As featured in US InStyle magazine, January 2011

{words & images via InStyle}
on her role as a country singer in Country Strong: “I’ve never prepared for anything more in my life. It was a big responsibility. There was studying with an accent coach, learning to play guitar, and of course the singing. My voice didn’t have any power or strength to it at all, and I wanted to try to sing properly. And I was so nervous about performing live scenes in the film because that’s so foreign to me.”
on performing with Jay-Z: “I got onstage with him at the Royal Albert Hall. I stood in the back and sang with him. That was the night of my 34th birthday, and I drank a bunch of Champagne before going on just to get through it. It was also before I had any singing lessons or training. I was so nervous, but that was just for fun. But I’m glad I did it.”
on her comfort zone: “Film for me feels most like my job because I’ve been doing movies for 20 years. I’m good at it, and I love it. When something is artistically challenging, it’s incredibly satisfying. But I think I feel the most exhilarated by the newer stuff.”
on a typical Saturday night: “Last Saturday night I made turkey meatballs and we all had dinner together, then put the kids to bed and watched a movie on Apple TV. We always go out one night of the weekend because it’s nice for me to get out of the house. I cook so much during the week, it’s nice for me to have a break and eat something that I don’t make, like sashimi or Indian food.”

Forget ‘2 Become 1’… 3 is soon to be 4! It was announced today that Victoria Beckham is expecting her fourth child this summer with husband David, and the family are said to be “very excited” at the prospect. It’s no secret that Victoria has always yearned for a girl to add to her brood of boys, so perhaps this time her wish will come true and an heir to her Hermès Birkin collection will be born. I suspect that somewhere out there a rare smile is spread all over Posh’s face. Congratulations to the Beckham family!

{image via InStyle}

Jennifer Lopez has been a style icon for many years ever since she broke out that green Versace dress, and as I discovered in Veranda magazine, her sense of style permeates into her home as well. Lopez has created a very elegant, grown-up and relaxing space in her California residence, and according to her interior designer, Michelle Workman, “It’s sort of Jennifer in a nutshell – she has a romantic streak. It’s tastefully glamourous, like Jennifer herself.” Workman adds that, “She knows what she likes” (note absence of word ‘diva’). Art Deco touches feature subtly alongside soft and inviting tones of grey, taupe, peach and pink. Workman also successfully mixes gold and silver – combining masculine and feminine – to add warmth.
I’ve pretty much fallen in love with her home… it’s clear that she likes to surround herself with beautiful things (I would insert a Marc Anthony joke here, but that’s way too obvious). If I had to pick favourites, I’d go with the gold chain chandelier and the accompanying white tufted chairs. And I love the idea of having a ball gown on display. Jenny from the Block? Not even a little bit.

{images via Veranda}

{gold chandelier / white tufted chair / full-length mannequin / pale pink gown}

Vampire-mania is not going anywhere any time soon, as the 37th People’s Choice Awards proved. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse won favourite movie of 2010 beating out Inception and Toy Story 3 in the process, with Kristen Stewart also taking home the favourite movie actress award ahead of veterans (well, compared to K-Stew) Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts. For a full round-up of all the winners, click here. As for the stand-out stars in the fashion stakes, here is my pick of the crop:

{images via prphotos}

Unless you’ve been comatose for the past few months, it can’t have escaped your notice that the world and his wife is now obsessed with Kate “Catherine” Middleton. And why wouldn’t you be? Her hair’s so lovely and glossy! (Apparently her secret is the Richard Ward salon + Kerastase Nutritive products). I’m kidding, there’s more to her than “Because I’m worth it” hair, but on the Andy Warhol-inspired cover of February’s Tatler magazine, that’s the feature they choose to focus on. Is it just me, or are you getting a sense of Katy Perry and Cheryl Cole on the top row? I love this representation – in fact, I imagine this design will fly off the shelves as wall art. As much as I don’t like the constant comparisons to Princess Diana (including the fact that Diana was frequently featured on the cover of Tatler) as it must be such a heavy burden for her, there’s something about Kate that is so intriguing. Just like our People’s Princess.

As fast as you can say “bandwagon”, Lipsy has brought out a blue Issa ‘engagement dress’ replica of their own, which I have to say is a big improvement on the previous Peacocks and Tesco efforts. You should probably be quick if you want a look-in. An imitation ring would be a nice touch if you’re going to a costume party as Kate… although the dress and the ring on a normal day might be overkill…

{Lipsy panelled slinky dress / sapphire & diamond ring}