Midnight Hot: Sexy Photoshoots

Stunning models, minimal clothing and great views - it must be Midnight Hot Monday at FashionTV!

Sexy photoshoots can easily become more sleazy than sexy. But these three videos highlight how talented photographers can be seductive and artful at the same time.

Esotiq Lingerie: Sexy Photoshoot

A blonde model walks down an alley wearing nothing but lingerie and a trench coat. Sounds like one of your fantasies, right? Click PLAY below and watch the fantasy come to life.

Liliana Matthaus Photoshoot for FHM Magazine

Liliana Matthaus poses for photographer Peter Jirmann Jr. in a black and white photoshoot for FHM Germany. The Ukrainian model poses in revealing lingerie and transparent lace dresses. The result is an uber-sexy fashion production. Click PLAY below to see how sexy magazine covers are made!

Moness: Photoshoot by Dom Jamieson

In this fashion film by Dom Jamieson, one woman is more than enough to create a tempting and desirable scene. A tattooed model wears lingerie and an oversized shirt. The seductive looks, slow-motion photography and the music add a lustful dimension to the photoshoot. Enjoy!

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Posted in FASHION, TV Show, Victoria’s Secret, Video

Karlie Kloss? Joan Smalls? Daria Strokus? Who Will Make the Spring 2014 First Face List?

Though the Spring/Summer 2014 shows are long gone, with FashionTV, the show’s live on! We’ve been busy counting through the New York, London, Milan, and Paris catwalks to see which models were hot and which were not... just in time to reveal FashionTV’s First Face countdown.

Just like clothes, models become trendy too. All it takes is one designer to select a unique face to represent their brand; and before you know it, all the designers are fighting over them!

Cara Delevingne | Fall 2013-14

Just look at everybody’s favorite model Cara Delevingne’s breakthrough, when, by the time the 2013 collections came around, she had built a reputation for herself as one of the hottest, most in-demand catwalk models of all time!

Cara first made it to our First Face list in Spring/Summer 2013, when she came in at 7th place, then again in Fall 2013-14. Within the space of 6 short months, the big-browed Brit had jumped a whole five places, reaching the number three spot! This season, however, Cara walked a very small, select number of shows, yet if she opened them all... she too could be FashionTV’s First Face of the Spring/Summer 2014 collections.

In just a few days, FashionTV will reveal the list of top 10 models that were the first face on the runway at some of the world’s biggest designer shows. But who will make the cut?

Catherine McNeil | Fall 2013-14

Last season it was Australian stunner Catherine McNeil that ruled the runway for Fall 2013-14, and crowned #1. After taking a two-year break from the model limelight, McNeil came back with avengance; walking at the most opulent shows and securing the coveted opening slot at the fairest show of them all: Elie Saab.

Esther Heesch | Fall 2013-14

Falling in at second place, was Esther Heech, who made it to the list for her debut appearance. Will the gorgeous German revive, or break her spot for Spring/Summer 2014 too? Stay tuned with FashionTV before all is revealed! FashionTV’s First Face Countdown will air on FashionTV from November, 22-28 for a week-long special.

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Posted in FASHION, Victoria’s Secret, Video

Midnight Hot: Sexy Pajamas for HOT Nights

How would you describe your nights? Boring and ordinary or hot and sexy? What do you think about adding a sweet taste to the time between the sheets? Check out the following Midnight Hot clips and find out new ways to change each and every night to one that won’t be forgotten...

Pyjama Party

When it’s bedtime, pajamas are great for a variety of factors.  Of course, there’s the comfort level.  But there’s also the pajamas that are made of silk, satin, and lace that feel good and take that sexiness up a notch.  Why not find a way to include both factors at bedtime?

Whatever your reason for wearing pajamas may be, this clip offers you the best pajamas trends coming directly from the most romantic city in the world – Paris. Pink, turquoise, prints, lace, and casual pieces make for a playful but sexy collection and a Pyjama Party worth watching.

Fix Lingerie Photoshoot

Two beautiful models, one fashion photographer and lots of sexy pajamas designs. This is what you are about to see in the following clip. Models Paula and Alicia are on hand for a Fix lingerie photoshoot where they pose in undergarments, pajamas and fashionable items in a variety of happy colors like pink and a few sophisticated colors like black, that look playful and casual here in a cute way. This fun clip showcases that a woman can be comfortable and sexy at the same time...

Charmante Lingerie Show

Charmante is a lingerie brand based in Colombia, Venezuela that brings a new scent to the undergarments fashion shows. This collection offers some great sexy pajamas designs, and makes you wonder about all those nights that you went to bed wearing used and not-at-all sexy clothes. Watch the stunning models on the stage and start fantasizing about the perfect nights ahead...

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Posted in FASHION, Lingerie

Victoria’s Secret 2013 Fashion Show

The show we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived, and we were there to capture all the best moments. Although the show won’t be airing on network television till December, we’ve put together some exclusive clips for your viewing pleasure NOW.

Backstage at the Victoria’s Secret show, we catch up with all the models while they are getting their hair and makeup done and wearing those ever-so-cute pink monogrammed silk robes. Then we grab our seats in the audience and start filming (and ohhhing and awwwing). We’ve got footage of some of the highlights of the show that just can’t be missed!

Take a trip down the East Coast away from the VS show in New York and travel to Miami where the highly anticipated Funkshion Fashion Week Miami Beach took place. Funkshion is a fashion show that fuses fashion and music together to bring that extra funk to both worlds. This show marked the 25th anniversary since the show’s inception.  This is a show dedicated to emerging progressive designers who get to present their collections to the media, celebrities, international buyers and the public, so tensions were high! Also, the general public is invited to attend for free (of course you must get an RSVP in advance)!

