December 2008 Winning a place in the Burberry advertising campaign is a little like winning the X Factor. The unknowns who are cast in it often go on to great things, such is the exposure from one of the most prestigious gigs in the fashion business. There is no better indication of who will make it big. And according to Burberry's spring 2009 campaign, pictured above, it could well be Eden Clarke. It is only 18 months since the 19-year-old was spotted at a festival on her native Isle of Wight but she was on the cover of last month's British Vogue with new Model of the Year Jourdan Dunn and is now with a quintessentially British brand that has boosted the likes of Kate Moss, Agyness Deyn and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Joining her in the Burberry line-up is 18-year-old Alexina Graham - the Nottingham teenager got her break after winning a modelling competition. Lily Donaldson, 20 - discovered in Camden market - is in her eighth season with the brand.Also photographed are 19-year-old George Craig, from Yorkshire band One Night Only, and Tooting photographer Emily Hope, 23.Photographed by Mario Testino in a Richmond greenhouse, the campaign sees Burberry revert to basics. "This reflects the true heritage of Burberry outerwear, the iconic check and our British attitude," said brand creative director Christopher Bailey. "I wanted the mood to be gentle, relaxed, romantic and about a quiet, beautiful sense of luxury." Alexina Graham, George Craig, Eden Clarke and Donaldson in outfits marking a return to the brand's heritage as a designer of outerwear the fashion business The walk-in website for fashionistas: Burberrys hi-tech new superstore opens in London's West End ahead of Fashion Week By PUBLISHED:13:32 GMT, 13 September 2012 UPDATED:14:34 GMT, 13 September 2012As the global fashion pack move from New York to London tomorrow all eyes are on our capital city.With this in mind, classic British brand Burberry have pulled out all the stops to revamp their flagship store.The existing store on Regent Street has undergone a fashion fabulous facelift and has been turned in to a walk-in website, mirroring the label's fashion forward digital world and offering a totally new shopping experience for the West End. Just in time for this season's biggest fashion show, the label has created 'Burberry World Live' which has been designed to mirror their website.It boasts nearly 500 speakers and 100 screens and notes to accompany the store launch describe it as merging fashion with technology and having many functions: serving as both and events space and innovation hub ... meaning that shoppers can expect exciting digital add-ons like virtual rain showers and mirrors transforming into runways while they browse the beautiful trench coats. There will be musical talent on display too with the launch of Burberry Acoustic: a live stage hosting creative talent.And for those of us not lucky enough to join celebrities and fashionistas at the shows, satellite technology means that fashion fans can experience live streamed events direct from the store. The store itself is rich in history. Constructed in 1820 for the Prince Regent, the building has housed galleries, a cinema, livery stables and a radio broadcaster over the course of 200 years. 'Burberry Regent Street brings our digital world to life in a physical space for the first time, where customers can experience every facet of the brand through immersive multimedia content exactly as they do online. 'Walking through the doors is just like walking into our website. It is Burberry World Live.We call Burberry a young, old company: forever moving forward while never forgetting our 156-year heritage. The fusion of history and innovation in Burberry Regent Street is the brands most comprehensive creative and commercial expression,' said Angela Ahrendts, Burberry Chief Executive Officer. Christopher Bailey, Burberry Chief Creative Officer added: 'We are so excited to launch Burberry World Live at our new Regent Street flagship, bringing our physical and digital worlds together to create amazing experiences that encompass everything from fashion, to heritage, to music, to the Burberry Foundation.Burberry Regent Street is one of the most architecturally and culturally significant projects we have undertaken. In renovating this iconic London building we have worked with some of the UKs finest craftsmen to restore a wealth of historic features, at the same time as pushing the boundaries of digital technology. Theresult is a space defined by contrasts: at once imposing and intimate, its juxtaposition of craft and innovation is designed to delight, surprise and entertain. It is a reflection of how we approach everything at Burberry - revealing the different layers of the brand's heritage within a modern context, and forever celebrating design and expert craftsmanship.' Feel like you are on the front row for Burberry's London Fashion Week show as it's streamed live on the FEMAIL channel By PUBLISHED:12:56 GMT, 17 September 2012 UPDATED:13:56 GMT, 17 September 2012Fashionistas don't need to worry if they haven't been able to get a ticket to Burberry's London Fashion Week show. The British brand are harnessing the latest technology to stream their Prorsum Spring/Summer 13 show live so fans around the world can tune in to view the catwalk display where ever they are. The show will be streamed as it happens via their website from 4pm and you can also view it at the.Scroll down to watch teaser... Burberry's new collection will be previewed by more than 1500 guests at the brand's custom-built show venue in London's Hyde Park. A host of celebs are expected to be on the front row and you can see them arriving for the anticipated event before the catwalk show begins via the live stream.Fashionistas will have more access to the show than ever before via their mobiles as they will be able to connect to the show via Facebook and Twitter for exclusive content and share what they like with friends. Guests at Burberry's recently re-opened flagship store in London's Regent Street will also be able to feel like they are at the event by experiencing it live from 'Burberry World'.The show will be streamed simultaneously onto the tallest retail screen in the world at their West End store.The Hyde Park, Regent Street store and social media show experiences will be linked via an advanced social stream, integrating real time content from the London events, Facebook, Twitter andInstagram. Burberry say their aim is to 'blur the physical and digital' by bringing all the facets of their live show to a global audience via their personalised cross channel viewing experience.Guests at over 35 Burberry Retail Theatre events and those watching through Burberry World will then be able to purchase the runway collection exclusively for one week immediately after the show, before the products go on sale globally eight weeks later.To watch the Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 13 show from 4pm click to visit the.See the show teaser here... Burberry's profits boosted to £196million as rich Texans and Arabs buy their wives handbags and shoesBy Last updated at 2:02 PM on 28th May 2008 Cool Britannia: The Spring Summer 2008 advertising campaign by Mario Testino, featuring Agnes Deyn, has helped boost Burberry's sales by 25 per cent. Picture by Testino/Burberry Burberry, the British fashion house with an American chief executive, unveiled a credit crunch-defying jump in sales and profits today as wealthy women across the globe continued to shop with abandon.Burberry - famous for its trademark check design - said wholesale revenue doubled from markets such as China, the Middle East and Russia, while North America underlying sales rose 26 per cent.The luxury handbags, belts and clothing group enjoyed a 25 per cent jump in profits to £196million on the back of a 17 per cent rise in revenue to £995million for the year ending in March.Angela Ahrendts, approaching the end of her second year at the helm, insists Burberry has much further to grow, especially in markets such as Russia where rivals LVMH and others have more exposure. 'Compared to our luxury peers, we are significantly under-penetrated,' she said. 'It will be quite a few years before those markets are tapped out.'Burberry has been around since 1856, and continues to promote itself as a luxury brand with a particularly British sensibility. But it is a global concern now, and its iconic West End store is merely the UK flagship. Although much of the retail sector is struggling of late, the luxury end has so far not suffered from the downturn.Finance director Stacey Cartwright said: 'Our luxury positioning gives us some insulation, but we are not saying we are completely immune.'The problem for all luxury businesses is how to grow while retaining an exclusive feel. Until Ahrendts arrived, Burberry was opening five new stores a year at best. Now it is more like 15. Although the statement warned about "an external environment that became increasingly challenging during the second half", Ahrendts sees no reason to slow down.The debt on the balance sheet fell by £25million to £64million, although this figure is expected to rise next year.Burberry tended in the past to be run as a series of fiefdoms, with businesses in different countries pursuing their own designs and developing their own supply chains.Ahrendts has been working on turning Burberry into a single company with common advertising.This is probably an attempt to take greater control of the brand and avoid past mistakes that for a while saw Burberry associated with Essex girls - a temporary boon to sales that was a potential long-term disaster.The most recent marketing gambit has focused on the film of Sex and the City - Burberry is one of the brands favoured by the character played by Sarah Jessica Parker. New product lines in the works include luggage, while shoes and childrenswear are just starting out. The dividend is up 14 per cent to 12p. The shares have fallen sharply from a year high of 707p, but today put on 11/2p to 5081/2p. That values the company at about £2 billion. Forget the It bag: Male satchels boosts Burberry's sales by 27%By UPDATED:14:34 GMT, 19 January 2011Forget the It-bag, it's now the man bag helping fashion brands boost profits.Burberry has reported a 27 per cent rise in sales in part due to the trendy piece.And it seems the item made a popular gift choice in the run up to Christmas.The totes, selling for between £295 and £895, have proved particularly popular with Chinese and Asian shoppers.Chief financial officer Stacey Cartwright said: 'In China and the rest of Asia where Burberry has a big fan base mens accessories are a huge market'.The latest menswear collection features brightly-coloured bags with Sixties-style duffel coats and transparent ponchos and was unveiled in Milan on Saturday. Total sales in the three months to the end of December hit £480 million, meaning Burberry expects annual profits to come in at the top end of City forecasts.Analysts are pencilling in pre-tax profits of almost £290 million for the 12 months to the end of March. Cartwright said its stores in the UK and on the east coast of the US suffered during the snow, but she was 'delighted' with the performance of Londons stores where almost a third of customers come from China. Shoppers from the Middle East, Russia, the rest of Europe and Brazil also helped to drive up sales. The luxury brand with a chequered past, Burberry's shaken off its chav image to become the fashionistas' favourite once more Last updated at 9:17 AM on 02nd June 2008 Profitable fashion. It's a difficult balancing act, one only a handful of labels have been able to achieve: how to keep your brand exclusive and cutting-edge, but at the same time shift enough of your product to keep the accountants happy.Make your brand too famous and it will inevitably fall into the wrong hands, ensuring your high-end customers - always in search of the Next Big Thing - desert you in droves.Become too niche, and while the girls who worship Vogue might hanker after you, the rich wives of Russian oligarchs will turn up their newly chiselled noses. In the late Nineties, Burberry , once a staid store selling raincoats, decided it wanted a piece of the burgeoning mania for designer labels. It upped its advertising budget and used its trademark check not just as a discreet lining but plastered over absolutely everything. Reinvented classics: Burberry's Spring/Summer 2008 collectionUnfortunately, Burberry became too ubiquitous for comfort, and soon the distinctive house check was adopted as a badge of honour for the newly emerging chav generation. The day that former soap star Daniella Westbrook and her daughter stepped out head to toe in Burberry sounded the death knell for the company's credibility. It had to change, and it had to change fast. News released last week confirms it has done just that. Burberry enjoyed a 25 per cent jump in profits to £196 million on the back of a 17 per cent rise in revenue to £995million for the year ending in March. It is now one of the top five luxury goods brands in the world. It's interesting that the Burberry renaissance has been driven by two canny American businesswomen: Rose Marie Bravo, who left the most prestigious job in fashion - as president of Saks - to head up Burberry in 1998; and Angela Ahrendts, who took over two years ago having cut her teeth at Donna Karan. What the women have in common is that they are both anglophiles who fell in love with the history of the company. Founded in 1856, Burberry dressed not only Sir Ernest Shackleton for his exploration of Antarctica, but also provided Army officers with the raincoats they wore in the trenches of World War I (hence the term 'trench coat') and clothed debutantes in floor-length duchesse satin. The straight-talking Bravo recognised that this unique slice of Englishness could be successfully marketed around the world. In 2001, she hired the down-to-earth Yorkshireman Christopher Bailey to reinvent the label and put the chavs firmly off the scent. Bailey grew up in Halifax, the son of a carpenter and a Marks Spencer windowdresser. His love of fashion came from his grandmothers, who were both seamstresses. After graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1994, he worked for, among others, Donna Karan and Gucci. One of the first things Bailey did at Burberry was to spend months poring over the archives, before reinventing the classics, fashioning a military jacket out of gold sequins, say, or buttery soft leather. With the younger label Burberry Prorsum (Latin for 'forwards'), he has come up with numerous trends: the balloon sleeve, the cocoonshaped overcoat, the liberal use of metallics and, of course, the trench coat in ever more luxurious fabrics. His collection for winter 2008 includes myriad exquisite variations, covering the simple trench with tiered feathers and leather leaves; the £3,000 chevron coat has even made it onto the back of Sarah Jessica Parker in the new Sex And movie. And while Bailey, talking about his label's chavdom, is keen not to sound elitist - 'I'm proud we had such a democratic appeal' - he has been instrumental in returning to the brand its coolness, while at the same time sending top-end sales soaring. He was at the forefront of the money-spinning mania for vertiginous shoes (Burberry sold more than 300,000 pairs at more than £300 a pop last year), and for the hugely expensive handbag, fashioned from exotic skins. This spring's Warrior bag, which, despite its £13,000 price tag, sold in its hundreds, added nicely to the bank balance, while its success had a knockon effect: the dizzying height of the Burberry price range enabled the brand to increase the average price of its bags by more than 25 per cent, the resultant buzz helping to push Burberry accessories to make up 31 per cent of total sales. The ad campaigns have been instrumental in the brand's success, too. Shot in black and white by Mario Testino, they look more classically beautiful than ever before, use models who might actually be members of the British aristocracy - such as Stella Tennant, granddaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire - or merely look as if they are, such as new Brit stars Agyness Deyn and Georgia Frost. It is an inspired conceit. But that is exactly what it is: a conceit. The English countryside, as depicted by Testino, no longer really exists. Nobody in the countryside actually wears this stuff, or carries the new Burberry Beaton bag (only 8 per cent of Burberry sales are in the UK). But it is the illusion that we do that has helped propel the latest sales figures, and enabled Ahrendts to open 15 new stores in developing markets. Burberry continues to trade on its 'Englishness', of course it does. Bailey cites as his inspiration the warmly-coated figures depicted by the artist L. S. Lowry, and says proudly, 'We have two factories in Yorkshire - in Rotherham, which we saved from closure, and Castleford, where we make the iconic rainwear. We still use fabrics from the traditional cloth mills. I love those solid English cloths.' But you wonder how long it will be before Burberry - which closed down its factory in South Wales last year, at the cost of 300 jobs - is forced, or tempted, to move all its production to China. The big challenge for the next few years will not be whether a D-list celebrity has got hold of your clothes, but whether consumers will stomach the poorly-paid worker churning out ever more expensive 'things' that are supposed to remind us of a more gentle, bygone age, all in pursuit of that all-important bottom line. Share this article:Burberrys future isnt so Rosie UPDATED:00:09 GMT, 19 October 2008 Supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has been dropped by leading fashion house Burberry following the publication of a picture of her with what appeared to be a drug pipe.Sources close to Rosie, right, who is dating Rolling Stone Ronnie Woods son Tyrone, say she was not approached to appear in the latest Burberry campaign, which was shot last week.Dropped by Burberry: Rosie Huntington Whiteley The snap of 19-year-old Rosie with the pipe was printed by The Mail on Sunday in July.Rosie thought she was doing two or three seasons for Burberry, Im told. But they asked Eden Clark and Alex Pettyfer to do the shoot. Burberry said: The campaign is not finalised. We dont release information until the official launch. Share this article:Celebrity style finder: Where can I find Eva Longoria Parker's dress and Sienna Miller's boots? By UPDATED:11:27 GMT, 20 August 2009From Kate Bosworth's trench and Nicole Richie's jewellery to Alexa Chung's handbag, we show you how to get A-list looks at a fraction of the price.EVA LONGORIA PARKER'S DRESSEver the diva, Eva hit the redcarpet at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles wearing this dazzling,strapless fringed Marchesa dress with an embroidered bodice (£3,300,marchesa.com or net-a-porter.com) a season before it was in the shops. Make a similar statement for a fraction of the price at goddiva.com (£35), which specialises in copying celebrity outfits. SIENNA MILLER'S BOOTSWe love Sienna's laidback boho style, with an edge - and these slouchy, studded brown suede biker boots epitomise her wearable look. We tracked them down to Russell and Bromley (£295, russellandbromley.co.uk). As ankle boots are a trend that's here to stay for autumn we think they're worth investing in, but you can also get cheaper versions in Miss Selfridge and Kurt Geiger for a more affordable £75-£100.ALEXA CHUNG'S BAGWe adore Alexa's power satchel,which glams up even the grungiest outfit and holds everything you couldever need. Alexa's is the Daria satchel from 'It' bag designer labelMulberry and costs £550 (mulberry.com) - if you can get to the front ofthe waiting list, that is. Fortunately, Vanilla Paris does a double-take version in a range of colours from £70 (vanilla-paris.co.uk). NICOLE RICHIE'S NECKLACEKnownfor her quirky retro style, Nicole Richie is never seen without hersignature bold jewellery. You can bag her look with this House ofHarlow gold and resin Triangle necklace (£68, asos.com) which Richiedesigned herself in collaboration with jeweller Mouawad, or find acheaper version at Freedom for Topshop, where chunky necklaces costaround £20. KATE BOSWORTH'S TRENCH COAT If you don't have a trench coat already, trust us, they'll be everywhere come October. Kate Bosworth made sure she wasn't caught out on a wet Manhattan day recently in this dip-dyed Burberry Prorsum trench coat, a modern update on their classic mac. It's an eye-watering £1,195 (burberry.com), but we've seen fantastic trench coats everywhere from Zara to HM (349). If you want one with the checked inside, Topshop has a stylish number for £195. Chav-tastic coat of paint for wacky artist's house turned into Burberry shrineBy UPDATED:17:43 GMT, 19 November 2009Once a symbol for all things chav, Burberry had successfully re-branded itself as one of the UK's most sophisticated fashion labels.But a Norwegian artist looks set to undo all of their hard work after painting the exterior of his house - a former public toilet - in the brand's signature check.Jens Werner, 33, covered the entire building in the famous beige, black and red tartan design. The re-painting of the building in Larvik took several weeks at a cost of thousands of pounds.A gathering place for happy people: Artist Jens Werner painted his house in Burberry's signature beige plaid Fashion house: Mr Werner on the windowledge of his home, which he painted in the famous check because he thought it would be 'a fun idea' The makeover of the property was part of an effort to turn Jens'home into a 'gathering place for happy people, peace-on-earth-mentalityand art-loving people'. He explained how he came up with the idea after waking up onemorning and thought that it would be 'a fun idea' to repaint thebuilding, which he has owned for six years.Burberry, which is over 150 year old, is a favourite with fashion-forward celebrities including Alexa Chung and Agyness Deyn.It became famous for its raincoats after the label was commissionedby the War Office to adapt its officer's coat to suit the conditions ofcontemporary warfare. After the war, the garment became popular withcivilians.The company's signature print, the Haymarket check, becameubiquitous in the Nineties among football hooligans and the new chavgeneration. Fashion forward: Agyness Deyn, Alexa Chung and Emma Watson all regularly wear Burberry designsIts popularity sparked thousands of imitations and the print wasreplicated on everything from baseball caps to shoes. The label'sluxury status was dealt its final blow when former EastEnders actressDaniella Westbrook stepped out with her young daughter, bothhead-to-toe in the house tartan, complete with matching buggy.After fighting hard to shake off its unfortunate associations withchav culture the firm has divided the country into three categoriesaccording to how smartly they want to dress.The luxury fashion house has introduced a new tripartite system,splitting glamour queens who opt for silk catwalk dresses from thosemore comfortable in scruffy jeans.It was U.S. businesswoman Rose Marie Bravo who transformed thebrand's image when she joined the company in 1998, spearheading arenaissance that saw the likes of Kate Moss, Rachel Weisz and EmmaWatson star in its advertising campaigns.Mr Werner is not the first to have turned his home into a tribute to a fashion label.Footballer Philip Neville turned his 18th century grade II-listedhome into a Versace-themed palace after he bought it ten years ago.The decor featured gold-panelled ceilings and monogrammed gates sparking widespread ridicule.The property was on the market for a year before selling for £1.5million below its £4million asking price earlier this year.Renaissance: Kate Moss starred in advertising campaigns for Burberry after its re-brand Chequered results for BurberryBy UPDATED:06:00 GMT, 25 May 2005EVEN Burberry's much-loved raincoats are not immune to the retail gloom in Britain, but its Asian stores are growing strongly.Finance director Stacey Cartwright blames a 'lack of US tourists' for an estimated 5% drop in underlying sales in the UK in the fourth quarter.The retailer said group profits before tax rose from 140m to 164m in the year to March. Gross margins improved from 57.9% to 59.3%. Turnover rose 6% to 715m.China and Hong Kong now account for 6% of sales and are growing at more than 30% a year, though analysts fear progress could be slow in Burberry's more established markets. Accessories are growing strongly, thanks to new Candy and Bluebell handbags - a modern version of the traditional trademark check. Cartwright reckons the next big seller will be the new Haymarket range.Investors were rewarded with a 50% jump in the final dividend to 4.5p. But concerns that majority shareholder GUS may sell some of its shares are hanging over the stock.Burberry also unveiled plans to spend 50m over the next three years to upgrade its computer and supply systems. Cartwright says: 'This will enable us to spot global trends that much faster.' China helps Burberry to 32% revenue growthBy UPDATED:09:48 GMT, 19 April 2011No hard-up retail story from Burberry as it plans to expand store space by more than 10% following a bumper finish to its financial year.Reporting a 32% surge in revenues to £390m in the three months to March, the fashion house predicted full-year profits would ring in at the top end of expectations.The 155-year-old maker of raincoats and handbags best known for its camel, red and black check, said it would increase store space by 12% to 13% by March next year, mainly in China, Latin America and the Middle East.Burberry and the luxury sector has experienced a more rapid recovery than the rest of the retail sector, driven by demand from Chinese shoppers and tourists.Angela Ahrendts, Burberry chief executive, said: 'Burberry had good early progress in China.'While the luxury industry faces global challenges in the year ahead, we remain confident in our team's ability to outperform, underpinned by the consistent execution of our key strategies.'The group said retail revenues were up 42% to £596m in the six months to March, while wholesale revenues gained 14% to £214m in the same period. Retail growth was driven by its new stores in China, but all regions experienced double-digit growth. It said its Burberry Prorsum and Burberry London brands outperformed. The company opened seven stores in the final six months of the year, in New York, Milan, Beijing and Shenzhen in China, Delhi, Sao Paulo and Puebla in Mexico. Wholesale revenues were similarly driven by a surge in sales in China, but the Americas and Asia Pacific also outperformed.The company's licensing division saw revenues decline 5% to £50m, but this was in line with expectations, as growth was offset by the planned termination of the Japanese leather goods licence in 2010. It warned licensing revenues in Japan, where a licensed dealer sells Burberry goods to about 800 outlets, would be broadly flat throughout the year.Shares in the FTSE 100-listed company gained 67p (5.8%) to 1,213p after today's update.Katharine Wynne, an analyst at brokers Investec, said Burberry's expectations of full-year profits to March 2011 at the top end of expectations implies a figure of £290m.Ms Wynne added there was also scope to revise upwards its forecast for the year to March 2012.China's passion for British fashion sees Burberry sales soar By PUBLISHED:20:26 GMT, 14 April 2012 UPDATED:10:10 GMT, 15 April 2012British luxury giant Burberry will reveal this week that sales have soared over the past six months as more wealthy Chinese buy the brand. The popularity of the label with shoppers at the fast-growing number of luxury department stores in the country and its promotion by actresses such as Fan Bingbing meant global sales rose by nearly a fifth to more than £1billion in the six months to the end of March.Chinese and Russian tourists across Europe have also helped lift sales nearer to home, Burberry will report on Tuesday. Global Blue, which tracks spending bytourists from outside Europe, said the number of purchases by Chinese visitors to Britain rose 35 per cent in the first three months of the year compared with the first quarter of 2011.And the value of each transaction for which they claimed back VAT rose 20 per cent to £747.Young tourists are coming to Britainto buy designer labels. They are also looking for products that wont be available in China so they can stand out from the crowd when they gethome, said a spokeswoman for Global Blue, which will also publish figures this week. China now accounts for a fifth of non-European shopping in the UK and was second only to the Middle East in the first quarter. Chinese customers' demand fuel Burberry boom By UPDATED:01:38 GMT, 17 November 2010Burberry is the latest fashion retailer to record a boom in half-year profits following a surge in demand from Chinese customers. The retailer, famous for its camel, red and black checked raincoats, pictured, has benefited from the same increased consumer confidence that lifted Cartier owner Richemont last week and rival French fashion house LVMH. Chief executive Angela Ahrendts unveiled better-than-expected profits for the first half of £117.7million, up from £78.4million, on sales of £641million. The business has net cash of £181million and Ahrendts hiked the interim dividend from 3.5p to 5p. She said the star performer of the first half has been leather handbags. Burberry (down 16p to 1004p) has been focused on driving sales of accessories so the firm is not so dependent on high-fashion items.Customers have snapped up its range of heritage handbags that will not be changed with the trends of the season, which will underpin its offering. Finance director Stacey Cartwright said Burberry will absorb any hikes in the cost of raw materials. Chinese demand boosts Burberry salesBy UPDATED:21:41 GMT, 13 October 2010A surge in demand for Burberry's iconic trenchcoats among wealthy Chinese tourists helped boost half-year sales at the upmarket retail chain. The fashion group shrugged off the downturn to post a 17 per cent rise in underlying group sales for the six months to 30 September at a time when many of its High Street rivals are struggling to woo customers. Finance boss Stacey Cartwright said performance at its network of 50 stores in China was particularly strong along with a pick-up in demand from fashionconscious Chinese men, like Hong Kong actor and popstar Eason Chan. Revenues in the past quarter rose 12 per cent to £359million, up from£282million in the previous three months, prompting the firm to say profits would be at the top half of expectations. But its shares fell 31p to 1008p on disappointment that the firm did not lift its forecast even further. Cartwright was upbeat on future trading saying Burberry would not be affected by a spike in cotton prices. CITY DIARY: Retail sector under the spotlight By PUBLISHED:14:46 GMT, 18 May 2012 UPDATED:14:46 GMT, 18 May 2012The retail sector will come under the spotlight this week when Marks Spencer, ASOS, Mothercare and Burberry will update on how they are coping in tough economic conditions.Monday Ryanair will publish its final year results. TuesdayHigh street bellwether Marks Spencer will suffer its first fall in annual profits for three years as the squeeze in its customers living standards hits home. Profits had smashed through the £1billion barrier for the first time in a decade in 2008 but the financial crisis hurt shoppers and heralded an era of fierce discounting on the high street. In that time, the UKs biggest clothes retailer has come under pressure from the success of budget retailer Primark, while Next has grown sales online to make up for a fall in store sales. And its food sales are competing against fierce discounting in the supermarkets, prompting it to launch a new 500-strong Simply MS value range to appeal to austerity Britain. The group, which has more than 700 stores in the UK, will report a 3 per cent fall in pre-tax profits to £694million in the year to the end of March, according to City forecasts. Like-for-like sales of general merchandise are expected to have fallen by about 1.7 per cent in the year, but food sales have put in a much stronger performance, with margins set to have grown slightly. Booming demand for mobile internet access in the UK and strong growth in emerging markets will help Vodafone weather the financial storm in southern Europe. The mobile phone giants shares approached their pre-financial crisis peaks in early 2012 but have weakened in recent months amid fears that its stellar growth is beginning to slow. The Newbury-based firms performance has been hit by recessions in Spain and Italy, while the fees it can charge for connecting mobile calls are being reduced in markets such as the UK.These effects are offsetting gains from its rapid growth in India and Turkey, and from growing demand for data as people use smartphones to get online. Wednesday Angela Ahrendts star will continue to shine when luxury goods group Burberry reports that profits have risen by a quarter. The brand, famous for its red, black and camel-coloured check design, has remained resilient in the face of the worsening global economy, helped by strong demand in key markets including the UK, France and China. Under the leadership of chief executive Ms Ahrendts and creative director Christopher Bailey, the group has tapped into demand from well-heeled travellers for high-end British fashion.Burberry recently allayed fears that the slowdown in China would hurt its growth when it reported that sales from its retail estate, which includes 192 shops and 208 concessions, rose 23 per cent to £743million in the six months to March 31. As well as sales of traditional Burberry favourites such as jackets and handbags, the company reported strong growth in knitwear, mens tailoring and accessories, fragrances and watches.The City expects profits for the year of about £376million, compared to £298million a year ago.ThursdayMore details on the rescue plan for Mothercares UK operation will be unveiled when new chief executive Simon Calver presents full-year results. Mr Calver joined Mothercare at the end of April from internet movie rental company Lovefilm and is expected to endorse the transformation strategy announced by executive chairman Alan Parker last month. Alongside a drive for more online business and continued overseas expansion, Mr Parker revealed plans to cut the number of stores in the UK from 311 to a core 200 profitable stores by 2015. It follows months of weak trade, including a 9.5 per cent drop in like-for-like sales in the 12 weeks to March 31. Panmure Gordon stockbrokers analyst Jean Roche said annual profits were likely to dwindle to just £1.1million, driven by the impact of competition from supermarkets, specialist chains and Amazon. Asos will shrug off fears about its growth when it reports a 40 per cent rise in profits to £40.3million in the year to the end of March - in-line with City expectations - helped by margin improvements. Sales are expected to rise 46 per cent to £495million in the year, after it continued to expand its reach overseas with new websites in Spain, Italy and Australia. The group, which also sells fashion favourites such as River Island, American Apparel and Ralph Lauren, is expected to repeat that it is on-track to hit its target of growing sales to £1billion by 2015. The companys website now attracts 18.5million unique visitors a month and has some seven million registered users from 191 countries. Retail sales and adjusted GDP figures will be published along with BBA Mortgage Approvals data. Friday No major economic or corporate news is scheduled. City news in brief: Burberry, AmecBy UPDATED:07:27 GMT, 16 October 2009A roundup of the shorter news stories from the Financial Mail on Sunday...Burberry magic is still aliveStill basking in the glow of its success at London Fashion Week last month, Burberry is this week expected to show that it continues to steal luxury market share from rivals, even though like-forlike sales are likely to be flat.Analysts at investment bank Nomura say the brand should post a solid performance on Wednesday for the three months to the end of September.The label took London by storm with its catwalk show, where guests of honour included Emma Watson, the Harry Potter star and Burberry model.Jenks owners sued for debtA former marketing director of Abbey bank is being sued for £150,000 after his sales and marketing company went into administration earlier this year.Ambrose McGinn is being sued, along with Ross Beattie, after their business, Jenks Sales Brokers, went bust in May owing more than £10m.The directors, who each owned 50 per cent of the company, are being sued by Venture Finance, a factoring company that helps businesses manage and collect debts.According to a High Court writ filed last month, Venture Finance claims its is owed £10.4m by Jenks.It also claims that Beattie and McGinn had signed guarantees making them personally responsible for £150,000 each of the company debts to Venture.Jenks acted for leading High Street brands in their dealings with supermarkets. Clients included Mars and DelMonte.Profits warnings halved over yearThe number of companies issuing a profits warning has halved in the past year, but could rise again sharply if they become overconfident, according to accountant Ernst & Young.Its survey of profits alerts published this weekend showed 52 UK quoted companies issued a warning in the three months to the end of September, down from 111 in the same period last year.But the authors said the drop was not necessarily a sign that the economy was bouncing.Companies may have become more realistic in their forecasts after last year's financial shock.Government lending schemes and low interest rates were also providing a short-term lift, it suggested.The drop was limited to those companies with a turnover of £1bn or more.Landing craft could net shipbuilders 30 ordersIt is a bizarre mixture of catamaran and hovercraft, but a contract for a high-tech military vessel could mean multi-million pound orders for its maker, Griffon Hoverwork.The £6m craft, called the Pascat, which is undergoing trials for the Ministry of Defence, can travel at twice the speed of similar craft and carry twice the payload for a vessel of its size.The trial vessel, destined for use by the Royal Marines, has been bought by defence group QinetiQ on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.If the trials are successful, orders could be placed for 30 more.Griffon, based in Woolston, Hampshire, is leading a team made up of Aluminium Shipbuilders, BMT Nigel Gee and BMT Marine Projects to build the Pascat.The trial vessel, which took 18 months to build, is designed to offload a number of armoured vehicles and troops in waters as shallow as 2ft thanks to its hovercraft capability.The Pascat is powered by twin waterjets, driven by diesel engines, which lets the craft travel at speeds of up to 25 knots.A decision on orders will be made 'within months', said a QinetiQ spokesman.Amec joins India's drive for reactorsEngineering and project management group Amec has joined forced with Hindustan Construction, one of India's biggest construction firms, to spearhead a multi-billion-pound nuclear building programme.The two have signed a memorandum of understanding that will harness Amec's nuclear expertise to design and provide safety systems for nuclear power stations.The agreement follows India's announcement of plans to build hundreds of reactors over the next 40 years as it starts to bridge the energy gap and replace oil and coalfired power plants. At present, 400m people in India have no electricity and the country is dependent on oil for most energy needs.The country plans to boost its nuclear output 100-fold.Amec is involved with French energy giant EDF in Britain's nuclear power plant programme. TV football row grows for OfcomThe premier League has told media regulator Ofcom that the proposal to force BSkyB to offer its top-flight football and film rights to rivals at regulated prices is a mistake.Ofcom said earlier this year it wanted the pay-TV satellite broadcaster to offer its premium services on a regulated wholesale basis to rivals to 'ensure consumers have an increased choice of supplier and platform'.BSkyB has owned most of the rights to live Premier League matches since the league's foundation in 1992 and paid £1.8bn for the rights to most of the live games for the three years beginning in 2010.Ofcom's proposals that BSkyB should now offer this programming cheaply to its rivals has infuriated the broadcaster, which has threatened legal action to defend its position against what it called 'unwarranted intervention'.The Premier League has told Ofcom that it also believes the proposals are 'fundamentally flawed'.'Forcing BSkyB to wholesale Premier League rights to live games would remove any element of competition when it comes to bidding for rights,' said a Premier League spokesman.'If BSkyB is forced to wholesale the rights, competitors will be able to pick up Premier League rights in a risk-free, low-value manner. We believe we should encourage as much competition as possible.'Claws come out as Burberry blondes start acting up... By PUBLISHED:00:40 GMT, 17 June 2012 UPDATED:13:18 GMT, 17 June 2012A battle of the blonde models has broken out between the two recent faces of the Burberry fashion house.Leggy beauties Cara Delevingne, and Gabriella Wilde, are said to be at loggerheads as a rivalry between the rising young stars grows.Cara is adorable, talented and very friendly but she and Gabriella are too alike to get on, says a fashion insider.A distinct rivalry has brewed between them, based as much on their acting as their blossoming fashion careers. They are both looking for a big break in films.Gabriella, 23, has appeared in two childrens movies and will star in a remake of Carrie opposite Julianne Moore.But Cara, 19, is set to make a serious acting debut in a new film version of Anna Karenina alongside Keira Knightley. They are competing with each other and the claws are out, says the stylist.Caras reign as the face of Burberry came to an end when she was replaced by Gabriella earlier this summer.Brothers rewarded in birthday honoursThomas Hughes-Hallett, right, has been rewarded for being one of Britains most generous philanthropists with a knighthood from the Queen.And the recently retired chief executive of Marie Curie Cancer Care wont be going to Buckingham Palace alone his brother James has also been named on Her Majestys Birthday Honours list.Eton-educated Tom, 57, ran Marie Curie for 12 years, giving up a highly paid banking job to join the charity.Last year he helped Marie Curie whose yellow daffodil badges are widely recognised raise £130million and he is Hugh Grants favourite philanthropist after the actors mother was helped by Marie Curie nurses.Tom was last year chairman of the Philanthropy Review a body set up to boost charitable giving in the UK and his knighthood is for services to palliative care.James, 62, is chairman of export company John Swire Sons. He has been made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services to British business interests in Asia and Australasia.Actor Nicholas Hoult had Prince William in stitches after swapping tips on horse-riding technique.The pair met at last months Audi polo tournament and X-Men star Nicholas, 22, says: I told him I had to learn to ride for my last role, but when it came to filming the scenes they wouldnt let me get on a horse because the insurance didnt cover me.'So I had to get on an oil barrel instead and use some rope as reins pretending to ride it as if it was a real horse. William found that very funny.Coats and leather goods boost Burberry's half-year revenues By UPDATED:09:41 GMT, 13 October 2010Fashion chain Burberry said on Wednesday it expects full-year profits to be in the top half of market forecasts after posting a 21 per cent jump in half-year revenues. The luxury clothing brand said it was benefiting from robust performances in markets including Hong Kong, the UK, Italy and France. It is also eyeing a larger share of the Chinese market following its recent £70million deal to buy out its franchise partner in the Asian country.Higher demand for coats and leather items resulted in a 8 per centincrease in same-store sales in the second quarter, down from 10 percent in the first three months.Burberry's retail division reported sales growth of 22 per cent inthe last three months, up from 16 per cent in the first quarterfollowing the addition of new space and the transfer of the Chineseoperations. Angela Ahrendts, Burberry's chief executive, said that theintroduction of new lines, online and customer service initiatives aswell as the expansion in China boosted the group's confidence. Concern as Burberry's new Kate Moss is pictured clutching a VERY suspicious pipe By UPDATED:00:18 GMT, 27 July 2008 As the new face of Burberry, she is following in the footsteps of Kate Moss and tipped to be the next big thing in the fashion world.But a curious picture showing Rosie Huntington-Whiteley holding what appears to be drug paraphernalia may be cause for concern for the clothing labels bosses.The company has already been dragged into a drugs scandal, after Ms Moss was pictured apparently snorting cocaine, so will be keen to avoid any further adverse publicity. Worrying photo: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley pictured with the bong and fellow models Jennifer Pugh, Alexsandra Rastovic at the party The picture of Rosie enjoying herself at a party with friends has appeared on a fashion industry website. Casually dressed in jeans and a gilet, the rising star is seen clutching what appears to be a bong. Also known as water pipes, bongs are used to smoke tobacco, cannabis or other herbal products. They are filled with water which cools smoke before it enters the lungs, making it easier to inhale. Users can therefore draw in a large amount of smoke quickly, rather than smaller, more frequent puffs on a pipe or cigarette.With her head thrown back and mouth open, the model is pictured huddled with fellow models Jennifer Pugh and Aleksandra Rastovic, who is the face of Armani and Calvin Klein. As Croatian-born Aleksandra, 20, looks on, American Jennifer leans towards Rosie and poses provocatively with her tongue out. Close: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley with her boyfriend Ty Wood Rosie, who has been dating Rolling Stone Ronnie Woods art dealer son Tyrone, 24, since last year, was snapped at a friends private party a couple of years ago. The picture was later posted on fashion industry website supermodels.nl, attracting several comments from the models, bookers and fans who use the websites open forum. Last month, 21-year-old Rosie was unveiled as the new face of Burberry. She appears in their autumn/winter campaign, shot by Mario Testino, alongside British actor Sam Riley.The fashion giant has a history of turning unknown models into international catwalk stars and was one of the first to sign Kate Moss in 1998. They dropped her from a planned advertising campaign in the wake of the Cocaine Kate scandal, but reinstated her when police charges against her were dropped. Work: Rosie in the Burberry campaign with actor Sam Riley The Burberry contract has already caused problems for Rosie, leading to tensions with Agyness Deyn, whom she replaced.Rosie grew up the eldest of three children in Quither, a four-house hamlet near Tavistock in Devon.The family owned a farmhouse where they grew organic vegetables and kept chickens, ducks, pigs and sheep. But Rosie said she knew from an early age that she was destined for bigger things.I was made for the city, she said. I knew that I was going to leave Devon and that, whatever I did, it would be big.She first posed for the camera five years ago after she was discovered as a 15-year-old GCSE student doing work experience at London model agency Profile. She got her first big break in January 2004 when she appeared in a New York fashion shoot for Teen Vogue, and she made her catwalk debut the same year.Speaking three years ago, she said: Im pretty level-headed and down-to-earth. I had a regular upbringing . . . that keeps me pretty normal.Now signed to Models 1, she has been photographed for Chopard perfume, Clinique, Jaeger, DKNY, Abercrombie Fitch, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. She has been seeing Tyrone Ty Wood since meeting him at a Rolling Stones concert in Barcelona last year.In a recent interview, Ty said he was madly, deeply in love with her, while she has said: I think its serious. Theres a healthy future ahead of us.Rosie says she is the luckiest girl because of her lifestyle, adding: I have some great memories and experiences, and look forward to achieving even more. Im truly blessed and fortunate to be in my position.Burberry declined to comment on the photograph, but a friend of Rosies said: She is aware of the pictures existence, but she was 18 or 19 when that was taken. Shes just turned 21 so its two or three years old.Speaking from the family farmhouse yesterday, Rosies mother Fiona, a personal trainer, confirmed it was her daughter in the picture. But she added: I really cannot say anything about it, my darling. Isnt it lovely that someone so young is doing so well? A very sweet move by Mr Fry as chocolate heir Cosmo marries for the third time By UPDATED:09:07 GMT, 25 January 2012His first marriage lasted six weeks, his second around six years. So its hardly surprising chocolate heir Cosmo Fry has taken his time about exchanging vows for a third time.But, at 53, Old Etonian Cosmo has taken the plunge again and wed his long-time lover, former fashion writer Lulu Anderson. The couple, who were this week at a party for the revival of Alan Bennetts play, The Madness of George III, have a ten-year-old son, Jude, and live in Somerset, where Cosmo is a director of Baths Theatre Royal. Cosmo tells me: Ive got married after 15 years of being with Lulu. Im not sure why after all this time we decided to marry after all, having been wed twice before I am aware of the pitfalls. But all good things come to those who wait!Unlike his first marriage to the Marquess of Londonderrys daughter Lady Cosima Somerset, which was at smart St Peters church in Eaton Square and had 500 guests including Zac and Jemima Goldsmith, his latest nuptials took place at a Bath register office with just a few close friends.He and Lulu had the union blessed at a church and, some days later, held a party for 200 at their home, where guests included Richard E. Grant and Jasper Conran.How to Cruz into HollywoodFlamboyant turban-wearing socialite Amanda Eliasch, who married the multi-millionaire pal of Prince Andrew, is on the move.Two years after selling the Belgravia house she shared with her ex-husband, sportswear tycoon Johan Eliasch, she has a canny addition to her extensive property portfolio.For she beat other hopefuls to buy the Hollywood mansion that was formerly owned by film star Penelope Cruz.Artist and playwright Amanda, 51 the granddaughter of the late St Trinians film director Sidney Gilliat snapped up the three-bedroom house for around £2.5million.It is a mere snip compared to her other homes in London and Paris. She has since spent a further costly sum renovating the property and moved in this week.The house is transformed, says Amanda. I adore it. I fell in love with the house and I fought to get it. I just knew it was for me.Amanda, who has two sons, adds: I begged Penelope to sell it to me. Meanwhile, Amanda, who is hoping for her semi-autobiographical play, As I Like It, to premiere on Broadway, has put her Grade II-listed house in Londons Cheyne Walk up for sale.She says: I love the house, but its too big. Nicky Haslam, who decorated it for me, says its the most romantic house in Chelsea.After a somewhat turbulent past, during which his aristocratic wife left him for a tattooed gamekeeper, James Hervey-Bathurst found happiness second time round with the Duke of Rutlands cousin, Lucy Manners, a pal of the Duchess of York.He also worked hard to turn his 97-room Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire into one of the nations best countryside attractions hosting weddings, conferences and shooting parties.But, alas, James, 62, will be counting the cost after organisers of the Big Chill musical festival, held in the castles 5,000-acre grounds, decided to cancel this summers event.Its bound to have a huge knock-on effect, says a friend of James. I gather the organisers decided not togo ahead because it clashed with the Olympics and, presumably, that means James is set to lose his fee for the use of his grounds.Thissetback comes nine years after father-of-five James was left by his wife Sarah, after her Lady Chatterley-style romance with gamekeeper Mark Smith, who worked on the grouse moor of her father Viscount Inglebys Snilesworth estate in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.Their love affair fizzled out. Meanwhile, James fell for Lucy, an interior designer, who was a one-time lady-in-waiting to Fergie. The couple have since married and have two children to add to his three children by his first wife. Two years ago, his daughter, Isabella, then a third-year student at Trinity College, Cambridge, was voted fittest girl at the university.James, affectionately known to his friends as Dirty Bathwater, has various business schemes to help pay for the hefty upkeep of the Norman-style turreted castle, which has a twin-towered gate-house, arboretum and lake. It has been used as a backdrop for various TV shows, including Bargain Hunt and Simon Cowells Red Or Black gameshow. Land Rover has also used the estate for off-road testing. Last years line-up for the Big Chill included The Chemical Brothers and Kanye West.Suddenly, handsome Birdsong star Eddie Redmayne is everywhere. And theOld Etonian friend of Prince William yesterday picked up yet another award this time for being Best Shakespearean Actor.Redmayne was as stylish as ever when he received the gong at the prestigious Critics Circle Theatre Awards dressed head to foot in Burberry. Yes, these are lovely clothes, but theyre not mine, he says. I have to give them back afterwards. Its all Burberry. Cambridge-educated Eddie, who is appearing in Richard II at Londons Donmar Warehouse, can be seen cavorting with model Cara Delevingne in the latest Burberry campaign. Redmayne, who has female TV viewers swooning at his role in the Sebastian Faulkss World War I novel, adds: Im back to work later filming Les Miserables at Pinewood. ..........................................................Growing political instability in Yemen is posing significant problems for a new film set in the country starring Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ewan McGregor. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, based on the book by Paul Torday, is due for release in March, but I gather producers are increasingly nervous aboutwhether it will be appropriate to premiere the comedy, as the situationin the benighted country worsens. It tells the story of a British scientist who becomes involved, somewhat reluctantly, in a project to bring salmon fishing to the wadis of the highlands of dirt-poor Yemen.Former mercenary Simon Mann has been relating how he survived five years in two of Africas toughest prisons by carrying on solitary conversations in different voices in his cell for hours on end. I became skilled at imitating Peter Sellers directing air traffic control as Inspector Clouseau, Mann told guests at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill. The Old Etonian former SAS soldier, whose self-penned book of his incarceration was published last year, says libel laws prevented him naming the figures behind his failed coup in Equatorial Guinea.PS She's game for most challenges, but former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe, touted as a possible police commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, has ruled herself out because the role doesnt offer enough power. The former Strictly Come Dancing star says: Its all very well being able to hire the Chief Constable, but if you then have these silly differences about whos in charge of operations or policy, its no good. I would do it if I thought I would be able to say we will have zero tolerance. No crime will be too small. Unless you can do that, youre never going to get on top of the problems. Im afraid it wont be me.Is that appropriate for a family lunch? Cristiano Ronaldo and Irina Shayk share passionate embrace at the tableBy UPDATED:09:07 GMT, 26 May 2011When dining with their boyfriend's parents, many women would be concerned with their manners in front of potential in-laws.Irina Shayk clearly feels at home with her footballer beau Cristiano Ronaldo's family, as the pair got down to some serious kissing at the table during lunch in his hometown, Funchal, Madeira.But while the gorgeous Russian model was wrapped up in her boyfriend's embrace, laying her head back and closing her eyes, Cristiano appeared a little distracted.The Real Madrid player looked over Irina's head as the pair embraced, before pulling his head away.Irina did not appear happy with the snub, playfully pouting and trying to pull Cristiano's face back towards her.Their comical interaction was witnessed by the footballer's family and Cristiano's little boy Cristiano Jr, who they have been spending time with in the Ronaldo's home town on the Portuguese island.The good-looking duo are enjoying their down time, with Irina going casual and make-up free.As an in-demand model, she spends most of her time coiffed and preened to perfection, but Irina was happy to step out in a simple white vest and jeans, with tousled, natural hair and not a scrap of make-up on her beautiful face.Cristiano, 26, was typically decked out in designer gear in a Gucci cap. The day before, Cristiano was pictured for the first time with his baby son.And, in the first shots of 10-month-old Cristiano in many months, the resemblance between the father and son is uncanny.With a head of downy black hair and olive skin, little Cristiano looked adorable as he was carried by his proud father. Thebaby also appeared to have taken after his father in terms of his love of designer fashion, as he was wearing a Burberry checked shirt, denim jacket and matching Burberry baseball cap - which he wore backwards to make it more trendy.And it seems Irina has adapted well to the family style of life, as she was seen cuddling up to her boyfriend's super-cute son in the back of the car.Irina has remained loyal to Ronaldo despite the revelation last year that he had become a father. The baby was allegedly born to a 20-year-old British student following a fling with the star after they met in a London club. The Portuguese star stunned the world when he announced out of the blue last July that he had become a father.The winger said from the start that the child would be under his 'exclusive guardianship'. But his mother Dolores is helping to raise the child.After announcing the birth on Facebook, Ronaldo wrote: 'It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy. He said recently: 'Of course something like this affects you. It's a different type of responsibility.'Maybe I feel more comfortable. I'm comfortable when things are going well: my family, the club, my friends,that gives me important support for everything else.'Of course I change the nappies. It's not the thing I like best in the world, but I do it.'Do you have a story about a celebrity? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683. For U.S. stories, phone 310 642 2317.Pictured: Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo takes charge of his baby son... and girlfriend Irina Shayk gets a cuddle tooBy UPDATED:10:46 GMT, 24 May 2011Cristiano Ronaldo has been pictured for the first time with his baby son Cristiano on a day out in Portugal over the weekend.And, in the first shots of 10-month-old Cristiano, the resemblance between the father and son is uncanny.With a head of downy black hair and olive skin, little Cristiano looked adorable as he was carried by his proud father.Thebaby also appeared to have taken after his father in terms of his love of designer fashion, as he was wearing a Burberry checked shirt, denim jacket and matching Burberry baseball cap - which he wore backwards to make it more trendy. Also on the outing was Ronaldo's girlfriend Irina Shayk, who looked chic in a tight pair of grey trousers, black vest top and white blazer jacket.And it seems Russian model Irina has adapted well to the family style of life, as she was seen cuddling up to her boyfriend's super-cute son in the back of the car.Irina has remained loyal to Ronaldo despite the revelation last year that he had become a father. The baby was allegedly born to a 20-year-old British student following a fling with the star after they met in a London club. The Portuguese star stunned the world when he announced out of the blue last July that he had become a father.The winger said from the start that the child would be under his 'exclusive guardianship'. But his mother Dolores is helping to raise the child.After announcing the birth on Facebook, Ronaldo wrote: 'It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy. 'As agreed with the babys mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be undermy exclusive guardianship.'And while Ronaldo's mother Dolores isessentially raising the baby between Madrid and Portugal due to the football star's career commitments, Ronaldo spoke recently about how hislife had been affected by becoming a father.He said recently: 'Of course something like this affects you. It's a different type of responsibility.'Maybe I feel more comfortable. I'm comfortable when things are going well: my family, the club, my friends,that gives me important support for everything else.'Of course I change the nappies. It's not the thing I like best in the world, but I do it.'City news in brief: New Star, Chrysalis, BurberryBy UPDATED:08:44 GMT, 16 April 2008We round up the shorter business and finance stories from the Daily Mail City pages.Pound battered on poor housing surveySterling took a pounding after a gloomy housing survey, while oil leapt to a record high as investors tried to hedge against a weak US dollar. The pound dropped to $1.96 against the greenback and hit a low of 80.65p per euro. A Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors survey which showed a fall in the key house price index to a 30-year low has increased hopes that there will have to be a series of interest rate reductions. Weak retail sales and steady inflation has also reinforced hopes for a cut. Meanwhile, oil rose above $113 per barrel, touching a high of $113.93 in the US before easing back again. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who travels to Washington today for talks with President Bush, called on oil producers to act to calm prices. New Star fund boss has a Pease of the actionNew Star's top fund manager Richard Pease pocketed a whopping 5.7m last year, up from 4.7m in 2006, despite a slump in the group's share price. Pease, who earned a basic salary of 197,000, got the bulk of his money from managing a hedge fund, which gave him 5.5m in performance fees. Though his own performance has been strong, investors may still not be best pleased at the huge payout since New Star's share price has tumbled by 75% in a year. The stock closed up 2p to 112p yesterday. Boris gets a DiamondBarclays executive Bob Diamond, one of the best-paid men in the City, has agreed to be an adviser to Conservative candidate Boris Johnson if he is elected Mayor of London. American, Diamond, whose Barclays pay package was worth 21m last year, has agreed to help Johnson find sponsors for a Mayor's Fund designed to tackle youth crime and social problems in the capital. Diamond could use his extensive network of City contacts to help find corporate and individual donors for the fund. Chrysalis rejects HandsGuy Hands suffered another setback after music business Chrysalis rejected a 104m takeover from his Terra Firma private equity firm. Chrysalis, which controls the publishing rights for writers including Gnarls Barkley, The Raconteurs and Feeder, said Terra Firma's 155p-a-share offer significantly undervalued the company. It is no longer in bid talks. Chrysalis fell 20p to 115p. Hands, who also controls EMI, was set on driving consolidation in the music industry. Burberry brushes off credit concernsFashion conscious consumers appear to have shrugged off credit fears to keep on buying luxury items from Burberry (up 42p to 438p). Retail sales in the three months to March 31 rose 20% to 121m, while total sales for the period increased 12% to 292m. The other end of the high street remains gloomy. Icelandic retail investor Baugur has raised the 'for sale' sign over MK One, the struggling cut price fashion retailer which made a 17.4m loss last year. BE hit by shutdownBid target British Energy (down 11p at 730p) has again been undone by its ageing portfolio of nuclear power stations as it shut down Unit 1 of its Torness reactor in Scotland because of a 'small leak'. The latest problem follows an outage at the facility in December and January and another weeklong outage at Unit 2 in February. £25bn debt chaosBanks face a 25bn mountain of 'problem' unsecured debt as the credit crunch forces more people to default on their loans, warned a leading credit analyst. TDX says up to one million Britons are in danger of falling behind on their loan and credit card repayments. Those opting for Individual Voluntary Arrangements could double to 800,000 in 2008. Debut-day drop for BurberryBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 11 July 2002INSTITUTIONS that backed the 1.15bn flotation of fashion group Burberry were left with bloody noses today as the shares slumped on their stock market debut. They slid 2% from the offer price of 230p to 224p. The issue was already at the bottom end of the expected range, so City bookmakers had expected it to trade at least 10p higher than the starting price by the end of the day. The fall means Italian-American chief executive Rose Marie Bravo's 11.5m stake has already fallen in value by nearly 250,000. However, brokers praised owner GUS for getting the float away in a turbulent market that has seen a host of share offers being axed. One trader said: 'You've got to hand it to the GUS management. They've been saying for 12 to 18 months that they'd offload Burberry and they've done it. If they hadn't managed to do it now, they would have come in for some major stick.' In its capacity as stabilisation manager, Merrill Lynch went into the market to buy shares after they tumbled as low as 219p at one stage. Investors who were bullish about Burberry said the offer price, of 15 times prospective earnings, was a 40% discount to luxury goods businesses such as Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, Gucci and Bulgari. Burberry remains confident despite 20% profit slideBy UPDATED:22:51 GMT, 17 November 2009Luxury goods firm Burberry has posted a 19 per cent profits fall but said its performance was 'solid', helped by strong demand for handbags and scarves.Burberry said pre-tax profits were £78.4million in the six months to September 30, down from £97million last year as the effects of discounting hit margins and wholesale orders were reduced.The firm - praised by commentators after the fashion house returned to the catwalk at London Fashion Week this autumn - said it had seen 'exceptional growth' in London stores after the weak pound attracted foreign shoppers.Burberry said it now planned to split its clothing brands into three distinct categories - casualwear will come under the label Burberry Brit, workwear and tailoring will be known as Burberry London and its catwalk collection will continue as Prorsum.After shrugging off its links with 'chav' culture in the UK in recent years, the brand has regained its upmarket reputation.The firm, which was founded in 1856, opened a children's store in Notting Hill during the period.It said its policy of focusing on its retail stores had started to pay off, with this now accounting for 54 per cent of all sales.The retailer said its non-clothing ranges represented its biggest growth area in the first half, contributing 34 per cent of revenue.The firm said larger handbags, 'sling' shoulder bags and accessories like snoods and scarves had all proved increasingly popular as it looks to diversify its offering.Shoes and childrenswear were also identified as key growth areas, anticipated to grow to make up 10 per cent each of revenues in the medium term.Like-for-like sales across the business were up 2 per cent over the half year, improving to 5 per cent in the second quarter.Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said: 'Burberry delivered a solid first half performance, reflecting the strength of the brand, business and team.'We enter the second half confident in our core strategies, capitalising on product, region, channel and operational opportunities.'Cost cutting measures helped limit the fall in underlying profits to £82.6million, from £95.3million a year earlier.The firm has cut 1,000 roles as part of moves to save £50million a year, which also involved improving its infrastructure.The retailer now expects to grow its selling space between 8 per cent and 10 per cent for the full year, with plans to open a further 15 stores in the period mainly in Asia and the Americas.Meanwhile, the firm expects wholesale revenues to fall around 15 per cent at constant currency in the second half, with about half due to Burberry's own actions, while stockists also move to cut their inventories.The awkward moment when Will.i.am and Denise Lewis arrive at the Burberry show wearing the same trench coat By UPDATED:13:25 GMT, 21 February 2012It's a wardrobe must-have associated with the label.But perhaps heptathlete Denise Lewis and Will-i.am should have consulted one another before donning their Burberry trench coats today.For the designs were exactly the same.And the designer's highly-anticipated - not to mention star-studded - London Fashion Week show was the worst place to make such a fashion faux pas.The stylish, beige number, which comes in a men's and women's style, featured the usual double-breasted design with black buttons and piping.Either star could have easily chosen another trench coat from Burberry's vast collection.The label would have no doubt sent the coats to the pair along with an invite for the front row of the show at Kensington Gardens.Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.i.am, 36, - real name William Adams - paired his coat with jeans and stylish trainers and some gold-rimmed glasses.Former Strictly Come Dancing star Denise, 39, who won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, wore red velvet tights under hers, along with open-toe black boots.Will.i.am kept his fans updated throughout the show, via Twitter.He said: 'The @burberry fashion show in london was amazing...christopher is an amazing designer, angela is CEO with vision #embracetechnology.'He added later: '@Burberry is leading the future of fashion social connectivity...they do it all...great art leadership...http://bit.ly/wIsgV1.'VIDEO: Will.i.am chats after the Burberry catwalkSell-out celebs: Seen a star in a High Street frock you love? Hit the shops quick - or they'll all be gone By PUBLISHED:22:56 GMT, 7 June 2012 UPDATED:09:54 GMT, 8 June 2012This week, MarksSpencer announced that one of its dresses has sold out in just two weeks, after actress Denise Van Outen was pictured wearing it at a party. The £37.50 green hummingbird print dress from the MS Limited Collection range flew off the shelves in 14 days - prompting more than 200 calls to customer services from people desperate to buy it. The store says it will reissue a new version of the must-have, in an owl print, next month. But this isnt the only time a celebrity has caused a stampede after being spotted in an item of High Street clothing. From pop stars to politicians, we look at the other celebs who made us hit the shops... ALESHA DIXON TOPSHOP DRESS: After Alesha Dixon wore a £350 'lampshade' dress by Mary Katrantzou for Topshop for the Britain's Got Talent auditions this February, left, the dress promptly sold out online and vanished from stores within a day. Alesha wasn't the only star spotted in the dress, from the Greek designer renowned for vibrant prints. A month earlier, Poppy Delevigne, centre, wore it to the Elle Style awards and former Made In Chelsea cast member Amber Atherton, right, wore it on the front row of the Fashion East event. The dress is now on sale for upwards of £499 on eBay EMMA WATSON CRUMPET SCARF: As the face of Burberry and fan of high-end designers, Emma Watson has become something of fashion darling but most of her A-list wardrobe is out of our reach. However, when she was spotted walking down the street in a Scottie-dog print cashmere scarf by a British knitwear company called Crumpet in September, left, Harry Potter fans took note. The £179 scarf sold out within a week. Over the next three weeks, sales of all the firms scarves increased by 62 per centKATE MOSS TOPSHOP PANTHER PRINT DRESS: Everything Kate Moss wears becomes an instant fashion hit. When she wore a piece from her own Topshop collection, a panther claw print dress, centre, on a night on the town, the design sold out within 15 minutes of being put on sale at the Oxford Street superstore. The £100 dress, which was part of her Christmas 2008 collection, sold out online within two hours and within a day it was being sold on eBay at double the price. Topshop reissued it in 2010. In June, her power to shape what we wear was demonstrated again, when the 38-year-old borrowed a poncho from a friend during her hen-do at the Isle of White festival. The £18 Aztec print Primark piece sold out within daysALEXA CHUNG RUSSELL AND BROMLEY LOAFERS: British shoemakers Russell and Bromley had been quietly making their sensible loafers since 1873, but when TV presenter Alexa Chung started being spotted in them in 2008, right, the stores £125 flats soon sold out CHERYL COLE WOLFORD BONDAGE TIGHTS: Cheryl Cole may have started some stylish fashion trends, but there is one look we dont thank her for bondage tights. After she wore the Wolford hosiery on the X Factor in October 2010, left, the tights sold out online within hours. All 600 pairs vanished from stores the next day. But the tights were neither flattering nor classy they were soon seen on the likes of Katie Price and Chantelle HoughtonTWIGGY MS SEQUIN BLAZER: When Twiggy designed a collection for MS, she was photographed at the launch in April wearing a £79 silver sequined jacket, centre. It sold out within two hours of going online and vanished from stores within two days. It was not the first time the store had benefited from the Twiggy effect. In 2011, MS sold ten times more macs in one week than ever before after Twiggy modelled a £39.95 trenchYASMIN LE BON WALLIS DRESS: Back in 2009, the great and the good flocked to Hampton Court for a lavish fundraiser organised by Mikhail Gorbachev. But while most were wearing couture dresses worth thousands, model Yasmin Le Bon wore a full-length yellow gown from her own collection at Wallis, right. The £120 Peridot evening dress sold out within a week and that year Harpers magazine voted the 48-year-old model the fourth best-dressed woman in Britain How brolly inconvenient! Dita Von Teese drops her umbrella at LFW show... and waits patiently for someone to pick it up By and PUBLISHED:22:30 GMT, 17 September 2012 UPDATED:06:58 GMT, 19 September 2012Dita Von Teese narrowly avoided an embarrassing error as she turned up to the Burberry Prorsum show at London Fashion Week on Monday. The burlesque dancer gave off an air of sophistication ready for her photo opportunities at the starry event.But she almost had to face bending down in her figure hugging dress in front of the waiting paparazzi who were ready to catch the move when she accidentally dropped her umbrella on the ground.Scroll down for video... She then took her seat on the front row when she was inside, but was joined by a rather unlikely companion next to her.One Direction's Harry Styles showed of his fashion credentials as he attended the high fashion event.While to her right Aaron Paul sat next to her as she posed perfectly with the umbrella in its position. American dream: Dita Von Teese and Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul caught up before the showFashion's other finest names turned out to witness the Burberry Prorsum London Fashion Week show and model Tali Lennox led the way with her undeniable style.The teenage model showed a much more mature side as she stood out from the crowd at Kensington Gardens, London, on Monday afternoon.Tali, 19, arrived looking every inch the style icon as she bravely wore brown and blue in the same ensemble and managed to pull it off. With his cheeky smile and messy hair the One Direction member looked like a young gent as he smiled for the cameras.In contrast Tali kept her make-up simple as she let her mane fall elegantly over her shoulders.Having modelled for Prada, Roberto Cavalli and Burberry, Tali knows the fashion scene well and fitted in with the front row despite normally being on the catwalk herself. The 35-year-old wore a black dress with a pair of leather boots but bizarrely also wore a huge V medallion with a pair of sunglasses that had the word 'vogue' on the lenses.American actor Aaron Paul, best known for his role of Jesse Pinkman in TV show Breaking Bad, was looking exceptionally dapper in a black and white suit.Reality TV star Olivia Palermo made a stylish entrance in a brown jacket and chocolate colour trousers, while Alison Mosshart made less effort in a leather jacket. US Open champion Andy Murray arrived with his stunning girlfriend Kim Sears on his arm while many more athletes also attended the show.Olympian Victoria Pendleton looked lovely in a lilac peplum dress with her hair down and her slim figure on show.Fashion royalty also rocked up to the show in the form of Anna Wintour and Mario Testino. The style stalwarts were in good spirits as they joked and laughed their way into the venue. VIDEO: Harry Styles attends the Burberry showDo your clothes reveal your character flaws? That's what a leading clinical psychologist claims. I puts her to the test... By PUBLISHED:22:19 GMT, 25 April 2012 UPDATED:14:13 GMT, 26 April 2012Clothes are one of my greatest pleasures, but also the source of much anxiety. Faced with any social occasion, I invariably go over the top, agonising for months about what to wear. I never, if I think about this honestly, feel comfortable in what Im wearing. And this isnt just because I work in fashion and am surrounded by women who look incredible in the latest must-have clothes. While I often experience extreme envy when I see a catwalk model a craving that makes me forget my age, bank balance and shape this lack of self-confidence stems from earlier in my life.I grew up, the youngest of seven children, in a family where money was tight. Consequently, I wore hand-me-downs from my three elder sisters and clothes that were made by my mum: little checked pinafores and rough, hand-knitted sweaters.So, from an early age, I craved beingable to buy clothes from shops. I was painfully shy and believed I was ugly. Its no surprise that, as a teenager, I was in thrall to fashion magazines. I soon got into debt buying expensive clothes because I had been so miserable always being the poor relation.I realise I go over the top in my bidfor perfection. When I was asked by the BBC to report live from a banquet held at Buckingham Palace in honour of President Obama, I boughta black Alexander McQueen trouser suit, new shoes and a bag. I felt I had to wear something British, and spare no expense. This is me all over: I thought my commentary would be pedestrian and halting, and so I had to make up for my inadequacies somehow. Because I also feel ugly, I never dress provocatively: I never show my legs, arms or cleavage (even on my wedding day I wore a cream tuxedo suit, not a dress). So, I choose expensive items because I grew up poor. I dress like a man at work because I think Im stupid. I cover up because I believe Im repulsive. I have long understood that the way I dress is my shield, my solace, my safety net.But can someone else tell that just by looking at me? Whats more, can anyone help me with the issues behind my wardrobe choices? U.S. clinical psychologist Jennifer Baumgartner, author of new book You Are What You Wear, says so. Baumgartner paid her way through university by working in a Ralph Lauren store, where she noticed how many women are confused about their identity, and act out their neuroses by spending inappropriately.Often, wardrobe mishaps are simply our inner conflicts bubbling to the surface, she says, wisely. Baumgartner claims that by just looking at a woman she is able not only to diagnose what is wrong, but fix her psyche in what she calls the psychology of dress. But does her method really work? Can Jennifer not only identify my deep-seated problems just by looking at my four signature outfits, but also, more importantly, offer me help? EVENING WEARBlack strapless gown and clutch by Bottega Veneta, peep-toe sandals by LouboutinJENNIFER SAYS: Why has Liz, with a knockout figure, allowed herself to be swallowed by this great sloppy satin beast? She allows only a glimpse of her inner sparkle with her metallic shoe. The oversized outfit makes me think she is unaware of her body shape. I am waiting for Liz, like someone after a makeover, to rip off this dress to reveal a better one. If I had thick, lustrous hair like this, I would not hide it in a messy updo. She is also weighed down by the eye make-up on the lower lids.LIZ SAYS: This dress is not too big for me: its a size 8, and the integral corset means I can hardly breathe! But Jennifer is right: I hate my body, and try to hide it at all times and at great cost. When I wore this dress to an awards ceremony, I added a metallic Aquascutum jacket. Its strange that she mentions my heavy eye make-up without apparently understanding why I wear it. Isnt it obvious that Im hiding behind a mask?CASUALJaeger London trousers, MS Cashmere sweater, Burberry patent platformsJENNIFER SAYS: Im getting a university student vibe from this outfit and Lizs hair style. It conveys a youthful energy. The colours are bold, bright and fresh, and she is not afraid to mix and match them, but unfortunately they work against each other. She seems to be comfortable with being noticed in a crowd, as the bright pink of the jumper will stand out. Id team the jumper with white skinny jeans and either nude flats or colourful sandals. Id alter the trousers to eliminate bagging, and pair them with a tweed blazer and boots and throw in a printed silk scarf or load up on gold accessories.LIZ SAYS: She is half right. I do have youthful energy. I am passionate and hard-working. I try my best all the time. She says I am comfortable being noticed in a crowd, but this is not true at all. I might wear a raspberry Sloppy Joe jumper, but this belies my deep-set neuroses.DATEGold lace skirt by Suzannah, white T-shirt and sandals by PradaJENNIFER SAYS: Lizs make-up gives all the evolutionary indicators of fertility pink cheeks and lips, and glowing skin but then she lets us down with a very non-seductive, plain white T-shirt. This outfit suggests Liz is relatively conservative and the pieces dont match, suggesting Liz may have pulled the outfit together in a rush. She should wear this skirt with a fitted black top, a black patent leather belt and stilettos. I would shorten the skirt to right below the knee, and nip it in slightly to create a more streamlined silhouette. This outfit begs for accessories, too.LIZ SAYS: Oh dear. I chose this outfit to cover all the things I hate about myself. Jennifer says I am conservative, when, in fact, I am very shy, afraid of being sexy, feel unattractive and I hate my knees. Just telling me to wear a sexier top is unhelpful. She should have said: This woman has problems with self-esteem and has no idea of her own worth, which I could have told her.OFFICEBlack Alexander McQueen trouser suit, Burberry patent platformsJENNIFER SAYS: Lizs smart, tailored outfit says she is a no-nonsense go-getter, but the shoes suggest a fun side. Black is a no-frills colour for work, where people feel they are taken more seriously in dark colours. The shoes are quite different. Research says people associate platforms especially red ones with women who are not very intelligent, and possibly promiscuous. Liz sidesteps these associations by wearing them with a conservative outfit. She should try skinny trousers, instead of cropped, or a skirt, and try a daintier shoe to complement her frame and update her look, as the days of the platform are over, or so says designer Manolo Blahnik.LIZ SAYS: She is pretty spot on. I am ambitious and I also have humour. I disagree about my shoes. I bought these in 2003, still love them, and dont think I should change to suit Manolo Blahnik. To me, this outfit screams my deep insecurity: Please dont sack me! and that I spend too much on clothes.HOW COULD SHE GET ME SO WRONG?The verdicts on the way I dress in no way show that Jennifer Baumgartner has spotted my deep-seated insecurities. She missed that I am borderline anorexic, have body dysmorphic disorder, fear ageing, men and sex, that I am in awe of clothes rather than know how to enjoy them, and that I spend way too much money.She should have deduced, as a therapist who claims to use only clothes to make her diagnosis, that I am divorced, that I hate my body, am hugely stressed, and oh! that Im broke! Reading her book, Ive found Jennifers prescription for someone like me who struggles with self-loathing is to filter my media restrict the magazines I read and websites I look at to go out in a crowded shopping centre wearing only a tight-fitting top and skinny jeans, to be more assertive and to choose bright colours. But it all sounds a bit simplistic, a bit Gok Wan to me. When addressing disorders in her book, she writes: Life is too short for such silliness. A clinical psychologist should know better. Wearing a bright sleeveless top exposing my arms is not going to begin to cure me. You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You by Dr Jennifer Baumgartner is published by Da Capo Life Long, priced £10.99. Double digit growth for Burberry in Europe and Asia offset by difficulties in U.S.UPDATED:14:05 GMT, 15 July 2009Harry Potter actress Emma Watson has cast her spell on Burberry sales in the UK since featuring in an ad campaign for the fashion house. It posted an 'exceptional' performance in Britain, with sales at stores including key outlets in Regent Street and Knightsbridge up 12per cent in the past three months.But growth in Europe and Asia was offset by weakness in other markets. Burberry said customers had responded well to its Spring/Summerranges, particularly mens tailoring, denim, sport and childrenswear.The firm added: 'Europe and Asia both delivered double-digitpercentage growth, with exceptional performances again in the UK andKorea (both helped by favourable currency movements).'Meanwhile Burberry's wholesale business saw sales drop 28per cent ascustomers face the recession by slashing the amount of stock held,while Burberry is also restructuring its wholesale division and closingsome operations.Angela Ahrendts, the retailer's chief executive, said: 'Burberry hasmade a solid start to the year in what remains a challengingenvironment.'Burberry plans to add between 10 and 15 stores to its portfolio this year.A new American headquarters and showrooms were opened on Madison Avenue in New York during the quarter, as well as three franchise stores in emerging markets, including the first Burberry store in Bahrain.The firm said as of the end of June it had 118 retail stores, 253 concessions and 84 franchise outlets in over 25 countries.Burberry said its cost cutting initiatives were delivering the expected results.Steps taken by Burberry to tackle the global slowdown have included a £50million inventory reduction and a £50million efficiency programme.The company endured a 13per cent fall in underlying profits last year, despite annual revenues topping more than £1billion for the first time.The firm shed around 15per cent of its workforce in the last financial year.In January, Burberry announced 170 jobs were going as a result of its plan to close a sewing facility at Rotherham, south Yorkshire. Doubts raised over Burberry floatBy UPDATED:23:00 GMT, 10 July 2002THE Burberry float could be dropped tonight if markets keep falling, banking sources said. Owner GUS, which is due to float up to 25% of the luxury brand company on Friday, does not want itss debut to be a flop. A decision will be taken at the last minute, but Wednesday's stock market slide is adding to pressure to delay. The shares are trading at 241p-248p in the grey market and have generated much interest. This is within the 230p-290p indicative price range, but GUS must consider whether they would fall after the placing. It would be very damaging to the public perception of an upmarket consumer brand such as Burberry if the shares slumped in the after market. Kate in command: Duchess of Cambridge does dress uniform as she carries out first military role as a royal By Created 11:26 AM on 25th June 2011The Duchess of Cambridge took on her first military role as a royal today as she handed out operational medals to members of the Irish Guards.Alongside the Duke of Cambridge, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, Kate presented medals to soldiers who have recently returned from serving in Afghanistan.A royal aide said the Duchess was very pleased to be undertaking the role for a regiment 'so close to her husband's heart'. The 1st Battalion Irish Guards returned in April from a six-month tour in Afghanistan where they were deployed to 22 different locations in Helmand Province, tasked with developing the Afghan Army.Sixsoldiers returned home two weeks before the royal couple's wedding day and had ceremonial duties to perform in London on the day. The Duke of Cambridge spoke of his pride and humility today as he presented the medals. Private Nadine Gwendu, 25, from Newhaven, Brighton, who is originally from Zimbabwe, said meeting the Duchess was like a dream come true.Now I have seen her, and she has shaken my hand it is something different, he said.She was very calm and down to earth, you wouldn't think she is a duchess because she is so down to earth. She asked me what it was like livingwith so many men in Afghanistan and I told her that it was all right because I was like a priority to them. From the time I joined everyone has been great, from the Guardsmen to the highest rank.Also it was so important for William, the Colonel, to present our medals and we all really appreciate that.Six soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, swapped their combat uniforms for ceremonial dress participate in the Royal wedding, with a handful returning to the UK just seven days earlier. The Duke of Cambridge paid tribute today to the extraordinary soldiers like Sergeant Paterson,who within days of returning from fighting in Afghanistan, took part in his marriage celebrations.William said: As Catherine and I rode through the centre gate of Buckingham Palace on our wedding day, there you were, formed up as the Queen's Guard with your commanding officer at your head.If ever there was an illustration of why the Foot Guards, and the Micks in particular, are special, that was it.To exchange combat kit for ceremonial uniform in the space of two weeks is nothing short of remarkable.To be amongst the most proficient in the world wearing both is just simply extraordinary.There's a supermodel behind you! Eddie Redmayne only has eyes for his Birdsong co-star Clémence Poésy as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is ignored at Burberry By UPDATED:13:17 GMT, 21 February 2012They played young lovers in this year's hit BBC film Birdsong.And could life be imitating art of Eddie Remayne and French actress Clémence Poésy?The pair looked smitten in the front row for Burberry at London Fashion Week yesterday.Scroll down for video Despite gorgeous supermodel, and Eddie's fellow Burberry model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, sitting beside him, he only had eyes for his blonde co-star.They looked deep in conversation as Clémence continued to clap as the model strutted in front of her at Kensington Gardens. Birdsong, which premiered last month, was an adaptation of the Sebastian Faulks novel of the same name. The two-part series saw Eddie as Stephen Wraysford and Clémence as married Isabelle Azaire with whom he had an affair.Set during Work War I, the story is told in flashbacks. Also on the guest list was Will Young, who played it safe in a blue jumper and black trousers. English model Laura Bailey was seen wearing a floaty yellow and green dress that was also donned by one of the models on the catwalk.The women even wore similar brown heels, but the catwalk model added a pair of black studded leather gloves. Rising model Cara Delevigne, sister of socialite Poppy, led the other models on the massive white runway, holding umbrellas as fake snow fell.Hundreds backed the venue, photographing and admiring the latest collection. VIDEO: See all the celebs at the Burberry catwalk show The new Brit Pack: Rising stars Roo Panes and Tali Lennox join Eddie Redmayne to help Burberry celebrate first men's fashion weekend By PUBLISHED:15:14 GMT, 18 June 2012 UPDATED:15:21 GMT, 18 June 2012British brand Burberry celebrated the first weekend-long event dedicated to men's fashion with a cocktail party attended by a number of rising young stars.Attendees included Roo Panes, a singer-songwriter not many people have yet heard of, who fronts their autumn/winter campaign, and one of their catwalk models, Tali Lennox, who is currently only recognisable thanks to being the daughter of the famous Annie Lennox.But Burberry are confident the pair will soon become household names in their own right - and they haven't been wrong before.The brand were the first to sign Harry Potter actress Emma Watson, who has gone on to be a major fashion icon, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley who has gone from the catwalk to starring in major Hollywood blockbusters including the third Transformers film.Their eye for spotting talent has already been proven this year after they used actor Eddie Redmayne in their spring/summer campaign. He is currently in demand for acting roles as well as modelling work following his starring turns in the Oscar nominated film My Week With Marilyn and acclaimed BBC production of Birdsong.Redmayne helped Burberry mark the first men's fashion weekend by hosting a cocktail party at their store in Knightsbridge, London, on Sunday with the British brand's chief creative officer, Christopher Bailey.The event was well-supported by a number of the new bright youngs things from the showbiz world. As well as Lennox and Panes, model David Gandy, comedian Jack Whitehall and actor Russell Tovey rubbed shoulders, while indie music star Miles Kane, formerly of The Last Shadow Puppets, provided entertainment as he performed a set of his solo material.Not to be outshone by the up-and-coming stars, Sir Elton John also attended with his partner David Furnish. The singer chose not to blend into the crowd by wearing a shiny fuchsia pink suit with clashing bright metallic green loafers and yellow rimmed glasses.The Burberry party was part of the first London Collections: Men, a weekend-long event dedicated to men's fashion organised by the British Fashion Council. The aim of the weekend was to put the spotlight on men's clothing which is often overshadowed by women's wear collections at established fashion weeks.The weekend featured shows, exhibitions and digital programming from top fashion brands and was launched by Prince Charles at St James Palace on Friday. How fame lost its magic for Hermione (that's despite Emma Watson's £30million in the bank)By UPDATED:11:10 GMT, 17 May 2010While several hundred flashbulbs are fizzing in unison to mark the arrival of Emma Watson at New York's hottest red-carpet event, just a few feet away, a rather less glamorous spectacle is drawing a sizeable crowd of its own. The driver of the Harry Potter starlet's limousine is involved in a heated and vaguely comical exchange with one of the event's parking supervisors. Amid much rancour, the official is accusing the actress's car of blocking the arrival of her fellow A-list guests, who include Sienna Miller and boyfriend Jude Law, Mick Jagger and Renee Zellweger, outside the city's Metropolitan Museum of Art. But her chauffeur is refusing to budge. The reason: he insists he has been specifically instructed by the British actress to remain close at hand should anything untoward happen to her stunning, specially created Burberry gown.He is on red alert, he is saying, in the event that a careless reveller spills red wine or inadvertently drops a crab puff on Emma's handmade, white, floor-length frock. Whereupon he will be expected to race inside on a mercy mission clutching an exact copy of the stunning gown, deposited in the boot for just such a calamity. Clearly the focused Emma is in no mood to leave anything to chance. This may explain why her 'plus one' for the Met Ball fashion gala two weeks ago was not her new Spanish boyfriend, but Burberry's chief creative officer Christopher Bailey. Who better to have on hand should the off-the-shoulder, slashed-to-the-thigh frock need any final tweaks? For, despite her tender years (she celebrated her 20th birthday last month), the determined Miss Watson is very much hands-on when it comes to the subject of her public image. Witness the actress's over-the-top reaction this week when she called in her lawyers to remove doctored pictures from an obscure website that appeared to show her naked. At the same time, her spokesman issued a statement insisting: 'If you look at it you will see that the head is marginally too big for the body and the angle of the face is physically impossible with the body in that position.' Presumably this might equally apply to just about any of the faked naked pictures of female celebrities that litter the murkier reaches of cyberspace. Would it not have been wiser for Emma, who plays schoolgirl witch Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, just to ignore such nonsense rather than draw attention to it? The single-minded Miss Watson is not, however, inclined to take such liberties lying down. Despite her movie stardom and assured public appearances (she is paid more than £1 million a year to promote Burberry at fashion events), Emma, it is said, is still struggling to adjust to being public property. This dilemma is neatly illustrated by her rather schizophrenic approach to her public and private worlds. Take, for example, the morning after that glamorous fashion gala in New York. Emma was whisked from her five-star Manhattan hotel in a gleaming black Cadillac SUV to the airport to make the short flight to Providence, Rhode Island, where she is about to finish her first-year studies at the prestigious Brown University. But by the time she arrived back on campus, her transformation from international film star and designer fashion icon to freshman student was complete. Dressed down in jeans and a simple green top, she returned to the dormitory she shares with other first-year students at the Ivy League college and the tiny room, complete with two single beds, in which she bunks down with a female member of the athletics team. All of which might seem a tad surprising for a young woman who this year was officially declared the best-paid actress in the world, outdoing Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts with the £20 million she earned from filming the final two in the series of Hogwarts movies. Particularly as back home in London, Emma has invested some of her growing fortune in a £3 million townhouse in North-West London and a £1 million Swiss ski chalet. But Emma, who turned down a place at Cambridge in order to study women's European history and acting at the American university, insists she wants to lead a normal student life. Frustratingly, however, that has not always been possible. Fellow students told me this week that after arriving on campus last summer, Emma was persuaded by a male member of the university rowing team to become coxswain of the college's varsity eight crew. Soon, the dainty Emma was a regular sight at the club boathouse or coxing the crew's boat on the Seekonk river. But it is understood that she was forced to give up her role after the university discovered their insurance did not cover having on board someone who is conservatively said to be worth £30 million. Nonetheless, the college authorities have issued strict instructions to their students that their famous fellow undergraduate must be allowed her privacy. At times, however, this well-meaning policy has been taken to rather farcical extremes. Two months ago, Emma appeared in her first amateur college production of the Chekhov play Three Sisters put on for free at the university. Her performance won her a standing ovation. But the reviewer sent to cover the event by the college newspaper, the Brown Daily Herald, was barred from even mentioning that the character of Irina in the am-dram production was played by one of the world's most famous actresses. 'We've been told that we mustn't say anything about Emma,' Oona Curley, a fellow member of the theatre group told me. 'We're banned from talking about her.' Unsurprisingly perhaps, Emma, who was brought up in Oxford and London by her divorced parents, lawyers Jacqueline and Chris, has been the victim of jealousy from some students at college. At one point towards the end of last year, she was even considering giving up the course and coming home. This month, she told Vanity Fair magazine she has found the experience a difficult one: 'It was just awful,' she said. 'I thought I must be mad. Why am I doing this? I felt as if I'd walked into an American teen movie.' But despite her homesickness, there have been compensations in the shape of acting student Rafael Cebrian, whom Emma has been dating on and off since November. The Spanish-born Cebrian, 20, who is the drummer in up-and-coming rock band The Monomes, was spotted kissing the actress at an ice hockey match at New York's Madison Square Garden at the end of last year. The dark-haired Cebrian is certainly well connected. This year, he was voted the fifth most eligible bachelor in Spain and is the son of Juan Luis Cebrian, the owner of a media conglomerate and co-founder of El Pais newspaper. But troublingly for Emma, the would-be rock star is known to have a reputation in his home country as a ladies' man who has dated a string of beautiful women, including actress Mercedes Sanchez and singer Ana Lopez. It is for this reason that he is said to be viewed with some suspicion by Emma's parents, who had tried to persuade their daughter to continue her education in Britain where they could keep a watchful eye over her. They have had to step in once before to call a halt to Emma's fledgling flirtation with Johnny Borrell, the inappropriate singer and guitarist with indie band Razorlight. They are said to have gone up the wall two years ago when Emma was photographed partying with the self-confessed former heroin addict, who is not only ten years her senior, but also a former friend of Pete Doherty. Not least because the actress has a strict good behaviour clause in her contract with Warner Bros who own the billion-dollar franchise to the screen versions of the huge-selling JK Rowling books. And Borrell, who claimed he was 'a smackhead' at 16 and has previously dated Hollywood starlet Kirsten Dunst, clearly did not fit the squeaky-clean bill of her ideal suitor. He was quickly replaced in her affections by well-bred financier Jay Barrymore, until she called time on that relationship two months ago. It had been claimed that her affair with the square-jawed, 28-year-old London University graduate fizzled because he remained in London while she has been in the U.S. But, in fact, Barrymore, who is an expert in renewable energy and clean technologies, also left Britain at the end of last year to begin a new job with a non-profit organisation in India. The couple tried to keep the long-distance relationship going, say their friends, and after splitting up twice had a miserable make or break holiday at the exclusive Round Hill resort in Jamaica at the end of last year. And while their relationship foundered, Emma - who shot to fame at the age of 11, appearing opposite Daniel Radcliffe in the first Harry Potter film - was becoming ever closer to the charming Cebrian. Meanwhile, Emma, who will finish her degree in 2013, has been busy preparing for life after Hermione when the final film, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows II, is released next year. But sources close to her say that she has yet to be offered the bigbudget starring roles they had expected would be rolling in. Instead, Emma has been bemoaning the lack of decent offers. 