There are a wide variety of famous women that adore REEM ACRA.
It’s not difficult to understand why. These clothes are spectacular and make quite an impression.
Well known aficionados include: ANGELINA JOLIE, VIOLA DAVIS, FELICITY HUFFMAN, OLIVIA WILDE, JENNA FISCHER, HALLE BERRY, KATHERINE HEIGL, GABRIELLE UNION and CHRISTINA APPLEGATE.
To find the IN STYLE gallery, please go here
I imagine that news of an artistic nature will start slowing down.
Right about…now.
It did last year as I recall. But there will still be plenty of movie reviews to publish.
The festive season is upon us. There’s Christmas. Nominations and awards for various film honours will also be presented in the coming weeks.
I adore this time of year.
So, in the spirit of the splendid and ridiculous 60s, here’s another awesome song from PIRATE RADIO: ELEANORE by THE TURTLES.
Have a lovely weekend.
See you tomorrow…
Gazing at these beautiful exquisite pieces (which are actually more like works of art) just makes my mouth water.
What I’m dying to know is: did the actors get to take any of it home?
I would have had that written into my contract. It’s all just too gorgeous to pass up.
CHOPARD has tempted Hollywood’s leading women with its spectacular adornments for decades.
Now the Swiss jeweller will light up the big screen in the movie NINE – starring an A list cast including SOPHIA LOREN, JUDI DENCH and NICOLE KIDMAN.
“After meeting with Colleen Atwood, the Academy Award winning costume designer working on NINE, I immediately understood the need for a very personalized look for each of these very different roles,” remarked CAROLINE GRUOSI SCHEUFELE in a press release.
“Colleen explained her stylistic inspiration for each of the women and together we created a very special Haute Joaillerie collection – tailor made to reflect the style and personality of each character.”
NINE is based on the original 1982 TONY AWARD winning Broadway production, which takes its inspiration from the iconic Fellini film 8 1/2.
Added HARVEY WEINSTEIN in regard to his company’s film: “We were looking for a jewelry brand to work with our costume designer Colleen Atwood and I knew Chopard would work seamlessly.”
NINE opens in theaters nation wide on CHRISTMAS DAY.
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
In a decade of dwindling record sales, NORAH JONES has been one of the few artists to reliably sell millions and millions of albums.
Since her 2002 debut COME AWAY WITH ME, listeners have followed NORAH to the tune of well over 37 million records sold around the world.
And yet, she said she’s not immune to the industry’s latest tactic for imploring the public to actually shell out real dollars for music.
“These days – in the weird world of the music industry – everybody wants an extra song,” NORAH commented in a recent telephone interview from her home in New York.
“A bonus track for iTunes, a bonus track for Amazon – it’s like you have to make two records all the time.”
Indeed, the increasingly urgent push for bonus content has become somewhat taxing for musicians who have also been feeling the financial crunch of an industry in transition.
But the demand for extra material has also forced some artists to do what they do best: Get creative.
Unlike some other musicians, NORAH hasn’t commissioned anything elaborate for her recently released fourth record THE FALL.
She spent the past couple of years labouring over the 13 tracks that comprise her new album and initially, she didn’t savour the idea of having to generate a knot of new tunes for multiple retailers.
“So, we thought that a really good way to lessen the pressure on me to have a bunch of extra songs would be to get some remixes done.”
She enlisted BECK, THE BEASTIE BOYS and SANTIGOLD to rework some of the songs from THE FALL for a forthcoming EP. It’s a fittingly diverse group to coincide with an album that has amounted to something of a departure – or evolution – for NORAH.
Sure, the hallmarks are there: the clear eyed ballads, long pauses and spotless melodies that announce themselves immediately.
But signs of change are everywhere.
She ditched her longtime band – along with LEE ALEXANDER, her former boyfriend, songwriting partner and producer – in favour of a group of seasoned vets. She played guitar more and piano less, and aimed for a “very different sound.This is kind of time for me to branch out a little.”
“I was really excited to work with some new musicians. I’ve had this great band for so long but I think at the end of the last tour, it became apparent we were all kinda itching to go in different directions.”
What results is something of a hybrid. NORAH pairs some contemplative lyrics with her newly filled out sound.
Ultimately, NORAH found herself inspired enough that she was able to generate enough bonus tunes to please the various stores and services that required them. Some versions of the CD come with an extra disc that feature covers of THE KINKS’ STRANGERS and WILCO’S JESUS, ETC.
THE STROKES lead singer JULIAN CASABLANCAS tried to be similarly creative when putting together a deluxe version of his debut solo record PHRAZES FOR THE YOUNG.
The luxury edition deluxe set of the eight song album will come with a 48 page classically bound storybook – personally signed by JULIAN – containing original and exclusive art work, lyrics and photographs. There’s also a DVD with filmed solo acoustic performances from JULIAN, an interview, album trailer and a music video.
But wait. There’s more…
There’s also an extra CD with demos from the album and B sides, a vinyl LP, a double sided poster and a cult records pin.
It all comes packaged in a beautiful custom designed antique style box, which JULIAN seemed to take particular pleasure in.