Finally we bring you footage from the fashion shows at Fashion Rio. In its 24th edition, Fashion Rio in Brazil kicked off with three local designers presenting their Winter 2014 collections and we immediately saw a pattern: monochromatic colors, lots of leather--suede and smooth--and dynamic animal prints.

1 -  Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2013 Backstage

The Victoria’s Secret models explain what they are feeling before the show while they get ready while wearing their silk pink signature Victoria’s Secret robes. We checked out the hair products and see lots of 2-inch barrel curling irons, which the hair stylists use on the girls horizontally rather than vertically! We are definitely going to be trying that this week!

2 -  Sneak Peak of the Victoria’s Secret 2013 Runway Show

We’ve compiled some of the can’t-miss parts of the show to put in our exclusive sneak peek video. The show officially airs on CBS on December 10, but for those who can’t wait to see some of the action, this video will surely satisfy!

3 - La GlamRock Runway Show from Funkshion Fashion Week Miami Beach

Miami native Lauren Ashley presented her new collection for La GlamRock, and it was a crowd favorite. Her distinctive fashion-forward with a spicy rock star edge has gained quite a cult following in Miami and beyond. She says her woman is one who “knows who she is, what she wants and is not afraid to make that distinctive statement with her fashion."

4 - Felizola Runway Show from Funkshion Fashion Week Miami Beach

This highly anticipated collection featured many form-hugging fit long dresses that made models that accentuated the models’ tall and slender frames. Felizola has received much recognition for his work in the fashion industry such as "Victoria Puig de Lange Award 2012," "Ibero Personality of the Year 2012" in Paris and the Medal of Merit by the U.S. Congress. This past March he was dubbed as the newest "Miami Fashion ICON Award" by Miami Fashion Week.

5 - Coca Cola Jeans Winter 2014 Show at Fashion Rio

This show had some celebrity cred as actress Bruna Marquezine kicked off the show. She is the girlfriend of Brazilian footballer Neymar, which when seeing the collection, was a nice touch--after all, the overall theme in this collection was inspired by the game itself. The sporty chic collections took the theme so literal by adding numbers to the fronts and backs, just like on a jersey.

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Posted in FASHION, Victoria’s Secret

Top 5: Sexiest Movie Scenes

The great thing about winter season is that it gives you a reason to sit down, pour a glass of wine, and cosy-up in front of a good movie. This week FashionTV takes a look at five of the sexiest movie scenes of all time, past and present.

Whether they are about love, sex, or obsession; a well produced sexy scene can leave an impression for a lifetime. From cult movie moments to our editor’s personal picks, see if you agree with our sexy selection.

Salma Hayek’s Sensual Table Dance

It’s a cult moment, when Salma Hayek takes to the table in Quentin Tarantino's 1996 movie “From Dusk Till Dawn,” wearing little more than a snake and seducing Quentin himself with her confident strides. But you could never tell that Salma had a deathly fear of the reptiles from this scene...

Jessica Alba’s Sin City Dance

She is one of the most beautiful women in the world and took on the role as exotic dancer Nancy Callahan in 2005 box office hit “Sin City.” Following the release of the movie, the actress revealed that she needed to visit strip clubs to learn the ropes, and despite choosing not to get nude for her role: a lasso and chaps were always going to be sexy enough.

Cameron Diaz is a Bad Teacher

She’s washing cars to help raise money for her students in "Bad Teacher" (2011) and kindly dresses in her skimpiest attire for the occasion. Wearing a pair of killer hotpants and a plaid shirt tied at the waist, Cameron gets seriously involved in foaming the cars and herself... all in the name of a worthy cause.

Two for One: Vicky Cristina Barcelona Kiss

Written and directed by Woody Allen, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (2008) sees Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johannson on vacation in Spain where they meet painter Javier Bardem. But it is the famous scene between Scarlett and Javiers ex-wife, played by Penelope Cruz, that is the sexiest of them all: where we witness an intimate moment in the dark room between all three.

Blue is the Warmest Colour

It is being advertised as one of the most sexually explicit movies of all time (aside from porn), and has just hit the American screens. "Blue is the Warmest Colour" (2013) is a French film that explores the relationship of a teenage girl who falls in love with an older woman. The movie, which has received rave reviews from the Toronto International Film Festival has also been dubbed controversial, with intimate sex scenes lasting for a full, uninterrupted 6 minutes.

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Posted in Cameron Diaz, FASHION, Jessica Alba, Movie, Salma Hayek, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Family Friendly Paradise in Fiji

Travel writer Fiona Harper discovers one of her all-time favourite hotel rooms and more at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Fiji. 

“Sorry I’m late, I fell asleep on the massage table.” It’s not a bad excuse is it? Slick with scented Pure Fijian body oil and looking slightly unkempt thanks to ‘spa hair’, I’ve kept my fellow passengers waiting for our jaunt to Nakawaga rainforest and waterfall.

Lulled to sleep post massage, in true ‘Fiji time’ therapist Selai allowed me to slumber on for 35 minutes before I woke myself embarrassingly by snoring. It’s usual for the masseuse to give a gentle yet firm shake a few minutes after a massage is complete. But not today. Which sort of sums up the attitude of many Fijians whose mantra seems to be ‘take your time’, reflecting their warm generous nature, where nothing is rushed, knowing that everything happens eventually.

This attitude is in abundance, in the nicest possible way, at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, a few minutes from downtown Savusavu on the island of Vanua Levu. A serious contender for one of the finest family friendly resorts on the planet, every child is allocated their own private nanny upon arrival. Predominantly women (though I’m sure a male nanny would be available if requested – nothing is too much trouble at JMC), their orange and blue shirts are spotted everywhere. Each has a young child in their arms, riding their backs, walking hand in hand or poking around the shallows on the beach. It’s hands on, interactive child minding with a subtle environmental educational approach, that enables parents to share adult time with eachother, rekindling romance or allowing time to talk uninterrupted, knowing their kids are in the very best hands.

While many Kids Clubs are tacked on as an afterthought at JMC, the Bula Club is one of its main features, taking up a good portion of the vast landscaped grounds. With its own commercial kitchen, swimming pool, waterslide, tree house (which looks like so much fun I’m tempted to climb into it myself), miniature tennis court, table tennis table, crèche, quiet areas and noisy areas, it’s the key to extraordinary repeat guest numbers. Indeed, some families have been spending annual holidays here for years. Beyond the kid’s facilities, the attraction for adults is equally enticing, combining luxurious bures, fine food, child-free serenity zones, activities aplenty or peaceful daybeds for doing absolutely nothing. Designed on a traditional Fijian village, it’s a winning combination that ensures JMC appears on ‘best of’ lists worldwide.

In a crowded field of would be contenders there’s a plethora of resorts laying claim to offering the very best hotel rooms, service and facilities. But what qualifies as ‘best’? And who is qualified to make this claim anyway? Sure there are strict criteria when it comes to hotel star ratings that determine whether a property rates (and retains) its coveted five stars or is relegated lesser status. But a star rating is not necessarily the best indicator.

So, while any ‘best’ assessment or list is subjective, I’m prepared to risk the wrath of more worldly travellers and place The Villa (or simply Bure 25) at Jean Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji in my list of Best Hotel Rooms. Why?

Firstly, for the rather unsexy reasons of an abundance of natural light and ventilation – an absolute essential in the tropics. I have a love/hate relationship with air conditioning, preferring the sensation and aromas of tropic-infused air wafting over warm bare skin. Feeling cold is not a sensation I embrace whilst in the tropics. Banks of timber louvers fitted with insect screens keep the bugs out and the breeze in. A shower with double overhead roses has a glass sliding wall opening onto another one outdoors (there are actually four showers in The Villa, because one is rarely enough right?). The bathroom is palatial with a glass wall beyond the stone hot tub that looks into a high-walled garden courtyard with waterfall.

Secondly, space. There’s plenty of it. A master bedroom is dominated by a muslin curtained four poster bed. Slide back the louver doors to welcome the south easterly trade winds and enjoy the view across the deck, raised day bed and horizon edge private plunge pool which in turn flows onto grass, a beach and the ocean beyond. So much space.

Other reasons I rate The Villa highly include a pavilion living room with mini kitchen, linked to the bedroom by undercover dining area, which doubles as another bedroom with its own bathroom. There’s a full sized fridge to store fresh fruit snaffled from the organic garden nearby.

Did I mention the swimming pool? Located on the point, and therefore some distance from the main pool and restaurant area, The Villa is the only bure with its own private pool.

If your budget is a little more modest, ocean front bures, both one and two bedroom are spacious, beautifully appointed and oh so romantic. I particularly like Bure 24’s layout and island view, though another repeat offender swears by Bure 5. Limited to 25 bures, there are actually no bad ones.

But the main reason I rate JMC so highly is for the intangibles. With a strong environmental focus, a team of warm, hospitable staff and an ethos of sustainable tourism that supports the local community, JMC offers a holiday with heart. The place just has a good soul – you can feel it. Much like Fiji itself.

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Posted in Fiji, Hotel, LIFESTYLE, Spa

Take a Road Trip in Australia

Travel Writer Fiona Harper explains why jumping in the car and taking a road trip in Australia makes for a fantastic holiday - and shares her favourite Aussie drives. 

Do you remember Jack Nicolson in the movie As Good as it Gets? Playing eccentric, obsessive-compulsive Melvin, he was rather nervous about an impromptu road trip with Carol whom he rather fancied and Simon whom he didn’t. He had prepared a carefully labelled playlist tagged to ‘get things going’ or for use as ‘icebreakers’ as the three of them settled into leather seats and drove out of New York bound for good times and noodle salad. I can’t watch that movie without wishing I too was heading off on an extended road trip.

Growing up in country West Australia, family holidays always included a road trip: we rarely flew anywhere. Three kids on the back seat, plus the dog (sometimes a hitchhiker too). Border collie crossbreed Poochie was always first in the car whenever it looked like Team Harper was hitting the road and was never left behind. Except for that one time, in Whyalla I think it was after crossing the Nullarbor Plain, when Dad somehow managed to drive off without her, creating buckets of hysterical tears from the back seat when we realised. We went back though and thankfully found her, welcoming her return into our back seat bunker with delirious delight.

Usually we’d have a caravan hitched behind us, which back then were all bubble-like curves with oversized windows. Actually the windows were so large I managed to roll right out of one, landing with a thud on the dirt one night while asleep on the top bunk. But that’s a story Mum would rather I not tell (sorry Mum, I have). Later, our family moved to the Pilbara and road trips became more adventurous as we ventured off road, billowing clouds of fine ochre dust coating us, the camper trailer and everything packed inside it. Poochie was still with us, her white coat tinted as red as our feet, swimming alongside us in freshwater streams, clamouring up cliffs, chasing lizards or sleeping exhausted beside the campfire while Mum prepared dinner on the camp stove.

Fast forward 30 years and despite open skies and low cost airlines encouraging us to fly hither and thither, I still love the thrill of hitting the road. Whether that road is paved with asphalt, dirt, gravel or bulldust, it’s the lure of the unknown that is so enticing. No matter whether the verge is bordered by architecturally miserable roadhouses or primeval rainforest, once in the car it’s kind of like having your own private ticket to ride, destination unknown. Sure maps, apps and guidebooks have quashed some of the mystery but they’ve also made driving off into the unknown a whole lot more fun (and safe) too.

