Gorgeous

Ok, I'm falling in love with Charlize Theron. She looks amazing in this Dior J'Adore commercial. She's just . . . so . . . gorgeous.

Victorya And Eric Shine; Christian . . . Not So Much

So, the guest judge in episode 2 of PR 4 turned out to be Sarah Jessica Parker.



I’m sorry, but I’m kind of over SJP. That doesn’t mean I don’t like her. I just can’t understand why the designers had such a strong emotional response when they saw the Sex and The City star. I’ve never had that kind of reaction to anyone. Actually, I’d probably respond that way if I saw Sarah Polley or Tom Ford. My heart rate would probably reach dangerously high levels. So . . . I guess I can imagine what it would be like to meet one's favorite celebrity. Oh, and how sweet was SJP on the show? With her status in Hollywood, she could be forgiven for being self-centered and bitchy, but she was the exact opposite—so gracious. And she’s a smart cookie, too.



Christian’s confidence is both fascinating and annoying. Is it the product of environment, genetics, or both? I have no idea, but this little diva needs a serious reality check. When he essentially ignored Tim Gunn’s criticism of his outfit (pictured below), I almost lost it. Christian responded by saying that it was perfect. What?



Tim is the voice of reason and experience on the show. Christian is a 21-year-old kid with the least experience and a serious attitude problem. Nina Garcia brought up a great point about the dress. She hated it and said it reminded her of 80s disco fashion. This design and his dress for the first challenge looked really dated and uninspired to me, which is odd when you consider his age. Of all the designers, one would think he’d be the most fashion forward. Nope! I’m not sure what his problem is. Is he stuck in the past? Does he lack vision? Or both? He needs to get with the program.

Ok, I’m getting concerned that I agreed with the judges’ decision this week (and last week, too). They loved Victorya’s dress (pictured below). It’s too early to tell, but I’m starting to think that Victorya doesn’t mind using her neocortex, that stuff that sits on our primitive (reptilian) brainstem.



I presume that being a designer is something of a balancing act. Of course, a designer wants to remain true to his or her vision but also has to know what pleases those powerful fashion types (older, well established designers, editors, and so on). Jeffrey Sebelia did that so well last season, and Victorya and Kevin made it work this time around. Some bloggers seem to think that their dress looked kind of dated. Well, I think it was quite effective. Again, I’m happy that they won this challenge.

There’s another brain system between the primitive brainstem and the neocortex. It’s called the limbic (emotional) system. And I think it’s safe to say that Ricky and Elisa are more than in touch with this particular system. Ricky cries in response to all types of things—good or bad. It’s starting to get annoying. However, he seems like a nice guy. So I’ll give him a break, for now. And Elisa is turning out to be quite a character. I have more to say about her later.



Ah, Marion, where did it all go wrong? His outfit (pictured above) was a disaster. It was poorly executed and he got what he deserved. I must say, it must be hard to keep a show like PR going after 3 seasons. The novelty effect has worn off, but the producers have managed to keep this thing alive. This episode didn’t blow me away, but it was entertaining. You have some craziness, a little drama, divas, and I’m sure there’s more to come. And by “more to come,” I mean Jillian. She has serious diva/bitch potential. I’m over Christian. That kid’s all bark and no bite.

Bravo, Project Runway, & Crazy Women

I had an interesting conversation with a friend this morning. What did we discuss? Global warming? Trouble in the Middle East? The current mortgage crisis? The answer to all these questions is . . . no. We were talking about Project Runway. My friend was, to borrow a phrase from Michael Kors, quite underwhelmed with the first episode of PR. He was so disappointed that he suggested not watching the show on a regular basis. His words elicited a reflexive response from me—I was ready to slap the crap out of him. But I didn’t. I don’t resort to physical aggression to solve problems or resolve disputes. I’m all about peace and love and all that good stuff. Anyway, my friend is not alone. A number of people in the blogosphere found this episode a tad boring.

I understand what they’re saying, but, honestly, I think some people had unreasonable expectations. Consider the following. I dare you to approach your friendly neighborhood drug addict. Ask him or her to describe the first time they tried their favorite drug of abuse (psychostimulants are quite popular with the kids). In many cases, they’ll describe feeling immense pleasure. However, after repeated drug use, it takes even higher doses of the drug to experience the same effects, and, in many cases, the person eventually stops experiencing pleasure all together. Ok, I’m not sure that’s a good analogy. Honestly, I just wanted to use the phrase “friendly neighborhood drug addict” in this post. My point is: we’re talking about the fourth season of Project Runway, for crying out loud. Did you expect to be blown away? We’ve seen a lot of it before. The divas, the drama queens, the assholes, the nut jobs, and the list goes on. And, as the years go by, some of the designs are starting to look awfully familiar. Aren't they? Again, the novelty effect has worn off. I thought the first episode of PR4 was entertaining and predictable. But that’s ok.

Sorry, I went off on a tangent there. Ok, let’s get back to the task at hand—obsessing about Bravo reality television. Anyway, I’ve already complained about the lack of female talent on other Bravo shows; so now I’d like to say something positive about Bravo. I’ve noticed a few interesting trends in Bravo land. For starters, they sometimes select contestants who don’t conform to certain stereotypes. Exhibit A: lesbian hairdressers! Seriously, before Shear Genius, I had never thought of combing the words lesbian and hairdresser in the same sentence. Bravo managed to find two lesbians for Shear Genius 1 (my beloved Tabs and Daisy). Also, what’s with over-achieving Vietnamese Americans? Cloe (Project Runway) and Hung (Top Chef), both Vietnamese Americans, won the top prize in their respective shows. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for them. I really am. But the chances of two Vietnamese Americans succeeding on Bravo aren’t that high. Why not Chinese Americans, Mexican Americans, or White women? It’s just interesting. That’s all I’m saying.




Well, Bravo has done it again. They’ve managed to find another stereotype to mess with. Instead of the tired stereotypical Hispanic woman, Bravo now offers us the crazy, rebellious Hispanic woman. At first I thought Lupe was an isolated case of craziness. Of course, a handful of unstable Latinas exist in this country, but Bravo found another one. Yep, I’m talking about Elisa Jimenez. Ok, she’s not exactly like Lupe. Elisa appears capable of formulating coherent sentences; I can’t say the same for Lupe. I like Elisa. She’s the crazy, artistic type. I can dig that. However, if she’s going to play that part for the next few weeks, she’ll need to produce some great designs.



Wow, this post is getting kind of long. I know; you’ve got other things to do. So . . . I’ll stop beating around the bush. This episode wasn’t horrible. It was predictable but still entertaining. As stated in the previous post, I love Rami. Did he deserve to win? Well, that’s debatable. I think he has great taste, but his design was kind of safe and not very original. Two dresses caught my eye. The one below was designed by Chris.



I agree with Ms. Place; his dress was fierce. The man certainly has talent. Also, I noticed that a handful of gay bloggers are going crazy over Chris. Why? He seems like a nice guy, but it’s too early to tell if he’s a character to love. I’ll give him a chance. Who knows; he may win me over. Christian is turning out to be a little bitch, which isn't always a bad thing. Although I didn't like his design, I admit that he is creative and confident, but I suspect he may have trouble competing against more experienced designers. He’s a kid compared to many of the other designers.




I also liked Kit’s dress (pictured above). She may be one to watch. Of course, it really is too early to pick favorites. Now, I’m off to Pink Navy. See you there!

Oh, Happy Day

Dear friends, I'm alive and well. Sort of. Things have been crazy at work, but I won't bore with the details today. I'll save that for another post. Anyway, like any self-respecting gay man, I'm watching Project Runway as I type this. I must say, the men this season are quite attractive.



Rami Kashou had me at hello. This Palestinian hunk has worked with the likes of Jessica Alba. And he won the first elimination challenge. Great job, Rami. I love you!



Jack Mackenroth is hot. Did you see his abs? However, my heart belongs to Rami. But there's no denying Jack is gorgeous. So, season 4 is off to a good start. We have some crazy characters, a few divas, and Tim Gunn! Oh, happy day!

A Trip Down Memory Lane With The Gals of Project Runway

Ah, Project Runway 4 is just around the corner, and Bravo bloggers all across the blogosphere are more excited than Anderson Cooper at a Scissor Sisters concert (sorry, I just had to use that line again). Anyway, now we’re stuck waiting—waiting for the queen of all Bravo shows to begin. Be patient, my dear friends. Let’s prepare for another great season of PR by taking a trip down memory lane to celebrate the great women of Project Runway.




Kara Saun will always have a special place in the heart of the truly devoted Bravo viewer. She may have lost to Jay McCarroll in season 1, but she earned the respect of many people in the fashion industry. Her talent and professionalism are, of course, undeniable. But Kara contributed greatly to Bravo reality television in so many ways. She set the stage for future generations of women and minorities in project runway. She’s a great role model.