“I’m glad it comes in a cool box. You can just throw everything out and use it for jewelry or whatever,” JULIAN asserted.
BLUE RODEO wasn’t immune to the push for bonus content either.
The band created a special iTunes exclusive version of their latest double LP THINGS WE LEFT BEHIND – with interactive album notes, portraits of the band’s most prized instruments, a song by song commentary from songwriters JIM CUDDY and GREG KEELOR and acoustic performances.
“We only have our heads partially in the ground,” GREG laughed.
“We still realize that technology leads the music industry. They go hand in hand. You have to be a part of all of it.”
And JIM said that artists have always been obligated to do a little something extra in some form.
“One way or another, we’ve always done something. When we first started they used to do EPKs, just with talking. We did an interview record once. I think we try to make the stuff that’s given through iTunes, we try to make it musical. We try to either talk about the songs or play the songs in an acoustic forum.”
“I guess with all these things, they’re all ways of communicating with whoever your audience is. We just try to make them so they’re not too, so they lack dignity. We just try to do them so they’re musical and if they are, then that’s OK.”
NORAH, likewise, maintained she ultimately doesn’t mind.
“There’s a lot of bonus content that people want. I’m not against it. It’s just really difficult to come up with that much stuff. I made the album and I thought that that was enough!”
FERGIE discovered first hand the method acting madness of her NINE costar DANIEL DAY LEWIS when she received love letters from the intense actor written as his character GUIDO.
“Daniel is very charming. I’d go into my dressing room and I’d find this little note. I’d open it and it would be Guido’s stationary. He would write me little notes as Guido. They were very cute,” FERGIE revealed at a press conference on November 15 at The Waldorf Astoria in New York.
Billed as STACY FERGUSON, the singer plays the vamp SARAGHINA – performing the song BE ITALIAN as she taunts and teases the filmmaker GUIDO as a young boy.
She dove into the world of NINE watching every variation of the legendary landmark FEDERICO FELLINI film 8 1/2. But her preparation for the role couldn’t subside the nervousness she felt joining amazing actors like SOPHIA LOREN, JUDI DENCH and NICOLE KIDMAN.
“Going into this musical, I’m definitely the singer coming into this A list acting world. So it was intimidating for me flying over and knowing that I was going to be amongst these people who were at the top of their game in their field. I thought maybe I’ll just sit in the corner and kind of be a sponge and not speak and watch how they hone their craft.”
But FERGIE had to push aside her fears quickly.
“The first person I met was Daniel. It was 15 minutes later where I had to belt out the song right in front of him. I’ve admired his work for years and I just had to push through it and say, ‘What the hell…’ I was very hungry for this role and I went after it. I definitely have caught the bug because it’s another way to express yourself – and I’m an artist.”
Anyone that knows me or that reads the site regularly is aware that, despite my long, shimmering blonde locks, I was originally a redhead.
I also have the fiery, unstoppable, ardent personality to go with it.
Gotta love that hot Irish blood. Even though it constantly gets you into all kinds of hot water.
So I naturally like to see my sisters in spirit get their due. Here’s to the chicks with the flaming tresses and the take no prisoners personalities.
The world would be a much poorer place without them…
It can not be denied.
Redheads have that indescribable something. They’re always just a little bit sassy, a little bit unusual, a little bit unpredictable.
This is true in Hollywood too. Maybe even more so.
They grab your attention – and hold it for the entire movie, television show or musical number.
Here are a few of the most enthralling redheads in Tinseltown…
NICOLE KIDMAN
Admit it. When NICOLE KIDMAN is on screen, it’s almost impossible to tear your eyes away. Who wasn’t mesmerized by her long red mane in FLIRTING? Who could ignore the power of her extravagant glamour in projects as diverse as BATMAN FOREVER and PORTRAIT OF A LADY? And who isn’t counting down the days until she graces the big screen again in the much anticipated flick NINE…?
ISLA FISHER
ISLA FISHER was hilarious in WEDDING CRASHERS. She was fun and quirky in DEFINITELY, MAYBE and she made shopping look even more intriguing and luxurious in CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC. ISLA possesses a sharp wit and she’s absolutely adorable. Plus she’s engaged to SACHA BARON COHEN. Need we say more?
JULIA ROBERTS
Um…she’s JULIA ROBERTS. Period.
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SHERYL CROW is joining the call for a halt to U.S. government round ups of wild horses in the west, stating that they’re inhumane and unnecessary.
The GRAMMY AWARD winning singer is asking President Barack Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to scrap a proposed roundup of 2,500 mustangs in northern Nevada.
SHERYL, who campaigned for President Obama last year and performed at his inauguration, opposes Ken Salazar’s plan to move thousands of wild horses to preserves in the midwest and east to protect horse herds and the rangelands that support them.
U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials say they plan to remove 11,500 wild horses and burros from the range over each of the next three years because booming numbers of the animals are damaging the range.
I actually think that the blonde looks gorgeous on her. But my opinion (and everyone else’s for that matter) means next to nothing.
The important thing, of course, is that SANDRA really doesn’t like it.
I love being a blonde. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Certainly there are stereotypical notions that are attached to hair colour that extend even into this new century.