'The scripts all have happy endings, they're really badly written and they are sending them to an English literature student,' she says, rather sniffily of the parts she has so far been offered. But it is generally accepted by crew members on the Potter set that Emma is the least naturally talented of the three co- stars (Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley). Indeed, despite her big-screen success, she told an interviewer last year: 'There's no burning passion to act.' I am told by her friends she may yet consider quitting films in favour of starting a career away from showbusiness. Whatever she does, there is one thing that Miss Watson - the somewhat reluctant movie star - can be sure of: she is never likely to need the money. Emma Watson enjoys a magical night at the theatre with fellow Burberry model Georgie CraigBy and UPDATED:11:53 GMT, 10 June 2010Just last week she appeared distraught while filming the final scenes for the last of the Harry Potter films. But life goes on, as they say, and Emma Watson is getting on with everyday life taking time out to watch a production of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse at the New London Theatre. And she was accompanied by a male companion to watch the new play, a friend who was definitely not her most recent boyfriend Rafael Cebrian. Her male companion was in fact one of the models she worked with on a recent Burberry campaign, George Craig. The 19-year-old is also frontman for rock band One Night Only, for whom the drummer is his brother James - one time drummer for indie band Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong.Emma and Georgie can be seen working closely together in a behind the scenes video from the Mario Testino shoot, and they appeared to get on famously. Relative unknown Craig and his band's debut album Started a Fire was released in February 2008, and charted at No. 10 on the U.K. Top 40 Album Chart.Burberry designer and creative director Christopher Bailey, a self-proclaimed fan of George's band was so impressed by Craig that he cast him in the 2009 ad campaign alongside Emma. He is also featured in the campaign for men's fragrance Burberry The Beat For Men.Bailey has said: 'Hes an incredibly talented young British musician. I love Georges energy and his effortless style.'Hes also a joy to work with, and it just so happens that he comes from my native Yorkshire in England.'Last night Emma went for a laid back look in a bold shoulder leopard print top with tight black skinny jeans and heels. While musician and model Georgie looked cool in a blue mac, black jeans and a striped T-shirt.The pair rocked up to see War Horse, a production adapted by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris for the stage,billed as a 'thrilling and spectacular production' based on Morpurgo'scelebrated novel.Set in the First World War it is a tale of the extraordinary bond between a young recruit and his horse.Theactors in the production work with life-sized puppets, created by theinternationally renowned Handspring Puppet Company, to take audienceson a journey through history.Emma is certainly enjoying the single life since her split from boyfriend Jay Barrymore.Up until last month she was dating fellow Brown University student Rafael Cebrian. Dark-haired Cebrian was voted the fifth most eligible bachelor in Spainearlier and is the son of Juan Luis Cebrian, the owner of a mediaconglomerate and co-founder of El Pais newspaper.The Spanish-born 20-year-old is also a musician, playing drums in rock band called The Monomes. Emma and Cebrian were spotted kissing at an ice hockey match at New York's Madison Square Garden at the end of last year.The young actress who earned £19million in 2009 and was ranked number 6th on Forbes magazine's list of Most Valuable Young Stars was pictured filming the final scenes of the last of the Harry Potter movies in Stevenage last week. Thanks, big sis! It's a Watson double act as Emma recruits her brother for BurberryBy UPDATED:01:23 GMT, 7 January 2010She is a star of film and fashion and has flown the nest to study in the U.S. but Emma Watson hasn't forgotten her roots. The 19-year-old actress appears to have secured her brother a job modelling alongside her for Burberry's Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Executives at the brand signed up 17-year-old Alex for their latest national advertising campaign, shot by Mario Testino. Scroll down to see a behind-the-scenes videoIt is the second campaign for Burberry that the 19-year-old has takenpart in, and looks as though it will be as successful as her first.Also appearing in the campaign are George Craig, frontman of indie band One Night Only; Matt Gilmour, the son of Pink Floyds David Gilmour; and model, Max Hurd, a grandson of the former Foreign Secretary, The Lord Hurd of Westwell.The adverts feature three of the Burberry fashion brands, Prorsum, London and Brit, all designed by Christopher Bailey, the current British designer of the year. But the aspirational high-fashion brand which has undergone a renaissance in recent years after the iconic print became a favourite among 'chavs' is hardly affordable for most people Emma's age.Spoilt for choice: Emma cuddles closer to Matt Gilmour, the son of Pink Floyds David Gilmour, while Max Hurd (r) - grandson of former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd - strikes a pose A woman's classic trenchcoat starts from an eye-watering £625, and the same goes for the pricey menswear modelled by Emma's equally youthful brother.Emma, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the HarryPotter movies, said during the shoot: 'Today is really special for mein a number of different ways.'It's so nice to see Mario and Christopher again. They also shot my brother in the campaign. 'He's having such a great time. He's so psyched.'It is the first modelling assignment for Alex, who has also appeared as an extra in Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, but he has now been snapped up by London model agency Storm.He said: 'It's such an honour to be a part of this. It's really exciting.'Christopher Bailey, Burberry's chief creative officer, said they were thrilled to be working with Emma again. 'We'veworked again with Emma Watson who has a classic, effortless beauty andis incredibly talented,' he said. 'We wanted this kind of eclectic but very cool crowd of people.'He added: 'We always talk about how much fun we have making theseimages and I wanted to capture some of the excitement that you feel onset when all these different creative attitudes and personalities cometogether. 'Mario has shot these as both stills and video so we can sharesome of that energy with a wider audience.'Burberry Spring/Summer 2010 campaignbehind-the-scenes videoSpeed read: The Mackintosh is back so let it rain!By UPDATED:12:55 GMT, 22 January 2011This week sees the opening of the first ever Mackintosh store in Londons exclusive Mayfair, nearly 200 years after the classic British Mac was invented. Loved by everyone from Audrey Hepburn to the Queen, the stylish waterproof was created by a Scottish scientist called Charles Macintosh in 1823. He invented the process of spreading rubber onto cotton to make it resistant to the wettest of weather and now, almost two centuries on, its a fashion classic. Nor is Mackintosh the only name in town: thanks to Emma Watsons glossy ad campaign, Burberry trenches are also enjoying a fashion moment, and are an off-duty staple for stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham. So stop moaning about the weather: let it rain, let it rain, let it rain! HOW TO WEARSHOPPING LIST Move over Harry... how Emma Watson has her sights on megastardomBy UPDATED:09:36 GMT, 17 March 2011As she quits college to be a style icon, the awesome ambition driving her...They are wondering, in the rooms she shared at Brown University on Rhode Island, what their most famous student plans to do with her things.A jumble of books and clothes cream Prada pumps, suede Louboutin platforms and piles of Agnes B casual wear remain. The girls in her dorm, who include Scout Willis, the daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, expect she will send someone to pack.They are already saying how much they will miss Emma Watson, the unassuming star of the Harry Potter films, who bunked down in a single bed in a shared room for the past year and a half.She started studying history at the college in September 2009, and was on course to complete her degree in 2013. That has been deferred, she says just by a few terms, though many believe she wont be back at all.And the reason, it seems, is that Emma 21 next month is confident she can put the Potter films behind her and become a star in her own right.This week, it was announced she has been anointed the face of Lancome, succeeding Julia Roberts. It is a huge role that will not only net her millions, but ensure her face is on billboards all over the world. Lancome said: Emma Watson has become the icon of her generation.She is emerging from her shell. After a couple of years of uncertainty, Emma no longer feels crushed by her £30million wealth or embarrassed by her success.Whenshe first found out how much money she had made, aged 18, she says she felt physically sick. It seems it has taken her all this time to get used to it.After ten yearsof playing Hermione Granger and, she says, sacrificing her childhood and normality on the altar of the Warner Bros agenda, she was ready to give it all up. That, though, has changed.Shes learning to enjoy the pleasures of success. Youll see her taking a spa break with friends in Thailand and propping up the bar in top London clubs. Home is a £3million pad in North London, where her Toyota Prius is proudly parked outside. She has had cookery lessons from celebrity chef Joel Robuchon as she is tired of paying caterers for her dinner parties. Its all rather grand.Her friends are starting to include the glitterati, and she has shown a particular interest in making an impression on all of the more important people in fashion, such as Burberrys Christopher Bailey and Antoine Arnault, son of LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton) boss Bernard. Shell soon shoot a campaign for Joel Robuchon with Mario Testino.One who knows her socially said that all her friends know to never mention Harry Potter. She pulls a bad smell face if you even say the name, she said.Come Bafta season this year, she was the most flirtatious of all the starlets, parading in a series of carefully chosen outfits, and working the room at the best parties.Film mogul Harvey Weinstein, the man who helped to make the careers of Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett, was among those she dazzled.For ten years she has been this schoolgirl in the Harry Potter films and now you see her as a woman for the first time, he said. She has an elegance about her she looks like Jean Shrimpton plus she has a gift for comedy and drama, and were just starting to see her range. I feel were going to work together a lot in the future.This week, her starring role in a new film is to be announced possibly a project with Weinstein.She has already filmed a small part in My Week With Marilyn about Marilyn Monroe, starring Michelle Williams, and from May she will be shooting the film Perks Of Being A Wallflower.Over the summer, she will have to fit in a final hit of promotional activity for the last instalment of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows a task which, it seems, may not fill her with delight.For Emma has moved on. When the cast and crew held a wrap party after shooting the final set of re-shoots around Christmas, she didnt go. Co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint did. While the three key actors were genuinely good friends during the making of the early films, the bond seems to have loosened considerably during the last movie. Perhaps there was resentment over the way Emma took her time signing for the final two films. Her contract came up for renewal in 2006, but while Daniel and Rupert signed for five years without a second thought, she admitted in an interview this year that she agonised before deciding that she would, and was considering giving up being an actress.So why the sudden change of heart about her film career? People who know Emma say its simply a question of having had some time to catch her breath she needed to get some space away from the Potter juggernaut and to decide whether she wanted a life in the public eye.Friends say the revival of her career ambition is also partly down to the sage counsel of her father, lawyer Chris Watson.An Oxford graduate who works at a senior level for one of the larger London firms, he has supported her every step of the way. He has often been with her on publicity junkets and film premieres around the globe. She adores him, and takes his advice on everything. Significantly, his views were the first she sought on that haircut the pixie crop she had to celebrate the end of her Potter years. She says: He said: Dont get carried away. Youre not Audrey Hepburn yet. But he loves it now, and so hes eating his words.He and Emmas mother Jackie were divorced in 1995. He has since remarried, to Elizabeth Green, and they have three further children, Toby and twins Nina and Lucy. Their North London home is a five-minute stroll from Emmas.Her one financial splurge a £1million ski chalet in France was made with her father in mind. He is a passionate skier.Those who know her from the Potter days say that, even though she lived with her mother, her fathers influence was paramount.She was, though, troubled from time to time by their wringingly awful divorce.And it was even whispered that her parents had opposing views on whether she should make the Deathly Hallows films at all.All I can tell you is that there was a lot of unhappiness connected with the parents, says a Potter source.Will she ever go back to university? She says she fully intends to return to Brown and her academic career is very important to her.But there is rather a lot of cynicism about that on the Ivy League campus, where it has also been noticed that she chooses to hang out with only the wealthiest and best-connected girls. Her best friend is Scout Willis she went to her home over New Year. Shes also close to Madison Utendahl, a glamorous young lady whose banker father is stepping out with supermodel and TV personality Tyra Banks.Her college romance was again with someone connected to the fringes of stardom a Spanish acting student named Rafael Cebrian, who is the son of the co-founder of El Pais newspaper.He was also the drummer in The Monomes. It seems Emma has a weakness for rock musicians. Take her flirtation with Johnny Borrell at a Fashion Week party in 2008 or her romance last summer with George Craig, singer of pop band One Night Only.They did Glastonbury together, and were spotted snogging in hospitality tents across the site. But it didnt last Emma says she is starting to wonder if her wealth is an issue.I hope it doesnt complicate relationships for me, she says. I think it can make guys quite uncomfortable. I do have to be sensitive.She probably neednt worry too much. Because the direction in which she is heading means that pretty much everyone she meets from here on will be wealthy, famous or both.Golden girl Emma Watson upstages Victoria Beckham at Burberry's London catwalk comebackBy and UPDATED:09:39 GMT, 23 September 2009When they signed her up for their ad campaigns, Burberry might have wondered if it was a risk too far.But as Harry Potter star Emma Watson arrived at London Fashion Week, she proved she is worth her weight in gold.Wearing a stunning metallic Burberry minidress and towering black heels, the 19-year-old actress turned heads as she arrived at the Burberry show.She even managed to upstage the perennially glamorous Victoria Beckham, who arrived in an understated black knee-length dress.Emma wore dark eye make-up and styled her hair in a loose up-do, proving she was perfectly at ease among the fashion know-how.Emma got the look just right, one eyewitness said. It would have been a big mistake to try an over the top outfit. Her dress wowed the crowds but looked sophisticated at the same time. Other attendees included Slumdog Millionaire stars and off-screenlovers Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, who are now happily flaunting theirrelationship after a spell of camera-dodging.Agyness Deyn turned up in a ruffled mint green dress and black stockings while actress Liv Tyler opted for black leggings.Earlier in the evening, fashion giant Burberry announced it was'thrilled to be back' in London as top industry names gathered tonightfor one of the most eagerly-awaited catwalk shows of the year.The sunglasses are back: American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, MTV presenter Alexa Chung and Donna Air dress to impressThe brand switched its fashion show to London from Milan to help celebrate 25 years of fashion in Britain.American Vogue editor Anna Wintour was among a host of leadingfashionistas watching the show, which will help bring this year's eventto a close.Angela Ahrendts, Burberry's chief executive, said the company -which has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past year - was doinggood business at the show.Of the decision to switch the brand's show to London, Ms Ahrendtstold Sky News: 'You know it just felt like the right time for us. Thecity is celebrating 25 years of London fashion.'It's been unbelievable the support we have had. We are thrilled to be back.'A tremendous amount of business is done here. It is a halo for the brand.'Burberry was founded in the mid 1800s when a 21-year-old draper'sapprentice opened a small outfitter's shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire. After shrugging of its links with 'chav' culture in the UK in recentyears, the brand has regained its reputation as an elite brand,featuring in the Sex And The City film.The eagerly-awaited spring/summer collection for Burberry Prorsum,designed by the Yorkshire-born Christopher Bailey, marked the firsttime that the global fashion brand has shown on the LFW catwalk sinceMr Bailey became creative director.Miss Watson, who plays witch Hermione Granger in the Potter films,took time out from university in the United States to attend the Burberry catwalk show.The actress is studying at Brown University in Rhode Island, and started her English Literature course this month.Althoughshe is likely to have to get used to having a mini fan club on campus,she has said she hopes the novelty will wear off.I do hopethat it will only be a short time before I am known as Emma Watson,the student from the UK rather than Emma Watson who starred in thoseHarry Potter films".' It is unlikely, however, that her fellow students will be able to forget her rise to fame quite so soon.MissWatson will have to return to the studio during her university holidaysto film the last two instalments in the Harry Potter series.MissWatson was unveiled as the new face of Burberry in June this year,joining a roster of past stars that includes Kate Moss, Rachel Weisz andAgyness Deyn. She modelled their autumn/winter 2009 collection for an estimated six-figure fee. Earlier this month Miss Watson and her Potter co-star DanielRadcliffe were named as the highest-grossing actors of the decade afterconjuring up billions of pounds each.While Radcliffe, 20, made the studios an average of £537 million afilm for the first five movies in the series, Miss Watson saw heraverage reach £544.88 million per film.She earned more than her co-star following the success of animated hit Tale Of Despereaux, in which she voiced a main character.The figures were revealed in the latest edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. Spring showing: Catwalk queens model the eagerly-awaited spring/summer collection for Burberry Prorsum designed by Christopher Bailey Model chic: Emma Watson steps out in studded-sleeve trenchcoatBy UPDATED:22:48 GMT, 16 November 2010She's making a name for herself with an increasingly individual and eclectic fashion sense.And Emma Watson didn't disappoint yesterday when she stepped out in New York wearing a very stylish Burberry trench coat with studded sleeves.She also carried a matching black studded bag to complete the whole edgy look.She wore a very unusual thigh-skimming ink blot minidress underneath that showed off her gamine figure to perfection.And the Rorsache test-inspired design shows that the Harry Potter star isn't afraid to play with unusual and untraditional looks.Emma wore the dress and the Burberry jacket as she arrived at the New York studios for the David Letterman show, where she was a guest last night.And for the show itself, she changed into a vibrant sparkling red and black dress. It looks like the 20-year-old is developing a real passion for fashion - she recently revealed that she will be collaborating with design house Alberta Ferretti.With an established line for People Tree already to her name, this will be her second design venture.Emma says She [Alberta] wrote to me and said, "I saw what you did with People Tree and I think its a great idea and will you do something with me?"'The actress also appeared on Live With Regis Kelly this morning to promote Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.Wearing a green knee-length dress and black boots, she looked stunning.And she wasn't afraid to poke fun at herself either, joking that she was engaged to co-star Rupert Grint.She said: 'OK fine, we're getting married, and we're going to have little ginger-haired kids, and we're going to live in a beautiful house.'She then pretended to show off an engagement ring on her left hand.The actress made headlines when she dramatically cut her hair into a crop.But she won't be doing anything more to change her look.'The hair is as dramatic as it goes,' she told E! News. 'I think I'd have to shave it to get any more dramatic.''I'm loving it. I don't really miss it. I'm not going to lie. I can wash my head, in a basin, in a sink. Takes me like five minutes to get ready. It's great.'Meanwhile her Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show last night in a smart green suit, to promote new film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Classic beauty Emma Watson swaps her Hogwarts scarf for Burberry checkBy UPDATED:13:21 GMT, 9 June 2009Well, its nicer than her Hogwarts uniform. After weeks of speculation, Emma Watson was today unveiled as the face of Burberry. Photographed by Mario Testino, Watson looks extremely grown up in trench coats from the autumn/winter collection.Despite persistent rumours linking her to Chanel, and her ubiquitouspresence at international fashion shows, Burberry is the first majoradvertising campaign that the 19-year-old Harry Potter star has landed. And it's predicted the prestigious contract will boost her estimated £8million fortune by sixfigures.Shot by Mario Testino in Westminster, close to Burberry'sheadquarters at Horseferry House, the images capture Watson in a collection inspired by Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury set.Burberrys creative director Christopher Bailey told The Evening Standard: 'Having known and admired the lovely Emma Watson for quite some time,she was the obvious choice for this campaign.'Emma has a classic beauty, a great character and a modern edge. Hercharm, intellect and brilliant sense of fun made the whole shoot feellike a picnic on the Thames.'He added: 'I felt Emma would be strong enough to hold the campaign as the only girl, and I loved the idea of her being surrounded by these young, cool British guys.'Watson first appeared as Hermione Granger alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone in 2001.The sixth film Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince is released on 15 July. Emma Watson's new six-figure deal for Lancome proves that there is life after HermioneBy UPDATED:19:03 GMT, 13 February 2011Emma Watson is about to sign a six-figure deal to become the latest ambassador for Lancome.The campaign is to be shot by celebrated fashion photographer Mario Testino next month, and will feature Emma as the face of the French beauty brand in posters and TV advertising.Its so exciting, I cant wait to start shooting, Emma, 20, said. Although I dont wear much make-up Im a big fan of Lancome products, especially their mascara. The fresh-faced actress will be quite a change from Lancomes previous thirtysomething ambassadors, who have included Juliette Binoche, Uma Thurman and Julia Roberts. The deal comes as Emma prepares to bid farewell to the Harry Potter series, in which she has played Hermione since she was ten, with the final film out later this year. The star who cut her hair short to mark the end of life as Hermione will fit her Lancome role around studies at Brown University in America.Emma was being her usual stylish self on Friday night at a party at the Almada bar in London's Mayfair in honour of Colin Firth and The King's Speech, the runaway success of this year's awards season, accompanied by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Hollywood giant Weinstein produced the Oscar-nominated film which is tipped for BAFTA glory tonight.The party continued well into the early hours, with Emma arriving at nearby Mahiki nightclub in the film chief's Rolls Royce.When they were accosted by eager autograph-hunters in between parties, Weinstein jumped in to chivalrously guide Emma through the crowd.For Firth and many of his fellow revellers, who included flame-hairedMad Men star Christina Hendricks (in a stunning low-cut floral print silk gown), it was the start of a party-packed weekend in the run-up to tonight's BAFTA Awards. Other stars feted at Almada's included Amy Adams, star of The Fighter, Rosamund Pike, Dougray Scott and Claire Forlani, Neve Campbell, new 'It' girl Felicity Jones, Ralph Fiennes and designer Vivienne Westwood.Ronnie Wood spent the night flirting with a variety of young female delights, but left arm in arm with girlfriend Ana Araujo.Sam Taylor Wood and Aaron Johnson also took in the heady atmosphere along with Noomi Repace, Elizabeth Mcgovern star of TV hit Downton Abbey, Sally Hawkins, Matthew Freud and wife Elisabeth Murdoch. Appropriately, theatrical knights Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ben Kingsley were in attendance. Sitting chatting with friends was Ricky Gervais, he was keeping a low profile and didn't insult anyone.'It's my night off', joked the comic who hosted January's Golden Globe ceremony.Tom Hooper , director of The King's Speech praised his film's leading man for helping to turn the movie into a global phenomenon.'We all hail King Colin', Hooper told guests. During dinner executives from Momentum Pictures, the film's UK distributor, revealed that Friday night's ticket sales for the movie hadpushed the UK box-office takings to well over the £32 million mark.Firth said he would be pacing himself at all the BAFTA festivities. 'People don't come up to me and say, 'Oh congratulations' or whatever. 'They just want to know how I'm coping with all the travelling back and forwards from London to Los Angeles and back again,' the actor laughed.'I am now in the possession of so many cures for jet-lag I could open a chemists.' Firth, who arrived at the soiree in time for dessert, added: 'But in-between going to awards shows I have to fit in the school run when I'm home in London. 'But that keeps you grounded and I love to do things with my family.'He and his wife, Livia Giuggioli had their first courses at Cecconi's, where Vogue magazine threw a pre-BAFTA bash.On Saturday there are several 'happenings' for the stars in town.Momentum are hosting a brunch at the new hotel Corinthia in Whitehall while Charles Finch will be 'at home' at Mark's Club, the private members' dining club in Mayfair.On Sunday there are post-BAFTA parties all over town including the Fox and Pathe studios combining to host an after midnight affair at Sketch while Momentum and the Weinstein film company will be in high octane party mode at the new W hotel in central London.Do you have a story about a celebrity? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683. For U.S. stories, phone 310 642 2317.Emmys 2010: Mad Men girls' hourglass silhouettes herald fashion trend for curvesBy UPDATED:09:00 GMT, 31 August 2010The hourglass silhouette will be de rigueur for fashionistas next season - and if any further proof was needed, it was all over the red carpet at the Emmys last night.Mad Men stars Christina Hendricks, January Jones and Elisabeth Moss all wore figure-hugging gowns that made the most of their famous curves.January Jones's shimmering blue Atelier Versace dress played on the retro look with a fitted waist and full skirt, while Christina Hendricks wore a plunging lavender gown by Zac Posen with ostrich feathers at the sleeves and skirt. Elisabeth Moss wore a cream Donna Karan gown with a flattering ruched waist and bustline.She said of the designer: 'I've always been a big fan,' but admitted that posing in it was not as easy as it looks.'I'm just thinking about trying to make the dress look good. I'm just trying to pose right and put my feet where they're supposed to go,' she said.But Armani was clearly the label of the night - Jon Hamm, who plays Don Draper in the series, and his girlfriend of 12 years, Jennifer Westfeldt, both wore the classic Italian label, while Claire Danes shimmered in a gold sequinned Armani Prive gown. Oscar de la Renta was also a favourite, and Glee's Lea Michele did the designer proud in a sculpted strapless navy gown with cascading ruffles.Kim Kardashian, who wore a whiteGrecian-style Marchesa gown was quick to praise the starlet's choice ofdress, admitting she was 'freaking out' over it. Tina Fey, who was nominated for 30Rock, also chose Oscar de la Renta - a silver embroidered number with ahigh neckline and fishtail skirt. She told reporters: 'I feel fancy!' Emmy debut: Glee's Lea Michele did Oscar de la Renta proud in a strapless navy gown with cascading rufflesWhile on the red carpet, Kim was quizzed about her relationship status, but refused to reveal any details - despite being seen out and about with NFL star Miles Austin.When asked whether she was 'taken' by E! presenter Ryan Seacrest, the curvy brunette said: 'I don't know, I don't know. I'm dating.'And even though she looked immaculatein the figure-hugging number, Kim complained of difficulties choosing the right dress because she felt bloated from overeating the previous day.That didn't appear to be a problem for Heidi Klum, who wore an embellished black Marchesa minidress. Golden girls: Anna Paquin (left) in Alexander McQueen, Sofia Vergara in Carolina Herrera (centre) and Claire Danes (right) in shimmering Armani Prive Back to black: Eva Longoria Parker in Robert Rodriguez (left), Heidi Klum in Marchesa (centre) and Kelly Osbourne in Tony Ward Couture (right)The supermodel, who attended with husband Seal, proved that being a mother-of-four had not harmed her figure in the slightest, showing off acres of long tanned leg.And she wasn't the only one to be flaunting her figure. Being single certainly hasn't done Kelly Osbourne any harm, as she looked phenomenal in a couture gown by little-known designer Tony Ward.Working a similar Jessica Rabbit silhouette was Eva Longoria Parker, who wore a black Robert Rodriguez gown embellished with roses. Newlywed True Blood co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer both wore Alexander McQueen, with Paquin in a flowing black gown with almost gladiatorial gold embellishment at the neckline. The dress was part of the late designer's final collection.Navy was a strong trend throughout the evening. Glee's Jayma Mays, who plays schoolteacher Emma Pillsbury, looked a far cry from her dowdy on-screen character in Burberry Prorsum, while Padma Lakshmi, who presents U.S. show Top Chef, accessorised her Carolina Herrera gown with a necklace from her own jewellery range. The Good Wife actress JuliannaMargulies also went for a navy gown, in a L'Wren Scott dress that wascovered in shimmering inky-blue sequins. 'Apparently navy is the colour,' she said. Glee cheerleader Dianna Agron was as pretty as a princess in a pale pink and black lace Carolina Herrera gown. She accessorised with over £1million worth of Cartier diamonds.'I'm a very lucky girl,' she commented.But the Emmys were not without the odd flash of colour. Julia Ormond's fuchsia gown made an eye-catching statement, while Glee's Jenna Ushkowitz went for a red halterneck style with black and gold strapless platform sandals. Colour me happy: Julia Ormond in fuchsia Escada, Jenna Ushkowitz in a red Kevin Hall creation and Emily Deschanel in Max Azria Atelier Bones star Emily Deschanel went for abold ruffled purple number by Max Azria Atelier - and she wasn't theonly one to choose the regal hue. She was in good company with JaneLynch, who won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedyfor her role as Sue Sylvester in Glee, and Kyra Sedgwick, who wore aprincess-like Monique L'Hullier number.But almost as many stars opted for white - from Kim Kardashian to Rose Byrne, who also went for a Grecian style in a Gucci column dress.Pretty Dexter actress Julie Benz also worked a similar look in a gown by Pamella Roland - though we weren't sure about the cut-out detail at the hip. Neither was she by the look of it - she appeared to be covering it in most of the photos. All white on the night: Reality television star Kim Kardashian in Marchesa (left), Troy actress Rose Byrne in Gucci (centre) and Dexter's Julie Benz in Pamella Roland (right)Like Hendricks, The Devil Wears Prada actress Emily Blunt also went for a lavender-coloured gown - though hers was by Christian Dior. The pretty applique flowers were a nod to the label's couture show earlier this summer, which was a riot of flower-inspired dresses inspired by the summer garden of Dior's childhood home.Actress Toni Collette also went for a floral theme with a delicate Valentino gown that appeared to have been hand-painted. Another to break the style mould was Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson, who wore a Prada dress draped with a crystal overlay - but it was less successful than some of the other red carpet ensembles.The actress and producer, 53, had obviously put some effort into the outfit though, as her shoes were embellished with the same crystals as her dress. Butthe clear straps of the lucite sandals looked cheap, and the teardropcrystals should really have been left on the chandelier. It was a small fashion blip on the red carpet landscape though, which was relatively free of fashion faux pas.There were some brave choices - AnnaPaquin and January Jones win points for that in particular, though therest were classic rather than safe. And for the most part, dresses were cut to fit, flatter and play on curves, proving that designers next season really are working towards impressing consumers with timeless shapes that will genuinely look good on every woman - not just on the red carpet. Now if only we could afford them...Visit msnbc.com for , , and End of season... and the beginning of another means a lot is changing in the fashion world By UPDATED:12:28 GMT, 1 February 2012Fashion, known for its ever fleeting nature, doesn't boast of having too many constants in its repertoire. These pieces, that exist like old family traditions give fashion a structure to rest its ever changing younger props on. The LBD from Chanel, the bandage dress from Hervé Léger, Aviator glasses from Rayban, traditional weave saris from South India, jodhpurs and precious jewellery from Jaipur, the travel trunk from Louis Vuitton, red soled heels from Louboutin are some of the items that have made to the list. The Burberry Trench is one such piece that has stood the test of time. To celebrate the iconic fashion item, an exhibition titled Art Of The Trench, curated by Burberry Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey, will showcase streetstyle images captured in India by local photographer Manou of wearabout. Here's a sneak preview of the images on display from the 3rd-12th of Feb at the new Burberry store at Hotel Oberoi, Gurgaon. The fashion award goes to the traditional sari for eleganceThe Sari is getting all the awards from popular to critics this award season. Giving a break to the flowy gowns and bandage dresses, most B-town beauties are being spotted in different sari styles at several red carpet dos. While some like Karisma, Vidya and Anushka stuck to traditional designs, the others such as Priyanka, Katrina and Deepika experimented with more of contemporary styles like nets and georgettes. The sari has had a style boost recently with, international TV host Oprah Winfrey choosing a kanjivaramfor her recent visit and style acer Sonam Kapoor donning it to polo matches and couture outings. Anushka (pictured left) looks stunning in a velvet sari from Sabyasachi, actress Vidya Balan (pictured centere) dressed in a silk traditional weave, while Priyanka keeps it minimal and classy in an all white ensemble (pictured right) End of the super-rich boom?: Why the good times at Burberry have shuddered to a halt By PUBLISHED:22:00 GMT, 11 September 2012 UPDATED:12:13 GMT, 12 September 2012It was only ever going to be a matter of time before the downturn permeated through to the super-rich.Since the beginning of the recession the worlds biggest luxury goods firms had appeared immune to the economic conditions battering their more pedestrian rivals. But that all came to a crashing halt yesterday.Burberrys first profit warning since the demise of investment bank Lehman Brothers in 2008 sent a shock wave through the sector, wiping more than 21 per cent, or £1bn, off its market value.The earnings alert is being seen as a clear signal the wheels have come off the luxury goods sectors diamond-encrusted shopping trolley.Rivals LVMH, PPR the firm behind Gucci and Cartier-owner Richemont all saw their shares tumble as the quintessentially British firm, famous for its raincoats decked out in a camel, red and black check, warned underlying sales have fallen in all of its markets over recent weeks. Even China, the powerhouse of growth for the luxury goods market, has been affected.Burberry has been hurt by fewer of its wealthy customers travelling abroad to indulge in high octane shopping trips.Uncertainty over the eurozone debt crisis has also knocked consumer confidence and the rich in China are spending less as export-led Asian economies slow down due to contracting demand.Its a powerful cocktail of gloom that is beginning to filter through to the tills.Burberry said total sales grew 6 per cent for the 10 weeks to September 8 but this was due to its aggressive expansion plan.Underlying sales from the same number of stores open as the previous year, and excluding new space, were flat.That represents a marked slowdown from first-quarter retail revenue growth of 14 per cent and comparable store sales up 6 per cent.It also noted a deceleration in recent weeks and warned: Burberry currently expects adjusted profit before tax for the 12-months to March 31 2013 to be around the lower end of market expectations.The shares fell 287p to 1088p yesterday.Analysts had expected Burberry to post pre-tax profit for the year to March 2013 of between £407m and £451m with a consensus of £433.2m, according to Reuters.The retail groups finance director Stacey Cartwright said the firm is not alone in taking a hit to earnings: Luxury has been insulated from the downturn but it is certainly not immune and we dont believe we are alone.We pick up trading trends on the ground and know others, not everyone, but others have been impacted. This is not just about Asia and China, the last couple of

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The 2011 World Series will be over when "Damn " takes the stage at Hereford High School, but the musical is sure to be a hit with fans of both baseball and Broadway.The show will be held on Nov. 17, 18 and 19 at Hereford's auditorium.The action takes place in Washington, D.C., in the 1950s as the New York Yankees continue to dominate baseball. (This year, the Yankees lost in the division playoffs to the .) In the musical, Joe Boyd, a fanatic about the lackluster Washington Senators, will do anything to see the team have a winning season. "He's a middle-aged guy who's losing his hair and all he wants in life is for the Senators to win," said Hereford junior Teddy Mullin, who plays Boyd. "He is so blinded by baseball that he allows himself to get fooled by the devil."The devil, a salesman named Mr. Applegate who is played by Will Meister, a senior, makes a deal. He'll turn Boyd into a young baseball sensation if Boyd gives the devil his soul."When I heard we were doing 'Damn Yankees,' I researched it and auditioned for this part," said Meister, whose father, David, played the same role when he was at Dickinson College. "Mr. Applegate is very suave and composed and I'm playing him with a Bronx accent."Boyd leaves his wife, Meg, a note saying he is away, and allows himself to be transformed into Joe Hardy."I didn't know this play before, but I love it," said Emily Mignini, a senior, who plays Meg. "I enjoy not just this role, but the whole experience."Hudson Imhoff, a junior, plays young Hardy, who said his character knows he's really Boyd, but sees what it's like to be young and a hitting phenomenon.The devil's assistant, Lola, is played by senior Celine Schmidt. Bri Mooney, a junior, has the role of Gloria Thorpe, a reporter who probes the truth behind Hardy's success.Since the show's director, Chris Rose, will be in the orchestra pit playing piano during the performances, he has named Natalie Fitzgerald and Maddy Toannan, both seniors, as student directors who will manage the productions.Performances are Nov. 17, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 at or $10 at the door.Hereford Parents of Performing Students is serving dinner before the Nov. 17 show as a scholarship fundraiser. Those tickets can be purchased at the SeatYourself website, too.Hereford High School is located at 17301 York Road. For information, call 410-887-1905.Horton the Elephant, Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle, the Grinch and even teeny Cindy Lou Who are coming to Parkton when the Youth Theatre of Northern Baltimore County presents "Seussical the Musical" at Our Lady of Grace Church June 21-24.The story centers around Horton, who guards an egg abandoned by the flighty bird, Mayzie. He also protects a speck of dust on which the entire population of Whoville lives."If you ever read aDr. Seussbook, you know they're magical," said Mary Miller, the show's director. "There's singing and dancing and the whole play is really like going back to your childhood." Miller, who heads up the Youth Theatre of Northern Baltimore County, always tries to pick a play entertains and inspires. "InDr. Seuss's moral universe, the dreamers and the good-hearted prevail over the flighty, small-minded, sour people. 'Seussical the Musical' is a parable for all of us, young and old, conveying the deeper truth about life, hope, love and faith," she said.The play's cast of more than 50 from all over Baltimore County ranges from first-graders to college students.Robert Harris plays Horton; Jack Owen is the Cat in the Hat; Caroline Dias is Jo Jo, a Who; Celine Schmidt is Mayzie; Kaitlyn Fowler and Adriana Capizzi are Thing 1 and Thing 2; and Ben Mann and Kaitlyn Jones are Mr. and Mrs. Mayor of Whoville.The show will be held at Our Lady of Grace hall at 7 p.m. on June 21, 22 and 23. The June 24 performance is at 1 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.Audience members are asked to bring a non-perishable food item that will be donated to local food banks.For tickets, email Miller at .Our Lady of Grace is located at 18310 Road, Parkton.Regardless of which way you voted in the recent presidential election, most of us can agree that we'd rather avoid the following TV-watching scenarios: There you are, sitting on the couch with your 6-year-old nephew and 67-year-old dad, when suddenly Joey Tribbiani's sister asks the "Friends" exile to feel her breasts. Or, flipping over to in search of a mind-less list show, you come across a nearly naked Brigitte Nielson on "Surreal Life," and soon the romping Swede is locked in an ickily suggestive embrace with one of her housemates. Or, after a passing glimpse at "The O.C.," your nephew adds a new and colorful word to his vocabulary, one that you're going to have a hard time explaining to his mom. Or how about this: You check out "Third Watch," where detectives discover the naked body of a dead girl among the trash in a Dumpster, or you sample any of the "C.S.I.s," where severed body parts and kinky crimes (clown fetishes?) are more common than hors d'oeuvres at a holiday party. It's not really a stretch to say that we're living in a TV environment that inundates viewers with sexual situations and innuendoes, casual profanity and an astonishing range of violence. Even the relatively gore-free and admirably watchable "NCIS" has featured loving close-ups of severed limbs, and it's nearly impossible to find a network sitcom that doesn't make an offhand reference or 20 to sex (in most cases because the writers have nothing truly funny to say). And while I'll staunchly make the case that programs featuring blood, sex and swear words can make for worthy TV entertainment, the fact is, that's not the sort of thing I want to sit down and watch with any middle schooler I know. There are a few more-or-less guaranteed family-friendly shows on network TV. In the scripted realm, there's "Joan of Arcadia" and "7th Heaven" and in the unscripted genre, and are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. But if you're in search of more family-friendly programs -- shows the whole family can watch without risk of a risque hot tub scene, naughty words or grisly violence -- we have a few suggestions.View-for-all We channel-surfed to come up with our list of best family shows Whether or not you're concerned about "moral values" or what those are up to, or whether you've ever been tempted to call the FCC to register a complaint about what's transpiring on your TV screen, chances are, at some point in your TV-watching life, you've wished you had at your disposal a list of programs that won't make you blush in front of your dad. This is our list, one we compiled after ranging far and wide through the TV schedule for overlooked gems. The Family Friendly Programming Forum compiles its own list for its Family Television Awards presentation. This year's 6th annual awards took place last week, honoring "Joan of Arcadia" for best drama and for best . But we'd love to hear what your favorite family-friendly fare is: E-mail your suggestions to [email protected], and we'll post the best responses at chicagotribune.com/tribtv. One final note: This is not a list of good TV for kids (and please don't e-mail suggestions along those lines). There are a ton of great shows out there right now for young kids, tweens and even older kids. What we've listed here are shows that are entertaining and perhaps even thought-provoking for all manner of kids, teens and adults. Note: The times and days listed below denote when new episodes usually air, but many shows, especially cable programs, repeat several times a week. Consult your TV listings for additional airings of these programs.BEST SCRIPTED DRAMA (7 p.m. Sundays, ): Before you fire off that e-mail, we already know that this NBC show has an unwed mother in its cast. But the thoughtful "Dreams' " greatest strength is its ability to take seriously the moral decisions faced by members of the Walker and Pryor families, who are struggling to maintain their composure and even find some prosperity as the turbulent '60s unfold. It's refreshing in this age of knee-jerk cynicism that on "Dreams," questions of faith aren't played for laughs or stripped of their complexity (in a recent episode, Patty Pryor asked a nun at her school how Pryor could become a saint, and, perhaps by doing so, help bring her missing-in-action brother home from Vietnam. Even the nun was a bit flummoxed by that one). And the music education that younger folk will get from seeing current-day music idols re-create vintage performances by the likes of Fontella Bass, and is a big bonus.BEST REALITY SHOW "Cold " (9 p.m. Tuesdays, PAX): This reality show features many of the familiar staples of the genre: a group of residents living together in a funky mansion, personality clashes and parties by the pool (though, thankfully, there's no hot tub). But the participants gathered together on PAX's first high-profile reality series are all trying to kick smoking, not win money or find a mate. Their struggle to lose that habit is compelling, as well as a modest hit with viewers (a new season of "Turkey," which finishes its first run on Tuesday, has been ordered for next year). Sure, you can ask family members to steer clear of smoking, but it might be more effective to have them tune in to the gripping episode where the "Turkey" group meets a woman with advanced lung cancer.BEST HISTORICAL REALITY SHOWSAnother in America. And as important as the awards are, all eyes will be on the red carpet as celebrities arrive, en-masse, greeted by throngs of adoring fans and the flashes of thousands of paparazzi cameras.So you want to look your best right? Wrong! Tonight we'll take a look at what many fashion critics have called the ten worst dresses in Oscar red carpet history.Coming in at number ten: beautiful actress , who arrived at the 2001 Oscars in an outfit that made us wonder if she was a missing Mandrell sister. Number nine: country singer . In 2002, Faith looked like she rolled herself in one of those cotton candy machines before she rolled down the red carpet.Number eight: , wildly considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. So why would she show up to the 2000 Oscars dressed like Morticia Addams? I wonder if she got dropped off in a hearse instead of a limo!Number seven: . OK, I've gotten dressed in the dark before, but I never managed to put my clothes on backwards. Check out Celine's reverse white zoot suit from the red carpet in 1999.Number six: Laura Flynn Boyle. Why would she show up to the Oscars in 2003 wearing my little sister's dancing review tu-tu? What a mess!Numbers five through three: the queen of the Oscar's worst dress category, . Here we are in 2000, where the Oscar winner looks more like the host of a bedazzler commercial than a serious actress.How about this little see-through number from 1988, the year she won best actress for "Moonstruck." Kinda fitting, as you can see the moon through that dress.And here we are in 1985. Take a look at this wearable train wreck. Aw, forget it. There are no words.Amazingly though, Cher doesn't even make it into the top two worst dresses.Number two goes to , who wore the same thing to the 2004 Oscars that wore to marry .And number one could only be own , who in 2001 looked like she ran over a swan and then wore it's body as a dress. Certainly one of the most bizarre outfits to ever grace the red carpet.So, here's to the 2011 oscars, and the hopes that there are no fashion disasters. But we all know that won't happen.In the first since his death last June, was saluted in an elaborate tribute that mixed 3-D technology, a rousing all-star chorus and a poignant appearance by two of his children.After an introduction from , television viewers and the audience were instructed to put on 3-D glasses and view footage for a film originally produced for . The film showed a little girl in an ecological paradise that is destroyed by bulldozers. As images of the girl playing in lush forests unfolded, Jackson's voice was heard speaking about his awe for nature. After the opening lines of "Earth Song," , , , and appeared one by one to accompany Jackson's voice.Some in the star-studded crowd applauded politely, while others cheered with urgent enthusiasm. Beyonc could barely stay in her seat, and filmmaker vibrantly bobbed his head. Beyonc's husband, , did not wear the 3-D glasses.However, everyone seemed captivated by two of Jackson's children, and Paris, when they appeared on stage to accept their late father's lifetime achievement award. It was one of the first public glimpses of Jackson's children since their emotional appearance at his televised memorial service last year.Prince Michael said his father's songs had a simple message -- love -- "and we will continue to spread that message." Paris said her father had planned to perform at this year's Grammys. Both children ended their short speeches with "I love you, Daddy."Times staff writer Geoff Boucher contributed to this report.NEVER BEGIN anything with a quote! is the advice given by that fascinating observer, .But we began the Liz column ages ago with an opening quote and consider it bad luck to start changing everything around now. So I was heartened to see a big celebrity saying something astute in Time magazine. Here's -winning on what she feels whenever she hears the omnipresent music of My Heart Will Go On from the 1997 movie Titanic.Kate: I wish I could say, 'Oh, listen, everybody! It's the song!' But I don't. I just have to sit there, you know, kind of straight-faced with a massive internal eye roll. I do . finally passed the $2 billion dollar mark in lifetime ticket sales over the weekend -- the recent 3-D re-release edged it up. Thus, James Cameron is the only director to have two movies under his belt that have reached that milestone -- Avatar was the other one.Mr. Cameron does not feel like throwing up.FIRST OFF, I extend my sincere congratulations to and Brad Pitt on their upcoming wedding. They are nice people and good stars. That is, they are as glamorous as we're going to get these days, so we might as well accept it and enjoy it. And they do good deeds in a naughty world.But (sorry, but there's always a but!) the announcement of this engagement is truly a surprise. Can everything we're hearing be true -- the French chateau, the lavish preparations, the big ring, etc? Really? A wedding like that seems to fly in the face of the manner in which this couple has lived their life together for seven years. The explanation is that they are doing it for the children who have begun to ask questions as to why the pair are not married, because people get married in the movies. It was never my impression Brad and Angie's kids were watching a lot of movies where people get married, or watching a lot of movies, period.And if the children's angle is true, why go through all this fuss? How about a quick marriage with close friends, family and concerned kiddies attending? How about a secret wedlock just sprung on us? No need for months of hysteria.And yes, it can be done. Nobody should ever forget the great example set by Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. The media wasn't quite as pervasive as it is today, but it was plenty intrusive. Yet, John and Carolyn were literally on their honeymoon by the time the first photos of their intimate wedding were being released to a stunned media.I don't question Angelina and Brad's affection or sincerity, but I wonder about this uncharacteristically movie star moment. They generally save that sort of thing for public appearances at award shows -- Miss Jolie's leg pose at the Oscars is still a subject of hot debate.And to be honest, I feel for in all this. Oh, not because she harbors any lingering feelings for her ex. But this means an eternity of poor tragic Jen on the covers of the weekly glossies. She is hardly that, and such a perception of her makes her crazy.I will only assume that if the Jolie-Pitt wedding culminates in the already expected extravaganza, proceeds from the sale of photos, etc., will go to charity. That will be a positive thing.IT DID my heart good to see the amount of space given to the rumor of 's possible departure from after the third season airs. (It is filming now.) This news topped a number of online gossip and movie sites. It is a credit to the wild popularity of the show, but also to Miss Smith's legendary status as one of the most vivid, talented and long-lasting actresses of her time. Of any time! (Youngsters know her as Minerva McGonagall in the movies.)Miss Smith -- who won the Oscar in 1970 for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie -- apparently thinks three seasons on TV is enough, even if it is . The rumors suggest she wants to get back on the big screen and stage.Miss Smith's Dowager Countess will be missed, if the tale of her leaving is true.It doesn't get any better than this exchange between the countess and an unwelcome guest to Downton Abbey:I don't think you'll be seeing me again, the guest says.Do you promise? says the countess, wringing all that is scathing and dismissive out of three little words.I'VE warned my theater readers several times already that the memoir of the late Shubert titan, Gerald Schoenfeld, is about to come out from Applause Books. Many a star, director, producer, etc. will be trembling in their boots.Almost every time I go to Swifty's nifty restaurant up on Lexington Avenue near 72nd Street, I run into Gerry's widow, the ubiquitous Patricia Schoenfeld, and she reminds me. I see this lady, too, at every opening night. She is the living memorial to Gerry.These days, my long-lost relative, Mr. Phil Smith, is running the Shubert Organization and things are much calmer, if not quite as exciting, for those of us who try to follow theatah.So, if you want to get invited to the book party Pat is giving for her dear, departed husband, you have to e-mail rory/(at)shubertorg.com and explain why you are worthy to come celebrate the advent of Mr. Broadway.I loved Gerry Schoenfeld, a man who dominated the theater world for many years, and I also had many contentious run-ins with him. But I admired and got a great kick out of him. He had a wonderful sense of humor. His memoir should be a blast and I'll tell you all about it once I read his book and if I can get into his party on April 30 at 6 p.m.(E-mail at , or write to her c/o Tribune Media Services, 2010 Westridge Drive, Irving, TX 75038.)CANNESSpaniard Antonio Mendez Esparza's emigration Aqui y alla won the 51st Critics' Week top nod, the Nespresso Grand Prize. Aqui, Esparza's feature debut, turns on a man who returns to his mountain village in Mexico after having lived in the U.S. for years and struggles to reclaim his place in society.Pic is produced by Aqui y Alli in Spain and Torch Films in the U.S. New French sales agent Alpha Violet is handling international sales.Pic was chosen by a jury of film critics, including Variety's Robert Koehler, and headed by helmer Bertrand Bonello.The new Visionary Prize, backed by pubcaster France 4, went to Bulgarian Ilian Metev's Sofia's Last Ambulance, a darkly-comedic documentary following three overworked paramedics in Sofia, a city of more than 2 million people where there are only a dozen ambulances.Repped by Berlin-based Films Boutique, doc sheds light on Burgaria's crumbling medical system.It is produced by Sia, in association with Chaconna Films, Sutor Kolonko and Nukleus Film.The Visionary jury was headed by French director Celine Sciamma and was made up of young film critics.Israeli Meni Yaesh's theological thriller. God's Neighbors. won the nod of Gaul's Society of Authors, Directors and Composers, decided by a jury of filmmakers that included Bertrand Tavernier.Neighbors is sold by Gaul's Rezo, which will also distribute in France.The ACID/CCAS support for distribution was awarded to The Wild Ones, the directorial debut of Argentinean screenwriter Alejandro Fadel, who co-wrote Pablo Trapero's White Elephant. Wild is sold by Memento Films Intl.'s arthouse label, Artscope.A key platform for emerging talents, this year's Critics' Week was the first under new artistic director Charles Tesson.Only selecting first and second films, Critics' Week has discovered numerous helmers, notably Olivier Assayas and Jeff Nichols, whose Take Shelter won last year's Critics' Week Grand Prize. Nichols presents Mud in Cannes competition on Saturday.Click for more film news on Variety.com.BEC-Tero Entertainment Plc is confident its performance will be outstanding next year after securing exclusive music licensing and distribution rights for , , and from Music (Thailand) and LOVEiS.The company expects 2013 revenue will exceed its average annual growth of 10%. The new division will target both Thai and international music markets under the banner of BEC-Tero Music.BEC-Tero Music is expected to contribute at least 7% to its total revenue next year. Total revenue was 2.6 billion baht last year and is expected to reach 3 billion this year. Of last year's revenue, TV contributed 50%, concerts 25%, radio 10%, concert ticket sales 6-7%. The company will be the exclusive licensee and distributor for Sony Music (Thailand), LOVEiS, Bakery Music and Blacksheep in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. BEC-Tero Music supervises marketing, distribution, and artist management for both local and international markets.Sony Music represents some of the biggest names in international music such as , , Pink, , , , and .Local artists are Slot Machine, Singular, and Scrubb. LOVEiS artists include Boyd Kosiyabong, Stamp, Two Popetorn, and Room 39.Pattra Boosarawongse, general manager of BEC-Tero Music, said BEC-Tero Entertainment's channels include TV programmes, radio stations, digital media, street teams and concerts events, enabling it to synergise content to support all these artists."We will provide new applications for fans to listen to our music online and download digital content of Thai, Asian and international artists via QikPlay," she said.Like most labels, piracy has affected Sony's physical music sales. The hope is that BEC's platforms (online, physical and digital music, concerts, and events) will help it gain revenue.BEC-Tero believes the deal will increase Sony's market share for both physical and digital music to 6-7% next year from 5% this year. Total music sales for the year are projected at 2 billion baht.Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this article ___(c)2012 the Post (Bangkok, Thailand)Visit the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) at Distributed by MCT Information ServicesLOS ANGELES -- It's a tribute to the Grammys' success at becoming more amusical spectacle than an awards show that on the night she madehistory, was just another face in the crowd.Pop's reigning diva earned six Grammys on Sunday, more than anywoman on a single night of the 52-year-old awards show. Her anthem"Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" was song of the year. But shedidn't come onstage to accept that - her collaborators said she wasprepping for a performance - and four of her other awards cameduring the non-televised pre-show. The Grammys' four biggest awards were split four ways:20-year-old country chanteuse won album of the year;family rockers won record of the year for "UseSomebody"; and the was named best new artist.The Grammys in recent years have tried to emphasize the musicmore than the awards, particularly by pairing younger performerswith veterans. This year, producers nailed it, with a doublealbum's worth of memorable performances.Among the best were the , who sang "I GottaFeeling" with a stage filled with what looked like dancingtomatoes and robots. was predictably over the top,singing "Poker Face" and getting tossed into a bucket of firebefore emerging singed and combining forces with an equally dirtiedand bemused . turned its "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" into asoaring beauty by joining the cast of a new musical based on its"American Idiot" album. Opera singer held his ownwith a powerful, and heart-breaking rendition of "Bridge OverTroubled Water," done for the benefit of Haitian victims.An acrobatic turned her "Glitter in the Air" into aCirque de Soleil-like performance, hanging suspended over theaudience as she sang. "That was amazing," an impressed said after she was done.Memorable pairings included the white-haired, white-bearded andwhite-hatted Leon Russell joining the Zac Brown Band; andRobert Flack singing a silky-smooth "Where is the Love"; and, looking like a protective mom, joining Swift on her and 's "Rhiannon."An arresting performance of "Forever" and "Drop the World"with rappers Drake and was rendered virtuallyincomprehensible by craters of silence inserted by censors. Andthe 3-D tribute to proved overrated, with , , , and looking like they'd joined a production number from "AmericanIdol."Swift, who won four Grammys, was the night's most visiblewinner. She beamed during her duet with Nicks, and seemed thrilledin her two acceptance speeches - while staying poised enough tothank her record company for letting her write her own songs, andexpress pride at bringing the album of the year prize to Nashville."This is for my dad," she said. "Thank you for all the timesyou said I could do whatever I wanted to do."Beyonce was low-key during her one time onstage to accept hersixth trophy of he night, for best female pop vocal on the ballad"Halo." She offered thanks to her fans for their support.Stagecraft was smooth; Lady Antebellum singer Hillary Scott, hitin the head by a falling curtain, calmly brushed it aside withoutmissing a note.Host followed the new model of awards showhosts: coming out in the beginning for a handful of jokes thendisappearing - except to accept a Grammy of his own, for hissurrealistic Christmas musical.He bemoaned the absence of from Grammy night."You may be the coolest people in the world," Colbert said, abarely amused looking on, "but this year your industry wassaved by a 48-year-old Scottish cat lady in sensible shoes."-----PARIS French director Bertrand Bonello and Portuguese helmer Joao Pedro Rodrigues will serve as jury presidents at the 51st Cannes' Critics Week.Bonello will preside over the Grand Prize Nespresso Jury of four international film journos, who will award one of the seven features playing in competition. His The Pornographer played in Critics' Week in 2001 and nabbed the Fipresci nod. His most recent film, House of Tolerance, played in the Official Competition section at Cannes last year.Rodrigues will preside over the Discovery Jury, which will honor the best short in Critics' Week.One of his best-known films is Un Certain Regard player To Die Like a Man in 2009.The 2012 edition -- French critic Charles Tesson's first outing as artistic director -- is comprised of mainly non-English-language feature debuts.Prizes will be awarded during the sidebar's closing ceremony on May 24.In a separate move, Gallic director Celine Sciamma, whose soph pic Tomboy was a critical and sales hit at Berlin last year, will preside over a jury of four student or young professional film writers who will award a new Critics' Week kudo, the Prix Revelation France 4.Click for more film news on Variety.com.The Tokay Tigers girls tennis team improved to 2-0 in Tri-City Athletic League matches with a 9-0 sweep of the Stagg Delta Queens at Delta College on Tuesday.In singles, Alexa Abdallah outlasted Claudette Caceres 6-4, 4-6, (10-7), Ana Vigueras beat Wang Xiong 6-3, 6-1, and Jessica Kaye beat Lynzie Vang 6-0, 6-0.Maya Hastings defeated Cathleen San Marcus 6-1, 6-3, Emma Brink beat Victoria Chom 6-0, 6-1, and Maryam Qamar defeated Jessica Rholen 6-0, 6-1. In doubles, Meera Solanki and Bailey Stone beat Chao Xiona and Diane Doon 6-2, 6-2, Kianna Fernandez and Missy Batth beat Rajada Ealey and Sereena Nano 6-1, 6-4, and Rachael Boyle and Mckenzie Stone defeated Mariah Nieves and Celine Lopez 6-0, 6-1. ___(c)2012 the Lodi News-Sentinel (Lodi, Calif.)Visit the Lodi News-Sentinel (Lodi, Calif.) at Distributed by MCT Information ServicesA hotel executive recently told me that flying is so pleasant, losing a bag became a positive experience. Airline staff apologized profusely, delivered the bag within a few hours and gave him a free flight.It made him want Airlines to lose another of his bags. It was no surprise, then, to see that Singapore Airlines dominated Business Traveler magazine's reader-voted 23rd annual business travel awards.Singapore Airlines won seven top honors in the global travel category, including best overall airline, best first-class service, best business-class service, best economy-class service and best in-flight services in the world.It also underscored the disparity between American and foreign airlines."What stuck out to me is the up-and-coming travel providers especially Middle Eastern and Asian air carriers seem to be taking a lot of good things from the playbooks of the legacy carriers and going the extra yard," said Dan Booth, editorial director for trade publications Business Traveler and Business Travel Executive."The question is what are (legacy carriers) going to do to step up to that challenge in an international marketplace?"Of American legacy carriers, Delta acquitted itself best, winning best North American airline for first-class service and business-class service, among others. was able to snag an honor (best airline for North American travel). The full list of winners can be found at tinyurl.com/c4lbyl2.Conspicuously absent: and , the latter of which was bested at its own game best low-cost airline in by .Bright, spacious Denver International won best airport in North America."If anybody in commercial aviation is getting it, it's the airports," Booth said. "Pittsburgh, to my mind, was the first terminal building built with the idea of supporting a reasonable flow through security. They're starting to see where the customer service hot buttons are."Love among hotel chains was split, with Hyatt winning best overall customer service, Hilton getting best business hotel chain in North America and Marriott winning best hotel loyalty program.Least surprising was the best convention and conference city. Think and gambling. That's right: Las Vegas.Other notable winnersBest car-rental company in the world: HertzBest frequent-flier program: Best aircraft type: 777Best in-flight service in North America: Air CanadaBest North American airline for international travel: Air CanadaBest website for booking travel: Best airport in the world: Changi Airport SingaporeBest mobile phone coverage: ATTBest noise-canceling headphones: BoseDo you have ideas for Business Class about the latest in business travel? Write to at . Include "Business Class" in the subject line.There were Daiquiris aplenty but no butter sculptures at the Double Seven Meat District after-party for Radius-TWC's Butter preem. Regarding Hollywood's first-ever up-close look at a previously low-key enterprise, Butter star set the record straight Thursday night at AMC Lincoln Square theater in Gotham. Butter sculpting is a huge deal, said the thesp. When we say that more people saw butter sculpting at the Iowa State Fair than saw 's farewell concert tour in Vegas and the combined, we mean that! It is that popular. The satiric, politically oriented comedy originated on screenwriter Jason Micallef's post-college road trip where, in the midst of a Des Moines heatwave, he found himself at Butter Hall. Butter sculpting is pretty funny, the scribe said. But up close they're great! These are talented people. You wonder why they don't pick up a chunk of marble instead of marble, but why not?Click for more film news on Variety.com.PARIS -- French paybox has ordered the first season of Haut et Court-produced series Les Revenants, a E11.4 million ($15 million) skein with strong international potential.Scribe-helmer Fabrice Gobert, whose feature debut Lights Out preemed in Cannes' Un Certain Regard, loosely adapted the series from Robin Campillo's 2004 movie Les Revenant (They Came Back). The skein, which had been in development for over four years, comprises eight one-hour episodes. Co-helmed by Gobert and Frederic Mermout, the French-language Les Revenants turns on a group of people of different ages and backgrounds who died years ago and mysteriously return home, determined to resume their lives, without realizing they've been gone for a while.Gobert collaborated with several high-profile scribes, including Celine Sciamma (Tomboy), Emmanuel Carrere (La Moustache), Nicolas Peufaillit (A Prophet) and Camille Fontaine (Coco Before Chanel).Cast boasts several up-and-coming thesps, notably Clotilde Hesme and Gregory Gadebois, who both nabbed Cesar nods for their breakthrough perf in Angele and Tony, as well as Cesar-nommed Guillaume Gouix (Jimmy Riviere), Celine Sallette (House of Tolerance) and Frederic Pierrot (Polisse). 'Les Revenants' marks one of rare homegrown fantasy TV productions, said Jimmy Desmarais, who is producing the skein with Benjo.It's not a show about zombies: Fabrice Gobert depicts the complexity of each character with genre atmosphere and a realistic approach; and as the series advances the plot turns supernatural.Founded by Caroline Benjo and Carole Scotta, Haut et Court is a leading independent shingle, which has produced such critically acclaimed arthouse pics as Palme d'Or winning The Class and starrer Coco Before Chanel.Canal Plus' fiction department, headed by Fabrice de la Patelliere, has been powering up with original French shows -- for instance Braquo, Spiral, Pigalle La Nuit and Hard -- which have scored hit ratings on the paybox, sold to major international territories and helped increase the net's subscription basis.Click for more articles on Variety.com.After performing at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino's The Joint for a few years, has moved his residency onto the Strip to his new home, Mandalay Bay's more intimate House of Blues.In some ways, Santana is a strange fit for Las Vegas. While the Rock Roll Hall of Famer is one of music's most innovative, enduring and talented performers, he doesn't have the wealth of top 40 hits that fellow Vegas residents like , or draw upon to lure in the tourists and conventioneers. Instead, his show, billed Greatest Hits Live: Santana-Yesterday, Today Tomorrow, is more about unyielding musicality. Songs meld seamlessly into each other, unified by an unparalleled level of musicianship and his glorious guitar playing. Santana, who moved from the Bay Area to Las Vegas during the Hard Rock residency, often talks about his concerts as spiritual experiences, and watching him play with eyes closed, head tilted back just far enough so that his hat doesn't fall off, it was easy to believe that the music flowing through him was channeled from some higher place. No matter how many of the dozen musicians on stage were playing at any one time, his razor-sharp notes rose above all. There was a purity, grace and crispness to his playing that remains undiminished since he stunned audiences at Woodstock in 1969.Though enjoyable, it took a few songs for the show to find its footing on opening night. About 30 minutes in, Santana launched into Black Magic Woman, which is really the melding of three songs: Singing Winds, Crying Beasts, Black Magic Woman and Gypsy Queen. By the time Santana howled into the ferocious Gypsy Queen, it felt as if the room could levitate.While singers Tony Lindsay and Tommy Anthony certainly added to songs like Maria, Maria and Smooth, and served as cheerleaders of sorts to rally the enthusiastic crowd, this show was about the players, not the singers. Santana and timbales player Karl Perazzo, congas player Raul Rekow and drummer extraordinaire Dennis Chambers often got locked into such a Latin funk/jazz pocket that it felt as though they were one. As hyperbolic as that sounds, there was something transcendent about seeing, feeling and hearing musicians communicate at this level that, at its pinnacle, was breathtaking.Santana spoke little, but when he did it was to spout his now familiar and heartfelt, if esoteric, messages about eternity and positivity. I want to talk about forward thinking, he said, after performing A Love Supreme, by his musical hero . Forward thinking is being present with love. Do it with love or just don't do it at all. When you put love in it, everything is delicious.The encore included a sweeping, expansive version of instrumental Soul Sacrifice, which he played at Woodstock. Although the audience was rapturous in its applause, Santana seemed to feel he could have done better. He somewhat abruptly thanked the crowd, adding This is our first time here. We intend to make more everything: more finesse, more energy. With a two-year residency ahead of him, he'll have more than enough time to sort out any kinks, even if he's the only one who can see them.Click for more music reviews on Variety.com.Diamond baubles from Cartier glittering in one window, Louis Vuitton's signature leather bags beckoning from across the street and another storefront displaying ' silk scarves.Within months this is the scene that will greet visitors to Miami's Design District, as the neighborhood begins its dramatic metamorphosis into the new hot spot for luxury shopping.Cartier and have just opened their doors. Louis Vuitton will do so on Oct. 19. Hermes and Men are under construction. Right behind that will be Pucci. By the time and the holiday shopping season arrive, there should be 8 to 10 luxury brands lining the Design District's Northeast 40th Street corridor. These openings are a sign of Miami's ascent as a fashion destination."For most luxury brands Miami is one of the top three markets in , along with New York and Los Angeles," said Valerie Chapoulaud-Floquet, president and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton North America. "The Miami market has grown quicker than the rest of North America."For decades the Bal Harbour Shops offered the only option for luxury in Miami-Dade County. But no longer is having one store in the market enough for these luxury brands."Miami has been under retailed for luxury because of the strength of the local market and the strong growth of tourists coming to Miami," said Emmanuel Perrin, president and chief executive officer of Cartier North America. "This market can support several Cartier boutiques. It was just a question of time before the luxury market evolved. Everyone has been waiting for the right project to come along."Louis Vuitton and Cartier both left Bal Harbour Shops last summer because the mall didn't have the space for them to expand. The retailers were also prohibited from opening a second store within 20 miles unless Bal Harbour's owners got a piece of the new store's revenue.Now, Louis Vuitton already has opened another store at Mall and Cartier is assessing the market. It's all part of an unfolding game of musical chairs that ends the monopoly of Bal Harbour, which has controlled the luxury retail market since 1965.By 2014, developer Craig Robins expects to have 40 to 50 luxury brands spread throughout the Design District, creating a new urban destination for fashionistas. Already committed to the area are about 30 tenants, including , Bulgari, Pucci, De Beers, Zegna, Tom Ford, Burberry and Marc by . They will join the district's original fashion tenants Christian Louboutin, and Martin Margiela."We're starting to build critical mass," Robins said. "We continue to find that more and more brands are interested in coming. This is an exciting moment for the Design District. People are going to feel the transition and the power of integrating fashion with art, design and food."Many of the brands are giving up space at Bal Harbour, which the International Council of Shopping Center recently designated the top producing mall in the world. But they say they don't believe the move will have any negative impact on their business."We have made a seamless transition," said Vira V. Capeci, president of Celine. "Our clients have followed us to this exciting location."Right now, Cartier's name sparkling against the backdrop of a bronze storefront may look a little out of place as the area undergoes a transition. But soon Louis Vuitton will make a dramatic statement across the street with a storefront covered by an original work of art from graffiti artist Marquis Lewis, known as RETNA.There may be growing pains in this gentrifying neighborhood. Will consumers be willing to spend thousands of dollars on jewelry, handbags and clothes just a few blocks away from some of Miami's more impoverished neighborhoods?At Cartier a security guard stands close by watching over an offering that includes a rare yellow diamond and a $310,000, diamond-encrusted panther pendant and necklace."I like the idea of an urban neighborhood where you have crackheads here and Cartier over there," said Denia Roth, a Miami resident who was lunching this week at Michael's Genuine in the Design District. "The diversity brings everyone together."The retailers have more freedom to design the look of their stores and open bigger showrooms featuring a wider variety of offerings. Cartier's new store is three times larger than what it had at Bal Harbour.And these stores are only the beginning. Cartier and Louis Vuitton are among several brands opening temporary locations, until they can design and build flagship stores. When these stores open in 2014, they're expected to be among the brands' largest stores in the U.S. outside of ."We want to take our client experience to the next level and serve our clients in comfort," Perrin said.Louis Vuitton felt it was important to get into the Design District early."We like to be part of building a story, it's part of our pioneering spirit," Chapoulaud-Floquet said. "We think we're going to be able to communicate with a very different clientele that is younger, more trendy and much more open to art and culture."Although it's been a year since Louis Vuitton and others started leaving Bal Harbour, operating partner Matthew Whitman Lazenby says same store sales continue to grow -- up 16 percent for the first six months of the year compared to last year.But Lazenby says his family has had a change of heart about allowing tenants to remain at Bal Harbour and still open a second location in Miami-Dade County."You can't deny there has been demand expressed by more than one tenant," Lazenby said. "Miami has reached the point in its evolution where more than one store can be sustained. We are adapting to the marketplace and trying to accommodate the needs of our tenants." ___(c)2012 Visit The Miami Herald at Distributed by MCT Information ServicesAn estimated 1,200 people celebrated the short life of at her memorial service Tuesday morning at the .The emotional service for the deceased 2-year-old is into its second hour. The Anthony family, minus jailed mother , took the pulpit after a series of faith-based messages and songs. Lee Anthony, the brother of Casey Anthony, spoke to mourners and asked them to "fill their hearts with compassion and truth.""If it's closure you seek, I hope you find it," Lee said, while his mother rubbed his back.Lee Anthony began to cry and then kissed the band around his wrist that shows Caylee's name."CMA [Caylee Marie Anthony] I miss you. CMA I am so proud of you. I hope you're proud of me, too," Lee Anthony said. "I will never forget." followed by saying, "I am proud to be the grandfather of Caylee Marie."He spoke for 10 minutes about his granddaughter and received a standing ovation when he was finished.Next came Cindy."I remember the day Casey came to me to tell me the news I was going to be a grandmother. I knew that our lives were going to be blessed.""I knew she would be a very special child. Caylee was a perfect baby."Pastor David Uth presided over a service that featured a mixture of sermons and songs, as the Anthonys listened attentively in the front row.A large photo of Caylee was on the church's large screen.Uth delivered a message focused on Jesus' special relationship with children. He seemed to look directly at the Anthonys for most of it.The Anthonys appeared calm, holding hands and occasionally leaning on each other. They showed faint smiles from time to time as the pastor spoke.Singer Nancy Rodriguez sang 's "My Heart Will Go On," the theme song from the 1997 film Titanic. George Anthony blew a kiss at her and clapped at the end, smiling.Shane Stutzman, the Anthonys' former pastor at Eastside Baptist Church, talked about dealing with Caylee's death."I realize there are many of us that have questions," Stutzman said. "In times like this, it's OK to have questions. It's human to have questions. I wish I could answer each question every person here has."Stutzman said "my role is to remind you who has the answers."WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. ( ) -- Singer gave birth to twin boys Saturday at a hospital in , Florida, according to her rep.The babies were born at 11:11 a.m. and 11:12 a.m. at St. Mary's Medical Center. One baby was 5 pounds, 4 ounces, and the other was 5 pounds, 10 ounces. They're said to be doing well, but will be in an incubator for a few days.The 42-year-old singer was hospitalized Monday, four weeks before her due date, as a precautionary measure to prevent the babies from being born too early.Doctors had wanted her to carry the twins until at least the first week of November -- when she would have been 37 weeks along.After six rounds of in-vitro fertilization, Dion and her husband, Rene Angelil, 68, announced her pregnancy in July.They already have a nine-year-old son.Tamara Sims-Dorway RD, LD is a native Floridian with over 10 years experience working in nutrition. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Florida, she completed her dietetic internship with the Pasco County Health Department, which included rotations through Shands Hospital(Gainesville), the St. Augustine School System and affiliated hospitals in Jacksonville, FL. Currently, she is actively pursuing board certification as a specialist in Pediatric Nutrition.From what I'veread so far, the capsizingof the Costa Concordia appears to have been perfectly preventable.The captain's foolhardy navigation, as well as (per this Italian Coast Guardtranscript), may indeed prove to be criminal. But there are always lessons to be learned from even the most tragic situations. Here are a few:1. Pay attention to thelifeboat drill. Most cruise ships have a muster drill, often before leaving port. ( requires such drills within 24 hours of leaving port.)Passengers report to their muster stations, typically wearing their life preservers. On some ships, the drill is a video. On others, it's a meeting point that's a lounge. On the Carnival Pride, which sails out of Baltimore, the muster drill takes place on deck within view of your actual lifeboat.Some cruisers try to avoid this interruption that may come just as you're having your first martini on the Lido Deck. Don't. 2. Know the ship. In particular, know where your cabin is in relationship to the rest of the ship. What deck are you on? How many decks are above you? How many below? Instead of taking the elevator everywhere, take the stairs. Note how many flights from your room to the muster station or evacuation point. Check out the vessel diagram on the back of the cabin door.3. Know your fellow passengers.At the muster drill, assess your fellow passengers standing elbow to elbow with you. Is there someone who may need additional help? Are there children or babies? Disabled or elderly? In an emergency, be ready to offer firm and calm support to help speed things along.4. Know your crew members. Start with your room steward andgo up from there - officers in particular. Ask them questions about their training procedures. Ask about their families. Be friendly. Yes, there are a lot of stories about Costa Concordia crew members who saved themselves first. But 95 percent of the peoplewere safely evacuated fromthat ship, so there must have been at least afew crew members who knew what they were doing.5.Stay calm, but expect chaos. Even ifan evacuation goes exactly as planned, you can't count on thousands of individuals to remain calm and even-tempered. Act with urgency, but maintain your cool even if others do not.6.Be a good swimmer . If you are taking a cruise, youreally shouldknow how to swim. It justmay increase your odds of surviving a disaster. Many of the Costa Concordia survivors swam a short distance to shore - and one woman who could not swim told a newspaper that her husband gave her his life jacket but then she never saw him again. Tragic.7. Keep your passport with you at all times - and a little cash. You don't typically need any money on a cruise because everything gets charged to your cabin. Many of the survivors ended up on land withoutmoneyoridentification or even shoes. And some passengers reported that the cruise line was slow to offer assistance for clothing and the like., a travel store,offers passport wallets that can be worn around your neck or strapped to your chest. Might also be helpful to include emergency numbers or other info about your travelitinerary.8.Reconsider travel insurance. I've never been a huge fan of travel insurance, but if you're more than a 1,000 miles from home and traveling via multiple modes of transportation, it might come in handy. But about what's covered and stay away from waivers. Look for coverage that lets you cancel for any reason.(By the way, , but the losses could total more than $1 billion.)9. Taking a cruise has its risks. If you didn't know that before, you know it now. Seriously, though, the risks are very, verysmall. But they do exist. Fire on a ship isthe thing that scares me the most. Sinking is a close second.10. Avoid watching the film Titanic.Lots ofsurvivors compared their experience aboard the Costa Concordiato the 1997 movie starring and Leonardo diCaprio. That meansTitanic was so good it left an impression - or scars -that lasted more than a decade. (That song from didn't help.) Of course, the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the grand ship is coming up in April and it might seem the perfect time to watch the movie again.Butif you ever, everplan to takea cruise, skip it.The final strains of the Toronto Film Festival belong to and longtime collaborator .Dion has recorded Unfinished Songs as the end-credits tune for Song for Marion, which closes the fest Saturday night at the Roy Thomson theater. Written by Warren, who's been nominated six times for but never won, Unfinished Songs is among more than a dozen collaborations with Dion, including Because You Loved Me. We go way back and I think we're a good combination, particularly for this song, Warren told Variety. She had done her show from 7:30 to 9:30 that night and then recorded between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. That's why Celine is Celine -- she really has an amazing work ethic.Warren said Unfinished Songs fits well with Song for Marion, a music-based dramedy starring , and . Pic centers on a grumpy elderly man whose wife persuades him to join an unconventional local choir. The Weinstein Co. is handling domestic release.Cutting Edge Group CEO Philip Moross, who is producing alongside Ken Marshall, brought together Dion and Warren, who saw the film in rough cut. It's the first feature production credit for Cutting Edge, which has provided music services for more than 200 films.As a connoisseur of great movie songwriters, my dream has always been to work with Diane Warren, Moross said. What Diane was able to do with her work on 'Song for Marion' was to find the heart of the movie and put that heart into a beautiful chorus for Celine. It was amazing to witness.Four-year-old CEG has gained notice by ponying up the money for scoring, clearances and music supervision in a film; it then recoups from such sources as soundtrack and sheet-music sales, licensing and royalties from international ticket sales and TV deals. Earlier this year, it closed a multi-picture slate deal with Endgame Entertainment and entered into an agreement last month with Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures.CEG has invested in over 200 films, most notably The King's Speech, in exchange for music publishing rights. CEG's films at include the opening night selection Looper, Song for Marion, End of Watch, Seven Psychopaths, Imogene and Writers.As for Warren, she hopes that Unfinished Songs may lead to that elusive Oscar.I'm a six-time loser, Warren said, so maybe this is my lucky seventh.Click for more film news on Variety.com.-- The 14th Buenos Aires Festival of Independent Film opens April 11 with debut helmer Armando Bo's local dramedy El Ultimo Elvis (The Last Elvis), about an impersonator.Bo co-wrote Biutiful with Mexican director . Ursula Meier's Berlin-winning L'Enfant d'en haut, a sibling tale set in a Swiss ski resort, will close the country's biggest festival, and showcase for Latin America, on April 20.The fest will screen 449 films with a focus on helmers' first and second features.The main competition, for international films, includes 15 titles competing for film, director, screenplay and thesp kudos.Argentina has three world premieres in the lineup: Gabriel father and son La Arana vampiro (The Vampire Spider), Maximiliano Schonfeld's farm drama Germania, and Alejandro Fadel's Los Salvajes (The Wild Ones), which follows a group of kids in the outback.Others making their world preems include Chilean Elisa Eliash's seducer tale Aqui estoy, aqui no (Here I Am, Here I'm Not); American Zach Weintraub's The International Sign for Choking, about a scriptwriter trying to find himself in Buenos Aires; and La Casa Emak Bakia (The Search for Emak Bakia), a documentary by Spaniard Oskar Alegria.Also in the competition are Australian Justin Kurzel's serial killer tale Snowtown, Chilean Cristian Jimenez's love story Bonsai and U.S.-Canadian co-production Francine, directed by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky, about a woman coming out of prison.Other entries are Philippine Marlon N. Rivera's satirical comedy The Woman in the Septic Tank, Dutch helmer Sacha Polak with father-daughter story Hemel, Israeli Nadav Lapid's Policeman, about a clash between anti-terrorist forces and young rebels, and Serbian Maja Milos' Clip, about a sex-crazed teen.Rounding out the slate are Valerie Massadian's childhood story Nana and Celine Sciamma's Tomboy, about a girl who changes her identity, both from France.Fourteen features, most of them world premieres, will compete for film and director in the Argentina competish. Entries include Berlin-screened holiday drama Salsipuedes by Mariano Luque, Nadir Medina's coming-of-age tale El Espacio entre los dos (The Space Between Us) and Luis Ortega's street tale Dromomanos (Roamers).There also is an 19-strong competish for new cinema including the world premiere of Crazy and Thief, a childhood adventure tale by American Cory McAbee.The 9th Buenos Aires Lab, one of the world's biggest markets for Europeans to find Latin American co-productions, will run April 13-15.Click for more international news on Variety.com.Financing and production plans for Steel Mill Pictures' comedic thriller Filth have firmed up, with principal photography set to start next week.Cast includes , , , , Joanne Froggatt and Imogen Poots. Based on the novel by Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting), Filth is written and directed by Jon S. Baird (Cass), who's also producing through Logie Pictures. Ken Marshall of Steel Mill is producing in partnership with Jens Meurer and Egoli Tossell Film. Financing the film and also producing are Maven Pictures' and Celine Rattray, Film House Germany, Film I Vast and Creative Scotland. Will Clarke exec produces.Sierra/Affinity announced during Cannes last May that it would represent international sales on Filth for Steel Mill, with Lionsgate releasing in the U.K. and Icon distributing in Australia.Story is centered on an Edinburgh police detective who manipulates everyone in his path to secure a promotion and win back his wife and daughter.Shooting is set for Scotland, primarily Glasgow, as well as locations in Sweden, Belgium and Hamburg.It's the second feature for Maven, which is in post on Imogene, starring , and .Click for more articles on Variety.com.This week the Journal Sentinel's Tyler Dunne catches up with Packers tight end . The third-year tight end out of Miami (Ohio) talks about his touchdown on a fake field-goal attempt against Chicago, his love of music, ' storytelling and his family.Has your phone ever blown up like it did after that touchdown in Week 2? No, not quite. I probably got more responses to that than any other play or game.Did you get more calls after the game than after your kids being born? (laughs) Well, that's a little more spread out and predictable. People don't bother you. They know you're busy with your kids and everything. Yeah, it was still probably more of a response than my children being born. What was the first thought in your head when the call came in? More than anything, I was excited. I had a good feeling about the play. It's something we really worked on a lot. We were prepared for it. So I had a good feeling about it. It was just a matter of catching it and not tripping on my own feet.Still, it's fourth and 26. Any concerns? I mean, I knew I had to score pretty much unless by some weird happening I got tackled at the 1-yard line. I knew I had to score. Like I said, we prepared for it. I knew if it came open, we knew we'd catch them off-guard. I just used my speed.See any good concerts this year? I'm not seeing any coming up. I saw the back in the summer. But other than that, I'm not planning on going to anything. I'm just trying to be more low-key and just focus on football, and when I'm at home I'm with the kids and the family. I kind of do that stuff in the off-season more.What was the Foo Fighters concert like? It was amazing. It was just incredible how they got there. It didn't seem like there were any breaks or lapses in the set. They played for about 21/2 hours, non-stop, one song after another. It's amazing how many great songs they have. They had a ton of energy the whole time. And obviously is one of the best front men right now. He just had a ton of energy. And the crowd was crazy at the Marcus Amphitheater. When you looked back, even up in the lawn, there were no empty spaces. It was packed. It was a pretty cool experience. We were about 20 rows back, center of the stage. We had a great view. We could see everything perfectly. It was awesome.How is the music scene in Green Bay? I've seen Chevelle at the Brown County Arena. Avenged Sevenfold was at the Resch Center. The (Green Bay) Distillery had . They were here. There are some good rock bands that come through here. It doesn't happen very often but it's nice when they do.What's your favorite genre? I've kind of been all over the place lately. It's so broad to say "rock," but I'm all over the place. The harder rock, metal, stuff like that. Alt rock, some more mellow stuff. It kind of depends what mood I'm in, I guess. You can't be head-banging all the time I guess.During camp, D.J. Williams said you listen to . Is that true? No. He also told you guys he wrestled cows and you believed that, too.Did he make that whole thing up? Oh my gosh. You guys. You guys. You guys will just latch onto anything. You love that, don't you? It's OK. He's a good storyteller.So no Celine Dion? Not at all. In fact, that's one of his favorites. It really is. I think he listens to it when he wrestles cows.How mellow do you get with music? I listen to satellite radio a lot. So Alt Nation is pretty good for more mellow music. I'll listen to that sometimes. One band I started to listen to that's pretty cool is .Your life change a lot with a family now? Yes, I'm definitely more family-oriented now, having two little kids. All my free time now, I enjoy spending it with them. My son's at the age now where he loves football and he's asking to throw the ball around. He's always running up to me and trying to tackle me and hanging on my leg. It really changed my perspective on some things and what's important. I'm not really worrying as much about stuff outside of the family. Not really sweating the little things as much.What do you and your 2-year old son do back home? He definitely likes to be outdoors and go to the park. We take him out, play football, go to the park and go on the slide and swing.Did he see your touchdown on TV? If they don't come to the game, he watches on TV and my wife says he paces in front of the TV the whole time. He can point me out on TV. I think he gets it a little bit.Good to be back on ? Yeah, I like it. I was glad I stopped during camp just because camp is a lot more. We're pretty much here all day. There's not enough time to be goofing around on Twitter. So it was nice to be away from it for a month. But right now, I still really appreciate the fans that enjoy what I have to say. I like giving back to them. So that's kind of why I didn't want to stay away too long.Do you want to settle down in Green Bay long term? Oh, for sure. I love it. My wife, my family love it. We definitely love it. We met a lot of good people in the community, outside of football. So it'd be nice to be able to stick around. ___(c)2012 the Milwaukee Journal SentinelVisit the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at Distributed by MCT Information Services Amanda Dube punched in the winning goal with 4:32 left in overtime as Poland snuck away with a 2-1 victory over Freeport in a field hockey game Saturday.Emily Gibson redirected a corner kick toward the Freeport net, but the ball was deflected. Dube was there to send the ball into the net and Gibson was credited with the assist.In the first half, Kyla Sturtevant scored to give the Knights (3-4-1) a 1-0 lead, but Freeport's Olivia Bubar scored an unassisted goal to tie the game and bring it into overtime. Poland goalie Melora Lavoie made 10 saves and kept Freeport out of the net in overtime.Brewer 3, EL 2BREWER -- Ann Keri scored both goals for Edward Little, but it wasn't enough as the Brewer Witches (5-3-2) shook off the stubborn Red Eddies (2-7) with a 3-2 victory in a field hockey game Saturday.In the first half, the Red Eddies struck first before the Witches scored three straight goals.Amy Ballence, Rachel Karp and Chelsea Richard each scored for Brewer, which outshot EL, 19-9, and held the advantage in corners, 20-6.Messalonskee 10, Lewiston 0OAKLAND -- Kristy Bernatche scored four goals and teammate Emily York had three as Messalonskee rolled over Lewiston with a 10-0 victory in a field hockey game Saturday. Lewiston goalies Ravon Palmer and Kaylyn Labonte shared duties in net but could not contain the Eagles.Skowhegan 10, Oxford Hills 0SKOWHEGAN -- Renee Wright turned in a hat trick and Makaela Michonski scored two and picked up three assists as Skowhegan walloped Oxford Hills, 10-0, in field hockey.Skowhegan (10-0) had the game firmly in hand by the first half, taking an 8-0 lead.Sarah Finnemore and Allison Lancaster each scored two goals Skowhegan. Mikayla Toth also scored.Hebron 8, Gould 0BETHEL -- Taylor Fowler crafted three goals as Hebron Academy sailed to an 8-0 victory over Gould in field hockey action Saturday.The Lumberjacks (1-1) netted five goals in the first half. Hannah Hearn tallied a goal in each half.Goalie Sierra Gardner made 13 saves for Gould (0-2), while goalie Michaela Clark was idle in net for Hebron during the winning effort.Girls' soccerSt. Dom's 5, Telstar 0Hammond field hockey earned a tall drink of victory water after its 1-0 win over Oakland Mills Friday night.It was the Golden Bears' first win since 2010, and their first win under coach Terry Smith.The game winning goal came in a corner situation with a little more than seven minutes left in the game. The ball was inserted to Hadiya Hewitt who then passed to Maureen McGowan, who had the magic touch as she shot the ball past Oakland Mills keeper Celine Manneville (8 saves). I dont even remember thinking anything. I was just at the goal at the right time and my team passed to me so I just shot it in the goal and I was lucky and got it in," McGowan explained. The tension was high in the stands, as the first half saw mostly domination from the Scorpion squad.Were always right there in the first half, even with the big dogs, said Oakland Mills coach Nikki Trunzo, whose team had two offensive corners in the first half and several shots on goal. Our team this year has an issue playing the whole 60 minutes and going to ball the entire game."Indeed, the Golden Bears took control by earning nine offensive corners, one of which provided the opportunity for the win.Throughout it all, there was plenty of heart and effort on both sides of the field. As the minutes dwindled down, Hammond fought to secure the victory, while Oakland Mills mounted a last ditch effort to send the game to overtime. But for this contest, it was Hammonds turn to shine.Hewitt, who played a strong, fast game, said, Im really excited. This was our first win of the season and I think we really deserved it. Weve been working really hard for this moment.McGowan echoed the same sentiment: We finally made it. We finally won. Weve been working so hard and we won. That was exciting.Coach Smith recognized her teams ability to work together as one of its biggest accomplishments this year, as well as the leadership of her goalie, Shannon Burt (6 saves), who she says has become so confident and so strong.Hammond 1, Oakland Mills 0Goals Ha: McGowan; OM: none.Assists Ha: Hewitt; OM: none.Saves Ha: Burt 6; OM: Manneville 8.Half 0-0.Around the leagueMt. Hebron 3, Howard 2Mt Hebron found itself on the winning side of a tough encounter with Howard Friday afternoon. Howard started the game hard and strong. Cailey Tolson scored the first goal of the game just 42 seconds in off an assist from Courtney Barnwell. Mt Hebrons Tianna Wallpher evened it up on a penalty stroke merely four minutes later. The game would stay tied until the last minute before the half when Tolson found the back of the net again.Mt Hebron scored two unanswered goals in the second half to secure the win. Both teams had opportunities and shots, however, Mt Hebron got it done. This win propels them into a fun filled homecoming weekend.Goals MH: Wallpher, Linn, Sutton; Ho: Tolson 2.Assists MH: Bishop, Ukenholz; Ho: Barnwell.Saves MH: Fisher 7; Ho: Jakubek 9.Half 2-1 HoAtholton 8, Wilde Lake 1Rachel Day led the Raiders offensively as they defeated Wilde Lake 8-1. This is the third game in a row that they have won with the same result.Goals A: Day 3, Stine, Graybeal, Cardea, Belson; WL: CavanaughAssists A: Stine 2, Graybeal 2; WL: noneSaves A: Clinch 1; WL: Sudduth 12Marriotts Ridge 3, Long Reach 0Marriotts Ridge blanked Long Reach 3-0 Friday afternoon. After some line-up readjusting, Jasmine Williams found a spot on the Mustangs forward line. In the past two games she has had 3 goals and 2 assists.Goals MR: Williams, Kerr, Berdy; LR: none.Assists MR: Williams, Tuma, Nelson; LR: none.Saves MR: Hamilton 0; LR: Cote 8.Half 2-0 MRGlenelg 12, Centennial 0The Glenelg Gladiators had eight different players score as they defeated Centennial 12-0.Goals G: Russo, Asher (4), Taylor, Baker (2), Vanderwall, Pelkey, Philie, Lee; C: none.Assists G: Baker (2), Philie, Taylor (5), Vanderwall; C: none.Saves G: Goodman 4; C: Cosentino 27. Standings (as of Sept. 28)Atholton 6-0 county, 6-1 overallGlenelg 5-0, 6-1River Hill 5-1, 8-1Mt Hebron 5-1, 7-1Howard 4-2, 6-2Marriotts Ridge 4-2, 6-3Long Reach 2-4, 4-5Centennial 2-4, 2-7Hammond 1-4, 1-5Wilde Lake 1-5, 1-5Oakland Mills 0-6, 1-6Reservoir 0-6, 0-9Glenelg Country (IAAM B) 2-2, 3-3Hereford High School's theater department captured seven Cappies awards for its play "Figments," performed in March at the school. The students attended the Ninth Annual Cappies Baltimore Gala at the on May 20.They received 15 nominations for "Figments" and received seven awards, the most the school has ever won.The Cappies program features high school theater and journalism students who are trained as critics. They attend shows at other schools, write reviews and vote for the awards. The following Hereford students were honored: Benn Mann, comic actor; Maura Vananzo, supporting actress; Will Meister, lead actor; Kristen Essel, Teddy Mullin, Benn Mann and Ashley Pruitt, ensemble; Tyler Wolfe, Savannah North and Hudson Imhoff, sound; Zach Robertson and Hudson Imhoff, props and effects; and Kaitlyn Fowler, Joe Wixted, Emily Mignini and Jen DeGroot, marketing and publicity. The members of Hereford's Cappies team are: Will Meister, Celine Schmidt, Taryn Quaytman, Michaela Bubier, Ashley Pruitt, Abby Kousouris, Aiden Meehan, Amber Bollinger, Katelyn Fowler, Shannon Heffernan, Hudson Imhoff, and Anna Passaniti.Hereford High School's last play of the school year will have audiences seeing double."Figments" features playwright Rick Jacobs who creates figments of his imagination for himself, the people in his life and even the characters in a play he's trying to write.Each figment of Jacobs' imagination talks and acts in the way his creative mind would like them to. Director Chris Rose double-cast all roles, with one cast performing on March 22 and 23, while the other is on stage March 24. The story takes place in Jacobs' apartment where he is suffering from a serious case of writer's block. Will Meister and Joe Wixted play Jacobs, while Noah Konkus and Robbie Palmisano play his figments."This play is really hilarious," Palmisano said. "His imagination has created all of us. As his figment, I tell him things like what to say to his bossy mother, but he won't do it."Maura Vananzo and Maggie Cave play Jacobs' domineering mother.Vananzo, a senior, had never been in a school play and auditioned on a whim. She said she's having fun talking with a thick New York accent. Natalie Fitzgerald and Kaitlyn Fowler play Mama's figment.Jacobs is secretly in love with his neighbor, Loni, played by Celine Schmidt and Maia Morgan. When she visits, his figment says what he is too shy to say. At the same time, her figment, played by Taryn Quaytman and Lina Mann, is much bolder than Loni.As if those figments aren't enough, there are also figments for Jacobs' deceased father, his former girlfriend and Loni's current boyfriend.Jacobs' imagination also creates a figment for each of the four main characters of a murder mystery play he's struggling to write.Eventually, the real people and their figments interact with the figments from his play, causing mayhem on stage.The play begins at 7 p.m. on March 22, 23 and 24. Tickets are $6 online and $8 at the door. Hereford High is located at 17301 York Road.To buy online, go to http://www.edline.net/pages/Hereford_High and click on The Arts and then Hereford Theatre.Cameron Abass Abedi, Alexandre Xavier Ahmarani, Raveena Kaur Ahuja, MichaelOsmund Amon, Evan Douglas Anderson, Stefan Thomas Armington;Riley Alexander Babcock, Luke Hensell Baker, Sara Jean Barnett, Zachary Kenneth Bartlett, Daniel Michael Battle, Zachary John Beil, David Scott Benson, Ryan Maurice Bernstein, Blake Daniel Betsill, MarissaDelle Bosley Betsill, Gregory David Betts, Dana Marie Bieker, William Eric Bittner, Ina Serena Boegel, Amber Michele Bollinger, Krysten Marie Boone, Zachary Taggart Bosley, Edward Artie Bradford IV, Anni Huan Braine, Jacob Thomas Brooks, Austin Timothy Brown, Casey Thomas Brown, Joshua David Brown, Justin Alan Brown, Michael Joseph Brown, Jr., Frederic Jackson Bryant, Michaela Stratmann Bubier, Randi Nicole Bulkley, Jesse James Bunker, Marcell Emil Butler;Kaitlyn Nichole Canarr, Madeline Amelia Capozzi, Derek John Carr, Alex Martin Carter, Jesse AramintaCarter, Katherine Ariel Ceron, Nathaniel Taylor Champion, Baijie Benjamin Chen, Peter Younghyun Chin, Hunter Lloyd Christensen, Caroline Gallagher Clancy, Peter James Clark, Brian Patrick Clarke, EdwardJosephClarke, Megan Rose Clarke, Brianna Marie Collacchi, Tyler Scott Conklin, Jake Michael Connor, Stephanie Erin Copenhaver, Jillian Marie Cornwell, Timothy Rowe Councill, Connor, CharlesCovell, Dylan Coverdale; Sean Anthony Danielczyk, Katelyn Elizabeth Davis, Michael Andrew Davis, Theodore Chris Demiris, Ricky David Dingman, Jr, Sheldon Daniel Dipnarine, Brooke Ann Divenanzio, Jacklyn Rose Di Virgilio, Justin Tyler Donadio, David Franklin Donaldson, Tyler Burke Donaldson, Danielle Emma Drecchio, Brian Redmond Duffy, Brendan McEvoy-Waibel Durkee; HannahRose Eber, David Burton Eldridge IV, Samantha Mohamad Elzein, David Andrew Endres, Jacob Bosley Ensor, Nicholas Andrew Esparza, Kristen Emily Essel, Carley Marie Evans, Emily KatherineEvans;James Robert Falco, Sunya Jabin Faridi, Melanie Lynn Fassio, Susannah Laura Ferris, Alexander Eager Finney, MelissaLee Fisher, Natalie Nicole Fitzgerald, Kendall Lane Flanagan, Emiline Chandler Fogarty, Emma Kate Foster, Heinrich Willis Fourie, Adam Marcus Fox, Kathryn Elizabeth Francis, Maryann Michelle Franco, Alexander James Frasier, Tara Kristine Funk;Johnathan Phillip Gain, Jonah David Gallagher, Matthew Edward Geckle, Alyssa Michelle Gianotti, Calvin Andrew Gibson, Paul James Gill, Allison Leigh Goodwill, William Matthew Gough, Zachary Eugene Gover, Parker , Maura Rose Griffin, Gross, WilliamCary Gruber;Alisha Nicole Hackley, Nicholas Timothy Hall, Esmail Gustav Hamidi, Kara Lillian Hammersla, Emily Joan Hanley, KathrynLee Harnett, Destiny Sierra Harris, Brianna Leigh Harrison, Heffernan, Philip Bryan Herold Jr., Kathleen Elise Hilberg, Sarah Kathleen Hild, Monica Burke Hiller, Allison Ann Hollins, Catherine Johanna Hunt;Dylan Christopher Inglefield, Jake Patrick Ingram, Christopher Patrick Innis;Bria Danielle Jackson, Erin Laselle Jackson, Julie Jang, Rachel Marie Julio;Gerrit Raymond Anthony Kamps, Ashley Marie Kanagy, JeremyNathan Karp, Corey Ann Karwacki, JessicaJoy Karwacki, Olivia Rosemary Keithley, Jazlyn Patrice Kelley, James Logan Kellner, Lauren Harrell Kennedy, Nicolette Frances Keznor, Sean Wallace King, Tyler J.Kirchner, Katherine Louise Kobbe, Eric Raymond Kopins, Charles Leroy Krause III, Jessica Nicole Krummel, Samuel Edward Kubala, JoshuaTyler Kufera, Markell Marie Kunzelman, Luke Thomas Kurtz;Heather Lafex, Katherine Alexandra Lagatare, Sarah Marie Lagna, Melissa Joy Lamborn, Paul Perkins LaMonica, Spencer Jamison Larrimore, Douglas Norman Lasure Jr., Dalia Jo Lawrence, Anthony Renzo Leaf, Morgan Emily League, Rachel Margueritte Lebo, Sydney Michelle Ledford, Rachel Tamar Lee, RichardYunho Lee, Molly Catherine Levin, Wilson Randolph Lewis, Tawney Sherrill Linko, Lisa Nicole Litwak, Lorianna Attadale Livingston, Emily Nicole Logan, Maclaine Marie Lorenz, Richard Ernest Lory Jr., Samuel Thomas Lotz;Conor Patrick MacLellan, Brenna Louise Madill, Veronica Maria Mancia, Madeline Kennedy Mann, Nicholas Anthony Maragos, Benjamin Allan Marconi, Alec Schultz Marschke, Cara Shea Martin, Dale Wallace Martin, Grace CourtneyMartin, Gina Marie Maskell, Ian Chandler Masters, Matthew Robert McArthur, Justin Michael McClure, Lindsey Nicole McEvoy, Julia Leigh McLaughlin, John Henry McNeal, Aidan Maria Meehan, Samuel Follmer Meister, William Bacon Meister, Jacob Hollman Meseke, Brandon Alan Michael, Emily Joy Mignini, Kimberly Jean Miller, Zachary Michael Miller, Joanna Mae Mitchell, Jonathan Blake Moffett, Christopher Michael Mohr, Anthony Robert Monaco, Jessica Brenda Monroe, Maia Shane Morgan, Zachary Samuel Morrell, Anna Solveig Mowell, Brittany Marie Muhler, Taylor Paige Muller, LindseyMorganMyers;Megan Laleh Najafali, Morgan Nicole Nally, Diana Luisa Nambo, Ian Anthony Napolillo, Ashley Nicole Nash, Melissa Ann Nawojski, Jonathan Sebastian Nedeau, Aaron Michael Neely, Olivia Pefinis Newport;Mariah Lynn O'Marrah, Robert Stephen Oaks, Alvin Sueryun Oh, Bradley Terence Olver, Blessing Chibundom Onyewuchi;Maryl Lauren Pac, Jordan Lee Packett, Taylor Bethanie Parks, Anna Elisa Passaniti, Sarah Elizabeth Platt, Ryan Thomas Poffenbarger, Amber Nicole Pohlhaus, Alexander Maxwell Poling, Daniel Bryan Popowski, Bridget Nicole Powers, Lauren Nicole Powers, Brian Taylor Poynter, Angela Christine Price, MorganWingate Pritchett Jr., Rebecca Emerson Probst, Ashley Victoria Pruitt, Storm Tyler Pryor, MichaelThomas Pusloskie;Kayla Rose Quante, Taryn Elizabeth Quaytman;EliannaKylie Radcliffe, Garrett Jeffrey Radcliffe, Joseph Daniel Ramsel, Emily Brewer Randall, Victoria KathrynRassa, Bethany LaurenRay, Kara Marlene Reachard, Jonathan Vincent Scott Reilly, Brittany Anna-Marie Remeikis, Kristen Ann Renda, David Alexander Rice, Dakota Leigh Riley, Seth Tyler Robertson, Joshua Brett Rogers, Teresa Jane Stebbing Rudner, Benjamin Aaron Rudy, Devon Anthony Rumsey, Holly Nicole Rush;MorganNicole-Valentine Sager, Gordon Lee Saltzberg, Appalachia Johanna Sanford, Rachel Erin Schaefer, Benjamin Ashton Schiaffino, Celine Nicole Schmidt, Elizabeth Marie Schofield, John Andrew Schretlen, Luke Frances Schriver, Melissa Gail Seitz, Meena Tellington Sekar, Jennifer Marie Seman, Rachael Amanda Shaeffer, Nathaniel J. Shaw, Melissa Ann Sheeler, Bryan Christopher Simon, Olivia Pauline Sindall, Jonathan Sitz, Craig Hudson Slebzak, Kyle Daniel Smith, Rebecca Renee Smith, Jeremiah Lee Snow, Jason Hunt Solomon, Thomas William Sparks, Spencer, Madeleine Elise St. Ville, Katie Elizabeth Starr, Elizabeth Reilly Stettinius, Katherine Marie Stuller, Danielle Rebecca Stultz, Ryan William Swift, Kayla Dominique Szmajda;Rennie Marie Tankersley, Jaimie Michelle Tarnai, Samantha Josephine Taylor, Amanda Nicole Thiell, HannahElisabeth Thomas, Alison Nicole Thompson, Reyna Elizabeth Tillman, Madeline Rose Toannon, Caroline McCook Townsend, Jacob Michael Troxell, Spenser Twigg-Wirtz;Christopher David Vaillancourt, Maura ChristineVananzo, Emily Ann VandeWater, Lacey Ann Velleggia, Amaranta Villegas;Jacob Ryan Waechter, Wannlund, Emily Alexandra Wareheim, Elliot Thomas Warns, Josiah Caleb Watts, Taylor Nicole Webster, Abigail Christy Wenck, James Charles Wenzl, David Michael Wheatley, John Price Whelen, David Andrew Wiedel, John William Wiedel, Susan Rosaria Wiedel, Laura Lee Eldredge Wight, Bailey Nicole Wilhelm, Taylor Leigh Wilhelm, Samuel James Williams, Cassidy Dawn Wilson, Renee Ashley Wilson, Ryan David Wilson, Shannon Marie Wirtz, Samantha Jo Wisnom, Joseph Teachman Wixted, Jessica Cathryn Wojciechowski, Allison Patricia Wolk, Matthew JosephWolk, Matthew Stephen Wolter, Rachel Nicole Wood, Cheyenne Elizabeth Wright;Devon Michael Young;Ryan Patrick Zelinsky, Jocelyn Marie Zemanek, RichardPaul Zentz.This was the year that the finally had a chance to be hip, if could just keep everyone's wardrobe in place. In retrospect, keeping , , and Pharrell Williams from imitating the Beatles would have been a good idea, too. Yet even the Grammys' penchant for overblown musical numbers couldn't undermine a strong showing by , who took home five awards to lead a night of overdue recognition for RB and hip-hop. Beyonce's five trophies tied a record set by , and for the most by a female act. 's genre-bending commercial and critical hit, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, was honored as album of the year and best rap album. The hit "Hey Ya!" took the award for best urban/alternative performance. OutKast's Antwan "" Patton and Andre 3000 accepted the best album award after Andre closed the show with an outrageously choreographed "Hey Ya!" featuring a marching band. Beyonce teamed with to open the show with a medley of songs from Purple Rain, a landmark album celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. "Performing was enough for me," she told the crowd moments later, accepting the best contemporary RB album award for Dangerously in Love. "I'm just so honored." Beyonce also was honored for best female RB performance for the song "Dangerously in Love," as well as for best RB song and rap/sung collaboration for the hit "Crazy in Love," which she recorded with boyfriend Jay-Z. That song won for best remixed recording. She shared the award for RB performance by a duo or group for "The Closer I Get to You" with , a nominee in five categories. Vandross, who was unable to attend because of a stroke last year, was saluted with a musical tribute by Alicia Keys and . He took home the best male RB vocal performance award and best song trophy for "Dance With My Father," a song he co-wrote with . Dance With My Father also was best RB album. It was the evening's most sentimental victory - the RB crooner's first win in a major category in his 20-year-plus career. He was unable to attend but sent a videotaped message, his first public remarks since his April 2003 stroke. "I want to thank everyone for your love and support," said a weak-looking Vandross. "And remember, when I say goodbye it's never for long, because" - and he sang a line from one of his many hits - "I believe in the power of love!" Although the focus was on RB, a few rock acts managed to take major awards. Evanescence prevailed over favored as best new artist and took best record for "Clocks," an award they dedicated to and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Overdue for mainstream acknowledgment by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, hip-hop and RB stars were showcased last night at the in Los Angeles. In addition to Beyonce, , OutKast and producer Pharrell Williams were each up for a leading six nominations. Nine acts were nominated for five awards each, including Vandross, , , , producer Chad Hugo, country singer Ricky Skaggs, rapper 50 Cent and rock band Evanescence. The Wind, the final album from rocker , also garnered five nominations. It took home the award for best contemporary folk album. The song "Disorder in the House," a duet with , won for best rock performance by a duo or group. Johnny Cash, who died at 71 on Sept. 12, won for best short form music video for "Hurt," his version of a song. Cash's wife, June Carter Cash, was honored for traditional folk album for Wildwood Flower, released after her death last spring. She also won best female country vocal performance for "Keep on the Sunny Side." had been scheduled to introduce the Vandross tribute, but didn't attend after the "wardrobe malfunction" at her performance with Timberlake. There were no one-liners about the incident, but Timberlake apologized as he was accepting the award for male pop vocal performance for "Cry Me a River." "It's been a rough week on everybody," said Timberlake, who also won for pop vocal album for Justified. "What occurred was unintentional, completely regrettable, and I apologize if you guys are offended." Despite a tightly scripted show devoid of outrageousness or spontaneity, Janet Jackson's breast flash remained the major subplot. CBS and Jackson offered conflicting reports about why she was not at the show, which was televised on a delay to avoid anything like the Super Bowl incident. CBS need not have worried - the already staid Grammys were even more conservative than usual. Curses and cleavage were in short supply, with the exception of 's dangerously low-cut pink dress. The Orlando Sentinel is a Tribune Publishing newspaper. The Associated Press contributed to this article.Paybacks can be painful.A year ago Howard defeated Marriotts Ridge, 1-0. Tuesday, the Mustangs turned the table on the Lions, winning 1-0.It was Howard's first loss of the season. Molly Fleming scored the game winner 5 minutes into the game. "Jenna Kerr brought the ball down the field and passed it Bri Hanlon," Fleming said. The senior took her shot from right inside the circle and directed it toward the right post."I knew it was going to be a close game," she said. "We had a lot of opportunities to score, but Howard has a defensively strong team."And so does Marriotts Ridge."Our defense really stepped it up," Fleming said. "Rylie Whiting kept us in the game." Whiting and her defensive teammates often turned the ball back before it reached their keeper, Sophia Hamilton, who made two saves."We just couldn't get over the hump. That's pretty much it," said Howard's Katja Randazzo. "I feel like we didn't play to our potential. We were down there but we couldn't finish."Howard's loss drops the Lions into a three-way tie with Marriotts Ridge and Mt. Hebron for second place in the county standings. Glenelg is undefeated.Goals: MR - Molly Fleming. Ho - none.Assists: MR - Bri Hanlon.Saves: MR - Sophia Hamilton 2. Ho - Lani Sasser 3.Halftime: Marriotts Ridge. 1-0.Mt. Hebron 2, Atholton 0Goals: MH - Yun, Sutton. A - noneAssists: not available.Saves: MH - Maddy Fisher 2. A - Camille Bulte 13.Halftime: Mt. Hebron, 1-0Marriotts Ridge pulled away from Wilde Lake in the second half to win, 7-0. The halftime score was 1-0."Marriotts Ridge picked it up in the second half," said Wilde Lake coach Lindsey Startt.The Wildecats numbers on the sideline have been low, due to injuries. Startt pulled a JV player up for yesterday's game against Mt. Hebron just so she would have a substitute. "We need to get healthy," she said. Wilde Lake keeper Krina Suddeth turned away 28 Marriotts Ridge shots. Goals: MR - Bri Hanlon 4, Nicole Leaf, Jenna Kerr, Ji Hong. WL - none.Assists: MR - Molly Fleming 2, Nicole Leaf, Jenna Kerr, Bri Hanlon, Ji Hong.Saves: MR - Sophia Hamilton 0. WL - Krina Suddeth 28.Halftime: Marriotts Ridge, 1-0.Atholton 2, Centennial 0Goals: A - Carly Pontell, Paige Fielhauer. C - noneAssists: A - Brianna Stine, Sheila O'Malley.Saves: A - Camille Bulte 4. C - Caitlin Cleveland 2, Amanda Hendrix 6.Halftime: Atholton, 1-0.Mt. Hebron 3, Reservoir 0Emily Bishop scored her fifth goal in two days as Mt. Hebron defeated Reservoir, 3-0.Goals: MH - Emily Bishop, Tianna Wallpher, Haley Sutton. Re - none.Assists: MH - Sam Brookhart, Kelly Jones, Monica Linn.Saves: MH - Maddy Fisher 3. Re - Olivia Lynch 9.Turnover is just part of the high school athletic routine. Athletes grow up, graduate and move on. Coaches change too. But officials? This is new for the county.Following a sudden end of contract, the county elected to hire a new board of officials. Some of the officials from the Howard Carroll Officials Association have joined the new board, the Central Maryland Officials Association, but for the most part there will be a lot of new officials on the field. The teams met some at the play day and are hopeful for a smooth transition.Also looking for a smooth transition are the new coaches. There are seven new JV coaches looking to provide a strong foundation of skill for their respective programs. Two programs will be welcoming veteran coaches into their varsity positions, Martie Dyer at Atholton and Lindsay Beil at Reservoir. Maintaining consistency in head coach positions can ensure that the perennial front-runners will continue to be tough to beat. As always there are teams that are prepared and eager to upset the favorites. Powerhouse Glenelg will be the team to beat. The Gladiators have been county champions for four consecutive years. The reigning Class 2A state champs are looking to "three-peat", which may be extremely plausible as they "really only have four positions to fill from last year's team" according to coach Ginger Kincaid. Missing from the line-up will be three-time Player of the Year Alyssa Parker and her talented teammate Mary Kate Olson. Both have moved on to play collegiately. Although notable players have graduated, the rising upperclassmen will maintain the level of competitive play those before them have established.With great skill comes a great target and there will be a long line of teams seeking to take the county crown off of Glenelg's head.Mt. Hebron will field a strong team with 10 returning varsity players. The 2011 3A state semifinalists will seek to draw strength from returning all-county first-team players Tianna Wallpher, Lindsey Dewey and keeper Maddy Fisher.Also vying to make a mark in the county will be River Hill, led by Kat Varga, also a first team all-county pick and second team all-state. She tallied 20 goals last season, second only to Alyssa Parker.It would be amiss to not mention Atholton, Howard and Marriotts Ridge. Howard has a strong core of club players who play year-round as does Atholton, which only graduated two seniors. Marriotts Ridge, a school with a history of strong athletes is also returning a strong keeper in Sophie Hamilton.Simply put it is anybody's year. Only time will tell the story of who is willing to do the work to earn it.ChangesThere are not many rule changes this year. One change is that opponents need to be five yards away from the ball as opposed to the seven yards used previously.Also new this year will be artificial turf fields at Atholton, Hammond and Howard. It is in the plans to provide turf to the remaining nine schools by 2015.The teamsATHOLTON2011 record: 6-5 county; 7-6 overallTop players: Seniors Kelly McQuilkin (M), Ellie Matthews (M) and Briana Stine (F); juniors Rachel Day (F) and Nikki Martin (D); sophomores Jen Bleakney (F) and Emily Clinch (GK).The scoop: Atholton graduated only two players and with eight seniors the Raiders are hoping to make a stand in the county. "Our strength is our fast-breaking capabilities with a powerful forward line," coach Martie Dyer said.First-team all-county player McQuilkin will most likely control the midfield, but look for Bleakney to have a great impact as well. According to Dyer, "[Bleakney] is a dedicated year-round player with tremendous potential to be a powerhouse in the county." Another impact player, Day, will be appearing on the forward line; this is a change in perspective for her as she spent the majority of the 2011 season on defense.The Raiders pack a lot of skill and committed players. Although not a powerhouse last year, they may just surprise some teams this year.The deadline for submitting sports copy is 9 a.m. on Mondays. We prefer email ([email protected]). We do not accept results by phone. When two Howard County teams play, players from both teams (first and last names) must be mentioned in the write-up. Questions? Call 410-332-6578.Field hockeySpitfire Field Hockey Club Four Spitfire Field Hockey Club teams will be playing in USA Field Hockey National Indoor Tournaments next month. The club, run by University of Maryland Coaches and former USA National Team players Barb Weinberg and Dina Rizzo, has players from 11 of the 12 Howard County high schools and, along with The Gaels of Severna Park, is one of only two clubs in the state invited to send four teams to the prestigious tournament. U-19 players include Arielle Abrams (Howard), Alexandra Barrett (Reservoir), Courtney Barnwell (Howard), Emily Bishop (Mt. Hebron), Gabriella D'Angelo (Mt. Hebron), Lindsey Dewey (Mt. Hebron), Didi Ertenu (Wilde Lake), Nicole Grabowski (Long Reach), Brianna Hanlon (Marriotts Ridge), Heather Jenney (Paint Branch), Kelly Johnson (Glenelg Country School), Cassie Malane (South Carroll), Celine Manneville (Oakland Mills), Megan Minarcin (Oakland Mills), Maddie Price (North Harford), Madeline Schroeder (Howard), Julia Sergent (Mt. Hebron), Casey White (Howard), Rylie Whiting (Marriotts Ridge), Jessica Slingluff (Damascus) and Mckenzie Williams (Long Reach).The U-16 team includes Rachel Baca (North Harford), Meghan Bennett (Catonsville), Emily Blanchard (Reservoir), Beatrice Chaudoin (Severna Park), Noelle Frost (Glenwood Middle), Riley Gentner (Mt. de Sales), Juliana Keagle (Catonsville), Molly Milani (Glenelg), Emily Penn (Howard), Lexi Rieu (Glenelg Country) and Dani Schwab (River Hill).The U-16 team placed second in the most competitive (A) pool at last weekend's Maryland Club Championship, falling to the Washington Wolves, 2-1, in the championship game. The team scored 19 goals and gave up only three in five games. Schwab (five goals), Chaudoin (two unassisted goals), Baca, Blanchard, Gentner, Keagle and Penn found the back of the net,Milani contributed several assists and Bennett played solid defense.Howard County's Sarah Holliday (Bullis) and Morgan Philie (Glenelg) played outstanding defense for the Wolves.Spitfire's U-14 Inferno team placed third in the President's Day Big Apple invitation-only tournament in Pennsylvania, and will send the following players to the national tournament: Natalie Adamez, Ashley Caldwell, Leanne Duncan, Noelle Frost, Marybeth and Megan Nemecek, Marissa Penn, Taylor Reed, Zoe Summa and Delaney Treacy.Spitfire's U-14 Firecrackers team won the B pool in the Maryland Club Championship. Bringing home the gold medal were Ashley Bates, Savannah Cheuvront, Jennifer Gabelman, Madeline Land, Megan and Marybeth Nemecek, Emma Walsh, Abby Williams and Madison Zehring.Spitfire's U-14 Flames took home second place in the C pool at the Maryland Club Championship. That team consists of Mary Margaret Baldy, Allison Campbell, Samantha Dinoto, Annette Jaroz, Mia Moshang, Bailey Schwab, Maggie Sullivan and Peyton Taylor.RunningHoward County StridersBrooks Ward and Alison Suckling were the one-mile winners and Steve Prinzivalli and Kendra Smith led the way in the 5k race Feb. 19 at the Howard County Striders winter series races at Swansfield.One-mile results: 1. Brooks Ward, 5:21; 2. Ted Poulos, 5:52; 3. Anders Chattin, 6:09.2; 4. Chris Chattin, 6:09.7; 5. Alison Suckling, 6:13; 6. Bill Andrews, 6:15; 7. Leonard Supsic, 6:17; 8. Eric Johnston, 6:33; 9. Michael Dusenbery, 6:43; 10. Alan Murray, 6:48.11. Mike Ward, 7:18; 12. Alan Tominack, 7:21; 13. Eric Hermstein, 7:23; 14. David Rowe, 7:44; 15. Kash Hartz, 7:51; 16. Frederick Rowe, 8:02; 17. Mats Chattin, 8:06; 18. Carina Chattin, 8:10; 19. Natalia Diaz, 8:48; 20. Pam Rowe, 8:57.21. Martha Rowe, 9:00; 22. Susan Ward, 9:17; 23. Evan Griffiths, 9:18; 24. Richard Griffiths, 9:19; 25. Ginger Rowley, 10:10; 26. Steve Reading, 10:20; 27. Angelos Diaz, 10:39; 28. Annie Sarlin, 11:35; 29. Jennifer Sarlin, 11:36; 30. Barbara Calvert, 11:44.31. Melissa Burger, 11:57; 32. Alex Harris, 12:45; 33. Tim Orman, 13:12; 34. Pat Huffman, 13:13.5k results: 1. Steve Prinzivalli, 16:54; 2. Brian Keane, 18:43; 3. John Chall, 19:06; 4. Steve Muchnick, 19:14; 5. John Way, 19:50; 6. Michael Mbugi, 19:55; 7. Luis Diaz, 20:07; 8. Kendra Smith, 20:08; 9. Bob Burns, 20:13; 10. Lochlann Boyle, 20:22.The new Palms resort boldly hypes itself as Las Vegas' sex-iest adult playground--a way-cool, celebrity-studded, off-Strip boutique hotel and gambling joint. It's a big boast in a town that calls itself Sin City.My wife and I decided to find out for ourselves, making the 4-month-old Palms our anchor for a weekend of classy food, high-class art and classic rock 'n' roll. For context, know that Jeanne and I are a combined 100 years old, enjoyed Liberace when he performed at the Las Vegas Hilton, and a year ago paid to see --and actually liked him.For our getaway last month, we booked a standard room a few weeks in advance at $159 a night plus tax. But Vegas hotel rates fluctuate almost daily, and the night before our arrival, I noticed prices had dropped to $139. A Palms clerk cheerfully adjusted our rate.After a smooth Friday evening check-in, we were in our supposedly "oversized guest room" with "extraordinary views of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip."Well, not quite. The room felt cramped, and while we could see the Strip a few blocks away, our view was mostly the glare from the building's exterior floodlights. In fact, at bedtime we had to push two chairs against the curtains to cut the amount of light pouring in.A large armoire held a 27-inch TV and a mini-bar. (Be advised: If you take a beer out of the fridge to make room for dinner leftovers, a computer will detect the motion and charge you for the beer. Call the front desk to have the charge removed.) The bathroom was nicely appointed but surprisingly dark, and as we competed for the same sink and mirror, we wished the vanity were larger.Then we were off to dinner at Nine, an offshoot of a popular Chicago steakhouse. The walls are spare, the room done in silver and black, and the center occupied by a caviar bar beneath a vaulted ceiling illuminated in soft lavender light. Jeanne thought it a pleasant, spaceship ambience. It was as noisy as an engine room, too, with conversations competing with canned music heavy on the bass. Am I sounding crotchety?We were won over, however, by a fine dinner. Jeanne started with lobster bisque poured around a spring roll; I had a Caesar salad. We both chose filets, done perfectly, and shared two sides, sauted spinach with caramelized garlic and a "Yukon gold potato puree trio"--twice-baked potatoes to you and me--each topped with lobster, horseradish or caramelized onions.We capped the evening at Ghost Bar and its open-air balcony on the Palms' 55th floor, as famous for who's seen inside as for the view that can be seen outside. The cover charge on weekends is $20, but the hostess at Nine (who didn't know I was a reporter) phoned our names upstairs and we slipped in for free.Inside a chrome-and-glass room with undulating couches apparently taken from the Jetsons' home, the sport is people-watching. The DJ's selections included the Beatles, hard rock and something he called electro jazz.Because we're 100, we didn't stay long.We strolled around the casino and found it lacking distinctive features. It has a sports book, a poker room, plenty of the newest slot machines and blackjack tables covered in lime-green felt. The ceiling created an industrial ambience, highlighted by what looked like burlap-covered turbine blades. Tropical meets techno.Saturday was more to our taste, far from the cacophony of casinos. We headed first to Steve and Elaine Wynn's art gallery, the Wynn Collection, at what had been the Desert Inn. Wynn, who introduced fine art to Las Vegas when he built the Bellagio, continues to grace the community with masterworks, including Picasso's "Le Rve" (The Dream), for which he has named his next casino, soon to be under construction at this site. We don't know what Wynn paid for the painting, but the previous time it sold at auction, it went for more than $40 million.The gallery is unpretentious, with 13 works by Czanne, Gauguin, Manet, Matisse, Modigliani, Van Gogh and (a portrait of Wynn). Listen to Wynn's recorded commentary and you'll learn a few things--and laugh too.While you're there, examine the pattern of the rug, then the background of "Le Rve," and ask yourself whether the similarities are just coincidence or reflect Wynn's subtle fun with interior decorating.We drove a couple of blocks to the Venetian to view the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum's inaugural show, "Masterpieces and Master Collectors." It is the historic collaboration between the in New York and the State Hermitage Museum of Russia, the show unabashedly situated in Las Vegas so that the masses can enjoy the masters.The 44 pieces included works by Pissarro, Gauguin and Picasso that have been held in St. Petersburg and never before viewed in the United States. The bright gallery, designed by architect , is itself spectacular: The paintings hang by magnets on rust-colored, Cor-Ten steel walls that look almost velvety.Unlike Wynn's gallery, where a tour includes recorded commentary, the Guggenheim Hermitage folks charge extra for audio accompaniment that's not as detailed.Kelly Dalla Tezza, a Fulbright scholar who planned a career in the , died Friday in an automobile accident in . She was 22 and lived in .Family members said she had a flat tire while driving on a road near Rabat and lost control of the vehicle."She was the most fearless person I have ever known," said a close friend, Ashleen Williams of , who is also a Fulbright scholar. "She was willing to go anywhere and do pretty much anything. She spoke Arabic and between the two of us, on our travels together, we were quite effective." Born in Baltimore and raised in Parkville, she attended Villa Cresta Elementary School and Loch Raven Academy Middle School. She was a 2007 graduate of Towson High School, where she participated in the school's Law and Public Policy Program. She was her class salutatorian.Her mother said that throughout much of her childhood, she competed in Baltimore County gymnastics. From ages 3 to 10, she took dance lessons at . She was in Baltimore County soccer recreation leagues and played the flute."I was there to cheer her on," said her mother, Meg Doxzen Dalla Tezza of Parkville. "She never followed the crowd. She just followed her dreams. She worked very hard to achieve all her successes."Ms. Dalla Tezza earned a bachelor's degree in Islamic civilization from in 2011. As a senior, she had an internship at the American Islamic Conference. Family members said that during her junior year in college, she studied in , Spain, and later in Amman, Jordan. She stayed on in Jordan the following summer and worked at a publishing firm. She spoke Spanish and Arabic."She was the hardest-working person I have ever met," said her cousin, Baltimore attorney Joseph Tivvis, for whom she worked at times in the summers. "She always went above the call of her position. She learned fast and often looked for new assignments. She was quiet but not a pushover, and very serious about her job. When her day was done, she enjoyed a joke."He said that while she was a summer worker, she made valuable suggestions to improve his law office downtown."If she needed to get something under my nose, she pushed ahead and did it," said Mr. Tivvis. "If someone else were not working hard, she had a way of giving them a certain look."Ms. Dalla Tezza had recently passed the 's Foreign Service Officer Test. She had also been accepted into graduate programs at the Johns Hopkins, Harvard and George Washington universities.At the time of her death, she was a graduate Fulbright researcher at the Institute for International Education in Bahrain. According to her resume, she was conducting research on "women's political influence in Bahrain" and had been interviewing women prominent in civil society. This month, she had spoken at a Fulbright-sponsored conference, held in Morocco, on women's political roles in Bahrain.Ms. Dalla Tezza also kept a blog of her experiences in the Islamic world. She traveled widely throughout the Middle East and mixed easily with those she met.In one post, she wrote, "Adopt a Kuwaiti grandpa." She said that after leaving the National Memorial Museum, she met a Kuwaiti "who hangs out for fun at the super depressing museum."He offered to drive her and friends "around for the rest of the day," she wrote on the blog. "This included rocking out to in his enormous Ford on the way to the Martyr Museum, which by the way I recommend. Then, he drove us around to various tourist sites and paid for everything. He told us that Turkey is the best country in the world because it has bars and mosques."A funeral Mass will be held at St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church, and Gibbons Avenue. No date has been set.In addition to her mother, survivors include her father, Chester Dalla Tezza of Parkville; a brother, Jeffrey Dalla Tezza, a junior; her paternal grandmother, Rose Dalla Tezza of Baltimore; and maternal grandparents Michael and Marguerite Doxzen of Baltimore.--Finnish auteur nabbed the Louis Delluc Prize for Le Havre at a ceremony held on Friday in Paris. The film, which reps in the foreign-language Oscar race, bowed in competition at Cannes and won the Fipresci nod. Le Havre has played at a flurry of fests around the world, notably at Karlovy Vary, Locarno, Dubai, Pusan, Chicago and New York. Pic is sold by The Match Factory, and produced by Finland's Sputnik, France's Pyramide Prods. and Pandora Film. Described by Kaurismaki as a semi-realistic fairy tale, E3.8 million ($5 million) offbeat dramedy turns on Andre Wilms as a Bohemian scribe-turned-shoeshine man on a mission to help an African stowaway. Le Havre beat Valerie Donzelli's Declaration of War, ' The Artist and Celine Sciamma's Tomboy, among others. Djinn Carrenard's Donoma nabbed the Louis Delluc prize for best first film. A comedy produced by Donoma Guerilla, the pic was reportedly made on a $200 budget. Donoma played at Cannes in 2010. The Louis Delluc prizes were chosen by a jury presided by prexy Gilles Jacob, and comprised of French film journos.Click for more film news on Variety.com.Director has wrapped production on Before Midnight, a sequel to the helmer's indie hits Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. and reprise their roles as star-crossed lovers Jesse and Celine. Linklater's longtime collaborator, John Sloss of Cinetic Media, exec produced the pic and will handle domestic sales.Producers include Linklater's Detour Filmproduction,Christos V. Konstantakopoulos and Sara Woodhatch of Faliro House and Jacob Pechenik of Venture 4TH, as well as Martin Shafer and Liz Glotzer of Castle Rock Entertainment. Pic will be released worldwide next year.Written by Linklater, Delpy and Hawke, Before Midnight lensed under the radar inMessinia, Greece.It's great to be back together again, this time in beautiful Greeceto revisit the lives of Celine and Jessenine years after Jesse was about to miss his flight, the scribes said in a joint statement. The trio previouslyearned nomination for co-writing 2005's Before Sunset.Stuart Ford's IM Global specialty label ACCLAIM is handling international sales.Linklater's dark comedy Bernie, starring , and , is currently enjoying a long run in arthouse theaters after opening in May.Click for more film news on Variety.com.LONDON With smiles on their faces and gold medals hanging from their necks, gathered and together late Saturday night at North Greenwich Arena.The three shook hands. Who knows what time and upcoming talent will do to the pact the players made to return for a fourth Olympics at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games? But this much is as clear and convincing as the U.S. women's basketball team's 86-50 victory over France: What a run it's been and remains."I usually don't get very emotional when we win," said. "But for some reason, when I was walking through the arena afterward, it hit me: You know this might be my last. It also might not be. But after three of them, they're really hard, even if you win by 30."The whole process is really difficult to try to get 12 really good players to buy into one thing. It takes a lot of effort and sacrifice. But in the end, we succeeded."Indeed, the most dominant program at these Games posted its 41st straight Olympic triumph and collected an unprecedented fifth straight gold medal. Fittingly, all 12 players scored, a testament to the depth that defined this 8-0 run with an average margin of victory of 34.3 points.The 36-point victory marked the largest margin for a gold-medal game in Olympic history.'s 21 points and 11 rebounds led the balanced offensive effort, and swarming defense forced France into 28 percent shooting with 21 turnovers. Captain Celine Dumerc, who helped lead France to its first-ever basketball medal, managed just 2-for-10 shooting and often couldn't even initiate offense due to harassing defense from Taurasi and company.Parker's dominant second quarter featured 11 points, including six straight that featured a coast-to-coast drive and nifty finger roll to close."Candace was huge," said.Parker averaged 10.5 points, one of four players to score in double figures in these Olympics. Taurasi's 12.4 points-per-game average led.And when it ended, emotion washed over all."It does feel different," Taurasi said. "As you get older, maybe you reflect a little more on everything you had to overcome to get you here. I looked back at all the things I've been through good, bad, personal on the court. And it was a good feeling."With 11 points, Bird also reached double figures. She will be 35 when Rio's Games arrive."For me, Dee and Catch, it's pretty special to experience this three different times," she said. "They're great players. They're great people. It's been a good ride."We had a handshake. I don't know what handshakes mean. Ask me in three years. It'll depend on how I feel. There's so much talent in the U.S. There might be some little point guard who comes up and kicks my butt."Taurasi will be 34 for the 2016 Games. Catchings, the oldest player on this team, will be 37."Each experience has been so different," Catchings said. "First, I had role models I had with Dawn (Staley), Lisa (Leslie) and Sheryl (Swoopes) and then the second time I got a little more responsibility and then this year stepping into a leadership role and trying to help the younger players. It just builds off our legacy and the players and teams that came before us and are still to come."Taurasi, as is her nature, wouldn't let go. Granted, the program remains in capable hands. This year's team got huge contributions from the 26-year-old Parker, the 23-year-old and the 23-year-old .Long after the handshake, Taurasi remained in Catchings' ear."I said this is my last one, but Diana is yelling, 'One more! One more!' " Catchings said, laughing. "This is likely to be my last one. And that makes it special."As Catchings spoke, the gold medal glistened as noticeably as the tears forming in her eyes.Twitter @kcjhoopOnce upon a time, a little boy named Pierre got a stuffed animal monkey."Pierre named him Boo-Boo Monkey," writes his mother, Celine. "It is his best friend, he takes him everywhere, he wanted me to put some diapers on monkey (because according to Pierre Monkey is still a baby and needs diapers .... so cute) and some days I had to make some clothes too (LOL I can't believe I did it with paper towel), and of course Monkey would join us for dinner and always sleeps with Pierre."Or at least Boo-Boo Monkey did sleep with 4-year-old Pierre until the stuffed animal went missing somewhere in . "So you can imagine how hard it is for my little guy," writes Celine, who shared her plight with me but not her last name."Not a big deal for us, so we bought another one on amazon and gave it to Pierre, but it did not do the trick, Pierre knows that it is not his monkey."If there is a happy ending to this tale, it hasn't been written yet. Boo-Boo remains missing.Having gone about the usual ways of searching for lost toys, they've come up with an unusual one: lost posters, like the kind you'd see for missing cats and dogs.The poster, which former Baltimore Sun reporter Diana Sugg brought to the newsroom's attention, bears a photo of the brown furry fellow under the word "LOST.""My name is Boo-Boo Monkey," it reads. "I was lost on June 10th, 2011. I have a zipper on the back of my head and a diaper made with paper towel. REWARD $10."Celine does not hold out much hope that Boo-Boo will turn up, but she said they had to do something."I am pretty sure we will never find it again," she writes, "but Pierre was happy to put some flyers."The plight of every coach is to get his or her team to play to its potential for the entire 60 minutes of a contest. The Marriotts Ridge and Howard field hockey teams made their coaches proud on Wednesday night, with both teams reaching a crescendo over the last 13 minutes, and the Mustangs prevailing, 3-2.Rebecca Biegel scored the game-winner with 5:38 left to play in the game. It was a fast break situation with an odd-man advantage for the Mustangs, which Biegel jumped on as the ball was crossed her way on the right post."I usually dont play right wing, but that's where I was. There was a cross to the post and I hit it in," she said.The game didnt start off exciting. In fact, it didnt start until 4 p.m., 30 minutes past its scheduled start time. The reason for the delay was the condition of the field and whether it was suitable and safe to play. The officials finally decided to go ahead with the game. After the elongated warm-ups, both teams started sluggishly.Howards Casey White said, It was kind of a tough game, especially starting late with the field conditions. It brought the mood down a little bit. So I thought when the game started it wasnt intense for either team. As the game progressed, it picked up especially when goals started being scored.That scoring took a while to get going. The first goal of the game came off a penalty stroke scored by the Lions Emily Penn more than halfway through the first half. Howard controlled the ball and the field for the majority of the half. Marriotts Ridge managed to create a couple of fast breaks and a series of corners. After one of the Mustang corners played out, there was traffic in front of the cage and Jenna Kerr put it past Lions keeper Alli Jakubek (4 saves) with 3:41 left in the half.The second half saw more fight from both sides. Just six minutes in, another penalty stroke was called and Penn stepped up again. This time, however, her shot was wide. The play evened out between the Mustangs and Lions. The Mustangs keeper Sophia Hamilton (15 saves) made some really impressive saves in traffic to keep Marriotts Ridge in the game.It was almost as if an alarm sounded signaling that time was running out because at about the 15 minute mark, both teams started to play with an extreme sense of urgency. Maddie Courtney tallied the first goal of the second half at 12:45 off an assist from Kerr as the result of a corner play. Howard answered back six minutes later. Hamilton had gone down for a shot and White collected the rebound and rocketed it into the goal. It was even for exactly 33 seconds until Biegel answered with the game winner.It was very exciting and good for them to recognize that you can come back after a goal is scored against you and score again and it doesnt have to take 5 minutes. It can happen in less than a minute, said Marriotts Ridge coach Stacie Gado. Thats a confidence booster for them.Howard retaliated 1:15 after Biegels goal when White apparently scored on a corner play. But the officials ruled the shot illegal, stating it was a lifted drive (not allowed on a corner hit) and not a flicked ball. The goal was called back. The game ended.Howard out-shot Marriotts Ridge 17-7 and had an advantage in corners 16-5.In hockey its not how many opportunities you have, but rather what you do with what youre given. In this contest, Marriotts Ridge was able to finish one goal ahead.Marriotts Ridge 3, Howard 2 Goals MR: Kerr, Courtney, Biegel; Ho: Penn, White.Assists MR: Kerr 2; Ho: None.Saves MR: Hamilton 15; Ho: Jakubek 4.Half 1-1. Around the leagueReservoir 2, Oakland Mills 0Freshman Carly Clarke scored the game-winner and junior Shayna Tiller added an insurance goal as Reservoir earned its first victory of the season. Celine Manneville recorded nine saves for Oakland Mills in the loss.Goals Re: Clarke, Tiller.Assists Re: Blanchard.Saves Re: Lynch 4; OM: Manneville 9.Half 1-0.Long Reach 3, Centennial 2 (OT)Clarissa Lopez-Diarte scored one in regulation and one in overtime in Long Reachs victory over Centennial. Goals LR: Lopez-Diarte 2, McClelland; C: Maclean, Uribe.Assists LR: McClelland, Williams; C: Maclean, Mongilio.Saves LR: Cote 10; C: Cosentino 13.Half 1-1.Glenelg 14, Hammond 0Ivy Meissner and Stephanie Asher each had a hat trick in Glenelgs victory over Hammond. Shannon Burt had 23 saves in goal for the Bears.Goals G: Meissner 3, Asher 3, Philie 2, Regan 2, Baker 2, Taylor, Vandewall.Assists G: Asher 2, Taylor 2, Russo, Baker, Vandewall.Saves G: Hoyt 0, Goodman 1; Ha: Burt 23.Seton Keough 1, Glenelg Country 0Saves GCS: Bates 9, Johnson 10.Standings (as of Oct. 3)Atholton, 7-0 county, 7-1 overallGlenelg, 6-0, 7-1River Hill, 6-1, 9-1Mt Hebron, 5-2, 7-2Marriotts Ridge, 5-2, 7-3Howard, 4-3, 6-3Long Reach, 3-4, 5-5Centennial, 2-5, 2-8Wilde Lake, 1-5Hammond, 1-6, 1-7Reservoir, 1-6, 1-9Oakland Mills, 0-7, 1-7Glenelg Country, 2-3 IAAM B, 3-4Maven Pictures' and Celine Ratray have come on board Rollin' Thunder, a comedy set in the world of the Atlanta hip-hop scene, with Federal Films' David Schulhof and Monte Lipman also producing.Screenplay has been penned by Kenny Smith, Jr., co-executive producer, writer, and director of the series . Lipman is also president and CEO of Universal Republic Records, which will handle the soundtrack. Thunder centers on a former bowling champ turned ex-con who sees in a city-wide bowling tournament the chance to get back in the game, prove his innocence to the tycoon who owns Atlanta's biggest bowling alley, and mend bridges with his estranged teenaged daughter.This film paints a unique picture of a world that hasn't been portrayed onscreen, said Styler and Rattray. Between Kenny's sharp writing and the opportunity to work on a music-driven project based in the world of hip-hop, it's something new and exciting for us here at Maven.Smith's credits include The Show and Pair of Kings.Maven's first feature, Kirsten Wiig comedy Imogene, premiered at the and sold to Lionsgate/Roadside. The banner is in post-production on Filth, starring , , , and Imogen Poots.Schulhof, currently managing director of G2 Investment Group, and was formerly VP of Miramax and Dimension Films with executive music supervisor credits on Chocolat, The Cider House Rules and Life Is Beatiful. Universal Republic Records handled soundtracks for Ted and The Hunger Games.Smith is represented by Gersh; Josh Adler, Mike Goldberg, Matt Ochacher and Mike Pelmont at New Wave; and Rick Genow at Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson Binder.Click for more film news on Variety.com.Maven Pictures' Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray have come onboard to produce the screen adaptation of Colum McCann's ballet story Dancer.Davide Azzolini will produce along with Maven. Dancer is the story of Russian dancer Rudolph Nureyev, who was born during , defected at the age of 23 and became one of the best known dancers in the world before dying of in 1992.It's a moving tale -- one that really fits with Maven's commitment to stories with riveting characters, said Styler and Rattray.McCann's book imagines Nureyev's story from the perspectives of those who knew him. The tale follows Nureyev throughout his life, from a 6-year-old making his first dancing appearance, for wounded soldiers, to a brash young man leaving his family to study in Leningrad to a dance world sensation traveling Europe.Dancer received the Hughes Hughes Irish Novel of the Year Award. McCann was the recipient of the National Book Award for his 2009 novel Let the World Spin.Maven currently has Filt and Imogene in post-production. Azzolini just finished producing the documentary Enzo Avitabile Music Life, directed by .Click for more film news on Variety.com.Afforded a night away at college, something he never experienced when he was young, Roger Sobrado had an idea: toga party! Alas, he couldn't get enough of his middle-aged cohorts to sign on. So he had to settle for dining hall chow and a blandly furnished dorm room. But that was enough for Sobrado, whose daughter is an incoming freshman at McDaniel College in Westminster. "I personally did not have the college experience, living in a residence hall and eating in the dining room," he said. "It's amazing. I got to see where she'll be walking, where she'll be eating. It really put my mind at ease." Sobrado was one of about 200 McDaniel moms and dads who spent two days earlier this month on campus for "Parent Preview." The program, in its second year, is designed to give parents a taste of what their children will experience when school starts at the end of August. Given rising college costs and a generation of parents used to being deeply involved in their children's lives, similar programs are springing up around the country a new method of customer service for an industry sometimes accused of being aloof in the face of runaway inflation. Other area schools, such as the and theUniversity of Maryland, , offer parent orientations on the weekends when incoming students are dropped off. But McDaniel where the close-knit community is a selling point opted for a more in-depth approach. "We felt like we needed to spend more time with incoming parents," said Beth Gerl, the college's vice president for student affairs. "Moving-in day is extremely wearing physically and emotionally. So we thought, 'Wouldn't it be great to get them in here earlier when they can experience everything imaginable?'" During their whirlwind 29 hours on campus, parents sat through briefings on financial aid, health services and dorm life. They peppered current students with questions about roommate relations, ideal study spots and computer needs. The only difficulty, Gerl joked, was getting the parents to bed after a beer and wine reception. The program, which costs $125 per adult, has proven popular, with some parents flying in from Alaska, Texas and California. Over the two sessions, about 200 parents participated from an incoming class of 445 students. "This is like the insider's view to know what's going to happen when you first get here," said Donna Stanton, whose daughter, Kiara, recently graduated from Loch Raven High School in . "We feel more welcome, now that we've been here like this," added her husband, Michael. Debbie Mayer of Arnold already has sent three children to college but said she was impressed by McDaniel's efforts to explain the campus culture. Based on the preview, she said, she'll tell her son, John, that the school really wants him to succeed. "If you have any question at all, reach out," she said she'll tell him. But do students want their parents digging so deeply into an experience traditionally cherished as a first leap toward independence? Gerl said she encounters some students who are "a little blown away" by how much their parents know after the preview. Tricia Meola, a sophomore from New Jersey, said she was mystified when her parents left for the first preview weekend in 2011. "But once they came back, I was more comfortable, because they were much more comfortable with everything," she said. "I would absolutely recommend it, especially for first-time parents of college students. It lets them know the truth versus the myths." Robert Simon and his wife, Celine, flew in from Los Angeles to experience the environment where their daughter, Anijke, will make decisions that will shape her life. "It gives us a really good feel for the school, for the programs, the people," Simon said. "It's going to be a major change and, in some ways, it's going to be very hard, but very good for her. You have to leave the nest sometimes, whether you're five miles away or 500." Simon said he would leave the preview with a sense that the McDaniel faculty and staff will watch out for his daughter's well-being, both in terms of safety and education.LOS ANGELES -- two oldest children made an appearance at the in Los Angeles Sunday night during a tribute to their father.Music stars , , , , and mingled their voices with a recording of the late king of pop in a musical tribute, while a special 3-D video clip Jackson made of "Earth Song" for use in his was shown. Free 3-D "Grammy" glasses were distributed at Target stores nationwide so viewers could watch the show in 3-D from their living rooms.Clad in black suits with red armbands, , 12, and Paris, 11 accepted their father's lifetime achievement award from Smokey Robinson."Through all his songs his message was simple: love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world," Prince said.Sunday evening's Grammy Awards marked the first public appearance for Prince Michael and Paris since the public memorial service 12 days after their father's death last summer.The children were originally going to take part in a much smaller Grammy event Sunday, at which they were going to accept their father's Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.Instead, the children appeared on stage after a change agreed to by their grandmother and legal guardian, . Jackson's former manager, Frank Dileo.The youngest of the three Jackson children, 7-year-old did not attend the awards show.Michael Jackson was 50 years old when he died June 25, 2009, just two weeks before he was to begin the London concert series.The Los Angeles County coroner ruled his death a homicide resulting from a combination of drugs.Jackson's personal physician, , has been the focus of a criminal investigation, but no charges have been filed. Murray was with Jackson at the time of his death.On an afternoon in early October, I sat in a pew in an old church and took in Mass. A woman dressed all in white sang a soothing hymn, and then a priest in an intricate, green robe read from a prepared sermon; behind him, an imposing pipe organ dominated the sparsely-crowded room. I didn't understand a word. The service, the song, the Bible everything was in French. This was the Notre-Dame Basilica in , a nearly 200-year-old gem that's been the site of state funerals and, perhaps as notable, 's wedding. A very lapsed Catholic, I only go to church on Christmas, but to leave Montreal without stepping inside this landmark would be like leaving Disney World without riding . The hour I spent there, pretending to listen to the service, while I really just gazed at the stained-glass windows, the towering ceiling and all the immaculately preserved religious icons, was a welcome respite. Montreal is a city that moves at ten different speeds you can stroll around Old Montreal, casually dine on foie gras at one of the locavore-friendly restaurants in town, or you can go dancing and stay up past 4 a.m. It's an ideal fall vacation. While the city has a reputation for hipness and sensuality, I found that it appeals to both the history buff and the restless urbanite, the big spender and the traveler on a budget. Motivated by affordable railway fares until Nov. 23, Amtrak is offering double-reward points on all travel I went on a bit of a expedition this month, taking the train from Baltimore to Toronto for $140, and then to Montreal. I stayed four nights in the city, and for the return trip snagged a $78 direct train ride back home. Toronto has its pockets of curiosities, but it ends up being a reminder of many cities in the Northeast. It's not for nothing that it often doubles for New York in movies. It's the no-fun house to Montreal's love shack. Canada's second-largest city, on the other hand, offers historic architecture, exceptional dining, nonstop music and all that Frenchness. In Montreal, you don't need to remember your high school 'je m'appelle's'; everyone, except maybe bus drivers, speaks English too. But the vibe, from the food to the nightlife habits, is distinctly Gallic. The club scene I arrived in Montreal on a Friday night and went directly to L'Addresse du Centre-Ville, a handsome, spacious and affordable ($90 a night) bed-and-breakfast listed on a handy travel site (www.bedandbreakfast.com). With a convenient location near the Beaudry metro station on Saint Catherine Street, it is close to any number of attractions the Montreal Botanical Gardens, which from September to late October is decorated with hundreds of traditional Chinese lanterns, or a late-night screening of at the Cinema Imperial (showing through Oct. 31). But after five hours on a train, what I needed was a beer. In the Mile-End neighborhood, the Royal Phoenix was throwing a party by an American expat who specializes in arcane . I walked through graffitied streets "Well Come to Montreal" was scrawled under one bridge past some ominous-looking warehouses and cut through train tracks to get to the nondescript but hip bar. The neighborhood reminded me of Baltimore's district. Though scruffy-looking, it's an area known as a hub of artists and filmmakers. Phoenix was roomy enough for an open dance floor and a full-service bar; my beer was $5 Canadian, or about $4.93. It also had a better-than-usual bar grub menu, with items like tofu po'boys. The night was early, though, and on the dance floor, only a few stragglers swayed to the music. For more high-end read "pricier" bars, try the martinis at Reporter, at the Westin Hotel downtown, or KoKo, which is said to have visited. Flashy and exclusive, KoKo boasted an epic line of well-dressed, patient patrons waiting to be let into the inner sanctum. I wasn't as patient and left to try Vauvert, an equally clubby, dimly-lit restaurant in Old Montreal that turns into a bar after dinner and hosts dance-music . For some serious dancing, I went to , which is located in the gay district, itself one of the best spots in town for people-watching. Clubgoers and drag queens outnumber the taxis, and the sidewalks are their runways as they try to outdo each other with ever more exaggerated ensembles. The club was a labrynth that spread over three smoky, hard-to-make-out-the-person-next-to-you floors. There was even a patio on the top floor that overlooked the village. The music, of course, was predictably relentless, and left me beat. LOS ANGELES -- More than 75 mega-stars gathered Monday tore-record the 1985 charity anthem "We are the World" in the sameHollywood recording studio where the original was cut 25 years ago., , , the , , , , Akon and other musical luminaries stood shoulder to shoulder on risers at Henson Recording studios,singing their hearts out and hoping to help . , who produced the 1985 anthem, announced last weekthat he planned to redo the song to benefit recovery from thedeadly Jan. 12 in Port-au- .Written by and , the original "WeAre the World" thundered up the charts when it was released on theradio and in record stores in March 1985.An unprecedented number of top pop musicians gathered at A&M thenight of Jan. 28, 1985, following the , torecord the tune. The song featured 45 American superstars,including Jackson, Richie, , , , , , and .The record raised more than $30 million for USA for Africa, anonprofit organization founded by the singers to fund hunger reliefin African nations.True to her diva reputation, recorded her soloover and over, completely absorbed in the recording process andstopping only to correct her pitch.While reporters watched a video feed of the session in a nearbyroom, stars like West mingled outside with friends, greeting hisbuddy, , with a hug.Julianne Hough from "Dancing with the Stars," who is also acountry singer, was only 3 years old when the original tune cameout. She said she felt honored to lend her voice to the effort andsing next to so many talented musicians."It's just iconic. Celine (Dion) is just so gracious andamazing and such a pro," she said.The session was all the talk at Sunday night's Grammyfestivities. Music producer RedOne said being asked to participatewas "the biggest honor a musician can ever do.""Having Quincy, our father of music ... and Lionel Richieasking me to contribute and help, I said of course, because this isnot about me," he said. "It's about Haiti." plugged his plan to increase taxes on millionaires yet again Wednesday morning, but this time with a new twist appearing alongside rich people who support the signature tenet.The proposal would require that people earning $1 million a year or more pay at least the same tax rate as middle-class families. Obama calls it the rule after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who has famously complained that he pays a lower rate than does his secretary. To help make the point, the endorsers showed up with their assistants. Appearing on stage with Obama were Abigail Disney, president of the Daphne Foundation, and her assistant, Celine Justice. Whitney Tilson, managing partner of T2 Partners LLC, appeared with her assistant, Kelli Alires; retiree Frank Jernigan joined with his assistant, Teresa Gardiner; and Lawrence Benenson, of Benenson Capital, appeared with his assistant, Carmen Peterson.None of those millionaires has told him theyre excited about paying more taxes, Obama said.But they agree with Warren, he said. This should be fixed.The measure is highly unlikely to pass the divided Congress this election year. But the message was live on network television this morning, same as Tuesday, giving the presidents tax fairness message the kind of exposure that money cant buy.Original source: LONDON -- In a race in which showed there is nothing wrong with his game, the U.S. men's freestyle relay team was passed in the final strokes by France to lose the gold medal and settle for silver. But it wasn't as if the U.S. looked bad Sunday. It's just that a very strong performance by Yannick Agnel allowed him to chase down on the anchor leg. Phelps had the fastest split joining and on the team. got things started strong for the U.S. by winning the 100 butterfly in a world record time of 55.98. Ying Lu of China got the silver and Alicia Coutts won the bronze. In other finals, won the silver in the women's 400 freeestyle. The winner was Camille Muffat of France, who broke the Olympic record. Homecountry favorite Rebecca Adlington picked up the bronze. And, Brendan Hansen got a bronze medal in the men's 100 breaststroke. Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa set a world record in winning the gold. Christian Sprenger of Australia was third.Archery: The U.S. women couldn't duplicate the medal performance of the men losing to China in the quarterfinals. Miranda Leek, Khatuna Long and Jennifer Nichols will now focus on the individual competition. The gold was won by South Korea, which beat China in the gold-medal match. Japan won its first ever archery medal by finishing third.Badminton: The U.S. men's team of Howard Bach and Tony Gunawan lost to Keat Koo and Boon Heong Tan of , 21-12, 21-14 for their second straight loss and virtual elimination from the tournament. They face Naoki Kawamae and Shoji Satoof Japan in their last match on Monday. Rena Wang, the lone U.S. singles player, will go up against Xin Wang of China on Monday.Basketball: The U.S. Dream Team started slow and then rolled easily over France, 98-71. Kevin Durant was the high scorer with 22 points and nine rebounds. Kevin Love had 14 points and had 10. The U.S. outrebounded France, 56-40. In other games, Nigeria beat Tunisia, 60-56; Brazil topped Australia, 75-71; Spain beat China, 97-81 and Russia stopped Britain, 95-75.Beach volleyball: Americans continued to advance on the second day of competition. and had an easy time with Kentaro Asahi and Katsuhiro Shiratori of Japan, 21-15, 21-16. Next they play Adrian Gavira Collado and Pablo Herrera Allepuz of Spain on Tuesday. and Jennifer Kessy also had it easy with a win over Argentina's Ana Gallay and Maria Virginia Zonta, 21-11, 218. Their next opponent is Marleen van Iersel and Sanne Keizer also on Tuesday.Boxing: The reimagined U.S. team continued to advance its boxers to the round of 16 as and Errol Spence both won. Ramirez just got by Rachid Azzedine of France, 21-20. His next opponent is Fazliddin Gaibnazarov of Uzbekistan on Thursday. Spence had it a little easier beating Myke Ribeiro de Carvalho of Brazil, 16-10. He will fight Krishan Vikas of India on Friday.Canoe/kayak: It wasn't much of a day for the U.S. team. Casey Eichfeld finished 14th in the men's single canoe and failed to make the final 12. Michael Martikan of Slovakia was the leader. In the men's single kayak, Scott Parsons, also did not advance, finishing 16th. The top 15 advance in that event. Hannes Aigner of Germany was the leader.Cycling: Britain got its first medal of the Games when Elizabeth Armistead got the silver in the women's road race. The race was won by Marianne Vos of the Nethlands. Olga Zabelinskaya of Russia, who traded spots with the first two for most of the last six miles, got the bronze. was the high U.S. finisher in seventh. She suffered a flat tire near the end of the race s killing any chance of a medal. Other U.S. finishers were Evelyn Steven (24th), (35th) and (36th).Diving: It was quite a surprise when and won the silver medal in the women's 3-meter synchronized competition. It was the first diving medal for the U.S. since 2000 and the first ever medal in synchro. Not surprisingly, the winners were the Chinese pair of He Zi and Wu Minxia. Jennifer Abel and Emilie Heymans of Canada got the bronze.Equestrian: Everyone came to see Zara Phillips, granddaughter of , and while making a minor mistake finished 24th of 74 riders after the first of three disciplines--the dressage. But a lot can happen with cross-country and show jumping to follow. After one event Germany was leading followed by Australia and Britain. The United States was seventh. In individual competition Yoshiaki Oiwa of Japan was leading with Stefano Brecciaroli of Italy in second.Fencing: Two U.S. men were able to advance to the quarterfinals of the sabre competition but that's where their medal dreams stopped. Daryl Homer lost to Romania's Rares Dumitrescu, 15-13, and Tim Morehouse was beaten by Diego Occhiuzzi of Itlay, 15-9. The other U.S. fencer, James Williams was beaten early by Nikolay Kovalev of Russia. Hungary's Aron Szilagyi won the gold by beating Diego Occhiuzzi of Italy, 15-8. Kovalev won the bronze. Field hockey: The U.S. women's team dropped its opening match of the tournament, 2-1, to Germany. Lauren Crandall scored the lone U.S. goal on a penalty corner. Their next next match is Tuesday against Argentina, which beat South Africa, 7-1. In other matches the Netherlands beat Belgium, 3-0; China stopped South Korea, 4-0; Britain beat Japan, 4-0 and New Zealand over Australia, 1-0.Gymnastics: The U.S. women matched the men's team by finishing first in qualification for the final. Russia, China and Romania followed them. However, the scores do not move to the next round so everyone starts even. The U.S. also qualified in the vault, in the uneven bars, and Douglas in the beam and and Raisman in the floor. Raisman and Douglas will also compete in the all-around. In a bit of a shock, Wieber, the defending all-around world champion, could not overcome several mistakes and did not make that final.Team handball: In men's preliminary action it was Iceland over Argentina, Sweden beating Tunisia, France over Britain, Croatia stopping South Korea, Spain beating Serbia and Denmark beating Hungary. Judo: North Korea got its first gold of the Games when An Kae Um beat Acosta Bermoy of Cuba in the women's 115-pound class, the match went to overtime. Priscilla Gneto of France got the bronze. In the men's 145-pound class, Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia beat Miklos Ungvari of Hungary for that gold. Rosalba Forciniti took home the bronze. There were no Americans in the competition.Rowing: The U.S. women's eight, unbeaten in six years, won its heat and advanced to the finals and a showdown with Canada. The Canadian crew was a split-second short of upsetting the U.S. in a recent regatta. The final will be held on Thursday. In the lightweight men's four, the U.S. won the repechage competition and was allowed to advance to the semifinals.Sailing: After one day and two races, the competition started to take shape. In the men's Finn, Jonas Hogh-Christensen of Denmark was leading followed by Ben Ainslie of Britain. The highest ranked U.S. sailor was Zach Railey in 15th. Brazil was leading Ireland in the men's Star racing. The U.S. boat of Mark Mendelblatt and Brian Fatih was 10th. And, in the women's Elliot round robin standings, the three teams ahead were Australia, Spain and Russia. The U.S. crew of Anna Tunnicliffe, and Molly O'Bryan was fourth.Shooting: Kim Rhode became part of U.S. Olympic history when she medaled in her fifth straight Olympics. She won the gold in the women's skeet in a nearly flawless performance. She missed only one of 100 targets. It was still an Olympic record. It was her third gold to go with a silver from Beijing and a bronze in Sydney. Wei Ning of China was awarded the silver (she missed nine targets) and Danka Bartekova of Slovakia took the bronze. She had to beat Marina Belikova of Russia in a shoot off. In the women's air pistol, Wenjun Guo of China took the gold, followed by Celine Goberville of France and Olena Kostevych of the Ukraine. Sandra Uptagrafft was the highest U.S. competitor in 28th. Soccer: FIFA, soccer's governing body is looking into the hit to the face that U.S. player suffered against Colombia. Wambach claimed to be "sucker-punched" by Lady Andrade. No action is expected before Monday. In men's games, Senegal beat Uruguay, 2-0, Britain over United Arab Emirates, 3-1, Mexico beat Gabon 2-0, South Korea over Switzerland, 2-1, Honduras beat Spain, 1-0 and Japan 1, Morocco 0.Table tennis: Ariel Hsing, the lone U.S. player left in singles competition, extended the No. 2 ranked player Li Xiaoxia of China to six games before falling. Bill Gates, a friend of Hsing's, was there to watch. Earlier in the day, Hsing beat former world champion Ni Xia Lian of Luxembourg. The U.S. now has to wait until Friday to join team play, opening with Japan.Tennis: Rain was the winner at as 32 matches were postponed and four suspended. But those on Centre Court, where there is a roof, were able to be completed. Among those winners were over of Israel, 6-2, 6-0, and of Germany, Britain's and of France. , playing on Court 1, beat of Italy in three sets.Volleyball: The U.S. men's team opened play with an easy win over Serbia, 25-17, 25-22, 25-21. Their next game is Tuesday against Germany. In other games, Bulgaria beat Britain, 3-0; Argentina over Australia, 3-0; Poland stopped Italy, 3-1 and Russia beat Germany, 3-0. Water polo: It was tougher than expected for the U.S. men's team but they beat Montenegro, 8-7. scored three goals for the U.S. with , , , and each getting one. Their next match is Tuesday against Romania. In other matches, Croatia beat Greece, 8-6; Spain over Kazakhstan, 14-6; Italy over Australia, 8-5; Serbia over Hungry, 14-10 and Romania handled Britain, 13-4.Weighlifting: On Yun Chol of North Korea lifted more than triple his weight to win gold in the men's 123-pound class. He set an Olympic record in the clean and jerk. Wu Jiangbiao of China got the silver medal and Valentin Hristov of Azerbaijan took home the bronze. In the women's 117-pound class, Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan had a world record in the clean and jerk and won the gold. She topped Hsu Shuching of Taiwan and Cristina Iovu of Moldova on the medal stand. There were no Americans in the competition.One of my guaranteed chuckles at our theme parks is during MuppetVision 3D at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Kermit the Frog and company are producing a musical spectacular and he asks what the title is. "It's 'A Salute to All Nations But Mostly America,' " replies Sam Eagle. Ah, right on target. Let's laugh at ourselves, even in these triumphant Olympic times. Another line that stands out for me is during the Amazing Adventures of ride at . Our web-slinging hero says "this could be the most dangerous night of my life [dramatic pause] and yours!" He points at us twice on the "and yours" part, using the 3-D effect to fullest effect. I like to point back at Spidey and say "and yours" with him, as if the ride included crowd participation a la "." (I still think that would be awesome. Who's in?) The parks have loads of prerecorded messages in shows and queues, some humorous, some instructional, some poignant. I've assembled a few in quiz form (answers are in the gray area to the side). In what attraction would you hear these words? And what character is speaking? 1. "Everything looks good. I think ... I think this time it's going to work! No! No! No! No!" Clue: It's not easy being green. 2. "This chamber has no windows and no doors ... which offers you this chilling challenge: to find a way out!" Clue: But vertical stripes are so slimming. 3. "I hate smiling." Clue: Perhaps he has come down with boogie fever. 4. "Leaving so soon? I think not." Clue: Think old-school lost continent. 5. "Prepare to forfeit your souls! Death is only the beginning!" Clue: That's a wrap! 6. "We may come from different places and believe different things, but what makes us American is a shared spirit a spirit of courage and determination, of kindness and generosity." Clue: It's a commander but not Commander Coconut. 7. "Thank the Phoenicians" 's thriller Guilty Wives is headed for the bigscreen, with Maven Pictures' Celine Rattray and and James Patterson Entertainment onboard to produce.Leopoldo Gout will produce along with Maven; James Patterson and Steve Bowen of James Patterson Entertainment exec produce. Guilty Wives, penned by Patterson and David Ellis and set to be published in March, is the story of a woman who had everything -- a handsome, successful husband; beautiful children; and cool, jet-set friends. But she steps into a terrible trap on a girls' weekend in Monte Carlo and wakes up sentenced to life in the treacherous French prison system and begins a quest to set things right again.The prolific Patterson's best known for his series centering on psychologist Alex Cross, with Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls and the upcoming I, Alex Cross adapted into features. He is also the creator of detective series 's Murder Club, from which the ABC series was adapted.Rattray and Styler said, It's an ideal project for Maven as we expand into more commercial territory.Maven's first feature film, Imogene, starring , and , is currently in post-production, and Maven is in development with New Regency on Second Act, with set to produce and star, as well as Vixen, with starring.Maven's also producing with on A Fair Marriage as a potential starring vehicle for Parker through her Pretty Matches banner with partner Allison Benson (Daily Variety, Oct. 21).Click for more articles on Variety.com.Some people are happy collecting fast cars or nice watches. But the ultimate vanity purchase may be the private island.Billionaire Richard Branson owns several. Magician David Copperfield has a dozen. Singer is trying to sell hers. And tech titan is closing a deal to buy nearly all of the Hawaiian island of Lanai. Although private islands are often associated with the very rich, they aren't always that exclusive or even all that expensive.Private Islands Inc., a Toronto-based island marketing firm, lists about 500 islands worldwide from less than $50,000 to more than $100 million, Chief Executive Chris Krolow said.U.S., Canadian and British buyers make up about 80% of the market; far-flung locales such as the Caribbean have a more international buyer base, he said. The Bahamas and Belize are hot, as is Panama. In the Mediterranean, Greek islands are popular."Before the recession, a lot of islands were priced by owners who had what we call Coke-bottle glasses," Krolow said. "They put crazy price tags on their islands."Price drops in areas such as the Bahamas and a sense that values have bottomed out have brought increased interest in island ownership."It has opened the door to people looking," Krolow said. "They are more comfortable now."Ego, extravagance and identity play roles in some high-profile trophy purchases, experts say, but others are motivated by privacy and security."These types of people are looking to create something for themselves, to put up a flag and say, 'This is my own little country,'" Krolow said. "They all tend to be very entrepreneurial. Not just the wealthy, but those who are determined to do something different."Celebrities have long populated the ranks of island owners, including , and . Even those not pursued by paparazzi can understand the desire for seclusion these days, said clinical psychologist Stephen Goldbart, co-founder of the San Francisco-based Money, Meaning Choices Institute."We are all living in a world where there isn't much privacy," said Goldbart. One of his clients has bought an island, and several others are interested in making their own purchases. "The need for feeling safe and secure has increased radically since the economic downturn."Island buyers tend to fall into two groups: people who are making lifestyle choices and entrepreneurs developing resorts.Oracle Corp.CEO Ellison's recent deal to buy 98% of Lanai could be considered an example of a trophy purchase since ownership has been a money-losing proposition for seller David Murdock, the Los Angeles billionaire who controls Dole Food Co.The estimated $500-million deal makes little sense from a financial standpoint, said , who teaches real estate at the Anderson School of Management. Among the reasons he cites are a lack of resort potential because of a mostly rocky beachfront and scant infrastructure."It is probably more of a quality-of-life investment a pride-of-ownership purchase," Habibi said. "Who wouldn't want to own a Hawaiian island?"Murdock, though unloading the 141-square-mile island, is keeping his Lanai home and some other assets, including a woodworking shop and 1,000 rare orchid plants.Dion and her husband, Rene Angelil, put their private island up for sale in Quebec in late spring. The couple, who also own a home in Florida, could seldom get to their island mansion because of Dion's touring schedule, so they listed it for sale at more than $29 million.Pyramide Films has acquired French rights to 's Venice Competition hit Killer Joe.Sold by Voltage Pictures, which also produced with ANA Media, Joe stars as a Dallas detective hired by a drug dealer () to kill his mother for a $50,000 insurance policy. A black comedy with memorable violence, Joe scored top marks in a Venice critics' poll. Liddell Entertainment has U.S. distrib rights.For French critics and auds, Joe has many things going for it: A Hollywood director whose ability to make multi-prized films within the Hollywood system -- The Exorcist, The French Connection -- ranks him as a serious auteur; plus film noir overtones, which appeal to a country with its own film noir tradition. 'Joe' is a bit out-there. Some scenes can achieve cult-status. French critics should love it, said Pyramide prexy Eric Lagesse.One of top arthouse labels, Pyramide has also acquired French distribution and foreign rights to Here Below, from Jean-Pierre Denis, whose latest movie, Murderous Maids, played Berlin's Panorama.Preeming at the 14th Unifrance Paris Rendez-Vous, which begins Wednesday, Below, based on true events, toplines fast-rising actress Celine Sallette (House of Tolerance, Rust and Bone) as a nun who falls for a French Resistance fighter.The story of increasingly desperate, destructive love, in Denis' words, bows on around 50 prints in France Jan. 18.Click for more international news on Variety.com. Lexi Josefik scored in two goals and had an assist to pace Bald Eagle Area to a 5-4 goirls' soccer victory over West Branch on Saturday.Makayla Donley and Haley Giedroc each had a goal as BEA (2-2) took a 2-0 lead at the half. Josefik scored twice and Meghan Peters added a goal in a wild second half. Emilee Hoffower had two goals and an assist in the second half for West Branch.Makennah Dyke made four saves for BEA, which nexts plays host to Penns Valley on Tuesday. State College tumblesSTATE COLLEGE -- Redland's Bryce score the game's only goal midway through the first half to hand State College a 1-0 loss on Saturday.Redland held a 9-5 edge in shots and corner kicks against the Lady Little Lions (3-3). State College goalie Sarah Hartman stopped six shots.The Lady Little Lion travel to Mifflin County on Tuesday.Boys' soccerLittle Lions roarBETHLEHEM --Jake Garrigan and Will Edwardseach had a goal and an assist in the first half as State College blanked prviously unbeaten Redland 3-0 on Saturday.Garrigan scored in the 11th minute on an assist from Edwards and returned the favor on Edwards' goal about seven minutes later.Joe Thomas closed out the Little Lions scoring 13 minutes into the second half on an assist from Denali Lumpkin.State College plays host to Mifflin County on Tuesday.Cross CountrySt. Joseph's Hopple runner-up in Altoona meetALTOONA -- St. Joseph Academy's Christian Hopple placed second overall to lead all area finishers in the Altoona Mountain Lion Invitational on Saturday.Hopple, who finished 16 minutes, 54.90 seconds, and winner Jordan Jackson (16:43.08) of Wellsboro were the only runners to break 17 minutes on the 3.1-mile course.Stephen Forstmeier (18:36.86) was 43rd as St. Joseph's placed 14th among 22 teams competing. Altoona (67 points) easily won the team title, topping second-place Westmont Hilltop by 80 points.Philipsburg-Osceola placed 22nd. Kaleb Bennett (114th, 20:55.09) was the Mountiers' top finisher.In the girls' event, Philipsburg-Osceola was 19th.Taylor Guelich (107th, 25:21.42) andTesha Harned (108th, 25:26.75) led the Lady Mounties.Valerie Guardado (127th, 26:47.58) was the lone runs for St. Joseph's.First off, big thanks to Diane Trap for covering for me last week when I was traveling. Secondly, I HATE THE NEW FORMAT OF THE SHOW THIS YEAR.So last week, we didn't vote, but this week we do, but next week is the actual finale, even though last week they called this week's show the finale? STOP DRAGGIN' MY HEART AROUND, Nigel.I absolutely love Cat's red dress tonight. So classic, so pretty, and so shiny. Judges tonight are Nigel, Mary, and Rob Marshall (director of Chicago). Eliana and Cyrus have a paso doble. And Jason Gilkinson has decided to switch the roles, with Eliana as the matador and Cyrus as the cape. And it's all set to Daft Punk,with Cyrus wearing a skirt over his pants, so we already know it's gonna be unusual. Y'all look, I love Cyrus's personality as much as the next fan, but Eliana clearly outdanced him there. It was slowed down far too much and lacked some of the in-hold moves I like to see in ballroom.Nigel heaps praise on Eliana, but points out that Cyrus's technique still needs some work. Mary comments that she could've done without the cartwheel and one of the leaps (so, basically, the things put in specifically to play to Cyrus's strengths) and then comments that Eliana was "on fire." Rob praises Eliana's ability to tell the story.There's a cute moment when Cat asks Cyrus to give her his best "Blue Steel" and he charmingly obliges.Tiffany has a routine with Season 4's William Wingfield in a Sonya Tayeh routine. I don't remember Wil having these braids during his season and they look really good on him. I like this Moloko song they're dancing to, "Time Is Now."Mary calls Tiffany a "fabulous" dancer and calls her with Will "a perfect partnership." Nigel praises tiffany as more than the "girl next door" and adds she's a fabulous dancer.I'm so excited that with Chehon and Eliana being paired up we're getting an honest to goodness ballet routine. In this case it's choreographed by Marat Daukayev and is set to music from the Nutcracker suite. Also, we get Chehon in ballet tights, so that's a plus. Well, that went about as well as you'd expect with one dancer who attended the Joffrey and another who was at the Royal Ballet School.Rob says that routine is what "separates the men from the boys." Nigel praises how good Eliana is and then throws out a lot of French ballet talk to back up his point. He also praises how easy Chehon made the lifts look. Mary's near tears with how special the dance was.Cyrus and Tiffany have a lyrical hip hop choreographed by Tessandra Chavez, who I think is new to the show. I still remain bored by "lyrical" hip hop. I wish we could have swapped out half the lyrical hip hop routines this season for some sort of ballroom, particularly more tangos and quicksteps.Nigel congratulates Cyrus and Tiffany on never being in the bottom per America's votes and then calls them both "incredible." Mary says they "killed it." Rob says both of them have "abandon", something he loves in dancers.And now it's a group dance for all four finalists, choreographed by Tyce D'Orio. Eliana's en pointe and Tiffany's in heels, so I like it already. It starts out with the traditional classical "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" but it's a remix that occasionally allows Cyrus to get weird. Overall, I give it a "meh."In her clip package, Eliana makes some of the cutest goofy faces. Her favorite routine may have been partnering with Alex Wong. Her solo is done in toe shoes and doesn't feel that different from what he saw her do last week.Stacey Tookey is choreographing for Allison Holker and Chehon to a song from During rehearsal, Stacey gets the giggles over just how good Chehon is. Gorgeous routine and it ends with a kiss, which makes the audience go wild. I have to admit, I watched it twice immediately and got chillbumps both times. The way they used their arms to communicate the emotion of the dance... just breathtaking. Cat points out he did a one-handed lift. So now I'll go watch it a third time to look for that. The things I subject myself to for you, loyal readers. Ah, there it is - he puts her up with both arms and then pulls one arm away to hold her with, yes, just one hand. Day-um.Mary screams long and loud, she liked it so much. Oh, Mary, I don't think you're allowed to quote to describe a dancer, no matter how good it was. Rob says he gets now why Stacey was so ecstatic in rehearsals. Nigel spends too much time talking about Allison - she's not the contestant! When he starts talking about Chehon, he praises him for showing his emotional range. They show Chehon's parents in the audience and they're so European, it's adorable - all funky glasses and eff you hair.Ray Leeper is "taking burlesque to Broadway" with a pole involved in their routine to "When You're Good to Mama" from Chicago (Rob Marshall synergy!). Side by side like this, it's no question to me that Eliana is the better dancer. Also, she's the only one that does any actual pole work - the most Tiffany ever does is hold on to it.Rob says he's trying to imagine doing that (She had that role/song in the movie version, even though they danced to the 1996 Broadway revival version.) The judges are unanimous in their praise, easily glossing over how Eliana was miles better than Tiffany.Cyrus has a solo which looks like every other solo he's done. I generally find the solos so uninteresting, because these terrific dancers aren't usually terrific choreographers. And the solos are so short, it's difficult to develop any kind of character or story, so it's just about the tricks.Tiffany talks about how her lack of exposure in the early shows made her think she wasn't going to make the top 20 and then how dancing with her lookalike Audrey was a hindrance. She's impressed that she's made it as far as she has. And not to say she isn't a good dancer, but I share her surprise. Tiffany does her solo. See above re: solos.Spring merchandise has officially hit the stores, and one trend should be immediately noticeable: bright colors. They were everywhere on the spring-summer 2011 runways, including at the show, where candy colors managed to look minimal when shown with crisp white shirts or layered with sleek black coats, and at and Burberry, where various tones of shocking aqua and cobalt were paired for a cool (and somehow punchy) look. Color blocking, as seen on the runway, is another major trend.Other designer and contemporary brands explored the color wheel as well. "For spring we bought a lot of color, from acid pinks to orange-red to cobalt blue to tangerine," says Jeannie Lee, owner of 3rd Street's Satine Boutique, which stocks lines from designers including , , and . Retailer Hillary Rush, who owns her eponymous boutique, also on 3rd Street, has already starting seeing the color craze take effect with customers. " The oversized raglan shirt from Monrow has totally sold out in the hibiscus color," a coral-orange Rush says. "When a bright color like that sells out before the black or white, it's always a statement that people are wearing color that season."On the other end of the spectrum, shoppers are likely to encounter lots of white. The natural, yet luxe look of an all-white ensemble (which also works in winter, but is a lot more practical in the warmer months) looked fresh in the runway collections of , and . is also turning out a number of white items, from easy button-downs to wide leg trousers, all in shades of white and off-white and in stores this summer. And there's no shortage of white jeans, which are showing up in the spring and summer lines of J Brand, MIH and 7 for All Mankind.Shoppers may also notice a '60s and '70s aesthetic dictating the shape of denim this season."Denim flares are really hot," says Caprice C. Willard, vice president-regional planning manager for Macys, where brands such as and Levi's have incorporated the style. Flared and wide-leg jeans are also big sellers on the boutique level; Satine's Lee says wide-leg jeans have been flying off the shelves.On spring-summer 2011 runways such as 's, models wore wide-leg jeans with tucked-in white button-downs and chic wedge sandals. On the street we're bound to see a more relaxed version of the look, with women wearing bell bottom-style jeans with T-shirts and sandals or perhaps flared jeans with a tucked-in tank top and a blazer for evening.The other denim trend for spring is a gamine, '60s crop. The pant leg ends at least 2 inches above the ankle. The jeans look great with ballet flats or a low-mid wedge sandal.The '70s vibe also includes versions of the maxi-length skirt and dress. Floor-grazing styles were featured in the collections of and Jil Sander and are showing up in stores such as the Gap, and Club Monaco. "The maxi-dress is really important this season and we are seeing a resurgence with it," Willard says. "The maxi length actually stays important in Southern California all year long."Emily North, of Baldwin; Kathryn Nunn, of Parkton, and Roderick Lancaster, of Phoenix, have been named to the dean's list at St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pa.Daniel Weinel, of Jarrettsville, a freshman music recording technology major, was recognized as a first-semester freshman and transfer students for making an impact on the campus as a new student at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa.Andrea Pace, of Monkton, Ellen Hartig, of Parkton, and Shannon Meehan of Upperco, were named to the dean's list at Ithaca College, Ithaca, N.Y., for the fall 2011 semester. Robert J. Montgomery, of Parkton, has been named to the dean's list for the fall 2011 semester at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. The following students have been named to the dean's list at University for fall 2011.Jennifer Abel, and Anne Stanley, of Freeland; Bryan Crabbe, James Gough, Kelly Jent, Richard Moffett, and Jackson Sides, of Parkton; Meghan Dwkozlowzki, William Reid, Melanie Stickles and Stacey Weigel, of Phoenix; Jenifer Manning and Desmond McNelis, of Sparks; Christina Bell and Rachel Ensor, of White Hall; Holly Gilmore, of Monkton, and Kayla Cullum, of Upper Falls.Jason Andrews, of Freeland and Maggie Benson, of Sparks have been named to the dean's list at Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Va.Nicole Mank, of Jarrettsville, and Erin Fitzhugh, of Monkton, have been named to the dean's list at , Oxford, Ohio.Emily , of White Hall, has been named to the dean's list for fall 2011 at Gettysburg College, Pa.Quentin Zdanis, of Glen Arm, has been named to the dean's list at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.Adam Tsao, of Sparks, was named to fall 2011 dean's list at Washington University,St. Louis, Mo.The following students have been named to fall 2011 dean's list at Loyola University Maryland.Diana Parks, and Samantha Wheeless, of Monkton; Wallace Knobel, of Glen Arm; Emily Schehlein, of Phoenix; Christopher Munoz, of Freeland; Andrew English, Gia Fontanazza, Joseph Curran, and Elizabeth Ford, of Baldwin.Thomas Linsenmeyer, of Jarrettsville, recieved a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in December.Olivia A. Cypull, of Baldwin, a senior at Loch Raven High School has been named a National Merit Scholar Finalist 2012. One of 15,000 students nationally to advance to the finals.Kiley Friedrich, of Phoenix, and Cara Shipley, of Glen Arm, graduated from University of Delaware, Newark, Del., in January.Anna Schmitt, of Parkton, was selected to play a lead role in York College of Pennsylvania theater production of "The Children's Hour".Bryan Crabbe, of Parkton, recently graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor of Science in management.The following from High School have earned "Gold Key" for art, the highest achievements offered by the national 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.Gina Maskell, drawing; Taylor Parks, photography; Elianna Radcliffe, drawing; Celine Schmidt, drawing and art portfolio.Last Tuesday's Oscar nominations were both exciting and intriguing -- and only intermittently outrageous. But they remind us that Academy Award races are usually taken seriously for the wrong reasons (their possible commercial effects) and not seriously enough for the right ones (their lasting cultural achievements). There were cultural achievements justly applauded on Tuesday: "The Pianist," "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and "Gangs of New York" would be exceptional movies in any year. And though I wasn't knocked out by either "The Hours" or "Chicago" -- the gaudy -inspired movie musical based on the 1942 noir comedy "" -- motion picture academy members apparently are. The front-runner so far, with 13 nominations, "Chicago" joins another 2002 Oscar juggernaut: parent studio Miramax, which racked up an awe-inspiring 40 nods for six films. There were other early winners: Little Focus Pictures (home of "The Pianist" and "Far From Heaven") took the spotlight and so did the competitors in all of the acting categories, especially the unusually strong female ones. There were controversial nominees: notably and . Indeed, the best picture in this year's Oscar race, "The Pianist" suffers from the fact that director Polanski is too controversial: widely seen as a felon and fugitive unworthy of honors. And the best director, Scorsese, has been nominated for a film so disliked by some that his probable win has already been stigmatized as undeserved payback for past efforts. Still, contest in which Scorsese and Polanski are controversial nominees and gets squeezed out of the best actress lineup the same year she breaks the record for most nominations in a career. is not in bad shape. As for Miramax, their success only proves that blitz publicity works -- and that it also helps to make the kind of movies critics and Oscar voters prefer. The nominations this year gave the lie to charges that those critics suffer a disconnect in taste from the audience. If they do, it's a disconnect also suffered by filmmakers themselves. All five of the best picture nominees were among the 11 best reviewed movies of 2002, according to Moviecitynews.com. What do the nods mean? So what does it all mean? Will an Oscar night victory for "Chicago" (Miramax) help spark a renaissance of the movie musical? Will a win for "The Hours" (also Miramax, with Paramount) inspire more literary subjects and stories about women? Will a director's trophy for Scorsese (Miramax again) mean he finally gets the Oscar monkey off his back? Far too many articles are churned out pondering how Oscar nominations will impact the box office and far too few grappling with the artistic or social merits of films like the ones just mentioned -- and "About Schmidt," "Adaptation" and "The Quiet American." Or, even "Chicago" -- which, after all, has very pointed things to say, expressing through its razzle-dazzle numbers a massive genial cynicism about the justice system and the media. This year there is also an unusually large cargo of backstage -- including 's successful battle (despite Miramax) for his "Quiet American" nomination. In Polanski's case it's sordid drama that has already cheapened some of the discourse about the great film that got him back in the limelight. Without downplaying the gravity of the charges against him -- Polanski, now 69, fled the country to avoid sentencing after pleading guilty to a statutory rape charge involving a 13-year-old girl -- we should recognize, here as elsewhere, that the art and the artist are separate. Polanski's past really shouldn't affect consideration of the merits of "The Pianist": for me, the best dramatic feature ever made about and an achievement that will long survive its maker. Of course, the scandal will affect the vote; for many in Hollywood, honoring a convicted rapist may be comparable to genocide. They forget that great art sometimes is produced by people of dubious character, morality or sanity. Yet 's operas or the novels of Louis-Ferdinand Celine or are not diminished because the first two were virulent anti-Semites or the last a fascist collaborator, and we don't trash 's plays because of his criminal character, or the music of Schubert or Delius and the paintings of Manet because the artists may have died of venereal diseases. Polanski's past is not irrelevant to the law's treatment of him, but it shouldn't count against the superb movie he made, partly by distilling his own horrific past as a Jewish boy from Krakow eluding the during the Holocaust years. "The Pianist" is easily the best movie in competition -- unless you count all three parts of "Rings" as one film -- but it probably can't win. Scorsese probably will win, but he has been subject to abuse as well, just not for his private life, but because some writers detest "Gangs of New York" and believe that -- like ' 1935 "Dangerous" Oscar, 's for "Scent of a Woman" or 's for "True Grit" -- any "Gangs" Oscar would be sentimental compensation for past efforts,Delayed Oscars tradition But would that be bad? Delayed Oscars are as much a part of Academy Award tradition as long TV shows and egregious omissions -- and the fact that Scorsese was beaten out before by John Avildsen (for 1976's "Rocky"), (for 1980's "Ordinary People") and (for 1990's "Dances With Wolves") in the years he was up for "Taxi Driver, "Raging Bull" and "GoodFellas" doesn't mean that the mistakes should never be addressed. Nor should he suffer the same unjust fate of well-deserving directorial non-winners such as , , , or . I happen to think "Gangs of New York" is a terrific film -- if a flawed one -- and I suspect it's being attacked in part for the same reasons "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull" and "GoodFellas" were trashed in their day: because some voters feel it's too profane, violent and disturbing, even if they claim it's bad storytelling that offends them. What about the slight suffered by another director, the unnominated , whose ongoing "Lord of the Rings" trilogy is the most popular with audiences? Here, more than likely, many voters deferred on "Rings" as a work in progress. "This year, it's `Chicago,'" my smartest movie-reporting friend told me right after the announcements. "Next year, `The Lord of the Rings' runs the table."Ripple effect What's most interesting about the race may be the ripple effect of the possible victories. I think "Chicago" is overrated -- a great musical show vividly translated but lacking great musical performances. But I'd welcome its victory if it sparks more interest from the studios in movie musicals, a form sadly moribund since 1972 and the movie "Chicago" most copies: "Cabaret." On the good side, we can applaud the wealth of great female performances in the acting categories -- something not as notable even five years ago. On the bad side, isn't a foreign language film process that continually eliminates films such as "City of God" and "Talk to Her" (made by surprise best director nominee ) -- and that nixed past classics such as "Persona," "Ran" and "Three Colors" -- drastically in need of reform? (A suggestion: Add five discretionary picks a year by the academy itself, so films such as "Talk to Her" or "Ran" aren't penalized if their countries fail to submit them.) Finally, we should note the sheer formal and stylistic daring of many nominated films. Some have gutsy content ( "Bowling for Columbine"), some are technical marvels (feature cartoon "Spirited Away") and a number play excitingly with the idea of narrative, stripping bare storytelling mechanisms with admirable panache -- like "Adaptation" (a movie about writing movies), "Far From Heaven" (a movie pastiching other movies), "The Hours" (a three-stranded narrative in which life duplicates art) and even "Chicago" (a bravura theatrical piece that may take place inside the anti-heroine's mind). The public generally dislikes such film experiments -- just as critics often love them -- but this year the moviemakers liked them as well.-- Gaul's kudos season kicked off Friday with ' The Artist winning best film and actress for at the Lumieres Awards, the French equivalent to the . The pic, which has been on an award-winning spree ever since bowing at Cannes, and is nommed for six Golden Globes, beat out other Cannes titles vying for the Lumieres best film nod: Pierre Schoeller's The Minister, Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache's smash hit comedy Intouchables, Bertrand Bonello's Apolonide and 's Le Havre, winner of the Louis Delluc prize, which is handed out by French critics. The Artist, which was produced by Thomas Langmann's La Petite Reine, was released Stateside in November by The Weinstein Co. Competing against Hazanavicius, Bonello and Kaurismaki, Maiwenn picked up best helmer for her third feature, Polisse, a gritty ensemble centering on cops working in a child protection unit. Omar Sy, who stars opposite Francois Cluzet in Intouchables, won best actor, beating out The Artist's , among other strong contenders. Before his breakthrough performance in Intouchables, Sy was best known in France as a small-screen comic on SAV, a daily comedy show that airs on . Sy also starred in Nakache and Toledano's previous two films, Those Happy Days and So Happy Together. Intouchables, Gaul's second biggest B.O. hit ever, was produced by Quad Films and co-produced by Gaumont. Weinstein Co. has acquired the film for multiple territories, including U.S. distribution and remake rights. Denis Menochet nabbed best newcomer for his part in Les Adoptes, a family dramedy that marks the directorial debut of thesp (); while three of Apollonide's thesps, Alice Barnole, Adele Haenel and Celine Sallette, shared the best female newcomer prize. Quebec helmer Denis Villeneuve's heart-wrenching drama Incendies, based on a play by Wajdi Mouawad, won best foreign film in the French language. A critical success, Incendies repped Canada in last year's foreign-language film Oscar race. Taking place during the Unifrance's mini-market, Rendez-Vous, the Lumieres Awards are voted on by foreign correspondents based in Paris.Click for more articles on Variety.com.NEW YORK Robert Pulcini and 's debut feature, the offbeat comic book adaptation "American Splendor," was greeted with so much success when it came out in 2003 that the filmmaking duo couldn't imagine things going any other way."We had this level of delusion that a lot of first-time filmmakers have but maybe multiplied because of the reception," Pulcini said of the movie, which HBO's film division allowed them to make with little interference and which went on to become nominee and art house hit. "We thought, 'It's always going to be this easy.'"It wasn't. They battled with over tone and scenes in their 2007 adaptation of the bestseller "The Nanny Diaries." Then they had to contend with viewer and critical skepticism on their 2010 cross-dressing quirkfest "The Extra Man." They became mired in rights issues on their based-on-a-true-story HBO film "Cinema Verite" in 2011. And those were the movies that the husband-wife team got made. But at the on Friday, Pulcini and Springer Berman will get a shot at redemption when they unveil a comedy about a thirtysomething playwright () trying to hold her life together and deal with the dysfunctional people around her, including her gambling-addict mother () and her mother's boyfriend (). The hook is that Wiig's character stages a suicide to attract the attention of an ex but fakes it so convincingly she ends up attracting the attention of psychiatrists.The setting adds an extra dollop of color "Imogene" takes place partly at the Jersey Shore.The movie is the first Wiig shot after was released in spring 2011. (She was cast before "Bridesmaids" came out, and Pulcini and Springer Berman watched with excitement as that movie grew into a phenomenon.) Given the other appealing stars in "Imogene" up-and-comer Darren Criss is also featured and a relatively relatable premise, Pulcini and Springer Berman hope the movie will return them to the film world's good graces."We knew coming in that 'Extra Man' was going to be a challenge. This has always seemed to us like a more accessible story," Springer Berman said, sipping drinks with Pulcini at a downtown cafe this week.The movie, seeking a U.S. distribution deal at Toronto, was shot last summer during Wiig's short hiatus from It was produced by (wife of ), Celine Rattray and Anonymous Content. The first draft was written by a rookie, Michelle Morgan, who based some of the story on her own experiences.Though the subject matter and structure of "Imogene" are rather different from "Splendor" the earlier movie had a more complex story line based on the life and graphic memoir of the late comics artist Harvey Pekar the films do have things in common."I think both movies are about characters who are likable but not in the obvious ways," Springer Berman said. "What we appreciated about both Paul and Kristen is that they don't try to make you like them in every scene."The New York-based filmmakers, both 48, began collaborating at Columbia University film school. They cut their teeth making documentaries and found that "Splendor" benefited from their nonfiction background.The pair take turns writing, sometimes taking weeks before swapping pages. On set, they divide labor such that Pulcini spends more time behind the camera while Springer Berman interacts more with the actors.The pair don't expect a "Splendor"-like reaction at Toronto. (The initial screening of that film, at the , generated a huge response and had in the audience to boot.) But they do believe that viewers will go for something different, and even difficult, if it comes wrapped in a certain humanity."There are ways to put our stamp on a film and also attract mainstream interest," Pulcini said. "I think we learned that on this film."Erin Sveinbjornsson's long goal early in the first half proved to be all Palmyra needed Tuesday afternoon, as the Panthers held on to edge visiting Trenton Catholic, 1-0, in a Burlington County League girls' soccer game.The sophomore defender's goal was unassisted in the 10th minute as she dribbled by herself before targeting the shot from 20 yards.Sarah Bearint had four saves to post the shutout and was aided by a strong defense led by stopper Christina DeJoseph. In other Burlington County League action, Janea Dockins scored a pair of goals and Nefertiti Northern posted eight saves for the shutout as Cinnaminson blanked Willingboro, 6-0.Lauren Branch, Kristen Kozak, Amanda McHugh, and Rachel Waite added goals.Florence and Pemberton exchanged first-half goals en route to a 1-1 tie at Florence. Devan Ross tied the game with 26 minutes left in the first half on a shot from 20 yards. Pemberton had taken the lead on a 13th-minute goal by Raquel Delgado.Missy Callahan and Kasie Shively combined for nine saves as Maple Shade held off host Riverside, 2-1. Kenzee Hudson and Carly Newman scored goals, and Kasie Shively added an assist.Clare McAdam's two goals and two assists helped Holy Cross roll to an easy 7-0 win at Delran. Ashley Shackleford and goalkeeper Rachel Schaeffer added assists. Schaeffer had three saves.Field HockeyCourtney Aquino's two goals helped Hammonton turn back host Lower Cape May, 4-0, in a Cape-Atlantic National game.Camille Maimone and Paige Mortellite added goals, and Jennifer Plummer recorded the shutout with four saves.Colonial. West Deptford needed just two minutes to find the net as the Eagles raced to a 9-0 win over visiting Sterling. Lauren Henry and Amanda Hojnowski scored twice each. Ali Yip had 18 saves for Sterling.Kim Flacco's three unassisted goals helped Haddon Township roll past Woodbury, 8-0. Sara Gawrysiak aided the effort with three goals. Jillian Caputo needed three saves for the shutout.Melissa Cunningham scored three times and Krista LaMaina had two goals as Collingswood cruised past host Haddonfield, 8-0. Becca Hall had just two saves for the shutout, and Kelsey Walsh had 10 for Haddonfield.Nonleague. Alicia Belko's first-half goal helped Rancocas Valley pull out a 1-0 win at Lenape. Rickerhauser posted the shutout with four saves, and Lenape's Amanda Cohen had three.Sarah Applegate and Rylee Fennell scored as Moorestown Friends slipped past host Burlington Township, 2-0. Sam Liberatore had nine saves for the home team, and Nicole Hovatter had one for Moorestown Friends.Cross-CountryKaitlin Clark's second-place finish helped Kingsway score a 24-33 win over visiting Tri-County Conference foe Delsea.Clark navigated the course in 20 minutes, 24 seconds, and the Dragons recorded three of the top five finishers. Celine Mazzi of Delsea grabbed first place with a time of 20:02.Burlington County. Madison Parry and Carley Oldfield finished three seconds apart to lead Cinnaminson to three victories at Rancocas Valley. Parry finished in 22:15, followed by Oldfield in 22:18.Contact staff writer Matt Breen at or @matt_breen on Twitter. ___(c)2012 Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at Distributed by MCT Information ServicesShannon Duick brushed away tears as a technician fixed electrodes onto the head of her infant son, but as a machine sent beeps and clicks into his , the baby slept in her arms, unaware.He slept as the machine came up empty, as it showed his brain registering none of those sounds and as they moved to a quieter room to try again. He slept as they took the clock down from the wall in case the ticking was interfering. He slept as they tried a different room, farther away from the noisy elevator. With each beep, each click, Duick's anxiety grew. The tech tried again and again, over and over for several hours, to detect a positive sign. And finally, somehow, he saw whatever flicker on the monitor he needed."We left that hospital under the assumption that our son can hear," Shannon Duick recalls. "I remember that sigh of relief, that exhale."It would be months before they figured out that Zachary was profoundly deaf. He couldn't hear beeps. He couldn't hear clicks. If a jet landed right next to him, he wouldn't even turn his head at the noise.Zachary would become 's first patient to have cochlear implants placed in both ears.The approved implants for adults in 1985, and children have been getting them since 1990.Putting implants in both ears is slowly becoming more common. Experts say being able to listen with two ears can help children better understand speech and make it easier to determine where sounds are coming from. Since Zachary got his first implant in 2007 and the other side in 2008, GBMC has done only 34 more double implants.And one of those was Zachary's younger brother.The birth of their first child was a long-anticipated landmark for Bill and Shannon Duick. The York, Pa., couple relished decorating a nursery and filling it with toys that rattled and squeaked and played the baby lullabies every day. In their blissed-out days after Zachary arrived on 2005, the couple, who both have normal hearing, hardly considered that anything could be wrong even after the harrowing results from the hearing test. With big brown eyes, smooth skin, and charming pink ears, Zachary seemed perfect.In time, the doubts crept in. Their pediatrician asked if Zachary jumped when the dog barked or when someone dropped a pot. They went home to clang and slam things, and sometimes, it seemed, the baby turned his head. But he was never startled. And at the age when toddlers start saying "mama," "dada" and defiantly shrieking "no," Zachary only babbled.The audiologist who retested Zachary never said the word "deaf," but he suggested the Duicks hurry the child to a specialist. When they got the diagnosis at GBMC, Shannon said, it was like having the wind knocked out of her.But someone at GBMC had mentioned the possibility of a cochlear implant. And though Shannon hardly knew what it meant, she latched onto it because it sounded like hope.Cochlear implants are essentially synthetic ears, devices that allow a person with no natural ability to hear in some cases, almost normally.By 2010 more than 42,000 people in the country had them, the FDA estimates, about 28,000 of them children.Cochlear implants are nothing like hearing aids, which merely turn up the volume for people whose hearing needs a boost. Implants skip right over the ear, ferrying sound frequencies right to the aural nerves and onto the brain.The device comes with three tiny, complex parts. The implant itself is surgically placed behind the ear, just beneath the skin and hair. It has a long tail that reaches into the core of the inner ear, where it anchors a cluster of electrodes. A processor hugs the back of the ear to pick up sounds and send them to the implant through radio waves. Then a remote control that looks just like an can adjust the settings for particular environments.Regina Presley is the senior audiologist at the hospital's cochlear implant center. The Duicks first met her there with Zachary when he was about 18 months old. Presley says children who get an implant before turning 2 can catch up to their hearing classmates by kindergarten. Babies must be at least 12 months old to get an implant, according to FDA rules.The first thing visitors see walking into Presley's narrow, sunny office is the latest in implant technology it's on a shelf right by the door. The pieces aren't necessarily a discreet, hearing-aid beige. There are pinks, blues and greens, swirls and checks even soccer balls. It's to let people know, kids in particular, that these things are not something to be ashamed of. They can even be a sort of style statements.In concert tracker Pollstar's wrap of the 2011 concert biz, U2's 360 tour was the dominant road show internationally, grossing $156 million in and $231 million worldwide. The top 25 North American tours grossed $1.19 billion collectively, off about 4% from $1.24 billion in 2010. The top 25 worldwide tours brought in a $2.1 billion gross, virtually flat compared to last year. U2 sold 1.7 million tickets, at an average cost of $91.67, in North America during the year, for an average of 81,000 tickets per show. The elaborate stadium tour mounted 25 shows in 21 markets. Domestically, country was hot this year, with (grossing $97.7 million) and ($84.6 million) occupying the No. 2 and No. 3 slots respectively among North American attractions. Other top North American live acts included ($63.7 million), ($57.1 million), ($51.8 million), Sade ($48.6 million), and ($48.3 million), ($44.4 million) and ($41.2 million). Dion is something of an anomaly in the top 10, since the Canadian did not actually tour: Her gross was produced by 57 shows at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace. The singer boasted the highest average ticket price in the top 10 at $166.71 per ducat. Worldwide, the British boy band Take That, whose reunited lineup includes U.K. solo superstar , ranked No. 2 behind U2, taking in $224 million off 34 appearances. Other top international acts included Bon Jovi, Swift, , John, , Chesney, Sade and . Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni said the touring outlook for 2012 looks positive, with reunion jaunts by the , , Black Sabbath and , dates by top attractions like Madonna and and a possible 50th anniversary trek in the offing.Click for more music news on Variety.com.After your surgery, the report will help doctors determine the stage (from 0 to 4) of your . This is based on the size of your tumor and whether cancer is in your or has spread beyond the breast. The pathologist determines whether cells are cancerous, precancerous (at high risk of becoming cancerous) or benign (harmless). This information is key for your medical team to develop a treatment plan. Before you read the report:Go to and find the celebrity talking dictionary. You can hear words that you may see on your report pronounced and then defined by the likes of , or . When it's time to go over the results, first check the top of the report to make sure the name and procedure are yours.Be sure you have all the pieces of information. Sometimes tests lead to more tests so wait to get all the results. You will need the whole picture to help make decisions about your treatment. describes the parts of the report. They include:Clinical diagnosis: This is the diagnosis doctors were expecting before your tissue was tested.Gross description: This talks about the size, weight, and color of each sample.Microscopic description: This describes the way the cells look under the microscope.Special tests or markers: This section reports the results of tests for proteins, , and how fast cells are growing.Schedule time with your doctor just to go over the report. The language can be intimidating. Don't be afraid to ask questions. And don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion. It is a common request and most doctors are comfortable with it, says the American Cancer Society. In fact, some insurance companies require you to get one before you start treatment.The passing of was a sad undertone to this year's show. But several marquee artists -- including , Usher and -- will pay tribute to the pop icon in a telecast special that airs Nov. 16 on and tapes in a concert in Los Angeles.The , "We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston," will be taped at the on Oct. 11. The event features sets by those artists performing from Houston's catalog, along with clips from her most beloved performances and several artist interviews.Tickets to the show . Ticket prices range from $25 to $50, not including service fees. Orchestra and VIP packages are available for $125 and above. The concert coincides with the release of Houston's new posthumous greatest hits album, "I Will Always Love You -- The Best of Whitney Houston," which comes out Nov. 13.Houston died on the eve of the in February from an accidental drowning, complicated by and cocaine use, in her Beverly Hills Hotel room in February.ALSO:Visual effects, it seems, are in Montreal's DNA. A couple of the most innovative and influential vfx software outfits of all time -- Softimage and Discreet Logic -- were homegrown ventures. Their legacy continues today with such providers as Rodeo FX, Moment Factory and Hybride Technologies. In fact, so robust is the effects biz in Quebec's largest city that it's pulling back many artists who had once left for other centers, says Rodeo FX prexy Sebastien Moreau, who himself spent years working at Industrial Light and Magic in San Francisco before returning home to set up his own shop six years ago. His chief technology officer Jordan Soles caught the Montreal effects fever too -- leaving Imageworks to join Rodeo a couple of years ago. The Quebec tax credit for visual-effects work done in the province is a big factor in this boom, but so is the quality of the work being done in the city, Moreau says. They get good value for the money they spend. Rodeo worked for all the major Hollywood studios, including the Twilight franchise, Mirror Mirror and . Multimedia company Moment Factory raised its profile earlier this year when it provide the eye-popping visuals for 's halftime show. It had already made its mark through its work for , Jay-Z and the stunt at the music festival during which it launched 1,500 illuminated beach balls into the crowd. Moment Factory co-founder Sakchin Bessette says Montreal's high-tech prowess is due to synergies among the city's theater and performance scene, its robust vidgame business, and its tradition of vfx software development. All this makes people think, 'Yeah we can do it!' It makes the impossible seem possible, Bessette says. Like the . If they can pull it off, why can't we? Located several miles north of Montreal, Hybride celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The studio was bought four years ago by French games giant Ubisoft, which has a major presence in Montreal. Hybride has worked with all the main Hollywood players over the past two decades. The company collaborated with on several pics; came calling to complete work on Avatar; and Hunger Games lists the company in its credits. Hollywood is not coming to Quebec just for the tax-credit savings, according to Hybride prexy Pierre Raymond, echoing many of his colleagues. They're coming for the production values, he says. If they can get more shots without jeopardizing the quality, then they'll call. Marc Bourbonnais, head of vfx shingle Modus FX, stresses that town's shops are not dependent on Hollywood films shooting in Montreal; they're looking to provide effects for films shot anywhere. Montreal has depth, adds Emilie Dussault, head of business development at Mokko Studio, which recently worked on the Chronicles of Riddick sequel, set for a 2013 release, and built its rep with Discovery docu Last Day of the Dinosaurs. I don't think people realize yet the potential that Montreal can offer.Related Links:** Canucks give U.S. a breakClick for more international news on Variety.com.A year after losing to their cross-town rival 10-9, the Warriors' tennis team dominated Victoria East Tuesday afternoon in a 16-3 victory."Of course, it feels really good," first year West coach Jeff Davidson said. "They kids were really excited. This is something they've focused on since last season."The Lady Warriors won every match they played on East's campus, including two 6-0, 6-0 matches by Alex Giles and Yessenia Martinez in singles play. Martinez defeated Gabe Hise 6-0, 6-0 and Giles won over Whitney Jefferson. In all, the Lady Warriors lost just 12 games to East.On the boys' side, the Titans lost all but one singles match -- a 6-0, 6-0 victory by Joseph Garland over Wyatt Marks.Garland was also part of the other East victory in boys doubles, teaming up with Seamos Carlin in a 2-6, 6-4 (10-5) victory over Marks and Antonio Villarreal.Co-captain Chase Bennett and Paul Cobler each won close singles matches, in which they had to bounce back after losing the first set. Bennett defeated Collin Janecka 1-6, 7-5 (10-8). Cobler won his match after dropping the first set as well, 4-6, 7-5 (10-3).The duo combined to win their doubles match after being down three games in the first set. Bennett and Cobler wouldn't lose another game en route to a 6-3, 6-0 victory."They were upset last year," Davidson said about the players. "They were really focused today and worked hard."In the No. 1 girls' single match, Celine Wappler defeated Teresea Wang 6-2, 6-2. In the No. 2 match, co-captain Nicole Cobler won 6-1, 6-1 over Maria Garcia.In girls double action, Wappler and Cobler lost just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 victory. McKinley Pruski and Alex Giles combined to sweep Shelby Tesch and Gabie Hise 6-0, 6-0 and Yessenia Martinez and Brittany Heibel won 6-1, 6-0.The Titans won the lone mixed doubles match 7-5, 6-1.In all, Davidson was happy with the way things played out for the Warriors, but not without some nerves heading into Tuesday's rivalry game."I was nervous going in," Davidson admitted. "It was very close in some of those games. I'm happy with how we fought and the kids believed in themselves. They were all paying attention, too. There wasn't anybody on a cell phone."Tuesday's team victory was also the first of the season for the West squad, but also the first time the entire team had been present at a match."We had one or two miss the first match with ," Davidson explained. "There was also some paperwork that needed to be done, too."For Davidson, there was no one player that stood above the others, but he did say he was proud of the way his two captains handled their responsibilities."Everybody stood out to me," Davidson said. "But our captiains -- Chase (Bennett) and Nicole (Cobler) have done excellent jobs of supporting everybody and getting the entire team to support one another." ___(c)2012 Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas)Visit Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas) at Distributed by MCT Information ServicesIn years past, Sima Blue would never have dreamed of stocking her Green Spring Station boutique with ivory sheath dresses, cream lace blazers and eggshell pleated skirts this late in the season.But times are changing. With major designers including and showcasing white frocks and accessories for their fall collections, white will not only be accepted after this season it will be considered fashion-forward. The trend starts now and will lead up through more traditional "winter" whites."I've never seen as much white as I've been seeing this season," said Blue, as she pointed to a rack filled with pieces from designers such as and . "It used to be you put white away after Labor Day and didn't bring it back until , but those days are over. White is like black you can wear it all year round."For decades, many Americans have followed the unwritten rule of fashion to steer clear of white after Labor Day. White has been considered a summer color, said Latease T. Lashley, founder of Creatively Speaking, a Baltimore-based public speaking company specializing in fashion commentary. "The rule may have originated from the Victorian echelon under the notion that the color white was ... a status symbol for new members of the upper and middle classes in the late 19th and early 20th century," Lashley said. "But whoever is responsible for this rule, it is clearly dated."This spring, in shows from New York to Paris, popular designers peppered their coming autumn collections with an array of white, including shades such as ash, eggshell, creme, pearl, bone and bleach. For example, "Project Runway" alum featured a sheer ivory ball gown skirt and chalk-colored trench-dress. And 's Paris show helmed by designer Karl Lagerfeld was highlighted by a military-inspired chalk jacket and flared skirt, a sheer feather-adorned blouse and wide-leg crepe pants.Celebrities have also been leading the charge some well before this season.At February's , turned heads dressed in a white Tom Ford dress with a cape. Two years before, Paltrow wore white during the December screening of her movie at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts Sciences.Singer Mary J. Bligeappeared at the in Los Angeles last November with a low-plunging ivory suit. A month later, she arrived at the "VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul" show in in a sparkling, beaded, sleeveless white dress.And who could forget at the 2009 inaugural balls in her white chiffon one-shoulder gown adorned with beading and snowy appliques by designer ?"The color white works on most skin types and always reads 'pure, timeless' and always comes across chic if you know how to pull it off," Lashley said. "White is a great transitional color that crosses seasons seamlessly. Break the rules wear white trousers with a navy blazer or pair white jeans with a jewel tone. Wearing white after Labor Day is like wearing black to a wedding. Everyone is afraid to do it, but you will stand out in a good way if it's done right."At local boutiques, owners have noticed a recent shift in attitude and acceptance of the white trend."You can see it especially with the younger shoppers," Blue said. "People want to be creative and individualistic."Blue said white has appeared in fall before, but it has mostly been relegated to flannel or crepe pants. Now, she said, it's being shown in September to be worn in September. "It's in dresses," she said. "It's not just in pants. It's in complete pieces."Jones Jones, the Cross Keys boutique, has a number of white-hued options this season, including a cream petal dress from Theia and a slick off-white raincoat from Creenstone."White is no longer seasonal," said Florence Sokol, owner of Jones Jones. "It can be worn all year round. It's the new black."Nancy Lattman, owner of L'Apparenza in the Lake Falls Village shopping center, is expecting a majority of her customers to start purchasing white clothes in the coming weeks."Some people already have," she said.Lattman loves that designers have offered a number of what she considers "stunning" pieces this season. Her favorites? A Theory pants suit in pearl, anAlice +Oliviawhite leather laser-cut sleeveless dress and a cream and metallic gold sheath dress also from Alice + Olivia.But one note of caution before you pull on those white cotton pants: Just because it's white doesn't necessarily mean its right for the season, said Karen Ciurca-Weiner, buyer and manager at Jones Jones. Ciurca-Weiner warns fashionistas about the type of fabrics they purchase during the colder months."It should be a fall fabric and weather-appropriate," she said. "Don't drag your summer clothes in white into fall."Say "so long" to short skirts and hello (again) to the 1970s. Get ready to banish black from your wardrobe and get creative with color.Now that the spring runway shows are over in New York, Milan and Paris, it's up to department store fashion directors and boutique owners to package the big ideas. Chanel's garden party, Balenciaga's punk brigade and Marc Jacobs' 1970s show were all memorable on the runways, but will they make it to store racks? Here, retailers offer their takeaways from the season, and ideas about how the trends might trickle down to you.Ken Downing, senior vice president and fashion director, Big idea: The vintage effect, fueled by the major YSL retrospective exhibition that just closed in August in Paris. On the runway, designers nodded to Saint Laurent's rich peasant look, Orientalism and "le smoking" [his signature tuxedo].Must haves: Fluid, sheer fabrics and longer hemlines (just above the ankle or to the floor) as we saw at Lanvin, and wide-leg trousers and a white pantsuit with Bianca Jagger swagger. The tuxedo jacket, it's not just evening wear anymore. For accessories, it's all about flat sandals because as a woman begins to add longer hemlines to her wardrobe, flat sandals work best with the new proportion.I'm also loving what I'm calling the "Helmut language" [a reference to Helmut Lang's utilitarian designs from the early 1990s], and the idea of adding a sporty attitude to dressed-up clothing using color-blocking, buckles, straps or parachute fabrics.Will punk take to the streets? Not now. We just cycled through a moment when the 1980s were really influential, along with strong shoulders, so punk doesn't look new to me. But where it ends up, we'll have to watch the runways to find out.Colleen Sherin, fashion market director, Saks Fifth AvenueBig idea: The color story. Bold, bright, vibrant color worked into color-blocked effects and combining colors in unexpected ways.Must haves: A longer-length skirt or dress as seen at and Proenza Schouler in New York, DG and Fendi in Milan and Chanel in Paris. Open-weave knitwear in natural white, ivory or beige crochet, macram, mesh or fishnet, as seen at Rag Bone, Alexander Wang, for Tse, Alberta Ferretti and Celine. And a crisp poplin shirt. We saw it with slouchy wide-leg trousers and skirts for a pared-down look. We also saw it as a play on masculine and feminine at Balenciaga, Stella McCartney and Celine. A trench coat looks great with a longer hemline peeking out. I love the sheer organza ones at Phillip Lim and Christian Cota, and the matte python trench at Emilio Pucci.In terms of accessories, fringe is everywhere on handbags, jewelry and scarves. A shoulder or flap bag is key because it fits into the 1970s trend, as does a pair of platform wedges.Will punk take to the streets? Not in a big way. We've done that trend recently with leathers and studs and grommets, and not enough time has passed to go back. But it may be something we will touch on in our contemporary department.Stephanie Solomon, fashion director, Big idea: Color and print. And this is a serious shift because we've been in love with black for so long.Must haves: A dress or skirt with a hemline hovering around the knees or below. In New York, Alexander Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Derek Lam, Marc Jacobs, and Rebecca Taylor all had great longer lengths. In Milan, we saw it at Versace, Dolce Gabbana, Jil Sander and Roberto Cavalli. Sometimes these longer skirts have asymmetrical hems or slits, which we saw at Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Stella McCartney.It sounds like a myth that hemlines matter, but they do because when you go longer, you have to change your shoes and you have to change your coat. You need flat, wedge or platform sandals. And the long trench coat is chicest with this length. I'm also liking boyfriend jackets over longer skirts.Will punk take to the streets? In a way. You have to have the rock 'n' roll element, otherwise it would get too boring. I would take a studded leather jacket, something that looks worn and torn and ragged from Burberry Prorsum or Givenchy, and put it over a really frothy feminine dress like we saw at Dior. That dichotomy looks right. Or you can be a punk one day and a virgin the next!A little more than a year ago, the makers of took the to the Ontario Mills 30 multiplex for a test screening. The talking-animals film had been scheduled to be released in October 2010, but the brass were so electrified by the audience feedback the marks from kids were so good that one executive thought that the data must be wrong and needed to be recalculated that the studio decided to move "Zookeeper" into the heart of this summer's box-office battle. had other reasons to shift "Zookeeper" to July. With the next movie delayed until summer 2012, the studio was short on big releases for the season. "It plays like a big, big summer movie," Rory Bruer, Sony's distribution president, said of "Zookeeper" at the time of the release-date switch. "And this move is all about opportunity." But now that summer's here, that window of opportunity may be narrower than it seemed."Zookeeper" is opening this Friday, the weekend after Paramount's third blockbuster and a week before ' final "" film, both rated . The PG-rated, $80-million "Zookeeper," which Sony co-financed with , is struggling to attract audience interest, pre-release surveys show.The only other new movie in wide release this weekend, Warner Bros.' R-rated comedy looks poised to deliver better opening returns than "Zookeeper" by a comfortable margin.Hollywood's polling, though, has been a bit unreliable this summer: Surveys suggested that Sony's Disney's Paramount's and Universal's all would do less business on their opening weekends than they actually did. Sony executives declined to comment for this article, but some at the studio are quietly hoping that Hollywood's surveys are faulty again.The most recent audience surveys show negligible interest in "Zookeeper" from any demographic group aside from very young children. But even if "Zookeeper" grosses less than $20 million in its premiere weekend, some believe the film could play to relatively full houses for weeks afterward if the word of mouth is good.A mediocre opening for the film would be a setback for James, the veteran of "The King of Queens" whose last Sony movie, "," did surprisingly big business in 2009. Made for about $26 million, "Paul Blart" cast James as a security guard who foils a heist at a New Jersey shopping center.The film debuted to three-day returns of $31.8 million over the Presidents Day weekend and by the time all the North American tickets were sold, had grossed $146.3 million more than "Taken," "Angels Demons," or made in domestic release. In 2010, James costarred with in which grossed $162 million domestically, but this January's where James played opposite , was a washout, taking in just $48.5 million.At the start of "Zookeeper," James' character, Griffin Keyes (who is, of course, a zookeeper), is dumped by his fiance as he's proposing to her. He then starts taking advice from some unusual therapists the caged creatures he cares for, voiced by Sandler (a monkey), (a lion) and directors (an elephant) and Jon Favreau (a bear). Before long, Keyes is the king of the dating game jungle.At a Las Vegas convention of movie theater owners this spring, Sony showcased "Zookeeper" by building a small petting zoo inside Caesars Palace and screened the film at the Colosseum, the theater that normally hosts . Reaction was largely positive, with several theater owners predicting that the movie would be one of the summer's surprise hits.But "Zookeeper" never really gathered much momentum afterward. People who worked on the film say that when talking animals appear in a film's previews, the movie can look as if it's aimed at a younger audience than it really is. Sony couldn't easily sell the film's cameo voices, and by pitching too much of the romantic comedy story, the studio risked alienating families. And just because James can sell tickets in January as he did with "Paul Blart" doesn't mean he can do the same in July.At the same time, the definition of "family entertainment" seems to be rapidly evolving. Anybody who's been in a multiplex lately knows that many parents have been taking their preteen children to see grown-up fare like rated PG-13 for "sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction and for language, some sexuality and innuendo."Even if "Zookeeper" can establish a small toehold this weekend, it faces "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" in a week. Audience surveys hint that the final movie about the boy wizard could come close to the opening weekend record, currently held by 2008's "The Dark Knight" at $158.4 million.Cleaning up after the animals, it seems, may be the least of Kevin James' problems.Four or five years ago, a reader of some of my columns bought the domain name jamesaltucher.com and gave it to me as a birthday gift. It was a total surprise to me. I didnt even know the reader. I hope one day we meet.Two years ago a friend of mine, Tim Sykes, insisted I had to have a blog. He set it up for me. He even wrote the “About Me”. I didn’t want a blog. I had nothing to say. But about 6 or 7 months ago I decided I wanted to take this blog seriously. I kept putting off changing the “About Me” which was no longer really about me and maybe never was.A few weeks ago I did a chapter in one of the books in Seth Godin’s “The Domino Project”. The book is out and called . Mohit Pawar organized it (heres ) and sent me a bunch of questions recently. Its intended to be an interview on his blog but I hope Mohit forgives me because I want to use it as my new “About Me” also.1. You are a trader, investor, writer, and entrepreneur? Which of these roles you enjoy the most and why?When I first moved to New York City in 1994 I wanted to be everything to everyone. I had spent the six years prior to that writing a bunch of unpublished novels and unpublished short stories. I mustve sent out 100s of stories to literary journals. I got form rejections from every publisher, journal, and agent I sent my novels and stories to.Now, in 1994, everything was possible. The money was in NYC. Media was here. I lived in my 1010 room and pulled suits out of a garbage bag every morning but it didnt matterthe internet was revving up and I knew how to build a website. One of the few in the city. My sister warned me though: nobody here is your friend. Everybody wants something.And I wanted something. I wanted the fleeting feelings of success, for the first time ever, in order to feel better about myself. next to me. I wanted to build and sell companies and finally prove to everyone I was the smartest. I wanted to do a . I wanted to .But everything involved having a master. Clients. Employers. Investors. Publishers. The market (the deadliest master of all). Employees. I was a slave to everyone for so many years. And the more shackles I had on, the lonelier I got.(Me in the Fortress of Solitude)Much of the time, even when I had those moments of success, I didnt know how to turn it into a better life. I felt ugly and then later, I felt stupid when I would let the success dribble away down the sink.I love writing because every now and then that ugliness turns into honesty. When I write, I’m only a slave to myself. When I do all of those other things you ask about, I’m a slave to everyone else.Some links:“”(one of my favorite posts on my blog)2. What inspires you to get up and start working/writing every day?The other day I had breakfast with a fascinating guy who had just sold a piece of his fund of funds. He told me what “fracking” was and how the US was going to be a major oil player again. We spoke for two hours about a wide range of topics, including what happens when we can finally implant a google chip in our brains.After that I had to go onto NPR because I firmly believe that in we are graduating a generation of indentured servants who will spend 50 years or more paying down their student debt rather than starting companies and curing cancer. So maybe I made a difference.Then I had lunch with a guy I hadn’t seen in ten years. . I felt bad I hadn’t helped him when he was at his low point. Then I came home and watched my kid play clarinet at her school. Then I read until I fell asleep. Today I did nothing but write. Both days inspired me.It also inspires me that I’m being asked these questions. Whenever anyone asks me to do anything I’m infinitely grateful. Why me? I feel lucky. I like it when someone cares what I think. I’ll write and do things as long as anyone cares. I honestly probably wouldn’t write if nobody cared. I don’t have enough humility for that, I’m ashamed to admit.3. Your new book “” has just come out. What is it about?When I was a kid I thought I needed certain things: a college education from a great school, a great home, a lot of money, someone who would love me with ease. I wanted people to think I was smart. I wanted people to think I was even special.  And as I grew older more and more goals got added to the list: a high chess rating, a published book, perfect weather, good friends,  respect in various fields, etc. I lied to myself that I needed these things to be happy. The world was going to work hard to give me these things, I thought. But it turned out the world owed me no favors.And gradually, over time, . Several times.  I’ve paced at night so many times wondering what the hell was I going to do next or trying not to care. The book is about regaining your sanity, regaining your happiness, finding luck in all the little pockets of life that people forget about. It’s about turning away from the religion you’ve been hypnotized into believing into the religion you can find inside yourself every moment of the day.[Note: in a few days I'm going to do a post on self-publishing and also how to get the ebook for free. The link above is to the paperback. Kindle should be ready soon also.]Related link: 4. Is it possible to accelerate success? If yes, how? Yes, and it’s the only way I know actually to achieve success. It’s the only way I know to exercise every muscle from the inside of you to the outside of you. I firmly believe that happiness starts with that practice.5. You say that discipline, persistence and psychology are important if one has to achieve success. How can one work on improving “psychology” part?Success doesn’t really mean anything. People want to be happy in a harsh and unforgiving world. It’s very difficult. We’re so lucky most of us live in countries without major wars. Our kids aren’t getting killed by random gunfire. We all have cell phones. We all can communicate with each other on the Internet. We have Google to catalog every piece of information in history!  We are so amazingly lucky already.How can it be I was so lucky to be born into such a body? In New York City of all places? Just by being born in such a way on this planet was an amazing success.So what else is there? The fact is that most of us, including me, have a hard time being happy with such ready-made success. We quickly adapt and want so much more out of life. It’s not wars or disease that kill us. It’s the minor inconveniences that add up in life. It’s the times we feel slighted or betrayed. Or even slightly betrayed. Or overcharged. Or we miss a train. Or it’s raining today. Or the dishwasher doesn’t work. Or the supermarket doesn’t have the food we like. We forget how good the snow tasted when we were kids. Now we want gourmet food at every meal.Taking a step back, doing the I outline in the question above. For me, the results of that bring me happiness. That’s success. Today. And hopefully tomorrow.6. You advocate not sending kids to college. What if kids grow up and then blame their parents about not letting them get a college education?I went to one of my kid’s music recitals yesterday. She was happy to see me. I hugged her afterwards. She played “the star wars theme” on the clarinet. I wish I could’ve played that for my parents. My other daughter has a dance recital in a few weeks. I tried to give her tips but she laughed at me. I was quite the breakdancer in my youth. I want to be present for them. To love them. To let them always know that in their own dark moments, they know I will listen to them. I love them. Even when they cry and don’t always agree with me. Even when they laugh at me because sometimes I act like a clown.Later, if they want to blame me for anything at all then I will still love them. That’s my “what if”.Two posts:7. Four of your favorite posts from The Altucher Confidential.As soon as I publish a post I get scared to death. Is it good? Will people re-tweet? Will one part of the audience of this blog like it at the expense of another part of the audience. Will I get Facebook Likes? I have to stop clinging to these things but you also need to respect the audience. I don’t know. It’s a little bit confusing to me. I don’t have the confidence of a real writer yet.Here are four of my favorites. (and lost another in the process)Although these three are favorites I really dont post anything unless its my favorite of that moment.8. 3 must-read books for aspiring entrepreneurs?The key in an entrepreneur book: you want to learn business. You want to learn how to honestly communicate with your customers. You want to stand out.The Essays of Warren Buffett by Lawrence Cunningham“The Thank you Economy” by Gary Vaynerchuk“Purple cow” by Seth Godin9. I love your writing, so do so many others out there. Who are your favorite writers?“Jesus’s Son” by Denis Johnson is the best collection of short stories ever written. I’m afraid I really don’t like his novels though.“Tangents” by M. Prado. A beautiful series of graphic stories about relationships.Other writers: Miranda July, Ariel Leve, Mary Gaitskill, Charles Bukowski, Celine, Sam Lipsyte, William Vollmann, Raymond Carver. Arthur Nersesian. Stephen Dubner.(Bukowski)Many writers are only really good storytellers. Most writers come out of a cardboard factory MFA system and lack a real voice. A real voice is where every word exposes ten levels of hypocrisy in the world and brings us all the way back to see reality. The writers above have their own voices, their own pains, and their unique ways of expressing those pains. Some of them are funny. Some a little more dark. I wish I could write 1/10 as good as any of them.10. You are a prolific writer. Do you have any hacks that help you write a lot in little time?Coffee, plus everything else coffee does for you first thing in the morning.Only write about things you either love or hate. But if you hate something, try to find a tiny gem buried in the bag of dirt so you can reach in when nobody is looking and put that gem in your pocket. Stealing a diamond in all the shit around us and then giving it away for free via writing is a nice little hack, Being fearless precisely when you are most scared is the best hack.11. I totally get and love your idea about bleeding as a writer, appreciate if you share more with the readers of this blog.Most people worry about what other people think of them. Most people worry about their health. Most people are at a crossroads and don’t know how to take the next step and which road to take it on. Everyone is in a perpetual state of ‘where do I put my foot next’. Nobody, including me, can avoid that.You and I both need to wash our faces in the morning, brush our teeth, shower, shit, eat, fight the weather, fight the colds that want to attack us if we’re not ready. Fight loneliness or learn how to love and appreciate the people who want to love you back. And learn how to forgive and love the people who are even more stupid and cruel than we are. We’re afraid to tell each other these things because they are all both disgusting and true.You and I both have the same color blood. If I cut my wrist open you can see the color of my blood. You look at it and see that it’s the same color as yours. We have something in common. It doesn’t have to be shameful. It’s just red. Now we’re friends. No matter whom you are or where you are from. I didn’t have to lie to you to get you to be my friend.Related Links:12. What is your advice for young entrepreneurs?Only build something you really want to use yourself. There’s got to be one thing you are completely desperate for and no matter where you look you can’t find it. Nobody has invented it yet. So there you go – you invent it. If there’s other people like you, you have a business. Else. You fail. Then do it again. Until it works. One day it will.Follow these 100 Rules:And, in particular this:In my just released book I have more chapters on my experiences as an entrepreneur.13. I advocate the concept of working at a job while building your business. You have of course lived it. Now as you look back, what is your take on this? Is it possible to make it work while sailing on two boats?Your boss wants everything out of you. He wants you to work 80 hours a week. He wants to look good taking credit for your work. He wants your infinite loyalty. So you need something back.It’s the best way to get good experience, clients, contacts. It’s a legal way to steal. It’s a fast way to be an entrepreneur because you see what large companies with infinite money are willing to pay for. If you can provide that, you make millions. It’s how many great businesses have started and will always start. It’s how every exit I’ve had started.14. Who is a person with true moral fiber? In current times are there any role models who are people with true moral fiber. I don’t really know the answer. I think . I hope I’m someone like that. And I pray to god the people I’m invested in are like that and my family is like that.I find most people to be largely mean and stupid, a vile combination. It’s not that I’m pessimistic or cynical. I’m very much an optimist. It’s just reality. Open the newspaper or turn on the TV and .Moral fiber atrophies more quickly than any muscle on the body. An exercise I do every morning is to promise myself that “I’m going to save a life today” and then leave it in the hands of the Universe to direct me how I can best do that. Through that little exercise plus the described above I hope to keep regenerating that fiber.15.   Your message to the readers of this blog?Skip dinner. Read more posts on Meredith Galante/Business InsiderJane Saidenberg, CEO of handbag company Jane MarvelInside a Riverside Drive penthouse, where a music studio used to be, there is now a family room filled with children's artwork.The penthouse, which was once music producer Andy Marvel's bachelor pad, has been converted into a family home where his wife cooks dinner and their two sons do homework.Marvel and his wife, Jane Saidenberg, are a New York power couple. Marvel is best known for writing Celine Dion's "Treat Her Like A Lady," and Jessica Simpson's "With You." Saidenberg is the founder and CEO of , a handbag company that sells affordable, fashionable totes.Marvel purchased the main floor of their current home in 1995. In 2002, after he andSaidenberg had wed and were expecting a second child, the couple purchased the upstairs penthouse and redesigned both apartments into a two-story home.The total cost of renovations, which included knocking down walls and building a staircase, cost around $800,000. Their "dream home" spans nearly 2,800 square feet, not including out door space. It has three bedrooms, and three bathrooms, and has even temporarily served as office space for both Marvel and Saidenberg."My entire family, we all know how lucky we are and how rare this space is," Saidenberg said.We recently stopped by to meet Saidenberg and take a tour of her Upper West Side home.Business InsiderEvery Thursday from 3:30-4:30 PM EST I answer questions on twitter.The questions can be about anything ranging from money to sex to stocks to love to startups to marriage to whatever.I answer the questions via but I then summarize and give expanded answers by Saturday.I dont think I know all the answers to anything. Im not trying to be egotistical by saying I have answers. But its fun for me and Ive been through a lot so I hope some of my answers are useful to people.WHAT IS SUCCESS?@texandcoda asks: In your opinion/experience, what defines success?ANSWER: When I first made a lot of money I thought, This is it. I succeeded in New York. Im on top of the world.Less than three years later I was dead broke and lost my house. I was worse than dead broke. I was probably over a million in debt. And I had no friends. I lost them all. Success was just the midwife to the worst failures a man can have. [See, ]Then I did it again. And again and again. And each time I let it give birth to an uglier and uglier failure.So I had to redefine it for myself. What does success mean to me now? . I dont want houses, or boats, or big vacations. I want . Freedom to get in shape, to stay emotionally healthy (which means 100% surrounding myself with uplifting people), mentally healthy (the ability and time to write this blog helps that), and spiritually healthy (the ability to read and have time and reduce my desire for all the toys that success in America usually implies). I want to die when Im an old man knowing I was successful at these four items.That is success. Am I there? I dont know. But I hope I get closer every day.SHORTCUT TO SUCCESS@kehindabajo asks: if there was a shortcut to success.what would it be?I can only say whats worked for me: the only shortcut to success is by doing the steps outlines every day. I also provide modifications to it in In the post I say specifically that in six months your life will be completely different. I know this because its worked for me.Why does this work? Because it keeps you healthy, it keeps you from being distracted by emotional intrigue, it keeps you smart, and it helps you reduce the passions and needs and wants that will ultimately keep success from ever being your complete grasp. And here are the . Avoid those and you are off to a good head start.FAVORITE COMEDIAN, SHOW, BEATLES SONG, BOOKS, etcSeveral people asked me my favorites on a variety of topics so I supply them here:Favorite Comedian: Louis CK and Jim Norton couldnt be more different from each other. But I love them both. Jim Norton I went to school with, and . The other, Louis CK, Ive probably watched every episode hes been on TV (in the series, Lucky Louie which also featured Norton, and in his new series Louie, which is much better) and Ive watched every Youtube clip with him.Favorite Vonnegut book: Slaughterhouse Five. The most autobiographical it details Vonneguts experiences in Dresden during and after the fire bombing that destroyed the entire city. It shakes up Vonneguts spirit to the point where the main character cant even stay fixed in time. The book is surreal and I think represents Vonneguts purest voice and philosophy.Favorite Freaks n Geeks episode: The 14th episode. Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers. Specifically the scene at the end when Bill is crying because he cant handle the fact that his mom is going out with the coach of the school. Bill is the ultimate geek and he scorned the coach and everything he stood for.I related to Bill and felt like crying when he was crying. Also, the first scene where food is falling out of his mouth while he is laughing at Garry Shandling (one of my favorite comedians) is classic.Favorite book about software: You dont have to be a programmer to appreciate Joel on Software by or Hackers Painters by . Both guys are (or started as) programmers, built up successful business and learned how to apply their programming skills to deeper issues in both business and life. I recommend both.Favorite business book: The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley is the perfect book for business. It shows with science and sound reasoning why the doom-and-gloomers will always be wrong. Economic development has saved country after country from the disasters of infant mortality, illiteracy, war, terrorism, and so on. I also like The Science of Getting Rich written in 1900 by Wallace Wattles.Favorite Beatles song: While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison, the most underrated Beatle and perhaps thebest songwriter among the four. Even the title is like an entire poem by itself.OCCUPY WALL STREET: Several people asked about this.ANSWER: Ive written about this several times. But, heres the thing.OW!Thats what the Occupy Wall Street people are feeling. They are in pain:All of the above happened to me. Specifically in 2008. I could easily be down there protesting for the same reasons.BUT, I actually lived there for several years. On Wall Street. My roof overlooked the New York Stock Exchange.You never saw a sorrier, sadder group of pe ple going to work every day than on Wall Street in March, 2009. The actual people who WORK on Wall Street are low-level people who are slaves of the banks.These people lost everything. Now, to top off their depression, the protestors are waving signs in their faces as if the Wall Streeters are the guilty ones.Let me tell you something: the guilty parties live in Greenwich, CT. Work on Park Avenue and Washington, DC, and they are more than happy to see Occupy Wall Street all the way downtown on Wall Street.Because of the lack of organization, the Occupy Wall Streeters think they are protesting something symbolic: the greed of Wall Street. The rich bankers are 5 miles north laughing their way to the bank.Lets get the banks to start lending again. Lets let the stock market go up instead of protesting it. When there is more money in the system, more people will get hired, more people will find opportunities, more businesses will get funded. Being angry at the people who lost the most wont help anyone.iframe src=http://www.businessinsider.com/embed?id=4e40132869bedd9d01000006amp;width=600amp;height=430 width=600 height=430 border=0 frameborder=0/iframeCourtesy Sotheby's International Realty/WikipediaSongstress Celine Dion and her husband are , the reports.The island, just 15 minutes from downtown Montreal, is around 20 acres and has a private bridge and security station.Furniture and art are included in the sale price; we hope the buyer appreciates Dion's ornate taste.If you thought details of the Costa Concordia disaster couldn't get much stranger than the captain saying he didn't lead the evacuation, well, get a load of this: Two of the ship's passengers told a Swiss paper that the theme song fromTitanicwas playing in one of the dining rooms just as the ship started to list. So, as people no doubt started to panic, Celine Dion'sMy Heart Will Go Onwafted through the restaurant. Thealso reports a second Titanic connection: One of the women to survive had relatives aboard in the 1912 sinking.This originally appeared at This story was originally published by.The music business continues to decline, but Sony's Howard Stringer is determined to make a go of it anyway, and he's willing to pay a premium. He's just purchased partner Bertelsmann's 50% stake in the Sony BMG joint venture. In an oddly structured deal, Sony will end up spending about $1.2 billion on the deal, but will end valuing Bertelsmann's half at $900 million.The details, via a Sony release:First, a portion of Bertelsmanns interest in SONY BMG will be redeemed for approximately $600 million of cash by SONY BMG (SONY BMG has not been consolidated by Sony and will not be consolidated until after this transaction closes). Sonys U.S. wholly-owned subsidiary, Sony Corporation of America, will then purchase the remaining interest from Bertelsmann for approximately $600 million. As a result, Bertelsmann will receive approximately $900mm in value for its 50% stake plus $300mm of its share of cash on Sony BMG's balance sheet. Sony views this as approximately $600mm net cash cost as it does not consolidate Sony BMGs cash.By our count, that would imply a total value of $1.8 billion for the whole company. That's a little less than half of Sony BMG's 2008 FY revenues of $3.9 billion, and about 11x net income of $178 million.By comparison, Warner Music Group (WMG) which has similarly sized revenues ($3.46 billion) is trading at a .34 price/sales ratio. Warner comes with a good-sized publishing catalog, and the music publishing business (which deals with the rights to song compositions, not the song recordings themselves) is in relatively decent shape. But Sony BMG doesn't include publishing rights: Bertelmann sold its publishing business to Universal Music Group last year, and Sony's valuable publishing business has long been separate from its music label.But for argument's sake, let's say the two are apples-to-apples comparisons, anyway. Applying that same .34 ratio to Sony BMG's $3.9 billion sales (it's actually shrunk in last three months, but bear with us) implies a value of $1.3 billion for the company. Which means that Sir Howard should have been paying about $650 million instead of the $900 million. That seems like an awfully steep premimum for an asset that's going to keep shrinking for some time to come - in a best case scenario.Excerpts from three releases follow:Main deal announcement:New York, August 5, 2008 The international media and entertainment companies Sony Corporation and Bertelsmann AG today announced that Sony has agreed to acquire Bertelsmanns 50 percent stake in Sony BMG. The music company, to be called Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (SMEI), will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. Sony and Bertelsmann AG originally created the Sony BMG joint venture in August 2004...Once the transaction is completed, Sony Music Entertainment Inc. will be comprised of premier music labels such as: Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, Jive Records, RCA Records and Zomba. Key recording artists will include Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Yo-Yo Ma, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Usher and Jay Chou.As part of the transaction, the parties have also agreed to continue to share the companys manufacturing and distribution requirements between Sonys manufacturing subsidiary, Sony DADC, and Bertelsmanns services company, Arvato Digital Services GmbH (Arvato), by extending the agreements with Arvato for additional terms of up to six years. In addition, Bertelsmann will be taking over selected European music catalog assets from Sony BMG.Financial detailsThe transaction will be structured as follows: First, a portion of Bertelsmanns interest in SONY BMG will be redeemed for approximately $600 million of cash by SONY BMG (SONY BMG has not been consolidated by Sony and will not be consolidated until after this transaction closes). Sonys U.S. wholly-owned subsidiary, Sony Corporation of America, will then purchase the remaining interest from Bertelsmann for approximately $600 million. As a result, Bertelsmann will receive approximately $900mm in value for its 50% stake plus $300mm of its share of cash on Sony BMG's balance sheet. Sony views this as approximately $600mm net cash cost as it does not consolidate Sony BMGs cash. In addition, Bertelsmann will be taking over a limited amount of selected European music catalog assets from SONY BMG. These catalogs represented approximately $20 million (less than 1%) of SONY BMGs revenues in calendar year 2007. The parties have also agreed to continue to share the companys manufacturing and distribution requirements between Sonys manufacturing subsidiary, Sony DADC, and Bertelsmanns services company, Arvato Digital Services GmbH (Arvato), by extending agreements with Arvato for additional terms of up to six years.The closing of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including approvals ofregulatory authorities in certain jurisdictions.Berteslmann plans for remaining music assets:he international media company Bertelsmann is gearing the business of its Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) towards music rights management. The realignment is connected with the sale of Bertelsmanns stake in the Sony BMG Music Entertainment joint venture to the Sony Corporation of America. Bertelsmann is taking over selected European catalogs of music rights from Sony BMG as part of the transaction. They comprise the works of more than 200 artists. The catalogs will continue to be distributed by Sony Music.Taking over these catalogs is an important step towards the planned establishment of a licensing and management platform for exploiting and marketing music rights under the BMG brand. The designated managing director of BMG, based in Berlin, is Hartwig Masuch, an experienced music industry executive, who most recently advised Bertelsmann in the negotiations with Sony. Maximilian Dressendrfer, Vice President BMG, will also be part of the management team.Bertelsmanns Chief Financial Officer Thomas Rabe, who is responsible for the music division on the groups Executive Board, stated: The many new distribution paths are causing an increase in the demand for music use rights. In view of this fact, we believe that building a business for the management and exploitation of such rights in Europe is an attractive proposition. We want to take advantage of our opportunities and position ourselves with the strong, well-established BMG brand and a management that is highly regarded in the market.A clip from Electronic Conspiracy's music videoA French porn star is suing rapper Bow Wow, claiming he stole a video clip of her performing in a French band's music video and used it in his own video without her permission.Celine "Katsuni" Tran, who has won several adult film industry awards, as a "club dancer" in Electronic Conspiracy's music video, according to Courthouse News Service, which reported the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon.Bow Wow, real name Shad Gregory Moss, took that clip of Tran dancing and inserted it into his "Drank in My Cup" music video without her permission, according to Tran's lawsuit.Tran is also claiming the clip of her dancing "dominates" Bow Wow's video and that the rapper engages in "intimate activities" with a Katsuni body double, according to CNS.Denise Rich, the celebrity songwriter who has written music for such notables as Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson, and Diana Ross, is putting her Fifth Avenue penthouse apartment up for sale, forThe .Rich is asking for $65 million, making this apartment the most expensive co-op to ever reach the New York selling block.This luxurious co-op features an upper-level grand salon, a wrap-around terrace with a stunning view of Central Park, and a professional recording studio.People around the world really love In-N-Out.The west coast "better burger" chain has been on a tour ofAsia, putting up pop-up stores in Tokyo, Shanghai and more.Its latest pop-up store was in Singapore, and it sold out in just five minutes, .Folks started lining up at 9:30 AM to get their hands on a burger. It's rumored that there were 300 wristbands for burgers, and the promo was supposed to run from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.At 11:05 AM, the remaining people had to be turned away by the manager. They did get free t-shirts as consolation.Amy McKeever at that Singapore beat Sydney, whose throng of burger-lovers took an hour to snatch all the burgers at their pop-up store, though we don't know how many patties they had brought in."An adoring burger-eating world demands more In-N-Out," she writes. "Or, you know, at least more than 300 patties next time."NOW SEE:Four or five years ago, a reader of some of my columns bought the domain name jamesaltucher.com and gave it to me as a birthday gift. It was a total surprise to me. I didnt even know the reader. I hope one day we meet.Two years ago a friend of mine, Tim Sykes, insisted I had to have a blog. He set it up for me. He even wrote the About Me. I didnt want a blog. I had nothing to say. But about 6 or 7 months ago I decided I wanted to take this blog seriously. I kept putting off changing the About Me which was no longer really about me and maybe never was.A few weeks ago I did a chapter in one of the books in Seth Godins The Domino Project. The book is out and called . Mohit Pewar organized it (heres ) and sent me a bunch of questions recently. Its intended to be an interview on his blog but I hope Mohit forgives me because I want to use it as my new About Me also.1. You are a trader, investor, writer, and entrepreneur? Which of these roles you enjoy the most and why?When I first moved to New York City in 1994 I wanted to be everything to everyone. I had spent the six years prior to that writing a bunch of unpublished novels and unpublished short stories. I mustve sent out 100s of stories to literary journals. I got form rejections from every publisher, journal, and agent I sent my novels and stories to.Now, in 1994, everything was possible. The money was in NYC. Media was here. I lived in my 1010 room and pulled suits out of a garbage bag every morning but itdidntmatterthe internet was revving up and I knew how to build a website. One of the few in the city. My sister warned me though: nobody here is your friend. Everybody wants something.And I wanted something. I wanted the fleeting feelings of success, for the first time ever, in order to feel better about myself. next to me. I wanted to build and sell companies and finally prove to everyone I was the smartest. I wanted to do a . I wanted to .But everything involved having a master. Clients. Employers. Investors. Publishers. The market (the deadliest master of all). Employees. I was a slave to everyone for so many years. And the more shackles I had on, the lonelier I got.Much of the time, even when I had those moments of success, I didnt know how to turn it into a better life. I felt ugly and then later, I felt stupid when I would let the success dribble away down the sink.I love writing because every now and then that ugliness turns into honesty. When I write, Im only a slave to myself. When I do all of those other things you ask about, Im a slave to everyone else.Some links:(one of my favorite posts on my blog)2. What inspires you to get up and start working/writing every day?The other day I had breakfast with a fascinating guy who had just sold a piece of his fund of funds. He told me what fracking was and how the US was going to be a major oil player again. We spoke for two hours about a wide range of topics, including what happens when we can finally implant a google chip in our brains.After that I had to go onto NPR because I firmly believe that in we are graduating a generation of indentured servants who will spend 50 years or more paying down their student debt rather than starting companies and curing cancer. So maybe I made a difference.Then I had lunch with a guy I hadnt seen in ten years. . I felt bad I hadnt helped him when he was at his low point. Then I came home and watched my kid play clarinet at her school. Then I read until I fell asleep. Today I did nothing but write. Both days inspired me.It also inspires me that Im being asked these questions. Whenever anyone asks me to do anything Im infinitely grateful. Why me? I feel lucky. I like it when someone cares what I think. Ill write and do things as long as anyone cares. I honestly probably wouldnt write if nobody cared. I dont have enough humility for that, Im ashamed to admit.3. Your new book has just come out. What is it about?When I was a kid I thought I needed certain things: a college education from a great school, a great home, a lot of money, someone who would love me with ease. I wanted people to think I was smart. I wanted people to think I was even special. And as I grew older more and more goals got added to the list: a high chess rating, a published book, perfect weather, good friends, respect in various fields, etc. I lied to myself that I needed these things to be happy. The world was going to work hard to give me these things, I thought. But it turned out the world owed me no favors.And gradually, over time, . Several times. Ive paced at night so many times wondering what the hell was I going to do next or trying not to care. The book is about regaining your sanity, regaining your happiness, finding luck in all the little pockets of life that people forget about. Its about turning away from the religion youve been hypnotized into believing into the religion you can find inside yourself every moment of the day.[Note: in a few days I'm going to do a post on self-publishing and also how to get the ebook for free. The link above is to the paperback. Kindle should be ready soon also.]Related link: 4. Is it possible to accelerate success? If yes, how?Yes, and its the only way I know actually to achieve success. Its the only way I know to exercise every muscle from the inside of you to the outside of you. I firmly believe that happiness starts with that practice.5. You say that discipline, persistence and psychology are important if one has to achieve success. How can one work on improving psychology part?Success doesnt really mean anything. People want to be happy in a harsh and unforgiving world. Its very difficult. Were so lucky most of us live in countries without major wars. Our kids arent getting killed by random gunfire. We all have cell phones. We all can communicate with each other on the Internet. We have Google to catalog every piece of information in history! We are so amazingly lucky already.How can it be I was so lucky to be born into such a body? In New York City of all places? Just by being born in such a way on this planet was an amazing success.So what else is there? The fact is that most of us, including me, have a hard time being happy with such ready-made success. We quickly adapt and want so much more out of life. Its not wars or disease that kill us. Its the minor inconveniences that add up in life. Its the times we feel slighted or betrayed. Or even slightly betrayed. Or overcharged. Or we miss a train. Or its raining today. Or the dishwasher doesnt work. Or the supermarket doesnt have the food we like. We forget how good the snow tasted when we were kids. Now we want gourmet food at every meal.Taking a step back, doing the I outline in the question above. For me, the results of that bring me happiness. Thats success. Today. And hopefully tomorrow.6. You advocate not sending kids to college. What if kids grow up and then blame their parents about not letting them get a college education?I went to one of my kids music recitals yesterday. She was happy to see me. I hugged her afterwards. She played the star wars theme on the clarinet. I wish I couldve played that for my parents. My other daughter has a dance recital in a few weeks. I tried to give her tips but she laughed at me. I was quite the breakdancer in my youth. I want to be present for them. To love them. To let them always know that in their own dark moments, they know I will listen to them. I love them. Even when they cry and dont always agree with me. Even when they laugh at me because sometimes I act like a clown.Later, if they want to blame me for anything at all then I will still love them. Thats my what if.Two posts: 7. Four of your favorite posts from The Altucher Confidential.As soon as I publish a post I get scared to death. Is it good? Will people re-tweet? Will one part of the audience of this blog like it at the expense of another part of the audience. Will I get Facebook Likes? I have to stop clinging to these things but you also need to respect the audience. I dont know. Its a little bit confusing to me. I dont have the confidence of a real writer yet.Here are four of my favorites.Although these three are favorites I really dont post anything unless its my favorite of that moment.8. 3 must-read books for aspiring entrepreneurs?The key in an entrepreneur book: you want to learn business. You want to learn how to honestly communicate with your customers. You want to stand out.The Essays of Warren Buffett by Lawrence CunninghamThe Thank you Economy by Gary VaynerchukPurple cow by Seth Godin9. I love your writing, so do so many others out there. Who are your favorite writers?Jesuss Son by Denis Johnson is the best collection of short stories ever written. Im afraid I really dont like his novels though.Tangents by M. Prado. A beautiful series of graphic stories about relationships.Other writers: Miranda July, Ariel Leve, Mary Gaitskill, Charles Bukowski, Celine, Sam Lipsyte, William Vollmann, Raymond Carver. Arthur Nersesian. Stephen Dubner.Many writers are only really good storytellers. Most writers come out of a cardboard factory MFA system and lack a real voice. A real voice is where every word exposes ten levels of hypocrisy in the world and brings us all the way back to see reality. The writers above have their own voices, their own pains, and their unique ways of expressing those pains. Some of them are funny. Some a little more dark. I wish I could write 1/10 as good as any of them. 10. You are a prolific writer. Do you have any hacks that help you write a lot in little time?Coffee, plus everything else coffee does for you first thing in the morning.Only write about things you either love or hate. But if you hate something, try to find a tiny gem buried in the bag of dirt so you can reach in when nobody is looking and put that gem in your pocket. Stealing a diamond in all the shit around us and then giving it away for free via writing is a nice little hack, Being fearless precisely when you are most scared is the best hack. 11. I totally get and love your idea about bleeding as a writer, appreciate if you share more with the readers of this blog.Most people worry about what other people think of them. Most people worry about their health. Most people are at a crossroads and dont know how to take the next step and which road to take it on. Everyone is in a perpetual state of where do I put my foot next. Nobody, including me, can avoid that.You and I both need to wash our faces in the morning, brush our teeth, shower, shit, eat, fight the weather, fight the colds that want to attack us if were not ready. Fight loneliness or learn how to love and appreciate the people who want to love you back. And learn how to forgive and love the people who are even more stupid and cruel than we are. Were afraid to tell each other these things because they are all both disgusting and true.You and I both have the same color blood. If I cut my wrist open you can see the color of my blood. You look at it and see that its the same color as yours. We have something in common. It doesnt have to be shameful. Its just red. Now were friends. No matter whom you are or where you are from. I didnt have to lie to you to get you to be my friend.Related Links:12. What is your advice for young entrepreneurs?Only build something you really want to use yourself. Theres got to be one thing you are completely desperate for and no matter where you look you cant find it. Nobody has invented it yet. So there you go you invent it. If theres other people like you, you have a business. Else. You fail. Then do it again. Until it works. One day it will.Follow these 100 Rules:And, in particular this:In my just released book I have more chapters on my experiences as an entrepreneur.13. I advocate the concept of working at a job while building your business. You have of course lived it. Now as you look back, what is your take on this? Is it possible to make it work while sailing on two boats? Your boss wants everything out of you. He wants you to work 80 hours a week. He wants to look good taking credit for your work. He wants your infinite loyalty. So you need something back.Its the best way to get good experience, clients, contacts. Its a legal way to steal. Its a fast way to be an entrepreneur because you see what large companies with infinite money are willing to pay for. If you can provide that, you make millions. Its how many great businesses have started and will always start. Its how every exit Ive had started. 14. Who is a person with true moral fiber? In current times are there any role models who are people with true moral fiber.I dont really know the answer. I think . I hope Im someone like that. And I pray to god the people Im invested in are like that and my family is like that.I find most people to be largely mean and stupid, a vile combination. Its not that Im pessimistic or cynical. Im very much an optimist. Its just reality. Open the newspaper or turn on the TV and .Moral fiber atrophies more quickly than any muscle on the body. An exercise I do every morning is to promise myself that Im going to save a life today and then leave it in the hands of the Universe to direct me how I can best do that. Through that little exercise plus the described above I hope to keep regenerating that fiber.15. Your message to the readers of this blog?Skip dinner. Read more posts on Bukowski was disgusting, his actual real fiction is awful, hes been called a misogynist, a Nazi, overly simplistic, (and probably all of the above are true to an extent) and whenever theres a collection of Greatest American Writers hes never included.And yet hes probably the greatest American writer ever. Whether youve read him or not, and most have not, theres 6 things worthy of learning from an artist like Bukowski.I consider Ham on Rye by Bukowski probably the greatest American novel ever written. Its an autobiographical novel (as are all his novels except Pulp which is so awful its unreadable) about his childhood, being beaten by his parents, avoiding war, and beginning his life of destitution, hardship, alcoholism, and the beginnings of his education as a writer.Im almost embarrassed to admit hes an influence. Many people hate him and Im much more afraid of being judged than he ever was.1) Honesty. His first four novels are extremely autobiographical. He details the suffering he had as a child (putting his parents in a very bad light but he didnt care), he details his experiences with prostitutes, his lack of interest in holding down a job, his horrible experiences and lack of real respect for the women he was in relationships with, and on and on.His fiction and poetry document thoroughly the people he hates, the authors he despises, the establishment he could care less about (and he hated the anti-establishment just as much. One quote about a potential plan the hippie movement was going to do: Run a pig for president? What the fuck is that? It excited them. It bored me.)Most fiction writers do what fiction writers do: they make stuff up. They tell stories that come from their imagination. Bukowski wasnt really able to do that. Whenever he attempted fiction (his last novel being a great example) it fell flat. Even his poetry is non-fiction.Theres one story he wrote (I forget the name) where hes sitting in a bar and he wants to be alone and some random guy starts talking to him: its horrible about all those girls who were burned and Bukowski says (Im getting the words a little off. Doing this from memory), I dont know. And the guy and everyone else in the bar starts yelling, This guy doesnt care that all those little girls burned to death. But Bukowski was honest, It was a newspaper headline. If it happened in front of me Id probably feel different about it. And he refused to back down and stayed in the bar until closing time.He had very few boundaries as to how far his honesty could go. He never wrote about his daughter after she reached a certain age. Thats about the only boundary I can find. Every other writer has so many things they cant write about: family, spouses, exes, children, jobs, bosses, colleagues, friends. Thats why they make stuff up. Bukowski didnt let himself get hampered by that so we see real raw honest, a real anthropological survey of being down and out for 60+ years without anything being held back. No other writer before or since has done that. For a particular example, see his novel, Women which detailed every sexual nuance of every woman who dared to sleep with him after he achieved some success. Most of these women were horrified after the book came out.I try as hard as possible to remove all boundaries. 2) Persistence. Bukowski got two stories published when he was young (24 and 26 years old) but almost all of his stories were rejected by publishers. So he quit writing for ten years. Then, in the mid 1950s he started up again. He submitted tons of poems and stories everywhere he could. It took him years to get published. It took him even more years to get really noticed. And it finally took him about 15 years of writing every day and writing thousands of poems and stories before he finally started making a living as a writer. He wrote his first novel at the age of 49 and it was financially successful. After 25 years of plugging away at it he was finally a successful writer.25 years!Most people give up much earlier, much younger. Both my grandfather and father wanted to be musicians, for instance. Both gave up in their 20s and 30s and took what they thought was the safer route. (The safer route being, in my opinion, what ultimately killed both of them).And this persistence was while he was going through three marriages, dozens of jobs, and non-stop alcoholism. Some of this is documented (poorly) in the move Barfly but I think a better movie about Bukowski is the indie that Matt Dillon did about his novel, Factotum which details the 10 years he was going from job to job, woman to woman, just trying to survive as an alcoholic in a world that kept beating him down.He wrote his first novel in 19 days. Michael Hemmingson who I write about below, wrote me and said Bukowski had to finish that novel so fast because he was desperately afraid he was going to be a failure at being a successful writer and didnt want to disappoint John Martin, who had essentially given him an advance for the novel.3) Survival. When I think constant alcoholic I usually equate that with being a homeless bum. Bukowski, at some deep level, realized that he needed to survive. He couldnt just be a homeless bum and kill himself, no matter how many disappointments he had. He worked countless factory jobs (the basis of the non-fiction novel, Factotun) but even that wasnt stable enough for him. Finally, he took a job working for the US Government (you cant get more stable) working in the post office for 11 years. He didnt miss child support payments (although he constantly wrote about how ugly the mother of his child was), and as far as I know he was never homeless or totally down and out from his early 30s til the time he started having success as a writer.And despite writing about the overwhelming poverty he had, he did have a small inheritance from his father, a savings account he built up, and a steady paycheck. The post office job is documented, in full, in his first novel called, appropriately, Post Office. Many people think thats his best novel but I put it third or fourth behind Ham on Rye and Factotum and possibly Women. He also wrote a novel, Hollywood about the blow-by-blow experience of doing the movie Barfly. All the names are changed (hence its claim to be fiction) but once you figure out who everyone is, its totally non-fiction. Like all of his other novels (not counting Pulp, which was the worst American novel ever written and published).4) Discipline. Imagine working a brutal 10 hour shift at the Post Office, coming home and arguing with your wife or girlfriend, or half-girlfriend, half-prostitute that was living with you, finishing off three or four six-packs of beer and thenwriting. He did it every day. Most people want to write that novel, or finish that painting, or start that business, but have zero discipline to actually sit down and do it. If there was any talent that Bukowski had that I cant actually figure out how he got it, its that discipline.When he was younger (early 20s, late teens) he spent almost every day in the library, falling in love with all the great writers. The love must have been so great it superseded almost everything else in his life. He had to write like them or he really felt like he would die. He had to put down a good line as he would say. And every day he would try. And good, bad, or ugly, he probably ultimately ended up publishing (many posthumously) everything he ever wrote. I try to match that discipline. Even when I dont post a blog post I write seven days a week, every morning. At least 1000 words and a completed post. I used to do this in my 20s when I was trying to write fiction. My minimum then was 3000 words. I did that for five years.It adds up. The average book is 60,000 words. If you can write 1000 words a day then youll have 6 books by the end of the year. Because poetry books are much smaller, Bukowski probably had around 80 or so books published by the time he was dead and I bet there are more coming.5) His literary map. He was inspired by several writers and he inspired many more. Some of my favorite writers come from both categories. He was probably most inspired by three writers: Celine, Knut Hamsun, and John Fante. I highly recommend Celines Journey to the End of the Night. Celine is almost a more raw version of Bukowski. He was constantly angry and trying to survive and do whatever it took to survive. The thing about Bukowski, as opposed to many other writers, is he didnt concern himself with flowery images or beautiful sunsets. He totally wrote as if he were speaking to you and Celine does that to an extreme but hes so raw and smart that the way he speaks is like an insane person trying to spew out as much venom as possible. 600 pages later his first book is a masterpiece and I often use it in my pre-writing hour every morning when I read stuff to inspire myself to write.John Fante wrote the underappreciated Ask the Dust which was completely forgotten until Bukowskis publisher republished it and all of Fantes books. (I also recommend the movie with Colin Farrell and a naked Salma Hayek).Bukowski was almost afraid to admit how much Fante directly influenced him. He wrote in one short story, I realized that admitting John Bante had been such a great influence on my writing might detract from my own work, as if part of me was a carbon copy, but I didnt give a damn. Its when you hide things that you choke on them.Note he spelled Fante as Bante. Thats the extent of Bukowskis fiction. Another interesting thing is the last line. Nothing flowery, nothing descriptively beautiful, yet a line like that is what made Bukowski unique and one of the best writers ever, getting at the hidden truth of what was really happening in his head, rather than telling yet another boring story filled with flowery descriptions like most books and stories are.Then theres the authors Bukowski influenced. Michael Hemmingson wrote an excellent review of Bukowski in the book The Dirty Realism Duo: Bukowski and Carver which I highly recommend. Raymond Carver comes from the same genre of down-and-out, oppressive relationships that were beyond his ability to cope with them, and realist, simple writing that was mostly autobiographical (although thats a little less clear in Carvers case). Id also throw Denis Johnsons book of short stories (Jesus Son) in that category (Johnson studied with Carver) and more recently, books like the above-mentioned Michael Hemmingsons Crack Hotel, The Comfort of Women, My Date(Rape) with Kathy Acker and other stories. Im dying to find other writers in this category.I read how Denis Johnson needed $10,000 to pay the IRS. So he threw together some vignettes he had forgotten about, called the collection Jesus Son and sent it off to Jonathan Galassi and said, here, you can have these if you pay the IRS. So I Facebook-friended Galassi and asked him if he could tell me one author in Denis Johnsons league but Im still waiting for a response.I wish I could find more writers like these. Perhaps William Vollmann who wrote Butterfly Stories but his bigger fiction is too difficult for me to read (anecdote: he wrote the afterward to the recently re-published Celines Journey of the Night so all of these writers tend to recognize their common lineage.)6) Poetry. I really hate poetry. When I open up the New Yorker (blecch!) and read the latest poems in there I cant understand them, they all seem like gibberish to me, they all seem too intellectual. And yet, out of all the poets Ive read, the only ones I really like are: Bukowski, Raymond Carver, and Denis Johnson. Poetry allowed them to master making each word in a sentence effective and powerful. It was this training that allowed them to destroy the competition when they sat down to write their longer pieces. It makes me want to try my hand at poetry but even the word poetry sounds so pseudo-intellectual I just have no interest in doing it.Bukowski: Alcoholic, postal worker, misogynist (theres a video you can easily find on Youtube where he must be almost 60 and he literally kicks his wife in anger while hes being interviewed.), anti-war, anti-peace, anti-everything, hated everyone, probably insecure, extremely honest, and he had to write every day or it would kill him.In his own words, words which I hope to live by: What a joy it must be to be a truly great writer, even if it means a shotgun at the finish.Suggested Reading:Biographical:- Michael Hemmingson: The Dirty Realism Due: Charles Bukowski and Raymond Carver- Howard Sounes: Bukowskis Writings (that I recommend):Other fiction in the Dirty Realismcategory: Poem:by Raymond Carver.Article: Movies:FactotumIf anyone can think of anybody else in this specific dirty realism category, please put it in the comments. Id also like to read women in this category but I think its a particularly male category. Jack Kerouac falls somewhere in there but hes more beat which I think is different. And Chad Kultgens recent books (The Average American Male, for instance) are also somewhat in the realism category but not quite dirty enough.Read more posts on fhm.comLady Gaga is the , bringing in $90 million between May 2010 and May 2011, according to .That's about $10,300 an hour. You could buy a lot of meat dresses with that.After Gaga, there's a steep drop-off. The top 10 looks like this:The list looks like what you might imagine, though we're surprised Pink is still raking in that kind of money. Raise your glass, indeed.TMZ reports: Michael Jackson could become the next Celine Dion, and we're not just talkin' wardrobe.We've been able to connect the dots and it seems the guys who just bailed Jacko out of Neverland debt may be angling to put him on stage in Vegas.These money men run Colony Capital, a group that owns the Las Vegas Hilton. Colony just forked over the green M.J. needed to keep Neverland out of foreclosure.So, you ask, what's in it for Colony? We're told Vegas money is on Jackson headlining there and raking in a much-needed jackpot. Colony has the venue -- it's where Barry Manilow performed -- and now the leverage to moonwalk his ass back on stage.Jacko's peeps didn't return our calls for comment. Madonna tops of the highest-earning musicians of 2008 with $242 million in revenues mostly from concert ticket sales. The list further illustrates the value of touring as a revenue stream as the top five money makers also earned the most on tour, in the same order, according to Billboard's calculations.Madge only had the 50th best-selling album but earned her spot atop the list from the highest-grossing tour of the year, which pulled in $230 million. Higher-margin merch sales also made $18 million for the Material Girl.The full list:1. Madonna: $242,176,466 2. Bon Jovi: $157,177,766 3. Bruce Springsteen: $156,327,964 4. The Police: $109,976,894 5. Celine Dion: $99,171,237 6. Kenny Chesney: $90,823,990 7. Neil Diamond: $82,174,000 8. Rascall Flatts: $63,522,160 9. Jonas Brothers: $62,638,814 10. Coldplay: $62,175,555 11. The Eagles: $61,132,213 12. Lil Wayne: $57,441,334 13. AC/DC: $56,505,296 14. Michael Buble: $50,257,364 15. Miley Cyrus: $48,920,806 16. Taylor Swift: $45,588,730 17. Journey: $44,787,328 18. Billy Joel: $44,581,010 19. Mary J. Blige: $43,472,850 20. Kanye West: $42,552,402It was really horrible what I did to them. Grad school! All my classes paid for plus an entire $1100 stipend a month to live on. Suddenly, for the first time in my life, I was rich. I was Jimmy Rockefeller. I felt like every worry in life had now shed off me. I was free. And then I really committed a foul crime for it that Im ashamed of.On $1100 a month I was able to live for the first time all by myself. Loneliness was so precious to me then. My apartment was in back of a gas station. I loved the smell of the gas and breathed it in all day long. I ate chocolate pretzels or pancakes every morning. I ate out every night (who cooks when so wealthy?)I’d write notes to all the waitresses politely telling them I loved them and would they please go out with me? (No!) I learned how to .  I bought t-shirts and used-books and saw movies and . And lo and behold, at the end of the month there was another check with my name on it. Science and magic mixed together. I was like a radioactive spider created by a mad scientist. Life could not have been more wonderful.(I had a severe waitress fetish)But, some might sayI stole the money. For two years I didn’t attend any classes. Almost all of my professors wouldve been better off dead. Thats what I thought of them. What good did they do? Nothing. Every chance I could I lied to them just to keep that $1100 money spigot flowing. While they backstabbed each other mid-race for tenure-ship I quietly began to fail every class (I never showed up) and didnt let them in on my secret.At the end of each quarter they would say, “what the hell is wrong with you?” but I would beg and plead, “just one more semester.”  I had new research, I said. New ideas that would save the world.  If you combined computational theory with robot vision I could create a new Planet of the Apes!  I didn’t want to be cut off from that $1100 a month. That was my pig that shat gold!The real world looked frightening and dangerous. All of the men and women from the real world had a contagious desperate look in their eyes that I was afraid I would catch. I would see them on buses, flipping from face to face like a viewmaster of the Chernobyl aftermath. They would touch me at night in the dark until I woke up scared and alone.So I convinced grad school to even give me a fellowship and stipend for the summer between my first and second year. I promised to do such amazing research it was like Fermat was a piece of dust to me. I would crush his theorem. I could send toilets into space with my inricate calculations, never discovered prior. Instead, I spent the summer 300 miles away, smoked pot every day, drank, and tried LSD for the first (and only) time, and failed to have sex with any of the dozen or so women I pursued. the state of knowledge about highly esoteric and useless artificial intelligence but that was it. Maybe that was enough for them to keep me going. That was the last diesel gas in my sputtering truck engine.I got hit by a very bad illness my second year of graduate school (the effects of one tab of LSD linger for a long time). I suddenly wanted to write stories and books.  What a stupid pleasure, in retrospect, when I couldve just spent all my wasted time lying down on the grass doing nothing. [See. (I only had one my entire life. I think the effect is still there 21 years later).Around the age of 22 I started writing and reading for about ten hours a day. All of my friends got sick of me and one by one they stopped wanting to be around me. Particularly when I insisted we all experiment with a 25 hour a day schedule. Who made the rule that humans need a 24 hour day? Eventually I was always asleep when they were awake and vice-versa. And somehow we never got sync-ed back together. They had moved to an 18 hour a day schedule. It was all messed up. Magic lightning bolts couldnt fix what had happened.I stopped going into my little graduate school office (particularly moved out of my office to go to IBM without me).  I instead spent hours at the library. I’d read literary journals to see what authors I liked and then I’d look up those authors in this massive encyclopedia series called “Contemporary Literary Criticism”. Every author imaginable is in there. I looked it up on Amazon and there are around 100 editions with each one costing about $300.I first read Denis Johnson in the literary journal “Epoch”. Then I found other stories he wrote in “The Paris Review” and then “The New Yorker”. When the collection of his stories finally came out “Jesus’ Son”, I excitedly told one of my professors when I ran into him in the street that was this was the greatest day in literary history. Within hours of that I was officially thrown out of graduate school.n (I never saw the movie. Is it good?)Then I read Mary Gaitskill’s collection “Bad Behavior”. It was excellent and inspiring because all of her stories had been rejected (just like me!) before they were finally compiled into the best-selling collection that made her name as a writer.  All her stories were a greasy mixture of sex and relationships. Greasy because the chemicals never got it quite right but it was too late to stop them from exploding once a match lit up.One of my favorite writers, Reginald McKnight, wrote maybe the best unrecognized novel ever:  “I Get on the Bus”. You can buy it now for one penny on Amazon. When I finished the book, the last line was so powerful I thought my brain was going to explode in joy. I forced my girlfriend to sit down and listen while I described the entire plot over the course of an hour or so just so I could read to her the last line. Recently she de-friended me on Facebook which is the modern equivalent ofI dont knowdefriending me via Morse Code.I wrote McKnight a letter analyzing his last line. By coincidence he taught on campus. He responded to the letter and said I should sit in on his class.So here I was, a grad student in Computer Science, not attending a single comp sci class but religiously attending three days a week McKnight’s class (each week was a different “perspective” – first person stories, third person, even second person (“You”),  stories told in letter form, etc. ) We’d write stories and he’d critique each week.Turns out. We’d go to all the comic book stores or flea markets, buy comics, then eat dinner and read them.  I think I insulted him once though. I told him some advice that I now forget. I concluded my un-asked-for advice with, “you’ll really have a career as a writer then”. And he said, “I already have a career as a writer”.I never saw him again after that although one time I called him with a long rambling message about how I hated my girlfriend at the time. He never called me back.Then I fell in love with Steve Erickson’s books. “Tours of the Black Clock”. What a beautiful title. He also wrote a book about the 1988 election, “Leap Year” . It was brilliant, particularly the prophetic and beautifully written synopsis of perennial loser  Al Gore. So I decided I would call him up and interview him for a magazine. I made up the name of a magazine and I got him on the phone.(Great cover)He sent me a review copy of his as yet-unreleased Arc D’X. I think I ended up physically licking every word on the page I liked it so much. (although requires reading all his prior novels to fully appreciate). And then I proceeded to call him no less than 500 times trying to arrange the interview. I would call and usually nobody would answer. Then I’d call 5 minutes later, someone would pick up, I’d say “Hello?” and he’d hang up. Then I‘d call again. And again. I never got the interview.During this time I found William Vollmann. The guy writes about 10,000 words a day and has such bad carpal tunnel syndrome he has to type with two pencils and hold them as if they were his fingers. I started with the “Rainbow Stories” (out of control good!) and then “Whores for Gloria”, Butterfly Stories,  and a few others.I played a prank on him. I wrote him a letter through his publisher and said that he should be careful what he writes. How I, like the main character in Butterfly Stories, went to Thailand and got AIDs and now regret it. I have never been to Thailand.He then called me! In a very whispery voice he left a voicemail saying he was sorry about what had happened to me and I could call him any time, that there were always people I could talk to. What a nice guy he is! What a bad guy I was!I went through a 1920s phase (Dos Passos, Hemingway, Fitzgerald), then a 1950s phase (Mailer, Heller, Kerouac, Vonnegut, later Hemingway), then a 1960s phase (puke! Pynchon, Farina, Roth, Updike, Bellow, blah), then a 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s phase. A brief 1800s phase (Chekov, Dostoevsky,  Tolstoy).  A mostly unpleaseant experimental phase (Lish, Calvino, Marquez, and I’ll even throw David Foster Wallace’s first novel in there (“Broom of the System”) which I despised, and Rushdie, who is so unreadable makes me wonder how he gets so many women to like him).Even had a genre phase (John Grisham, not as bad as I thought, Stephen King (unreadable to me but people tell me I didn’t give it a chance), Robert Ludlum (Bourne not so bad), Anne Rice (vampire series a pageturner but then got somewhat flat).  And, of course, a brat pack phase: Jay McInerney, Bret Easton Ellis, Tama Janowitz (loved her!), Donna Tartt, and various others.(Tama Janowitz - I liked her hair)Then I started writing my own horrible novels (you can imagine by the titles: “The Book of Orpheus”, “The Book of David”, “The Pimp, the Prostitute, the Porn Novelist, and They’re Lovers”) and maybe over 100 short stories that I still have buried in some pile somewhere. [See, ] I’d go into grad school (and later, work, after 29 out of 30 professors who voted on it finally kicked me out of school when they came to their senses. I never found out the one professor who voted for me. If you are the professor who voted for me, please tell me.) late at night and use all the copy machine paper to print my stuff out to send to 30 different publishers only to receive 30 form letter rejections. Then I’d repeat the process again and again. I never lost hope. But it was hopeless.Everyone around me went on to start Internet companies they but I kept pushing. I wanted to be a published writer. Only then would I be worthy of RESPECT. Finally, I applied for a job at HBO and got it, figuring NOW I’ll finally make some connections .This was the only thing stopping me. I needed to be in the big city!Instead I totally . Then veered completely. And even further and further away. How lost can you truly get from your dreams until you can no longer say, this is who I really am. At some point (usually after exposure to Gold Kryptonite) you lose your super powers and only become Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter. Its only in the past eight months I feel real happy creatively again.Because of this blog, all the comments, new friends,  people who send emails, people Ive been fortunate enough to meet and learn from. I feel blessed. I feel I can finally be honest when most others in the past industries Ive immersed myself in are still lying out of fear. What a horrible decade it was for everyone. And to step out of line is scarier than ever so we feel we have to lie to hide and protect ourseleves. But its possible.This is a long way of saying.thanks.Summer reading list:These are either books I’ve just read and will read again in the summer,  or I’m planning to read. I might update this list throughout the summer. All of the books are fiction. BUT they are almost all a particular style of fiction that is almost 99% autobiographical without the authors admitting it.A)    I had a book here. But I just got it from Amazon, read the first two chapters and it was no good.B)     ,  by Bukowski. I happen to think this is the greatest American novel ever written. Not sure why it’s not taught in high school literature classes while meanwhile the un-aborted Bronte Sisters/Jane Austen (arent they all the same creature?) continue to bore generation after generation of people out of reading. I plan on re-reading this summer. Note, they says its a novel but Im pretty sure its 100% autobiographical. I dont really like Bukowski when he veers into fiction. The more autobiographical, the better, for him.C)     The entire book is like the raving of a mad-man who hates everyone and his one grasp on sanity is that he strongly doesn’t want to get his head blown off in a war (WWI). I’m about 1/3 of the way through. The writing is raw, angry, desperate, and beautiful. Supposedly he became a raving anti-semite mentally ill nazi towards the end of his life which is unfortunate but I’d kill to have to the powerful voice in this book. Whats interesting is that Vollman writes the afterward, Vonnegut refers to Celine in his autobiographical book Palm Sunday, and Bukowski wrote his last novel more or less about Celine. All of these writers with strong voices recognize each other and stick together.(nice cover)D)    . Supposedly the inspiration for much of Bukowski’s work. Curious to check it out.E)     s  I dont think Ive ever read it. Recently re-read Slaughterhouse 5 and thought it was beautiful.F)      . I like the TV show on HBO roughly based on this. He has a strong literary voice (I read his first novel probably 15 years ago) even though almost everything he writes is memoir-ish. He has an extreme honesty that I aspire to.G)    . Rereading.  Its packaged as fiction but Im sure its borderline memoir.  Every word is infused with severe love addiction and artistry.H)    . This is a Bukowski summer. Another guy that supposedly influenced his works.I)       ,  I’ve read everything Raymond Carver wrote a billion times over . I might even re-read him again this summer.  Hempel was one of his students so I figured I’d read her.J)       s, literary nonfiction by a great fiction stylist. Read the first essay and it was excellent.K)    . Read a few of them and I like the voice. I hate writers who tell a great story but add nothing with their voices. She seems (like everyone on this list) to have a strong voice.L)     J.  I reread it probably once every month or so.  I wish I could find just one writer who comes close but Im afraid its impossible. I wish I could write 1/10 as good as him.M) . Rereading. Heck, maybe Ill play the same trick I played on him 18 years ago.N) . The one non-fiction book on the list. Claudia has gotten me into the philosophy that underlies yoga and this is a particularly readable interpretation. Patanjali wrote the yoga sutras around 400BC almost as a response to Buddha. It was like Hindu marketing. Buddha kept stealing the customers so Patanjali wrote 195 lines in response. In my opinion the 195 lines basically describes Buddhism, and throws in the physical aspect (which we call yoga) and the breathing aspect.  my most popular posts in the past month are secretly based on just two of the 195 lines.O) Please add more suggestions in the comments. Self-promotion encouraged.There’s more on the list but this is enough for now. And I’m going to add to this, particularly if I read stuff that turns out to be so good I want to recommend it.I’ll close this list with a quote from “Jesus’ Son”. Maybe it will share why I love the book so much.  This quote comes from the first story in the book:Down the hall came the wife. She was glorious, burning. She didnt know yet that her husband was dead. We knew. Thats what gave her such power over us. The doctor took her into a room with a desk at the end of the hall, and from under the closed door a slab of brilliance radiated as if, by some stupendous process, diamonds were being incinerated in there. What a pair of lungs! She shrieked as I imagined an eagle would shriek. It felt wonderful to be alive to hear it! Ive gone looking for that feeling everywhere.Read more posts on Dr No wannabes are finding that medium-priced islets were no great investment after all.Cave Cay in the Bahamas, complete with beach huts, airstrips and breathtaking views, is going for $110m.Eilean an Seamraig, an uninhabitable Scottish isle featuring drizzle and rocks, costs a mere 45,000 ($71,000). The market for private islands has never been so unsteady, says Farhad Vladi, a Hamburg-based island broker with more than 120 isles from 22 countries on his books.At the top end, the market is still firm. Luxury islands, which make up about a tenth of the market, have good access to food and water, few irksome bugs and a hospitable climate. Owners past and present include stars such as Johnny Depp, Celine Dion and Diana Ross. Demand for these islands is holding up, even in harsh economic times.Elsewhere the story is different. Owners of so-called "adventure islands"--cheap, with fewer amenities--are ditching their retreats. Before the bust, prices soared as these places were seen as good investments. Mr Vladi says a Panamanian resort he sold for $100,000 in 2003 was given a price tag of $3m five years later. Now prices are declining. A densely wooded isle in Florida reckoned to be worth $1.6m before the crash sold for $260,000 in June.Many islanders have wearied of the upkeep. Owning an island requires a lot of commitment, says Frits Hannenberg, who manages small island resorts for absent owners. Installing and running a water supply is tricky and costly. A desalination system costs up to $50,000 (you can buy an islet for that). Then the plants need looking after too. Locals can help, says Mr Hannenberg; in the Fiji archipelago, they are zealous at keeping the flora in order. But isle-buyers like solitude: , an actor, gave up his after a row with tribesmen.Other uncertainties include building rules and environmental hassles: islands (except when owned by villains in adventure films) are still subject to somebody else's laws and taxes. Nicolas Cage, a film star, found he could not add developments to his refuge in the Bahamas, because an endangered iguana lived there; he has since sold up. A seller feared he would be unable to dispose of two Pennsylvanian islands, after one got flooded by a river. He gave them to charity. Climate change could mean sea-levels rising. That would put many island investments underwater., long derided by the French left as an uncultured oaf, has been boning up on his cultural greats, reports Sarkozy apparently watched 15 Alfred Hitchcock films back to back, and later did the same for Roberto Rossellini, Frank Capra, Ernst Lubitsch and Federico Fellini.He's also been reading classic novels. "Just like a revision programme, he functions by author," a guest told Libration newspaper.Sarkozy had previously been mocked by , including, reportedly, a soft spot for Celine Dion.With their saucy captain Simon Cowell leaving American Idol's judging table next season, Fox desperately needs to him and keep young people viewing and voting.The network thinks they have found their man, but they might need to brawl for him with Simon himself.According to Nikke Finke and Mike Fleming , Fox sources say the man who can save television's No. 1 show is Tommy Mottola, the former Sony Music chief best known as Mariah Carey's ex-husband and the top executive behind Michael Jackson's music. But Simon Cowell also to be a judge on his other Fox show debuting this fall, The X Factor.Mottola's made a name for himself as . During three decades in the industry, he has nurtured acts like Hall Oates, Diana Ross and Bruce Springsteen. At Sony, hesigned stars including Dixie Chicks, Destinys Child, New Kids on the Block, Ricky Martin, Celine Dion, and Jennifer Lopez.Mottola left (or was pushed out?) of Sony in January 2003, when the company had lost $132 million in the first six months of its fiscal year and album sales had plummeted by 11 percent across the industry. He's now co-owner of Casablanca Records, a joint venture with the Universal Music Group, and launched the careers of Usher and Lindsey Lohan as a singing sensation. He is also married to Mexican pop singer Thalia.Mottola's star-studded past and showmanship might bring in enough viewers to save American Idol (and keep Fox's advertisers happy). He will have to build some sexual tension between the judges to bring back that Paula-Simon magic and practice delivering mean .Yet signing Mottola onto American Idol will turn Fox executives against Simon their star that they need to keep happy and turn The X Factor into a success.According to one of Deadline.com's sources: "Mottola has remarkable leverage because of this tug of war and will get a big payday from somebody." That's for sure.Read more: : The music business continues to decline, but Sony's Howard Stringer is determined to make a go of it anyway, and he's willing to pay a premium. He's just purchased partner Bertelsmann's 50% stake in the Sony BMG joint venture. In an oddly structured deal, Sony will end up spending about $1.2 billion on the deal, but will end valuing Bertelsmann's half at $900 million.The details, via a Sony release:First, a portion of Bertelsmanns interest in SONY BMG will be redeemed for approximately $600 million of cash by SONY BMG (SONY BMG has not been consolidated by Sony and will not be consolidated until after this transaction closes). Sonys U.S. wholly-owned subsidiary, Sony Corporation of America, will then purchase the remaining interest from Bertelsmann for approximately $600 million. As a result, Bertelsmann will receive approximately $900mm in value for its 50% stake plus $300mm of its share of cash on Sony BMG's balance sheet. Sony views this as approximately $600mm net cash cost as it does not consolidate Sony BMGs cash.By our count, that would imply a total value of $1.8 billion for the whole company. That's a little less than half of Sony BMG's 2008 FY revenues of $3.9 billion, and about 11x net income of $178 million.By comparison, Warner Music Group (WMG) which has similarly sized revenues ($3.46 billion) is trading at a .34 price/sales ratio. Warner comes with a good-sized publishing catalog, and the music publishing business (which deals with the rights to song compositions, not the song recordings themselves) is in relatively decent shape. But Sony BMG doesn't include publishing rights: Bertelmann sold its publishing business to Universal Music Group last year, and Sony's valuable publishing business has long been separate from its music label.But for argument's sake, let's say the two are apples-to-apples comparisons, anyway. Applying that same .34 ratio to Sony BMG's $3.9 billion sales (it's actually shrunk in last three months, but bear with us) implies a value of $1.3 billion for the company. Which means that Sir Howard should have been paying about $650 million instead of the $900 million. That seems like an awfully steep premimum for an asset that's going to keep shrinking for some time to come - in a best case scenario.Excerpts from three releases follow:Main deal announcement:New York, August 5, 2008 The international media and entertainment companies Sony Corporation and Bertelsmann AG today announced that Sony has agreed to acquire Bertelsmanns 50 percent stake in Sony BMG. The music company, to be called Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (SMEI), will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. Sony and Bertelsmann AG originally created the Sony BMG joint venture in August 2004...Once the transaction is completed, Sony Music Entertainment Inc. will be comprised of premier music labels such as: Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, Jive Records, RCA Records and Zomba. Key recording artists will include Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Yo-Yo Ma, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Usher and Jay Chou. As part of the transaction, the parties have also agreed to continue to share the companys manufacturing and distribution requirements between Sonys manufacturing subsidiary, Sony DADC, and Bertelsmanns services company, Arvato Digital Services GmbH (Arvato), by extending the agreements with Arvato for additional terms of up to six years. In addition, Bertelsmann will be taking over selected European music catalog assets from Sony BMG.Financial detailsThe transaction will be structured as follows: First, a portion of Bertelsmanns interest in SONY BMG will be redeemed for approximately $600 million of cash by SONY BMG (SONY BMG has not been consolidated by Sony and will not be consolidated until after this transaction closes). Sonys U.S. wholly-owned subsidiary, Sony Corporation of America, will then purchase the remaining interest from Bertelsmann for approximately $600 million. As a result, Bertelsmann will receive approximately $900mm in value for its 50% stake plus $300mm of its share of cash on Sony BMG's balance sheet. Sony views this as approximately $600mm net cash cost as it does not consolidate Sony BMGs cash. In addition, Bertelsmann will be taking over a limited amount of selected European music catalog assets from SONY BMG. These catalogs represented approximately $20 million (less than 1%) of SONY BMGs revenues in calendar year 2007. The parties have also agreed to continue to share the companys manufacturing and distribution requirements between Sonys manufacturing subsidiary, Sony DADC, and Bertelsmanns services company, Arvato Digital Services GmbH (Arvato), by extending agreements with Arvato for additional terms of up to six years.The closing of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including approvals ofregulatory authorities in certain jurisdictions.Berteslmann plans for remaining music assets:he international media company Bertelsmann is gearing the business of its Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) towards music rights management. The realignment is connected with the sale of Bertelsmanns stake in the Sony BMG Music Entertainment joint venture to the Sony Corporation of America. Bertelsmann is taking over selected European catalogs of music rights from Sony BMG as part of the transaction. They comprise the works of more than 200 artists. The catalogs will continue to be distributed by Sony Music. Taking over these catalogs is an important step towards the planned establishment of a licensing and management platform for exploiting and marketing music rights under the BMG brand. The designated managing director of BMG, based in Berlin, is Hartwig Masuch, an experienced music industry executive, who most recently advised Bertelsmann in the negotiations with Sony. Maximilian Dressendrfer, Vice President BMG, will also be part of the management team. Bertelsmanns Chief Financial Officer Thomas Rabe, who is responsible for the music division on the groups Executive Board, stated: The many new distribution paths are causing an increase in the demand for music use rights. In view of this fact, we believe that building a business for the management and exploitation of such rights in Europe is an attractive proposition. We want to take advantage of our opportunities and position ourselves with the strong, well-established BMG brand and a management that is highly regarded in the market.This is what passes for good news in the music business today: Sony-BMG's sales didn't decrease during Q3. Sony (SNE) said its JV with Bertelsmann sold some $1.47 billion worth of music in the last 3 months of 2007, essentially unchanged from last year.The label's profits did decrease 12%, from $236 million from $208 million, but it blamed the drop on restructuring charges and an "industry-wide legal settlement". We can't recall offhand but we assume this has to do with the remnants of the Napster litigation from many moons ago.So why did the label thrive (relatively speaking) while the rest of the business falters? Pretty women who sing, apparently. Sony-BMG says it was helped in large part from sales of new albums from Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood and Celine Dion."American Idol" executive producer Ken Warwick now that in light of Pia Toscano's early exit, he's considering "tweaking" the voting system next year.Just what changes he'll make are unclear -- but it's clear who he blames for the need for change."The texting, the tweeting, the social glue we strive for--we were aware that voting would be skewed," Warwick said. "Young girls and (mothers) are a driving force (in the voting). So how can we keep it fair? We're not going to start fiddling with the voting now -- but there are many ideas on the table."Maybe it's true that more women vote than men -- across all age groups.But the idea that jealous women brazenly withheld votes from Toscano -- an idea Steven Tyler himself asserted -- is a load of crap.If producers really believe the competition has boiled down to women voting blindly (or, rather, deafly) for cute guys, then how do they explain last week's exit of Paul MacDonald?The bottom line on Toscano's exit is this: Her voice rivals Celine Dion. People widely assumed she was safe and cast their votes for underdogs.Women aren't making Warwick's show look bad. Warwick is making Warwick's show look bad. Nearly three weeks after she was cut loose, Toscano is still making headlines -- and just booked an appearance on next week's "Dancing With the Stars."So if Warwick needs to tweak anything, it's the contracts that allow offed competitors to sing elsewhere while the season is still ongoing.And while he's at it, he can tweak his attitude on his female viewers.Maybe he doesn't like the way their votes are coming in -- but he ought to remember that when Toscano's first album comes out, it's not going to be boys lining up to buy it.As highly as we might think of the Web, there's nothing quite as powerful as a television commercial. It takes millions of ad budget dollars and the perfect slot during the most widely watched show of the week. When it's done correctly, a great car commercial doesn't just capture eyeballs, it rivets us, and makes us consider something we may never have imagined ourselves driving.Whether they were funny, sexy, ironic, or just plain weird, this year's best car ads showed off the power of the TV spot. And they weren't confined to television: since Web streaming's become ubiquitous, those clever TV ads went long-form on the Internet, in some cases finally making more sense than in their brief 15- or 30-second televised form.With 2011 coming to a close, it's the time to take a look back at some of the best car commercials from the past year. Plug in your earbuds, and see if your favorites make it to the top of this list. The first batch takes us from the controversial, to the lighthearted, to the purely puzzling:15) First up is Ford's . This controversial ad put GM and Chrysler on notice that their bankruptcies weren't sacred cows when it came to selling cars. Ford pulled the ad down for a brief period, but posted it again when it was clear the ad resonated with lots of viewers.14) Not everyone deserves a parade, but driving the 40-mpg Ford Fiesta earns one in this clever ad. The Fiesta's a pretty big deal for Ford, and this car ad from the 5th Annual Nielsen Automotive Ad of the Year Awards, so it sneaks into the 2011 consideration.13) How do you promote a minivan to guys? Loud rock music, fireworks, and panthers. Panthers, of course! Honda conned us into loving the new Odyssey van with this ad and with one that showed today's kids aren't all awful, since at least 12) It's a good thing when automakers thrash their own cars in their ads. Earlier this year directly when it claimed it had to detune the Corvette to meet racing standards. That's a stretch if you know enough about the race cars versus the roadgoing cars, but it made for great ad copy, and for an entertaining commercial.11) Lexus worked hard to get the word out when it came to the new CT 200h hybrid. We like because of Ben, who clearly is a brilliant kid, since he knows the sound a hybrid makes, though we don't quite understand how it fits into Lexus' message of "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection."10) Earlier this year Infiniti launched its first hybrid, and it's being marketed as a performance model. If you buy into that, you'll buy into the commercials--especially the that uses Lexus' tag line against them.The next group of videos leverages two very powerful media outlets to create buzz. The NFL's Super Bowl reaches more viewers than just about anything else save for Formula 1 or the Academy Awards. The other channel? The one in your head that's mostly for adults only.9) BMW spent big dollars during the Super Bowl earlier this year to promote the new made-in-America 2011 X3. isn't groundbreaking or hilarious, it shows the company's pride in its South Carolina operations, and that we can appreciate.8) Another Super Bowl ad we enjoyed this year was Meredes-Benz's cinematic full-line ad. With P. Diddy and quite a few hot classic models, had fans of the pointed star salivating.7) Another Chevrolet commercial that caught our attention was the Camaro's Super Bowl spot. Who hasn't been hot for teacher?6b) What to make of Jennifer Lopez' ads for the new Fiat 500? Her left many puzzled. The was confusing and short, and the long-form ad elaborated on the storyline. We say elaborated, because "explained" may be too strong a word.6a) The J-Lo ads actually began with the Fiat 500 Gucci edition, and a brief spot that highlighted her new track "My World" as much or more so than the car. Later, we learned in any scene in the ads, either--so much for street cred. Chrysler's been down this road before with Celine Dion, and it ended badly. So why include these ads among the very best of the year? Lopez' star power alone.Now we're down to the very best car ads we've seen this year. In all of these, the ad crafters found a way to meld the perfect message with the hallmark of the car--whether it's a calling-card set of doors, a funky freshness, a gritty revival, science fiction or pure hormonal appeal.5) Everyone loves a triumph, including Mercedes-Benz. We love how Benz' ad crew integrated the new SLS and its hallmark gullwing doors into so seamlessly, and put them in perfect context.4) The hamster-riffic Kia Soul commercials have been a huge hit, and our list wouldn't be complete without them. This year the hamsters won over bad-ass, butt-shaking aliens on a desolate planet populated only by charcoal, smoke, and LMFAO's ubiquitous and maddeningly catchy "Party Rock Anthem"--the soundtrack to .3) One of the two most talked-about commercials during this year's Super Bowl was the ", which featured the new 2012 Passat. Cute, funny, and warm-hearted, the ad hits all the right notes, especially for Gen Xers raised on Star Wars.2) VW's ad felt right, but Chrysler's 200 ad blew a hole in the game telecast with a darkly cinematic tone and its bracing gospel take on Eminem's Lose Yourself. At a little over 2 minutes long, the ad lured in viewers just by being on screen so long. With Eminem as the star of , Chrysler drummed up quite a bit of buzz, even though the 200 sedan wasn't its best foot forward, and despite the semantic issues with its "Imported From Detroit" tagline. , it's still a hot topic on YouTube to this day.1) Our single favorite car ad of the year? The . Hilarious, sexy, and aggressive, the ad somehow finds a way to play the usual car-ad sexism for maximum fun, and impact. We could get used to car ads with a brain and a body--car ads like this one.This story originally appeared at Read more posts on If youve ever dreamed of owning your own private island, now might be your chance.Weak demand and rising inventory for private islands around the world has created a buyers market, with prices down between 20 percent and 80 percent.There are now more than 600 private islands for sale around the world, according to Chris Krolow of , which helps market and sell islands. Inventory is up by more than a third since before the recession.You dont even have to be a millionaire anymore to have your own piece of paradise. There are dozens islands around the world priced at $200,000 or less, and a few for under $50,000 (though dont expect a villa and sandy beaches in the Bahamas for that).Brokers say that demand remains healthy for high-quality islandsthose that have houses, that are close to major population centers, with good beaches. But prices are sinking for the large and growing supply of undeveloped, remote islands that have become the castaways of the high-end real-estate market.The recession has divided this market in two, said Farhad Vlaid, of , one of the worlds largest private-island brokers, with offices in Germany and Toronto. The quality islands are strengthening. But what I call adventure islands, that are not inhabited, dont have a hospital nearby and theres maybe a problem with local politics and climate, that market is weakening. The sellers just dont love their islands as much.Puangiangi Island, a 155-acre rock outcropping off the coast of New Zealands South Island, was priced at close to $4 million was recently sold for less than $800,000. Buenavista Island in Panama, with more than 200 meters of beaches, was priced at $3 million and is now going for $750,000.Even bigger bargains include Leaf Cay in the Bahamas. The pristine island has three beaches, deep water docks (perfect for mega-yacht parking) and easy access to a nearby golf course. Leaf Cay was on the market for $24 million, but is now priced at $7 million.Bucks Island, near Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, comes with a stone mansion perched on a cliff with 360-degree views. It also has infinity pools, clubhouses, marinas for fishing boats and plenty of white sandy beach. It was priced at $50 million but can now be purchased for $35.5 million, Vladi says.Private Islands Inc. has more than 130 listings for $500,000 or lessand a few for less than $100,000. There is an island off the coast of Panama listed at $30,000. It's 3/4 of an acre and doesn't have a house, but it does have plenty of parrots and toucans.There are many reasons the island market is sinking. The global economy is weak, even for the super rich. Many of the newly wealthy snapped up islands as the ultimate status symbol before the recession hit, when high-profile island-owners like , Johnny Depp and Celine Dion made owning an island glamorous.But the reality of owning a private island has turned out to be less charming than many buyers expected. Building a house or buildings on a private island requires costly permits that can take months, even years. Local governments in the far corners of the world are often rife with red tape and corruption.The logistics of getting to an island, by plane, then boat or a connection to a smaller plane, turns out to be a hassle for the time-pressed wealthy. And some families rarely visited their island because of the demands of their businesses or families., the telecom tycoon, bought the 780-acre James Island off the coast of Vancouver in 2006 for $26 million. Its got an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, a 5,000-square foot house, six guest cottages, an airstrip and fake western village.McCaw told the that while he adores" the island he doesnt visit often enough. He said his school-age kids have so many activities at their home in California and no one wants to be left behind." He is now selling James Island for $75 million.Mark Lester, the marketer for James Island and the senior vice-president of the of Sothebys International Canada, said he has seen strong interest in the islandespecially from prospective Asian buyers. He said some of the interest from local buyers is from consortiumsa group of 10 people, for instance, who want to split the cost and upkeep.The island can be divided into 80 lots, but Lester says the ideal size would be 10 lots, so you preserve the privacy and use that the land affords now.He said he is careful to screen prospective buyers for their ability to do a deal, since showing an island can be time consuming and expensive. I want to make sure Im not just taking someone out for a picnic and day on the island, he said. Were very rigorous about pre-qualifying people.Greece epitomizes the current state of the private-island market. The country's economic troubles have led to many great bargains on some of the most beautiful islands in the world, but Chris Krolow of Private Islands Inc., who has several new listings in Greece, has not closed any deals since there is so much red tape and uncertainty in Greece.For the right person, though, one of Krolow's latest offerings could be a steal. He's showing a chain of five islands selling as a group for 4.9 million euros.You could buy all five islands, says Krolow. So when youre at a party with other rich guys and they ask, How big is your island?' You could say, Well, I have my own archipelago. Thats when youre really rich, when you have your own archipelago."This story was originally published by .In October 2009, country music megastar Garth Brooks after nine years of retirement. Billionaire business magnate Steve Wynn convinced Brooks to come out to Vegas by doing what the billionaires do: showing Brooks the money. "I told him he couldn't afford me," Brooks . "I was wrong."Wynn isn't the only one who showed Brooks the money. Music lovers from across the country spent big money to see Garth Brooks live in concert, according to Bundle data, which comes from the U.S. government, from anonymous and aggregated spending transactions from , and third party data providers.After examining our data, we ranked the top 10 most expensive concerts based on average ticket purchase size from Ticketmaster from July 2010 to June 2011. Country star Garth Brooks ranked first on our list with concert goers spending an average of $618 per purchase from Ticketmaster. Although not everyone listens to country music, the sound is uniquely American, and Brooks has been the top-selling U.S. album artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991, . Rap legend , whose career has spanned more than two decades so far, ranked second our our list with concert goers spending an average of $603 per purchase from Ticketmaster. Country music makes another appearance at number three with the concert, which this year featured country superstars like Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and Toby Keith. That concert got concert goers to spend $552 per Ticketmaster purchase. Rockstars round out the top 5 most expensive concerts. Ranking fourth is , which featured rockers like Motley Crue, Poison, Staind and Whitesnake this year and got concert goers to spend $551 per Ticketmaster purchase. Jon Bon Jovi ranked fifth on our list with concert goers spending an average of $520 per Ticketmaster purchase. This year, ranked Bon Jovi as the second highest-paid musical act in the world. Here are the top 10 most expensive concerts by average Ticketmaster purchase size: 1. Garth Brooks, $618 2. Jay-Z, $603 3. Country Megaticket, $552 4. Rocklahoma, $551 5. Jon Bon Jovi, $520 6. Andrea Bocelli, $494 7. Coachella, $469 8. Celine Dion, $465 9. Jay Chou, $464 10. Z100's Jingle Ball, $457This originally appeared on .I used the term singing in the loosest sense of the word here, because what the Minnesota Timberwolves were doing was not so much singing as it was off-key screeching not unlike you would hear feral cats making when they are in heat.  Still, they give it a pretty decent effort, and from the looks of it, the whole exercise was a great moment in team bonding.Ive watched this video, with the sound down of course, multiple times, and Im still undecided as to who my favorite T-Wolves crooner might be.  Even though he doesnt sing, Ricky Rubios adorableness is intoxicating, and hes so devilishly handsome that he actually could have been in a Spanish N Sync cover band.  Kevin Love is seven kinds of cool, coyly trying to pretend he doesnt know the words to Tearing Up My Heart when I would be willing to bet he has the entire N Sync catalog on his iPhone.And then theres Michael Beasley, who starts off slow, flashing the white mans overbite and mumbling through his first few lines before attacking the song with the passion of Celine Dion on opening night in Vegas.  In the end he owns the song, and my heart as well.Remove all dogs and young children with developing auditory canals from the room and crank this sh*t upSure my ears might be bleeding just a little, but I still like this version much better than the original.[H/T to ]Read more posts on Cheng XinThe largest luxury conglomerate in the world, Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton, said revenue continued to grow at a breakneck pace during the first few months of 2012 as pent up demand for high-end goods boosted sales.LVMH reported organic revenue surged 14 percent to6.582 billion, against expectations for6.386 billion."The Group continued its excellent momentum at the start of the year with particularly fast growth in Asia and in the United States and good progress in Europe despite the contrasting environment," LVMH said in a statement.It's largest division, fashion and leather goods, which includes its namesake Louis Vuitton label, saw organic revenue growth of 12 percent. LVMH also attributed the increase to the strong reception to Celine, under creative director Phoebe Philo.Recent acquisitions, including , fueled growth in its watch and jeweler segment.Below, segment earnings provided by LVMH.LVMHThis may be the most bromantic thing Ive ever seen.Good to see Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference is secure enough in his sexuality to play Rose to Zdeno Cháras Jack.  Of course, when youre paired up with a 6-foot-9, 255-pound beast from Slovakia, you pretty well have no choice but to play any feminine role in your blossoming bromance.  Pretty sure had Chara been on the original Titanic the iceberg wouldnt have stood a chance.Stare at this picture long enough and youll swear you can smell the sea while Celine Dion s My Heart Will Go On plays softly in your ear.[via ]Read more posts on A Stormtrooper's day off... or how Darth Vader's minions enjoy themselves when no-one is lookingBy UPDATED:16:10 GMT, 17 November 2009The Star Wars film series is certainly an epic, following a tale of Good versus Evil over the landscape of an entire universe.But even with a running-length of over twelve hours, George Lucas's story could not hope to explore every last detail of the Stormtroopers - those poor minions who have to do the bidding of Darth Vader.Luckily, a new blog has appeared to fill us in on the day-to-day lives of the Stormtroopers when they're not protecting the Death Star from those pesky Jedis.This is believed to be a record of that day the heating broke down, and the gallant Stormtroopers had to tackle Upper Galley 13.17 of the Death Star to fix it. Or it's an ovenYou won't find these on Endor: Luckily the Stormtroopers know how to handle pigeons After their triumphs over oven and pigeons, the Stormtroopers were sent on a free holiday. To SkegnessStormtroopers 365 is a year-long photo project, using the Flickr picture service, starring two Stormtroopers in the Galactic Empire Army.The project began on April 3rd this year, and a new picture is added to the series every day.Stormtrooper 2 had to lie to get his sworn enemy, Stormtrooper 1, to save his life. In desperation, he blurted out any old thing, and told him he was his father Naturally, Stormtrooper 1 wanted to do all those father-son activities, so they went break-dancing ...And then they went on the Father-Son edition of Wheel of Fortune, and won a spin-offLater, bored with Death Star duties, the Stormtroopers played Execute the Apple (it's worth pointing out in the 2008 re-release, the apple actually shot first) Enjoy your moment, Stormtroopers, because in half an hour the Death Star will be flooded with saltwater while Celine Dion sings The Stormtrooper practised his Jedi mind-tricks on the cat, but the feline knew to shut his eyes'There's Jabba', 'That's not Jabba', 'I'm sure it is', 'It's not, don't embarrass us...' The cat was back, and this time it had Obi-Wan's training to get him through the battle of wills Warned of the impeding arrival of Luke and Princess Leia, the Stormtroopers had a cunning plan to crush the pair in a vat of jelly bellies. Eventually they used a garbage disposal 'Excuse me sir, we're looking for two robots': Unfortunately, these two Stormtroopers were not on the ball, and the result was three forgettable sequelsStorming the beach: The Galactic Empire soldiers take a break for some quiet reflection Behind the scenes: This revealing picture shows how these stunning photographers were captured Having disturbed Stormtrooper 1 having a luxurious Imperial bath, Stormtrooper 2 at least had the decency to cover his eyes Your essential A-Z of summer styleFrom jumpsuits and Fedoras to zig-zags and snakeskin (yes, really)By UPDATED:08:01 GMT, 12 May 2011A ... is for all-in-one All-in-ones are everywhere and are super glamorous, channelling Bianca Jagger circa 1976. This one was on the Marc Jacobs catwalk, while Oasis has a dotty halter-neck jumpsuit (£65) which is bothaccessible and chic.B... is for braceletsThe coolest wrists right now are adorned with a plethora of contrasting jewellery; hippy beads and braided metals, twinkling charms and friendship bracelets. Its all about the mix of old and new.C... is for couture tee Sequinned, bejewelled and embroidered T-shirts Chloé, Balmain are transforming a one-time basic into something more luxurious.Hot new looks: From left: Marc Jacobs jump suit, glam Victoria's Secret Fashion T-shirt and an outfit by ethical brand Suno D... is for Dior There is feverish speculation over the fashion job of the century: Successor to John Galliano at Christian Dior. Riccardo Tisci from Givenchy (front-runner), Peter Copping at Nina Ricci or Bill Gaytten, Gallianos long-serving No 2?E... is for extra longLong and languid looks are the coolest options for summer. Antik Batik By Malene Birger and French Connection all have airy maxis in a variety of colours.F... is for festival FromGlastonbury to V, summer festivals are a chance to showcase your style.This year the sell-out literary festival at Port Eliot is going one step further with workshops and talks from Anita Pallenberg, Luella Bartley and Biba founder Barbara Hulanicki (porteliotfestival.com)G... is for green Ethicalbrands are transforming themselves into bone fide labels, and the hottest is Suno, designed in New York and produced in Africa, India and South America. The Pollock-esque splatter-print silk dresses are in demand.H... is for hats Thereturn of the hat to fashion has been rumbling on the front rows for a few seasons. Practise your hat pose, like Kylie, this summer with a panama Livia Firth (wife of Oscar-winning Colin) sells Pachacutis Fair Trade panamas (£47.50) through her Eco Age shop and website, or trythe contrast weave hat at Warehouse (£16).I... is for initials Even Coleen Rooneys monogrammed Louis Vuitton wheelie bag cant diminish the passion for all things personalised.J... is for J Brand jeans in bright coloursSkinny jeans in super- bright colours are the sell-out success of the season. J Brands figure-hugging 811 cropped jeans come in blue, yellow, pink or, most exotically, Shanghai red (£205).K... is for the Kate effect Afterthe long wait for The Dress, next up is the Royal Tour Wardrobe. The Duchess of Cambridge will visit Canada and Los Angeles from June 30 until July 8 and we are praying for her stamp of approval on more Brit brands, starting with Erdem.L... is for layering As in roomy knee-length tunics over matching trousers. Best of all this clever look conceals all lumps and bumps.M... is for men's shoesFromboyish brogues to loafers, mannish footwear for women is set to be a huge trend. Celines flat loafer with chain detail is the fashion editors most wanted.N... is for nude shoesThechicest heels are in fleshy tones. Wear nude head-to-toe as seen on theChloé catwalk or mix nude shoes with a crisp white dress and tanned legs. Try Kurt Geigers textured Bellisimo point-toe court (£110).O... is for one-piece Packaway your bikinis and rejoice! It is all about the one-piece as championed by Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan. Try Topshops op-art scallop print one-piece, £30.On trend: From left, British brand Erdem on the catwalk, layering from Paul Joe and the preppy look from Tommy HilfigerP... is for preppy Stripedtees and crisp shorts, boyish shirts and denim A-line skirts the preppy wardrobe is a summer classic being given added allure this timeround thanks to Tommy Hilfigers pop-up preppy shop, which is touring the world this summer.Q... is for quick holiday Perfectlymanicured nails are every summers essential. Salons will do a mani andpedi using two therapists in just 30 minutes. Try Essies gorgeous Geranium shade for a serious pop of colour (£9.95, johnlewis.com).R... is for retro shoulder Whileroomy totes have their place, the ongoing obsession with the Seventies means that shoulder bags are the seasons key shape. To celebrate the arrival of the American designer Coach on Bond Street later this year, Net-a-porter is reissuing some of the brands classic styles from that decade.S... is for snakeskinBythe end of the summer, the mania for all things snake will have commenced from python-print chiffon blouses to accessories in all colours. Start with a subtle accessory, such as Reisss cream snake-embossed shoulder bag (£120).T... is for T-shirt TheBreton top has morphed into dresses with oversized proportions thanks to designers including Junya Watanabe and LA label ALC. For a simpler take, this slightly slouchy black and white striped T-shirt dress (£120) from Me Ems has a flattering cut.U... is for urbanItstaken several summers for city shorts to look like a viable alternativeto skirts, but the latest crop is super chic. Neat and tailored, they look fabulous with a sharp blazer and tanned legs. Try the Cissy Bow Shorts (pictured) by Whistles (£75).V... is for varsity jackets DesignerIsabel Marant has made this Eighties must-have cool again. Topshop has aslinky cream and red version (£42) or try See By Chloés cotton linenbaseball jacket with an oversize logo (£295, Asos). Wear with skinny pink jeans and high-heeled court shoes.W... is for white jacketThisis quite possibly the most versatile piece of clothing for summer. Wearit to smarten up draped silk or jersey dresses, to instantly glamorise jeans or as a cool, crisp evening cover-up. Try Topshops linen blazer, £60.Summer essentials: From left, a Me Em's T-shirt dress, Diane Kruger modelling a slashed dress and a white jacketX... is for X-rated slashesNOTfor the faint-hearted, but if you are wearing long for evening then make sure you have a thigh-high slit. Its a look that was done to perfection by Diane Kruger wearing Jason Wu at this years Met Gala in New York.Y... is for Yesteryear This month sees the release of Vidal Sassoon The Movie, which charts the career of the man who revolutionised womens hair in the Sixties. Its a timely release thanks to Miuccia Prada and Christopher Bailey at Burberry, Sixties shifts, kinky boots and swing coats are back.Tina Turner and a 'me' generation that no longer knows how to cope with deathBy UPDATED:05:43 GMT, 22 October 2009A vicar in Kent, the Reverend Ed Tomlinson, has said that he feels like a lemon when asked to officiate at modern funeral services which have been cobbled together by the family or friends of the dead person. I wonder why on earth I am present at the funeral of somebody led in by the tunes of Tina Turner, summed up in the pithy platitudes of sentimental and secular poets and sent into the furnace with I Did It My Way blaring out across the speakers. I have a lot of sympathy with this vicar. We live in a largely secular age. Yet Church of England clergy are expected to be on hand whenever we feel the need for a bit of ceremony in our lives for Christmas, for weddings and, of course, for funerals. Such is the egomania of todays me-generation that we are no longer content with the services which the Church has devised specially for these occasions. Instead of solemn hymns at funerals, we prefer to play self-affirming hits such as My Way, the single most popular song at British funerals today. In contrast, when the moment of death came in the old days and I am speaking only of 20 or 30 years ago for the huge majority of people it was natural to have a funeral which followed the old formularies of the Church of England. This service was largely composed of words from the Bible, whichhave entered the language: We brought nothing into this world, and itis certain that we can carry nothing out . . . Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live . . . In the midst of life we are in death. . . How can the words of Tina Turner or Frank Sinatra compare with this? Death is a part of life which none of us can escape. Nor can we escape the fact that many of those whom we most love are going to be taken from us. We need, we most desperately need, to learn how to face these facts, and a funeral service is a tremendous help in doing so. The funeral service is, you might think, primarily to honour the passing of the dead person and if you are so minded to offer prayers for the departed soul. But the ceremony is just as vitally important for the survivors.More so really. The mangled, incoherent way in which so many families now say goodbye to their loved ones is a reflection of a deep spiritual malaise in our culture. But it is also, pathetically, a sign of the educational vacuum in which we are all in danger of being sucked down. Those who live by the shallow world of the X Factor will die by the X Factor. In the absence of the familiar religious words and rituals, and in the absence of any decent teaching of literature in our schools, is it any wonder that at the moments of most searing grief, or incoherent loss, families turn to Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli belting out that it is Time To Say Goodbye? Others songs in the top ten of British funeral favourites include Over The Rainbow, Nat King Coles Unforgettable and Celine Dion singing My Heart Will Go On. As a matter of sober fact as opposed to Celine Dions sentimental twaddle my heart will not go on, and nor will the heart of anyone reading this page. The most certain fact about any of us is our eventual death. Yet in the face of death today, both as individuals and as a society, we are all at sea. Our inability to hold decent funerals any more is symptomatic of the fact that we do not know how to face death. In the past, when we thought the end was near for someone we loved, we brought them home from hospital to die. Now, the very opposite happens. If there is any danger of someonedying in their own bed, surrounded by family and friends and thefamiliar objects of home, we ring for the ambulance and get them cartedoff. The thought of a corpse being in our midst is horrifying unhygienic and creepy. But isnt our fear really because we dont want in our midst a stark reminder of the fact that we and our dearest family and friends are one day going to die? It is a terrible folly for society to cast out the ancient ceremonies that have helped so many of us through the ages come to terms with death. Making up such ceremonies and church services is a very specialised art. It so happened that in the reign of Henry VIII, and in the earliest days of the Church of England, there lived an Archbishop of Canterbury with that particular genius, and his name was Thomas Cranmer. Almighty God, with Whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with Whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; We give Thee hearty thanks, for that it hath pleased Thee to deliver this our brother out of the miseries of this sinful world. . . No beating about the bush there! The Cranmer service was used for centuries. But then the modern C of E and its ludicrous Synod came along and, as with so much of the rest of our liturgy, they ruined it by trying to make it more palatable. They hated Cranmers funeral rites almost certainly because his words on death are so uncompromising so they threw out the old service and supplied us with something much less memorable. Most people no longer go to church. The number of practising Anglicans has fallen for the first time in this country to less than one million. And when confronted with organising a funeral for their nearest and dearest, the secular majority find themselves in a quandary. Surely this is a moment when the Church should be offering guidance and leadership and the reassurance of a solemn tradition that has helped the bereaved for centuries. The great thing about the old funeral service was that it seemed entirely fitting, whether it was being held for a child or a nonagenarian, a clever person or a simpleton, a religious person or an agnostic. I remember having just this discussion with an agnostic friend. Presumably youll want a humanist service? I asked him. Lord no, he laughed. You cant beat the old funeral service and a few school hymns. We need a rite of passage. Precisely. For those whose family have a serious objection to a religious service, it is, of course, better to have a completely secular ceremony, or no ceremony at all. Just give your body to a teaching hospital. The majority, though, are in a muddle. They may never go to church, but the death of a loved one is such an unsettling and spiritual occasion that they want the vicar to help them through it. Yet in the absence of Cranmers old funeral service, and with vicars pussy-footing around with its modern replacement, they think they can improve on the traditions of the elders. So I know that My Redeemer Liveth is discarded in favour of My Way and Handel is given the boot by Frank Sinatra. But only because the Church did not offer Handel, or the time-honoured words. Although My Way and other such examples of liturgical home brew give a Kentish vicar the pip, I am afraid I blame the Church more than I actually blame the people who, with the best of bewildered and often griefstricken intentions, devise these cringe-making events in crematoria and churches. English-speaking men and women for 400 years had the most beautiful church services in their own language. Our national Church chose, for the stupidest set of non-reasons, to discard the Prayer Book services. Vicars are not in a very strong position to object if people can think of nothing better to play, as the coffin goes down the chute, than Youll Never Walk Alone (number nine in popularity). For most British people, the experience of church-going is limited to weddings and funerals. If, when they came to church on such an occasion, families were given the dignity of the old words, the old hymns and the old music, might they not derive some of the old strength which consoled our ancestors, and bring back to life some of the old, lost dignity with which human rites of passage were once honoured?Flame-haired Rihanna sets the stage alight at Academy of Country Music AwardsBy UPDATED:11:22 GMT, 4 April 2011Rihanna dispensed with her RnB roots last night as she took to the stage for a stunning duet at the Academy of Country Music Awards.The 22-year-old singer joined forces with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and the pair brought the house down with their rendition of California King Bed. It came on a night of big performances, which also saw Taylor Swift take to the stage and former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood share the microphone with one of the show's current judges, Steven Tyler.Scroll down for a full list of winners and video... The big winner of the night was Miranda Lambert, who took home four awards. She was nominated in seven categories.Speaking ahead of her performance with Rihanna, Nettle said she was excited. 'Its the first time that Lady Ri andI have ever sung together and the first time that this song will be performed live so we are thrilled,' she said. 'Were just big fans of each other. We wanted to do something that was fun and different and fresh, and I reached out to her and said, "Hey, anything you want to do?" and she said, "I have this song that I specifically would love to do," and I said, "Yes maam, we will do it.'It is such a moment. And I think what it shows us is that good music is good and good performance is good, and as long as you like it, who cares what you call it. Get out there and have fun with each other.'Lambert's track The House That Built Me helped the singer quickly match her win total from last year's ceremony while Lady Antebellum took home two trophies, including album of the year for Need You Now. What a show: The pair performed a series of songs including Walk This WayThe two acts, who are the best of friends, celebrated on stage after Lambert, winner of last year's album of the year award for Revolution, announced the winner.'Thank you, Miranda Lambert, for winning this last year and not being in the category this year,' Lady A's Charles Kelley said.They were named vocal group of the year a few moments later.The House That Built Me, written by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas, won song, single record and video of the year Sunday night. It mirrors a difficult time in Lambert's life, but those times are over and the song has helped Lambert's star rise to new heights. It helped her win the Grammy for bestfemale country performance and it also won Country Music Association's song of the year award as well.'Allen and Tom,' Lambert said after winning single record, 'thank you for writing the song of the year.'The Band Perry claimed the best new artist award moments after singing their hit 'If I Die Young.' It was the trio of two brothers and one sister's second win after taking home top new vocal duo or group before the awards. They were competing with Eric Church for top new artist. Zac Brown Band, up for five awards, took home vocal event of the year with Alan Jackson for their collaboration on 'As She's Walking Away.'Brad Paisley kicked off the ACMs witha little help from friends: Three members of the iconic group Alabama joined Paisley on his new song 'Old Alabama,' bringing the crowd at the MGM Grand to its feet Sunday night. It was one of several big collaborations scheduled for the night. Moments later, Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood rocked out to Undo It then segued to the Aerosmith classic Walk This Way.The show opened with co-host Blake Shelton singing a slow song to what appeared to Lambert, his fiancee. But as the camera panned in on a blonde draped over a couch, it revealed the show's other co-host, Reba McEntire in a blonde wig.'All right, Blake,' she said, 'that's enough rehearsing for your wedding night. We've got a show to do. Focus!' Lambert was the night's top solo nominee with seven. She was still up for entertainer of the year, the most prestigious award, and with fans voting for it, it's especially hard to predict. Neither Carrie Underwood nor Kenny Chesney - winners of the last six entertainer awards - were nominated this year. Swift received the entertainer of the year award from presenter Ryan Seacrest at the awards show. Revealed: The truth behind the Air France disaster that killed 228 peopleBy UPDATED:22:23 GMT, 28 May 2010As the jet flew through the dead of night, most passengers slept. They included a mother and her five-year-old son, and an 11-year-old boy returning to his boarding school in Bristol. Alexander Bjoroy had spent an idyllic half-term break with his expatriate family in Brazil. His parents, Robin and Jane, had seen him safely to the airport, then waved him off as he returned to Bristol's £5,970-a-term Clifton College. One couple on the flight, a young doctor and lawyer, had married only the day before. After a wedding reception in a Rio nightclub, they had boarded the plane to begin their honeymoon. It was June 1, 2009, and this was Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris - a routine international flight. In the early hours of that fateful morning, however, something dreadful occurred. Air France Flight 447 made its final radio transmission - and then all contact was lost. The flight simply vanished. On the ground, French officials told desperate relatives: 'We wait, we pray, we will know more this afternoon.' So began one of the most catastrophic and troubling air disasters of modern times, a crash that killed 228 people from 32 nations. Five Britons, including 11-year-old Alexander, died. Fernando Schnabl was waiting for his wife, Christine, and their little son Philipe to land. Travelling separately in order to use up their Airmiles, he had kissed his wife goodbye in Rio de Janiero and then boarded a different plane to Paris with Celine, their three-year-old daughter. Landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris the next morning, Fernando was looking forward to seeing his wife and small son again. But, as his plane taxied towards its stand, a passenger in the next seat switched on his mobile phone and said that a flight from Rio was missing. 'Then he said it was Air France and I was very scared, ' says Fernando. 'And when the crew called my name, I knew something really bad had happened. The way they treated me with so much concern, but not wanting to tell me anything, left me with no hope at all.' Staff led Fernando and his daughter to an airport lounge, where other distraught relatives were gathering. Alexander Bjoroy's family learned of the crash at their home in Brazil, and broke the painful news to his younger sister, Charlotte. What had happened to their treasured child? Hampering the search was the fact that no one knew the precise spot where the jet had disappeared. It had left Brazilian airspace, but had not radioed its next position. In the hours and days after the crash, officials at Air France began to study a series of error messages sent by the plane's automatic communications system via satellite, which indicated that it had experienced 'multiple technical failures' in its last minutes in the air. What had gone wrong? An awful five days later, the shattered wreckage of Flight 447 was discovered, floating in the Atlantic 750 miles off the coast of Brazil. All 228 passengers and crew were dead. Despite a £24 million search operation, the all-important black boxes could not be recovered. No one was able to explain what had happened. To the anger of relatives, French investigators will not make a final report on the disaster until the black boxes are found. But now, for the first time, the story behind this devastating air disaster can be told. A BBC2 documentary, Lost: The Mystery Of Flight 447, to be screened tomorrow night, has brought together leading aviation experts to conduct a forensic investigation into the crash. Amazingly, they have been able to pinpoint exactly what happened on that fateful night, even though the aircraft left barely a trace when it crashed. Furthermore, they are able to answer the question: could it happen again? Tony Cable worked for the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch for 32 years. He was the senior investigator on the fatal Concorde crash in Paris ten years ago, and on the Lockerbie bombing. 'The normal way of investigating an accident is to look at the crash site. In this case, though, there's only a small amount of floating wreckage,' he says. 'The flight data and cockpit voice recorders are clearly at the bottom of the ocean with the rest of the wreckage - a very, very big handicap to the investigation.' How, then, did the team begin? First, they eliminated the possibility of a terrorist attack. 'The possibilities that immediately come to mind would be a bomb or a structural break-up,' says Cable. He drafted in John Cox, one of the world's leading aviation safety consultants, and they pieced together the recovered aircraft parts to find out what forces acted on them in the last moments of flight. This method was used to solve the mystery of TWA flight 800, which crashed off the coast of New York in 1996. By examining fragments of that fuselage, experts determined that faulty wiring had caused a fuel explosion. Engineer Jim Wildey is a veteran of that investigation. Looking at the recovered parts from Flight 447, he made the first major breakthrough: the plane showed signs of a highspeed impact with the water. 'The nose cone has been flattened, crushed and torn,' he says. 'This is a very clear sign that this piece was on the airplane when it hit the water.' A floor section from the cargo compartment also revealed that the plane was level at the point of impact, and hit the water at speed. It appears, then, that flight 447 didn't explode in mid-air; it simply fell out of the sky. But if there was no explosion, what did happen? The A330 is a jewel in the crown of European aerospace giant, Airbus. It had previously been considered extremely safe, with 700 in service around the world and not a single passenger fatality before Flight 447. The plane uses a state-of-the-art fly-by-wire computerised control system, where mechanical levers are replaced by electronics. When the autopilot is switched on, the plane flies itself. 'Ninety-nine per cent of the time when you're sitting as a passenger flying at 35,000 feet, the autopilot is flying the aeroplane,' says Captain Martin Alder, former chairman of the British Airline Pilots' Flights Safety Group. Using Air Traffic Control transcripts, Cable has been able to piece together the last devastating moments in the cockpit. He believes that flight 447 would have been on autopilot as it headed out over the Atlantic, with Captain Marc Dubois, 58, and his co-pilot standing by. Three hours out from Rio de Janeiro, Flight 447 was still on track. The last crew conversation with on-ground controllers was routine. The co-pilot called out the plane's position using the internationally recognised phonic alphabet: 'Charlie Papa Hotel Quebec.' But at 1.35am, all radio communications ceased. But for another 35 minutes, Flight 447's computer continued to send out automatic position reports by satellite to the Air France base at Charles de Gaulle airport. A last reading showed a location at 2.10am, 70 miles from where the wreckage was discovered. So what brought down the plane? Looking through meteorological data, the team discovered that there was a thunderstorm in the area at the time. But why would experienced pilots fly into a storm? 'The idea that a pilot would fly through a thunderstorm - no, absolutely not,' says aviation safety expert John Cox. Several other flights that night took the same route as Flight 447, but the pilots made detours of up to 90 miles to avoid the storm system, which towered to an altitude of 50,000ft. The investigating team believes that a smaller storm in front of the larger weather front confused the flight's radar system, so that the crew did not see the thunderstorm coming. It meant they had no choice but to ride out the turbulence. The pilot would have slowed down the engines - the standard method for flying through such conditions. At 2.10am - the plane's last known position - it appears that Flight 447 entered a rapidly developing storm system that its radar detected too late. A little more than four minutes later, everyone on board was dead. So what happened in those critical intervening minutes? Just after 2.10am, the flight computer sent a torrent of automatic fault messages to Air France in Paris. Called by one pilot 'the last will and testament of the aircraft', these messages show that Flight 447 suffered 24 critical faults in just four minutes and 16 seconds. The first message showed that the autopilot had switched itself off, so the pilot had to take manual control. Then the systems controlling air speed and altitude failed. In the cockpit, instrumental display screens would have gone blank, and flight-control computers would have died. One by one, the most critical safety features in the cockpit failed. 'It must have been a very busy and confusing situation on the flight deck,' says Cable. It is a harrowing image, indeed. The cockpit would have filled with a multitude of audio and visual alarms, while the pilots desperately fought a losing battle to control the aircraft and keep it in the air as it was buffeted by a gigantic thunderstorm. A final, ominous warning was sent by the plane to Paris: the Advisory Cabin Vertical Speed message, which means that the aircraft was descending at a high rate. This last, terrifying message came just before Flight 447 and its passengers hit the water at hundreds of miles an hour. But what could have caused all the vital automatic systems to malfunction at once? It appears that the three pitot tubes (speed sensors) failed simultaneously. It could be that they were unable to cope with the storm conditions facing Flight 447. Accident investigators believe that super-cooled water in the clouds - well below freezing, but too pure to turn into ice - could have disabled the pitot probes. Cable has discovered that since 2003, there have been 36 incidents involving frozen pitot tube on A330s or the similar A340s. Indeed, in 2007, Airbus recommended a refit of all A330s with upgraded pitots. Flight 447 had not yet been refitted. With no airspeed data, Flight 447's automatic systems would have collapsed one by one - which is exactly what happened. It seems that in total darkness, and in the midst of a storm, the crew were forced to retake manual control of the plane. John Cox explains how the pilots would have been bombarded with confusing information, saying: 'That crew faced an almost unheard of series of failures, one right behind the other.' The most immediate danger was that the airplane would stall, which would lead to a sudden, uncontrollable descent (it had already slowed suddenly to cope with the turbulence). Cox says: 'There is a good possibility that at some point in the last four minutes, it did stall.' An unlucky series of events caused the accident, then, culminating in the automated systems failing and engines stalling. Used to flying with high levels of automation, it seems the pilots did not have the skills to recover the situation. Tragically, from the way the airline hit the water - nose up, with wings level - it appears that the crew may have come close to saving their passengers' lives. It is likely they were recovering the situation but ran out of time, and suffered a second, and this time terminal, stall. More than that, we will probably never know. The airplane's black boxes, recording the last moments in the cockpit, stopped transmitting location signals after one month. Efforts to find them using imaging sonar continue. So could such a tragedy happen again? Cable certainly believes that Flight 447 raises some vital issues for airlines. 'It has raised the question about whether the situation is actually being made worse by the increase in automation, whereby crews don't get a great deal of opportunity to manually fly the aircraft,' he says. Airbus has also been criticised for not yet replacing all pitot probes in its fleet. In the face of new evidence, it maintains that even if they fail, pilots should be able to operate the plane. A terrifying technical disaster, then, and one that led to a very human tragedy. Alexander Bjoroy's parents held a memorial service for him last year, paying tribute to their son, saying: 'The world was his home. Alexander embraced other cultures and respected them greatly. 'He loved to travel and see and experience new places and people. We were very fortunate to share so many marvellous experiences together in his short life.' The body of Swedish national Christine Schnabl was one of 51 recovered, but her five-year-old son Philipe was never found. She was not wearing a life jacket - it seems there was no time. Her husband, Fernando, is preparing an album of pictures and cuttings to give to their daughter Celine when she is old enough to understand. One day, he hopes, he will be able to give her more answers. For now, however, he simply tells her that her mother and brother have gone to a 'good place in the sky'.American Idol: The boys impress on the first live show... but the girls lag behindBy UPDATED:10:58 GMT, 10 March 2011They had just a minute and a half to try and persuade America to vote for them, but even that was too long for some.The first 'live' America Idol show - recorded a day early to allow the new judges time to settle in - didn't go well for everyone, with lacklustre performances and dull song choices slowing things down.The boys were more on form, with Paul McDonald, Casey Abrams, Jacob Lusk and James Durbin all exciting the judges.Of the girls Pia Toscano lived up to last week's stunning performance, but many of her fellow females failed to deliver.NaimaAdedapo at least had some energy as she offered up an imitation of Rihanna, but Karen Rodriguez struggled todo justice to her choice of Selena's I Could Fall in Love and Haley Reinhart was simply labelled 'boring' by Randy Jackson.The finalists had paid tribute to their own Idols as they performed songs by their very favourite artists.Lauren Alaina kicked off the show, but her version of Shania Twain's Any Man of Mine was forgettably bland.Missing the mark: Naima Adedapo simply impersonated Rihanna, Lauren Alaina was bland and Haley Reinhart was told she was 'boring'Steven Tyler told her she needed more energy. 'You've gotta have a good song,' he said.' And I love that song, I just wish it had been a little bit more kick ass.'Jennifer Lopez felt the same: 'You don't have to try, you're that good. But I think you have to kick it into high gear.'But, touched by Alaina's sad face, she added: 'We love you!'Next up was Casey Abrams, who injected the night with the first burst of energy with his high octane performance of Joe Cockers With a Little Help From My Friends.Lopez said his singing 'blew me away.' And Tyler was even happier, telling him: 'You are a plethora of passion.'Following him onto the stage was Ashthon Jones, who was one of last week's wild cards.She played it safe with Diana Ross' When You Tell Me That You Love Me.Randy Jackson told her that while initially sceptical, he saw the benefits in her unoriginal choice. 'I tell you what, I liked it,' he said. 'I saw you grow a little bit more as a singer, when you were going a little bit sharp or flat you pulled it back with a little vibrato, so I liked it.'After her came Paul McDonald, whose unique dancing style kept everyone entertained as he performed Ryan Adams Tyler found fault with his voice, but loved the performance. 'A little pitchy, be careful next time,' he advised.Lopez was worried the audience 'wouldn't get it.' 'You're just so unique, there's just something about you. I hope America gets it. I do really think that you're great.'Jackson added: 'I'm sure it wasn't the most exciting thing for people but I love who you are. I get it and I hope America gets it.'The highly-anticipated performance from Pia Toscano came next, with the teen belted out Celine Dion's All By Myself at the top of her lungs.Lopez was almost lost speechless. 'We love you Pia, I mean... I think a lot of people were wondering what you were going to do to top last week, and that was it.'Jackson said normally he wouldn't advise a contestant to take on such a challenging song.'We always say don't tackle those songs if you can't do them,' he began, before admitting that Pia had nailed it. 'You have that quality, those notes that you hit, you hit them dead on without even thinking about it.'Tyler said simply: 'Pia, that was the sum total of all the work you've done until now.'But Pia's high standards were not lived Haley Reinhart performed Blue, a track released by LeAnn Rimes in 1996. And while Tyler and Lopez enjoyed it, Randy found it 'boring'.Randy: 'For me it was a little boring actually, if I'm, been honest. You're young, you've got so much energy. It was a little boring for me, that's all.'A change of pace from Jacob Lusk was next, with him performing R Kelly's I Believe I can Fly. And to emphasise the gospel sound of his voice a choir came onto the stage as backing singers.Jackson was delighted. 'You have such an original sound, and to me that's what singing's all about,' he said. 'You were unbelievable. I love you, I'm excited.'Thia Megia changed the pace once again with her version of Smile.She began the track alone, with simply a guitar accompanying her voice, before the bad kicked it. The judges preferred the start, but added: 'I think all in all it turned out to be good, I loved the beginning more than the end for me.'Tyler agreed, advising: 'A little pitchy in the middle there. But you gave it up, thank you.'Eager not to criticise, Lopez saw only the good. 'I thought the arrangement was interesting, but I liked see you move. It doesn't matter - you sing like an angel.' Karen Rodriguez's voice proved too small for her version of Selena's I Could Fall in Love.As always Lopez looked on the bright side, saying: 'You're one of our strongest girls, so I hope that you make it to next week.' But she did admit: 'I could tell you were uncomfortable with some of the notes, at the lower end, and the higher end also.' Scotty McCreery stuck to his winning country formula with Garth Brooks' The River, which was well received by the judges, with Jackson advising him: 'Don't change it!'Naima Adedapo reimagined Rihanna's Umbrella, but couldn't improve on the original.But her high-energy performance delighted the audience, who had just sat through 12 rather dull tracks.Tyler was appreciative: 'You brought flavour tonight, which no-one else has done.'Lopez added: 'I'm glad you came out there and did what you did.' Elton John says goodbye to Las Vegas after 241 shows...but says he may go backBy UPDATED:16:03 GMT, 23 April 2009After five years and a staggering 241 shows at Caesars Palace, last night Elton John bid farewell to Las Vegas to return to the UK - but assured fans he'll be back soon.Wearing a bright red shirt that matched his piano and a coat with 'Las Vegas Pirates' embazoned on the back , the music legend rolled through his famous hits and reflected on his time at the Colosseum - a stage he famously shared with Celine Dion, Bette Midler and Cher.As he reminisced, the 62-year-old told his audience of 4,300 fans: 'The ex-home of Celine Dion ... and now it's the ex-home of Elton John as well. 'Who are you going to get to fill in our shoes now?. You've got Bette Midler, you've got Cher. It's gonna be the Village People next.''I really have enjoyed every single moment of this engagement. One day I might even see you in Vegas, OK? But until then, I love you.'Many audience members seated close to the stage gavethe star a standing ovation after each hit he played, including 'Candle in the Wind', 'Rocket Man', and 'Tiny Dancer'.'I hope you don't mind that I put down in words,' he sang. 'How wonderful life is while you're in the world.'Several of thesongs were combined with complex video productions created by famedphotographer and director David LaChapelle. The offbeat music videosincluded appearances by singer Justin Timberlake, actress PamelaAnderson and actor Paul Reubens.The five-time Grammy winner ended the show with 'Your Song' before kissing anaudience member's hand as he exited the stage.Elton initially signed on for 75 shows over three years when his runbegan in February 2004, but casino officials say the deal was expandedbecause of demand.Histour with Billy Joel has the second-highest average gross box officerevenue with a ticket price of £79.50, according to Pollstar, theconcert industry trade publication. Each show averages around £1.5 million, behind only Britney Spears. Andrea Bocelli joins stars in celebrating 50th anniversary of Songs Of Praise By UPDATED:00:22 GMT, 23 September 2011Andrea Bocellis vivacious fiancee Veronica Berti greets me at the door of the singers luxury hotel villa in the Sicilian coastal town of Siracusa. In the lived-in lounge we walk past an open suitcase, his neatly lined-up white slip-on shoes on the carpet, and a white dress shirt from a performance the previous evening draped over an armchair. Its a reminder of the day-to-day human side of this huge figure in opera.Once I am seated on the terrace, Veronica guides Bocelli out and sits him opposite me. He trained as a lawyer and there is an air of deliberation about him. Im not sure he needs the interpreter hired for the occasion, because his English is surprisingly fluent. Its said he lives in a rather cocooned world, and when I ask about another opera act, IlDivo, I can see why. When I tell him that it was he who inspired Simon Cowell to form Il Divo, he is perplexed. Theres a quick discussion to find out who Simon Cowell is. How refreshing, though when I mention X Factor he has an inkling. Yes, Ive met Il Divo in a TV studio. They are very nice people, says Bocelli, non-committal about their art.Behind the considered, dignified air, there is no doubt a man of great passion. Opera was always my passion. As a child I didnt think about anything else, only music. For me, opera is one of the highest forms of entertainment. Its also one of the hardest art forms with the combination of many disciplines. Theres no reason why it cant appeal to everyone.Last week, he performed for 60,000 people willing to brave the rain to see him at a free concert in New Yorks Central Park, where he was joined by Celine Dion and Tony Bennett. This weekend, he is at Alexandra Palace, North London, joining in the 50th anniversary celebrations for BBC1s Songs Of Praise. A devout Catholic, he was taken as a child by his mother to Lourdes. Afterwards, she asked him if he had prayed for his sight. He said he had not, he had prayed for serenity.Bocelli was born partially sighted before an accident rendered him completely blind at the age of 12, and Ive been told the subject upsets him. Its his strength of will that has made Bocelli the most successful opera singer of his generation with album sales topping 70 million, even more than Pavarotti, who first recognised his greatness as a tenor. His phenomenal international success began in 1995, when Time To Say Goodbye topped the charts. He has upset the posh end of the opera world ever since, who believe his technique isflawed, though they fail to acknowledge his gift for making a connection between his audience and opera.As a child, Bocelli was energetic and impulsive, ignoring the fact he was blind. That didnt stop him playing sports, riding his bicycle and the horse his father bought him. In adult life he took up boxing, skiing, windsurfing and surfing.Is he still a risk taker? No, no, I dont like to take risks now. When I was younger I liked to take risks, physically, with horses, riding my bicycle, everything. I skydived once. Bocelli, who celebrated his 53rd birthday yesterday, added: Now I might break some bones. My passion for horses has come back as I have a beautiful new horse. Though Im more careful.Yes, I was really lively, but now that I have sons I dont want them to be like I used to be. I prefer them to be careful, so I have to set an example.Is his example of cautious living working? For now, yes. The boys are much calmer than me. Amos, 16, and Matteo, 14, are both piano students, though their father doesnt expect them to become musicians.You get the sense hes quite a disciplinarian. Yes, of course I am a disciplinarian for their sake, he says. I try not to impose discipline on them. I try to make them love discipline. I try to make them understand that there is only one way. You must teach discipline through dialogue. You must talk a lot with your children.Bocelli is divorced from their mother, Enrica Cenzatti, who lives next door to him on his estate in the Tuscan seaside town of Forte dei Marmi.Are he and Veronica planning to wed? Naturally, when two people feel like we do, they want to make it a permanent arrangement. I hope it will happen from the religious and spiritual point of view but it is a legal matter. By this I take it to mean that as a divorced Catholic he is not able to marry in church again. After our meeting, it was revealed that 28-year-old Veronica is pregnant and expecting her first child in the spring. Theres an unexpectedly touching moment between him and Veronica, who helps manage him, as a photographer takes pictures while we talk. She spots a smidgen of toothpaste by the side of his mouth and dashes over to rub it off with her fingers. He is not startled by this. Clearly it is a natural part of their world where she will come and tend to him.His success is so all conquering that he is treated like a modern day Roman emperor how does he avoid becoming arrogant?If someone has received a lot in life, as in my case, they should be aware they owe a lot to other people for helping make it happen, he says. Im certainly aware that I should be giving something back, not only in terms of money but primarily in terms of love. Love is the most valuable thing I have received and am able to give back. I think of the body as a shell that can contain different things. If you put things of value into it, then that will help you become a modest person. Everything else is just vanity. As a man, I have my strengths and weaknesses. Its for others to judge what they are.In February, hes appearing in Romeo And Juliet in Genoa, Italy. I wonder what is his perfect woman like? Wow, he smiles. I can hear Veronica laugh. From the masculine point of view, what I primarily look for in a woman is femininity and then passion and all the rest!Despite his achievements in the worlds biggest cities, he says: I dont like big cities. I grew up in a village. And every time I go to London its raining, though I like the people. Andrea Bocelli will perform at the Songs Of Praise 50th anniversary at Alexandra Palace on Sunday, to be broadcast on BBC1 on October 2. Andrea Bocelli Live In Central Park will be released on CD and DVD on November 14.Angelina Jolie turns her designer dress back to front... to show off her tattoos By UPDATED:17:41 GMT, 30 January 2009 Angelina Jolie has always sought to be different. And now it seems she's prepared to go even further by customising her designer wardrobe for her red carpet appearances.The Oscar nominated actress wore her $798 cornflower blue Max Azria dress to the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles back to front rather than exposing her chest in the plunging gown. And it seems her reason for doing so, was to show off her array of tattoos. Angelina's choice: Changeling actress Miss Jolie chose to wear her $798 Max Axria gown back to front Leading from the front: Angelina decided not to wear the plunging neckline gown the right way round her stylist said 'to make it more blouson' Angelina Jolie arriving at The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium In Los Angeles California While some commentators dubbed it a fashion faux pas, clearly the mother of six children, who gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne last year, was not keen to bare quite so much flesh. Her stylist Jen Rade told Usmagazine.com Angelina purposefully turned around the dress to make it 'more blouson.' Another theory was that it enabled the actress to show off her tattoos more. Although the v-shaped neckline actually covered up half of the artworks. Angelina made no mention of the fact that the stunning blue gown was on backwards during an interview with E! magazine on the red carpet, and said: 'I just like to be comfortable, I see what comfortable options are out there.'Los Angeles Times critic Booth Moore wrote: 'Angelina Jolie is one of the few celebrities who has developed a signature red carpet look: drapey, goddess-like dresses that show off her tattooed shoulders, natural hair, minimal make-up and jewellery. 'Some have criticised the look as dowdy, but I would call it self-aware'.However, Angelina might want to be careful, as the last person , Angelina appears to be following a long held show-business tradition for wearing clothing backwards. At the 1999 Oscars, Celine Dion famously wore a white Dior tuxedo, backwards. Her outfit came in for harsh criticism , and was described by keen red carpet watchers as 'bizarre' and 'unflattering'.Angelina and partner Brad Pitt are currently in Japan promoting their respective films The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Changeling. And fittingly for the showbiz world's most famous couple, they have both been nominated for Oscars. But down to earth Pitt said of the double honours: 'Man, we're too busy dealing with Kleenexes and diapers and getting everyone fed to really celebrate. 'We'll do that next year.'Angelina and partner Brad Pitt arriving at the Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards which was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Animal print: The good, the mad and the ugly of this eye-catching trend By UPDATED:10:45 GMT, 8 September 2008 In this occasional column we look at the good, the mad and the just plain ugly. This week we check out animal print... THE GOODWhen it comes to any kind of animal print, less is most definitely more. This Asprey skirt takes a subtle approach to a difficult print. The delicate nature of the design makes it ever so feminine and essentially elegant. A well-tailored touch of luxury and style - what Asprey does best.Skirt, £550, Asprey, 020 7493 6767. THE MADWow! Christopher Kane went wild with the animal print this season. Taking inspiration for his spring collection from childhood memories of Crocodile Dundee, this biker jacket pays particular homage to the film. Accompanied with the right outfit, it could do wonders for your fashion cred - just don't go OTT.Jacket, £1,820, Christopher Kane, 020 7514 0000. THE UGLYPat Butcher, eat your heart out. This dress screams road kill - and East End road kill at that. Celine designer Ivana Omazic may have beautifully simplified the French fashion label and concentrated on cut and shape this season, but she seems to have let this one slip through the taste net. A case of overdone and difficult to wear; even supermodel Giselle wouldn't look good in this.Dress, £630, Celine, 020 7297 4999. Anna Wintour gives NeNe Leakes her seal of approval as Real Housewife is snapped for latest issue of Vogue By PUBLISHED:18:04 GMT, 21 September 2012 UPDATED:19:04 GMT, 21 September 2012Anna Wintour has apparently given NeNe Leakes her seal of approval, granting her a spot in the October edition of Vogue. The 44-year-old Real Housewives of Atlanta star was photographed alongside fellow cast members from The New Normal - a sitcom based on Glee creator Ryan Murphy's life.Also in the shot were actors Justin Bartha, Andrew Rannells, Georgia King, Bebe Wood and Ellen Barkin.The cast was snapped for by NormanJean Roy, and Ms Leakes was appropriately clad in designer garb of a Stella McCartney dress and Giuseppe Zanotti platform heels.In Ryan Murphy's new comedyseries, which airs on Tuesdays at 9.30pm on NBC, Ms Leakes plays Rocky, the self-described 'half-giraffe, half-drag queen' assistant to one half of the show's gay parents-to-be.She landed the role after receiving positive reviews as Coach Roz Washington over on the set of Glee. It is the first TV show to have two gay male leads and follows their experiences as they prepare to become parents with the help of a surrogate.The plot mirrors the life of Mr Murphy himself, who reveals in the accompanying article that he and husband David Miller are 'exploring surrogacy' themselves.Since finding fame on the small screen, Georgia-based NeNe Leakes has been attempting to carve a name for herself in the fashion world.In June it was announced that she will be launching a clothing collection after signing a deal with the global licensing company Beanstalk.It is said that the line will be affordable, with pieces 'designed to empower women to walk into a room and "own it" - like NeNe herself.'The one-time Celebrity Apprentice contestant also designed a $40 pair of black ankle boots with gold platform heels for ShoeDazzle this spring as part of itsCelebrity Shoe Design Program for Charity.Denise Richards, Perez Hilton and CarmenElectra also made contributions as part of the campaign.Some of her favourite dress designers include Emilio Pucci, Celine and Herve Leger, while on the footwear front she has stepped out in towering heels by the likes of Christian Louboutin and Giuseppe Zanotti.Sharing the news of her Vogue appearance with friends and fans, mother-of-two Ms Leakes Tweeted: 'Check me out n the October issue of Vogue wit my "New Normal" cast! That's my girl @EllenBarkin did I say Vogue?'In 2010 she revealed that she had plastic surgery so she could achieve a size 8 to 10 figure. She has since been snapped in a range of figure-flattering designs that aim at accentuating her curves.She previously told People magazine:'I didnt want to change my looks. I wanted to look like the black woman I am, only a better version.'Vogue's October issue, available on newsstands nationwide from September 24. 'Beast of the Ardennes' and his virgin-hunting wife go on trial for murder of seven womenLast updated at 4:14 PM on 27th March 2008The trial of the man said to be one of France's deadliest serial killers and the wife who helped lure his virgin prey has begun today.But Michel Fourniret - dubbed the "Beast of the Ardennes" - refused to speak at the opening of his trial today, despite allegedly confessing to the murders of seven young women.Instead he told the judge via a note that until the courtroom was closed, he was remaining silent.Scroll down for moreSilence: Fourniret holds up his sign declaring that until the courtroom is empty, he will not open his mouth Olivier sits behind bulletproof glass and surrounded by armed guards in the courtroom today On trial: Self-confessed serial killer Michel Fourniret and his wife Monique Olivier in 1992 (top) and after their arrests in 2004 Fourniret, 66, appeared in court behind a bullet-proof glass alongside his wife, Monique Olivier, 59, who is charged with complicity in five of the murders.He faces a trial at a later date for the murder of British teacher Joanna Parrish in 1990, whose naked body was found in a river in Burgundy.Fourniret has already admitted to prosecutors that he needed to go hunting for a virgin at least twice a year.According to letters seized by investigators, he and his wife forged a pact on his release from prison in 1987 that if he killed her first husband, she would help him find young virgins for him. The seven victims, as young as 12 and no older than 21, were strangled, shot or stabbed with a screwdriver. They were killed in France and Belgium between 1987 and 2003. Fourniret faces kidnapping, rape and murder charges in connection with their deaths.Investigators suspect he may have been involved in several other murders.Fourniret struck a defiant pose on day one of the trial. When the judge asked him to identify himself, he held up a piece of paper with the words "Without a closed courtroom, staying tightlipped."The judge did not appear to respond.Fourniret also passed to the judge a rolled paper tied in a red ribbon, which his lawyer said was a message to the victims' families. He asked that the judge read it, and the judge declined.Jean-Maurice Arnould, lawyer for the family of slain 12-year-old Elisabeth Brichet, said the family was not expecting an apology from Fourniret. "He's a man without conscience," he said.Elisabeth's father said he did not want to hear Fourniret's account of his daughter's murder."We don't want new facts of the crimes; for us it's already hardly bearable," Francis Brichet said.The child's body was found along with that of 21-year-old Jeanne-Marie Desramault in the wooded grounds of Fourniret's former property in northern France.An array of exhibits sat in the courtroom including a shotgun, two revolvers, a screwdriver and various pieces of rope. Scroll down for moreRelatives of the victims watch the proceedings in court today Both Olivier and Fourniret face life imprisonment if they are convicted.Defence lawyer Pierre Blocquaux said that during questioning byinvestigators, Fourniret admitted to committing the crimes. Hedeclined to comment about how Fourniret might plead.He also told the court Fourniret did not want to be defended by him or his two other lawyers.French media reports said Olivier appeared to be co-operating andanswered the judge's opening questions about her identity.The reportsquoted her lawyers as saying she planned to apologise to the victims'families.Olivier looked for a long time at the families and did not react as crowds of photographers snapped her image as she entered.Belgian police detained Fourniret in June, 2003, after hisbungled kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl. She gave authorities hislicence plate number after she managed to unbind her hands and escapefrom the back of Fourniret's van.Police officials said the girl told Belgian investigators thatFourniret had bragged to her that he was "worse than" Belgium's mostnotorious criminal, paedophile Marc Dutroux, sentenced to life inprison in 2004 for a series of child kidnappings, rapes and murders. Scroll down for moreTragic: Henri Desramault, the father of Jeanne-Marie, one of Fourniret's victims, looks pained as he arrives at the courthouse today Francis Brichet, the father of Elisabeth, one of Fourniret's victims, makes his way through the media throng at court today Police officials say Olivier told Belgian investigators in 2004 that Fourniret had committed nine murders, and acknowledged her participation in several of them.Judicial and police officials say Fourniret admitted to seven murders, and that confession is cited in the indictment.During searches of Fourniret's home, in Sart-Custinne, Belgium, police discovered stolen revolvers, a hood and children's clothing.The bodies of two victims, 21-year-old Jeanne-Marie Desramault and 12-year-old Elisabeth Brichet - both of whom went missing in 1989 - were found in the wooded grounds of Fourniret's former property in northern France.Belgium extradited Olivier to France in 2005 and Fourniret in 2006. Judicial officials in both countries decided the case should be tried in France because six of the dead women were French citizens.Fourniret, a former forest ranger, had a history of sex offences. In 1966, he was found guilty of molestation and in 1987, a French court sentenced him to five years in prison for a series of rapes. Scroll down for moreTwisted: Monique Olivier attends the 2006 re-enactment of the kidnapping and murder of Fabienne Leroy by her husband In prison, he began to correspond with Olivier - the mother of three children - promising her to kill her ex-husband, judicial officials have said.In the correspondence, seized by Belgian investigators, Olivier pledged to "back up" Fourniret in his endeavours.The trial is expected to end in May.The victimsScroll down for moreThe girls Fourniret is accused of killing: (L-R) Elisabeth Brichet, Isabelle Laville, Jeanne-Marie Desramault, Natacha Danais, Mananya Thumpong, Fabienne Leroy. Missing: Celine Sanais Isabelle Laville, 17: Kidnapped on her way home from school on December 11, 1987 in Auxerre, central France. Fourniret confessed to raping and killing her, then led investigators a well in north-eastern France where her bones and clothing were buried. Olivier is accused of complicity in her kidnap and rape.Fabienne Leroy, 20: Kidnapped from a supermarket car park in Chalons-en-Champagne, east of Paris, on July 8, 1988. Her body was discovered outside a military base the next day after she was killed by a shotgun wound to the chest. Fourniret has confessed to her murder, with Olivier charged as an accomplice.Jeanne-Marie Desramault, 22: The law student was kidnapped outside the railway station in Charleville-Mezieres on March 18, 1989. Fourniret took investigators to her body in the grounds of a chateau he once owned in Donchery in July 2004. He confessed to her murder and Olivier is charged as an accomplice.Elisabeth Brichet, 12: Kidnapped on her way home from a friend's house in Namur, Belgium, on December 20, 1989. Her remains were also found in July, 2004 at Fourniret's chateau. He confessed to the murder but denied rape, while Olivier is charged with complicity.Natacha Danais, 13: Kidnapped, assaulted, stabbed to death near Nantes, western France on November 21, 1990. Three days later her body was found on a beach. Fourniret confessed to murder and attempted rape, while Olivier is charged as an accomplice.Celine Saison, 18: Disappeared after taking an exam in Charleville-Mezieres on May 16, 2000. Two months later her body was found in a wood in Belgium. Fourniret confessed to kidnapping, raping and murdering her.Mananya Thumphong, 13: Disappeared from Sedan, north-east France, on May 5, 2001. Her remains were found the following year in the Nollevaux forest in Belgium. Fourniret admitted kidnap and murder but denied rape. 