Chloe Dao’s victory in PR 2 is a clear indication that the American dream is alive and well. Her family came to America from Vietnam with almost nothing. They started a new life in Houston, Texas and never looked back. Their success in this country is quite inspirational. I respect Chloe tremendously because of her amazing work ethic. She stands alone as the only female champion in Bravo reality television. How do you like them apples?



Laura Bennett is by far a Bravo blogger’s dream. She’s fabulous, friendly, and accessible. And she’s everywhere. She’s a regular over at Tom and Lorenzo’s blog, and she even appeared in an episode of Tim Gunn’s unfortunate reality show, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style. This woman really knows how to market herself. While Jay spends his days bitching about his sad, sad life, Laura is busy raising her children but still finds time to do various things. I have to say, Laura is quite possibly the most efficient designer in the history of Project Runway. Even Tim Gunn was impressed with her progress during the weeks leading up to the finale. I can’t imagine what it would be like to prepare 12 pieces for fashion week with an expanded uterus pressing against one’s internal organs (particularly the bladder). Talk about pressure! Laura Bennett deserves a special award for performing so well under very stressful conditions.



Uli Herzner won me over the minute she smiled at the camera. Like Chloe before her, Uli came to America with a strong desire to succeed in the fashion industry. Well, her hard work paid off. Although she was unable to beat Jeffrey Sebelia in PR 3, she still created a great collection that deserves to be praised. However, the thing I love most about Uli is her humility and respect for others. She's living proof that good things happen to good people. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s as cute as a button. Rock on, Uli! Rock on!

Congratulations, Salma

Ah, Salma Hayek. You and I have had an interesting relationship. There were times when I thought you were a brainless little tease. Women would kill to have your looks and curvaceous body. But then you did something quite unexpected. You produced and starred in the surprisingly good film Frida. It was a labor of love for you and everyone involved, and it showed. Now, you're a successful TV producer. You managed to create a hit comedy, Ugly Betty, against all odds. I mean, who knew Americans would respond so positively to a story you borrowed from a popular Latin American novela.

A few days ago, you gave birth to a lovely girl, Valentina Paloma Pinault. Congratulations! I really love your daughter's first name, and I also love the name Paloma. However, I don't think they go well together, but that's just me. Anyway, I wish you and your significant other, François-Henri Pinault, the very best. It was rumored that he had something to do with Tom Ford's decision to leave Gucci. Someone actually reported that Mr. Pinault refused to renew my beloved Tom's contract. But don't worry, Salma; let's forget about that and move on. Actually, we can discuss that later. Anyway, I've posted a little clip of you in a commercial for Campari. You are gorgeous!

The Simpsons Go To Paris. Finally!

I finally got around to creating my Simpsons avatar. I shall call him mini Marius. You can create your own avatar at the The Simpsons Movie website.



I haven't seen the movie yet, but the reviews so far have been generally positive. For example, veteran critic Roger Ebert gave the film three stars. Not bad. Anyway, Twentieth Century Fox is doing everything in its power to promote its new film. They even enlisted the help of the fashion community to help sell their film. Great idea! Here are a few images of Marge Simpson and family mingling with the fashion elite in a clever little piece for Harper's Bazaar. Of course, Marge needed a fabulous guide to help her navigate the complex world of high fashion in Paris. I'm pleased to announce that my favorite Canadian model Linda Evangelista graciously offered to assist them. Now, let's follow Linda, Marge, and the kids as they travel to Paris.

First stop, the streets of Paris.


Then, it's off to visit Donatella.


Next stop, the house of Chanel.


After chatting a bit with Karl Lagerfeld, they rush to meet with the one and only Jean Paul Gaultier.


Click here to view more pictures of Marge and Linda as they meet other fashion designers. Very cute!

60s Pop Icon: Twiggy

I don't remember the 60s, as my mother's dormant egg, which contained part of my genetic soup, hadn't even fused with my father's sperm at that moment in time. My parents were just children in the 60s. Fortunately, thanks to the internet, I have access to tons of pictures and video clips of that wonderful decade.

Without question, Lesley Hornby (aka Twiggy) was one of the most influential pop icons of the 60s. As most of you probably know, she was a supermodel back in the day. To be honest, I can't figure out why she became such a huge success. Consider the following. She wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world; she was too short--violating rule number one of the supermodel bible; and she was just way too skinny. And don't get me started about eating disorders. Bill Maher once joked that men in general just fuck anything they're given by the fashion Gods of print media--even a girl with a boyish body. Of course, Hugh Hefner's Playboy magazine always provides a healthier, though not always real, alternative.