So where are my favourite Australian drives? The Great Ocean Road in Victoria remains a firm favourite, so too Queensland’s Captain Cook Highway flanked by reef and rainforest between Cairns and Port Douglas. The Gold Coast Hinterland has the Scenic Rim, all craggy dormant volcanic peaks clad with rainforest, while further north and inland from the Sunshine Coast Steve Irwin Way winds through the Glasshouse Mountains. Out west the Cape to Cape route rambles through award winning vineyards, karri forest and small towns, hugging the coast in parts, rolling through farmland in others. In Tasmania, just about every outing is worthy of ‘road trip’ status the whole state is so damn pretty, but I am rather fond of the Huon Trail south of Hobart that meets up with the car-carrying barge to Bruny Island.

We’re awfully fortunate in Australia to have such splendid road infrastructure. Hitting the road, whether for a few weeks or a few hours really is as good as it gets.

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Posted in Australia, LIFESTYLE, Trip

2014 Yearly Horoscopes

What do the stars have in store for you? Get your complete astrological predictions for 2014 from our resident Astrology expert Kelli Fox.

ARIES

Inventive Uranus keeps moving through your Image Sector. You won’t look or behave like anyone else this year. At times, this will attract favorable attention. At other times, it will get you into trouble. Either way, it’s important to establish yourself as an independent person. Continue to speak your mind and dress the way you want. Saturn, the planet of restriction, continues to tour your Shared Resources Sector. Your nearest and dearest may be threatened by your rebellious attitude, but it can’t be helped. Ultimately, they will respect your revolutionary ways. Stick to your guns.

TAURUS

You continue to change and evolve throughout 2014, especially in the area of your appearance. How you present yourself to the world is crucial to your success. Develop a look that resonates with your taste and sensibility. Don’t imitate a magazine ideal if you look better with a little meat on your bones. If you’re unhappy with your name, consider changing it. Are you tired of dressing conservatively? Add items to your wardrobe that enhance your best features. Look within for the answers you seek, rather than depending on the outside world for information.

GEMINI

With dreamy Neptune continuing to travel through your Career Sector, you have an opportunity to shine in a creative industry. The arts, fashion, film, advertising…the choice is yours. Alternately, you might decide to take a job at a charitable organization, since Neptune symbolizes compassion. It looks as though you might be able to land a position with a good salary, thanks to generous Jupiter’s transit through your Moneymaking Sector between January 1^st and July 16^th. If you already have a job you enjoy, be sure to lobby for a raise during the first half of the year.

CANCER

Your self-confidence and optimism will attract good fortune through July 15^th, when jovial Jupiter tours your Image Sector. It will be easy to wrap people around your little finger at this time. Use this opportunity to ask for favors, show off your talent, and make friends with very important people. If you can conceive it, you can achieve it. Jupiter moves into your Moneymaking Sector on July 16^th, attracting all sorts of lucrative financial opportunities. Ventures related to education, entertainment, and gambling are especially favored, but you can find success in virtually any area.

LEO

Solitary pursuits can provide tremendous pleasure between January 1^st and July 15^th, thanks to upbeat Jupiter’s tour of your Spirituality Sector. Spend as much time as possible reading, writing and communing with nature. Material matters probably won’t seem very important during this phase. On July 16^th, Jupiter enters your Image Sector, which may boost your energy and enthusiasm. Your positive energy will open new doors in virtually every realm. This would also be a great period to launch a dramatic makeover. A new hairstyle, fashionable wardrobe or cosmetic procedure could greatly enhance your natural star power. Go ahead and splurge on your appearance.

VIRGO

On April 28^th, a Solar Eclipse falls in your Adventure Sector, suggesting you may be in for an overseas trip. Visiting a city by the sea is highly favored. Any endeavor aimed at expanding your horizons is favored at this time. Friends will be very supportive of your desire to explore greener pastures, since generous Jupiter will be touring your Social Sector at this time, all the way up until July 16^th. During this phase, you’ll receive plenty of invitations. Be sure to attend as many parties, get-togethers and professional conferences as possible during the first seven months of the year, because who you know may be a determining factor to your success.

LIBRA

2014 may prove to be an eventful year for you. From January 1^st through July 25^th, action-oriented Mars will be moving through your Image Sector. You’ll be more assertive throughout this period, refusing to defer to others. Demanding what you want will create conflict at times, but it will also make you happier and more successful. Expansive Jupiter will be touring your Career Sector between January 1^st and July 15^th, making this an ideal time to go after a high-powered position or dream job. Since creative Neptune will be touring your Work Sector all year, it looks as though the arts and entertainment field will yield the most fruit as far as career choices.

SCORPIO

2014 may be a year of profound and exciting transformations for you. Expansive Jupiter moves into your Career Sector on July 16^th, fueling your ambition. Take this opportunity to go after a high-profile job that involves an element of glamour. Opportunities related to luxury goods, the performing arts, and childcare are all favored. A Solar Eclipse on October 23^rd will electrify your Image Sector. This is a wonderful opportunity to get a head-to-toe makeover, revamp your wardrobe or undergo a cosmetic procedure. Nobody could ever accuse you of being shallow, but looking your best will lift your spirits and lighten your mood. Use the powerful energy of this eclipse to enact a magical metamorphosis.

SAGITTARIUS

Two heads are better than one during the first seven months of 2014. That’s because Jupiter, your ruling planet, will be touring your Intimacy Sector. A close relationship could bring tremendous happiness. If you’re single, you could benefit from a grant, loan or scholarship, since lending institutions could be particularly generous at this time. There’s even a chance you’ll receive an inheritance or some other sort of financial windfall. On July 16^th, Jupiter will move in to your Adventure Sector, prompting you to do something expansive. Publishing a book, travelling abroad and getting an advanced degree are among the possibilities.

CAPRICORN

2014 may be a year of dramatic highs and lows. On April 14^th, a Lunar Eclipse will fall in your Career Sector, possibly bringing an end to a job or work assignment. Try not to panic. This may be the Universe’s way of bringing some much-needed balance to your life. A Solar Eclipse on April 28^th may put you on the path to romance. If you’re single, you could meet someone special. Are you already in a relationship? Your partner could surprise you with a fabulous vacation. Building a strong partnership with someone special will be very important, thanks to expansive Jupiter’s tour of your Relationship Sector between January 1^st and July 15^th. Work can stay on the back burner during this romantic time.

AQUARIUS

2014 continues to be a year of risk-taking. That’s because disruptive Uranus, your ruling planet, is moving through your Communication Sector. Setting yourself apart from the crowd may be imperative. If that means speaking up against the consensus, so be it. Public approval won’t mean much to you. You’re more interested in marching to the beat of your own drummer. This desire for comfort could pay off on April 28^th, when a Solar Eclipse energizes your Home and Family Sector. A family member may offer you a new beginning or alternatively, finding a new place to live over the coming months will be a priority.

PISCES

You’ll continue to experience great sensitivity throughout 2014, thanks to Neptune, your ruling planet, traveling through your Image House. Your psychic abilities may be further enhanced and your imaginative powers will soar to an all-time high. This is a wonderful opportunity to dance, write, paint, design and perform. Attaining star power in a creative field is very possible. You’ll get additional support for artistic endeavors from expansive Jupiter, which moves through your Creative Sector from January 1^st through July 15^th. This is one of the best years in a while to attain your artistic goals.

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Posted in Horoscope, LIFESTYLE

Nia Long Dishes About The Best Man Holiday With Us

Fans of the 1999 hit movie The Best Man have long been looking forward to the sequel, The Best Man Holiday, which finally hits theaters today. One of the film's stars Nia Long, who plays sexy-smart Jordan Armstrong, stopped by Glamour HQ to talk about why the original film resonates with so many and what to expect from the much-anticipated sequel.

Tell us about the movie!
Nia: The film is basically about a group of friends that reunite after 15 years, real time. They reunite for the holidays. My character, Jordan, is a television producer. She’s now kind of running a network. Her challenge is that she’s not quite sure how to balance love and career. There’s a bunch of other characters, but Jordan is one of the characters from the original film. The movie is really about a group of friends getting together for the holiday and any and everything that could possibly happen happens. The good stuff, the bad stuff, you need tissues, there’s a lot of laughter, there’s beautiful women, sexy guys—there’s a little bit of everything. And it kind of kicks off the holiday spirit.

What do you think this film is going to mean to 20 year olds who may have not seen the original film,The Best Man?

Nia: Well, you know what’s interesting? I feel like the audience that knew us 14 years ago are now all the professional women who were just starting out in their careers. So it’s like, oh wow, my trajectory is good. And the women who are just starting out their careers are going to look at these characters and go, “OK, that’s where I want to go. That’s where I want to be.” Because each character has a really good profession. They're very contemporary characters. I think it‘s always great when you can go to a film and see something that you see in yourself or see in a friend, you know, something in common with the characters on film is always a great thing. And I think the younger audience is going to appreciate it just as much, and I don’t think you need to see the first one to get the second one.

Is the chemistry sort of still the same between your character and Taye Diggs’ character?
Nia: Well, it’s different now because obviously he’s married—he got proposed to in the last one. So he’s married, but I feel like there’s still those beats of, “Is he the one that got away?” You know how you have that one guy where you’re like, “Did I make the right move and the right choice?” Or maybe he’s thinking that about you? I still feel like we have that report with one another in the film, for sure.

Have you stayed in touch with everyone over the years?
Nia: We’re all friends. It’s kind of scary. I’m flying home with Terrence Howard tonight, which I’m really looking forward to. I just have to tell the flight attendant when to stop the liquor because I could see it getting real fun up in there! We’re all really good friends, and most of us have actually worked together before. Like, Morris Chestnut and I were in Boys in the Hood together, Terrence Howard and I were in Big Momma’s Housetogether, Sanaa Lathan and Taye did Brown Sugar together, and then Melissa De Sousa and Harold Perrineau actually went to college together and danced for Alvin Ailey together. There’s a scene in the film where the guys do Air Band and perform a song from New Edition, and you can tell the real dancers from actors because the real dancers are in your face and dramatic, and the actors are like, what? They’re good, but you can see the difference! It was nice because the ladies actually got to sit back and watch the men. You know, usually it’s us, the women, who are put on display. So we got to do a little objectifying ourselves by watching the boys perform. It was good.

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Posted in CELEBRITY, Nia Long

14 Things Our Parents Taught Us About Love

I admit Jerry Springer isn’t the soundest purveyor of wisdom, but my parents’ relationship reinforces those (considering the content of his show, ultra-ironic) words he offered at every episode’s end: “Take care of yourself…and each other.”

As parents, my mom and dad are so selfless and invested, I think as spouses they often lack the emotional energy for themselves or their relationship. Here’s hoping the new empty-nesters can follow Sage Springer’s advice, even more apropos because my dad’s name is JE-RRY, JE-RRY, JE-RRY.

I asked readers, “What did your parents teach you about love?” Here’s what they said:

1. Being a good listener is the best way to show someone you love them.

2. Love is work, not an emotion. But just because it's work doesn't mean it isn't a lot of fun.

3. My dad always said to look at the way a boy treats his mother and you'll see exactly (well, almost exactly) how he'll treat you.

4. It's not like in the movies.

5. Indeed, love is patient. But love is also very silly and enjoys giggling.

6. We are imperfect beings. Why should we expect love to be perfect?

7. My dad taught me dependence, and my mom taught me independence. Thankfully, she had a much larger influence over my life than he did. Mom always told me to love myself first.

8. Having separate hobbies and activities is important because personal time is a necessity for surviving life.

9. Love is not an experience; it is a process of growth.

10. My mom, out of bitterness, told me that love is not enough for a marriage.

11. Put your marriage first—before your children—because a strong marriage is the foundation for raising a happy family.

12. Trust and love are synonymous.

13. Don't get pregnant.

14. Women are always right. And I'm right about her being right, so I also win.

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Posted in Family, LIFESTYLE

What You Shouldn't Tell Your Friends About Your Relationship

A post on BlogHer last week argued that our friendships could be jeopardizing our relationships. You know, that swift and sexy friends could swoop in on your SO like a love-starved vulture with their suitcase of privileged information you’ve been telling them casually over coffee. The issue here is that the rules BlogHer outlines on how to safeguard your relationship’s secrets are only applicable to friends we’re kinda sorta attracted to.

Those Ryan Gosling-next-door type friends who we’d really rather stay single. But surely there are friends who we have only the cuddliest of platonic feelings for that we should still keep from the inner workings of our love life. Before you reveal your partner’s penis size to the millimeter or divulge your girlfriend’s sexts to a group of pals, read this list of what to screen from even the best of friends.

Anything Your Partner Doesn’t Know

Do you have major underlying resentments toward your partner because he's been unemployed for months? Does the fact that he choked you in bed without asking permission really shake you to your core? If only your friends know about these huge, welling emotions inside you, it won’t do your relationship any good. It’s basic stuff: Your friend shouldn’t know things about your relationship that the person in your relationship doesn’t know about. Before you pick apart the same aspect of your relationship perennially with a friend, ask yourself if your partner has been given the full opportunity to change. If you find yourself always discussing conflicts that your partner doesn’t even know you have with him or your life together, then you probably just want to gossip with your friends.

The Ins and Outs of Your Sex Life
I get it: some friends are exhibitionist storytellers who live for the overshare. But the sexual intimacy you create within your relationship is only stronger if it’s not shared with everyone you know and her half-brother. Sex is almost better when the gory (sweaty?) details are left between you and yours.

How Much Money Your Partner Makes
You don’t want your friends weighing in on your relationship or judging your SO based on whether he shops thrift or at Bloomingdale’s. Also, it’s absolutely none of their business and inappropriate for you to volunteer the information.

Every Stupid Spat You Have
Think of complaining about your partner to your friends like it’s chili powder. It’s useful in small amounts, but it should really be used sparingly. When you report every small argument you have over who last vacuumed or who watched the last three episodes of Law and Order: SVU on Netflix, it’s going to get old. Once more, you’re slowly building an army of friends who detest your partner. Your harmless daily bickering might not amount to much for you, but if it’s all your friends hear, they might start to wonder why you don’t just dump the jerk who once insinuated you were fat. The more minutiae you filter out, the more easily your friends will be able to dispense good and accurate advice when it comes to the major league problems.

Your Partner’s Life History
If your lover tells you a very personal aspect of his life story during pillow talk or after years of dating, it’s not within your right to share that with all your closest pals. When you let all your friends in on your partner’s mom’s breast cancer scare or his history of childhood abuse, you’re breaking the trust of your relationship. Your partner told you those things because there's enough comfort in the relationship to open up about really difficult topics, not because of a desire to invite a round-table discussion on personal issues a la The View. The heavy conversations between you and your SO should be in a relationship safe zone. Your friends should understand.

Private Correspondence Between You and Your SO
Your boyfriend didn’t send the text, “Hey baby, I think we should talk tonight. That thing you said last night really bugged me,” to Margaret, Jen, and Alex, so they really don't need to see it. Keep the emails, texts, midnight voice mails, and, yes, nude selfies away from your friends’ eyes. Did you know that some revenge porn is actually posted by friends of friends of ex-lovers that have passed along the photo through email forwarding? Yeah, it makes you think twice.

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Posted in Friends, LIFESTYLE

Paula Patton : Our Girl of the Month

Her career’s on fire. Her husband’s everywhere. Actress Paula Patton, it’s clear, has arrived. It started with her turn in the fourth Mission: Impossible as an agent who can kick ass and rock a ball gown. Then her husband, Robin Thicke—get this, they were high school sweethearts—crafted a song we’re still humming, “Blurred Lines.” (The video is stocked with nearly naked models, but in real life all that Thicke wants to talk about is how hot he is for his gorgeous wife.) Now Patton has a new movie, the romantic comedy Baggage Claim, in which the 37-year-old plays a flight attendant still looking for love. (Don’t feel too bad for her, though, because her search involves Taye Diggs and Djimon Hounsou.) We grabbed some time with Patton to discuss Hollywood style, first-kiss magic—and how many of her guy’s sexy lyrics are really true.

GLAMOUR: You’ve been getting so much red-carpet attention. What’s your style philosophy?

PAULA PATTON: I would really love to be a sixties movie star like Sophia Loren or Brigitte Bardot but with a bohemian twist—I have a little bit of hippie in me. I was the kid who would go climb trees in a dress.

GLAMOUR: How do you deal with the pressure to look a certain way?

PAULA PATTON: I’m an extremist. Either I’m being healthy and organic, or I want a big, juicy In-N-Out burger, you know? And I want it now! It’s certainly not gonna make me a runway model, but it sure makes me happy.

GLAMOUR: You met Robin as a teenager. Do you remember your first kiss?

PAULA PATTON: He sang Jodeci’s “Forever My Lady” to me. He did a full-out R&B onstage performance in his dad’s living room. Then he kissed me. It worked!

GLAMOUR: You guys still seem very passionate. He did say in an interview that he turned you into a bad girl.

PAULA PATTON: He ruined me! Gosh, I hope I’m still a good girl and a bad girl at the same time. And I think that every girl should know the bad girl inside her—and that doesn’t make her bad, you know?

GLAMOUR: So in the “Blurred Lines” video, there’s that balloon message—“Robin Thicke has a big d-ck”…

PAULA PATTON: It’s cool, it’s funny, it’s awesome!

GLAMOUR: Yes, it’s definitely all of those things. But we have to ask: Is it accurate?

PAULA PATTON: Robin’s like, “Listen, if I’m, you know, in the Miami Heat’s locker room, I don’t know where I stand, but.…” But I think that the statement is fairly accurate!
—Jade Chang

Source : Glamour

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Posted in CELEBRITY, Paula Patton

5 Inspiring Quotes From the Women A.R.E. Summit

What do you get when you cross 300 of the country's most driven women with a stage, a few microphones, and the common goal of advancing women's roles? An awe-inspiring first Women A.R.E. (Aspire. Respond. Engage) Summit. Thrown by Women A.R.E. founders Angella Nazarian and Beth Friedman, the one-day event in Los Angeles united trailblazers in the fields of art, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, and philanthropy in a series of panels featuring speakers such as Sharon Stone, Kathy Freston, Chelsea Handler, and Catherine Opie. With so many inspiring women in one room, it's no surprise that I left with some nuggets of wisdom. Here are my five favorite gems from the day.

"Women don't have to be jealous of other women." —Chelsea Handler
"I didn't want to be an actress; they're not fun to be around," said Handler, who discovered the competitive and jealous side of the entertainment world when she first began auditioning in Hollywood at age 19. "When you do stand-up, you're the center of your universe," she said. Handler went on to forge her own path, becoming the first female late-night television host, best-selling author, and one of 2011's Glamour Women of the Year to boot. Currently, Handler employs a 500-person staff across multiple shows, and 300 of those staff members are women. Her motto? "[Women] should lift each other up."

"Love others and lighten up!" —Marianne Williamson
Williamson, who just announced her first run for Congress in California, has impacted countless lives with her spiritual advice, 10 books, and the founding of Project Angel Food, which delivers meals in Los Angeles to homebound people affected by AIDS. And then she said this: "Being the best person you know how to be, living as heart-centered a life as possible is the key to success in work and everything else."

"Do what you are passionate about, and the dollars will follow." —Jane Wurwand
"You have to have fun," said Wurwand, founder of skin care line Dermalogica. Julie Clark, who launched Baby Einstein—and later sold it to Disney—shared similar sentiments as well as her own wisdom, also drawn from experience. "When you are passionate, you are afraid, because you are putting yourself on the line. It's difficult to take the first step, but that's what draws the good juju to you."

"You get to make this whole thing up as you go along." —Abigail Disney
"I wish I had known that anything is possible," said filmmaker and grassroots activist Abigail Disney of what she wishes she knew at the beginning of her career. "I thought there were lines, like in a coloring book, and I had to stay in them. There are no borders, and there are no limits. You get to make this whole thing up as you go along." And the proof is in the pudding: The pioneering women's rights documentarian is currently at work on her next project, highlighting the Arab Spring and its effect on women in the Middle East.

"Give of yourself whatever you can give, but don't put a judgment on it." —Wallis Annenberg
"Never explain to anybody, 'I can only afford this,'" said keynote speaker Annenberg, who recently bestowed the city of Beverly Hills with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. In her speech, Annenberg emphasized being true to yourself and experimenting to find what you enjoy. A passionate philanthropist, Annenberg continues to reap the rewards of her work in culture and for her community. "You can't get that in a Neiman Marcus catalogue," she reminded the audience.

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Posted in CELEBRITY, Women Summit

The Monster Talent: Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is a Woman of the Year because... “When you interact with her, you become very aware of your life, your possibilities. You walk away thinking, OK, let’s do it.”

—Jeff Koons, artist

She’s a singer. No, she’s a performance artist. No, an activist. Actually, she’s an icon. But whoever Lady Gaga is on any given day—creator of dance-your-ass-off albums like her latest, Artpop; audacious wearer of parade-float-proportioned gowns; leader of the Born This Way Foundation, which works to end bullying; daughter, sister, and former Catholic-school girl known as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta—whoever she is, she’s always fascinating.

She’s also phenomenally successful: five Grammy Awards, 23 million albums sold, more than 40 million Twitter followers, 47 million wigs worn (we’re guessing). In between cranking out genre-bending albums and making the world a better place for the fans known as Little Monsters, Gaga, 27, has been named Forbes magazine’s “most powerful musician” and was crowned MTV News’ Woman of the Year—twice. She also finds time to be godmother to the two children of Elton John, who calls her “a loving and talented girl and great role model.” Artist Jeff Koons agrees. “She’s a leader; we need her,” he says simply. “Pop culture needs her.”

But accolades aside, under all the costumes and makeup lies an enormous conscience. Yes, Gaga aims to outrage, but she is also outraged by how challenging a place the world has become for anyone who grows up feeling different: A staggering one in four kids in the U.S. has been the victim of bullying. In 2011 Gaga joined forces with Harvard University to launch the Born This Way Foundation, an initiative and online community focusing on building young people’s self-confidence by sharing experiences. This year she gave her movement a grassroots edge—and a sleek, rainbow-colored tour bus. “The Born Brave Bus is like a traveling youth shelter,” Gaga explains. “Every day people can go to the bus and meet each other and speak to the counselor and learn about organizations within their community. It’s all about being involved and being a proponent of kindness—and bravery.”

Everything Gaga does is for her fans, “no matter what happens,” she says. So Glamour found the perfect (grown-up) fan to talk to her: Bravo talk show host and exec Andy Cohen. He gets our Woman of the Year’s story, right here.

ANDY COHEN: Where do you get your confidence? Because I think that’s something all the Women of the Year have in common.
LADY GAGA: It depends on what it is we’re talking about. I’m really confident about my music because I love it.

AC: But you’re confident in your presentation. You’ve been wearing that shell bikini and a teeny little miniskirt lately.
LG: Yeah. I’m confident in who I am. I’ve come to a place in my life where I’ve accepted things that are me, as opposed to feeling pressure to explain myself to people around me. That’s just the way I’ve always tried to be. It didn’t change when I became a star.

AC: But do you consider yourself to be beautiful?
LG: Not conventionally beautiful. If there was some sort of mathematical equation for beauty, I don’t know if I would be the algorithm. I’ve always been OK with that. I’m not a supermodel. That’s not what I do. What I do is music. I want my fans to feel the way I do, to know what they have to offer is just as important, more important, than what’s happening on the outside.

AC: I think that’s interesting. Because every time I see a shot of you stripped down without makeup or a costume, I’m struck by your physical beauty. Your layering of costumes—is that because of insecurity? Are you afraid of what’s under all those layers?
LG: I would say that I am. Maybe it’s from the things I experienced in my past, you know? Being beautiful is not so fun when you’re in a business with all men.

AC: Right.
LG: Because it can actually get in the way. So in some ways, the outfits—these creations are because I don’t want to face the reality of what people want from a female pop star. Everybody always laughs because I feel so much more comfortable with, like, a giant paper bag on my whole body and paint on my face. Sometimes I try really hard to take it all off. But inevitably what’s underneath is still not a straight edge. And I don’t think it ever will be.

AC: You have battled eating disorders since you were 15.
LG: Yeah.
AC: But you have no problem leaving the house in a G-string. That seems to be two different things—clearly, you’re conflicted about your body image.
LG: Yes. I always have been. And some days are better than others, you know? Some days I feel fantastic.

AC: How’s today?
LG: Today’s good. At the end of the day, I’m a tortured soul. [Laughs.]

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Posted in CELEBRITY, Lady Gaga

Snap Judgments on Winter's New TV Show Trailers

I don't know about you, but I've been slightly underwhelmed by the first batch of shows that premiered during this TV season. The Blacklist is fine—James Spader is more or less watchable in anything—but for me, it's not must-see TV, Sleepy Hollow is a surprise hit, but only time will tell if it has what it takes to go the distance, Dads is horrible at depicting women. The point is that even the shows that are doing well don't quite have me jumping up and down out of my set. Thankfully, winter is just around the corner—which means there's a new crop of A-list talent dipping their toes in the TV pool. Let's take a look at a few trailers for these upcoming series, and I'll give you my take.

Show: Being Mary Jane
Synopsis: Follows the life of a 30-something career woman as she juggles dating, her hectic life as a TV show host, and her dysfunctional family.
Premiere Date: January 7 on BET

Snap Judgment: Let's be honest here: BET is super questionable when it comes the quality of their programming. For every funny series like Real Husbands of Hollywood, there's something craptastic like Don't Sleep! Hosted by TJ Holmes, which was supposed to be the urban version of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, except it was just awkward. But I will say that based on the movie premiere that aired last year, the show has a lot of promise. Gabrielle Union plays the title character with much aplomb, and there is enough comedy in it to not make this show seem like another story about a successful woman who can't find a man. Women will like the show because they can identify with her, and guys will like the show because...hello, bathtub! Union is stunning.

Show: Ground Floor
Synopsis: A workplace comedy with a dash of romance as a banker falls for a woman who works in the maintenance department of his office.
Premiere Date: November 14 on TBS

Snap Judgment: Hmm, I'm kind of on the fence. I've reached my limit with will they/won't they story lines; however, executive producer Bill Lawrence has a streak of creating hilarious workplace comedies such as Spin City, Scrubs, and Cougar Town. I would be shocked if all of a sudden he made a show that wasn't highly entertaining, so I'm willing to give this one a chance.

Show: Rake
Synopsis: A lawyer who is brilliant (of course), yet, he's not smart enough to keep his personal life from being a hot mess.
Premiere Date: January 19 on Fox

Snap Judgment: TV is really OD'ing on the whole white guy who is brilliant and charms the pants off everyone, even though he's a complete jerk, so that turns me off to this show. However, Rake is a remake of an Australian show, and American remakes tend to do very well over here. Plus, Greg Kinnear portrays the lead character, Keegan Deane, and I like Kinnear in just about everything he does. So I'm going to see what the critical buzz is on this before diving in.

Show: Surviving Jack
Synopsis: Set in the 1990s: Jack decides to become a stay-at-home dad so his wife can go to law school. Hilarity ensues as he learns how to be a father to his two teenage children.
Premiere Date: TBD on Fox

Snap Judgment: I love me some Christopher Meloni, y'all, so I'm intrigued by this show even though it seems to be a standard-issue sitcom. The fact that I laughed a couple of times during the trailer is promising, and because it is scheduled after the American Idol results show, I'm more inclined to stick around to at least check out a couple of episodes.

Show: The Spoils of Babylon
Synopsis: A parody of sweeping TV mini-series starring Tobey Maguire, Kristen Wiig, Haley Joel Osmont, Tim Robbins, and Val Kilmer.
Premiere Date: January 9 on IFC

Snap Judgment: I'm in. Completely. This looks awesome.

Show: True Detective
Synopsis: Hot piece Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson play two detectives whose lives are taken over by a 17-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana.
Premiere Date: January 12 on HBO

Snap Judgment: It looks like your standard-issue moody police drama, but HBO rarely makes a misstep and always seems to find a way to make tried-and-true story lines interesting. I'm definitely checking out this one out.

Show: Enlisted
Synopsis: Sgt. Pete Hill returns back to a military base in Florida to lead his brothers' dysfunctional crew.
Premiere Date: January 10 on Fox

Snap Judgment: I generally enjoy loveable losers, and it seems like even though this is a comedy, it's still going to be respectful toward the military.

Show: Getting On
Synopsis: Set in a geriatric wing of a rundown hospital, this show follows around the nurses, doctors, and administrators who struggle to get through the day.
Premiere Date: November 24 on HBO

Synopsis: It's a dark comedy, features funny women, and seems to have heart as well. So excited for this one.

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Posted in CELEBRITY, Movie, TV Show