'Beast of the Ardennes' and his 'virgin-hunting' wife go on trial for murder of seven womenLast updated at 14:37 27 March 2008The trial of the man said to be one of Frances deadliestserial killers and the wife who helped lure his virgin prey hasbegun today.But Michel Fourniret - dubbed the Beast of theArdennes - refused to speak at the opening of his trial today,despite allegedly confessing to the murders of seven youngwomen.Instead he told the judge via a note that until the courtroomwas closed, he was remaining silent.Scroll down for more ...Fourniret, 66, appeared in court behind a bullet-proof glassalongside his wife, Monique Olivier, 59, who is charged withcomplicity in five of the murders.He faces a trial at a later date for the murder of Britishteacher Joanna Parrish in 1990, whose naked body was found in ariver in Burgundy.Fourniret has already admitted to prosecutors that he needed togo hunting for a virgin at least twice a year.According to letters seized by investigators, he and his wifeforged a pact on his release from prison in 1987 that if he killedher first husband, she would help him find young virgins forhim.The seven victims, as young as 12 and no older than 21, werestrangled, shot or stabbed with a screwdriver. They were killed inFrance and Belgium between 1987 and 2003. Fourniret faceskidnapping, rape and murder charges in connection with theirdeaths.Investigators suspect he may have been involved in several othermurders, including that of Joanna Parrish.Fourniret struck a defiant pose on day one of the trial. Whenthe judge asked him to identify himself, he held up a piece ofpaper with the words Without a closed courtroom, stayingtightlipped.The judge did not appear to respond.Fourniret also passed to the judge a rolled paper tied in a redribbon, which his lawyer said was a message to the victimsfamilies. He asked that the judge read it, and the judgedeclined.Jean-Maurice Arnould, lawyer for the family of slain 12-year-oldElisabeth Brichet, said the family was not expecting an apologyfrom Fourniret. Hes a man without conscience, hesaid.Elisabeths father said he did not want to hearFournirets account of his daughters murder.We dont want new facts of the crimes; for us itsalready hardly bearable, Francis Brichet said. Thechilds body was found along with that of 21-year-oldJeanne-Marie Desramault in the wooded grounds of Fourniretsformer property in northern France.An array of exhibits sat in the courtroom including a shotgun,two revolvers, a screwdriver and various pieces of rope.Scroll down for more ...Both Olivier and Fourniret face life imprisonment if they areconvicted.Defence lawyer Pierre Blocquaux said that during questioning byinvestigators, Fourniret admitted to committing the crimes.Blocquaux declined to comment about how Fourniret might plead.He also told the court Fourniret did not want to be defended byhim or his two other lawyers.French media reports said Olivier appeared to be cooperating andanswered the judges opening questions about her identity. Thereports quoted her lawyers as saying she planned to apologize tothe victims families.Olivier looked for a long time at the families and did not reactas crowds of photographers snapped her image as she entered.Belgian police detained Fourniret in June, 2003, after hisbungled kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl. The girl gave authoritieshis license plate number after she managed to unbind her hands andescape from the back of Fournirets van.Police officials said the girl told Belgian investigators thatFourniret had bragged to her that he was worse thanBelgiums most notorious criminal, paedophile Marc Dutroux,sentenced to life in prison in 2004 for a series of childkidnappings, rapes and murders.Scroll down for more ...Police officials say Olivier told Belgian investigators in 2004that Fourniret had committed nine murders, and acknowledged herparticipation in several of them.Judicial and police officials say Fourniret admitted to sevenmurders, and that confession is cited in the indictment. The policeand judicial officials would not be identified by name because theywere not authorized to discuss the case publicly.During searches of Fournirets home, in Sart-Custinne,Belgium, police discovered stolen revolvers, a hood andchildrens clothing.The bodies of two victims, 21-year-old Jeanne-Marie Desramaultand 12-year-old Elisabeth Brichet - both of whom went missing in1989 - were found in the wooded grounds of Fournirets formerproperty in northern France.Belgium extradited Olivier to France in 2005 and Fourniret in2006. Judicial officials in both countries decided the case shouldbe tried in France because six of the dead women were Frenchcitizens.Fourniret, a former forest ranger, had a history of sexoffences. In 1966, he was found guilty of molestation and in 1987,a French court sentenced him to five years in prison for a seriesof rapes.Scroll down for more ...In prison, he began to correspond with Olivier - the mother ofthree children - promising her to kill her ex-husband, judicialofficials have said. In the correspondence, seized by Belgianinvestigators, Olivier pledged to back up Fourniret inhis endeavours.The trial is expected to wrap up in May.The victimsScroll down for more ...Isabelle Laville, 17: Kidnapped on her way homefrom school on December 11, 1987 in Auxerre, central France.Fourniret confessed to raping and killing her, then ledinvestigators a well in northeastern France where her bones andclothing were buried. Olivier is accused of complicity in herkidnap and rape.Fabienne Leroy, 20: Kidnapped from asupermarket car park in Chalons-en-Champagne, east of Paris, onJuly 8, 1988. Her body was discovered outside a military base thenext day after she was killed by a shotgun wound to the chest.Fourniret has confessed to her murder, with Olivier charged as anaccomplice.Jeanne-Marie Desramault, 22: The law studentwas kidnapped outside the railway station in Charleville-Meziereson March 18, 1989. Fourniret took investigators to her body in thegrounds of a chateau he once owned in Donchery in July 2004. Heconfessed to her murder and Olivier is charged as an accomplice.Elisabeth Brichet, 12: Kidnapped on her wayhome from a friends house in Namur, Belgium, on December 20,1989. Her remains were also found in July, 2004 at Fourniretschateau. He confessed to the murder but denied rape, while Olivieris charged with complicity.Natacha Danais, 13: Kidnapped, assaulted,stabbed to death near Nantes, western France on November 21, 1990.Three days later her body was found on a beach. Fourniret confessedto murder and attempted rape, while Olivier is charged as anaccomplice.Celine Saison, 18: Disappeared after taking anexam in Charleville-Mezieres on May 16, 2000. Two months later herbody was found in a wood in Belgium. Fourniret confessed tokidnapping, raping and murdering her.Mananya Thumphong, 13: Disappeared from Sedan,northeast France, on May 5, 2001. Her remains were found thefollowing year in the Nollevaux forest in Belgium. Fourniretadmitted kidnap and murder but denied rape.Share this article: Bizarre furry footwear on Celine catwalk gets style set's seal of approval - but is it the ugliest fashion trend ever? By PUBLISHED:22:37 GMT, 3 October 2012 UPDATED:06:58 GMT, 4 October 2012What Phoebe Philo designs, women usually want. And end up buying.The designer, now in her fourth year at the helm of Celine, sent out a spring collection of covetable, cool, loose-fitting clothes; which were paired with outlandish furry shoes. And there is nary a negative review in sight.But her mink-linedleather sandals, and pumps covered in red, lavender and Big Bird-yellow mink felt more like a 'the joke is on you' than a viable option for the shoe rack.And when fashion's top critics have nothing negative to say about your fur-lined slip-ons and hairy blue sandals, perhaps you severely underestimated the height of the pedestal you already knew you were sitting on. But then again, Ms Philo probably didn't.The 38-year-old designer also included flesh-toned heels with built-in toenails painted red, giving an illusion of clear-plastic stilettos showing off the model's perfectly pedicured feet.Meanwhile the fur-covered stilettos and their fuzzy flashes of colour encompassed the foot much like a furry tea-cozy might cover a teapot. The fur-lined flat sandals, designed in a Birkenstock vein, seemed to be a hit with The New York Times' Cathy Horyn She wrote of her collection: 'I guess Ms. Philo didnt feel like getting dressed. Seriously, though, who wouldnt be tempted to throw a big housewife yawn at all thenoir-satin looks on the runways? Who wouldnt want to wear furry slippers all day?' While Jo-Ann Furniss, writing for Style.com, positively commented: 'The shoes were key to this collection: furry, witty, unhinged. In a mostly black and white offering, they disrupted any notion of sobriety. Predominantly flat - yet with some also rather remarkable fur-covered stilettos.'While it is true that comfort can sometimes be the most luxurious thing that fashion could offer, Ms Philo's fury-lined pool shoes and fuzzy pumps have most likely been decribed everything other than ugly because, well, love is blind.If the Philophiles, as they've been coined, wriggle their toes into the Mink and out the shop door, it will be the designer herself having the last laugh, no doubt.Blooming Kimberly Stewart shows off her ever-growing bump as she spends the day with dad RodBy UPDATED:22:17 GMT, 10 May 2011He was said to have been less than pleased to hear his daughter Kimberly is pregnant with Benicio Del Toro's baby.But it seems Rod Stewart has put any negative feelings about the turn of events behind him to support Kimberly throughout her pregnancy.The 66-year-old rocker was seen with Kimberly in Los Angeles today, and enjoyed spending time with his 31-year-old daughter in a local cafe.And Kimberly has obviously adjusted to pregnancy well, as the model looked radiant in a tribal print vest top, jeans and white cardigan as she stepped out. Meanwhile, Rod went for the all-white look in a pair of white trousers, shirt and cricket jumper.Kimberly announced her surprise pregnancy earlier this year, when Oscar-winning actor Del Toro released a carefully-worded statement.His spokesperson told America's Life Style magazine: 'Kimberly is pregnant. Benicio is the father and is very supportive. 'Although they are not a couple, they are looking forward to the arrival of the baby.'Kimberly and Del Toro, 44, are understood to have had a no-strings fling' after meeting at the Chateau Marmont hotel earlier this year.Meanwhile, Rod certainly has reason to celebrate after it was confirmed today he will be starting a two-year Las Vegas residency in August.Rod Stewart: The Hits will kick off at Las Vegas' Colosseum at Caesars Palace on August 24, with tickets going on sale on May 15th.Talking about the residency, Stewart told Billboard.biz: 'It's a rock'n'roll show. We'll try to give the people what they want, which are the songs that made me famous, plus a few surprises. 'There won't be any magicians or midgets, just a good rock show.'Stewart, who recently welcomed his eighth child when wife Penny Lancaster gave birth to son Aiden, is following in the footsteps of Celine Dion and Elton John with the residency. Bond actress murdered after disturbing intruder at her luxury home By UPDATED:15:58 GMT, 16 December 2008 A former Bond girl has been bludgeoned to death after she disturbed an intruder at her home in an exclusive area of north Dublin.Celine Cawley, 46, who went on to become an award-winning advertising executive and film-maker, was found with serious head injuries on the patio of her multi-million pound family home yesterday morning. Her husband, Eamonn Lillis, had been out walking the dogs at the time. Celine Cawley was found with serious head injuries at her home in an exclusive area of north Dublin. She died less than an hour later in hospital He told police he arrived back at their home in Howth, one of Ireland's most exclusive areas, when he saw a masked raider fleeing. The mother of one received first aid but died an hour later in Beaumont Hospital. The couple have a 16-year-old daughter who was in school at the time of the killing. Ms Cawley played a party girl in the 1985 James Bond film A View To A Kill which starred Roger Moore. She was well known in media and advertising circles in Ireland after building her Toytown Films company into one of the country's most high profile production houses.The firm specialised in making television adverts in Ireland, Britain and across Europe. Her successes included an ad featuring Roy Keane as a leprechaun in a Walkers crisps promotion launched on St Patrick's Day, 2000. She also worked for Guinness, Carlsberg and McDonald's. Her husband is also involved in running the production company. Detectives said they were keeping a 'very open mind' on the investigation. There was no sign of a break-in and the murder weapon has not been recovered.Garda spokesman Superintendent John Gilligan said a full murder inquiry was under way. He said: 'We have a witness that states that a person ran from the back garden of the house into a back lane but we don't know after that where they went. 'The person who was seen running from the area may have discarded the balaclava immediately or kept it on them.' No one else witnessed the masked man who Mr Lillis said was in his late 20s or early 30s and of slight but strong build. Superintendent Gilligan said the Garda are fully examining 'all aspects in relation to the discovery of the body and piecing together what happened'.He said: 'We're keeping a very open mind on the whole situation. We're trying to gather as much information as possible about all the circumstance of this woman's death.' It is understood that she may have tried to fight off her attacker. The home remains sealed off as forensic teams examine the site Mr Lillis said the masked man ran from the back of the house down to the Carrickbrack Road area. Superintendent Gilligan said: 'There is no description of any car of any type. We know from what we heard, the person who we're looking for ran down the back garden of the house, out on to a laneway and made their way in any direction after that - but in particular in the Windgate Road area and the Carrickbrack Road area.' The area - known as The Summit - is a quiet residential area with a number of detached properties, many of which have electronic gates and CCTV systems. Investigators are analysing footage in the area as part of their murder inquiry. Locals in the quiet coastal village yesterday expressed their shock. One resident said: 'It's such a quiet place. It's very safe around here. Everyone is shocked at the news.' Local councillor Joan Maher said the 'disturbing' killing has shocked the normally quiet area. 'I'm absolutely shocked and stunned. It's horrendous coming up to Christmas. It's an area popular with walkers, around the hill but it's a seriously quiet area. On a Monday morning there would be nobody about.'The home remained sealed off last night as Garda carried out technical examinations. It is understood Mr Lillis and his daughter are staying with family. Bond actress's husband charged with bludgeoning her to death at their luxury home By UPDATED:13:30 GMT, 22 December 2008 The husband of a former Bond girl has been charged with her murder in their exclusive north Dublin home a week ago.Eamonn Lillis was remanded in custody today after being accused of killing his wife Celine Cawley.Ms Cawley went on from her stint as a Bond girl with Roger Moore to become one of Ireland's top advertising executives.The mother-of-one had been beaten about the head with a brick and was found lying on her back garden patio with severe injuries.She died an hour later in hospital.Lillis has claimed to have been walking the dogs at the time. He told police he arrived back at their home in Howth, one of Ireland's most exclusive areas, when he saw a masked raider fleeing.No other witnesses saw the intruder, who Lillis described as being in his late 20s or early 30s, and of slight but strong build. It was understood that Ms Cawley had tried to fight her attacker off.Lillis was arrested early on Saturday five days into the investigation.Celine Cawley was found with serious head injuries at her home in an exclusive area of north Dublin. She died less than an hour later in hospital After less than 24 hours questioning, he was charged yesterday with murdering his wife.Dressed in a grey tracksuit top and holding a book, Lillis did not speak during the minute long hearing at Dublin District Court today.Ms Cawley, 46, was a former model and actress who played a minor role in the James Bond film 'A View to a Kill'. She went on to carve out another successful career over the past 16 years as the founder of a film production company, Toytown Films. Her husband is a producer with the company. The couple lived in a luxury house, in Howth, Coounty Dublin, with their 16-year-old daughter, Georgia.Detectives detained Lillis at another address in Howth at around 7.30am on Saturday .While in custody, Lillis was questioned about his life with Celine and his movements last Monday morning. A series of questions relating to the results of a very detailed forensic examination of the house and the surrounds as well as the outcome of a post-mortem examination and subsequent tests on the body by Deputy State Pathologist Michael Curtis were also put to the suspect.Last night, detectives were refused to detail any of his responses to questions or detail his demeanour.Senior police officers kept in close contact with lawyers from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions throughout Saturday night and early yesterday morning. The DPP gave the go-ahead for a murder charge in the early hours and Lillis was released from his detention under the Criminal Justice Act at around 6am.Outside the police station, he was re-arrested, charged with murder and then placed in custody.Meanwhile, forensic officers continued their search of the house and grounds. Earlier in the week, police removed a number of items for further examination including a bloodstained garden brick, which gardai believe was used to hit Ms Cawley on the side and back of the head.Also taken away were items of clothing from the house while experts examined several doors and windows for fingerprints.Brief encounters: Why does George Clooney never seem to stay with any woman for more than a few months? By UPDATED:00:23 GMT, 28 October 2011He is one of the world's biggest stars with a string of awards for his acting. But he is also well known for the number of different women on his arm over the years, and his inability to settle down. Alison Boshoff consider the many loves in the curious private life of George Clooney. KELLY PRESTONSTYLE: George met this permed Californian blonde in acting school. TIMELINE: 14 months between 1987 and 1989.A TRUE ROMANCE? He gave her a pot-bellied pig called Max for her birthday, but insisted on keeping it when they split.THEY SAID: George was apparently devastated when she left him for actor Charlie Sheen. Kelly went on to marry John Travolta in 1991.PR RATING: 5/10. They made a cute couple, but marriage was never on the cards.TALIA BALSAMSTYLE: A sweet-faced brunette actress who romanced him in 1984 when he was only 23. They split in 1987, and then got back together two years later.TIMELINE: Six years in total.A TRUE ROMANCE? They were wed in Vegas by an Elvis impersonator in 1989, but split in 1992. Their rows over money are said to have put him off marriage for ever.HE SAID: I married a terrific girl. That it didnt work out was mostly my fault.PR RATING: 8/10. Not a success, but at least Georges marriage to Balsam raised his profile.KIMBERLY RUSSELLSTYLE: A poised actress with tumbling raven hair. They met on the social scene in Los Angeles.TIMELINE: 10 monthsA TRUE ROMANCE? He dumped her in 1995 (by letter rather than face-to-face) allegedly because he wanted to see other women and take advantage of his blossoming fame after starring in TV drama ER. After the split Kimberley said: You have to enjoy the ride while it lasts hes simply not the marrying kind. The guy is an absolute charmer, but just dont mention the words marriage, commitment or babies.HE SAID: Im sorry. I love you but marriage is not a trip I can take again. PR RATING: 8/10. He needed someone gorgeous on his arm and she certainly fitted the bill.VENDELA KIRSEBOMSTYLE: A stunning Swedish supermodel, sometimes compared with Grace Kelly.TIMELINE: Three months.A TRUE ROMANCE? They met at an Oscars party and he was instantly smitten. Dated in 1996, although it was never serious because he was seeing other women at the time. THEY SAID: George looked like he was in seventh heaven when they were together.PR RATING: 10/10. She had va-va voom, perfect for the image of an emerging superstar.KAREN DUFFYSTYLE: Spookily similar to Georges ex-wife Talia, this ex-model was an MTV host when they found themselves moving in the same Hollywood circles. Heavy flirtation ensued.TIMELINE: One month. A TRUE ROMANCE? Just a handful of dates back in 1996, but they remain good friends she went on holiday with him last year.SHE SAID: I could never fall in love with a man with a pet pig, and Georges pig is disgusting.PR RATING: 9/10. She helped his lady-killer reputation begin to take hold.CELINE BALITRANSTYLE: Publicity-shy Celine was a law student when they met in 1996.TIMELINE: Three years, four months. A TRUE ROMANCE? They met in a Paris café where she was waitressing. In a few months, shed moved into his LA house. There were problems, among them his preference for spending time with his male friends. They split in 1999. HE SAID: Honey, its no picnic dating me.PR RATING: 8/10. A serious young woman who polished his image as more than just beefcake.TRAYLOR HOWARDSTYLE: A blonde sweetheart who starred in the film comedy Me Myself and Irene.TIMELINE: One month.A TRUE ROMANCE? They zoomed round Hollywood on his Harley Davidson in 2000, but he was also linked to model Angie Everhart.THEY SAID: Traylor knows about Georges way with women but she wants to be the one to make him settle down. PR RATING: 7/10. This relationship appeared to be another notch on his bedpost.MARIELLA FROSTRUPSTYLE: Husky-voiced British broadcaster, professional blonde and world-class flirt.TIMELINE: Not even a month. A TRUE ROMANCE? They reportedly met in a Cannes hotel bar in 1999 and were inseparable for the next three days. Since their fling, which shes denied, theyve remained friends. He is godfather to her two children.SHE SAID: I am so not Georges type. He goes for tall brunettes, Im a blonde midget.PR RATING: 10/10. She made George look fun, and he gave her a story to dine out on for the next 20 years.LISA SNOWDONSTYLE: A British model with impossibly long legs, a shiny sheet of brown hair, and a reputation as a party-loving mans woman.TIMELINE: 5 years on and off.A TRUE ROMANCE? They met in Spain on the set of a Martini commercial in 2000, and an unconventional liaison ensued. There was never any discussion about her moving into his Los Angeles mansion, let alone becoming Mrs Clooney, and the final three years were angst-filled. She was seen sobbing at the Cannes film festival when rumours that she had been dumped reached her ears. In the end, though, she became fed up and chucked him herself.SHE SAID: Work almost totally dried up. People saw me living a new life and thought I wouldnt be interested in modelling again.PR RATING: 10/10. The perfect consort, and someone to walk the red carpet with for hit films Oceans Eleven and Twelve.RENEE ZELLWEGERSTYLE: Shy, down-to-earth actress Renee has always tried to keep her private life as quiet as possible, so shes not a typical George woman.TIMELINE: One month altogether, though theyve been linked several times. A TRUE ROMANCE? They were first linked romantically at the end of 2001, and were supposed to be dating again in 2003, when they were spotted dining together. In 2006, the pair were seen having dinner in a Los Angeles hotel. Asked if they had dated, Clooney replied: A little bit.SHE SAID: Actually, we are old friends.PR RATING: 7/10. The speculation hurt nobody, but that still couldnt turn their 2008 American football film Leatherheads into a hit.KRISTA ALLENSTYLE: A racy, brunette bombshell who starred in Baywatch and the U.S. soap, Days Of Our Lives. TIMELINE: Nine months. A TRUE ROMANCE? They were an item on and off between 2002 and 2004, when George was also dating Lisa Snowdon. Then they dated again in 2006 when he was between girlfriends, and there was yet another reunion in 2008. THEY SAY: Theres something about Krista that brings him back.PR RATING: 9/10. How better to assert his red-blooded credentials than a romance with a saucy star?SARAH LARSONSTYLE: A fun-loving Las Vegas cocktail waitress, she started dating him in 2007.TIMELINE: 11 months. A TRUE ROMANCE? Not really; it was over in June 2008 just as she appeared on the cover of Harpers Bazaar. She had hoped for more after all, hed taken her to the Oscars.THEY SAID: She thought they were getting married. Instead, she got dumped. Shes really upset. Devastated.PR RATING: 5/10. Sarah was pretty enough to be a good match for George, but too optimistic about changing him. ELISABETTA CANALISSTYLE: Yet another gorgeous, willowy brunette, she was a successful Italian model and MTV presenter before she met George in 2009.TIMELINE: 24 months.A TRUE ROMANCE? They dated until June 2011 when she gave an indiscreet interview about their future prospects. Said to have attended Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconis bunga bunga parties, which she denies.SHE SAID: I have always seen the end of my relationships as a personal failure. There is nothing ever pretty in saying goodbye.PR RATING: 5/10. She was faintly bonkers, while he became worthier than ever, making arty films like The Men Who Stare at Goats. STACY KEIBLERSTYLE: Known as the Legs of WWE (an American professional wrestling organisation) in honour of her 42in pins, Stacy is a model-turned-wrestling star. TIMELINE: Two months and counting.A TRUE ROMANCE? Too soon to say. PR RATING: 7/10. Shes put his face in the news once more just as his political thriller The Ides Of March hits the cinemas.Secret heartbreak of Britain's Got Talent star Donelda, the grandma with the dancing dogsBy UPDATED:22:40 GMT, 16 April 2011The flamboyant dog-trainer who last night stole the first show in the new series of Britains Got Talent has revealed that her husband is battling cancer.While Donelda Guy, 66, delighted the nation with her dancing dogs, Mega and Biba, her appearance on the popular ITV1 show was in stark contrast to her home life while husband Alan is being given chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.Mother-of-two Donelda delighted the audience by saying she was 66 going on 45 and good-naturedly joked that her only failure in life was her husband.But off-camera she revealed: One of the reasons why I am doing this is because of what has happened to Alan.Nine months ago he was diagnosed first with diabetes and then pancreatic cancer. I want there to be more research into the condition.She added: Taking part in a show like this gives me a platform to talk about it.The grandmother-of-three, who has been working with dogs for more than 40 years, said she was hopeful her husband would make a full recovery. He is a fighter and I think me taking part in the show has livened him up.An estimated ten million viewers tuned into last nights show. Donelda was voted through to the later rounds, along with nine-year-old comedian David Knight. Another favourite was unkempt singer Michael Collings, who performed a haunting rendition of Tracy Chapmans song Fast Car. The computer engineer was delighted to be compared with Susan Boyle, who appeared on the show in 2009 and also impressed viewers with both her voice and idiosyncratic appearance.Michael said: I think she was awesome on the show. But that is not the reason why I wore what I did. I looked like I did because thats the way I dress.One of the other big successes was husband-and-wife handbell-ringing duo Alan and Gay Cooper. The pair, whose eccentric manner initially provoked derision from some in the audience, brought the house down with a rendition of My Heart Will Go On, the Celine Dion classic from the film Titanic. Gay said: By the time we got to our turn the audience was quite excitable. It was a bit off-putting but there was no way I was going to get off before we played our first note.Weird, wonderful and downright wacky: Britain's Got Talent gets off to a roaring start with nine-year-old comedian, male 'Susan Boyle' and odd-ball bellringers By UPDATED:10:55 GMT, 17 April 2011David Hasselhoff and Michael McIntyre made their debut as judges on Britain's Got Talent last night and, alongside old hand Amanda Holden, were blown away by a comedian - aged just nine years old. A host of weird, wonderful and wacky acts emerged on the return of the show, hoping to become the next Paul Potts, George Sampson, Diversity, Spelbound or Susan Boyle.Schoolboy David Knight blew them away with his assured delivery - although he had got off to a sticky start when he said that his favourite comedian was Harry Hill.Scroll down to see breathtaking singer Michael Collings perform Hallelujah backstage after last night's show...With mock affrontery, comedian Michael, 35, earned boos from the crowd after jokingly buzzing the youngster off before he had even started and quickly had to apologise: 'I'm joking, I'm joking. It's a joke. It wasn't one of my best.'David carried on unfazed, opening with the gag: 'I went to an open day at a fire station lately, a fireman he held a smoke detector and said, "does anyone know what it's for?" and I said, "it's what my dad uses to tell that the dinner's ready".'He had the audience at the Birmingham auditions in stitches, before he finished, saying: 'I'll leave you with this: What if the hokey cokey is what it's all about?'Michael was clearly impressed, telling the youngster: 'You are very very very talented, I know what it's like having to remember all those jokes and get genuine laughs. With Harry Hill, I hope we can go to the very top of comedy.'Chuffed David said afterwards: 'That was the best moment of my life!' as he put himself clearly in the frame as a favourite to win the £100,000 prize money and the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance. As Michael and fellow judges Amanda, 40, and David, 58, settled into their seats, other surprise hits on the night included Michael Collings, an 19-year-old IT consultant who lives with his mother and father on a caravan park near Plymouth. He had brought his pregnant fiancée along for support, but both the judges and the audience appeared unimpressed when he took to the stage dressed down in an orange hoody.Amanda whispered to Michael dismissively: 'He looks like he's on a longhaul flight.' To which Michael giggled: 'On Easyjet!' as members of the audience grimaced.But as soon as he launched into an impassioned version of Tracy Chapman's hit Fast Car accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, the atmosphere changed - and the crowd realised they had something of a Susan Boyle moment on their hands.The camera showed clearly astonished show hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly watching in the wings, with Ant exclaiming: 'He's brilliant!' with Dec almost lost for words, and only being able to utter: 'Wow!'His performance earned a standing ovation from the crowd and with David exclaiming: 'That's the best reaction we've had all day. You sang it with heart and did a beautiful job.Amanda confessed: 'I don't know what I expected but I didn't expect much from you to be honest, but you've got an interesting quality to your voice and really delivered.'Michael gushed: 'You've got a great voice that instantly connected with the audience' to which David added: 'Michael, Britain's Got Talent and you are it, that's three yeses!'Afterwards, a gobsmacked Michael said: 'Best experience of my life, I've never played in front of that many people. It's like being slapped in the face basically.' There was another standing ovation at the Liverpool auditions for 53-year-old telecommunications engineer Steven Hall from Kendal.He drew smirks from the crowd as he appeared on stage as a straight-laced middle-aged man, but then launched into a brilliant megamix of the most famous dances of all time, ranging from Michael Jackson's thriller through to Flashdance with some Riverdance inbetween, knocking the judges and the crowd for six. He got an immediate standing ovation and even got the Hoff on his feet. A smiling Amanda enthused: 'Thank you for the surprise! That was brilliantly entertaining and we all loved you!' And Michael said: 'You were born to dance! I don't know if telecommunications is where you should be. Liverpool loves you!'Amanda however seemed to pick out 66-year-old Donelda Guy and her two sheepdogs Mega and Biba as her favourite act of the night.Donelda also got a standing ovation and three resounding 'yes' votes from the judges after her dance with her dogs, which culminated in a canine conga.Amanda was watching the show at home and Tweeting live and said of the dog trainer's freestyle act: 'I love this woman! The Mrs (Bucket) bouquet of the dog training world!'One of the most oddball acts of the night were husband and wife handbell-ringing duo Gay and Alan Cooper, who were in the best tradition of the British eccentrics that Britain's Got Talent manages to bring out of the woodwork.A discovery at the Birmingham auditions, they also drew guffaws from the crowd when they emerged from the wings - but got the audience waving their arms in the air and singing along to their rendition of Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go. The Hoff enthused: 'You certainly have the audiences approval, that was breathtaking' before putting them through to the next round with three 'yeses'.However, the 'talent' aspect of the show was something of a misnomer for many of the entrants, and David appeared slightly baffled by many of the contestants.Opening the show however was Mary Sumah-Kay, who was in the show's grand tradition of completely bonkers auditions. The 45-year-old jumped up and down while blasting on a harmonica before doing a weird chicken dance by flapping her arms. She was buzzed off with three nos. There was also a terrible comedian who put David Knight's talent into perspective, a city worker who pretended to be a dolphin, numerous unimpressive dance acts, Steve Stevens, who sang a unique Katy Perry cover entitled I Kissed A Goat and John Hampson who painted himself gold and attempted to perform the Spandau Ballet song.However, no-one appears to have missed the judging services of either Piers Morgan or Simon Cowell.Piers jokingly Tweeted just before the show, saying: 'Good luck to @Amanda_Holden @DavidHasselhoff @McInTweet on BGT tonight - hoping to hear chant of 'Bring Back Piers!' #wouldntracetobookies'The show is on next Saturday on ITV1 at 8pm. New exploitation fears over BGT singing sensation who says: Don't call me SuBoy By PUBLISHED:01:57 GMT, 25 March 2012 UPDATED:12:15 GMT, 26 March 2012It was almost a case of deja vu. An overweight, badly dressed contestant lumbers awkwardly on to the Britains Got Talent stage, prompting the judges to roll their eyes at the inevitable car-crash of a performance to follow ... only to be wowed by the powerful, pitch-perfect voice of the unlikely star.But although producers might hope Jonathan Antoine becomes a global phenomenon in the mould of Susan Boyle, the painfully shy teenager was keen to distance himself from any such comparisons.What I dont want is to be roped into a category with other people, he told The Mail on Sunday, before his performance aired on the first show of the new series last night.Scroll down for video...But he added: I wasnt too worried about appearing on Britains Got Talent, because I wanted to show people the singing.'If anything I was hoping that because I dont look like a typical person whod be in the limelight, it would help. Id like to show that a person is more than a body.It is a message the 17-year-old A-level student from Ilford, Essex, is keen to spread, as just three months before his audition, he suffered a nervous breakdown triggered by bullying over his weight.He said: Back in October I had a nervous breakdown. At that point I left the school I was at; me and school just dont get on. The revelation could raise questions about the ITV series, which has previously drawn criticism for failing to look after vulnerable acts, such as Ms Boyle who was admitted to the Priory clinic after suffering a breakdown when she came second in the series final three years ago. But for the moment, Jonathan says: Britains Got Talent has been a fun experience to do and its been nice to be around all these people.But Ive also been seeing a psychiatrist and so Im just on a really good road to somewhere. Britains Got Talent have been very helpful.Show sources said Jonathan passed all medical and psychological tests before appearing. While on the programme, Jonathan spoke of his difficulties with bullies, saying: Ive always had problems with my size ever since I can remember. 'When I was in primary school, I had the mick taken out of me and it kind of damaged my confidence quite a bit and when people would say something to me it would take a little piece out of me.But his confidence would surely have been boosted by the standing ovation he won for his show-stopping performance of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocellis hit The Prayer with schoolfriend Charlotte Jaconelli.An estimated nine million viewers last night saw judge Alesha Dixon describe it as world class, and show guru Simon Cowell say: Jonathan, you are unbelievable. I mean seriously you have an outstandingly good voice. You are a future star.Incredibly, Jonathan says he only discovered his singing potential four years ago, after his voice broke and he began taking singing lessons. He now attends the Royal College of Music in London one day a week.He is also full of praise for his singing partner, a 16-year-old student at the Arts Educational school in Chiswick, West London. Charlottes been a really big help to me in terms of confidence and becoming a better performer, he said. I really dont think Id be on stage today if I didnt have Charlotte by my side.Discovering an unlikely new singing sensation will do nothing to harm Britains Got Talents chances in the ratings battle brewing with BBC1s £22million talent show, The Voice UK, which also launched last night. In an apparent dig at Cowells approach, The Voice presenter Reggie Yates said before the showdown: I think that as a country of television fans were past that humiliation thing. His shows twist is that the judges Tom Jones, Jessie J, Danny ODonoghue and Will.i.am cannot see the singer perform, so make their decision based on vocal ability alone.VIDEO: Jonathan told he will be sticking with singing partner Charlotte Can a mole scanner predict skin cancer?by MARTYN HALLE, Daily MailAs many Britons risk skin cancer by sunbathing this summer,scientists have developed a scanner that could save hundreds oflives.The device - known as Mole Scan - probes beneath the skin tobuild up an accurate picture of changes that could lead to cancer,without the need for a biopsy.Every year, around 6,500 people are diagnosed with malignantmelanomas which, unless caught at an early stage, often go on to befatal.A changing mole is often the first sign that a patient has thedisease - moles are more likely to turn cancerous than other partsof the skin.Around 1,500 people a year die from malignant melanoma. Thenumber dying has been rising, with a 12 per cent increase over thepast six years.A large number of people developing the disease are middle-aged,having suffered over-exposure to the sun 20 to 30 years ago whenthere was little awareness that too much sunbathing might causecancer.Many people leave it until it is too late before going to adoctor. But even if a patient sees a skin specialist at an earlystage, there is a 20 per cent chance that the cancer will bemissed.The problem is that changes to the skin are so subtle that evenexperts can fail to detect cancerous changes visually. Unless askin biopsy is ordered, the cancer may be missed until its presenceis obvious. Then it could be too late.Mole Scan makes it very easy for dermatologists, plasticsurgeons and even GPs to survey what is going on below the skin'ssurface.It uses infra-red light to penetrate the skin, looking forchanges that would normally be found only with a biopsy - when partof a suspicious mole is removed for examination.'Mole Scan analyses the composition of the skin, allowingdoctors to see if there is anything unusual in the distribution ofelements such as collagen and melanin below the skin's surface,'says John Wilkinson, marketing director of Astron Clinica, theCambridge company that makes the apparatus.'It's a highly accurate device which has been in development forthe past ten years. But it has started to gain recognition amongthe medical profession only recently, following a series ofsuccessful trials.'We carried out a number of detailed trials of Mole Scan atAddenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, which were supervised byplastic surgeons specialising in treating melanomas.'The trial results, published in the British Journal ofDermatology, prove its effectiveness at detecting cancerous-typechanges in moles which ought to be further investigated.'The scanner - properly known as an SIAscope - is capable ofpicking up 94 per cent of malignancies in moles and changes thatcould turn cancerous.It detects tell-tale signs of potential cancer by finding holesin collagen, a redistribution of melanin in the dermis and unusualblood vessel formations that could be feeding a tumour.'Having a way of scanning a mole brings a lot of reassurance todoctors and patients,' says Professor John Celine, a leading Londonplastic surgeon who has acquired one of the first 30 Mole Scanssold in Britain.'There is a reluctance to biopsy every mole, and it can bedifficult to tell which ones need checking.'The difficulty is that while consultants can miss melanomas atan early stage, many biopsy referrals from GPs are notnecessary.'Many skin specialists find that three out of every four patientssent for biopsy are in the clear. Scanning moles first would sortout those patients who need a biopsy referral.Mole Scan is capable of scanning asuspect mole in just a few seconds. It then sends its results toa computer screen in less than a minute.A doctor is then able to look at the images recorded. He canalso compare what might be an abnormal reading with normal readingsstored in the computer.In a half-hour session, a consultant can look at several molesthat might be causing concern.Jan McDermott, a 56-yearold interior designer from Pangbourne,Berks, had a 20-minute consultation with Professor Celine, becauseshe is a 'moley person'. 'I come from a moley family. I've gotmoles and I've noticed they've been changing and even growing inthe past few years,' she says.'I was concerned there might be a problem. I'm from a generationwhich has used sunbeds liberally, as well as roasting ourselveswhen we were youngsters.'Even though I'm aware of my increased risk of skin cancer andtake great care not to spend too much time in the sun these days,it seemed sensible to have a check-up.'The scan itself was completely painless. Professor Celine wipedthe area around each mole with an antiseptic wipe before startingscanning.'Then he placed a handset the shape of a hair dryer over themole and held it there for six seconds.'During that time, images from beneath my skin were transferredto a computer screen for him to analyse. Then he saved the imagesfrom each scan in the computer for future reference.'Professor Celine was able to tell me while scanning that all ofmy moles were OK. The fact that I got such an instant result wasamazing.'It's not a lot of money for peace of mind. I'm quite happy tohave a check-up once a year to make sure I stay in good health.'If I come regularly, I know that any changes will be picked upat an early stage.'Some moles do alter with age and these changes are harmless,but unless you are a highly trained and experienced doctor, it isimpossible to tell.'A Mole Scan consultation costs 125. To find your nearestclinic, tel: 020 7724 2985.When to check a moleThere are definite signs that a mole is suspicious and should beseen by a doctor. These are:An increase in size.A change in shape, particularly getting an irregular edge.A change in colour - getting darker or becoming patchy.Itchiness or pain.Bleeding or scabbing.Looking inflamed.For more information, see the Cancer Research UK website atwww.cancerhelp.org.ukShare this article: Can Celine save Vegas?The curtain is about to rise on a 120million-plus gamblewhich could make or break Las Vegas.Casino bosses hope a spectacular, Broadway-style musicalstarring Celine Dion will pull in the crowds and save the gamingmetropolis.The Canadian diva, who has signed a 63million contract,will perform in a 60million, 4,000-seat Coliseum created atCaesars Palace.The show, which opens next Monday, cost 19million,including 4million for the world's largest LED screen.Vegas is failing to pull in the crowds because of the boom inbetting websites. Now, casino bosses need family audiences.Dion, whose hits include My Heart Will Go On, will perform fivetimes a week, 40 weeks a year, for at least three years.The 34-year-old, with album sales of 150million, said: 'Thisshow marks a turning point.'Tickets for the musical, A New Day..., cost up to 125each. More than 200,000 of 240,000 seats for the first 60 showshave already been sold.Share this article: Cannes 2010: Eva Herzigova plays the sultry lead role in lace dress and bondage heelsBy and UPDATED:11:17 GMT, 17 May 2010She may not have a role in the film (or even heard of it for that matter) - but that was no obstacle to Eva Herzigova being the main event on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival last night.The supermodel and actress arrived at the opening night of French romantic period film, The Princess of Montpensier, and turned heads in her revealing Dolce And Gabbana LBD.Statuesque Czech-born Eva, who stands tall at 5ft 11in, teamed her look with a pair of sky-high, strappy bondage heels and certainly looked more youthful than her 37 years. Other names of note at the event included Lost acterss Evangeline Lily, who layered up in a floor-length maxi dress.French actress, Melanie Thierry, 28, plays the title role in the movie, which is about a love triangle set in 1562 France.For her big night she slipped into a statement strapless pink gown as she posed with her co-stars.The film, by 'In the Electric Mist' director Bertrand Tavernier,sees Thierry play Marie de Montpensier, a young noblewoman determinedto pursue her romance with her childhood sweetheart - played by 'A VeryLong Engagement' star Gaspard Ulliel - even after her scheming fathermarries her off to someone else for political reasons.'At the beginning, I was a little scared,' Thierry said at a newsconference. 'When I read the script, I said to myself 'Oh God, I willnever make it, (the language) is much too complicated.''But it's so clear when you say it and so beautiful and so pure ...that once you master it, it becomes a real pleasure to act,' said the28-year-old actress, who's among the leading lights of the newgeneration of young French actresses. 'The Princess of Montpensier' is based on a 1662 novel of the samename by Madame de La Fayette - required reading at many schools inFrance.'When I read the book, I saw in it the possibility of making areally touching movie about love out of it,' said Tavernier, addingthat the characters' complexity and his own ignorance about thetumultuous period during which the story is set also caught hisattention.It takes place during the bloody wars of religion between Catholics and Protestants that raged for nearly four decades.'Each and every film I've made I made because I wanted to learnsomething,' said Tavernier, who has made many period movies over hisnearly half-century-long career.'The Princess of Montpensier' is his fourth film in the running forthe Palme d'Or, the top prize at the French Riviera festival's topprize. Carla Bruni saves convicted female drug mules from hellhole Caribbean prisonBy UPDATED:22:55 GMT, 30 December 2009Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was today credited with winning the controversial release of two convicted drug traffickers from a prison in the Dominican Republic.The French First Lady put pressure on the government of the Caribbean country to ensure that Celine Faye, 20, and Sarah Zaknoun, 19, both received a Christmas pardon after being caught with six kgs of cocaine in their luggage.Its thanks to her that we are here, said Faye, referring to Ms Bruni-Sarkozy soon after being released from her cell on Tuesday after serving just 18 months of an eight-year sentence. Faye and Zaknoun, who are both French, were caught trying to smuggle the drugs, which had a street value of around £150,000, onto a flight from the Dominican Republic to Paris in June 2008.Both insisted that a mystery third party had planted the cocaine in their luggage without them knowing, prompting Ms Bruni-Sarkozy to take up their case.She is said to have read a number of letters from them, and taken the matter up with the Dominican Republics government, before President Leonel Fernandez freed them.Welcoming Mr Fernandezs decision to grant the pardon, President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was a humanitarian gesture.He said the womens one-week holiday in the Dominican Republic had turned their lives into a nightmare. He made it clear that they will not face further charges when they get back to France today. The Dominican Republic is at the centre of the trade in cocaine passing from Colombia to European countries like Britain and France, with tourists often persuaded to act as mules for the drug cartels. French development minister Alain Joyandet said: This nice Christmas tale must not make us forget that drug traffickers continue to destroy lives and abuse the naivete of our youngsters. Mr Joyanet confirmed that both women were due to telephone a delighted Ms Bruni-Sarkozy, who is currently on holiday in Morocco with her husband.Ms Bruni-Sarkozys foray into international diplomacy evoked the trip by Mr Sarkozys second wife, Cecilia, to Libya in 2007 where she secured the release of five Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death for allegedly infecting children with HIV.Ceclia divorced Mr Sarkozy soon afterwards. She still describes the triumph in Libya as one of her proudest moments. Although Ms Bruni-Sarkozy continually claims that she has no interest in politics, the former supermodel-turned-pop singer is keen to portray herself as a serious person, with Elysee Palace sources saying she was absolutely thrilled at getting the women freed. The latest French success follows the failure of Gordon Browns government to prevent China executing British heroine smuggler Akmal Shaikh.The Chinese authorities killed the 53-year-old father of five by lethal injection on Monday, ignoring last minute pleas from his family and officials in the UK.Carol Vorderman: I'm nearly 50 - to hell with what people think of how I lookBy UPDATED:17:23 GMT, 3 June 2010Author, businesswoman and Countdown maths guru Carol Vorderman, 49,went from frump to fab when she hit her 40s, but still hates shopping.She lives in Bristol with her two children.As a teenager, I liked dressing dramatically. I used to make a lot of my own clothes, then dye them in a tub of Dylon. Then, when I was 32 and had Katie, I put on a lot of weight, going from a size 8 to a 14/16. Everything was big back in those days big hair, big shoulder pads, you name it. But I felt frumpy. I was always try­ing to cover my bum and thick waist. As a working mum, my overriding memory of the Nineties was exhaustion, and after I had Cameron in 1997, I knew things had to change. So I went on a detox and dropped back to size 8/10.Im 50 later this year, and to hell with what other people think of how I look. The Alexander McQueen dress I wore recently to an awards ceremony was figure-hugging, but so what? I accept my figure now. Im big up top and bottom, and go in at the middle. For a long time, I couldnt find a store or designer that really catered for my curves, but then Roland Mouret came along. His stuff is timeless, unfussy and classy.I think Victoria Beckhams range is one of the few making dresses and skirts that go below the knee, while still being fashionable. Theyre not cheap, but I can still wear them years later without looking dated. Its simple Forties styling. Above the knee is fine if youre in your 20s, but I dont feel its overly appropriate at my age.I dont enjoy shopping, so I do most of it online at net-a-porter. Ill maybe go to the shops twice a year. I love an equal dose of colour, like red, and neu­trals and nude shoes make your legs look longer.When I moved from Lon­don to Bristol almost four years ago, I had to rethink my wardrobe, as Id look too done walking around Clifton in one of my VB dresses. I aim for smart casual, with high-waisted jeans, black polo neck and cowboy boots.The epitome of chic is effortless style, and as you get older, you realise the time spent fretting over outfits is time better spent elsewhere. CAROL'S WARDROBE FAVOURITES ROLAND MOURET GALAXY DRESSThis dress hangs about 3in below my knee, which is why its so flattering.I bought it when it first came out, and years later I still make itinto the papers when I wear it. Having been on Count­down for so long,I learnt to gather classic pieces that could be mixed and matchedeasily. ABERCROMBIE FITCH RIBBED VESTSThese are great now that were getting into summer. Theyre verythin, so I wear two together. They flatter my shape and are chic andsimple and, depending on the straps, can be quite sexy without beingtoo overt. I wear them with everything. Wardrobe favourites, from left: Carol's Roland Mouret Galaxy dress; one of her Abercrombie Fitch ribbed vests; her Victoria Beckham grey peplum dress JITROIS LEATHER TROUSERSIve worn these for almost tenyears. Theyre stretch leather with a little zip at the back, sotheyre more forgiving. If I want to go for a slightly dressier lookthan my jeans, Ill put these on.CELINE BOOTSIlive in boots, especially those withheels. These black ankle boots have a big platform, with a zip down theside and false lace-up detailing. They go with eve­rything. A closesecond favourite are my beige platform wedges from Nine West, with asil­ver buckle. They cost only £19 and I always get compliments aboutthem.MONT BLANC SATCHELI dont havea handbag fetish, like some people I might buy one a year, if that.This satchel is a lovely fabric and I use it for business meetings. Itwas a chance purchase. Ive learnt that if you see something you reallylike, get it there and then because it might be gone when you go back. TURQUOISE STRAPLESS BAFTA DRESSThestorm my dress cre­ated in 2000 was hysterical! Kilroy dedicated anentire show to it, and headlines screamed: Thirty-nine and wearingthat dress! I thought it was fabulous. I felt like the devilper­sonified how dare I wear something that short. But I was moreamused than upset at the reaction.Carol recently launched The Maths Factor, , an online maths school for children and their parents. Celebrity scents on trial - From Celine to J-Loby Alice SmellieLast updated at 00:02 12 March 2007From A-list to Z-list, celebrities are jumping on the lucrativefragrance bandwagon, with more than 20 famous people currentlyflogging a perfume version of their personalities.And considering the returns - celeb perfumes now constituteten per cent of the market - it's not surprising.Hilary Duff and Celine Dion are both launching perfumes thisweek and even Kate Moss is planning to get in on the action, with ascent coming out in the autumn. But are they any good?Lifestyle asked one man and two women to test a selectionand give their verdicts. Our panel consisted of Alex Bilmes,features director of GQ magazine; Roja Dove, one of the world'sleading fragrance experts and founder of the Roja Dove HauteParfumerie in Harrods and Roja Dove Parfumerie at House of Fraser;and TV presenter Hannah Sandling. ALICE SMELLIE reports.Paris Hilton by Paris Hilton PARIS SAYS: "Fragrance is magical, it creates amood. It's the last thing I put on before I step out - it's asignature, a style statement, it's memorable."From 24. Call 0845 688 3343.ALEX: Interestingly (well, not thatinterestingly, but anyway) this is the only one to feature aphotograph of its namesake on the box. And very fetching she looks,too, if you like that sort of thing. Which, being a man, I do."Also, Paris's perfume doesn't bother with a silly name. It'sjust called Paris Hilton. Which either shows commendable confidenceor lamentable lack of imagination. Could be either one. On the boxit says: 'Mysterious. Intriguing. Beautiful.' I'm not sure howaccurate a description of Paris those adjectives are. Theycertainly don't accurately represent the bottle, which is a grislypink and wavy-lined monstrosity. The smell itself: saccharinestrawberry lipbalm. Yeuchh!ROJA: I can taste this perfume in my mouth.What a ludicrous smell. It is reminiscent of detergent - sweet anda little fruity. It should be used as a cleaner, except that Iwouldn't want my house to smell like this.HANNAH: This looks like a sex toy. The onlything lacking is a battery. Perhaps it's a tongue-in-cheekreference to the video of her behaving badly. Or maybe she wasreally inspired by her own antics. When you spray it on, you wantto put on your high heels and sexy knickers and party till the suncomes up. It's really sexy and minxy. The score:2/5Glow After Dark by JLo JLO SAYS: "Inspired by the feeling you get whenyou're out at a nightclub with your friends, celebrating andenjoying the nightlife."Available nationwide. From 13.ALEX: Not sure about the name or the starrypackaging but if bling's your thing, JLo is your homegirl,presumably. As for the fragrance itself, quite pleasingly sensualand sexy. I like it.ROJA: This is a fragrance based utterly onnothing. It has a small floral heart, with a synthetic musk as itsbase. It is interesting that they have picked up on chypre - orwoody smells - as being a trend. For the past two years I have saidthat this is an area that will develop.HANNAH: So bling and cool that you feel it'sjust like JLo's character. The champagneshaped bottle is sassy andbootilicious. The perfume is fresh and sexy. When I put it on, Icould feel the music playing through my blood. The score:3/5Cat Deluxe by Naomi Campbell NAOMI SAYS: "You can't get closer to a womanthan through her perfume. It is the full expression of her personalstyle."From 19. Available at Superdrug.ALEX: My favourite by far. Naomi Campbell isproperly sexy and this fragrance capitalises on her considerableanimalistic appeal. It's witty, too, with its pink leopard printbottle. 'Feel the cat inside you,' says the gorgeous Naomi on thepackaging, like some 21st-century Eartha Kitt. Purr-fect.ROJA: I struggle to say much about thisperfume. It is warm and soft, and better than her last one. Herlast fragrance bottle looked like a phallus, which I foundstartling. This bottle was at least an improvement.HANNAH: I was surprised that the bottle didn'tfly out of the box and hit me when I opened it! If Naomi Campbellwere in my back garden mowing the lawn and drinking cherryade, thenthat would be the smell blowing in through my back door. It's a dayperfume - playful rather than elegant, and it kept changingthroughout the day. Lots of different personalities. Just likeNaomi. The score: 2/5Feminine by Cindy Crawford CINDY SAYS: "A personal statement to womeneverywhere."From 21. Available at Boots.ALEX: Cindy Crawford is very glamorous. I canimagine she smells pretty good, too. The packaging is mercifullyrestrained in comparison to most of these others, and the bottleitself has a pleasingly curvaceous shape, rather like an old Cokebottle. Despite the name, I think it smells refreshingly unisex butin a good way - it's more sophisticated than most of them.ROJA: This has a very fresh, almost green noteon the top, reminiscent of the beginning of Must de Cartier. Fartoo sweet as a perfume, although not badly put together. A fresh,warm scent.HANNAH: Her box is supposed to look likecrushed velvet, but is actually the colour of a hearing aid. Itlooks like Seventies decor gone wrong. There is a charity shop feelto it - which was presumably not the aim. Surprisingly, I thoughtthe scent was soft and expensive smelling. It made me think oforchids. Shame that she didn't have a to-die-for box with curveslike her own. The score: 3/5Darling by Kylie Minogue KYLIE SAYS: "The launch of my new fragrancecoincides with a new chapter of my life."From 19. Available nationwide.ALEX: I love this fragrance almost as much as Ilove Kylie, though we're not yet close enough for me to call herDarling. Chic, French, smells a bit like Chanel to me. Proves thatgood things come in small packages, just like its namesake.ROJA: This is mediocre. I read the bumph for theperfume, and it claimed to be a mixture of chypre, floral andoriental. This is interesting, as that means they would haveincluded part of every perfume family - feasible, but not I thinkthe reality of this fragrance. I thought it was just a smell, not aperfume. It is perhaps a little more sophisticated than the others- a little drier.HANNAH: Kylie is a minxy little disco queen.Her pink packaging is very girly and glamorous - like one of heroutfits. When the lid came off, all I could smell was car airfreshener - those Christmastree shaped ones. I might give it to a13-year-old as their first perfume, till they knew any better. Verydisappointing. The score: 3/5Midnight Fantasy by Britney Spears BRITNEY SAYS: "I could never find the perfectperfume for me so that's why I decided to create my own."From 22. Available nationwide.ALEX: Britney, Britney, Britney - where did itall go wonky? Presumably, when the manufacturer of this perfumesigned her up for an endorsement deal. Ms Spears was a freshfacedinternational pop star, now she's a shaven-headed basket case withtwo kids, two ex-husbands and no apparent career.While it's difficult not to feel sorry for her, it's easy not towant to smell like her. This fragrance is so bad it may make youwant to attack a paparazzo with an umbrella. Cool bottle,though.ROJA: If this is a fantasy, then let me have adreamless sleep. It is cloyingly sweet. The fruity accords combinedwith the flowers make it sickly. Without wanting to turn peopleagainst me - who do these scents appeal to? It's like tepid fruitcompote.HANNAH: I love the Britney box, and what anexplosion of girly fantasy greets you on opening it.I wanted to pick all the crystals off the bottle immediately.It's a bottle for young people. But a note of caution - never judgea book by its cover. It's so sugary that I felt as though I wasbeing suffocated with parma violets and dolly mixtures. If you meta man in a bar, you'd get chewed on, not kissed. The score:1/5Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker SARAH SAYS: "I want this fragrance to be forall women from 17 to 107."From 14. Available nationwide.ALEX: Surprisingly, this does just what it sayson the bottle. Lovely by name, lovely by pong - subtle, soft, sexy.Well done, SJP!ROJA: This is quite a lovely smell and nicelymade. It's a pretty fragrance, reminiscent of lily of the valley,and it has a very delicate and fresh accord. One of the very few Ilike. It should be made with better materials.HANNAH: I love SJP. Her packaging is verystylish, with an understated, vintage classy look. I can imaginethe bottle on the dressing table of a Parisian women, next topowder puffs and cut glass. The funny thing is, I can't decide if Ilove or hate the perfume. It gets better on your skin as it warmsup, but it made me think of sweet and sour Chinese, which I alwaysorder, but I'm not quite sure about once it turns up. Thescore: 4/5Intimately Beckham For Her by the Beckhams VICTORIA SAYS: This fragrance is "somethinglight, fresh, young and timeless".From 18.99. Available at the Perfume Shop.ALEX: This has a sexy name, sexy packaging,sexy scent. It smells, erm, expensive. It smells of money. Justlike its namesake, I'd imagine, sadly not having ever been in aposition to get a good noseful of her...ROJA: The spice note in this is over-amplified.They have tried to make it smell fresh with a synthetic materialthat is almost strident. It is nondescript, and lacks any realpersonality or depth.HANNAH: Victoria's perfume reminded me of adelicatessen. It's got something for everyone. Sexy, sophisticated,fresh, girly - possibly a hint of Spanish orange groves? I loved itthe most and I'll be wearing it. The score:4/5Spring in Paris by Celine Dion CELINE SAYS: "My favourite season in one of myfavourite cities."From 15.95. Available from mid-March at selectedBoots.ALEX: What does Celine Dion know of spring inParis? Wouldn't summer in Vegas be a more appropriate name? I thinkit's intended to smell floral but the effect is closer to weeks-oldpot pourri. Not nice.ROJA: When I first smelt this perfume there wasa leafy freshness to it. But it ends up very sweet after it warmsup. It has a very white floral heart and an almost childlikescent.HANNAH: If I were looking for an air freshener,I'd have gone for this - except that I think air fresheners aremore aesthetically-pleasing. She must have had a really bad coldwhen she okay-ed this. Wear it on a date, and leave him squirming -but not in a good way. The score: 1/5With Love by Hilary Duff HILARY SAYS: "With Love is meant to capture mytwo sides: my fun, spirited side, but also my more sensual,sophisticated side."From 22. Available nationwide from March 19.ALEX: Forgive me, but since when does HilaryDuff count as a celebrity in this country? I chip away at theawesome coalface of celebrity journalism every day, and even I'monly vaguely aware of her. Why should anyone want to smell like herwhen they don't know who she is?That said, some time and effort has clearly been put into thisfragrance - it's light and fruity and maybe a bit apple-y. Perhapsthat's not such a bad thing.ROJA: At least this doesn't have the sicklysweetness of so many of the others. It moves towards anoriental-style scent. Although quite warm, it has very little inthe way of personality.HANNAH: This perfume is a hidden gem. Get yourmitts on it as soon as you can. It's spiritual and Asian, with awarm twist of lemony zing. Wearing it made me feel more confidentand sent me into a dreamy state, as though I was in an exoticlocation. The score: 4/5Share this article: Celine: 'My baby comes first now'by TONY BONNICICeline Dion has revealed that she is putting her career on holdto spend precious time with the baby who has made her lifecomplete.She gave birth to son Rene-Charles five weeks ago afterfertility treatment ended six years of anguish for the singer andher husband Rene Angelil.'I want to be with him, doing things with him, nurturing him andhelping him grow,' she said during an interview with Hello!magazine.Miss Dion, 32, who sang the Titanic hit My Heart Will Go On andhas sold 125million albums worldwide, went on: 'I plan to stay athome for at least another year. I have to say I absolutely love mynew life.'I can't imagine being in showbusiness with babies. They haveteething problems, colds, earaches, they need security at home.'When I am on the road, I can't sleep straight after a showbecause of the adrenaline. I couldn't run around with him under myarm.'Last year, the couple finally over-came fears that they couldnot conceive, despite 59-year- old Angelil having chemotherapy forskin cancer.Share this article: 'I'm glad she was not the one singing it': Celine Dion admits My Heart Will Go On could make her sick just like Kate Winslet By PUBLISHED:22:13 GMT, 4 June 2012 UPDATED:07:11 GMT, 5 June 2012A couple of months ago Kate Winslet admitted that the Celine Dion song from the movie that made her a household name, Titanic, left her wanting to throw up.But rather than harbour ill feelings towards the actress because of her cruel comments, Celine has admitted she understands where Kate is coming from.The 44-year-old diva said: If I just count how many times I've sung it, maybe it'll get me sick. If she feels tired just hearing it, and, like, throwing up, I'm glad she was not the one singing it.Scroll down for videoHowever the French-Canadian singer is also grateful to be attached to the popular song, which spent an astonishing 20 weeks in the UK charts and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.She admitted: My Heart Will Go On gave me the opportunity to be associated with a classic that will live forever.Celine was speaking during an interview with MSNBCs Today. The star also opened up about recently having to cancel her hit Las Vegas show for five weeks after contracting a virus that affected her vocal chords.She explained: It was just choppy a little bit.It's hard to do a show, but it's much harder to cancel the show. We disappointed a lot of people. It was hard.Back in March Kate admitted during an interview that every time she hears the emotional ballad, it makes her feel sick.She told MTV News: 'I feel like throwing up when I hear it. No, I shouldn't say that. No, actually, I do feel like throwing up. 'I wish I could say, "Oh listen, everybody! It's the Celine Dion song!" But I don't. 'I just have to sit there, you know, kind of straight-faced with a massive internal eye roll.'Despite its huge success in the charts, the power ballad has also received lots of criticism in the past and was voted one of the worst songs of all time by Rolling Stone.But talking about the effect starring in Titanic has had on her career, Kate said she would never have become so famous without the James Cameron movie.She told Magic 105.4: 'I'm fortunate enough to get to choose the roles I play these days, largely due to the success of Titanic actually, and so I do like choosing things that are risky and a little bit unexpected.'It was really Titanic that provided that creative freedom for me and actually then years later becoming a mother, it has been so brilliant the success of that film, because it has meant I haven't had to work as well and I can completely be a mum.'Visit msnbc.com for , , and At home with Celine Dion: Singer allows cameras to capture her new life with twinsBy UPDATED:01:56 GMT, 19 February 2011She is due to return to the stage in a few weeks, and Celine Dion is clearly making the most of her spell as a full-time mother.The 42-year-old has opened the doors of her home to and allowed cameras to capture some intimate moments with her husband and their four-month-old twin boys Eddy and Nelson.The clips were shot for an upcoming episode of Oprah Winfrey, where the singer is promoting her new documentary movie, Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World.The film documents a year of her life, including her performances and behind the scenes footage.Celine gave a sneak peek the footage to Oprah Winfrey during an upcoming appearance of the chat show. She also allowed Oprah's cameras into her home to introduce everyone to her twin baby boys. In the clips, a make-up free Celine is seen wearing pyjamas and a robe as she feeds and cuddles her babies.With her usually perfectly coiffed hair pulled back in a ponytail, the singer joins her husband of 16 years, Rene Angelil, for a group snuggle with the boys. The couple, who have been together since 1987, also have a ten-year-old son, Rene-Charles. Just this week the singer returned to Las Vegas in preparation to start her renewed three year stint at The Colosseum at Ceasars Palace. She is returning to the residency for seventy shows a year starting on March 15 and has moved her entire family to the Nevada city for the duration. Celine Dion debuts her 'miracle' twin baby boys, six weeks after giving birth By UPDATED:12:25 GMT, 9 December 2010She gave birth to her twin sons Nelson and Eddy six weeks ago after a long struggle to conceive via IVF.And now Celine Dion is sharing her joy at her miracle babies, appearing on the cover of Hello! Canada this week. The 42-year-old told the magazine that the babies had made her life 'extraordinary,' and that she 'doesn't know how women do it.' 'Every day René asks, "Did you sleep well?'" she said. 'I'm like, '"You must be kidding! There is no sleep!'"' she says. And the singer's babies are already showing some personality soon after their October 23 birth. 'Nelson is Angelil,' she said. 'Eddy is Dion!'Celine also talked to Larry King on his chat show last night, tellinghim she initially got confused about which of her sons was which.'The twins are not identical. We called them Baby A and Baby B. 'But wewere all confused. Aftera week we sat down and thought it would be our two heroes. 'We named Nelson after Nelson Mandela. We went to South Africa on the last tour and... it was such an impact to meet him, what a hero and we decided to name a son after him.' She said Eddy was named after the lyricist, Eddy Marnay, who worked on five of her French language albums, as well as songs by Barbra Streisand and Edith Piaf. 'We wanted our sons to be able to say they were named after two wonderful people.'Celine also talked about her battle to conceive.'We tried five times before I got pregnant. On the sixth try, it worked out. We were blessed twice. 'It's extraordinary to be parents again. Nelson and Eddy are doing well. They're six weeks old.' She also told how she was originally pregnant with three babies, but lost one during the pregnancy. 'One little baby decided to step back to help the other two survive. The doctors said to me if there's something wrong, natures takes it's course. 'I still think of the one who stepped back. I'm sure every woman has the feeling about the little one that's not there.' And she was honest about the pressures of motherhood: 'I have no sleep at all. "It's amazing how we can survive with no sleep. 'My littleboy, René-Charles, has a fever and I want to be there for him but I am breastfeeding the babies every two-and-a-half hours, then sometimes I have 25 minutes and I think, do I shower, eat or sleep? 'It's a great challenge and it's all amazing. All day I'm in my pyjamas and it's overwhelming but all good. 'René-Charles is looking at them like, 'Mom theonly thing they do is look around and cry.' Talking about preparing forher three year residence in Las Vegas, starting in March, she said: 'I hope I will return to my shape again but the health of the babies is more important.'Celine Dion done so surreallyBy Last updated at 10:31 PM on 03rd April 2008 Bliss (Royal Court Theatre Upstairs) Fans of Celine Dion may prefer to look away now. This is perhaps the very opposite of a tribute show to their beloved Canadian singer-songwriter. It is a car crash of candy-floss fantasy that crushes any romance her devotees may want to preserve. It¿s a safe bet that the Royal Court is not trying to cash in on the diva¿s fan base with French- Canadian Olivier Choiniere¿s play. More likely it¿s been scheduled because it turns the world of trashy popular culture inside out and because it¿s been translated by the revered Lady Bracknell of radical theatre, Caryl Churchill. Fantasy world: Brid Brennan, Neil Dudgeon and Justin Salinger in Bliss On the way in, we are all invited to wear Wal-Mart employee tabards marked ¿cashier¿ inorder to enter into the spirit of a play set in the staff toilets of that well known supermarket. Here, three employees ¿ a cosmetic salesperson, a display assistant and a floor manager ¿ regale us with a series of yarns. First of Celine having a graphic miscarriage, then of a woman with an abdominal tumour and finally that of new girl Caro having a vivid psychotic breakdown as she imagines serving Celine at the checkout. The point of all this will not be obvious, but the play is at least more interesting than it is entertaining. It seeks to show how in the world of mass media consumption everyone is acting out everyone else¿s glossy magazine fantasy of commercially administered bliss. And if that doesn¿t make sense, don¿t worry, because it is only a guess based on conflicting information issuing from the stage which is framed as though it was a widescreen TV. Equally, Joe Hill-Gibbins¿ production isn¿t bad. It is diligently produced with dismal toilet cubicles recreated by Jeremy Herbert¿s design. There are engaging performances from Brid Brennan, Justin Salinger and Neil Dudgeon as the three staff, together with Hayley Carmichael as the disturbed new girl. However, the production doesn¿t shake the scoffing tone that usually comes when enlightened liberals fret over the fate of the benighted lower orders. For all its ingenuity, Bliss¿s tone could do with unleashing more of the power of love. Celine Dion forced to pull out of Vegas gigs for next FOUR months due to inflamed vocal chords By UPDATED:08:42 GMT, 1 March 2012She is famous for singing her heart will go on.But it seems that the show will not be for Celine Dion, after doctors ordered her to cancel performing from now until June 9 after suffering a virus which causes inflammation of the vocal chords.It is bad news for the Caesar's Palace Casino in Las Vegas, where the powerhouse vocalist has been a massively popular draw.Celine, 43, said: 'I tried to sing at my sound check last week, and I had no control of my voice whatsoever.'We thought that after a few days rest I would improve, but it wasnt getting any better.'Originally the singer had hoped she would only have to cancel performing until March 3, but she was dealt a hammer blow by doctors at the renowned UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles.On Monday she was diagnosed with a viral illness and weakness in her right vocal cord by Dr Gerald Burke, who is an authority in voice disorders.The Canadian star made a high-profile return to Caesars Palace a year ago for a three-year engagement.The casino spent an eye-watering $95 million building the special Colosseum venue for her in 2003. It was specially equipped with a humidifier to protect her voice. She had previously done a wildly successful five-year run at the casino from 2003 to 2007, before returning to the world stage with a tour.She also took time off to spend more time with her family, and gave birth to twin boys in 2010.Tickets for the in demand show in sell for up to $250 each, and it regularly sells out.According to Celine, Dr Burke assured her she will be back to '100 percent' after resting her voice, but she is still bitterly disappointed she is having to 'let down' her fans by withdrawing from the stage.She said: 'Obviously this is the worst thing for a singer, not being able to do your shows.'I feel worse knowing that Im disappointing my fans. Im so sorry. I hope they forgive me.' Celine Dion gives the front row much more of a show than they expected... in a very short dress By UPDATED:15:07 GMT, 30 January 2012Choosing such a short dress to wear on stage was always a risk. And veteran balladeer Celine Dion obviously didn't think twice about the eye level of the audience.The Canadian singer gave the front row a lot more than advertised when she performed at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Trelawny, Jamaica last night.The 43-year-old mother of three accidentally flashed fans as she strutted across the stage in the dangerously short outfit. Celine, who has been in Jamaica for afew days, wore a gold and white Balmain dress that showed off her long legs and toned body.While she looked great in the eye-catching design, she clearly hadn't thought she on stage exertions through. She explained afterwards that the height of the stage was the real problem on the night and the length of her outfit was fine.She said: 'Because normally when people are level the length is fine. But people were like this (she looks up)... So it was like I didn't think of the people downstairs and me there.'Dion looked great in the daring outfit and has been showing her toned and tanned body a lot since being on the island for the festival.Two nights ago she wore a long black dress with a thigh high split and she has also been performing with local Jamaican artists including singer Diana who performed the duet Treat Her Like A Lady.Besides getting through her extensive song book the singer also managed to navigate through about five different stage costumes.Being a busy mother is clearly suiting her, with the singer looking particularly toned as she performed.She gave birth to twins Eddy and Nelson 14 months ago.The children's father is Celine's husband and manager, Rene Angelil and they have an older son, René-Charles, 10.Last year, Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network aired a primetime special featuring an intimate look at the musical icon's private life.The programme also revealed the artist tending to her twins, helping her eldest son with his homework and spending quality time with her husband.Dion returned to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in March last year with her new show Celine.The three-year residency promises demanding seventy performances a year and features Dion's greatest hits and a selection of music from classic Hollywood films. Celine Dion has a titanic makeup malfunction on her world tourBy UPDATED:15:41 GMT, 16 September 2008After years performing in Las Vegas, Celine Dion is travelling the world on a year-long tour entitled Taking Chances.And it seems the large-lunged Canadian singer certainly is taking chances in her real-life as she left her hotel without any make-up on yesterday.After enjoying a relatively paparazzi-free life in Nevada's Sin City over the past few years, it appeared the 40-year-old star did not anticipate the crowd of photographers outside her New York hotel. Bare faced: Celine's blemishes are in full view as she signs autographs in New York yesterdayAfter taking to the stage at Madison Square Garden last night as part of the North American leg of the tour, Celine looked a world away from her glamorous stage persona on Monday afternoon.Flanked by her manager husband René Angélil, Celine emerged from her Manhattan hotel looking red and blotchy - presumably a side effect from the heavy stage make-up she would have worn the night before.With her hair scrapped back and sunglasses shielding her eyes from the daylight glare, Celine looked tired after months of touring. On the face of things: Celine Dion (left) looks far from her usual glamorous persona (right) on Monday afternoon Since the tour started in Johannesberg, South Africa in February, Celine has embarked on a gruelling schedule covering 24 countries before starting the North American leg in Boston last month.When she wraps the tour in her native Canada next February, Celine would have performed over 100 shows.Despite a lack of new songs in her world tour, Celine has been wowing critics with her powerful renditions of her biggest hits, including Think Twice, The Power Of Love and My Heart Will Go On from the Titanic movie. Under the spotlight: Celine Dion basks in the spotlight on stage at Madison Square Garden last night Working it: Celine sings her heart out on stage Celine Dionhas another Titanic grooming disaster as she meets the French president By Last updated at 8:19 PM on 23rd May 2008It should have been the day that went off without a hitch.She was receiving a Legion d'Honneur, one of France's greatest accolades, and cementing her position as a cultural icon.But for unlucky Celine Dion it was also the setting of another grooming disaster.As she received the medal from President Sarkozy, the heavy orange make-up line round the 40-year-old's neck was unmistakable. Faux pas: Celine should have thought twice before putting on so much make-up Make-up aside, the singer was chic in a black fitted jacketHaving opted to go for thick foundation and eye makeup, the French Canadian star seemed determined to cover any blemishes. However, having forgotten to blend in the maquillage, this move ironically left poor Celine with another grooming embarrassment on her hands. Despite this the star looked chic in a form-fitting black jacket and racy lace dress. Celine with her husband and son are greeting by President Sarkozy She was accompanied by manager and husband Rene Angelil and their seven-year-old son René-Charles Dion Angélil to the ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris. This is not the first time Celine has made a grooming faux-pas. Before a performance in Tokyo, the singer forgot to shave her legs and the lighting throughout the concert revealed her fuzzy pins. Celine revealed hairy legs during a concert in Tokyo in March Celine Dion admitted to a Florida hospital to avoid premature birth of her twinsBy UPDATED:08:04 GMT, 19 October 2010Luckily It appears to be a precautionary visit.Singer Celine Dion has been rushed to hospital to prevent her from giving birth to her twins a month early.The 42-year-old Canadian born singer, who is expecting twin boys and is in the final month of her pregnancy, was admitted to a Palm Beach Hospital early this morning. A spokesman for the St Mary's Medical Centre confirmed Dion had been admitted as a precaution to avoid her giving birth too early.'Ms. Celine Dion has been admitted to St. Marys Medical Centre for observation at the recommendation of her doctors,' said hospital spokesman Ryan Lieber.'She has been admitted to prevent the early delivery of her babies which is a fairly common clinical practice for mothers of twins.'This is done to ensure the patient can be in close contact with their doctors and clinical resources, leading up to their birth.'Dion and her husband of 16 years, René Angélil, 68, have described the pregnancy as a miracle havingundergone at least seven IVF treatments in an attempt to fall pregnant again.The couple already have a 9-year-old son, Rene-Charles who was also concieved through in vitro. Last November, during an interview with Oprah, Celine revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage but in April of this year they discovered they were pregnant again. Dion, a five-time Grammy winner, lives on Jupiter Island, Florida, where golfer Tiger Woods will soon be a new near neighbour. Start painting the nursery blue: Celine Dion is expecting twin boysBy UPDATED:01:53 GMT, 10 July 2010Celine Dion and her husband Rene Angelil have officially announced they are expecting twin boys.The announcement was made on the Canadian singer's website today.A spokesman said: 'Celine first announced the upcoming new additions to the Angelil-Dion family back in May, and now she just revealed that she is expecting twin boys! Congratulations to the happy family! 'The new babies will be the second and third sons for Celine, 42, and Rene, 68. The couple already have a nine-year-old son, Rene-Charles. The age gap between Celine's oldest and youngest is not by choice. The star has been trying for years to get pregnant again.She endured six in-vitro fertilisation treatments and several rounds of acupuncture to help her conceive. In an interview last month with the French language newspaper Le Journal de Montreal, Celine said: 'I feel like Ive been pregnant more than a year. I never gave up. But I can tell you that it was physically and emotionally exhausting.'Despite the upcoming birth, Celine is still scheduled to return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2011.She'll perform a series of concerts there over the next three years. 'One moment I feel tremendous happiness... then I cry for no reason': Celine Dion on the highs and lows of raising twinsBy UPDATED:18:21 GMT, 7 January 2011Being a mother of two baby twins is an emotional business, according to Celine Dion.The 42-year-old singer has admitted she suffered from mood swings soon after giving birth to Nelson and Eddy in October last year. 'One moment, tremendous happiness; the next, fatigue sets in, and I cried for no reason, and then that took care of itself,' the Canadian star tells French GALA magazine.'Some of the first days after I came home,I was a little outside myself,' she adds. 'I had no appetite and that bothered me. My mother remarked that she noticed I had moments of lifelessness, but reassured me that this was entirely normal. 'It's for things like that after having a baby that mothers really need emotional support.'Unsurprisingly, Celine finds looking after her brood, tiring but ultimately fulfilling.'I am changing diapers and breastfeeding and that's something where no one can take my place. It's tiring but an intense joy,' she says. 'I take things day by day. That's the secret to me. In any case, breastfeeding is more difficult if you are stressed.' 'I didn't have these children to not take care of them, to give myself to them 200 - 300 per cent.'The star and her husband Rene Angelil already have one son - nine year-old Rene-Charles.And Celine, who has discussed her struggle to conceive the twins, sometimes sees the funny side of being a mother second time round. 'Sometimes I find myself in comical situations I don't know how to get myself out of,' she admits. 'For example, when both are feeding and one hasgas while the other is burping, I don't know which position to adopt!' Fans can expect to see Celine back in action in Las Vegas in March, but the star says she isn't putting pressure on herself to get back inshape.'In reality, I've had almost no time getting a shower and feeding myself,' she says. 'My preoccupation has been eating sensibly. My only worryhas been to be able to open and close my tops quickly for breastfeeding. It's been out of the question to even wear a blouse!'Near, far... wherever is my bra? Celine Dion's lingerie doesn't 'go on'... in racy topless photoshoot By PUBLISHED:18:57 GMT, 23 August 2012 UPDATED:06:42 GMT, 24 August 2012Celine Dion is really quite the 'show' girl in this new risqué photoshoot.The French-Canadian singer - currently in the midst of a three-year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas - goes topless, preserving her modesty by clutching her chest, her hands clad in arm-length leather gloves.It's a certain departure from the mother-of-three's squeaky clean image, as she vamps it up in front of the camera in the September issue of .Scroll down to see the behind the scenes video! Making a splash: The French-Canadian singer opened the doors to her Florida home for photographer Sebastian FaenaCeline, famed for her Titanic hit My Heart Will Go On, invited photographer Sebastian Faena inside her Florida home for an intimate shoot.The 44-year-old wears an array of eye-catching outfits, posing topless in just a pair of leather trousers and gloves.In another shot she makes a splash in the pool, arms stretched seductively as she smoulders into the camera above.With Carlyne Cerf de Duzeele behind the styling, Celine also model a pair of tiny Daisy Dukes, thigh-high boots and an a tight black top. Picture perfect! Celine Dion poses up with husband, son René and twins Eddy and Nelson as she introduces them to Disney By UPDATED:15:27 GMT, 9 January 2012She's had a long relationship with Disney, after singing the theme tune from the animated movie Beauty And The Beast back in 1991.And it seems Celine Dion is keen to start her 14-month-old twins Eddy and Nelson's relationship with the studios early, taking the adorable duo to meet some of the most famous characters backstage at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.Dion, who was also accompanied by her husband René, looked incredible in a tight-fitting white dress as she clutched one of her twins while posing up next to people dressed up as Beast and Belle. The 43-year-old singer attended the studios to coincide with the theatrical release of the 3D version of Beauty and the Beast, set to hit cinemas in America on January 13th.Last year, Oprah Winfrey'sOWN Network aired a primetime special featuring an intimate look atthe musical icon's private life. Celine:3 Boys and a New Show took viewers behind-the-scenes as Celine worked on her Las Vegas comeback show, Celine, and balanced being an international superstar with her responsibilities to her family. The program also revealed the artist tending to her twins, helping her eldest son with his homework and spendingquality time with her husband.Dionreturned to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in March last year with hernew show Celine. The three-year residency promises demanding seventy performances a year and features Dion's greatest hits and a selection of music from classic Hollywood films.And husband René, who also acts as Dion's manager, said in a recent interview that the singer is in talks to extend her residency in Vegas.He told the Las Vegas Sun: 'We are in talks. Its not finalized yet,but soon. We love it here in Vegas. Celine does here what she loves to do.'She loves theColosseum. It has the best conditions for a performer. We couldnt ask for better. We are close to lots of people in Vegas, and we are here to stay.'Celine Dion pregnant at 41 with second childBy UPDATED:17:26 GMT, 18 August 2009Singer Celine Dion is pregnant with her second child, it has been revealed.The Canadian singer, 41, and her husband Rene Angelil, 67, are already parents to son Rene-Charles, eight.Rene has three other children from his previous marriages.'We can confirm she is pregnant,' her spokesperson told US Magazinetoday, adding that the singer and her husband are 'very happy.'The 'My Heart Will Go On' singer has never made a secret of herdesire to extend her family, and was always planning to fall pregnantfollowing her run of shows in Las Vegas.But Rene's battle with cancer cast doubt over whether the couple would have more children of their own.She said: 'We'll give ita try after my tour. Hopefully we will be parents again. If not, that'sfine. We have our miracle baby.' Celine fell pregnant with Rene-Charles after having IVF treatment following six years of attempting to conceive.When asked last December about her plans to fall pregnant for a second time, she confirmed she and her husband had 'a frozen embryo' waiting.'Ecstatic' Celine Dion pregnant with IVF twins at 42By UPDATED:23:15 GMT, 30 May 2010Singer Celine Dion is reportedly pregnant with twins after her sixth attempt at in-vitro fertilisation.The 42-year-old Canadian star's dream of expanding her family has come true, her spokesman has told U.S. media.Dion, who is married to her manager Rene Angelil, 68, is already mother to nine-year-old Rene-Carles.And after undergoing her sixth in-vitro fertilisation attempt and turning to acupuncture to improve her chances of conceiving, her spokesman Kim Jakwerth confirmed the happy news to People.com.Dion is said to be 14 weeks pregnant and will find out the babies' genders next month.'We're ecstatic,' her husband and manager Rene Angelil told the website.'Celine is just hoping for a healthy pregnancy.'She was hoping for one baby and the news that we are having two is a double blessing.'It was reported Celine was pregnant last August, but her spokeperson confirmed in November 2009 that the pregnancy had failed.The My Heart Will Go On singer has never made a secret of herdesire to extend her family, and was always planning to fall pregnantfollowing her run of shows in Las Vegas last year.But Rene's battle with cancer cast doubt over whether the couple would have more children of their own.She said: 'We'll give ita try after my tour. Hopefully we will be parents again. If not, that'sfine. We have our miracle baby.' Celine fell pregnant with Rene-Charles after having IVF treatment following six years of attempting to conceive.Whenasked last December about her plans to fall pregnant for a second time,she confirmed she and her husband had 'a frozen embryo' waiting.Last year, Rene said: 'We are living the reality of the majority of couples who have to use[IVF]. The process can be longand arduous. 'But we are full of confidence. Céline is more determined than ever.'In February, Celine told talk show host Oprah Winfrey that she andRene had started on their fifth pregnancy attempt, and were determinednot to give up.She said: 'Its life. You know? A lot of people go through this, but its not beingtold because its not in newspaper. 'But with us, as you know, its like, sometimes news are like mercury.'Happy family: The couple already have a son Rene Charles, pictured, but have been trying for another baby for yearsCeline also said she didn't want to announce her miscarriagestraight away, explaining: 'They said that I was pregnant, and a coupleof days after, we were notpregnant again.'We didnt want to feel like we were playing yo-yo - "Im pregnant.Im not pregnant. Im pregnant. Im not pregnant." So we didnt want todo this thing. But we did have a miscarriage.'She added: 'I will be the happiest one to tell you when Im pregnant. And if not,Im the luckiest artist, especially wife and mother of a wonderful son.So Im glad.'Meanwhile, construction on the couple's Florida dream home - a£13million oceanfront Jupiter estate - is forging full steam ahead.A castle fit for the Queen of Pop! Celine Dion puts her private island Quebec chateau on sale for a whopping $29.5 million By PUBLISHED:02:00 GMT, 18 May 2012 UPDATED:22:34 GMT, 19 May 2012She's sold over 200 million albums worldwide and is one of the highest-paid female performers in history.But apparently having homes on two private islands has become one too many for Canadian singer Celine Dion.The 44-year-old songstress has decided to unload her French Normandy-style, four-story chateau in Gagnon -- complete with furnishings and artwork -- for $29.5 million, which will make it one of the five most expensive residences in Canada. According to her 70-year-old husband René Angelil, the sale comes thanks to Celine's three-year residency at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, and their US-based children, 11-year-old René-Charles and 19-month-old twins, Nelson and Eddie.'We are mostly in Florida, René-Charles goes to school here,' René told TVNZ, referring to the pair's other island property, a mansion on Jupiter Island with a water park. 'And of course there are commitments in Vegas because of Celine.' The gated island, located roughly 15 minutes from downtown Montreal, boasts a private bridge, security station, outdoor swimming pool, game room, wine cellar with tasting room, three living rooms, a wood-paneled library, and double master suites. Located in the sleepy Mille Îles River, Gagnon is a former mining town in East-central Quebec just in the Laval region. Just under 20 acres, the towering castle has 24,000 square feet of living space. Dion and her family moved into the property in 2001 after 300 people refurbished and expanded the $8 million property over a three-year reconstruction period. During Christmas time, Celine would turn their mansion into a glittering winter wonderland, even placing two high toy soldiers at the gates. The water around the island is too shallow for boats to move through, which helps keep trespassers and tourists at bay as does the network of security cameras. Despite the precautions, a 41-year-old stalker was arrested outside the property in 2009 for pressing the intercom at the mansion's front gate. Sotheby's International Realty in Quebec broker Joseph Montanaro will handle the sale of the property. Celine and her husband aren't planning to leave Canada completely as they are keeping their more modest $2 million country chalet in Notre Dame de la Merci in Quebec. The best-selling Canadian artist with the five-octave vocal range grew up the youngest of 14 children in a poverty-stricken home in Quebec. Dion first met her husband and manager in 1980, when she was 12 and he was 38, after she and her mother sent him a demo tape of a song they had written. René mortgaged his home to finance Celine's first record. Celine's hit song 'Its All Coming Back To Me Now' was prominently featured on an episode of Glee this past week. The brunette star had to postpone her Las Vegas shows from March to June when doctors diagnosed her with a viral illness and weakness in her right vocal cord. Her new show of hit songs, designed exclusively for The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, features 31 musicians in a full orchestra and band. The casino spent an eye-watering $95 million building the special Colosseum venue for her in 2003. It was specially equipped with a humidifier to protect the singing diva's voice. Tickets for the in-demand show in sell for up to $250 each, and it regularly sells out. 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas': Celine Dion reveals she wants another baby By UPDATED:03:00 GMT, 17 September 2011It looks like the power of love is still running strong with superstar singer Celine Dion.The multi-platinum selling vocalist has revealed she wants to have another baby, despite the fact she is now 43-years-old.She first gave clue in a new interview that is due to be aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network next month.The documentary Céline: 3 Boys and a New Show follows the My Heart Will Go On star from the birth of the twins Eddy and Nelson last autumn to her return to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.But it closes with the French-Canadian singer, who has sold more than 200 million albums, suggest she may be keen to rear another child, despite starting a new three-year residency at plush Sin City casino Caesers Palace in March. The mother-of-three said: 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 'So am I ready to be pregnant in Vegas and perform? Who knows? Stay tuned.'This is just after Celine has said that, 'I cant believe I have three children. Its the thing Im most proud of.'Later she confirmed that is indeed the case in an interview today with the Montreal Gazette.She said: 'I would love that, For sure.'You never know. Never put an X on something that might happen again. We dont know what the future holds for us.'And she seems to realise if she wants to fulfil her dream it wil have to happen sooner rather than later.She said: 'Well obviously womens cycle of life for having children.'And she certainly seemed to be enjoying motherhood in New York today, where she was spotted carrying one of her twins while wearing a tasteful ensemble of blue jeans, blazer and high heels.The documentary focuses on how the singer and her husband Rene Angelil, 69, balance family life with her booming pop-star career.It airs on October 1 on the fledgling network, which has so far been struggling to attract viewers.It is averaging about 300,000 viewers in prime time and 150,000 in total day figures. Blooming Celine Dion shows off her huge baby bump as she dismisses claims of pregnancy complicationsBy UPDATED:09:41 GMT, 3 September 2010Celine Dion has shown off her huge baby bump for the first time after dismissing reports of pregnancy complications.The 42-year-old singer, who is thought to be six-months pregnant with twin boys, posed on the cover of Canadian magazine 7 Jours with husband René Angelil and their nine-year-old son René-Charles.Wearing a green maxi dress, Celine showed she definitely had that pregnancy glow, smiling widely as she posed alongside her family. Celine and husband René Angelil were quick to deny rumours that the My Heart Will Go On singer had been rushed to hospital earlier this month with complications.A representative for the star said: 'She's never been in the hospital -her pregnancy continues to be healthy and she feels fantastic.'As with most women expecting multiples, her doctor wants her to stayoff her feet as much as possible as she finishes her pregnancy. 'They've gotten calls from friends worried that something is wrong. Tobe so happy and then to get these calls, it's been upsetting for themwhen they are in such a good place.'Celine fell pregnant following her sixth in-vitro fertilisation attempt and turning to acupuncture to improve her chances of conceiving.And the singer said recently that her pregnancy has been pretty normal so far.She explained: 'The first two months I really felt the classical symptoms - the morning sickness, hot flashes, nausea.'In a certain way, that reassured me, like a sign that my pregnancy was progressing. Now, everything is falling into place. I have a little belly.'It was reported Celine was pregnant last August, but her spokeperson confirmed in November 2009 that the pregnancy had failed.The My Heart Will Go On singer has never made a secret of her desire to extend her family, and was always planning to fall pregnant following her run of shows in Las Vegas last year.But René's battle with cancer cast doubt over whether the couple would have more children of their own.Despite the upcoming birth, Celine is still scheduled to return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2011.She'll perform a series of concerts there over the next three years.The thigh's the limit for Celine Dion who shows off her svelte legs in a daring slit gown for performance at Jazz festival By UPDATED:09:29 GMT, 30 January 2012She's known for her incredible vocals, but Celine Dion may have attracted just as much attention for her long slim legs last night. The 43-year-old Canadian singer showed off her perfect pins in a stunning silver gown with a daring split to the thigh as she performed in Trelawny, Jamaica.Teamed with tumbling brown curls, the clinging gown showed off her trim figure, 14 months after she gave birth to twins. The singer looked absolutely fabulous and far younger than her years as she rocked the stage at Greenfield Stadium. She clenched her fist and acknowledged the jazz band playing behind her as she put in her usual powerful performance. The children's father is Celine's husband and manager, Rene Angelil and they have an older son, René-Charles, 10.Last year, Oprah Winfrey'sOWN Network aired a primetime special featuring an intimate look atthe musical icon's private life. Celine:3 Boys and a New Show took viewers behind-the-scenes as Celine worked on her Las Vegas comeback show, Celine, and juggled being an international superstar with her responsibilities to her family. The programme also revealed the artist tending to her twins, helping her eldest son with his homework and spendingquality time with her husband.Dionreturned to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in March last year with hernew show Celine. The three-year residency promises demanding seventy performances a year and features Dion's greatest hits and a selection of music from classic Hollywood films. Is that really the best colour for small children? Celine Dion shows off her miracle twins... in her big white homeBy UPDATED:11:04 GMT, 24 February 2011Any parent knows that curious toddlers and anything white are not the best combination.And while Celine Dion's babies are not at the walking and grabbing stage just yet, she may soon come to rethink her colour scheme in her home.During an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show, the Canadian singer showed some candid footage of her and husband Rene Angelil with their four-month-old twin boys Eddy and Nelson.Filmed at her mansion on Jupiter Island in Florida, the video showed her walking round the brand new interiors ofthe $20million home.But what was glaringly obvious to observers was the white decor - on the walls, the floors, and even the furniture - not the most suitable colour for small children.Celine, 42, appeared on the queen of chat's show to promoting her new documentary movie, Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World. And she brought with her some home movies, as she opened the doors of her home to and allowed cameras to capture some of the most intimate moments of her life.The footage included shots of her house, the first time the public has been this close since work was completed last summer.At the time were were treated to some bird-eye views of the sprawling estate, but this time shots of the exteriors were shown closer up. Withher usually perfectly coiffed hair pulled back in a ponytail, the singer joins her husband of 16 years, Rene Angelil, for a group snuggle with the boys.The couple, who have been together since 1987, also have a ten-year-old son, Rene-Charles. Just this week the singer returned to Las Vegas in preparation to start her renewed three year stint at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. She is returning to the residency for seventy shows a year starting on March 15 and has moved her entire family to the Nevada city for the duration. The mother of all comebacks: Celine Dion shows off her four-month-old twins as she gets back to work in Las Vegas By UPDATED:19:49 GMT, 17 February 2011With her twin sons less than four months old, Celine Dion could be expected to be relaxing at home enjoying her maternity leave.But the mother-of-three got back to work today as she arrived in Las Vegas to begin rehearsals for her high-profile three-year residency at Caesars Palace. Joining her was her family, with the singer and husband and manager Rene Angelil showing off bouncing babies Eddy and Nelson as they received a gala welcome. The boys, wearing matching blue baby grows and white hats, were cradled in their parents arms as they posed on the steps of the casino.Their big brother, nine-year-old Rene Charles, was also with his family.French-Canadian star Celine will now begin rehearsals for her new show, set to debut on March 15 at The Colosseum.But despite her busy work schedule, Celine is not planning on taking a back seat in raising her sons. 'I am changing diapers and breastfeeding and that's something where no one can take my place,' she told French GALA magazine last month.'It's tiring but an intense joy,' shesaid. 'I take things day by day. That's the secret to me. In any case, breastfeeding is more difficult if you are stressed.'I didn't have these children to not take care of them, to give myself to them 200 - 300 per cent.' Celine and her husband fought for years to have a family. The singer underwent IVF to conceive her first son, then a further six failed attempts before finally falling pregnant with triplets.But one baby did not survive, dying early in pregnancy. Celine Dion takes to the stage in thigh-high bondage style shoes By UPDATED:11:40 GMT, 23 October 2008 She's certainly no rock rebel, but Celine Dion appeared to be paying just a little nod to bondage style fashion.The Quebec born singer took to the stage in a pair of high-heeled shoes with straps which criss-crossed right to the top of her thighs. Strapped up: Celine Dion goes for an outrageous bondage-style look in a pair of thigh-high buckled sandals at her concert in Vancouver last night It was a look which looked more suitable for the boudoir, as she paired the white strappy shoes with a thigh-skimming white minidress, and huge diamonds which gave the singer a rather racy look .The 40-year-old singer is the latest celebrity to embrace the trend for 'extreme heels', which was kick-started by actress Gwyneth Paltrow.But even she would most likely have baulked at Celine's outré footwear.Celine embraced the celebrity trend for extreme shoes with her bondage style footwearCeline performed in the outrageous outfit in her native Canada as part of her comeback Taking Chances World Tour.Clearly the singer was taking no chances herself, as last year she was pictured in Las Vegas with what looked like suspiciously hairy legs. Meanwhile, the five-time Grammy winner will join the Foo Fighters, and Jennifer Aniston's boyfriend John Mayer at the The Grammy Nominations Concert Live: Countdown To Music's Biggest Night' on December 3 in Los Angeles. The happiest twins on earth! Celine Dion treats her birthday boys to a lavish Disney party at her Florida mansion By UPDATED:20:08 GMT, 11 November 2011DisneyWorld is only a few hours up the road, but mega star Céline Dions twins had their dreams come true when Disney came to them for their first birthday party. Nelson and Eddy Angélil, Dions fraternal twin sons with husband and manager René Angélil, celebrated the milestone with a visit from Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck on Oct. 23 at their home on Jupiter Island, Florida.The boys looked adorable in their matching outfits and neck ties as they posed with their 10-year-old brother René-Charles and their proud, beaming parents.Diva Dion, 43, who wore a tuxedo-style blouse and black skirt, said of the party: 'I realised I had icing on my face, that my bun was a mess and that I hadno makeup on. I put a little concealer, a little mascara... I put on a short skirt anda shirt and on with the show!'Seventy guests were invited to the celebration at the sprawling, beach-side mansion. Invitees included close family and the doctors who helped Celine to conceive the twins. Dion told French Canadian magazine 7 Jours: 'We had all of the people who have helped us around us. We took the opportunity to say thank you and to be together.'The boys later changed into matching yellow Mickey Mouse T-shirts and each enjoyed their own cake in the shape of iconic cartoon character made by Dion herself. She made the same cake for Rene Charles on his first birthday. The event was catered, but Dion said to the chef: 'You can do the most beautiful cake in the world for the guests. But the two cakes for children, I will do that! 'Celine Dion finally whittles down list of '15,000 names' to just two for her twin boys By UPDATED:14:13 GMT, 29 October 2010 Five days after their arrival, Celine Dion has finally settled on names for her twin boys. The singer, who said earlier this week that she'd considered 'nearly 15,000 names and nothing has stuck', has called the newborns Nelson and Eddy.Celine and husband René Angelil took inspiration from Nelson Mandela, whom the 42-year-old met in 2008 while on tour in South Africa.'René said that in just the few minutes they were able to spend with him, they were impressed by thehuman being he is,' a spokesperson for the couple said.Eddy is named after Eddy Marnay, who produced the singer's first five records.'He was like a father to her,' the spokesperson adds. 'Eddy is a major influence in both Céline and René's lives.'Celine told French magazine Gala that the couple's 9-year-old son René-Charles had a say in the decision.'Because René-Charles goes to school in the United States, hes suggested English first names,' she says. 'My mother, on the other hand, has been hinting about very French first names and were going a little bit crazy trying to decide.'The star, who is said to have been released from hospital, also said she is 'brimming with energy.''I dont care about my figure,' she adds. 'I never have and Im not worried. In any case, Im not going on any diet because I want to breastfeed Besides I have a really good stylist and if its a questionof going up a dress size or two - well, so be it.'So it was an emotional moment when Celine Dion gave birth to twin boys at the weekend.Celine gave birth to the fraternal twins on Saturday at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.The couple had been trying to conceive for years and underwent six attempts at IVF in 12 months. Celine Dion reveals she was carrying triplets before losing a baby early in pregnancyBy UPDATED:17:48 GMT, 30 October 2010Celine Dion, who gave birth to twins earlier this month, has revealed she was originally carrying triplets.The 42-year-old lost one of her babies early in the pregnancy before giving birth to premature but healthy fraternal boys Eddy and Nelson on Saturday.The singer and her husband Rene Angelil talked about their heartache in an interview with a French news station. 'He chose to let go to give space to his brothers to grow,' she explained.The couple have been open about their long struggle to conceive and underwent six attempts at IVF in 12 months. Meanwhile, Celine settled on names for her twins yesterday after considering 'nearly 15,000 names.The couple took inspiration from Nelson Mandela, whom the 42-year-old met in 2008 while on tour in South Africa.'René said that in just the few minutes they were able to spend with him, they were impressed by the human being he is,' a spokesperson for the couple said.Eddy is named after Eddy Marnay, who produced the singer's first five records.'He was like a father to her,' the spokesperson adds. 'Eddy is a major influence in both Céline and René's lives.'Celine told French magazine Gala that the couple's 9-year-old son René-Charles had a say in the decision.'Because René-Charles goes to school in the United States, hes suggested English first names,' she says.'My mother, on the other hand, has been hinting about very French first names and were going a little bit crazy trying to decide.'The star, who is said to have been released from hospital, also said she is 'brimming with energy.' 'Thrilled' Celine Dion welcomes healthy twin boys after Caesarean sectionBy UPDATED:07:59 GMT, 25 October 2010'Thrilled' Canadian singer Celine Dion is the proud mother of healthy twin baby boys after giving birth in Florida.The 42-year-old gave birth to her 5lbs4 and 5lbs10 sons via Caesarean section on Friday. They join nine-year-old Rene Charles who, like his twin brothers, was conceived via IVF.'Celine, René [her husband Angelil] and their son René-Charles are thrilled,' her spokesman said.After a week of bed rest Celine was wheeled into an operating room at St Mary's Medical Centre, West Palm Beach at about 12.30pm on Saturday to deliver the twins by Caesarean.The performer's presence at the hospital has sparked controversy after it emerged that another pregnant woman was moved from her room in order to make way for her early arrival. Celine Dion makes a triumphant return to the stage in shimmering mini-dress five months after giving birth to twinsBy UPDATED:09:25 GMT, 17 March 2011Celine Dion has returned to the Las Vegas stage in a parade of sparkly dresses that included a black number with a thigh-hit slits and gold sparkly mini-dress that looks like it was swiped from Beyoncé's closet.The French-Canadian star, 42, who delivered twin sons Nelson and Eddy in October, sang the romantic opuses that made her an international star, including My Heart Will Go On and It's All Coming Back to Me Now, in her encore performance Tuesday at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. 'Was that neat or what?' Dion told the concert hall of more than 4,000 people as a hologram of Wonder faded from the stage. The new three-year production pays tribute to Old Hollywood, with a 31-person orchestra dressing the stage,including an entourage of guitarists, back-up singers, drummers and a pianist, all clad in black tuxedos and gowns.Gone are the Cirque du Soleil-style dancers and theatrics that saw Dion harnessed to a cable and flown in the air during her previous, five-year stint at the Colosseum that endedin 2007.'From Michael Jackson to James Bond to 'Mr. Paganini,' it's so different, and it's so classy, and it's fun,'Dion said before the show. 'Different flavor. Different colors of music.'She performed songs made famous by Jackson, Billy Joel and Ella Fitzgerald. There was also a mod homage to James Bond and a 'Smooth Criminal' jam session.A chandelier twinkled above the stageduring a performance of 'Because You Loved Me,' smoke licked at Dion's heels during 'All by Myself,' and in a haunting mid-concert rendition ofJacques Brel's 'Ne Me Quitte Pas,' Dion tearfully contemplated the lossof a lover in her native French.The concert hall swelled at the emotion. Women cried, cheered on their feet and wiped their eyes dry.Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner said executives initially questioned reopening the show amid Nevada's 14.2 percent unemployment, the highest in the nation. Caesars lost $831.1 million last year, or roughly $3.5 million more than its netincome in 2009.In comparison, the unemployment rate in Nevada was 5.2 percent in 2003, when Dion's first stint, 'A New Day,'opened in Las Vegas.Despite the recession since, 'people still want to see the big stars get on the stage and sing their hits,' Selesner said.For the opening performance, Dion wore a bedazzled white strapless gown and belted out Journey's 'Open Arms' on a stage dressed in sheer curtains. As she approaching the booming chorus, the curtains dropped to reveal rows of musicians across the stage.Later in the show, a video showed images of her oldest son blowing out his birthday candles, of the twins being baptized at a Las Vegas church, and performances by a young Dion at the dawn of her career.She donned seven outfits, most covered in glittery details, during the nearly two-hour journey through her greatest hits.Dion also performed 'Man in the Mirror' in a memorial to the belated Jackson, a longtime musical influence. She said he attended a performance of 'A New Day,' then probed her about the experience.'He was probably interested in cominghere and performing here,' Dion said. 'I really wanted to kind of sing afew of his songs to tell people how big of a loss that is for him to not be here any longer.'Dion was originally expected to starther new show at Caesars in June 2010, but five failed in-vitro fertilization attempts delayed those plans. She delivered twin sons Nelson and Eddy in October, and began rehearsing in January as she continued to breastfeed the babies and care for her 10-year-old son withthe help of her mother, sister and a nanny.In that time, Dion also squeezed in a performance at the 83rd Academy Awards last month.'I didn't think I would be ready after this pregnancy, but everything is smoother than I thought,' said Dion, who is living with her brood at Caesars while a nursery is added to her lakeside home outside Las Vegas.Before she left Caesars to launch a world tour in 2008, 'A New Day' grossed more than $400 million over five years.Caesars spent $95 million to build the Colosseum for Dion in 2003, complete with a humidifier to protect her voice. The show opened to bad reviews, but was a commercial triumph.The new show is poised to become another hit, Selesner said. Ticket purchases have so far exceeded the pace of sales for 'A New Day,' and executives expect Dion to drive convention business, room rentals, travel to Las Vegas, room rates and restaurant sales.Dion said she tries not to dwell on the tall expectations.'I want people to come and not feel disappointed. That's my most important job,' said Dion. 'I personally don't think I have anything to do with the economy.' Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Usher among stars confirmed for Whitney Houston tribute concert By PUBLISHED:13:02 GMT, 28 September 2012 UPDATED:15:18 GMT, 28 September 2012Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Usher are among the stars who have been confirmed for a Whitney Houston tribute concert.The trio will join other famous faces to honour the late singer, who passed away in February this year.The one-hour We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston concert will be taped in Los Angeles on October 11th and will alsofeature interviews and footage with the late singer, as well as artistssharing their memories of her.The televised special will coincide with the November 13th release of a compilation album, I Will Always Love You - The Best of Whitney Houston, featuring 16 of Houston's best-known hits and two previously unreleased songs, including a new duet of I Look To You with R. Kelly,her record label RCA said.In addition to the concert, it was announced yesterday that Lifetime television network would be airing a new series called The Houstons: On Our Own.The series, to start on October 17th, documents Houston's 19-year-olddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, sister-in-law and former manager Pat Houston and mother Cissy, as they deal with life after the singer's death.The concert won't be the first time that Jennifer has paid tribute to Whitney.She also performed a heartfelt song at the Grammy Awards shortly after Houston's tragic passing. And speaking previously about her love for Houston, Jennifer said: 'I admired her style, her look, and above all else, her voice and technique.'Meanwhile, Celine used Whitney's death as a warning to other young music stars in a recent interviews.She told W magazine: 'Ive always been scared of the industry. Why? 'Because I think its a place here anything is possible. Its a "yes" place. Especially if you have success.'l was just in shock when Whitneys life had been taken because of drugs. 'Its a big loss for all of us.'Showbiz Roundup. Reunions galore! RPatz KStew + 'Spice Girls'Celine Dion's a smooth operator again after ditching the hairy legs lookLast updated at 11:04 19 March 2008Singer Celine Dion has clearly recovered from her less thansmooth on-stage moment.Last night the singer appeared in Seoul, South Korea, with asmooth pair of fur-free legs, following last weeks fur-pas,when she appeared on-stage looking decidedly hairy.Scroll down for more...Celine appeared to have taken care of all her grooming details,including waxing her thighs.And there was no repeat of the furry incident as thesmooth-skinned French-Canadian star took to the stage lookingcompletely fuzz-free.Celines ultra-groomed look was in comparison to her recentappearance in Toyko, when the My Heart Will Go On singer took tothe stage having clearly forgotten to wax her her upper legs.Scroll down for more...The severe back lighting revealed their rather hairy state tothe world as she showed off her enviable pins in a mini-dress.But despite the grooming oversight, she succeeded in wowing thecrowd with a typically dazzling performance.The French Canadian star recently started out on an extensiveworld tour after wrapping her five-year stint at the CaesarsPalace, Las Vegas in December.During her time in Vegas, her show A New Day, which opened inMarch 2003, grossed more than 200million.But the star, who turns 40 later this month, hasnt tired ofperforming, and hit the road again with her husband Rene Angelil,and her 7-year-old son, Rene Charles, in tow.It follows the November release of her latest album TakingChances.Share this article: 'Yes, I killed my babies': Mother who murdered six newborns sentenced to 15 years in jailBy UPDATED:11:30 GMT, 19 March 2010A serial killer mother has been jailed for 15 years for murdering six of her newborn children in as many years and hiding their tiny corpses in a cellar.In one of the worst infanticide cases in history, 38-year-old Frenchwoman Celine Lesage strangled two of her children with a cord and choked four others by placing her finger in their mouths.Yes, I killed the babies, she said during cross examination at La Manche Correctional court in Cherbourg, Normandy, yesterday.With her voice quivering, and in floods of tears, she said: I did it but I can't explain it why I did it.Each of the babies had been delivered 'in secret' between August 2000 and September 2007, with Lesage 'putting the babies and their dirty clothes neatly in a sealed plastic bag and hiding them'.Prosecutors who described her as a serial killer - had sought a 16-year prison sentence for Lesage with no early release before half the term was served, but accepted 15. Lesage was arrested in 2007 after her partner at the time, Luc Margueritte, discovered the tiny corpses decomposing in plastic garbage bags in the basement of their apartment building in Valognes, south of Cherbourg. He was the father of the last newborn and a prosecution witness in the case.Veronique Carre, defending, said: 'The facts of the case are not in dispute, but there is medical and psychological evidence to consider.Prosecutor Michel Garrandaux told the court: 'Her attitude waswholly ambivalent. On the one hand she expressed her desire to havechildren, and then she refused to keep them.'He said Lesage - a 'modest and otherwise ordinary housewife' who hasas surviving son aged 14 who was taken into care after her arrest - had'no idea' why she had effectively turned into a serial killer.Among those in the public gallery was Pascal Catherine, her39-year-old former boyfriend who fathered the first five murderedchildren.He was originally arrested for not reporting a crime and hiding thecorpses, before his lawyers successfully argued he had thought thebabies had been still born or had been aborted.Lesage and Mr Catherine split up in the spring of 2006 after 15 years living as common law man and wife.Her horrific secret was uncovered a year later, on October 19, 2007, when a new boyfriend was taken to the decaying corpses by Lesage's teenage son.Mr Garrandaux said: 'He was led to the cellar by the terrible smell of decomposing corpses and found them wrapped up in their bags.'Gendarmes were called and Lesage admitted killing all her newborn children, but claimed diminished responsibility.She told police that she had 'absolutely no explanation' for what she had done and was placed on remand in the nearby city of Caen, Normandy.Last year, another French mother Veronique Courjault was jailed for eight years for killing three babies.She was deemed to be suffering from severe psychological problems, which meant she was in denial about being pregnant.Year of dental bling: Veneered, whiter-than-white teeth are everywhere, but they can leave a very bad taste in the mouth By UPDATED:17:04 GMT, 9 January 2012Something really strange took place in 2011. Out there on Planet Showbiz, on the wilder shores by the Land of Fame, something very, very weird happened to celebrity teeth. Like Pinocchios nose, Jacks beanstalk and the euro crisis, they kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. From Christine Bleakley to Coleen Rooney; from the entire cast of The Only Way Is Essex, to Desperate Scousewives and any other reality show you care to mention. Just take a look. Theres also Sharon Osbourne, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Simon Cowell and Kate Beckinsale to the shiny pairs of Posh Becks, X Factor judges Tulisa and Kelly Rowland, and reality stars Chantelle and Alex Reid and many more pictured here. Each and every one of them with the kind of pimped-up, piranha-toothed, white-out dazzler of a grin that is the stuff of nightmares. What is going on? Obviously, a little bit of cosmetic dentistry is nothing new. The pearlescent, day-glo delights of the average Hollywood smile have been with us for a while. A little tweak here, a little judicious filing there and ting! Starlets gnashers were shown at their very best.Yet when did it become de rigueur, even covetable, for celebrity teeth to become so downright huge? So white? Not to mention so uniform and unnatural-looking? We are now in the age of the molar ice cap, where great curves of snow-white plastic teeth are the order of the day.Today, slebs just love to have upper and lower horseshoes of monumental, blinging clackers packed so tightly into the gums that they can barely shut their mouths properly.In this, the year of the veneer, teeth have become over-bleached, over-laminated, oversized and have taken root over here.The slavish pursuit of a kind of highly unnatural dental flawlessness is what everyone from reality wannabe to WAG to movie star seems to want. That might be a worthwhile dental aim if the end results werent quite so extreme and freakish.Any charming or natural little dental imperfections are bulldozed out, replaced by a barrage of crowns, caps, veneers where they are literally laminated with porcelain or plastic covers bleaches and holy molar bling. What in the name of horsey smiles has happened?Ill tell you what has happened. They asked for a Hollywood smile but they got a Goodwood smile instead, sighs dentist Harry Shiers, suggesting most of this crowd end up looking more like winners in the 3.15 handicap than elegant stars. And he should know.Mr Shiers has run an eponymous Central London dental clinic for 15 years, where he specialises in aesthetic implant and reconstructive dentistry. Over time, his work has involved reconstructive dental surgery for those suffering from mouth cancer or who have, for example, been in car accidents. With his more day-to-day patients he performs the kind of cosmetic procedures that have indeed become popular with celebrities but with one big difference.Of course it is good to improve teeth and make them look better but in a natural, not an unnatural way, says Harry Shiers. My thing is to try to do cosmetic work that does not jump out at you.Many experts like him despair of a new generation of opportunistic dentists who set up flashy websites promising white-out Hollywood smiles to clients even if the laminating procedure that produces them might not be advisable.Yet so many people get swallowed up in celebrity culture whether they are celebrities or not and convince themselves that they need a particular look, that anyone with the most basic dental training can now find clients willing to pay for a royal flush of veneers.The problem, some experts believe, is that as cosmetic dentistry becomes more extreme and more people want it done, it will lead to dental problems in the future. For teeth are not designed for dentistry, intensive or otherwise. They are designed so that we can eat. Sometimes, with disease, dentists can do clever things. And sometimes dentists can do things minimally that are quite clever. However, trying to impose a totally new appearance to teeth without harming them in some way is impossible. If you want to make them bigger or whiter or brighter you have to file some of the tooth away in order to accommodate the veneer you are sticking on.As Harry Shiers says: Underneath the hard stuff is living tissue. You can only drill a tooth so many times before you compromise its vitality. Eventually, they start breaking or cracking. You are asking them to do something they are not meant to do. And if you are being invasive, there might well be a price to pay later.Well, try telling that to the cast of The Only Way Is Essex, who are among the worst offenders in the all-blinging tooth brigade. As they frequently tell each other on their show, looking nice costs money. But can anyone really afford to have a smile like this? Here, Harry inspects these celebrity photographs and gives them his tongue-in-cheek verdicts Cold-blooded vanity as skins become en vogue againBy ANDREA THOMPSONLast updated at 00:22 25 June 2007You may not realise it yet, but the ultimate fashion backlash isunder way. While most of us are queuing up to buy MS FairTrade T-shirts and Stella McCartney's latest "eco" range, a smallbut highly influential breed of shopper is determined to buck thetrend for all things ethical.According to fashion insiders, it was only a matter of time. Asone leading fashion editor puts it: "It no longer makes you uniqueto shop at People Tree. Wearing something highly controversial,verging on taboo, is what gets you noticed."The rare or exotic animal skin fits in perfectly with this newrationale and is having a serious fashion renaissance on catwalksand stores across Europe.At Paris Fashion Week this year, Christian Dior unveiled adazzling collection of python and ostrich skin coats with foxsleeves, while Calvin Klein's spring collection featured alligatorjackets, and Celine championed a white python skirt suit that wasmet with applause as it emerged on the runway.On the High Street, fashionistas are desperate to buy into thetrend. Jimmy Choo's snakeskin sandals and Ferragamo's spring/summercollection of alligator footwear have been a huge hit.Fashion bible Style.com has even made a pair of pythonplatforms, by designer Proenza Schouler, its top fashion pick,while Nike commemorated the 25th anniversary of its Air Force 1range this spring with a saltwater crocodile shoe - on sale in itsflagship stores around the world, including London - for1,400. Made from one of the most expensive and sought afterexotic skins, it immediately became a collector's item on Ebay.'Exotic skins are hot right now, there's a real buzz, sayslegendary designer Roberto Cavalli, whose creations have graced thebodies of the most beautiful women on the planet from Kate Moss toSharon Stone."I love to use reptile skins because it excites me to take amaterial that is seen as 'wild' and mix it with a look that shoutsglamour and sophistication. Exotic skin - alligator, crocodile andsnake - also gives the impression of being superluxurious andexpensive, a look women are into at the moment."The steadily increasing divide between the middle-class shopperand the superrich is evident on High Streets across Europe. Neverbefore has there been such a transparently two-tiered systemdictated by the huge income gap between the "haves" and the "havemillions".We are now in an age where one-bedroom flats in London's premierstreets top the 2million mark and wives think nothing ofblowing 5,000 of their husbands' 1million City bonuson the latest "It-bag".Is it really a surprise then, that the Italian-made Zaglianicrocodile skin handbag - which comes injected with Botox to keep itsoft - is this year's fashion must have?Joanna Jeffreyes, fashion manager at Harvey Nichols says: "Manyof our customers are looking for something new and aren't afraid tospend money on things they feel are their little secret. They wantsomething they won't see on anyone else."Back in the Forties and Fifties, crocodile and snakeskin bagsand shoes were the ultimate in luxury for millionaires andHollywood starlets. But with many reptiles close to extinction bythe Seventies they became deeply unfashionable.Today, a surge in super-rich internationals, from Russianoligarchs to Middle-Eastern oil tycoons with homes in Europe, hasmeant the desire for "status accessories" has never beenhigher."For men it's cars. For women it's bags, shoes and belts now,"says Roberto Cavalli. "A rich woman wants her bag to do thetalking. It's the most sophisticated way to say you have money.Exotic skin is the ultimate. Everyone knows it is expensive."But last week conservationists decided enough was enough. Onehundred and seventy one member countries of the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) held a 12-dayconference in Holland to consider how to tackle Europe andAmerica's collective thirst for exotic and increasingly endangeredskins and furs.Animal rights campaigners were quick to point to a silentbacklash against "politically correct clothes" that has gatheredincreasing momentum.Fur made a huge return to the catwalk last winter, but whilemany women still find the idea of killing baby minks or rabbits fortheir fur distasteful, they think nothing of buying a clutch bagmade from the skin of less-than-cuddly pythons.Yet all these animals are commonly skinned alive to protecttheir skins and it can take a crocodile more than two hours to dieafter its skin has been ripped off.Environmentalists fear that while top designers use animalsfarmed from legal stocks, it fuels popular demand for similar itemsin those who cannot get their hands on a designer version. Instead,they inevitably turn to the internet where less reputable outletsare hungry for business.Last week, the Mail was able to place orders for a number ofendangered items online from ivory jewellery to rare breedalligator handbags. There was no guarantee they did not come frompoachers hunting in the wild."In today's market where status accessories are everything,there is a growing niche of wealthy customers willing to pay up to15,000 for a single bag," says Yvonne Taylor, a campaignerfor PETA, (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) whichcounts Paul McCartney and Kim Basinger among its supporters."Many breeds of crocodile, alligator and other reptiles havebeen hunted to the brink of extinction. Sickeningly, the rarer theybecome as a result of poaching, the more desirable they are. Theknock-on effect is terrifying."Scroll down for more ...The International Foundation for Animal Welfare recently seizeda shipment containing thousands of handbags made from the skins ofthe endangered South American caiman reptile, bound for Europe.Between 2000 and 2005, it is estimated that 3.4 million lizard,2.9million crocodile and 3.4 million snake skins were imported intothe EU, mostly to make handbags and shoes.Billions of reptile skins are exported, imported, or smuggledevery year, and much of this trade is in contravention ofinternational agreements protecting endangered species.After weapons and drugs, traffic in live and dead exotic animalsis the third largest black market in the world. The animalsillegally hunted in the wild, and, increasingly legally farmed, arecoming from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Sri Lanka,India, China, and the Philippines. They are being shipped throughMexico, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan on their way to the largemanufacturing markets of the U.S., EU, Canada, and China."Demand makes poaching for wild animals a highly lucrativeactivity," says Robbie Marsland, director of InternationalFoundation for Animal Welfare. "And the effects go even furtherthan the animals themselves. It has devastating effects on fragileeco-systems."Hunters kill the strongest, fittest individuals, but these arethe ones most important to the survival of the group in the wild.The loss of a dominant male in many species will result in thekilling of that male's offspring by his replacement, so his healthygenes disappear."While most of the leading designers follow strict codes ensuringthe animal skins and fur they use comes from reputable sources andare legally farmed, the past decade has seen Gucci, Chanel, Fendiand Saks Fifth Avenue all receive fines for trading in crocodileskins that have turned out to be from illegal sources.Experts explain that it is difficult to monitor all aspects of atrade that covers several continents. Italy and France are thehighest importers, with fashion houses hand-finishing crocodile,alligator, lizard and snakeskins imported from Asia and labellingthem as made in their own.CITES is currently revising the international list of 30,000endangered species, everything from reptiles to wild dogs and cats,in a desperate bid to extend its protection to thousands moreanimals in countries such as China, India and parts of Africa,where poaching is rife.Last week represented a huge breakthrough when Ebay, the primarymarket place for sales in ivory from elephants already endangered -declared that there would be no more trade in elephant tusks acrossits international sites. This followed an investigation by theInternational Fund for Animal Welfare which revealed that 94 percent of elephant ivory for sale on Ebay was potentiallyillegal.Most animal welfare groups agree it is almost impossible to tellwhether skins have been farmed or poached from the wild. Criticssay that the move doesn't go far enough and products from severalendangered species are still available on the site, such ascrocodile, elephant, ostrich, snake and stingray."Environment ministers who met at the convention in The Haguethis week, know its vital to have the legal controls in place tolimit trade in endangered species," says Barry Gardiner, thegovernment minister for biodiversity."But the best legislation is no use without proper enforcement,so we need to track down and prosecute the international criminalgangs that are profiting at the expense of some of the rarestspecies on earth."However, campaigners say it starts with the fashion industry."If animal skins cease to be status symbols, then demand willplummet and consumers need not worry about checking the label tomake sure their garment has been farmed legally," says YvonneTaylor of PETA.Share this article: 'Titanic theme tune played in onboard restaurant as doomed cruise ship started to keel over', claim Swiss brothers By UPDATED:15:02 GMT, 18 January 2012Of all the stories to emerge from the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster, it's possibly the hardest to believe.The human bridge created by British dancer James Thomas and the bizarre antics of captain Francesco Schettino pale in comparison to the claims of two Swiss brothers.For they have revealed how the theme tune from the film Titanic was playing onboard as it struck rocks and started to keel over. They said survivors of the disaster were 'astonished' by the eerie coincidence which saw them listening to Celine Dion's hit My Heart Will Go On as the cruise ship began to founder.The song was made internationally famous in 1997 as the theme of James Camerons epic movie about the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet.The men said they were listening to My Heart Will Go On with passengers in a restaurant on board the ship when the accident happened.Yannic Sgaga, who escaped from the Costa Concordia with his brother Keven, said: 'Images from the film Titanic are more realistic than one might imagine.'He said the tune was 'stuck in my head' as most crew members did absolutely nothing to help them.He added: 'Besides kitchen staff, who helped, there were no other crew members.'Georg Linsi, who is also Swiss, told the Geneva paper La Tribune: 'The evacuation was a catastrophe within a catastrophe.'Never in my life have I seen such a display of incompetence, lack of awareness and irresponsibility.'When the boat started to lean to the left, we held onto the right side. Besides one young sailor, there was not a single crew member near the life boats who was able to organise the evacuation.'As the ship began to bank, he said 'hundreds of people were inside without information, with no indication of what to do.'There was so much panic when the boat was so steeply inclined that we had to walk on the walls. We remained inside for three hours before managing to get out, and were able to leave the ship via a flexible ladder and reached the a coast guard vessel.'The Titanic sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. A total of 1,517 people died. Country house chicby NATALIE THEOLast updated at 12:09 26 October 2006Tweed, trilbys and touseled hair. Get the country house chiclook that's suitable for city haunts or country jauntsBell sleeve tweed jacket 299, skirt 169,Nanette Lepore at Fenwick as before. Green shoes475, Jimmy Choo, 020 7823 1051. Purpletights 4.95, Aristoc at www.mytights.comBrown herringbone check dress 70, Rocha by JohnRocha for Debenhams, 020 7408 4444.Brown ruffle shirt 10, herringbone culottes 14,Matalan, 0845 330 3330. Felt hat with feathers440, Philip Treacy for James Purdey Sons, 020 7499 1801 or www.purdey.com. Brown boots730, Celine, 020 7297 4999. Necklace49, Fenwick, 020 7629 9161.Black tweed jacket 2,225, Chanel, 0207493 5040. Blue silk shirt 99, Gerard Darel,necklace 49, both Fenwick as before. Cravat96, Celine as before. Tweed hat 190,Philip Treacy for James Purdey as before. Greytweed culottes, 99 Nanette Lepore asbefore.Brown check jacket 39.50, Marks Spencer, 0845 302 1234. Prince of Wales check shorts16, Jeff Co @ Matalan as before.Tweed flatcap 59, Grevi at Fenwick asbefore. 99 Nanette Lepore as before.Brown tweed jacket and skirt suit 2,100,Valentino, 020 7235 5855. Green shoes 475,Jimmy Choo as before. Purple tights 4.95,Aristoc as before.Share this article: DOLLY PARTON 1978 'She's like a ruff led bedspread - too many yards of Dolly poured into too few inches of fabric' (left) PRINCESS DIANA 1982 'From a young, independent fresh look, to tacky, dowdy style' (above right) OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN 1983 'From toes to nose, a shredded tragedy' (left) CHER 1984 'A plucked cockatoo who has set femininity back at least 20 years' (above right) JOAN COLLINS 1985 'A Dynasty cartoon clone' SARAH FERGUSON 1988 'The palace milkmaid and a fashion frump' (left) SINEAD O'CONNOR 1990 'Nothing compares to the bald-headed banshee of MTV. A New Age nightmare!' (above right) MADONNA 1992 'The bare-bottomed bore of Babylon' (left) GLENN CLOSE 1996 'Forget the Dalmatians - Glenn should be starring in 101 Fashion Frustrations. It's doggone depressing' (above right) THE SPICE GIRLS 1997 'Five candy-coloured beauties trapped in fashion waste - the only spices on the planet that have no taste' ALEX KINGSTON 1998 ' 'She mixed, she matched . . . she missed' (left) BRITNEY SPEARS 1999 'This songbird is better heard than seen, wearing fashion flops unfit for even a bubblegum queen' (above right) KATE WINSLET 1998 'From gaudy gowns to creepy combat boots, Kate's a fashion panic. In fact, her whole wardrobe should have gone down with the Titanic' THE QUEEN 1999 'Was she the palace Christmas tree or just a royal clown?'(left) ELIZABETH HURLEY 2000 'Poor Liz, her barely-there fashion bombs have hit a sour note. A word of advice: Buy a coat!' (above right) THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL 2006 'In feathered hats that were once the rage, she resembles a parakeet from the Jurassic age. A royal wreck' (left) EVA GREEN 2007 'Stuck in neon nightmares not fit for the sane. Fashion this loud could give Bond a migraine!' (above right) AMY WINEHOUSE 2007 'Exploding beehives above . . . tacky polka-dots below . . . she's part 50s car-hop horror' (left)VICTORIA BECKHAM 2007 'In one skinny-mini monstrosity after another, pouty Posh can really wreck-em' (above right)Real lives: A writer reflects on years of guilt after accidentally killing a girlBy UPDATED:20:01 GMT, 12 February 2011 Nearly 23 years ago, Darin Strauss (right) experienced every drivers worst nightmare when he accidentally killed a 16-year-old girl who swerved in front of his car on her bicycle. His guilt, and the thought of her life unlived, has haunted him ever since Half my life ago, I killed a girl. I had just turned 18, and when you drive in new post-adolescence, you drive with friends. It was May 1988. Up ahead, a pair of tiny cyclists bent over their handlebars. Bare legs pedalling under a long sky. I think I fiddled with the radio. Then one of the bike riders did something. After a wobble or two, the cyclist eased a wheel into the road. Dark blonde hair appeared very clearly in my windscreen. Celine, the girl on the bike, was 16 and always will be 16. And I knew her. She went to my school.My father arrived. Someone must have called him. It was the sight of my dad that day, the sadness on his face, that turned this real, finally. All this had happened to me; I had done this. He arrived, emotion could flow. In his hug I burst into tears, as I never had before and havent since. So few of our days contain actions that are irrevocable. The police, Celines biking companion, and the recollection of five cars worth of eyewitnesses all conspired to declare me blameless. But how could anyone be so certain? If I hadnt been with my friends maybe I would have focused on Celine, or driven slower. Or honked sooner. Any of ten different actions on my part might have led to an alternative ending. Maybe I hadnt felt the right amount of alarm, just before the girl jumped across two lanes.I returned to school a week after the accident. I remember my name being called in class, the feel of pause and hush in the room, like deer scenting something strange. Students in hallways passed looks back and forth, telling one another: hey, go on tiptoes around a griever like this. Or they just shunned me quickened their pace, hid their heads in open lockers. My father and I went to the funeral alone. At the church door my heart was a live bird nailed to my chest. Selfishness was thrumming: dont open the door, just take off! Maybe it only seems like the right thing to do. Mine is the last face her parents and friends want to see. I bowed and averted the crowd. This was and remains the hardest thing Ive ever had to do. An old man clamped his eyes on me as if he wanted to cut out my heart. Imagine outliving not only your children, but your grandchildren. Celines father, a big man, came to me with a surprisingly light step. He didnt know what to do with his face. In the long moment before he found words, and as he took my hand, he settled on an expression, a hard-worn glint of: I will be friendlier than you have any right to expect me to be. Celines mother came to join us. I think she attempted a smile but not a single muscle obeyed.I know it was not your fault, Darin. They all tell me it was not your fault. She swallowed. But I want you to remember something. Whatever you do in your life you have to do it twice as well now. Her voice went dim. Because you are living it for two people. Can you promise me, Darin?I nodded quickly. I looked away and then back again. She was still looking at me. Why are you the one who is still alive, her eyes seemed to be saying?At college I took solace in maths: youre doing 40 and the girl with the bicycle cuts ten feet in front of you impact will arrive in something like 700 milliseconds. Human perception time not only to see a hazard, but to understand one as such is generally accepted to saw off some 220 milliseconds. Next, the most neutral job of getting foot to brake demanded another 500 milliseconds. It seemed I was exculpated by 20 milliseconds.The moments before the crash became a kind of VHS tape, overplayed, the sound wobbly until I didnt try to remember at all. Id be doing something mundane like taking a can out of the fridge and as my fingers closed around the damp, solid aluminium, I would think: Celine will never feel a can in her grip again.I took a Death and Dying course. The graduate student who ran this touchy-feely seminar urged me to check out Celines side of things. I wrote letters, rooted out old phone numbers. I learned that Celine had become a born-again Christian in the months before her death. I discovered that Celine had written in her diary, just before the crash: Today I realised that I am going to die. They were just eight words but I had already grabbed them for dear life. Celine, I decided, had died on purpose. Thats why she had turned right in front of my car. For me, this hypothetically suicidal diary entry settled it.The moments before the crash became a kind of VHS tape, overplayed, the sound wobblyMy accident was the deepest part of my life, and the second deepest was hiding it. This meant certain extra steps. Never introducing school friends to new friends. Never taking anyone home. On dates, Id have to wonder, When do I tell her? Can I tell her? The answers were nearly always never and no. I did spill the story to a few women those who, judging by their own hesitations, seemed to have scraped through some trouble of their own. But then I hated the reaction. They grew tender. They forgave. I saw them really begin to watch me. The declaration always made me feel that I had used Celines death to obtain gentler treatment.As I moved into my late 20s, I realised Id absorbed Celines mothers request. When I thought about her now, it was about trying to live well enough for two, with enough achievements for us both. Celine herself started coming with me, on job interviews, dates, everywhere. I thought of her each time I drove past a cyclist. Id later think of Celine at my wedding and when my wife told me she was pregnant. Name any experience and its a good bet that Ive thought of Celine while experiencing it.During the worst of this I was alone. Then I met my wife. I want to tell you something, I said to the woman I would ultimately marry. Its probably a testament to how Susannah took the news that I cant actually remember what she said. What I can picture is her look. The rational eyes, the quiet crimp to the brow, the sympathy flaming her cheek. She shook her head at moments of the story. I looked down when I came to parts I wasnt sure I was expressing, or even feeling honestly. Every time I looked back, her youre-doing-great eyes were still on mine.She said something like, It must be with you all the time, even now, and because this was stress free, I could follow my thoughts on their own steady glide.Yeah, I said. Its pretty terrible.I cant even imagine, she replied, and itd probably be distasteful to pretend to try.Then we just went on with our relationship. Another bridge: going from not telling someone to having that moment behind me. Until now, in every relationship, it had always been ahead of me. And then the relationship would vanish. This was the first time I had seen the other side of the bridge, and there was a person beside me.Four years later and I am awake, waiting for the next day to roll in. Whats on your mind? she asked.Wed just moved in together. Id climbed out of bed, walked to the kitchen. How often do you think about it, the car crash?Probably less than once a day, I said. I dont know. The accident still turned me shy. Once a week maybe. Thats a lot less than I used to think about it.I think, she said, dropping into a seat at the table, we need to discuss it. Really honey, have you thought of therapy? Its like survivors guilt. Darin, what about talking to someone?I waved her off with a gesture that means phooey. Shed heard about my day with the shrink, that rough, wet afternoon after the accident.My accident was the deepest part of my life, and the second deepest was hiding itI really question your decision not to try, she added, in a darker voice. She lifted her eyebrows to say that she was looking for some sort of response. My brows frowned out an answer: I have no response because your ideas unwelcome. I crumpled back in my chair, distractedly, rudely. I dont know, I said in a mock-tired voice. Why would you push this? But I knew what she was saying: if you choose not to try therapy, Ill still be here for you but you have to recognise that this isnt your issue alone any more. Thats why I began to write about Celine. I finally got my bravery up, I finally looked hard through the window of memory, a neat square cut into the years.Are you nervous? Susannah asked, dropping her eyes.My grip on the steering wheel tightened. Yeah, a little.I fixed my gaze on the windscreen. It was ice-crusted; this was February. Id been trying to anticipate and then solemnise each brief hill as we climbed it, and all the grassy clearings we passed. This was a strip of road I hadnt seen for more than half a life.Our twin sons were six months old and fuzzy-headed. They sat babbling to each other in the back of our Honda. There were cars everywhere, people who drove this road every day. The sad thing was not that they had no idea. It was that it wouldnt have mattered to them if they had. Minutes later I was outside the car, putting my hand up to oncoming traffic and jogging across the pavement alone. And here I stood, folding my arms for warmth, on crunching grass the spot where it had happened. Or my approximation of that spot. If Celine lived anywhere, it was here. I spent a long time looking around, taking shallow breaths. The wind lifted the slender grass shoots every so often, ruffling what seemed like a field of tiny bobbing heads. Why had Celine swerved all that way over two lanes? Maybe she had been startled by a noise. Or a bee had gone after her hand.Maybe I could have done 50 things to avoid the accident. Left the car in the garage that day. Been alone, not talking to friends. But I did all those things, and Celine hadnt done the many things she could have to avoid the accident either. Regret doesnt budge things; it seems crazy that the force of all that human want cant amend a moment, cant even stir a pebble.There was nothing profound about feeling only sad. My eyes were dry. I couldnt do what Celines mother had commanded me to do. I learned to see the accident the way a painter sees a picture up close, dots of circumstance; step away, an image, stuck and clear. When Celine wrote, Today I realised I am going to die, theres a good chance she meant only that shed come to understand that she would in the future, when all of us are quietly smudged from the blackboard, one by one die someday.This is an edited extract from Half a Life by Darin Strauss, which will be published on Thursday (Beautiful Books, £14.99). To order a copy for £13.59 with free pp, contact the YOU Bookshop on 0845 155 0711, LIZ JONES MOANSThe planet can't cope with ANOTHER baby Beckham!By UPDATED:22:08 GMT, 12 January 2011Funny, outrageous and downright rude. Who's in Liz Jones' firing line this week? What has got on my nerves this week? Well, the fact that people dont listen. I say, quite clearly, A Coke please with no ice. And it comes jam packed with ice! Why do they do that? I hate ice: it is usually made from tap water, and is a hundred years old. Its dirty! I hate it when you just ring up someone to make a casual inquiry, such as: Ooh, when are you going to collect my recycling because I havenow added Christmas cards to that enormous festering pile?, and they say (when Ive already given them the name of the ­village): What is your postcode? I dont want to keep giving out my postcode, its exhausting! But what has really made me see red this week is the announcement that ­Victoria Beckham is expecting a fourth child, because she wants a girl. I honestly do not understand this mania to unleash yet another human being on an already overcrowded planet. Does Victoria not realise that very soon the population of Planet Earth will be unsustainable, estimated to be 10 billion by the year 2050? Where will she park her stretched SUV then? What about the nappy mountain? Add to that the fact that we will have to endure decades of the dreadful Beckham infant wearing bug-eyed shades, and making friends withSuri Cruise, and coming out with her own tiny range of unaffordable clothes. I dont think my nerves can stand it!CELEB BRAIN DEAD MOMENT OF THE WEEKBabies, babies, babies! All celebrities seem to talk about these days is having babies! This is Celine Dion: Some of the first days after I came home, I was a little outside myself. I had no appetite and that bothered me. My mother remarked that she noticed I had moments of lifelessness, but reassured me that this was entirely normal. One moment, tremendous happiness; the next, fatigue sets in, and I cried for no reason, and then that took care of itself. Its for things like that after having a baby that mothers really need emotional support. Moments of lifelessness! Ye godfathers. Having a child is normal! Its no big deal! The population of the Earth is 6,893,500,000! Do you think all those women had moments of lifelessness? No, they just got on with it.CRIME AGAINST FASHIONHere is Natalie Portman. She is beautiful. She is a vegan. She is young, and famous, and has integrity. She loves dogs. She clearly has taste, given the electric blue Jason Wu dress. She is pregnant, which seems to be a pre-requisite for being these days. But why the ostentatious exhibitionism? The sporting of the giant rock on her finger? The bigger the rock, the shorter the marriage, I say... David Cameron mistaken for gatecrasher in New York event and told to leave the stageBy JAMES TAPPERLast updated at 01:00 02 December 2007As leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron usuallyenjoys privileged access to high-profile events.But he faced an awkward moment when he was ordered off stage byan American TV producer after he was mistaken for a gatecrasher ata New York event last week.The Opposition leader was told bluntly "You're in my shot",after finding himself mingling with a group of celebrities who hadno idea who he was.They were attending the traditional ceremony to turn on theChristmas tree lights at the Rockefeller Centre.Mr Cameron had been invited on stage by the city's Mayor,Michael Bloomberg, for a photocall in front of the tree.The ceremony has been a major part of the Christmas tradition inthe US for the past 74 years and coverage of the event by TVnetwork NBC marks the start of the holiday season.This year's live extravaganza featured British pop star NatashaBedingfield, veteran crooner Tony Bennett and singer CelineDion.On Friday Mr Cameron had the rather less glamorous task ofswitching on the Christmas lights in his Oxfordshire constituencyof Witney, where he revealed his awkward episode with NBC.Scroll down for more...He told a group of constituents: "On Wednesday I was in New Yorkand was invited to see the Christmas lights being turned on in theRockefeller Centre."I felt slightly uncomfortable as there were severalhigh-profile American celebrities all stood around me but it wasobvious they didn't know who I was."Finally, after being stood there knowing no one for what seemedlike an eternity, someone from NBC asked me to leave the stage as Iwas in their shot. I don't think anyone from NBC had a clue who Iwas - probably thought I was gatecrashing."A constituent at the event said: "He seemed to think it was allvery funny. It's not surprising they didn't recognise him, as mostpeople here would have a hard time knowing who most Americanpoliticians are."Mr Cameron visited the US last week to meet President Bush in aneffort to re-establish the traditional ties between theConservatives and the Republican Party.Scroll down for more...Relations had been strained after former leader Michael Howardcriticised Tony Blair during the build-up to the Iraq war.A spokesman for Mr Cameron said: "He went for dinner with MayorBloomberg and the Mayor invited him to the light switching-onceremony. Mayor Bloomberg invited him on stage for a photocall andthen he stepped off the stage."Share this article: I dont have the need for this type of space': Denise Rich puts Manhattan's most expensive co-op on the market for $65m By UPDATED:02:13 GMT, 28 January 2012It has seven bedrooms, eleven baths and a space so large it once housed its very own ice skating rink.But that has not stopped eyebrows being raised after songwriter Denise Rich put her apartment on the market - for a cool $65million.The property has become the most expensive co-op in New York - no mean feat in itself - thanks to its opulent luxury and sheer size.At 12,000 square feet it is big enough that she once converted one of the three terraces into a professional grade figure skating rink for a party.Stevie Wonder once serenaded her on her baby grand piano and Celine Dion has dropped by for a session at the apartments recording studio.But after many happy years taking in the grand views of Central Park from the stunning Fifth Avenue duplex, Rich, who used to be married to controversial financier Marc Rich, has decided to downsize.The 67-year-old feels that the formaldining room for 22, the media room, billiards room, gym, library with afireplace and grand salon - on top of everything else - is too much forone woman.Now that her two daughters have moved to Europe - she lost a third to leukemia - she is looking for something more manageable.Rich told the New York Post: This apartment has been an incredible home.I dont have the need for this type of space. My greatest hope is that the next family loves and enjoys thishome as much as we did.Richsex-husband Marc was an international fugitive and was due to go on trial for alleged illegal oil deals before controversially being pardoned by former President Bill Clinton on his last day in office.Shehas a highly successful career in her own right and she has written lyrics for hits like Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Dion, Jessica Simpson, MarcAnthony and the international hit Candy by Mandy Moore.Theproperty listing for 785 Fifth Avenue details the three outdoor terraces including one on the rooftop with a capacity of 200.The property is designed by Emery Roth and has three kitchens, marble floors, 11' ceilings and custom mahogany doors.The dining room can seat 22 and is conveniently located next to the chefs kitchen.Allin all there are 19 rooms including the the Master Suite which comes with gas fireplace, two full en-suite bathrooms, sitting room and closets beyond imagination.In addition to the enormous cost, the new buyer will have to find $25,000 a year in service fees for the building.Thelisting says the apartment is the largest-ever offering of a Penthouseon Fifth Avenue is the epitome of luxury and grandeur.It adds that the home is truly incomparable.Despite the $65million price tag, Richs apartment is not the most expensive in all of New York.Thathonour belongs to the penthouse owned by Citigroup Chairman Sandy Weills at 15 Central Park West which went for $88million, the equivalent of $13,000 per square foot.Weill has bought the 6,744 triplex five years ago for $43.7million.Dita Von Teese swaps the stage for the mesmerising MaldivesBy UPDATED:18:22 GMT, 10 November 2009Many countries treat the subject of global warming as simply an interesting topic for debate. In the Maldives, rising sea levels are a more pressing concern. This chain of 26 atolls some 450 miles south-west of Sri Lanka is made up of 1,200 small islands of which only 200 are inhabited, and most of these accommodate luxury resort hotels. On all of these tiny spits of land, the sea is never far from view.The Maldives may have a growing profile as a holiday destination butthe islands' topographic profile is almost non-existent: according toclimate-change experts, the islands are under serious threat ofextinction if sea levels continue to rise.You have only to set foot on one of the many dots of earth that makeup this sublime necklace of islands to see that their slim land-mass isincapable of offering serious resistance to rising ocean levels. Lastmonth, in order to make this point as graphically as possible inadvance of December's Copenhagen climatechange conference, thepresident and government of the Maldives donned sub-aqua gear and helda well-publicised cabinet meeting underwater. Their bold effort tohighlight the country's serious plight was harshly dismissed in somequarters as a silly stunt.Perhaps it is the very fragility of the islands that accentuatestheir extraordinary, gentle beauty. Equally lovely are the Maldivianpeople, who are every bit as gentle and delightful as their serenecountry. The Maldives certainly struck a chord with me.I had been very busy starring in my show at the famous Crazy Horserevue in Paris, which is a city I have come to love. As a burlesqueartist, there are some countries that 'get' what I do and some thatdon't. France is a place that definitely understands me. They embraceshowgirls. American-born Josephine Baker, who famously danced nude inParis in the Twenties, was received so warmly - she was showered withawards by the French government - that she became a French citizen.I love Paris so much that I've just bought an apartment there, in alovely 17th Century building right in the middle of the city. I'm veryexcited about the chance to live abroad for the first time in my life.I love being in Paris more than anywhere else. There is something aboutthe beauty of the city that can't compare to anywhere else for me. Ifeel at ease and that somehow I really belong there.Immediately after my Paris run came to an end, I decided I needed atropical beach holiday. I developed a taste for the tropics last yearwhen I spent a few weeks in Thailand, hitting the destination spas in Phuket. It was a great experience. I loved being able to eat healthily, get massages, enjoy spa treatments and take yoga classes. When I take a break, I'm not interested in going out to party - I'm looking to have some quiet time out during which I aim to spiritually gather myself together.A lot of my friends kept telling me that I would love the Maldives and its spectacular resorts. I saw the brochure for Kanuhura with its fantastic over-water villas and I was promptly hooked. I was told that it attracted an eclectic clientele. Previous guests, for example, have included Celine Dion and Axl Rose, lead singer of the band Guns N' Roses. (Celine and Axl were not staying as a couple, one presumes.)And so I made my first visit to the Maldives. Kanuhura is located on the eastern rim of Lhaviyani Atoll, on its own private island. Like most Maldivian resorts, it offers laidback luxury, all provided with wonderful Maldivian charm.Simply getting to the resort is a fun adventure. I loved the 40-minute seaplane ride from Male airport to the resort. It was so exciting - one of the highlights of the trip. You get this fabulous, bird's-eye view of all the islands as you fly over them. I felt just like Peter Pan flying off to do battle with Captain Hook and the pirates.And then, suddenly, we were touching down on the calm sea next to Kanuhura.I was immediately struck by how much effort had gone into trying to retain the natural beauty of the island. Wherever possible, they have used only natural materials in the resort's construction.Kanuhura is surprisingly compact, measuring less than twothirds of a mile in length and about 200 yards wide. I knew immediately that it would suit me perfectly.When I'm on holiday, I'm looking to relax. People know me for always being dressed up, in high heels and wearing red lipstick.So I love it when, once in a while, I go somewhere I don't have to do all that - where I can just bury my naked feet in the warm sand and relax. I really look forward to doing this at least once a year.Most of my life is spent under a pale pink spotlight in pasties and G-string so I'm very bodyaware - I need to keep my figure. However, I'm not a big dieter. I definitely love delicious food but I use common sense. I avoid junk food and where possible choose to eat healthy, well-prepared meals. This seems to surprise a lot of people who are amazed to tell me that I 'eat like a normal person'.So one of the first things I was looking forward to on Kanuhura was to sample the food. As everybody had told me, it really was delicious. The food and the wine were another highlight of my visit.The resort boasts that it serves 'cuisines of unimaginable variety --food for romance, for relaxation, for the sheer pleasure of company'. I was genuinely surprised at the number of restaurants available in such a relatively small resort but it was really great to dine at a different venue in a different setting every night. One night it would be Italian, the next, Thai...wonderful.Thin Rah, the main restaurant, serves buffets for breakfast and dinner. The buffets are a work of art, especially the breakfast. My one regret was that I tended to sleep in too late to enjoy the amazing spread that was on offer every morning.I did, however, enjoy a fantastic dinner by the pool at the Olive Tree restaurant, which serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes. I also highly recommend the Veli Cafe, which has a deservedly high reputation for light, fresh Asian cuisine. Its signature dish is the tuna carpaccio with chilli ice.Though I like to relax on holiday, I don't put away my watch or mobile phone: I like to stay connected to the world. I'm happy sitting under my beach umbrella with my BlackBerry handy. I love taking holiday snapshots, which I then send to my friends and family so they can have a picture of where I am and can see what I'm doing.Kanuhura's over-water villas - a feature of many Maldivian resorts - were as wonderful as I'd hoped. Set along sun-bleached wooden pontoons, the villas have private sundecks and steps leading down to the water. Stepping into the clear, blue, warm sea water, alive with shoals of brightly coloured tropical fish, was pure bliss. I also loved my villa's huge outdoor bathroom which was incredible.At night, I loved lazing in the tub staring up open-mouthed at the stars filling the black sky like necklaces of sparkling diamonds.My main indulgence in the resort was wonderful massages and superb body treatments at the spa, all supplied by the brilliant, ever-attentive staff.The four-hand massage performed by two people was particularly good.I'm a bit of a massage snob --I'm very particular about them. I don't go in for the light-fingered stuff you find in fancy ladies' spas; I want a serious massage with some serious muscle manipulation. I do a lot of pilates so I'm used to a heavy physical workout.When I wasn't being pummelled, I was happy as a cat, just hanging out on the beach sitting under an umbrella or at the beach bar where guests can happily pass the time watching the weather change every five minutes.The highlight was the excellent band who played at the bar every evening and seemed to know every pop song ever written. Anything I requested they knew - they even knew all the words. My George Michael requests were performed in impeccable style. I loved their interpretations.Recently have been spending any holiday time I had at home in LA. I do so much travelling for my work that sometimes just staying at home and cooking my own food is a real treat. But I enjoy the business-of travel, even if it's for work. I feel very fortunate to do what I do for a living: my hobby has turned into a career, so I would never complain about all the flights and the different hotel rooms.I left Michigan when I was about 11. I don't often get the chance to go back but when I do, one of my favourite trips is to go to Mackinac Island in Lake Huron, which has been a tourist destination since the 19th Century-It's popular with writers and has been the location for several Hollywood films.There's something really special about this island: no cars are allowed, there are lots of horses. The scenery is breathtaking and the grand hotels are amazing. I feel grateful for having had the chance through work to travel around so much of the States. Most Americans never realise what a big and extraordinary country we live in. There are so many different landscapes, most of which change a lot from season to season.There are many places I haven't been to which I would love to visit. Top of my list are Bali and Hawaii. What appeals to me is finding a quiet beach where I can be me without all the make-up - just wandering around barefoot and completely relaxed.But when I do this, I find that something funny happens to me. While at first I get really excited about not having to wear make-up, my resolution quickly wavers. Day One: no make-up. Day two: I slap on a little bit of something. By Day Five my red lips are back on and I'm living the tropical dream holiday in full make-up.I have a feeling that if I were cast away like Robinson Crusoe on a desert island I would quickly find a way to manufacture make-up. I suppose I ought to admit that I just really enjoy putting it on. At heart, I'm a showgirl - even when I'm on holiday.Travel factsBritish Airways () has just launched a new direct service to Male, the Maldives airport, operating three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.Luxury Holidays Direct (020 8774 7299, ) offers seven nights at Kanuhura from £2,289, including accommodation in a beach villa with breakfast, return flights on Qatar Airways from Heathrow and seaplane transfers. Dressed-down Jenna Lyons and Lauren Hutton prove you don't need a ballgown to wow the fashion elite at CFDA Awards By PUBLISHED:22:34 GMT, 5 June 2012 UPDATED:06:32 GMT, 6 June 2012Amongst the plunging necklines, thigh-high slits and razzle-dazzle of the best dressed stars at last night's CFDA Awards, two women stood out from the crowd. Lauren Hutton and Jenna Lyons opted for a dressed-down look as they both walked the red carpet in boyish trouser suits and masculine tailoring.Ms Hutton arrived with the stars of the evening, the Olsen twins, clad in an all-cream ensemble courtesy of their label The Row, while Ms Lyons sported a combination of prints and patterns in blue and white from J Crew and Celine.Though a majority of the night's star-studded guest list chose fun cocktail gowns bold colours and flirty shapes, neither Ms Hutton nor Ms Lyons disappointed their fans with their original style.Fashion blogs like could only gush about Ms Lyons chic ensemble while Twitter users called Ms Hutton's style 'glorious' and 'awesome'. Ms Hutton, slender as always and radiant at 68, paired her cream suit with a pristine white T-shirt, similarly immaculate sneakers and a square, beige shoulder bag. Ms Lyons wore her trademark thick-framed glasses with blue and white striped and sequined trousers that evoked a maritime theme paired with the navy blue cocktail jacket and a periwinkle silk shirt. On her feet, playful red pumps added a hint of femininity to the look as she posed for photographers with friend Solange Knowles. She told Fashionista of her choice of outfit: 'I didn't actually think about [it] until this morning and then I was like, "I probably need to think a little harder."'The last minute planner added: 'I had the pants tailored today because they were a little big on me. We have an in house tailor and I called and said, "You know I havent actually figured out what Im wearing so can we have somebody standing by" The pants were delivered to my house as I was finishing my hair and make up.'But if it seems a little too much of a close call for some, for the J Crew creative director, the less time she has to plan an outfit the better.'I'm not so good if I plan because then I think about it too much and I over think it,' she confessed. England 1 France 1: This time it's Powell's Lionesses who suffer penalty heartbreak By UPDATED:22:37 GMT, 9 July 2011England's women now know exactly how their male counterparts feel after they suffered penalty heartache at the World Cup in the quarter-final here. Hope Powell's team were three minutesaway from beating France in normal after taking the lead following a moment of brilliance from Jill Scott, who scored a superb lofted effort in the 58th minute. However, France were rewarded for incessant pressure when Elise Bussaglia curled home a fantastic effort. Extra time failed to separate the sides but penalty misses from Claire Rafferty and captain Faye White ended England's hopes of a first semi-final appearance. White, one of the great ambassadors for the women's game, had returned to the side after being rested against Japan. The 33-year-old crumpled to the turf after missing the decisive kick in what was probably her last World Cup game. England coach Powell said her players were 'out on their feet' by the end of extra-time. 'It was a gallant effort but there were too many tired legs out there. France were the better team in the second half and we took a few knocks. We did well to take the game to penalties.' Scott added: 'We had been practising penalties but you can't practise a real game situation in a World Cup quarter-final. 'Overall to make the quarter- finals and take France to penalties has been a good achievement.' France's reserve goalkeeper Celine Deville, starting as Berangere Sapowicz was suspended, showed her nervesas England almost scored in the opening 20 seconds. Kelly Smith met Karen Carney's superbthrough-ball and rounded Deville, only for her goalbound effort to be blocked by Sabrina Viguier. But France unleashed barrage upon barrage of attacks and England keeper Karen Bardsley saved well from Goetane Thiney's fierce 20-yard drive in the 25th minute. Four minutes later, Faye White blocked a Marie-Laure Delie effort before Louisa Necib hit the back stanchion with a curling right-footed shot from the resulting corner. Bardsley tipped over a floating free-kick from Necib as half-time approached and skipper Sandrine Soubeyrand hit a hopeful effort that snuck wide as the French upped the ante. The second half started in much the same vein, with Necib, Thiney and Delie going close, but England broke the deadlock against the run of play through Scott. French heads seemed to drop, althoughthey continued to pepper the England goal as Necib and Elodie Thomis went close and Ellen White headed a Laure Lepailleur effort off the line. However, France were not to be denied as Bussaglia curled home a left-foot shot off the inside of a post in the 87th minute. The equaliser took the match into extra-time, in which Smith was a passenger due to injury, England having already used their subs. Ellen White's shot into the sidenetting was the only moment of note in the first period, while the second was punctuated by further knocks to England players. As the match went to penalties, Bardsley saved Camille Abily's kick, Rafferty dragged her effort wide and Faye White hit the bar. French coach Bruno Bini, who has steered his side to their first semi-final, said: 'We couldn't score because England defended with their lives but naturally I am happy.' The tyrant whose bribes denied Cliff Eurovision glory... and everything else you didn't know about our favourite cheesefestBy UPDATED:22:01 GMT, 28 April 2011The usual suspects are getting ready to do battle in Dusseldorf on May 14 for the annual kitsch-fest that is the Eurovision Song Contest. Rehearsals begin this weekend and already there have been sightings of exotic dancers, acrobats and camp conductors.And, of course, among them will be the all-important singers representing each of the 53 countries taking part.As always, the show will be held together by excited hosts with cheesy smiles and there are sure to be complaints of jury rigging, bloc-voting and political expediency. But thats to be expected of a pop spectacle watched by 125 million viewers worldwide.Now, as a fascinating TV documentary lifts the lid on more than half a century of Eurovisions secrets, weve unearthed 20 things you didnt know about TVs most loved and loathed talent show.1 The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland, on May 24, 1956, with seven countries taking part. Audience and contestants wore black tie and ballgowns and the only result revealed was the winner, the Swiss Lys Assia.2 A transmission fault stopped some countries viewing the 1958 Italian entry Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu, so it had to be performed again. While the French won, the Italian ditty known as Volare became the most successful song in Eurovision history, recorded by Frank Sinatra, David Bowie and The Gipsy Kings.3 Soviet authorities built hundreds of jamming stations to block Western TV signals from reaching the Iron Curtain in the Fifties. But that didnt stop pictures from Finnish TV or societies, such as the Eurovision Fan Club of Estonia, gathering to watch the competition in secret.4 The UKs first victory was in 1967 with Sandie Shaws Puppet On A String. She later said: I hated the song from the first oompah to the final bang on the big bass drum. I was repelled by its sexist drivel and cuckoo-clock tune. The BBC nearly fired her before the competition, after she was named in a divorce case between a TV executive and his model wife.5 The Eastern bloc countries imitated Eurovision by creating a contest of their own the Sopot Song Festival in Poland. Because few viewers had telephones, they voted by turning the lights on in their homes when they liked a song. The state energy company recorded the size of the power spikes and passed the result on to the TV station.6 The Spanish dictator General Franco ditched Joan Manuel Serrat from the 1968 show, as he wanted to sing in Catalan. Teenager Massiel replaced him and had nine days to learn her song La La La. It was alleged that Franco bribed Eastern European countries into voting for his entry, which beat Cliff Richards Congratulations by one vote. Cliff later said he hid in the loo during voting: Theres no way Id let 100 million people see me weep.7 In 1969, France, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK, represented by Lulu, all won. It caused such uproar that the next year Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Finland pulled out of the contest and a tie-break rule was introduced.8 The inclusion of Israel in the 1973 contest in Luxembourg prompted fears of terrorist attacks. The audience was advised to remain seated while applauding, to avoid being shot by security forces. Amid the chaos,Terry Wogan made his TV Eurovision debut.9 In 1973, an unknown Swedish band failed to qualify in their national contest. But they re-entered the next year with a song called Waterloo, making ABBA one of the few Eurovision acts to achieve international stardom.10 France pulled out of the 1974 Eurovision contest after the death of their president, Georges Pompidou, whose funeral was on the same day. In the same year, Italy refused to screen the competition on state TV, as Italian politicians felt the lyrics to their entry, Si (Yes, in English), could have a subliminal effect on an impending referendum on divorce.11 In 1978, during the Israeli entry, Jordans JRTV screened pictures of flowers. When it became clear Israel was going to win, JRTV stopped the transmission. Afterwards, Jordan refused to accept Israels victory, claiming the Belgians, who came second, had won.12 In 1979, before they found fame with the infectious Agadoo, Black Lace represented the UK in Jerusalem. Their song, Mary Ann, came ninth. The winner was Israel. 13 1981 saw the success of UK act Bucks Fizz, who stunned viewers with their Velcro rip-away skirts. Within 48 hours, Velcro had sold out across the country. Singer Cheryl Baker said: A strip of Velcro changed my life.14 Bucks Fizzs antics caught on. In 1985 presenter Lill Lindfors skirt was pulled away by a nail on the stage set. It was a planned stunt, but the European Broadcasting Union didnt find it funny and banned any such future mistakes.15 One year later, Belgiums Sandra Kim became the youngest ever winner, aged 13. But in her song, Jaime La Vie, she claimed to be 15. Second place Switzerland petitioned for her disqualification, to no avail.16 The 1988 Swiss entry, Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, was sung by a 19-year-old French Canadian called Celine Dion. In her autobiography, Celine said: They asked me to represent a country thats not even mine. Would you represent us at the Eurovision Song Contest? No pressure!17 In 2003, a record-breaking 26 countries took part in the Latvian-hosted final. UK act Jemini came second and were the first UK act to get nul points. Their rivals included Russian lesbian duo t.A.T.u, and Austrias Alf Poier who performed with stuffed animals.18 When Ukrainian singer Rusiana won in 2004, she was rewarded with a seat in Parliament. But the show had been beset with problems. Turkeys national broadcaster TRT took a commercial break just as the Slovenian entry was about to be performed, so no one in Turkey heard it. And Turkish pop star Sertab Erener got her shoe stuck in a grille as she presented the winning trophy. 19 Held in Athens, the 2006 contest caught up with hard rock music. The winning song, Hard Rock Hallelujah by Finnish band Lordi, was a heavy metal number. In 2007, the trend carried on in Helsinki, Finland, when most entries were rock songs.20 The 2009 event in Moscow was won by Norways Alexander Rybak with a record-breaking 387 points. The UKs Jade Ewen came fifth with Andrew Lloyd Webbers song Its My Time. Sadly it wasnt.The Secret History Of Eurovision is on More4 on Saturday, May 7 at 9pm.Fairy tale ending... Military dad interrupts reading class to surprise fourth-grade daughter after returning from AfghanistanPUBLISHED:14:53 GMT, 25 April 2012 UPDATED:16:27 GMT, 25 April 2012An everyday fourth-grade reading class in New Jersey was interrupted on Monday by a real-life fairy tale ending.Ten-year-old Celine Gonzalez and her school-mates were working on a class assignment when her dad made a surprise visit, having just returned from a seven-month posting in Afghanistan.Celines eyes grew wide, her jaw dropped and she began to cry after U.S. Air Force senior airman, Jorge Gonzalez, walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder then scooped her up in a bear hug. The heart-warming reunion was organised by Mennies Elementary School fourth-grade teacher, Bielenda Torrence, and Celine's mother, Olga Gonzalez, and captured on video by the .The fourth-graders had been told the TV cameras were filming a story about elementary schools.In shock, Celine covers her mouth with her hands and simply says 'oh my god'.Visibly emotional at the reunion, Gonzalez just smiles and says hi baby, how are you? as he takes his youngest daughter in a tight embrace. Describing how she felt about her dad's return, Celine said she was 'really, really, really happy'.According to the , Celine knew her dad was coming this week but her mother hadn't told her when.Gonzalez said he had decorated his living quarters in Afghanistan with pictures of his children.Celine had written about the anguish of having to say goodbye to her dad back in October.The airman was called up as a munitions specialist with the Air Forces National Guard 177th Fighter Wing, headquartered in Pomona.'I was not happy when I dropped him off at the airport with my mom,' she wrote, describing the event.'I was crying the whole way home and did not even talk for a while. I did not even know what to do with my life anymore'.Gonzalez missed Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Celines 10th birthday, while he was away. But the family was able to stay connected through email, phone calls and Skype.Celine's parents have signed her out of school for some family bonding time.Visit msnbc.com for , , and Fashion for life: I think I'm falling in loveBy UPDATED:16:32 GMT, 2 September 2010Im so excited, and I just cant hide it, Im about to lose control and I thinkerm, do excuse me. Went all Pointer Sisters for a mo there but the truth is I am excited. I always get like this at the tail end of August. Its an annual fizz fest, and all because the autumn fashion season is in and we are away!Love the sun as I do, theres something a bit wishy-washy about summer clothes. Theres not much to them. You dont get a lot in the way of layering, the silhouette is spare, the options, when its 30 degrees and youre off to the pool, are fairly limited. But the winter season yay! is rich with potential. All those textures and colours and delectable possibilities.This winter is, in my view, a classic following on from a great summer stretch. Now its time to put away those foolish things and get serious about exactly what youre going to invest in for the months ahead. Here then is my stick-to-the-fridge guide (Part 1) to get you from here to there in a trice.COLOUR Fashion folk are wont to bang on about autumnal tones, by which they really mean hedgerow colours (loden, peat, moss, hedgehog, snail) and berry shades (black, tay, logan, bil, rasp). These have long been the mainstay of winter dressing, but this season, you need to keep your eye firmly fixed on camel and navy. Or navy and camel. Either way is good. If you fancy flinging a splash of hot-orange at everything, feel free. Personally, I think an expensive camel coat could well be the buy of the season. Celine, obviously. But I might just settle for the gorgeous version at MS (from time to time, as here, they get these classics on the nose).A camel coat is the buy of the season, and trousers have a developed a new kick in the hemFABRICS There is always a must-have material, and this season, its sheepskin, or shearling if you want to sound knowledgeable and mildly pedantic. The best iteration of this is the aviator flying jacket, as seen on the catwalk at Burberry and as coveted by every second woman in the world right now. If you are going for it, go now, this instant, weather be damned, as this trend may well burn out fast through sheer over-exposure. Theyll be in every last store come mid-September, so you can pretty much plot your spend now. Burberry: ££££. Wallis: £.SHAPES Trousers, blissfully, have developed a new kick in the hem, which means were roughly back with the boot-cut pant. This is terrific news for anyone who has struggled with the skinny shape which made our legs look like organic root vegetables. Take inspiration from Balmain and Celine to get the shape in mind, then gallop off to hunt down a pair of kick flares in your own price zone. If this happens to be in Balmain or Celine, so much the better. You may want to debate the purchase of a double-breasted jacket to go with it. Up to you, but I doubt youll regret it, even if it looks odd-on-the-eye at the outset.Yes, yes, there are dresses too, of course (50s prom style) and skirts (maxi) but well come to these in Part 2, in the weeks ahead. For now, concentrate on those colours, those trousers, that coat. Exciting, eh?Kick of the cropJ Brands Gigis are the perfect jeans to take you from summer to autumn. A cropped kick-flare silhouette that was also seen looking fabulous on the autumn/winter catwalks at both Prada and 3.1 Phillip Lim, they cost £180, from Trilogy, tel: 020 7730 6515.RUSSE HOURInspired by the VAs autumn exhibition Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929, fashion designer Erdem Moralioglu has created a silk scarf incorporating original costume designs for the ballet Narcisse in 1911.SCARF, £185, Erdem for the VA Shop, tel: 020 7942 2696 They're darling!BOOTs, £330, Hogan, tel: 020 7245 6363Fashion for life: Please do adjust the volumeBy UPDATED:20:00 GMT, 27 March 2010 Ah, what a tangled web we weave, we women obsessed by fashion. We know, as if by instinct, by the exertion of some visceral tug right there in the fist of our soul, when something looks right (good), when it looks off (better) and when it looks plain wrong (very bad indeed). Its as if our eye is constantly assessing, negotiating and recalibrating, taking in the taste of a trend, sniffing the air for a fabric, a texture, a top or a tux that suddenly looks fabulous. It might be Lily Allens fringe or Alexa Chungs high-tops. It may be the way Suzette at the school gates wears her scarf or uses heavy kohl to get those flirty eyes. Either way, were hooked.Take a step back, as I always do, and you soon discover that any directional change is more often than not down to a shift in shape. It is our silhouette, the shadow we throw, that governs the way we dress. Think of the trends weve loved of late: skinny jeans, wicked platforms, shoulder pads, peplums. Or famous looks through the decades: miniskirts and neat bobs, voluminous loon pants and centre-partings, pencil skirts and backcombing, whatever. In the end, it all comes down to volume exaggerated or rationed. This season is no different. If you want to get a handle on how to dress this spring, Ill doodle a shape for you. First off, you need to know that the triangle youve been wearing of late has flipped. Where once you wanted substantial shoulders funnelling down into a skinny skirt, now you want the inverse. Bang goes the pencil skirt. Swap it for an A-line, as seen at Celine and Chanel, and you will look immediately du jour. Your shoulders, of course, need to perform a similar trick (wearing a bold shoulder with an A-line skirt will make you look like a chess queen, which is not advisable in any season).A bold shoulder with an A-line skirt will make you look like a chess queen, which is not advisable in any seasonNow youve got your torso in hand, lets travel south and hit the floor. Here you will find a momentous shift, and one which youd do well to heed if you want to look even vaguely on the money in the coming months. In short, your heels have to shrink. They need to be lower, slimmer, less boxy. All those porny cage shoes should be shoved into a dark corner and ignored for the foreseeable. Replace with wedges (yes), but low wedges, of the variety shown at Stella McCartney. Or a kitten heel, as seen at Missoni, Marni, Vuitton and Jimmy Choo. Newcomers may feel a bit First Lady to start with, given that this is the heel of choice for Michelle Obama, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and anyone else with a tendency to loom over their husband like an Anglepoise lamp. There is one final shape shifter for spring, and something you may overlook: your belt. It should be slim. In tan leather. Perhaps from Jil Sander at Uniqlo. And we should all learn, suggests Vogue, the new buckle, twist and knot technique. Subtle? You bet. Silly? Quite probably. But I know how Im going to be wearing my belt this season.OOH LA LAUREN!Uber-brand Ralph Lauren is opening its largest-ever store in the stylish Paris suburb of St Germain. With six floors, including one dedicated to watches and one to one-off vintage pieces, its set to be the labels most impressive yet. If you dont have time to pop across the channel to see it for yourself, you could console yourself with this Ralph Lauren saddle bag, created to mark the Continental opening (although a trip on Eurostar may be easier on the credit card).SUPER TROUPERS Jamaican-born designer Jessica Ogden has collaborated with quintessentially Britishfootwear brand F-Troupe to create a sweet, whimsical collection inspired by the seaside. The range includes rosette-adorned satin pumps and embellished gingham sandals.For stockists, tel: 020 7727 0946, f-troupe.com.Theyre darling! TRAINERS, £120, Missoni for Converse, tel: 020 7823 1910 Fashion for life: Why we all look better in the fleshBy UPDATED:19:00 GMT, 17 April 2010Im very excited. Apparently, theres a new neutral in town. To many, this may seem a mere trifle, but to a woman like me wedded to the old neutrals of navy, grey, black and white this is thrilling news indeed. A neutral, if youre only at Key Stage One of your fashion studies, is a colour that sits well with pretty much anything you throw at it. As a rule, neutrals are impartial. Noncommittal. Like Switzerland. Theyre the friend who only orders half a lager because theyre driving and always brushes their teeth between meals. Wearing neutrals is, by definition, a mid-range way of going about ones day. It smacks of safety belts and not making a fuss if someone steps on your toe. While other colours are busy making chat-stopping entrances and grand gestures the primaries, the neons, the florals and the impossibly rowdy tartans black is quietly communing with tan, and grey with navy, to produce something altogether more sophisticated.And so, to all my neutral buddies out there, a moment: this season, the new neutral is nude. Flesh. Skin. At a push, blush. The idea takes its lead from lingerie from all those pale, flattering silks in old gold, rosé, honey, coffee, caramel and toffee which are currently doing the rounds. These are the prime tones of today, and the glory of them all is that theyll love the skin youre in. Such colours can butter up even the most sullen complexion you simply need to play around until you hit upon the shade that suits you best. Old gold, rosé, honey, coffee, caramel and toffeethese neutrals can butter up even the most sullen complexionThe mood is best distilled in Chanels nail varnish du jour the quite delightful Particulière, which is presently gracing my toenails. Its the shade youd get if you whizzed together cement, cappuccino and a spoonful of hummus in a liquidiser. It is the neutral of neutrals, a taupe that is bang on the money for spring 2010. Its also very hard to get your paws on. I bought mine on eBay, after a very dramatic last-ditch bid in the closing seconds of the auction which was terrifically gripping for someone otherwise ensconced in neutral behaviour. A neutral can also, alas, be dispassionate and inert, which is not exactly sexy. You need, therefore, to think very carefully about shapes, fabrics and silhouettes, not just colours. Go for items with a kick in the tail, to propel you out of the dusty doldrums and into the dizzy heights. Something transparent. Something clingy. Something covetable and cultivated that your friends will crave. For an object lesson in how to go about it, start your quest at Celine, where Phoebe Philo executed the new neutrals with exceptional class and skill. Elsewhere, the mild khakis at Chloé performed a similar function, while the fairy tulles at Chanel, Fendi and Givenchy were the stuff of dreams. Youll find these colours have filtered down to the high street now to Jaeger and Wallis and Karen Millen and HM. Look out for soft nude draping (à la Burberry), body-con lingerie dresses (à la Gaultier), suede in pale café au lait (like DG and Loewe) All fab. All neutral. All very, very chic, without hoo-ha or hullabaloo.JOIN THE FOLDHigh-street hero Oasis has harnessed the talents of two textile students for its Paper Dolls capsule collection. Claire McInally (Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design) and Jenny Neill (Edinburgh College of Art) were inspired by architectural forms and fabric folding when devising this covetable cache. On sale 3 May. BRIGHT AND BEAZIECalling all jewellery junkies! Beazie Roberts is becoming one of the hottest names on the British fine jewellery scene, with her pineapple pendant (left) already adorning many an A-list neck. This gold and yellow-sapphire-studded bauble doesnt come cheap, but were cheered at the news of a purse-friendly diffusion range in the pipeline. Watch this space!NECKLACE, £2,900, Beazie Roberts, beazieroberts.comIts darling!CARDIGAN, £319, Sonia Rykiel, from Fenwick, tel: 020 7629 9161Fashion special: Coat check By UPDATED:19:00 GMT, 24 September 2011A hot pop of colour or a cape escape? Utility chic or uber-glam? Meet autumns four crucial cover-ups Celine (left) and Burberry Prorsum I will revive ...1940s haughty, 70s sass revel in the retro romance 1970s at Chloe (left) and 1940s at Miu Miu By UPDATED:06:45 GMT, 4 May 2009ABOVE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Peachsilk vest top, £195, Emilia Wickstead, 020 7581 8051. Fuchsia silkorganza skirt, £475, Celine at www.netaporter.com Patent sandals withPerspex heels, 660, Jimmy Choo, as before Top,£59, Banana Republic, 020 7758 3550. Trousers, £300, Matthew Williamson,020 7629 6200. Slingbacks, £545, Gina, 020 7409 7090. Bangles, £15,Freedom at Topshop, 01277 844 476 Turquoise and royal blue silk bubbledress, £229, Paul Smith at Fenwick, as before. Ribbon necklace, £45,Adele Marie at Fenwick, as before. Turquoise leather platforms £560,Gina, as beforeABOVE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Lemon chiffon pleated dress, £95, Banana Republic, as before. Lime crop cardigan with corsage, £140, Nanette Lepore, 020 7221 8889. Yellow and green patent sandals, £660, Jimmy Choo, 020 7823 1051 Coraltiered maxi dress, £171, Theory and red patent wedges, £371, Terry deHavilland, www. mywardrobe.com Beads, £12, and bracelets, £15 each,Freedom at Topshop, as beforeJumper, £99, John Smedley at Fenwick, 020 7629 9161. Skirt with belt, £89, Reiss, 020 7473 9630. Peep-toes, £75, Jones, 0800 163 519 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Deputy Fashion Editor: Camilla Ridley-DayPictures: David VenniMakeup: Katie at www.slap.uk.com using Sisley Hair: Simon Izzard at DW Management First look at Celine Dion's $20m Florida waterpark mansion that boasts slides, bridges and even a lazy riverBy UPDATED:12:56 GMT, 8 June 2010After Titanic, you'd have thought that Celine Dion would be sick of the sight of water.But it seems she can't actually get enough of the stuff, as shown by these pictures of the aquatic additions to the multi-million dollar Florida mansion that goes on and on.The pregnant singer, 42, had the waterpark constructed on the $20million (£13.9million) home, which she shares with husband Rene Angelil, 68, and their nine-year-old son Rene Charles.The lavish pool system uses 500,000 gallons of water and includes two swimming pools, two water slides and a lazy river, which has a slow current to carry bathers around the pool.Celine, whose signature song is My Heart Will Go On, the theme from the 1998 film Titanic, splashed out several million dollars on the aquatic wonderland at her home, which bought for $12.5million (£8.6million) in 2005.And if it proves not to be enough water for the singer, who is expecting twins at the end of this year, she can always take a short walk down to the beach, as the house overlooks the Atlantic. The mansion is on Jupiter Island, which is where some of the wealthiest people in the US live, including disgraced golfer Tiger Woods.Celine's house, which is is a whopping 9,825 square feet, lies on 5.7acres that contains an underground garage.The mansion also boasts eight bedrooms splitup in two guest rooms, a 460-square feet wardrobe, and a gym in the beach-side cabana.And while she is probably thrilled to bits with her water-themed back garden, it's not exactly gone down well with her neighbours. According to reports in the States,Celine angered her local community when she used up all the fresh watersupply on the island, which led to a drought and water restrictions in thearea.Celine was fined for the massive use of water and in an attempt to appease her neighbours, had six wells constructed on the property to store enough water to keep the pipespumping the 6.5million gallons needed for the park each year.But even that hasn't pacified the locals who, according to the National Enquirer, are furious she was even granted permission to have thewells built.They are also concerned about the damage her actionswill have on the environment, with one angry neighbour saying: 'I don't know how she got the well permits.The government is usually pretty restrictive with stuff like that!' Happy Father's Day: A foray into France for wine and mustard in beautiful BurgundyBy UPDATED:08:46 GMT, 23 June 2010My father hasn't been on holiday for 15 years - so we have good reason to raise a celebratory glass. And it helps that we are in Burgundy, one of france's premier wine-producing regions, and that my father is marking his 71st birthday.We are on a day trip and the going has been remarkably easy. This great region of France is five hours from London St Pancras by Eurostar and TGV, with a short metro hop across Paris in between. No queues, no hassle and no volcanic ash-inspired delays.Burgundy is the taste capital of France, and everywhere is bursting with flavours. At our first tasting, we encounter, in quick succession, a blend with blackcurrants, hints of honey and balsamic vinegar and a spicy ginger punch. Marc Desarmenien, general manager of Fallot, explains how the terrain, natural resources and climate combine to affect the character of the products we are sampling. Yes, we are in the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producing heart of France's wine trade, but, for the moment, we're not talking vin with Monsieur Desarmenien. This tasting is dedicated to Burgundy's other culinary world-beater: mustard.'As a moutardier, I'm looking for a rich-yellow hue and a strong, not spicy, taste,' says Marc, resplendent in white lab coat. 'A winemaker seeks subtlety, but I'm more concerned with the combination of flavours.' Marc's grandfather founded the Fallot mustard mill in 1928 and it now produces some 85,000 tons of the stuff per year.It is the only one left of 30 mills from Burgundy's mustard-producing peak. The honey and balsamic vinegar blend recently won him a contract with Waitrose.We had started our visit in the wine town of Beaune, indulging dad's interest in heritage with a guided tour of the 15th-century Hotel-Dieu.Built by Burgundian duke Nicolas Rolin as a perceived way to secure a place in heaven, the lavishly designed former hospice has been a place of healing since the Middle Ages. Part of the complex is still a working retirement home. I spy father eyeing up one of the attractive rooms with shuttered windows in the flower-strewn garden. Less appealing is a collection of ceramic jars of traditional cures in the old pharmacy.'Should I try the theriac?' That's a paste of herbs, snake skin and opium - a dose of which was traditionally given to every new arrival. ' No, Dad, I think not.'After a homely lunch of ham terrine, beef tongue and creme caramel at a local bistro, plus the obligatory glass of something fruity and fragrant, we make our way through the historic, cobbled streets of Beaune to Sensation Vin, a wine cellar-cum-classroom.The owners left the wine trade some four years ago to set up a cellar where anyone with an interest in Burgundy can do a one-hour course in wine appreciation. It includes a blind tasting of six local wines.'People are afraid of stuffy tastings at local wine cellars. It can be intimidating, so we try to demystify the process,' says co-owner Celine Dandelot. We take our seats at a lightbox-style tasting table and watch the introductory briefing on the wall-mounted TV as Celine uncorks the bottles.Burgundy's five wine-producing regions, we learn, produce 200 million bottles a year - one-third red, two-thirds white, split into four categories: grand cru, premier cru, village and region.'We simply look at colour, smell and taste, repeating the same three tests for each of the six wines,' says Celine. 'You can tell the age of a wine from its colour and aroma. By tasting, we identify its characteristics.''Do we drink it?' asks dad, eyeing the spittoons suspiciously. Non, papa. After only a few minutes, we're plotting the wines on a Venn diagram, ranging from young wines with a floral nose and high acidity to mature ones with cooked-fruit aromas and higher tannin levels.Best of all, the laid-back ambience takes the stiltedness out of the tasting. A summer breeze ruffles the sun-basking landscape as we head north to Dijon later that day, following the Route des Grands Crus that cuts a swathe through the heart of the Cotes de Nuits slopes.As we trundle along country lanes, battalions of vines stand to attention. Isolated stone worksheds spring from the hillsides. Plots of land, marked by weather-aged walls, are interspersed by proud stone crosses, standing sentinel by the roadside. Burgundy has around 70,000 acres under vine - the landscape is dripping with slow-maturing grapes. After a hearty dinner and a good night's sleep in the newly re-styled rooms at the Hotel La Cloche in Dijon, we set out next morning to explore the city.Catching the free, city-circling shuttle bus to the stately main square, Place de la Liberation, with its pavement cafes and dancing fountains, is a cinch.We spend a morning weaving through historic passageways, marvelling at the traditional produce for sale in the covered market and indulging in some people watching.There's time for souvenir hunting, too: tasty Burgundy gingerbread biscuits from the Rose de Vergy patisserie and a dainty, ceramic mustard pot from Boutique Maille, Dijon's celebrated shrine to mustard.Those of more adventurous palate can even try a chocolate and Belgian wafer-flavoured mustard. My father revels in the food, wine, culture and gently mooching around one of France's most attractive regions. Me, too. I think our Father's Day excursion should become an annual event.Travel FactsRail Europe (0844 848 4070, www.raileurope.co.uk) has return fares to Dijon from £89pp.Hotel Sofitel la Cloche, Dijon (00 33 3 80 30 12 32, www.hotellacloche.com) has double rooms from £185 in June.The Fallot Mustard Factory, Beaune (00 33 3 80 22 10 02, www.fallot.com) has guided tours from £8, including a tasting.Sensation Vin, Beaune (00 33 3 80 22 17 57, www.sensation-vin.com) offers wine-tasting courses from £9.More info from Burgundy Tourism (00 33 3 80 28 02 80, www.bourgogne-tourisme.com). Geri Halliwell has an underwear malfunction as she returns from Paris Fashion WeekBy UPDATED:08:04 GMT, 4 October 2010Sitting on the front row at Paris Fashion Week, Geri Halliwell had not a hair out of place.But as she rushed home to be with daughter Bluebell, it seemed the busy working mother suffered a wardrobe malfunction.Geri was seen hurriedly adjusting her underwear as she raced to catch the Eurostar at the Gare du Nord in Paris. Dressed down in denim shorts worn over woolly tights, with a simple vest top, she appeared to have trouble with her strapless bra slipping down.It was a different story the previous day when she attended the Viktor Rolf Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2011 show in the Jardin des Tuileries. Geri was perfectly coiffed in a black and white off the shoulder dress, worn with laced boots.She watched as the designers showed their on-trend collection which centered on that perennial cool-girl staple - the boyfriend's oversized button-down shirt - and towering meringue-like shoulders big enough to make any eighties prom queen blush. Elsewhere at Jean Paul Gaultier proved punk is still alive and kicking as he sent out Joan Jetts in spiky wigs and rose-emblazoned jean jackets.Bunuel's classic film about the perversion of France's moneyed elite, The Discrete Charm of the Bourgeoisie, was in the air at Azzaro, a Paris house that has made classy clothing with an undercurrent of perversion its trademark. Designer Vanessa Seward served up sweet little-girl frocks with oversized ruffles at the neck and hemlines. Worn on grown women, though, the abbreviated dresses lost a lot of their sweet innocence.Sonia Rykiel flaunted an overall Paris tendency toward neutrals and whites with a rainbow-hued collection of color-blocked sweaterdresses. A convincing, if not groundbreaking, collection from the label that earned the title of 'Queen of Knitwear' more than four decades ago.After the shows, the fashion elite flocked en masse to a party in honor of Chanel uber-designer Karl Lagerfeld's collaboration with sporty Italian shoemaker Hogan. Karl was in attendance, as were anyone who's anyone in the fashion world. The ponytailed designer regaled the well-heeled crown with a short black-and-white film about love and trust among models decked out in Hogan. Girl, 10, heartbroken after top grammar school offers her a place... then says it 'made a mistake' By UPDATED:19:40 GMT, 20 October 2008 Staff at a top grammar school left a ten-year-old girl heartbroken after mistakenly telling her she had passed their entrance exam.Celine Coffey spent four days 'on cloud nine', telling family and friends she was going to Loreto Grammar School for Girls in Altrincham, Cheshire.But her joy turned to despair when it emerged staff had wrongly posted a letter saying she had passed when she had actually failed. Celine Coffey, ten, with her parents David and Caroline. She is holding the letter which said she passed the entrance exam The error began to unravel when she told her teacher at St Hugh's Catholic primary in Timperley, near Altrincham, that she had been given a place at Loreto.When the teacher failed to respond, Celine suspected something was wrong.Celine's mum Caroline was called into school and told by staff her daughter was not on a list of pupils who had passed the entrance exam.Caroline rang Loreto and was told there had been an 'admin error'.The school, praised as outstanding by Ofsted in 2005, had posted the wrong letter.Instead of sending Celine a letter saying she 'had not reached the standard', she was sent one saying she had performed well and was eligible for a place.Celine, who had not expected to pass, was delighted when she received the original letter.She told all her family and friends, and by the following day had posted back the tear-off slip accepting the offer of a place at the school. Now she will go to Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College in Altrincham, where her 12-year-old brother Michael is a pupil.Celine said: 'It's terrible. I was really excited. I told all my friends I was going.' Celine's dad, David Coffey, 43, a building inspector, said: 'We were all on cloud nine. She would have been the first Coffey to go to grammar school for five generations.' Loreto head Jane Beever said: 'Our hearts go out to the child concerned and we have taken steps to ensure that such an unfortunate mistake cannot happen again.' Grammy Awards: The good, the bad and the frankly bizarre (yes Lady GaGa) on the red carpetBy UPDATED:19:30 GMT, 5 February 2010The Grammy Awards is the biggest night of the year on the music calendar when the A-listers pull out all the stops on the red carpet.And this year's star-studded bash in Los Angeles didn't disappoint with stars including Beyonce Knowles, Lady GaGa, Pink and Taylor Swift making an impression - both good and bad - as they arrived at the bash.Lady GaGa, who opened the awards with a performance of her mega-hit Poker Face, wore a jaw-dropping, celestial Armani Prive lilac gown with bejewelled platform heels.She completed her typically wacky ensemble with a spiked star sculpture made of metal and two tone blonde curls.Newly-engaged Katy Perry went for the dominant colour of the evening as she showed off her figure in a nude and gold floor-length Zac Posen gown.She accessorised her outfit with a jewelled Judith Leiber clutch bag and fiancé Russell Brand on her arm. Like Lady GaGa and Beyonce, teenage country singer Taylor Swift sported several different looks last night.After arriving on the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder shimmeringKaufmanfranco blue gown, the 19-year-old changed into a simple nude gown to collect some of her awards during the pre-awards telecast.However former teen queen BritneySpears, who leaped to fame 10 years ago, committed a fashion no-no inher sheer, lace Dolce Gabbana dress over a black bodysuit. Legging it: (L-R) Miley Cyrus in a panelled teal Herve Leger by Maz Azria dress, Britney Spears in a sheer Dolce Gabbana gown and black bodysuit and Fergie looked sexy in a cobalt blue Emilio Pucci mini-dressThe singer jetted in from recording new album in Miami to attend the bash with her agent boyfriend Jason Trawick.While many stars were going for typicalfloor-length couture, some famous females crossed the red carpetboundaries with their extremely high hemlines.Jennifer Lopez managed to accomplishboth floor-length and a mini with her bizarre Versace gold dress with awhite panelled front and side, giving the photographers a glimpse ofonly one of her toned legs. Dazzling divas: (L-R) Heidi Klum in Gucci, newcomer Ke$ha went for a gold, fringed flapper girl dress, while Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton sizzled in silver and pinkAnd of course, given the title ofher latest single 'Louboutins', she was wearing a pair of whiteChristian Louboutin peep-toe heels.Miley Cyrus shrugged off her teen queen persona in teal panelled Herve Leger by Maz Azria dress and gladiator heels.After weeks of promoting her actingstints in the movie Nine, Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie was back whereshe belonged showing off her fabulous legs in a cobalt blue EmilioPucci dress. Going to the dark side: (L-R) Singer/actress Jennifer Hudson in a Victoria Beckham dress, soul singer India.Arie wore a shimmery floor-length gown while Glee actress Lea Michele kept it short and sexy in a feathered, asymmetrical Romona Keveza mini dress Floor-length and fabulous: (L-R) RB singer Mya shimmered in a low cut silver dress, Pink wore a strapless fishtail number, while Keri Hilson wore a pink Dolce Gabbana mermaid gown Pretty in pale: (L-R) Country singer Carrie Underwood in Georges Charka, Victoria's Secret model Marisa Miller in a vintage Gucci mini and actress Phoebe Price in a bizarre silvery shell dress Ladies' Night at the Grammys: Beyoncé picks up record six awards (and Taylor Swift is the youngest ever winner with four)By UPDATED:19:28 GMT, 5 February 2010It was Ladies' Night at the Grammy Awards as Beyoncé scooped six awards - a record for a female artist.The R B superstar, who won five awards in 2004 for her debut album Dangerously In Love, went one better this year.And she would have won seven awards if her husband Jay-Z had not beaten her in the rap/sung category.SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH VIDEO OF BEYONCE PERFORMINGHe ended up with three Grammysoverall, taking his career haul to 10. While Beyoncé's career tally rose to16, including three with her former group Destiny's Child.The Single Ladies singer had tennominations and walked away with trophies for Song Of The Year, BestFemale Pop Vocal Performance, Best Female RB Vocal Performance,Best Traditional RB Vocal Performance, Best RB Song, and BestContemporary RB Album.'This has been such an amazing night for me,' she said.'I'd like to thank my family including my husband, I love you,' she added, referring to rapper Jay-Z. Everyone'sa winner: Last year she was beaten up by her ex-boyfriend Chris Brownahead of the ceremony but last night, Rihanna returned to pick up anaward for Best Rap/Sung collaboration, Run This Town, with Jay-ZBeyoncé later gave a typicallyenergetic performance as she hit the stage with her hit If I Were A Boy.But the 28-year-old missed out on the album of theyear, after Taylor Swift became the youngest artist to win the coveted Grammy.In doing so Taylorbroke a record held since 1996 by Alanis Morissette, who was 21 whenshe won for Jagged Little Pill, an album with decidedly more adultcontent.The 20-year-old was also the first solofemale country winner ever of the award, and the first female popwinner since Celine Dion won in 1997 for Falling Into You.We salute you: Beyonce won six Grammys at last night's awards Shealso won the Grammy for best country album, and a pair of awards forher song White Horse - female country vocal performance and bestcountry song.Backstage, Swift told reporters that despite her crossover success in the pop field, she still considered country music her first love.'Country music is absolutely going to be my home because of the stories that are told within country music,' she said.The televised ceremony was packedwith diverse performances, since 100 of the 109 categories wereannounced during a low-profile ceremony earlier in the day.Performance: Pink is suspended by a white sling as she sings her track Glitter in the Air at the Grammy AwardsBeyoncé and Taylor's triumphs came on a nightdominated by pop's female stars, with Pink breaking all the boundarieswith a stunning performance.The singer descended from the ceiling wearing a skin-coloured catsuit to perform her song Glitter in the Air.She was suspended in a white sling underneath her dancers, who wore just gold bikinis and body paint. Skin-coloured: Pink wore a skin tone catsuit on stage with handily placed silver sequins BeforePink even took to the stage the PA at the ceremony at the StaplesCenter warned people in the audience to beware and Pink did notdisappoint as she sang and span at the same time.At one stage Pink turned into a giant sprinkler system as she showered people in the front row seats with water.Lady Gaga had earlier got the show off to a sizzling start with an eye-popping performance with Elton John.Show stopper: Lady Gaga in a green sequined outfit performs her hit Poker Face to kick off the awards Duel: The singer performs with Elton John on a pair of pianos covered in clawed handsThe singer, who won two awards afterbeing nominated for five, kicked off the night in a sequinned greenleotard with massive shoulder pads as she sang her hit Poker Faceduring an elaborate show including pyrotechnics and dramaticchoreography.Then EltonJohn appeared as they melded her song Speechless and his classic YourSong together in a performance that featured duelling pianos covered inclawed hands and glitter-painted faces. As usual, Lady Gaga didn'tdisappoint fans of her eclectic outfits as she enjoyed several costumechanges throughout her performance. Eclectic: GaGa delighted with several outfit changes on the night, and she took home two awardsHer debut album The Fame picked up best dance/electronic album and smash hit single Poker Face took best dance recording.The awards also saw a special effects-laden 3D tribute to the late Michael Jackson and a lifetime achievement award for the King of Pop.His children, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11, appeared on stage after the tribute to accept a lifetime achievement award for the pop star, who died in June of a prescription drug overdose.Good glasses: Juelz Knowles, Beyonce and Jay-Z enjoy a 3D tribute to Michael JacksonCarrieUnderwood, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson and Usherperformed in the tribute, mixing their voices with Michael Jackson'sagainst a backdrop of his 1995 track Earth Song.Tennessee rock band Kings of Leon, were the surprise winners of Record Of The Year for their pop-radio hit Use Somebody.The band, long more popularinternationally, finally achieved mainstream success in the UnitedStates last year with the hit. Brothers Caleb, Nathan and JaredFollowill and their cousin Matthew Followill also won a pair of Grammysin the rock field for the song, taking their career haul to four.Country combo the Zac Brown Band was named best new artist as expected.The Atlanta-based group becomes the first band to win the award since2005.The popular concert draw released its debut album in 2004, but did notachieve national prominence until 2008 when it released its major-labeldebut The Foundation, which peaked at No. 17 on the U.S. pop chart.Mary J. Blige and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli earned a standingovation for their version of Bridge Over Troubled Water, performed asa fundraising tribute to earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The song went on sale at iTunes immediately afterwards.Triumph: Kings of Leon hold up their awards, including Record Of The Year The winners:BEST NEW ARTIST - Zac Brown BandBEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE - Halo - BeyoncéBEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE - If You Don't Know Me By Now - SealBEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS - I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed PeasBEST POP VOCAL ALBUM - The E.N.D. - The Black Eyed PeasBEST DANCE RECORDING - Poker Face - Lady GagaBEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM - Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden - Michael BubleBEST SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE - Working On A Dream - Bruce SpringsteenBEST ROCK ALBUM - 21st Century Breakdown - Green DayBEST RAP SONG - Run This Town - Jeff Bhasker, Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Kanye West Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Jay-Z, Rihanna Kanye West)BEST FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE- White Horse - Taylor SwiftBEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE - Sweet Thing - Keith UrbanMichael Jackson's children Prince and Paris steal the show at the Grammy Awards By UPDATED:19:32 GMT, 5 February 2010It was a stand-out moment that many considered to be the highlight of the Grammy Awards - and one that the rest of the night's performers were hard-pushed to top.Michael Jackson's children Prince Michael and Paris took to the stage at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles to accept the lifetime achievement award on their father's behalf. Although they've spent most of their brief lives shielded from the outside world, their performance in front of the star-studded audience showed the last thing they are lacking is confidence. Accompanied by three of their cousins, Prince Michael, 12, and11-year-old Paris wore black suits with red armbands and red stripesdown the seam of their trousers in tribute to their pop superstarfather.Theshow-stopping appearance was punctuated by a speech by his eldest childwho, looking remarkably mature, thanked Jackson's fans for theirsupport.Prince told the audience: 'We are proud to behere to accept this award on behalf of our father, Michael Jackson.First of all we'd like to thank God for watching over us these lastseven months and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support.'We'd also like to thank the fans, our father loved you so much because you were always there for him.'Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity,through all his hard work and dedication he has helped through manycharities and donated to all of them.'Through all his songs, his message was simple: love. 'We will continue to spread his message and help the world.'Moments before the youngsters stepped on stage, Lionel Richieintroduced a tribute to Jackson, which began with a powerhousecollaboration, including Celine Dion and Smokey Robinson, who sangJackson's Earth Song.A special 3D video montage accompanied the rousing performance -the special film was made for the King Of Pop's This Is It series ofLondon concerts. Audience members, including the many celebrityguests, sported 3D glasses to watch scenes of nature and children asthe five singers sang the emotive Jackson hit. Hair-raising: Celine Dion takes to the stage with furry legsLast updated at 08:43 11 March 2008Her face had been carefully made up, nails polished and outfitprimped just so, but Celine Dion forgot one important thing beforeperforming in Toyko over the weekend.It appeared the My Heart Will Go On singer had forgotten to waxher legs, with severe back lighting revealing their rather hairystate as she strutted around the stage.But despite the grooming oversight, she succeeded in wowing thecrowd with a typically dazzling performance.Scroll down for more...The French Canadian star recently started out on an extensiveworld tour after wrapping her five-year stint at the CaesarsPalace, Las Vegas in December.During her time in Vegas, her show A New Day, which opened inMarch 2003, grossed more than 200million.But the star, who turns 40 later this month, hasnt tired ofperforming, and hit the road again with her husband Rene Angelil,and her 7-year-old son, Rene Charles, in tow.It follows the November release of her latest album TakingChances.Celine, whose tour kicked off on Valentines Day in SouthAfrica, will play two more nights in Japan before moving on toChina.Share this article: A-listers Celine Dion, Miley Cyrus and Barbra Streisand gather in Hollywood to record We Are The World for HaitiBy UPDATED:12:17 GMT, 3 February 2010A host of stars gathered in a Hollywood recording studio on Monday to record a cover of We Are The World to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.Legendary producer Quincy Jones and singer Lionel Richie invited stars including Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Miley Cyrus and Kanye West to participate in the new charity single.Proceeds of the song will go straight to the people of Haiti, who are recovering from the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12.Doing their bit: Singers, rappers, actors and producers gathered in the Jim Henson studios in Hollywood on Monday to record a charity cover of We Are The WorldIn just one afternoon, around 80 stars sang in unison at the famous Jim Henson Studios.The star-studded group also included Akon, Usher, Jeff Bridges, Harry Connick Jnr, Justin Bieber, Natalie Cole, Toni Braxton, Nicole Scherzinger, Brandy, Jason Mraz and Brian Wilson.The charity single comes 25 years after the song was originally released to raise money for Live Aid.Producer Jones said: 'It's the 25th anniversary and it's perfect timing. It'snot an accident, man. That's God. It will be We Are the World forHaiti.'Canadian singer Dion enthused: 'We have a special responsibility to help needy people and this is part of our world.Getting together: Stars including Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Usher,Wyclef Jean, Will.I.Am, Barbra Striesand, LL Cool J, Toni Braxton,Harry Connick Jnr, Natalie Cole, Jeff Bridges and Vince Vaughn sing Singing for Haiti: American Idol judge Randy Jackson, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and Akon'We're all gathering here together to support people in need and to do whatever we can. We'll lend our voices and help however possible.'Also involved was Haiti-native Wyclef Jean, who has already visited the ravaged island.He said: 'This is a great thing... and it's giving us a lot of hope for Haiti.'Socialite Nicole Richie, whose father Lionel co-wrote the song, attended with her partner Joel Madden and their two-year-old daughter Harlow. Writing on her Twitter micro-blogging page, she joked: 'I hope Jennifer Hudson wasn't upset that I was out-singing her tonight. Helping out: Celine Dion (left), Miley Cyrus (centre) and Nicole Richie arrive at the studios'Brian Wilson stood next to me and I got to hear him sing right into my left ear. Can you say AWESOME?'Meanwhile, the British charity single for Haiti was debuted online yesterday.The song, a moving remake of REM's Everybody Hurts, is available from today and features some of the music world's biggest talents. Music mogul Simon Cowell helped to secure 21 of pop's biggest stars to take part in the recording.Opening with vocals from X Factor winner Leona Lewis, the singlealso includes a reunion between Robbie Williams and ex-Take Thatbandmates Gary Barlow and Mark Owen. Showcasing their singing skils: Actors Vince Vaughn (left) and Oscarnominee Jeff Bridges (centre) surprisingly offered their vocals to the track, as did rapper Kanye WestBehind the scenes: Producers Quincy Jones (left) and Rickey Minor (right) join singer/songwriter Lionel RichieStars such as RodStewart, Mariah Carey, Cheryl Cole, Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Buble, KylieMinogue, Susan Boyle and Westlife have also lent their time to thesingle. Everybody Hurts is not released until Sunday, but you can hear it right here. The track is available from hmv.com, play.com, or amazon.co.uk -with all the proceeds split between the Disasters Emergency Committee(DEC) and the Sun newspaper's Helping Haiti campaign.It was debuted yesterday on UK radio, with a positive reaction received from many of the listeners. Scroll down to listen to Everybody Hurts... OnJanuary 12 an 7.0 Mw earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scaledevastated the island displacing an estimated three million people.So far, some 170,000 bodies have been counted, with reports claimingthat 20,000 commercial buildings and 225,000 residences had collapsedor were severely damaged by the quake.Masses of emergency relief has been shipped in to help those affected by the disaster, and fundraising efforts have been put into effect around the globe, with many celebrities aiding the efforts. The new single is one of three songs to be released in aid of the Haiti appeal. To pre-order your copy of Everybody Hurts visit... Here I go again: Abba's Agnetha to record comeback album as she enters studio for first time since 1990s By PUBLISHED:03:58 GMT, 5 October 2012 UPDATED:06:53 GMT, 5 October 2012Reclusive former Abba star Agnetha Faltskog is launching a comeback.The blonde singer, now a 62-year-old grandmother, has returned to the recording studio to record an album of new songs for the first time since the 1990s.But, sadly for Abba fans, she is still rebuffing pleas to sing again with her old bandmates. She is said to be working with Swedish songwriter Jorgen Elofsson who has previously penned and produced tunes for megastars including Britney Spears, Celine Dion and Irish boy band Westlife.After ABBA split in the early 1980s, Miss Faltskog pursued a solo career for a few years, but then went into a music hiatus for most of the 1990s. Her last album, My Colouring Book, contained cover songs and was released in 2004.Miss Faltskog has repeatedly resisted calls for the hugely popular group to reform, even after the success of the film Mamma Mia! which was based around their songs.Its understood that the other members of one of historys most successful ever pop groups Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad have all pushed at various times to reform for a world tour.Miss Faltskog was married to Bjorn after first meeting him at a café when she was 19. They wed in 1971 and had two children before they divorced at the height of Abbas fame. Abba won Eurovision in 1974 in Brighton. They went on to sell 350 million records, and their greatest hits compilation album, Abba Gold, stayed in the charts for more than 400 weeks. The success was so extreme that Miss Faltskog still has difficulty believing it. Its nice to look back on it and sometimes I cant comprehend it, she says.She has two children and a 12-year-old granddaughter.In Sweden, the singer is known as Garbo the second because she shies away from publicity.But she insisted in an interview: They spread that I am hiding, that I am the new Greta Garbo. Its not the way it is. I just want to live in peace and quiet. One of the reasons the singer gave for wanting a break from Abba was the rigours of touring around the world, especially after she had children.I sometimes suffered enormously from a bad conscience and longing for my children, she said in an interview. There were many mixed feelings and contrasts with Abba. Such as tours when we lived a life of luxury, then came home to washing up and cooking. But she insisted the reason she never wanted to get back together with the group had nothing to do with her relationship with her fellow female singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad.We didnt fight, she said. But we have to live a whole lot of such misinterpretations. We supported one another. Say, if one of us had a cold or felt under the weather. We feel incredibly proud that the music never seems to die. A new generation likes it and that gives you great hope, she added after being presented with a lifetime achievement award by a Swedish newspaper.In recent years, Miss Faltskog has appeared in public with the other three Abba stars at a number of premieres and promotional events for the film Mamma Mia! But she still made it clear she had no plans to record with them.A spokesman for the singer said it wasnt yet known when the album of new material will be released. How to haggle an upgradeBy UPDATED:09:38 GMT, 11 July 2005WHAT would you rather have - a dingy, below-decks, windowless cruise ship cabin, or a deluxe ocean view with private balcony? A two-bedroom cottage or three-bedroom villa? Goat class airline seat with dry bun or club class flatbed and champagne? Yes, of course - if you could only afford it, you'd go upmarket every time. But did you know thousands of holidaymakers every year get five-star service at three-star prices simply by wangling an upgrade? And - more important - did you know just how easy it is to achieve? To prove the point, our man rang several travel companies posing as an ordinary punter. First, he asked for rates for standard accommodation and then requested the next grade (or two) up for nothing. How many would go for it? We were amazed at the results. In every case, a free upgrade was offered. Read how he did it - and then find out how you can do it, too. We've even included a section on the best tips for getting upgraded on planes, which only ever get doled out on the day, so you can get to your upgraded villa in upgraded comfort . . . The palatial Paris hotelAT THE Crillon I asked for a double room for 26-27 August and was told the price for a superior room for two with breakfast was 399. What was the next category? A deluxe room priced 453, replied Celine, the reservations assistant. I asked for a free upgrade. She said she'd log the request, but could not guarantee one. I persisted: I wanted a guaranteed, free upgrade. 'Would you be happy with the superior price?' Celine suddenly asked. Yes, but only if I could get the deluxe room. 'Well, I'm happy to confirm the deluxe room for the superior price,' Celine concluded. Hotel de Crillon, Paris (00 33 1 44 71 15 00; ) The cruise to VeniceWANT to get almost 1,000 worth of upgrade free? Holland America listed a brochure price of 1,809 for a standard cabin on its 14-night Cultural Impression cruise between Rotterdam and Venice. But when I requested the best possible upgrade, the agent, Jo, told me she could offer me a special deal on an outside cabin. Although no cabin number would be issued until I got aboard, I would be guaranteed at least an obscured-view outside cabin - and might well end up with something considerably better. The price I was offered was 1,229, including flights and transfers - an incredible bit of upgrade wheeler-dealing when you consider that the brochure price for an outside cabin is listed at 2,079 to 3,199. Holland America Line (020 7940 4477; ) The Cotswolds getawayTHE Lygon Arms in Broadway is a classic upmarket country hotel with a flash chef and a spa. Its cheapest room, a standard double with breakfast for 26-27 August, was 240 per night. The next category up, a deluxe double, was 305 so I asked the reservation assistant, Mary-Anne, if she could provide the deluxe for 240. She said it was a busy time as my planned break coincided with a Bank Holiday. I said I could be flexible and come the weekend before. Mary Anne checked availability. She came back on the line to confirm she would provide the upgrade at the standard price.Lygon Arms (01386 852255; ) The Algarve villa PAUL, the agent, confirmed that the two-bedroom Colinas Verdes cottage in their brochure was available for the October half-term week at 716. It came with a private pool, and was located at Fazenda Caravela, eight miles from the Algarve coast in Portugal. There would be three children in our party, I said, and one could go on the Z-bed in the living room . . . but it would be better if we had more room. Would they let me have the three-bedroom Villa Luisa nearby at the same price? (The brochure said it had a pool and large grounds and cost 895). Paul agreed that the larger property would provide more room - and immediately complied with my request. Travel Club of Upminster (01708 225000; ) The London break BANG in the middle of theatreland, the Covent Garden Hotel is something of a celeb haunt. I requested a double room for 26-27 August and the booking clerk informed me of a special promotional offer of a superior double room for 230 per night which included breakfast and a 15-minute massage. But I wanted all that and a luxury room, which was 255 even without the frills. Would he give me a guaranteed upgrade? He agreed without hesitation. Covent Garden Hotel, London (020 7806 1000; ) The cruise to Canada THE reservations agent at Fred Olsen said only two inside cabins (grade H) were still available, priced 3,610, on its 21-night Canadian cruise from Southampton. They were probably real dungeons, I said. What I needed was an outside cabin for the same price. It wasn't looking great when it emerged that all the G category cabins (the next grade up) were already booked . . . but, following a speedy check, the agent offered an F class outside cabin (ie two categories up) for 3,735 instead of 4,150. Fred Olsen (01473 742424; ) Mallorca in September THE reservation assistant said that a one-week stay at the three-bedroom Casa Golf in Mallorca from 24 September would cost 1,045, while 1,119 would secure the four-bedroom Villa C'an Bauca. Could I upgrade and get the latter for the price of the former? She suggested a compromise price of 1,080 (ie 35 more than Casa Golf). I demurred - and amazingly, she then suggested that if I took a fortnight booking, she would be willing to offer it for 1,857 - 43 under the 1,900 asking price for Casa Golf. The Villa Collection (01753 853 737; ) +++HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR CHANCES. . . ... AND HOW TO ESCAPE GOAT CLASS THERE'S a lot of nonsense talked about the tricks that guarantee airline upgrades. Sorry - it's not that simple. But you can maximise your chances of being promoted from economy class, commonly described as 'goat' by disgruntled passengers. Here's how it works. To make their routes profitable, airlines need to fill their planes to the brim. Yet often people don't turn up for the flight - so the companies allow for 'no-shows' and double-book some seats. So when almost everyone does turn up, they have to bump a few of us into the class above, which is more likely to have spare seats. As the check-in queue dwindles, a picture emerges. Only then are complimentary upgrades handed out. At the front of the upgrades queue are the frequent flyers with the airline; followed by those who have paid most for their economy tickets; then, those brandishing doctors' letters requesting more comfort and leg room (such passengers can't take up the exit seats unless they're fully mobile and therefore the only other option is upgrading). If there are any upgrades left over it's a free-for-all. Always be polite and smartly dressed. Then make requests all the way down the line from time of booking to the departure gate. At check-in, report to the club class desk. Explain that a request for an upgrade you made at time of booking should be logged in the computer system - if they can't find it, the staff member will generally phone the supervisor for advice. Even if you fail, at least you'll have jumped the interminable economy class check in. A frequent flyer I know who switches airlines constantly and therefore doesn't qualify for loyalty upgrades, claims to have had most success by not requesting an upgrade until he reaches the departure gate airside where staff are less busy. Another friend claims to have met success three times by flirting with cabin staff ('The purser's best'). But when it comes to charter flights - forget it. You'll have to pay for any upgrades as the airline knows exactly how many passengers have been booked. Indiana Jones and the hunt for his specsLast updated at 23:13 02 May 2008As the summer blockbuster season kicks off at the cinema thisweekend with Iron Man - rather than Ironing Man; something wedreally like to see - we thought you would like the Non DomesticGoddesss pick of the films to watch out for.You wouldnt? Tough. Here goes:Fast Cars, Big Explosions, Sexy LadiesAlthough the exact details of this film have yet to be released,it is expected to involve a fast car, a big explosion and then asexy lady. However, the sexiness of the sexy lady may not beapparent until she takes her glasses off. Previously, she may evenhave looked quite studious, disapproving and no fun whatsoever.This is a sequel to last summers smash hit, Fast Cars, BigExplosions, but its expected to do even better at the boxoffice now sexy ladies have been added.Demi Moore, who turned down the latest Charlies Angels film- Charlies Angels: Full Frontal - to appear in this has said:I play a sexy lady who isnt sexy at all until she takesher glasses off.Scroll down for more ...The next film in the franchise, already in the works, isprovisionally titled: Fast Cars, Big Explosions, Sexy Ladies And AnUnconventional Man In A Vest Who Will Not Listen To Authority.The Incredible HulkAlthough Marvels last attempt to film The Incredible Hulkresulted in the disastrous, unpopular Ang Lee movie of 2003, it isback again with this version starring Edward Norton. Apparently, itwas the Hulk himself that made Marvel do it.He came into the office one day, recalls anexecutive, and said: Why no one make Hulk 2? It makeHulk mad. Make Hulk film or Hulk smash truck and then smashyou.The impressive cast also includes William Hurt, Tim Roth and, atthe Hulks insistence, Liv Tyler: She pretty. Hulk like.Hulk not smash. Hulk kiss. The film is being billed as theperfect summer movie, particularly by the Hulk. It perfectsummer movie. You go see. Or hulk smash truck. And Hulk smash tree.Then Hulk smash you.The IcebergCompanion film to Titanic, told entirely from the icebergspoint of view. No one ever talks about the icebergs sideof this tragic saga, says director James Cameron.Its always about the boat, and, until now, Ive beenas guilty as anyone.Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet will reprise their roles, butthis time will be seen as the iceberg would have seen them.Were nothing more than something in its way,says Winslet. At no point did the iceberg set out to get theboat; it was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It would bea mistake to blame it, which is why I think this film is soimportant.Asked if she still gets to wear a nice hat with a big ribbonaround it, Winslet says: Yes. But Im not going to tellyou any more than that!The film, which opens when the iceberg first forms, is a millionyears long and features a theme tune sung by Celine Dion, whichwould make it seem as if it was anyway. Thats why Celineis so perfect, says Cameron.Ms Winslet also declined Charlies Angels: Full Frontal.I dont take my hat off for anyone, she says.Indiana Jones And The Hunt For HisSpectaclesThe first Indiana Jones film in 19 years features Harrison Fordas an older Indy, Cate Blanchett as a Commie, Karen Allen reprisingher role from the first film, and Shia LaBeouf as, possibly,Indys son. Anticipation for the film has been heightened byabsolute secrecy; so much so that neither George Lucas nor StevenSpielberg would confirm whether a hunt for something or other wasactually involved.Maybe it is, says Lucas, and maybe itisnt. Spielberg added: We dont want to ruinit for people either way though the title does rather givethe game away.Can Harrison Ford still cut it as the worlds greatestadventurer? Well have to wait and see, though his co-star,Cate Blanchett, has no doubts. Hes hopeless, shesays, much too old. Boy, was I pleased when it was allover.My Big Fat BarmitzvahMel Gibson wrote, directed and stars in this film as ReubenSchopenheimer-Goldfleb, a truly lovely Jew who is truly lovely toeveryone: calls his mother regularly; takes his sister-in-lawflowers when invited over for Seder night; thinks long and hardabout barmitzvah presents and doesnt just give money likeeveryone else.Sometimes it will be a fountain pen, says Gibson,but even that shows more thought than a cheque.Gibson, who, in 2006, made anti-Semitic remarks - Jews areresponsible for all the wars in the world; are you a Jew? -to the officer who arrested him for drinkdriving, believes thismovie will fully restore his reputation in Hollywood.At no point do you ever see Reuben being responsible forall the wars in the world, he says. Sending flowers,yes. But being responsible for all the wars in the world, no.The fact is, Jews, if they put their minds to it, can becapable of busying themselves with other things. Personally, I likeJews a lot, and some arent even that mean with money. A bitmean, but not that mean.The film co-stars Adam Sandler as Reubens nephew, SollySchopenheimer-Goldfleb, who can peel a banana with his toes which,says Gibson, isnt particularly a Jewish thing to do,just as starting wars isnt.Although the Jewish community - who say they are awash withfountain pens and would prefer the cheque, every time - have yet tosee the film, they think its looking good. As one leadingJewish thinker said: Its looking good, and now I mustthink.The March Of The Kit-KatsThis will depict the arduous, one-time-only journey of a Kit-Katfrom shop shelf to almost certain death at the hands of a humanunless it is taken back to a house, put in a cupboard, andforgotten about. However, as there are very few people who can havea Kit-Kat in the house and not think about it, this is the leastlikely outcome.Director Teri OHanny, whose previous films include AProcession Of Bite-Size Mars Bars, filmed for a whole year outsidea local newsagent to get the footage.I think it will shock a lot of people, she says.I saw Kit-Kats being slain the moment they left the shop, andthey were the lucky ones. At least it was quick. Other Kit-Katswere subjected to torturous deaths, even being nibbled around theedges before the human aggressor went in for the kill.She hopes the film will make people more Kit-Kat aware. IfI can save one Kit-Kat, Ill have done my job, she says.If I save two, Ill have more than done my job, and willprobably give one back.Its narrated, somnolently, by both Morgan Freemanand Samuel L. Jackson, who agreed to toss for it butthen lost the coin.Two Cute Little Dogs And A Talking Cat Go On AnIncredible Journey But Arrive Home SafeThe latest Pixar animation features two cute little dogs and atalking cat who go on an incredible adventure but then arrive homesafe.Youll laugh, youll cry, and then theyllhave arrived back home safe, says a Pixar spokesman.Voices are provided by Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman and Morgan L.Jackson, as they never found the coin and decided to merge.Return of the stupid handbagsCarrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte return in the movieversion of the popular TV series Sex And The City in which Carrietyped a lot in her bra, asking questions like Are wesluts? even though they so are.The focus of the movie is on Carries wedding to Mr Big andwill probably feature a number of stupid handbags which no one willclock as a stupid handbag even though if you met usomeone carryinga handbag like that you would say: Whats with the stupidhandbag? Ive never seen anything so dumb in my life.Fans of the TV series hope the movie will stay true to its rootsand will show not only the dumb handbags, but also the four as suchbusy, professional women they only ever have time to meet forbreakfast, brunch, detoxifying bodywraps, lunch, manicures, anafternoon snack, six trips round Bloomingdales, massages,cocktails, pedicures, dinner and nightcaps ... and then breakfastagain, after being sh***ed silly all night. Perhaps, this time,theyll at least get to do something on their own.Share this article: Irresistible scents for summerby LIZ STOUT, femail.co.ukSummer has brought with it a new breed of deliciously femininefragrances that will keep you smelling fresh and alluring.Just arriving on counter is Oscar Tropical from Parfums Oscar deLa Renta (28/100ml edt), a light fruity scent infused withthe floral tones of frangipani blossom, ylang ylang and orangeblossom.If you prefer to wear something very light once the sun startsshining, there's an alcohol-free Body Mist too(25/100ml).Browse our picture gallery of fragrances to help you findthe perfect summer-time scent ... Click on the link,right.Both come in a gorgeous green and blue two-tone bottles thatevoke memories of lazy days spent in faraway tropical lands.If you can't resist the lure of a beautiful bottle, you'll alsolove Celine for women, which hits the shelves this month(42/100ml edt).The slender rectangular bottle is wrapped in an open workedmetal shell, reavealing the silver 'Celine' signature on thetransparent glass.The fragrance is equally tempting - a light and ultra-feminineblend of fresh fruits and florals, intensified with richer tones ofmusk, amber and vanilla.Fendi have added a sensual summer twist to their rich fragrance,Theorema, once again this year (29/50ml edp).The new scent is much lighter than the original, with zestylemon and bergamot but the rich mysterious base notes are stillthere - spicy sandalwood and irresistibly sensual musk.If fresh, green fragrances are more your cup of tea, check outMat; (32.50/40ml edp - stockists: 08457 697072) theexclusive scent from Japanese fashion designer, MasakiMatsushima.It's fruity and floral without being sickly sweet oroverpowering - juniper berry, parsley and watermelon blendingbeautifully with the scent of fresh tea leaves, bamboo andmint.Another fresh, fragrance to try is Eau de Beaute by Frenchskincare company, Darphin (30/100ml - stockists: 020 88471777).This fragrant mist made with the purest natural plant aromas,plant essences and essential oils not only leaves you smellingdelicious but helps to moisturise, firm and tone the skin too.Sweet-smelling rose hydrates while passionflower soothes anddecongests and ivy gentian and sage stimulate the production ofelastin and collagen for firmer, younger-looking skin all over.Share this article: Is it easier for men to survive in the fashion world than women? Why female designers struggle to get noticed in competitive industryPUBLISHED:21:50 GMT, 1 May 2012 UPDATED:21:50 GMT, 1 May 2012A host of major fashion industry names have spoken out about the favouritism towards male designers.Three-quarters of last year's Council Of Fashion Designers Of America Award winners, which included Marc Jacobs and Prabal Gurung, were made up of men.It is a curious figure considering that 85per cent of graduates from Parsons, one of the city's top fashion schools, are women.Now has questioned whether it is easier for men to survive in the fashion world than women.Sophie Buhai, of the label Vena Cava told the site that fashion industry success relies on the favoritism of magazine editors.She said: 'We see a lot of women who don't get as much attention as the male designers who are adored by editors.'The CFDA/ Vogue Fashion Fund, which brings together a panel of well-respected fashion personalities who voteon annual award winners, also found that men dominate the talent pool.Its top honours have only gone to two female recipients, Doo-Ri Chung and Sophie Theallet, in its eight-year history.There is no denying that designers such as Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang, Donna Karen, Carolina Herrera, The Row's Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, Rodarte's Kate and Laura Mulleavy and Celine's Phoebe Philo have all built solid names for themselves.And while it is no secret that magazines wield a significant amount of power within the New York fashion industry, are women being intentionally excluded?It could come down to how some women prioritise their family life over their career, according to Norma Kamali.The designer of the iconic red swimsuit Farrah Fawcett wore in the 1976 Charlie's Angel promotional poster, said: 'There was a point in my life, I had to stop and think, do I want to have children or do I want to do this?'Butin March of this year, an eight-month-pregnant Ms Philo proved that a female designer is able to have the best of both worlds.Her decision to invite only a handful ofmagazine editors to her Fall 2012 show for Celine was well received. Infact, it added further exclusivity to the ultra-hip and somewhat elusive label.Maria Cornejo, the New York designer behind Zero and Maria Cornejo, said: 'Bless Phoebe. She's saying, "you know what, I'm having a kid and that takes priority".'Mrs Cornejo added that men work differently to women. She said they have a different 'business model.'DaniellaVitale, the chief women's merchant at Barney's, argued that a designer's gender plays no part in sales. It is all about the designs themselves.She said: '[Customers] respond to the design, quality, fit, and aesthetic. It's not gender-specific.'Taking the plunge! Jenna Dewan displays plenty of decolletage in a revealing dress as she goes back to her brunette roots following blonde phase By PUBLISHED:05:14 GMT, 12 September 2012 UPDATED:08:18 GMT, 12 September 2012She went bottle blonde last month for a new film role.But actress Jenna Dewan-Tatum has gone back to her brunette roots and displayed her natural hair colour at New York Fashion Week today. The 31-year-old also showed off plenty of decolletage as she slipped into a plunging black and white beaded number to sit front row at the Naeem Khan Spring 2013 show. Channing Tatum wife's looked stunning in the form-fitting frock which displayed her trim and toned figure. She paired the look with some chic black accessories, including patent stilettos and a matching clutch handbag. Jenna has gone back to her dark hair colour after last month dying her tresses blonde for a film role. In August the actress posted a picture of herself with radical short blonde bob.Posting the photo on Twitter, the usually brunette star asked: 'Do blondes really have more fun?? About to find out :)'She added the next day: 'Oh, and the new hair is just for a role guys...started a new movie today:)'Jenna was recently cast as Adam Levine's love interest on the hit cable show American Horror Story.The second season of the show, which recently started shooting, focuses on an institution for the criminally insane during the 1960s.Levine and Dewan-Tatum will play The Lovers, a major couple on the series.'The second season is fun, sexy and baroque,' the show's creator, Ryan Murphy, told E! Online recently.'It has a lot of meat to it; it's a really gritty part,' said Murphy, who also created the hit show Nip/Tuck and is one of the co-creators of Glee.Jenna is currently said to be filming the TV movie She Made Them Do It. Prior to her acting career, the former prom queen was a background dancer for singers including 'N Sync, Sean Combs, Toni Braxton, Celine Dion, Pink, Missy Elliott and Ricky Martin. In 2001 she appeared in Janet Jackson's music video All for You and toured with Jackson on her All for You Tour.Jenna was also featured in Christina Aguilera's music video for the single Not Myself Tonight in 2010.In 2006, Dewan met Channing Tatum on the set of Step Up. They began dating shortly after filming had finished.The couple got engaged in early September 2008 and were married in July 2009 in Malibu, California.Also at the Naeem Khan show today was Top Chef host Padma Lakshi, who was in full bloom wearing a floral short-sleeve dress, and Fast And The Furious star Jordana Brewster, who displayed her curves in a tight-fitting black shift adorned with silver mini-stripes. Jennifer Aniston can't bear sharing a flat with all these 'friends' By UPDATED:00:12 GMT, 18 December 2011Jennifer Aniston shot to fame playing flatmate Rachel in the New York sitcom Friends. But now the 42-year-old is not finding Big Apple apartment life quite so funny she is being hounded out of her Manhattan home by the fans.Only last April the actress, left, splashed out £3.8million on two luxury flats in New Yorks trendy West Village after deciding to quit Los Angeles. She planned to knock the two together to create a dream home with her new actor boyfriend, Justin Theroux, 40, a cousin of British documentary maker Louis Theroux. But after months of being besieged by photographers, she now wants to relocate to a more private neighbourhood.Jennifer is not dealing well with having the photographers loiter outside her building, says a spy. There are also always lots of fans and she feels vulnerable every time she steps out. Shes finding shes just too famous to live where she wanted.Jennifer may now move to the citys Upper East or Upper West Side, where Ben Affleck and Madonna live. Jen wants a place with more anonymity, security and privacy, adds the source. She and Justin will probably keep a small place in LA but the focus for them is living in New York. ..........................................................................................................Schoolgirl Celine Buckens is about to make her debut in Steven Spielbergs eagerly awaited screen version of War Horse, but has vowed not to turn her back on her studies to pursue stardom.The 15-year-old, right, who stars alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Emily Watson in the First World War drama, spoke to me at a celebrity performance of The Nutcracker by the English National Ballet. She said: It was hard to balance school work and filming but luckily the majority of my scenes were shot during the summer holidays. I have always wanted to be an actress and have appeared in lots of school productions. After I have taken my GCSEs, I plan to stay on at school and take A-levels in history, maths, English literature and theatre studies. War Horse is released in Britain next month. ....................................................Actress Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick have finally solved their lack of space problem, having been on the hunt for a larger house since the arrival of their twins two years ago. Taking a leaf out of her Sex And The City character Carrie Bradshaws book, Sarah, 46, has found a flat two blocks from the family townhouse in New Yorks West Village to use as an office. Its life mirroring art, as Carrie did the same thing in the TV show, says a friend. Sarah likes to write, and its impossible with her toddlers. She can afford the luxury of more than one home. Sex And The Citys Carrie kept two apartments in the show so that she could take time out of her marriage, but Sarah will be using the flat only for work, says her publicist. ............................................................................................................Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White claims hes never watched Downton Abbey but he plans to name his latest gastro pub after the hit ITV show. He has acquired the Carnarvon Arms pub in Highclere Park, a stones thrown from Lord and Lady Carnarvons pile Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey is filmed. We have renovated the pub and I thought a name change was a good idea, Im thinking about the Downton Abbey Hotel, says Marco. The pub, has 23 bedrooms which have all been renovated and Im told are more than fit for a Lord and Lady. .............................................................................................................Katy Perry will use the Christmas break from her mammoth 251-date California Dreams world tour to build some bridges with husband Russell Brand.Shes barely seen Russell since they were married in October last year, and there have been some rough times during her absence, says a friend. Katy, 27, left, is so relieved to get some time off, her management are concerned she may cancel her final two tour dates in the New Year. Katy is really not looking forward to her final shows in Jakarta and Manila. Russell thinks she should call it a day. Katys spokesman was unavailable for comment.Jim Carrey's daughter doesn't make the cut and one contestant takes a dangerous spill during American Idol's Hollywood Week By UPDATED:11:43 GMT, 9 February 2012There's never a dull moment on American Idol, and the season has barely even begun. The first night of Hollywood Week didn't reveal any clear frontrunners - yet - but there was a whole lot of drama occurring before judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson's eyes. Though celebrity offspring Jane Carrey made it through to Hollywood Week, she didn't make it through the first round. Jim Carrey's 24-year-old waitress daughter wanted to use the Idol stage as an opportunity to break away from her father's limelight. Aside from one calamity and one celebrity fail, there wasn't much in the way of overwhelming talent or crazy moments on the show from the remaining 308 contestants, all of whom sang a capella. Good-looking Fort Lauderdale waiter Johnny Keyser made it through to round two after singing Amos Lee's Dreamin.' Where Keyser was confident, his following act, Heejun Han, was beyond nervous. 'I don't know what these guys all eatout here, they're all so good-looking,' he told the camera, before haveyet another freakout. Kanye West sets Twitter tongues wagging as he mysteriously abandons his page... but says he will 'be back soon' By PUBLISHED:15:44 GMT, 5 October 2012 UPDATED:22:00 GMT, 5 October 2012He was once a big fan of Twitter but it seems Kanye West has tired of the social networking site at least for now.The rapper has abandoned his page and mysteriously deleted all but one of his tweets. The remaining Twitter message reads simply: BE BACK SOON.It would seem that while the star is taking a time-out from micro-blogging, he is keen to let his 8million strong followers know it wont be forever.Kanye is also following just one other Twitter user his reality star girlfriend Kim Kardashian.At the top of Kanyes page, which notably has a blank background, it says that he has posted 32 tweets.But only his message of absence is visible to users of the site.It is not a move his Twitter-obsessed girlfriend is likely to copy anytime soon.The pair have been spending some time apart while Kanye has been in France this week to hit the shows at Paris Fashion Week.He has rocked up to Chrstian Dior, Celine and Givenchy, as well as attending a handful of the glamorous parties.Meanwhile Kim is currently based in Florida for a three-month stint while filming spin-off show Kourtney and Kim Take Miami.However before heading to Paris Kanye squeezed in a trip to see his curvaceous other half.He was spotted leaving her hotel last Thursday following a fleeting visit.From rap singer to runway star: Kanye West set to launch fashion collection for WOMEN (enlisting the help of Brit designers) By UPDATED:15:41 GMT, 13 July 2011Kanye West made headlines at Coachella when he wore a women's shirt by French label Celine.But it looks as though he has womenswear on the mind as he is rumoured to be debuting a collection at New York Fashion Week this year.And it appears the singer, who has design studios in New York and London, isn't leaving anything to chance.He has enlisted the help of British knitwear designer Louise Goldin and St Martins professor Louise Wilson to give him lessons, Grazia Daily today revealed.The Gold Digger singer is often pictured front row at Fashion Week and has already designed a range of scarves featuring his album artwork.The range included the cover of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which he eventually had to withdraw after it was deemed too graphic. He was also a fashion columnist for online magazine Complex.If his music videos are anything to go by however, Kanye's collection is sure to be controversial.The 33-year-old attracted criticism last month after featuring models hanging with nooses around their necks and a couple feasting on a human corpse for new single Monster. Belle of the ball: Kate Middleton lead the way at the War Horse premiere in Leicester Square with a stunning floor-length gown, as Prince William shielded her from the rain'I am delightedthat the UK Premiere of War Horse is in aid of The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry and that this special occasion is attended by two of the patrons, Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.''War Horse encapsulates for me a timeless personal story of courage. The movie, which I am proud to say was filmed here in Great Britain, deals with the discovery of humanity against conflict, and celebrates bravery, loyalty, tenacity and hope.''Weare honoured to dedicate this event in aid of the Foundation which recognises the welfare of those who serve their country in the British Armed Forces.'Six hundred serving and ex-serving military personnel and their families are also attended the premiere, alongside beneficiaries of military charities, with which the Foundation of PrinceWilliam and Prince Harry has been working. Theservicemen and women have been invited from The Duke of Cambridges regiments, including RAF Search and Rescue, Household Cavalry, Irish Guards, Royal Air Force Coningsby, Scotland Royal Naval Command and Submarines Royal Naval Command. Meanwhile, Tom Hiddleston, who plays Captain Nicholls in the film, has admitted that he lied about how competent a horse rider he was when he signed up to the project.He said: 'I claimed to ride "competently" but in reality I looked more like Billy Crystal at the beginning of 'City Slickers' than a cavalry officer: heels out and sitting back like a sack of potatoes, as though I was riding some kind of living motorbike. Hopeless. 'The grooms and stuntsman, the best in the world, quickly disabused me of my bad habits: drill for four hours a day for five weeks, "Heels down! Elbows! Hands to you! Sit up straight! Shoulders back!" 'Always gracious: Kate looked delighted as she received a bunch of flowers from a young fan Time to celebrate: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were later seen arriving at the premiere afterparty, held at the Queen's GalleryKleenex for Kate as she sheds a tear at War Horse premiere (and director Steven Spielberg admits he cried too) By UPDATED:13:03 GMT, 10 January 2012As the story of an unlikely friendship between a boy and his horse, it is an unashamed weepy designed to tug on the heartstrings.And it certainly had the desired effect on the Duchess of Cambridge, who apparently cried from start to finish at last nights royal premiere of Steven Spielbergs new film, War Horse.In an interview with BBC Breakfast today, the legendary director revealed that his actress wife, Kate Capshaw, had even been passing tissues to sobbing Kate.I was sitting next to her and all I know is at one point my wife, who was sitting to my right, right in front of my face she passed a Kleenex ... I saw the Kleenex go across my face, arrive and stop but I didn't want to intrude on her experience watching War Horse so I never glanced over, he said. 'According to my peripheral vision her eyes were dabbed.' The director, who admitted he cried at the stage production of War Horse, said he did not know if Prince William also shed any tears.Kate, who celebrates her 30th birthday today was attending the premiere, in aid of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, at London's Leicester Square last night.The stars of the film, including Emma Watson, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch were also present.Themovie, which has been tipped for an Oscar, is an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's classic novel, where a boy tries to track down his horse after it is shipped away to serve in World War One.And thanks to her well prepared husband and his trusty umbrella keeping her dry, Kate, who chose a full-length Alice Temperley gown for the occasion, triumphed at her first royal film premiere.The duchesss co-star on the red carpet was the films equine leading man a chestnut colt called Joey, who had his own PR and personal manure scooper (with good reason).The Duchess is famously said to have an allergy to horses, an unfortunate affliction to have if you hope to marry into a family utterly obsessed by all things equestrian.Indeed, Prince Philip once famously said of his daughter, Princess Anne: 'If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she's not interested.' Spielberg, posing on the red carpet with actor Jeremy Irvine and horse Joey, admitted he cried during the stage production of War HorseWhen the pair are forcibly separated by the First World War, the film follows Joeys extraordinary journey asan officers steed and Alberts search for him.Like the original book, it also focuses on the atrocious conditions horses were forced to endure during the Great War. Somewhere between four and eight million perished on both sides - and at times as many as 1,000 a day were arriving in France from Britain to replace those who had been lost.Morpurgos book was turned into a phenomenally successfully stage show seen by both William and his grandmother, the Queen - which is currently playing in London and New York, before Spielberg spotted its potential as a film.Last night Mr Morpurgo told the Mail:'Not in my wildest dreams did I ever expect something like this when I was sitting there writing my story all those years ago. It is such a wonderful, wonderful honour.'Steven Spielberg has made a masterpiece, a film that is both moving and dark, uplifting and one thattackles the true horrors of the first world war. It will last for generations.'I am so honoured that the Duke and Duchess have chosen this for their first royal film premiere. She is such a beautiful young woman, so full of dignity. I am going to send hera copy of the book for her birthday. Belle of the ball: Kate Middleton lead the way at the War Horse premiere in Leicester Square with a stunning floor-length gown, as Prince William shielded her from the rain'I fear for William': Duchess tells military wife of her worries about Prince's risky helicopter rescue missions By UPDATED:10:59 GMT, 4 July 2011The Duchess of Cambridge fears that Prince William will have an accident on a risky helicopter rescue mission, it emerged today.She opened her heart about her concerns to a military wife on the couple's royal tour of Canada.Kate said: 'I always worry, but my job is to support my husband. You should always support your husband.'She revealed her worries after laying wreaths with William on the tomb of the unknown soldier at Ottawa's war memorial.The day before, the couple had slipped away for a romantic boat trip at Gatineau National Park on the outskirts of Quebec.They spent four hours in a remote log cabin at Harrington Lake, the hideaway used by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.Yesterday after paying respects to Canada's war dead, the 29-year-old Duchess spoke to former army private Celine Drapeau.Celine, 52, told her she worried for the safety of her husband, a military policeman, who was away for long periods.According to the Sunday Express, Kate responded:' I always worry when William goes off on a mission. I find it very difficult.'You always fear for them not knowing if something is going to happen and it can be very hard.'Celine said later that she thought it was 'very brave' of Kate to reveal her true feelings and it was a 'great comfort' to know she understood the fears of service families.William has carried out a number of rescue missions while working as a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales, where he lives with Kate in a rented farmhouse. He was part of a four-man team on an RAF Sea King who winched to safety a walker stuck 3,000ft up Mount Snowdon in stormy weather.His brother Prince Harry, 26, is expected to return to Afghanistan next Aprilafter qualifying to fly an Apache helicopter.Kate's concern for William were revealed just a day after the loving couple enjoyed a few hours away from the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who have turned the tour into 'Katemania'.The couple rowed to the isolated log cabin where other members of the Royal Family have stayed, including the Queen. It is so basic it does not even have hot water.A senior aide to the couple said: They were completely alone for four hours. They went boating together in one of the most beautiful settings you could imagine.'It was a very welcome and impromptu period for them to spend some time alone.'The couple are planning more private time together with widespread speculation they will stay at the lavish Outlook Cabin in the Rocky Mountains at Jasper, Alberta.Water, water, everywhere... Kate Winslet manages to dodge the rain with the help of an assistant on the set of Labor Day By PUBLISHED:06:10 GMT, 8 June 2012 UPDATED:09:01 GMT, 8 June 2012With water all around her she must have felt like she was back on the set of Titanic.Kate Winslet just about managed to dodge the rain as she filmed her new movie Labor Day, in Boston Massachusetts, yesterday afternoon.The 36-year-old took shelter under an umbrella as the heavens opened just as she finished filming a scene for the new project.The curvy actor was dressed rather conservatively in a long purple skirt that she teamed with a short sleeved cardigan and a floral blouse.The mother-of-two was escorted back to her trailer by a hair and make-up artist after having stood under a tree for a little while, waiting for the rain to stop.Once the grey clouds had passed she returned to set and continued filming but then was seen jumping into a car shortly afterwards to take a lunch break. In Labor Day, the British actor plays a depressed single mother who gives a male hitchhiker a ride through town.Gradually she finds out that the drifter is actually an escaped convict and the local police department are searching for him.The movie, which is due out on 2013, also stars Josh Brolin and Dawson's Creek actor James Van Der Beek.The often outspoken Kate recently caused controversy when she publicly criticised the Titanic theme, My Heart Will Go On.She told MTV News: 'I feel like throwing up when I hear it. No, I shouldn't say that. No, actually, I do feel like throwing up.'I wish I could say, "Oh listen, everybody! It's the Celine Dion song!" But I don't.'I just have to sit there, you know, kind of straight-faced with a massive internal eye roll.'Rather than harbour ill feelings towards the actress because of her cruel comments, Celine has admitted she understands where Kate is coming from.The 44-year-old diva said: If I just count how many times I've sung it, maybe it'll get me sick. If she feels tired just hearing it, and, like, throwing up, I'm glad she was not the one singing it.'It makes me want to throw up!' Kate Winslet reveals her TRUE feelings about Celine Dion's Titanic song My Heart Will Go On By PUBLISHED:12:11 GMT, 30 March 2012 UPDATED:15:06 GMT, 30 March 2012It remains one of the best-selling singles of all time, spending an astonishing 20 weeks in the UK charts.But now Kate Winslet has spoken about Celine Dion's Titanic song My Heart Will Go On, admitting that the emotional song makes her feel sick.The 36-year-old actress added that while she attempts to control her emotions about the heart-wrenching song, she always does a 'massive internal eye roll'.Scroll down for videoShe told MTV News: 'I feel like throwing up when I hear it. No, I shouldn't say that. No, actually, I do feel like throwing up. 'I wish I could say, "Oh listen, everybody! It's the Celine Dion song!" But I don't. 'I just have to sit there, you know, kind of straight-faced with a massive internal eye roll.'While the track is much-loved by Titanic fans, it has attracted criticism in the past, with Rolling Stone even naming it one of the worst songs in the 90s in a poll.But talking about the song, Celine said: 'My Heart Will Go On is for me a classic. And to be part of a classic is something I feel very proud of.'Meanwhile, talking about the effect starring in Titanic has had on her career, Kate said she would never have become as famous as she has become without the James Cameron movie.She told Magic 105.4: 'I'm fortunate enough to get to choose the roles I play these days, largely due to the success of Titanic actually, and so I do like choosing things that are risky and a little bit unexpected.'It was really Titanic that provided that creative freedom for me and actually then years later becoming a mother, it has been so brilliant the success of that film, because it has meant I haven't had to work as well and I can completely be a mum.'Travelling in style: Khloe Kardashian jets off to Miami toting a giant $3,000 designer handbag By PUBLISHED:23:10 GMT, 30 September 2012 UPDATED:06:51 GMT, 1 October 2012She's got the art of stylish travel down to to a tee and this weekend Khloe Kardashian arrived at LAX with an enviable new piece of carry on.The reality TV star proudly toted a new $3000 Celine handbag which she had teamed with an off-the-shoulder black jumper, cargo pants and a pair of black stiletto boots.Khloe was on her way to Miami to join her sisters as they have begun filming the newest season of Kourtney and Kim Take Miami.Khloe her husband basketball player Lamar Odom celebrated their three-year anniversary on Thursday, and the couple appears to be going strong.'Happy anniversary to my best friend, my partner in crime and the love of my life my husband,' Khloe, 28, wrote on her website. 'Over the past three years, I have experienced happiness that I never dreamed possible.''Thank you for making me feel like a princess every single day. I love you forever!'Khloe also Tweeted photos of their wedding bands and the number three created using red rose petals on her bed. New mum Kourtney also chimed in, admitting she initially had doubts about Khloe and Lamars whirlwind romance.'I wasn't so sure about you when you proposed to Khlo after only a few weeks but now you won me over. got 2 love,' she Tweeted.Khloe and Lamar tied the knot in 2009, one month after the couple met at a party for Lamars former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Ron Artest. 'From far away it's okay': Kim Kardashian gives Harper's Bazaar editor makeover with her bronzer - but forgets she's fair-skinned By PUBLISHED:20:41 GMT, 12 July 2012 UPDATED:07:04 GMT, 13 July 2012She may have earned her fashion wings but Kim Kardashian's make-up lesson yesterday left Harper's Bazaar editor, Laura Brown, looking like a jungle cat drag queen. No stranger to looking camera ready at a moment's notice, the reality star gave the magazine chief a make-over during a playful interview while in London. But using her own make-up bag to demonstrate a few tricks of the trade, the olive-skinned reality star didn't achieve quite the results she intended with her fair-skinned model. Glancing at a mirror in the aftermath, the magazine editor observed the dramatic dark brown shades on her pale skin with good humour.'Part lion, part Kardashian, all the way beautiful,' she laughed.In the meeting, Kimdiscussed her fashion evolution, plastic surgery and revealed how to look skinnier by contouring with bronzer and positioning the head at just the right angle.Admitting how everyone assumes she has had work done on her face, Kim explained in the interview that her secret is not in cosmetic enhancement, but in the way she uses make-up to slim down her face.But she also added: 'Botox to me is not surgery.'Kim used her own palette of bronzers, blushers and eyeshadow colours to work her magic, starting at the hair line and working her way around the edge of the cheekbones and the jaw.Noting that the colours were far too dark for her Antipodean model, she chuckled at the results of her work.Aside from clever make-up, another clever trick, she revealed, giving a demonstration, is to jut your head 'out and down' in photographs to make the face look less full.Kim is in London currently to promote her new fragrance and took time out from her hectic schedule to sit down in a hotel room with the perky Australian editor.Clad in a black Celine top, a Valentino jacket, a pair of Louboutin heels and a metal Celine choker, the two women quickly got around to the subject of her traveling outfit.The chic black ensemble was further proof that since dating Kanye West, the reality maven's wardrobe has experienced something of an overhaul.But, as she detailed her wardrobe evolution she was reluctant to creditto her boyfriend in any such explicit terms.'Iused to be super trendy and totally sexy,' she acknowledged. 'But I look back now and I used to want everything short and low cut and you really can't do it all.'WhenMs Brown laughed that she still does try, Kim perhaps revealed nostalgia for her old self.She agreed: 'I've tried for years and I would keep that for years.'Kim continued: 'More recently my style's become a little bit sleeker.'I think, Celine and Givenchy and Lanvin are some of my favs right now. 'Butthen again I love mixing it with low price point stuff too. It's all about mixing and matching. You can't really have like high end designers for everything.'She liked them so much, she bought them twice! Kim Kardashian splashes out on both black and cream pairs of $1,695 Givenchy boots By PUBLISHED:17:09 GMT, 4 September 2012 UPDATED:08:41 GMT, 5 September 2012Shes always been adventurous when it comes to footwear and it seems Kim Kardashian has definitely taken a shine to these rather unusual shark lock boots by Givenchy.The 31-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was spotted wearing the black version of the fold-over leather boots back in August, which cost an eye-watering $1,695, while stepping out with boyfriend Kanye West, and it seems she liked them so much she bought them twice.Just weeks after wearing the black pair with a matching leather skirt during a break in Honolulu, Kim was pictured wearing the cream version of the boots during a shopping trip in New York.This time around Kim opted to wear the boots with a tuxedo-style black dress, knee length dress.Unfortunately the dresss hem line fell just above the top of the boot, giving her a less than flattering look.Kim has been upping the ante in the style department since she began dating Kanye and the rapper has been very vocal with her opinions about her outfits.During a recent episode of her reality show, Kanye was seen advising Kim to donate several clothes from her wardrobe, remarking that the items were too ghetto.He later told her that he would replace the clothes with new pieces, selected by his own personal stylist.Kim has since listed the items on auction site eBay and plans to donate all proceeds of the sales to the Life Change Community Church.I used to want everything short and low-cut and you really can't do it all...recently my style has become a little bit sleeker, she recently told Harpers Bazaar magazine.She also revealed that her first major purchase was a Prada backpack when she was 16 and admitted that her current favourite designers are Celine, Givenchy and Lanvin. But then again I love mixing it with low-price point stuff, too. 'It's all about mixing and matching. You can't really have high-end designers for everything, she added. Kris Jenner defends her parenting skills...and borrows daughter Kim Kardashian's necklace for TV appearance By PUBLISHED:00:10 GMT, 19 July 2012 UPDATED:06:48 GMT, 19 July 2012Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner was in the Big Apple today defending her parenting skills on Good Afternoon America.Wearing a figure hugging black dress and black stiletto shoes, Kris, 56, also sported a $3000 gold choker, by French fashion house Celine, identical to one that reality TV star daughter Kim as been seen wearing on numerous occasions.This is not the first time the motherand daughter have taken fashion cues from each other, earlier this yearthey both attended events in Stella McCartney's sheer 'Lucia' polka dot dress. The famous momager, who receives a 10% commission of all deals she does for her children, defended her parenting skills and claimed that being in the public eye and being on a reality show is not changing her youngest daughters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner.Only last week a former nanny for the Kardashians announced plans to reveal an untold story of America's most famous family in a tell-all book. PamBehan, who spent five years apparently watching over their daughters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe, claims their mother Kris 'groomed' the sisters for the spotlight in a desperate bid for fame in her unfinished tome Malibu Nanny: The True Adventures of the Former Kardashian Nanny. But, explaining why she is so involved in her childrens' lives, Kris said: 'Ive spent many years of my life being pregnant. And for me to raise them and say goodbye to them when they are 18, just isnt going to work for me. Ive managed to have the best family dynamic that I can.'The discussion also centered around the argument that parents cant also be a childs best friend. 'My girls have all gone through that stage where they push back on their parents, but its all about the family dynamic,' Kris replied. 'Thats why I create these relationships and cherish them.''[Most of] my girls are in their 30s, 20s, I mean, theyre not going to take my discipline,' Kris said. 'Im sure youve all seen the show, where I have no voice. Kendall and Kylie are still under my thumb and live in my house.''Theres no option, if you dont give your kids an option. You are living in my house with my rules.'Kris has spoken before about how the show Keeping Up With The Kardashians has allowedher to be in constant contact with her children, even as adults - something she values.'I think I'd like to think that I would use any opportunity to its advantage. I doesn't get any better than this,' Jenner told Oprah Winfrey in an interview last month. 'If I wasn't doing this I would be lost.'Following several controversies, including Kim's 72-day marriage last year, Kris also revealed that the worst thing she has heard is that she's exploiting or pimping her kids.Claiming to have evaluated that criticism, Jenner said: 'I know in my heart that all I want for the girls is for them to be successful and follow their dreams.'Lady Gaga changes song lyrics in support of fashion designers as they wage war with top style critic Cathy Horyn By PUBLISHED:19:56 GMT, 3 October 2012 UPDATED:21:21 GMT, 3 October 2012Lady Gaga has decided to add more fuel to a complicated and fierce fashion fight between The New York Times style critic Cathy Horyn and fashion designers Oscar de la Renta and Hedi Slimane.The music idol preformed a rap redux of her single 'Cake Like Lady Gaga' at Thierry Muglers recent spring 2013 show in Paris, using the opportunity to attack Ms Horyn and her longtime partner, Art Ortenberg.With her voice distorted to sound male, she rapped: 'Ortenberg you can suck my d**k, walk b***h you ain't Lady Gaga... Cathy Horyn your style ain't d**k. Walk a mile in these foot-high heels, I run in these you ain't running s**t. You chew beef, I wear meat- I'm getting fat and so is my bank. From a sold-out world tour, b***h.'The fight, which began last year but was revived during the current spring/summer 2013 shows in New York and Paris, first encompassed Dontella Versace, Gaga and Ms Horyn.It has since grown to include Oscar de la Renta and now, the new designer of Yves Saint Laurent, Hedi Slimane.In 2011, Ms Horyn criticized Versace for outfitting Gaga in archival vintage pieces for the singer's Edge of Glory video. 'Be choosier, Ms Versace,' she wrote in a piece for The New York Times, announcing she had 'unfollowed' the singer on Twitter.Gaga used her V magazine column to respond, writing: 'In the age of the internet, when collections and performances are so accessible to the public and anyone can post a review on Facebook or Twitter, shouldn't columnists and reviewers, such as Cathy Horyn, employ a more modern and forward approach to criticism, one that separates them from the average individual at home on their laptop?'The feud was reignited during New York Fashion Week in September when Oscar de la Renta misunderstood a line in Ms Horyn's largely positive review of his spring collection, specifically misinterpreting her use of the slang term 'hot dog,' which, as a verb, means showboater.Gaga took the designer's side on Twitter, after he bought a full page ad in Womens Wear Daily voicing his dislike for her review, asking why he shouldn't in turn call Ms Horyn a 'stale, three-day-old hamburger.'Gaga then tweeted: 'Bravo Oscar. Only you would be so chic as to purchase an entire page in WWD, making statements like a good fashion citizen.'And from there, everything deteriorated.Mr Ortenberg, coming to the defense of his girlfriend, wrote a letter to the editor of , calling Gaga 'vacuous,' while advising her to 'grow up'.Referencing her earlier V magazine column against Ms Horyn, who critiques collections for a living, Mr Ortenberg wrote: 'I feel it necessary to cudgel Gaga for her... dumbing-down opinion that an uninformed opinion is as valid as that of a seasoned critic - as though Gaga and Bridget Foley of WWD or David Denby of The New Yorker or Ben Brantley of The New York Times or Brooks Atkinson or Pauline Kael or any professional critic is just another opinion and that Gaga's vacuous thoughts deserve the same status.'Now, after Gaga's last word in rap form at the Mugler show, and in the spirit of timeliness, designer Hedi Slimane has joined in the war of words and media go-betweens.After he barred the fashion critic from his Paris runway debut for Saint Laurent on Monday, Ms Horyn posted a review of the show based solely on digital images.In her review, written for The New York Times' blog, she concluded that the collection was 'a nicebut frozen vision of a bohemian chick at the Chateau Marmont. Or in St.Tropez.'Mr. Slimanes clothes lacked a new fashion spirit,' she wrote of the former Dior Homme designer. 'Considering that Mr. Slimane was an avatar of youthful style, I expected more from this debut.'Meanwhile, its competitors - Balenciaga, Dior, Givenchy, Celine, Lanvin - are having a terrific season,' she added.She also revealed Mr Slimane's reasons for not inviting her. (Business of Fashion editor Imran Amed was also banned from the show, he was told, because Yves Saint Laurent was unhappy with his 'tone of voice' when writing about the brand.)Ms Horyn explained: '[He] objected bitterly to a review I wrote in 2004 - not about him but Raf Simons.'I wrote that without Mr. Simons template of slim tailoring and street casting, there would not have been a Hedi Slimane - just as there would never have been a Raf Simons without Helmut Lang. Fashion develops a bit like a genetic line.'Anyway,' she continued of the designer who hasn't spoken to her in five years, 'Mr. Slimane insisted that he was the first to show the skinny suit. It was a silly debate. Who cares? As time went on, he also felt (as best as I can tell) that I gave preference to Mr Simons in my coverage of the mens shows'.Indeed, Ms Horyn has made no secret of her fandom for Mr Simons' designs, and after he spent seven years at the design helm of Jil Sander, her glowing review of his debut ready-to-wear collection for Dior just days earlier is a clear reference.However, it was, and has always been, a deserved opinion - and one in the same line of thinking as countless editors, stylists and women in general, who genuinely smiled as Mr Simons sent one Dior look out after another.However an unimpressed Mr Slimane thought otherwise. Later in the day, after her review had been uploaded, the designer posted a letter on Twitter in which he called Ms Horyn, 'a schoolyard bully and also a little bit of a stand-up comedian.''As far as Im concerned, she will never get a seat at Saint Laurent, but might get 2-for-1 at Dior,' he continued, after attacking her physical appearance. 'I dont mind critics, but they have to come from a fashion critic, not a publicist in disguise. I am quite mesmerized she did get away with it for so many years.'Yet to publicly address Mr Slimane's message or Gaga's attack, when she was reached for comment last night, Ms Horyn told , 'Its just silly nonsense to me.'Las Vegas celebrates 100 yearsBy Paul Oswell, This is TravelLast updated at 10:14 16 May 2005The anticipation of one of the worlds biggest parties is finally over, and the gambling resort of Las Vegas has kicked off its 100th birthday celebrations.The build up to the centenary has been going on for some months, and the anniversary finally came around on Sunday 16th May, with a giant Helldorado party.The occasion was graced by what organisers claim to be the worlds largest birthday cake, some 31 metres long, 15 metres wide and 50 centimetres high.Elsewhere, rock music blared out from every bar, Presley, Sinatra and any number of other music impersonators crooned, the ubiquitous showgirls danced and the casinos went about their traditional business, albeit with even more razzmatazz than usual.It was a fittingly glam and glitzy tribute to the popularity of a town affectionately known as Sin City.To bring the show to a climax, dozens of Flying Elvi descend into Cashman Field. Kool and the Gang continued the festivities with a free concert and the evening ended with a 6-minute fireworks show.Las Vegas became a city in 1905, though it only really began to attract visitors from 194, 10 years after Nevada legalised gambling in the state and when El Rancho Vegas Hotel-Casino became the first major hot spot on what is now The Strip.It was followed in 1946 by the Flamingo, built by Benjamin Bugsy Siegel, the Los Angeles Mafia boss. Big business has now taken over, with gambling tycoons such as Steve Wynn spending $2.7 billion for his new mega-hotel, Wynn Las Vegas, which opened this month.Las Vegas now boasts 18 of Americas 20 top hotels and has a total of more than 130,000 hotel rooms. Its quickie wedding chapels meanwhile also make it the countrys nuptial capital, with around 120,000 marriages each year.About 87 percent of visitors to Vegas gamble during their stay, spending an average of $550. And more than $15 billion is spent gambling each year in Vegas. The kick-off for the celebrations was actually some months ago, on 31st December 2004, but the celebration will last for more than a year. The largest concentration of the festivities will take place from May - July 2005.Vegas has become all things to all people in a bid to attract as many visitors as possible. As many people are likely to come to enjoy one of the many shows as they are to spend all their time in the casinos these days, and events marked to celebrate the centenary are suitably diverse.As well as concerts from some of the biggest names in showbusiness such as Celine Dion, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Elton John, there are film festivals, photography exhibitions, golf tournaments and a succession of huge parades that bring together dancers, musicians and performers of every description under light shows that are set to look special even for the city of neon.For the full programme, visit the official Las Vegas Centennial website: www.lasvegas2005.orgShare this article: What a blow-out! LeAnn Rimes celebrates her 29th with yet ANOTHER birthday party By UPDATED:07:41 GMT, 30 August 2011She had already celebrated her 29th birthday with a Mexican dinner with friends, a beach party and a brunch, where she received a very expensive handbag.But LeAnn Rimes carried on the festivities with a an intimate dinner thrown for her by husband Eddie Cibrian on her actual birthday last night.With the help of her husband, the country music singer blew out the candles on her birthday cake and made a wish in front of close friends at her favourite restaurant Nobu Sushi in Malibu.The slim star slipped her tiny frame into a sheer leopard print maxi dress, which was split to the thigh showing off her toned legs.She paired the look with tanned bejewelled sandals, gold chandelier earrings and wore her hair swept up in a messy pony tail.LeAnn and Eddie, as always, could barely keep their hands off each other and shared an intimate kiss in front of their dinner guests. One thing LeAnn may not have been thrilled about was the message that her hubby of just months had written on her three-tiered cake.The 38-year-old actor reminded his lady love that the big 3-0 was fast approaching.'My Love - The countdown begins to thirty,' the message read. LeAnn was however thrilled with her birthday gifts.The blonde star was treated to a very limited edition designer handbag by her husband earlier in the day at brunch.The blue bag, by French fashion house CÈline is estimated to have cost between $4,000 and $8,000 US and she happily showed it off in a snap on her Twitter account.'Omg....speechless!' tweeted the Grammy-winner. 'They made 13 of these Celine bags. My husband is amazing!'The lucky birthday girl was also given a designer scarf in a regal shade of purple from her close friend Mateo.'@mateoS201 got me the Hermes scarf. Lucky!' Rimes wrote in another tweet..Followinglast night's dinner, LeAnn looked a little weary as she emerged from the Japanese eatery and headed home on the arm of Eddie.Eddie and LeAnn spent several minutes outside talking to friends before heading home. It had been a big weekend for singing star. Earlierin the day, the singer enjoyed a family brunch a Moonshadows with Eddieand his two sons Mason and Jake, from his previous marriage to Brandi Glanville.LeAnn slipped into a white strapless frock paired with beige espadrille wedges for her family day out.And the day before, the swimsuit-loving country singer slipped into not one but THREE skimpy costumes, including a tiny red crochet wonder as she frolicked onMalibu beach with Eddie and stepson Mason.Bikini show: The day before the swimsuit-loving country singer slipped into not one but THREE skimpy costumes, as she frolicked onMalibu beach with Eddie and stepson MasonTheslender star showed off her tanned and toned figure in the attire, clearly impressing her man, whom she cuddled up to and shared a passionate smooch.First up, LeAnn slipped into a seventies-inspired pink tasseled number for her day at the beach.Husbandof four months Eddie, could not keep his hands nor his lips of his wife, wrapping his arms around her chiseled stomach muscles and treating her to passionate kiss.An equally loved-up LeAnn also got a handle on Eddie by latching on to his board shorts.Eddiehad gone topless, showing off his washboard abs under the searing heat by simply slipping into the swimming trunks and a white baseball cap worn backwards.LeAnn kept up with her retro feel by wearing her hair out with tiny plaits fixed atthe front, and slipping on a pair of aviator sunglasses to finish off the look.During the day, the singer slipped into yet another bikini as she playfully frolicked around the beach with little Mason.Thestylish star also switched up her hair, popping it into a high bun for apretty but practical beach look, perfect for running about in the sand.Theyoung boy chased his stepmother, who continued to show off her ripped body in a mismatched bikini consisting of a peach-colored top and floral bottoms with ties at the side.LeAnn and Mason had a ball as they splashed around the water and and ran around in the warm sand.Thepair had a giggle as indulged in some beach tennis and LeAnn showed offthe full effect of her super muscular figure as she bent over to reclaim a ball from the ocean.Ever the dutiful stepmother, she was also spotted doting over the little one, bending down to give him a cuddle.But of course husband Eddie was not forgotten.During the course of their playtime, LeAnn once again snuggled up to Eddie, who was happily chatting to friends who were sitting around on sun-loungers.As the day wore on, LeAnn slipped into her third and most daring bikini of the day- a tiny red crochet number which left very little to the imagination.Even her very discreet tattoo, saying 'Love' was visible above her extremely brief briefs at the bottom of her back.AppreciativeEddie could barely keep his hands off his super slim wife, as she leaned against him while they chatted with friends. She was probably in need of the support by that point, having been supping birthday beverages all day.At one point, LeAnn treated herself to what appeared to be a refreshing margaritas with salted rim.The night before LeAnn was spotted stepping out with friends to Mexican restaurant Red O in West Hollywood for a relaxing meal to kick off a full weekend of celebrations. Why does Twitter turn people into monsters? By PUBLISHED:22:11 GMT, 30 March 2012 UPDATED:00:09 GMT, 31 March 2012What does it say about our society when passers-by at a fatal road accident start taking pictures of the victim on their mobiles so they can put them on the internet?On Thursday a woman was killed when she was hit on a busy road by a 40-ton lorry.Instead of moving on quickly to allow emergency services to carry out their work, nearby builders gathered at the scene and reached for their phones, while commuters stopped in rush-hour traffic to take pictures of her corpse.I apologise in advance for describing what happened in detail, but it helps explain just how sick these ghouls are. The woman had been decapitated. A picture appeared on Twitter showing her severed leg, although it was laterdeleted.God alone knows what else these people have filmed and sent to their Twitter friends. One cant even begin to imagine how violated and distressed the dead womans family must feel. It would be easy to dismiss this kind of repellent behaviour as that of a few warped minds. But it would also be wrong. The use of Twitter to outrage, bully and intimidate people has become an epidemic in this country.This week the unspeakable Speakers wife Sally Bercow tweeted that she was tempted to try the latest legal high MXE a drug sold online that apes the high of the banned horse tranquilliser ketamine before it is banned. Did she care in the slightest that she was endorsing the drug in the very week that two mothers children had died after taking it or similar substances available online? Children who could have been influenced by the fatuous Twitter postings of celebrities such as 42-year-old Mrs Bercow? Will Mrs Bercow still be salivating publicly over MXE when her own three young children are teenagers who might be inclined to take the drug?Twitter brings out the worst in human beings. Earlier this week, 21-year-old student Liam Stacey was jailed for tweeting hateful racist messages on the day Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsed with a cardiac arrest while playing in a cup tie. LOL [laugh out loud], read one of them **** Muamba. Hes dead!!! Thankfully Muamba is now recovering following the match two weeks ago. Likewise, stars who made Twitter fashionable, such as Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas and Sinead OConnor, have suffered the most appalling abuse, and some have understandably now closed down their Twitter accounts.Twitter started out as a social network to keep friends and followers informed of each others lives. It has turned into a platform for bullies, perverts, voyeurs and shameless self-publicists. Shouldnt all right-minded people start giving it a very wide berth?Actress Donna Airs defence in court over charges she fraudulently claimed parking permits in two London boroughs was that shes stupid. I suspect theres not a lot going on in Ms Airs head, her lawyer said, other than hot air.Ignorance of the law has never been a defence, so why should stupidity be one?Your choice, your problemA woman appeared on Radio 5 Live demanding her right to have her triple-D PIP breast implants removed and replaced on the NHS. Shed had her breasts enlarged because she had serious issues with regard to her self-esteem. Its bad enough that we taxpayers and the cash-strapped NHS paid for her enhanced cleavage in the first place, but now this bimbo expects us to foot the bill for getting rid of it so she can feel good about herself.What about the self-esteem of the elderly languishing on wards uncared for and unfed?Ageless Ice MaidenAttending the first screening of the Hollywood blockbuster Titanics 3D release, Kate Winslet says, 15 years on: We were all so good-looking then. How intriguing that the 36-year-old actress has aged much better than costar Leonardo DiCaprio, who looks every moment of his 37years. Brandishing a fake pistol this week on the set of the Danish crime drama The Killing, Camilla screamed: It was me all along! Diana would concur. Excess sympathyIt was all there in the title the Riots Communities and Victims Panel report. Were told the real victims of the summer riots were not those whose homes and businesses were destroyed, nor the five killed, but the young rioters. The report concludes that, since half the recorded offences were for looting high-value, designer products such as clothes, trainers, mobile phones and computers, the rioters were the victims of excessive marketing. When I was growing up, I had one new pair of shoes every year, no designer labels and I never nicked anything. If I had, Id have suffered from what might now be called excessive parenting.Photographed with destitute kids in Manila, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton makes a film for Soccer Aid to highlight their plight. They are living without the simple things like food, clean water and a safe place to sleep, he says. It shouldnt be like this. Perhaps Hamilton, a multi-millionaire tax exile, would have a bit more credibility if he actually paid his dues here and helped the poor kids of Britain.Having raised her adopted daughter Dexter alone, Diane Keaton now says she regrets being a single mother. As a parent I provide all I can, but I think in the best possible scenario you need to have a man. Keaton was one of the great feminists, a woman millions admired for her portrayal of the liberated I-need-no-man Annie Hall and an actress who seemed to have it all a fabulous career, endless glamorous lovers and single motherhood. Shes now 66 and her daughter is 16, but well done her its never too late to tell the truth.A new low for Tulisa?After weeks protesting her innocence over an intimate sex tape posted on the internet, The X Factors Tulisa Contostavlos is said to be suing her former lover and the recipient of her favours on the video for £100,000 damages accusing him of making the tape public.Now her ex, rapper MC Ultra (aka Justin Edwards), says the sex tape was actually her idea, suggested it had been filmed on her mobile and that he never even owned the tape. Some now wonder if there is nothing to which this woman will not stoop to grab the headlines. Perhaps she thinks the only way to keep her name in lights is to become her very own Xrated Factor.Keen to connect with ordinary women, Victoria Beckham said when she won the fashion Brand of the Year award, that rather than attend the ceremony, I would have felt much more comfortable in my pyjamas with the kids and David in a hotel watching TV.Yes, darling, we ordinary women all spend our nights with the kids in five-star hotels. And shes most proud of Beckss undies range: David created it, we own it and HM does the distribution. It makes sense business-wise and it has integrity because David designed it all himself.How hard is it to stuff a pair of socks down your undies, David? In my experience, only gay men give so much thought to their pants.Beyond the paleBorn in Barbados, singer Rihanna turns out in London to promote her new movie Battleship with a blonde wig and a seemingly paler complexion. She denies shes done a Michael Jackson and lightened her skin. She has also denied rumours shes dating Demi Moores soon-to-be-ex-husband Ashton Kutcher, despite being photographed entering his $10million Hollywood home at midnight in a pair of miniscule hotpants and leaving at four in the morning. Rihanna says she was simply viewing the property as a potential buyer. How many little white lies can one woman tell?Westminster NoticeboardCabinet Office Minister Francis Maude sparked national chaos telling us to fill our tanks and stash a jerry can full of petrol in our garages.The Tory grandee owns two buy-to-let properties in London and France as well as his family estate in Sussex. No shortage of garages for Mr Maude. Saddam Husseins buddy George Galloway trounced all the main parties in the Bradford West by-election, ousting Labour after nearly 40 years. The Tories vote was down 37 per cent no doubt due to the three weeks hopeless Baroness Warsi spent there trying to get the vote out.PASTYGATE: Rumour has it that posh boy George Osborne thought the pasty tax would hit the rich. It took one of his advisers to explain to him that pasties were not miniature Beef Wellingtons. Meanwhile, Sceptics say David Camerons photocall of him tucking into a pasty was a cheap stunt and he never actually eats them. I disagree. Given how porky hes looking these days, I suspect hes been eating all the pasties.'She did it!' Emotional Lindsay Lohan can't hide her delight as judge revokes probation after four years By PUBLISHED:17:09 GMT, 29 March 2012 UPDATED:23:09 GMT, 29 March 2012Lindsay Lohan has been released from formal probation for the first time in four years. She was ruled to be in the clear at her final hearing today, but not without some blunt advice from Judge Stephanie Sautner. She told the actress: 'You need to live your life in a more mature way, stop clubbing and focus on work.'But Lindsay couldn't hide her delight and even Judge Sautner exclaimed excitedly: 'She did it!'The Mean Girls star seems to have listened to the authority figure - who she now genuinely seems to see as a mentor - as she told TMZ that she was planning to celebrate her freedom at a quiet dinner with her sister, Ali. And she told the judge: 'What you've done has really opened a lot of doors for me,' before adding: 'I hope I see you again soon.'Sautner explained that Lindsay had complied with all her requirements, and would now be free of official checks - if she stays out of trouble for two-and-a-half years. Lindsay's spokesperson, Steve Honig told the Mail Online: 'Lindsay has closed this chapter of her life and is looking forward to the next one, which has gotten off to a great start with Glee and Liz Dick. She is focused on getting back to work and is ready to dive right into her next project.' Running the gamut of emotions: Lindsay went from nervous to tentatively relieved to full blown happiness as Judge Sautner spoke Lindsay herself called in to TMZ Live today to talk about her victory in court this morning. She had kind words for Holley and Sautner but vented anger towards those who still pigeonhole her as a party girl, she also told that 'she finally realised her life was falling apart.'Earlier this week it was reported how claims Lindsay ran into Hookah Lounge manager Thaer Kamal outside a Hollywood before driving off two

[投稿情報: エピ?イヴォワール]

あなた間違いなくしないする支払うあなたヶ月総貯蓄に、単一バッグ。多くの場合、彼らは提供しますの大きな契約よりに一意性、実際を見ると、あまりにも。ルイ ・ ヴィトンはの開発を奨励するでバッグインター バンク。彼女の大きな顔で私デザイナー袋を着て大好き女性で洗練されました。

[投稿情報: エアジョーダン12]

彼らはさらは役割フィギュア多くの子供のとして、のゲームバスケット ボールは本当に非常に人気のあります。

[投稿情報: バッグ]

写真することを推奨できない塗りつぶし画像またはデータからつかんで私製造元の
web サイト。これらは正確な我々 のブランドほぼする個人所有置くとを介して。インターネットすることができますいくつか最高のお得な情報原因となりますで来る卸し売りハンドバッグ、ハンドバッグ。Cravats の出演真では珍しい今日の世界。

[投稿情報: エアジョーダン16]

悪くはないをそのおいしい1。通常 サポートビームにアタッチキャビネットと"U"を連動昔ながら堅材ブラケット。