Anyway, I think Twiggy possessed some special quality that just made her stand out--that IT factor that's just hard to put into words. I'm sure luck also played a role in her success. Dr. Zaius, who inspired this post, believes that it's all in the eyes. And I think he may be right. The camera just loved Twiggy.

If you'd like to learn more about Vidal Sassoon and 60s fashion and culture, visit Ms. Place's Dishin' Dat Blog.

Long Live Japanese Beauty

Hey, Marius, I heard you watched the 56th annual Miss Universe Pageant on Monday. Were the ethnic festivities to your liking? Oh, and one more thing, if you wanna make it right? Then when you go to Nationals... bring it.

Yes, Gabrielle Union, I really enjoyed the 2007 Miss Universe pageant. Of course, I love pageants. Thanks for asking. Also, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Nationals? Hm, you must have me confused with Kirsten Dunst.

Anyway, I think what the lovely Ms. Union was trying to say is: it sucked to be a white woman in the Miss Universe Pageant this year. That is, delegates of (mostly) European descent, if you don’t count some of the Hispanic women, didn’t do so well this year. Problems started when Miss Sweden decided to drop out of the competition. This was a big blow for Europe, as Sweden was a pageant powerhouse for many years, winning the MU crown on three occasions. And although Sweden is no longer the pageant powerhouse that it was back in the day, Swedish delegates always seem to perform well at the Miss Universe Pageant.



At the outset, four European women made it to the top 15. The show started with the swimsuit presentation, and Tjasa Kokalj, Miss Slovenia, lead the way. Lucie Hadasova, Miss Czech Republic; Zaklina Sojic, Miss Denmark; and Lyudmilla Bikmullina, Miss Ukraine were the remaining three. Unfortunately, all 4 of these delegates, as well as Farung Yuthithum, Miss Thailand, failed to move on to the next round—the top 10.





This year was full of surprises. In fact, only four Latin delegates made it to the top 15. Fortunately, all of them also placed in the top 10. They were Natalia Guimaraes (Brazil), Ly Jonaitis (Venezuela), Rosa Maria Ojeda (Mexico), and Xiomara Blandino (Nicaragua). Of these four delegates, Brazil and Venezuela were clearly the judges’ favorites. Asia was well represented by Riyo Mori (Japan), Honey Lee (Korea), Puja Gupta (India), and Farung Yuthithum (Thailand), who was the only delegate who didn’t place in the top 10. Rachel Smith (USA) looked amazing and easily advanced to the top 10 group. Africa was represented by two amazing delegates—Flaviana Matata (Tanzania) and Micaela Reis (Angola). The judges loved these African beauties and they made it to the top 10.



Brazil looked sensational in her swimsuit, and the judges awarded her the second highest score. Interestingly, she reminded me a lot of Rafeala Zanella, last year’s Miss Brazil. Rafeala made it to the top 15, but didn’t impress the judges. Although Natalia looked a little like Rafeala, she was clearly a stronger delegate. She’s more sensual and has a body to die for.



However, the judges awarded the highest score to Japan’s Riyo Mori. Riyo isn’t as curvaceous as Natalia, but her thinner body was well proportioned and almost flawless. She narrowly defeated Natalia by delivering a phenomenal catwalk performance. This dancer turned beauty queen sure knows how to work it.



The one thing that really bugged me was that the judges were just all over the place with their scores. They disliked delegates who, on the surface, seemed very similar to other delegates they seemed to like a lot. For example, they weren’t crazy about Thailand, but they sure did love Korea. The judges also had some unusual preferences. They weren’t too crazy about Mexico or India, but they did love Tanzania, who had obvious flaws that the judges seemed to overlook. Mexico performed much better than Tanzania, but the judges consistently gave Mexico lower scores.

The evening gown presentation is my favorite part of the night. Mexico picked a red gown that showed off her fantastic body. She simply had an unconventional beauty that doesn’t sit well with judges. I’m not surprised she didn’t make it to the top 5. Unlike Mexico, Angola had a fighting chance. She looked lovely, and she delivered a solid performance. However, the judges weren’t as impressed as I was.


Miss USA looked radiant in her black gown, a better choice than the gown she wore for the Miss USA pageant. Unfortunately, that special moment was cut short when she slipped and fell on her tush. My heart almost stopped. I was worried that that would decrease her chances of placing in the top 5. It didn’t! She recovered nicely and managed to place in the top 5 by the skin of her teeth.



I wasn’t surprised that Korea and Venezuela made it to the next round (top 5). Interestingly, Korea reminded me of Laura Elizondo, Miss Mexico 2004. Both women seemed unstoppable at first. They could do no wrong. The judges just loved them. To be honest, Korea’s hip-to-waist ratio just seemed off the mark. I thought this flaw would keep her from advancing to the top 5. However, the judges were just hypnotized by her beauty. Yes, much like Laura before her, Honey’s striking beauty was her ticket to the top 5. Venezuela delivered a strong performance; no surprise there. I wasn’t crazy about her gown, but she looked fabulous. The judges also gave her one of the highest scores and she made it to the top 5.



Riyo (Japan) wore a lovely Gucci gown. The judges gave her a somewhat lower score, but she delivered another great performance. Her confidence set her apart from the other delegate. She just has such a commanding presence. She placed in the top 5 and proved, once again, that Japan is slowly but surely becoming a pageant powerhouse.



But the star in evening gown was without a doubt Brazil. Natalia was perfection. She looked gorgeous—just the right amount of sensuality, beauty, and glamour. Although she lacked Japan’s aggression, she delivered a performance that was flirtatious and effective. She earned the highest score in the evening gown competition.



The final five—Venezuela, Korea, Brazil, USA, and Japan—all deserved to be in the top 5. I was disappointed with last year’s top 5. And this year, I think Angola should have been given a shot, but, I guess she just didn’t wow the judges enough. USA was asked a fair question and she delivered a good answer. However, she clearly wasn’t one of the judges’ favorites. She ended the evening as 4th runner-up. I had predicted that she would dominate the pageant, like she did a few months ago in the Miss USA pageant. I was wrong. Korea was asked a silly final question, and I’m sure that hurt her chances of winning the crown. However, I was expecting more from Honey. I was disappointed. The judges awarded her the 3rd runner-up position. Interestingly, Laura Elizondo was also the 3rd-runner up in 04. Venezuela delivered a strong performance throughout. Her final question was reasonable and her answer was good. However, Venezuela usually sends delegates that are well prepared and kind of superficial. Ly had pageant pattie written all over her face, and I’m sure that hurt her chances of winning the crown. She ended the evening as 2nd runner-up. Brazil really did an exceptional job this year. She answered her question without any hesitation. It just didn’t seem possible for any of the other delegates to top her final answer. Well, it was possible and it happened. The moment Riyo opened her mouth it became clear that she wasn’t going down without a fight. Like Natalia, Riyo answered her question without flinching. However, she answered her question with a confidence that impressed the audience and, more importantly, the judges. She was also quite unconventional, a personality trait that earned Kurara Chibana, last year’s Miss Japan, the first runner-up position. Well, Riyo managed to win over the judges and she became the second Japanese woman in history to win the Miss Universe crown.



Some bloggers and pageant aficionados have made some very negative comments about Riyo. They’ve said that she didn’t deserve the crown, while others believe that Kurara was more deserving. And, of course, many were not pleased that Brazil’s textbook performance was not rewarded by the judges. Clearly, Brazil did everything right. She was flawless. However, I think Riyo deserved the crown. She wasn’t my favorite delegate, but her unconventional performance and impressive confidence won me over. There are plenty of pageant patties in the world of beauty pageants. That's for sure. What we need is more women like Riyo who have beauty, brains, and real personality.

Spider-man 3, Symbiotic Organisms, and Kelp Shakes

Beware of Spoilers!

A lot has been said about Sam Raimi’s Spider-man 3—too many villains and subplots, as well as other problems. Yes, I think most would agree that Spider-man 2 is far superior to Raimi’s third Spidey film. And, as some have suggested, that isn’t surprising; how do you top Spider-man 2? Personally, I don’t think the film was a total disaster. I wasn’t blown away, but I was entertained. Anyway, I’m not going to repeat what others have said about the film. Instead, I’d like to talk about . . . hair! No, I’m not kidding.

In Spidey 3, Peter Parker comes into contact with some black substance from outer space. What is it? I have no idea. As MarryAnn Johanson would say, it’s just comic book science. I guess we don’t question this sort of thing. Anyway, this symbiote wraps itself around an unsuspecting host and turns it black (of course). It also seems to influence the host’s personality (and not in a good way). Yep, Peter wears his new black suit and loses himself in the process. He flirts with the dark side and does some pretty nasty things to his friends. So, I guess this symbiote increases aggression, decreases inhibitions, and makes the host act like an asshole. The dark side is one scary place.



Now, let’s talk about hair. Yes, the first thing Peter changed was his hair style. It was kind of silly, but it makes total sense. As Peter Parker, the good boy, he would usually go with a pretty traditional style—looks a lot like the Princeton, a very clean-cut look that screams White Boy. Ah, but the Princeton is not appropriate for the dark side. No! Peter needed a drastic change that would coincide with his new (evil) persona. So, he went with . . . bangs?!? Hm, I guess that’ll work. Maybe it’s comic book science. Who knows?

Tobey McGuire’s character isn’t the first person to venture into the dark side. In 1963, Jerry Lewis starred in the delightfully entertaining film The Nutty Professor. This movie was great. Lewis delivered a great comedic performance, and Stella Stevens was perfect as Miss Purdy.



In the movie, the clueless chemist, professor Kelp, created a potion that completely changed him from a nerdy scientist to an attractive playboy (Buddy Love). Interestingly, his little potion also made him a good dancer and musician. So, the symbiotic organism from outer space makes you an asshole, but Kelp’s wacky potion does that and more! I’d like to order a Kelp shake please, but go easy on the asshole. As in Spidey 3, Kelp’s transformation wasn’t complete without a new hair hairstyle. Kelp’s hair was clean-cut and natural; it was the kind of style preferred by conservative business men in the 60s (or so I've read). Buddy Love, on the other hand, loves hair products. His hair style was a classic taper that was messier, more modern. Honestly, it wasn’t much different, but it was effective. We got the point: Buddy Love is a bad ass.

Musicians are just as vulnerable as actors. Garth Brooks also flirted with the dark side (check out his pic).



In the late 90s, this Country Music Superstar decided to release an album as his alter-ego Chris Gaines. Yep, before Peter Parker experimented with bangs, Garth had been there and done that. I’m not sure what possessed him to attempt such a bold career move. Was it some black substance from outer space? Or one of those awesome Kelp shakes, perhaps? I have no idea. I’m sure his fans were just as puzzled as I am to this very day.

So, I guess the take home message is never underestimate the power of (superficial) change. When we’re getting ready to go out to a club, bar, social event, or whatever, we usually dress to impress. Some people spend hours in front of the mirror trying to achieve the perfect “look.” In our minds, that “look” conveys a message. Some people want a style that says, “hi, I’m single and looking for action.” Other styles convey a different message, “hi, I’m responsible and intelligent; please give me a raise.” Of course, these changes are superficial, and, most of the time, our behavior stays pretty much the same. To an outside observer, a hairstyle change doesn’t seem to do much. However, to the person who styles his or her hair before some important event, a change can energize and sometimes change our disposition. By the way, I’ve experimented with bangs and still do from time to time! But don’t worry; I usually go with a Ceasar or my version of the Princeton. I rarely go the dark side.

Bollywood Goddess: Aishwarya Rai

By now most of you have probably heard that Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994, married fellow Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan a few days ago. She is currently a model for Loreal cosmetics. Aishwarya has been called the most beautiful woman in the world. That’s a very bold statement, but I think many people would agree with it. She is admired and adored by millions. India has proven time and again that they are a powerhouse in the pageant world, and Aishwarya is arguably the most successful Indian delegate of all time.

She is one of my favorite beauty queens—intelligent, beautiful, and modest. I wish Aishwarya and her husband the very best.

Rene Fris is One Hot Scandinavian Man

I present to you the gorgeous Rene Fris. According to tvbuddy.com, Rene moved from Denmark to New York City in 1999. He's worked for some of the best salons in the country. And the rest, as they say, is history. He's currently the salon director (and judge) on Bravo's new reality show Shear Genius. As you can probably tell, I heart Rene. A lot! Oh, and how cute does he look in that Karate uniform? So butch! Hot!

Fashion Icon: Audrey Hepburn

The TLC special The Greatest Fashion Icons in Film ranked various legendary movie stars and compared them to contemporary actors (see previous post). They gave the title of most fashionable goddess of the silver screen to Audrey Hepburn. They also declared that no contemporary actor can compare to this phenomenal woman. I couldn’t agree more.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Below are a handful of pictures of Audrey Hepburn, one of the silver screen’s greatest beauties. Her unique beauty and sophisticated demeanor are difficult to imitate. I could go on and on about how amazing she is, but I’ll just let these images speak for themselves. My favorite Hepburn films are Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Sabrina. I should review these films at some point, and I will if time permits.

Fashion Icons, Past and Present

About a month ago, TLC aired a program called The Greatest Fashion Icons in Film. Apparently, they got a team of experts to rank the most fashionable icons in cinema, and they also listed contemporary actors that resemble these iconic stars. I found some of these comparisons quite accurate. Or, at least, they felt right for some reason or another. For example, they compared Madonna to Marlene Dietrich. Good call!



To give another example, Leonardo DiCaprio was anointed the new James Dean by these folks. Ok, that makes sense.


Here’s Cary Grant and George Clooney. I can see it.


Of course, I didn’t agree with some of their comparisons. I cannot believe they likened Gwyneth Paltrow to Grace Kelly. I can see a few similarities, but these women are on different levels. Grace, of course, is a Hollywood legend, and Gwyneth is, um, a successful American actor. Yeah, she’s an Academy Award winning actor, but that doesn’t make her Grace Kelly.


I also don’t think Catherine Zeta-Jones is the new Elizabeth Taylor. Don’t get me wrong; Catherine is a beautiful woman, but she’s no Elizabeth Taylor.


I was ambivalent about most of their other comparisons. They declared Scarlett Johanssen the new Marilyn Monroe. Well, ScarJo does have some things in common with Norma Jeane (curves and breasts!), but she’s also quite different in a lot of ways.






Here are a few more pictures of other stars—Brigitte Bardot-Halle Barry and Greta Garbo-Hilary Swank.




For a more complete list visit the Cinefille Blog.

Watch What Happens when Carson Joins the Party

Carson Kressley is so entertaining. I saw him last night on Watch What Happens, an online show that lets viewers ask questions about their favorite Bravo shows. Carson delivered a great response to one of Andy Cohen’s questions. I can’t remember exactly what was said, but here’s the gist:

Andy: “Are you a Top Chef viewer?”

Carson: “No, I’m a Bottom Chef viewer.”

I love Bravo! They’re so gay friendly. Actually, I’d say they’re more than gay friendly. It’s great!

Good luck, Proenza Schouler

On Monday, the Council of Fashion Designers of America announced that Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, the boys of Proenza Schouler, were nominated for the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. They will compete with Oscar De La Renta and Marc Jacobs for the title. Good luck, boys. The winner will be announced at the 25th Annual Fashion Awards on June 4th. Click here for list of awards and nominees.

Lazaro Hernandez, Chloë Sevigny, & Jack McCollough

These talented young men have quite a story to tell. They met at Parson’s Design School in the late 90’s, worked on a thesis project together, and ended up creating a great collection that was a hit among the New York City Fashion community. The rest is history. Many people don’t know that in addition to being creative (and business) partners, they were romantically involved early in their careers. I’m not sure if they’re still together. There were reports that they cheated on each other and their relationship fell apart. As they say, boys (gay or straight) will be boys. I’m glad they’ve managed to work together all these years. I really like Lazaro; he’s such a cutie. Of course, I have a thing for Latin men. Don’t worry, Jack. I like you, too.

I love Kuno Becker

Kuno Becker

I was thrilled when I found out that Mexican actor Kuno Becker is participating in a GAP AD campaign for 2007. He’s one of my favorite young Mexican actors. No one can play a spoiled, rich Mexican like Kuno (see clip below).



Kuno isn’t the only hottie working for Gap Inc. these days. Chris O’donnell and Wentworth Miller are also participating.






Sex sells!

Mr. World 2007: Hotness on a global scale

Juan Garcia Postigo, Mr. Spain 2007

The Mr. World competition is just a few days away and pageant sites all over the world wide web are going crazy over the 63 hunks who are vying for the title of Mr. World. My pick is Juan Garcia Postigo. Of course, I love Spanish men; it wasn't a hard decision. My second pick is Lucas Gil from Brazil. He's the prototypical South American hunk.

Lucas Gil, Mr. Brazil 2007

I wish all the contestants the best of luck, and as they say, may the best man win. Below are pictures of some of the other very attractive contestants.

Diego Cedeno, Mr. Panama 2007
Diego is a real class act from Central America. He's apparently doing very well as a model in Europe.

Roman Demchenko, Mr. Russia 2007.
Roman is one of the hottest European contestants. He reminds me of James Dean.

Anthony Hakim, Mr. Lebanon 2007
Anthony gets extra points for being one of the hairiest contestants.

Mark Wilke, Mr. Germany 2007
Mark is a fine representative of the Northern European male!

David Camenzuli, Mr. Malta 2007
I love this picture. David is a beautiful man.

Johaney Albor, Mr. Dominican Republic 2007
Is he Venezuelan or Dominican? That's the question. Well, he was born in Venezuela and lived there for many years, but his parents are originally from DR. You decide.

Carlo Martellini, Mr. Italy 2007
I've always loved Mediterranean men.

Jorge Aceves, Mr. Mexico 2007
Jorge is cute, but I doubt he'll make much of an impression on the judges. Let's hope I'm wrong. He kind of looks like Gabriel Soto, Mr. Mexico 1996.

Gjorgi Filipov, Mr. Macedonia FYRO
This man is hot. He doesn't seem to be one of the favorites, but I hope he does well.

Where have all the Anglo-Canadians gone?

Inga Skaya, Miss Canada 2007

When it comes to beauty pageants, Canada and Italy seem to be on opposite sides of the spectrum. Please let me explain. Canada loves to send non-Canadian delegates to international beauty pageants, and in 2005, that strategy paid off—Russian born Natalia Glebova was crowned Miss Universe. I saw the pageant and remember being surprised that Natalia spoke English with a Russian accent. In my opinion, she won the MU title for Russia. Anyway, a few days ago, another Russian woman, Inga Skaya, won the Miss Canada crown. Where have all the Anglo-Canadians gone? Actually, it’s great that judges and officials of the “Beauties of Canada” Association welcome immigrants with open arms, especially if those immigrants happen to be gorgeous Russian women.


Natalia Glebova, Miss Universe 2005

Italy is a different story. In 1997, a lovely Black woman named Denny Mendez won the Miss Italy title. Well, some people weren’t too thrilled, and a few judges even protested Denny’s success. “She's not Mediterranean,” said one of the judges. Fortunately, she was allowed to represent Italy at the MU pageant and she did a great job. I should also point out that most Italians supported Denny. Way to go Italia!


Denny Mendez, Miss Italy 1997

My take on the 79th Annual Academy Awards

Cate Blanchett was the best dressed woman of the evening.

Reese Withersppon looked stunning.

Ellen DeGeneres did a good job hosting the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Everything appeared to go smoothly, but nothing really exciting happened. There were, however, a few surprises.

I was disappointed that Pan’s Labyrinth didn’t win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. The honor went to Germany’s The Lives of Others. Pan’s was the front-runner and most critically praised film of all 5 nominees, but that wasn’t enough for the Mexican/Spanish film. Riding on a cloud of critical praise was enough for Jennifer Hudson, Helen Mirren, and Forest Whitaker. Martin Scorsese finally got his Best Director Oscar. Did he really deserve it for this particular film (The Departed)? Who knows! In all fairness to Scorsese, The Departed also won for Best Film.

Now, let’s talk about Oscar fashion. This year was a bit boring. Cameron Diaz looked ok, but, honestly, I didn’t like her dress at all. Jennifer Hudson had been looking fabulous up to this point. I blame her designer (Oscar De La Renta?) for making her look silly on such an important night. Fortunately, there were a few standouts. Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow both looked amazing. Cate, in my humble opinion, was the best dressed. She is, without question, a star! Here’s a list of my favorite women:

Best Dressed Stars (the top 3):
1. Cate Blanchett (Gold Star): Cate receives the highest honor—she was the best dressed woman of the night. She looked absolutely radiant. She’s a true star.
2. Gwyneth Paltrow (Silver Star): I’m not Gwyneth’s biggest fan, but I have to admit she looked great. Very elegant. It’s clear why so many consider her a fashion icon.
3. Jessica Biel (Bronze Star): This woman is HOT! That’s all I have to say. Actually, I liked her dress a lot, but it’s her sex appeal that makes her look amazing in anything she wears.

All-Stars:
4. Reese Witherspoon: Simple and sophisticated. Great dress.
5. Jennifer Lopez: This woman knows how to dress herself. I loved the dress.
6. Rachel Weisz: The dress was lovely, and Rachel carries herself so well.
7. Penelope Cruz: Now, I personally think Ms. Cruz looks awkward (at times, she looks like a rodent). However, I have to acknowledge that her dress was gorgeous. Great choice.
8. Kate Winslet: I was surprised at how good she looked. Classy.

Honorable Mention:
9. Diane Keaton: I was shocked at how good Diane looked. She really made my evening because I love her. Diane, thank you for looking wonderful.
10. Nicole Kidman: She looked good, but we’ve seen it before.
11. Maggie Gyllenhaal: Maggie looked so good! She picked a great dress that complimented her body.
12. Eva Green: Sexy, but she needs to do a better job in the hair and makeup department.
13. Beyonce: All I have to say is thank you for not going over the top. She looked lovely.
14. Helen Mirren: She looked like a queen.
15. Queen Latifah: Another woman who carries herself like a queen. She looked great. She knows what works for her. Great choice.