Photogenic Beauty

If the outside is all that counts, then these ten celebrities are officially the best in their field. In a survey conducted by photography website mymemory.com, over 1,500 members of the British public were asked to rate celebrity photos, in order to create a definitive top ten list of the most photogenic faces of all time.

Both past and present stars made up the flattering list. The timeless beauty of Elizabeth Taylor came top, followed by modern-day stars, Hollywood sweetheart Jennifer Aniston, and highest ranking male, David Beckham.

   

1. Elizabeth Taylor

2. Jennifer Aniston

3. David Beckham

4. Megan Fox

5. Audrey Hepburn

6. Marlon Brando

7. Angelina Jolie

8. Marilyn Monroe

9. Sophia Loren

10. James Dean

Despite the recent high profile stars ranking highly amongst the top ten, past Hollywood icons such as Sophia Loren, James Dean and Audrey Hepburn also feature in the list, despite an abundance of more recent stars that could have have caught the list’s eye.

Jennifer Aniston is sure to revel in the fact that she gained a more superior position than love rival Angelina Jolie, and even look-a-like Megan Fox beat the Tomb Raider star in the photogenic quality stakes.

  

Not only does the poll show the significance of certain stars and their flawless appearances, but also photography itself, capturing timeless images that create a lasting impression. mymemory.com website co-founder Rebecca Huggler said: “There are lots of classic celebrities in there who have been famous or passed away many years ago; proving that photographs stay with us forever.”

  

With the iconic black and white images of previous A-list stars, such as this early photo of a young Sophia Loren, it’s little wonder early Hollywood style, glamour and elegance is still recognised today. Bizzarely, professional models, such as Kate Moss, have not been mentioned on the list, with film stars taking the spot light.

 

Cute as a Button

These are my new cute-as-button kittens. They are currently without names, so we affectionately refer to them as ‘One’ and ‘Two’ for the time being. They are ADORABLE. 

I will inevitably become a crazy cat lady at some point in my life, and this would perhaps be the perfect opportunity to up the ante. I could create a daily blog on their lives, and start showing strangers photos of them, which I would handily keep in my wallet.

Who knew something so teeny could be so much fun. Literally, either my sisters and I are VERY easily entertained, or these kittens are hilarious. Number One stood in the water bowl, and had a literal heart attack when she got a wet back foot. On reflection I think it may have been a ‘had to be there’ kinda thing.

Lana Del Rey~ Video Games

Lana Del Rey, a.k.a New Yorker Lizzie Grant, is officially my new girl-crush. Effortlessly oozing old-school Hollywood glamour, and with lips to die for, the sultry singer/song writer labels her music and debut single, Video Games, as ‘Hollywood sad core’.

Indeed, Rey’s press release states “The memory of faded stars like Bette Davis, Kurt Cobain, Nina Simone and Elvis are the chorus line for her music”. This is evident in the styling of both her video and personal appearance, with clear influence taken from classic film noir, and stars of the past; both Elvis and Bette Davis featuring within the video.

The video flickers between scenes of romance and hollywood stardom, juxtaposed with the stereotypical video-game commentary of war and destruction. This contrast is complimented by Rey’s soothing vocals, and the use of a harp is particularly effective in creating an almost soft edge of naivety and sadness to the lyrics.

Maybe this is an account of a rocky relationship, or of an overtly dedicated girlfriend, prepared to overlook with her boyfriend’s incessant love of video games over her. The lyrics certainly seem to suggest the latter/ “It’s you, it’s you, it’s all for you“, suggesting a degree of sacrifice on her part within the relationship.

Alternatively, this could be the perspective of a woman happily prepared to partake in activities typically considered  male hobbies and thus the relationship is that of a mutual love for video games; “Watchin all our friends fall/ Leanin out of old cars/ This is my idea of fun/ Playing video games”.

She also mentions playing pool and darts, and drinking beer; Pitchfork pretty much sums up the song’s possibilities, suggesting the lyrics imply,  “The allowances of a dream girl, or just the most sarcastic, cutting thing you can say to an emotionally unavailable boyfriend.”

Either way, the masculine element of gaming footage is counter-acted by Rey’s smouldering and emotionally-charged appearances, and the inclusion of Hollywood stars within the video supports that already-stated glamour of a star-in-the-making.

Bette Davis (top) and Nina Simone, two of Rey’s icons, and influences.

Where The Wild Roses Grow.

Having developed a penchant for listening to the same song over and over again until I eventually get sick of it, my most recent obsession is this duet between Australian singers, Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue.

Released in 1995 and featured on Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ ninth album, Murder Ballads, the video shows Cave’s character to be so obsessed with Minogue’s beauty that he kills her to preserve her perfect image.

Nick Cave wrote the lyrics after reportedly being inspired by the tragic tale told in the song Down in the Willow Garden, regarding a young woman being murdered by her lover. Whilst the tale itself is grim, and the video is at times rather creepy, the song itself is beautifully poetic.

Admiring Christina Hendricks

She may not be a natural red head, but Christina Hendricks can certainly pull off the colour with confidence. Stunning, curvy and undoubtedly a role model for those who refuse to conform to the ultra-skinny, perma-tanned idea of ‘perfection’.

Whilst it isn’t just her hair that is attracting attention, having been blessed with curves to die for, it is evidently a crucial part of her constructed image, which is fast attracting admirers. Dying her naturally blonde hair red since the age of ten, it’s obvious she had a confident idea of how she wanted to look from a young age. A healthy size 12-14, its refreshing to see someone with natural curves actually admired, instead of media pressure for her to lose weight, and she chooses clothes to highlight her small waist, flaunting her hour-glass shape.

Her unique yet versatile look lends itself to a whole host of looks, from glamorous to girl-next door. Pale skin, red lips and red hair, fab.

Tea Party

Sophisticated, stylish, and very very sexy. Well perhaps not, but nonetheless there’s nothing like adding a tea cup and teapot to an outfit, for an instantly individual and unique look.

I literally loved dressing up as a mad hatters tea party for Bestival this year, purely so I could drink my vodka and blackcurrant squash mix out of my very own pink polka dot tea set. Obviously this was rather unneccessary, but it sure made drinking alot more interesting.

It would seem I’m not the only one to enjoy a cuppa either; Lady GaGa is often snapped sporting a quirky tea cup in her hand whilst out and about. Hardly the most outrageous of statements, and certainly not on par with her look-at-me raw meat dress, but undoubtedly a token accessory sure to grab a bit of attention.

It would seem the teapot and tea cup are making a comeback, and I for one welcome this cute accessory, particularly mini versions designed specifically for jewellery. You may not be able to make a nice brew in them, but these tiny tea set accessories are just adorable.

Vintage Trash

With the tag ‘vintage’ so commonly used to describe essentially anything old or second hand, are we being conned by a new fashion trend and the desire to posess something different and unique?

Whilst I love browsing charity shops, and am happy to sift through the most tragic of second-hand trash in an attempt to find a rare hidden gem (I once bought a size 14 bridesmaid dress at Glastonbury from the oxfam stall for a fiver, cut it up and took it in, and I am proud to report it is now one of my fav dresses. Fab), I draw the line sometimes at vintage fairs.

Don’t get me wrong, i’m the first to admit that I love nothing more for someone to ask me where I got my dress/bag/jumper from, only to be able to reply smugly with “oh thanks, its vintage/ I got it for 50p from a charity shop.”

However, upon my last visit to a vintage fair, I became increasingly sceptical regarding the produce presented as vintage, after seeing a primark ring I had recently purchased for £1.50 on sale at three different stalls for anywhere between £5-£10. Obviously the term ‘vintage’ had been applied to these high street items as a way to hike up the price to unsuspecting customers, desperate to own vintage fashion.

Whilst I commend genuine vintage finds, I find it extremely annoying that the label is used to dupe shoppers, when esentially half the vintage items out there are merely second hand tat. One of my obsessions currently is knit wear, the crazier the jumper the better in my opinion. My favourite ones are the ones I inherited from my fashion-conscious gran, as I can be sure they are 100% unique.

Whilst I question the need for a multicoloured, zig-zagged long sleeved, cropped jumper (Garish, YES), I still treasure my grandmama’s clothing, as they have personal, sentimental value and I can be sure of their origin and authenticity.

Having said this, here are just a few of the ‘vintage’ style items I am LOVING at the moment, regardless of whether they are genuinely vintage or high street purchases. Afterall, as long as it looks good and you aren’t fooled, theres no need to be a fashion snob!

Not just a pretty face.

“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”  – Marilyn Monroe.

Stunning, glamourous, talented, and dead by 36. Monroe was undoubtedly a cultural icon and an inspiration to many, despite the problems and scandal that shrouded her very public life.

If ever feeling down this is always the type of quote to bear in mind. Strong, honest, and truthful, it reminds me that when I make stupid mistakes or act erratically, it does not make me a horrible, wicked person. I have come to realise after numerous brushes with silly regret, that beating yourself up over something that has happened in the past does not help you in the future, nor does it aid you to become a better person. 

 I am a firm believer that it is how you deal with your mistakes, and not the actual mistake itself, that defines who you are as a person.

No one is perfect. Everyone has a side to them that is prone to behaving in ways they may not be proud of, and although it is a weakness, it is an element of yourself that you must accept and take responsibility for. Everyone has potential regrets, and if they don’t, they clearly haven’t lived enough yet.

Obviously one day I would LOVE to stop making these silly little mistakes, but until then I am a firm believer that it is only a person that can accept me at my worst that is a person that deserves me at my best.

 “We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.”

But is it Art?

It’s a hectic time if, like me, you are a third year University student, looking to get a good degree before heading out into the scary world of  ‘real’ work.

Which is why I’ve decided to use my time constructively, by doodling and painting, seemingly without a care in the world. Excellent.

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The Living Dress.

I’m beginning to run the serious risk of creating a GaGa blog with the amount of space I have dedicated to her wacky fashion and sense of style, but Lady GaGa never ceases to amaze.

Check out her latest creation, the so-called ‘Living dress’ she showcased last night in Liverpool, during her Monsters Ball tour. The dress was a Haus of GaGa creation, inspired by British fashion designer Hussein Chalayan.

The head piece and wings reportedly move and it would appear the stage outfit has been regarded as a hugh triumph by Lady GaGa, who has even requested to see any fan’s videos of the dress. According to her facebook page, ” The Haus is celebrating we want to see it from your POV!”