When I went blonde a number of years ago (I’m a natural redhead), it amused me greatly that some people still bought into all of that precious nonsense.
God forbid that you’re a glamorous distracting blonde with some serious intellectual sparks.
But that is obviously my predetermined destiny – to shake up the status quo and subvert the myths.
It’s awesome.
And SANDRA is right. You do have to make your own fun.
No matter where or when…
Call it method hair.
When SANDRA BULLOCK dyed her naturally brunette hair a golden blonde to play real life Memphis resident LEIGH ANNE TOUHY in her new film THE BLIND SIDE, her family had a distinctly unfavorable reaction.
“They didn’t like it at all. It was entertaining for a couple of months. But it’s not really my colour palette.”
In fact, SANDRA said her husband Jesse James didn’t find her lightened tresses attractive, which was a big relief.
“Thank God an important person in my life didn’t want me being blonde. He was like, ‘I don’t like the blonde on you.’ You want him to say that!”
Having experienced lighter hair for months, does she think that blondes have more fun?
“Not at all. Fun is what you make. Nobody is going to bring you the fun. You got to go out and get your fun.”
One thing SANDRA definitely did have fun with was playing a strong feisty woman with a quirky firecracker personality.
“There’s no one else like her,” she remarked of Ms. Tuohy.
“I’ve never met anyone else like her and I wish there were more like her. She doesn’t care what people think. She and I come from very different viewpoints and we meet in the middle very easily because you realize the differences are not that great.”
“I feel very humbled to have been a part of this. The whole experience to me was a once in a lifetime experience. I feel very lucky.”
In honour of PIRATE RADIO (which I saw last weekend and enjoyed tremendously), our Friday musical highlight is THE KINKS’ ALL DAY & ALL OF THE NIGHT.
Have fun. See y’all tomorrow.
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Indie rock producer JACQUIRE KING had long been an admirer of NORAH JONES’ smooth, soulful, smoky, seductive voice.
But the man behind acclaimed albums from TOM WAITS to KINGS OF LEON never thought the two would ever inhabit the same musical orbit. Let alone work together on a record.
“I didn’t really quite picture myself as being someone who would be desired for the situation – from my impression of her,” he remarked.
That impression is likely the same shared by the masses, who are most familiar with NORAH from her GRAMMY winning, 10 time platinum debut CD COME AWAY WITH ME – where she sang folky, jazz tinged tunes more in line with the adult contemporary format.
But over the years, NORAH has collaborated with rappers, sung with country legends, performed in an all female rock band and even produced a country album with a side act.
So it wasn’t out of character for her to call on JACQUIRE KING to help her achieve her biggest sonic shift on her fourth studio CD THE FALL, which was released this week.
On it, she ditches piano chords for gritty guitar riffs and delivers a darker, groove based sound that the producer described as edgy – a term not normally associated with her typically serene style.
“It’s just honest music and I think with a different approach that may be in some ways more accessible to fans that weren’t necessarily drawn in by the jazzier flavour,” commented JACQUIRE KING.
“It’s a bit more rocking.”
And that’s exactly the kind of shake up NORAH was looking to accomplish with her songs.
“I did some demos of songs and they came out really well. But some of them sort of begged to go in a different direction,” stated NORAH as she relaxed over tea at a cafe on New York’s Lower East Side.
“I realized what I want to do is work with some different sounds. I figured that the best way to do that was to try and step outside of my comfort zone a little bit and work with some different musicians and a different producer. It just felt like a good time to do that.”
Making the CD represented a clean slate for NORAH. It was the first without the input of bassist and former boyfriend LEE ALEXANDER, who was one of her chief collaborators – writing and producing on her albums and playing in her band.
The songs on the record, which NORAH wrote or cowrote, are witty, wistful, and at some points, heartbreaking.
NORAH said that THE FALL reflects a transitional period for her. The material came after she decided to take a hiatus following her last album and her movie debut in the film MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS, which was released last year. It was the first time she had a chance to really be in one place for an extended period of time and she took advantage of it.
She got the dog she had always wanted (a scruffy poodle), trimmed her long locks to a pixie cut, took pottery classes and even started going to church for the first time in years.
“It’s like another way of meditating,” NORAH conceded, looking more like a college student wearing a comfortable cardigan and beret.
“It’s all toward the same goal. It’s sort of quieting your mind and thinking about things outside yourself and trying to focus on the positive.”
The time off also helped her free herself creatively. While she’s worked with a diverse number of artists, she signed on to sing on Q TIP’S CD THE RENAISSANCE – and that inspired her.
“I wanted to work with more groove
based drums on this record and that was the beginning of me thinking of that and listening to Santigold.”
While there are no raps or throbbing club sounds on THE FALL, it does present a new NORAH JONES to those who have followed her nine year recording career.
That drive to explore interesting sounds and a fresh direction may be one of the few constants in NORAH’S musical journey.
“I’m just inclined to doing that because I’m interested in music…Not the success, or catering to what people want. It’s been fabulous to have that success – I’m counting my blessings every day – but I’ve always been more focused on the music.”
ON THE NET:
