Tag Archives: men

Behind Every Great Man there’s a Great Woman | Influential Women

Posted on by

Aretha Franklin sang in ‘Sisters are doing it for themselves’, that behind every great man was a great women. She was right of course, so to celebrate the Blu-ray and DVD release of The Theory of Everything, out 11th May, we took a look at some of the inspirational and influential women that have been the driving force behind their male counterparts.

 

Jackie Kennedy & JFK

Jackie Kennedy & JFK

Jackie was the First Lady and wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. JFK was in power from 1960 until his assassination in 1963. Jackie was remembered as one of the most popular First ladies in American history, perhaps due to her skill at entertaining. Jackie proved quite popular among international dignitaries.

 

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Brad and Angelia didn’t start their relationship in the most admired fashion, Brad was married to America’s sweetheart Jennifer Aniston at the time of meeting Angelina. Angelina Jolie a successful actress and director, stole the heart of Brad on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith. Together they now have 6 children and have recently been married.

Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King

Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King

Coretta an activist and a key leader in the Civil Rights Movement in 1960, met Martin Luther King in college. Coretta’s support for her husband and the fight for racial equality continued after Martin’s tragic death in 1968. She honoured Martin’s legacy by founding the King Center and also succeeded in having Martin’s birthday become a National holiday in America.

 

Victoria Beckham and David Beckham

Victoria Beckham and David Beckham

Victoria rose to fame in 1990 with her all-female pop group The Spice Girls. After meeting popular footballer David Beckham in 1997, Victoria quickly became the driving force in becoming one of the most loved couples and families in the world, originally dubbed Posh & Becks by the media. Both very successful in their own right, Victoria has not only managed her husband’s career she has started paving the path for the careers of her sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz to by securing endorsement deals and becoming successful models.

 Kate Middleton and Prince William

Kate Middleton and Prince William

Kate Middleton not only captured the heart of the very eligible Prince William, she won over the world with her kind nature and humble background. Kate Middleton has recently given birth to her and Will’s second child, Princess Charlotte.

 

Beyonce and Jay- Z Beyonce and Jay- Z

Beyonce and rapper Jay-Z started a relationship after collaborating on song, Bonnie & Clyde in 2002. To date the couple have sold over more than 300 million records together. A self-described “modern-day feminist“, Beyoncé writes and performs songs that are often characterized by themes of female sexuality and empowerment.

 

Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton

Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton

Hillary, was the first Lady of United States of America from 1993- 2001 supporting her husband Bill through thick and thin during his Presidency. She has since become the first women senator on the only ever First Lady to have run for public office. Leaving office at the end of Obama’s first term, she authored her fifth book and undertook speaking engagements before announcing her second run for the presidency in April 2015.

 

Jane Hawking & Stephen Hawking

 

Jane Hawking & Stephen Hawking

Jane Wilde Hawking is the first wife of Professor Stephen Hawking. They met at college through mutual friends and later married in 1965, shortly after Stephen was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Jane supported and cared for Stephen during their marriage in dealing with his disease and still remain very close friends. In 2007 Jane wrote her memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, which was then adapted by Anthony McCarten and became the Academy Award winning film The Theory of Everything starring Felicity Jones & Eddie Redmayne.

 

The Theory of Everything is out on Blu-ray and DVD to own on 11th May

 

 

 

Planning Tips For Your Dream Wedding

Posted on by

wedding, weddings, wedding planning, wedding book, wedding advice, wedding tips, wedding planning tips, wedding survival guideMany women have dreamed of their wedding day since they were little girls. Although I didn’t and had no idea what I wanted on my big day after getting engaged. I had to start getting some ideas together and make what felt like a million decisions. It was fun but it was stressful. To cut down the stress for other brides I wrote my wedding planning book. Hopefully it will make the journey easier for other brides. In the meantime, here are some tips for creating your dream wedding.

Your Dream Wedding: Wants And Compromises.

You may have a specific idea of your wedding in mind but the reality will probably be different. This doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Just choose the things that you are not willing to negotiate on. When you know what is most important and worth spending money on you can focus on that and then look at cheaper options for other things. Or rope family and friends in. Most will be happy to help.

Budget.

This is the tough one but you need to work out what it is and then you need to stick to it. Enquire if any family members can help and then sit down with your fiancé and have a proper discussion about what you can and cannot afford. There is no point in going into debt for a wedding or taking out a loan. It is only one day of your life, an important one, but one day. You can have an amazing wedding on a small budget. No one should start their married life in debt. Watch out for the ‘W’ bomb. As in ‘wedding’. The W word makes everyone vastly put their prices up.

Guessing cost.

Always overestimate. That way you won’t be left short. Always remember VAT. Some venues and suppliers will be coy about whether VAT is included but ask them and get a direct answer and then make a note of it.

How much it will cost.

This is the question. The answer is: quite a bit. My husband and I managed to get married for less than £10,000. We paid for the majority of this ourselves but did have some family members contribute. Not bad when the average wedding costs £21,000. Spreadsheets are your friend. Negotiating will also be your friend. Try to get money off everything. Don’t take the first quote and rope family and friends into the planning if money is tight.

Controlling Costs.

This is very important. Watch out for VAT and always account for everything. Use a spreadsheet if you can. Keep an eye on the small things as they can all add up.

Dealing With Suppliers.

When dealing with suppliers always remember that you are the customer. Be polite but always be firm. Read the small print and make your wishes clear. More importantly, don’t pay any final invoices until everything has been checked. One supplier charged us for VAT despite the fact they said they wouldn’t. Hmm. Always be careful.

Hatton Gardens. 

Hatton Gardens is the area in London where all of the jewellers are located. You can get a very good deal here.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are your friend. If you don’t know how to do one then quickly brush up your skills. They will be your saving grace. Have one for your wedding budget and one for your wedding guest list. For the wedding guest list one, leave space for information such as dietary requirements, RSVP received, gift given and thank you card sent.

Organisation Tips

Have everyone’s contact details to hand. Use spreadsheets and have plenty ‘to do’ lists. Make sure your partner pulls his or her weight. Weddings are hard and stressful to organise, don’t go it alone.

Wedding Planner: To Go It Alone Or Hire Help.

If I had the money I would have hired a wedding planner in an instant. However, they are expensive and you don’t really need one. I am not saying that in a rude way, they will save time and probably a lot of money but weighing up the cost is important. Your venue might have a wedding planner or venue coordinator onsite. If so, this is a tremendous bonus.

If you get a wedding planner make sure you check their recommendations and also have a clear idea of what you want. It is their job to take your ideas and make them into the wedding of your dreams. Don’t accept anything less, budget permitting.

If you are getting married then get your hands on a copy of The Wedding Survival Guide: How To Plan Your Big Day Without Losing Your Sanity. It has great advice on planning your perfect wedding and is written by our editor, Catherine Balavage. It is also available in Ebook format and is a great guide for wedding planning.

 

 

APE|MEN – Zero | Music Profile

Posted on by

ape men zero music news profileBand/Artist: Ape Men (stylized APE|MEN)
Location: Industrialized world, South Eastern Fringe of the European Union
Styles: Indie, Indietronica, Alternative, Indie Pop
Similar to/RIYL: Kasabian, Nine Inch Nails, AWOLNATION, Beck, Panda Bear
CD: APE|MEN – ZERO (2015, debut EP)

Accolades: This outfit hasn’t gigged outside clubs, but is a trio formed from indie band Gravity co. which has over 18 top musical achievement awards in South Eastern Europe, has opened for the Prodigy, Fun Loving Criminals, Stereo MCs, Kosheen, and others and has played festivals at EXIT (Serbia), Sziget (Hungary), Eurosonic (Holland), Bestfest (Romania), Spirit of Burgas (Bulgaria), and others.

Members/Instruments: Bobby, Ivo, and Petar
Bobby Cheshirkov – Vocals, guitar
Ivo Chalakov – Guitar, vocals
Petar Samanliev – Computers & gadgets
Production:
Composed by Ivo Chalakov
Lyrics by Bobby Cheshirkov
Co-produced by Ivo Chalakov & Petar Samnaliev
Arranged by APE|MEN
Mixed by Petar Samanliev & Ivo Chalakov
Mastered by Plamen Yotov

Tracklisting:
1. Pictionary
2. Bye-Bye Devil
3. Up Is the New
4. Cash
5. Zero Pictionary

Bio:
Ape Men (APE|MEN) are an edgy indietronica trio from the post Iron Curtain fringes of the European Union formed in 2013. The band paint an urban soundscape with gritty scuzz guitars and moody lyrics over saturated synthesizers and thumping electo beats.

The band’s debut EP “ZERO” was released independently on Feb 19th, 2015. The EP is accompanied by a single and music video release for “CASH”. The video was directed by Ruscen Vidinliev.

 

 

The Pick Of Holland Cooper’s Mens Tweed Collection

Posted on by

tweed, coat, fashion,

by  tedeytan 

Tweed has seen somewhat of comeback in recent times. This classic material fell out of vogue in the late 20th Century, where edgier materials like leather and denim became the choice of both trendy professionals and fashionable youths.

However, with the emergence of retro trends and vintage chic, tweed has had an impressive comeback in the 21st Century. With flashy trainers being replaced by sturdy brogues and sleek ties outclassed by quirky bow-ties, fashion is truly going full-circle and tweed is the new black.

This country staple has been favoured both by Britain’s aristocracy and agriculture community for centuries, yet now we are seeing tweed becoming increasingly present within urban fashion also. Whilst in the old days, tweed was the staple of the horse-racing track and hunting lodge, today it can be seen everywhere from university campuses to metropolitan pavements.

These days, classically cut garments, in tweed, are often contrasted with other materials and styles for an edgier, more fashion-forward look. Modern tweed can often be seen in sharp blazers paired with tattered Doc Martens and oversized coats complimented by muted skinny-jeans.
Meanwhile, the old-school complete tweed look is also coming back, with colourful socks and flamboyant bow-ties a must. Therefore, regardless of how much or how little you have, tweed is most certainly a material that can be a simultaneously contemporary and timeless edition to your wardrobe.

Holland Cooper have been offering high-quality, British-made Tweed for decades and are one of the most respected and longstanding traders of the material in the UK today. Therefore, considering tweeds re-emergence as a must-have fabric, here is our pick of Holland Cooper’s current collection.

Morrison Jacket (£349)
This striking tweed creation offers a flamboyant twist on a classic design. The jacket’s bold, and enlarged, pattern – which imposes striking hot pink lines on a subdued grey base – makes it a definite statement item in any wardrobe. Meanwhile, the jacket’s out-there pattern is neatly contrasted by its traditional silhouette and two-button design. Made from 100 per cent suede, and from only the finest of British made wools, this jacket is designed to slim the torso and emphasise the shoulders. If you want a proper hipster look, pair this jacket with a light-toned shirt, bold braces and a shiny pair of brogues. However, to grudge it up, add a pair of black skinny-jeans and a vintage band T-shirt, such as Led Zeppelin, to give the look an edge through this contrasting of styles and eras.

Pea Coat (£599)
For those who want to utilise tweed but without compromising on their contemporary look, this pea coat – in a subtle charcoal – is the perfect updated design for this traditional material. The lasted addition to the City Collection, this six buttoned number with piped black leather pockets is an understated and classy addition to anyone’s urban wardrobe. The intricate leather detailing, which extends to the sleeves and shoulders, gives this traditional pea coat some bite, whilst the careful construction creates a striking and powerful silhouette for the wearer. Meanwhile, the hand-crafted buttons add a nice level of detail to the coat, which is the hallmark of any quality item. This coat works best with a clean, crisp white shirt – perhaps with a statement collar – which streamlines the whole look without making it boring.

Aviator Gilet (£199)
The aviator gilet is perhaps the most unusual item in the collection and therefore is great for those who like their fashion to be standout and forward-thinking. This crafted item is made from both 100% wool and leather and is individually hand cut, designed and made in Great Britain using Scottish woven tweeds and wools. This design is excellent for those with a defined torso as it accentuates a muscular frame. The pattern is classic tweed but the leather detailing to the pockets and arm cuffs gives this gilet a modern twist. Perfect when paired with classic-cut jeans and for the more experimental wearer, why not match it with a slim-fit denim shirt.

 

 

Charlize Theron Negotiates $10 Million Pay Rise After Sony Hack Revealed Male Co-Star Was Paid More

Posted on by

Charlize Theron Negotiates $10 Million Pay Rise After Sony Hack Revealed Male Co-Star Was Paid More, equal pay, charlize theron, The Sony Hacks revealed a lot of unpleasant things, and one of them was the unequal pay between men and women, even in Hollywood. One, amazing, ballsy, actress was having none of this however. Charlize Theron negotiated a $10 million pay rise after reading that male co-star Chris Hemsworth was to be paid millions more for The Huntsman. She will now be paid the same as her male co-star. What an inspiration. We need more honesty about pay so more women can get paid what they are worth, and certainly as much as men. The pay gap between men and women is still significantly unequal. 

The hacked emails from Sony showed vast pay gaps between male and female stars. In American Hustle all of the male stars, and the male director, got 9 per cent of back-end profits. The two female stars, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence only got 7 per cent. This is despite the fact that Jennifer Lawrence was an Oscar-winning actress and that Amy Adams had been nominated four times.

At Sony things were not any better. Out of 6,000 employees, only one of the seventeen who made over  $1 million or more was a woman. Even worse, while Michael De Luca and Hannah Minghella share a job as co-presidents of production at Columbia Pictures, De Luca makes almost  $1 million more than Minghella. 

In the UK the pay disparity between men and women is so great that women effectively work from November 4th until the end of the year for free. There are a number of social and feminist movements trying to make a difference. We must join them and do what we can. Find out how much men doing the same job are being paid and negotiate a better deal.

The Warwick Rowers Club Calendar 2015

Posted on by

Looking for a gift that just keeps on giving? Looking to spread a little joy to your loved ones 365 days of the year? This should definitely bring a smile to their face.

warwickrowersnudecalender warwickrowersnude2015calender

The Warwick Rowers Club has trained solidly for six months….in order to strip off and bare it all for their beautifully produced 2015 calendar (available now www.warwickrowers.org)

  • The famously clothes-resistant university athletes have become somewhat of a cult phenomenon after record breaking sales last year following coverage on Good Morning America and E! Entertainment News – raising more in the first 24 hours than in the previous four years and even causing their website to crash!
  • Raising nearly £50,000 for their university sport and charity, the team won Cause Related Calendar of the Year and People’s Choice Award at the 2014 National Calendar Awards and was a favourite amongst high-profile supporters including Stephen Fry, Sir Ian McKellan, Kylie Minogue, Gok Wan and Boy George.
  • Due to last year’s success the team hope to raise more than just a smile and are donating over half its profits to university sport and also Sport Allies – a charity initiative set up by the boys to challenge homophobia in sport.
  • Members of the rowing club have been working with other students, including representatives of Warwick Pride, the university’s LGBT organisation for students, professionals from Ernst & Young, and leading figures in the voluntary sector to roll Sport Allies out nationally, and to begin the process of creating an independent registered charity.

The calendars £12.99 each

 

 

Christmas Gift List For The Man In Your Life

Posted on by

Here are a few suggestions for the man in your life. Each is top-end and of the highest quality.

christmasgiftsforyourboyfriend

Jockey Underwear

Buying this for your husband/boyfriend/lover has the added bonus of him modelling them for you. So it is a present for both of you. The check long johns, £26, are perfect for the cold weather. The tartan trunks, £16 and Xmas trunks, £16 are comfy, good-quality and festive. The boxer shorts are perfect if your man likes something a bit more roomy. All available from Jockey.co.uk

 

Diesel Only The Brave Wild

Smells amazing and looks suitable manly. Citronella essence and coconut accord shake up this urban classic. You won’t be able to stop smelling him.

£35.50 from thefragranceshop.co.uk

 

The Wild Geese Golden Rum

This is a stunningly good rum. If your other half is Irish he also gets to call himself ‘Wild Geese’. From the heart of the Caribbean and aged for up to five years, has tastes of soft butterscotch and tropical fruit with a finish of apricot, light vanilla and cocoa notes. £36.99 from selfridges.com

 

Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular

drwho

The hugely popular Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular is coming to the UK at six major city venues in May 2015. Surely no Christmas is complete without tickets to this amazing event for the Doctor Who fan in your life?

The live show, which was a sell-out on its world premiere in Australia, will enjoy a limited run of twelve UK performances in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow.
The show features a host of the Doctor’s famous adversaries including the iconic Daleks and Cybermen, the spine-chilling Silence and many more fan favourites. The live monsters provide a dramatic contrast to the evocative and thrilling music written by Murray Gold.

The live music will be accompanied by a big screen presentation of key moments and specially edited sequences from the past 50 years of Doctor Who. Tickets are on sale with prices starting at £20 per person – www.doctorwhosymphonicspectacular.com

 

 

Nearly Half of Men Feel Under Pressure To Juggle a Career With Children

Posted on by

Dads left out in the cold: one in five fathers would like more time off work to bond with their children

  • Nearly half (42%) of men feel under pressure to juggle a career with having children
  • Almost half of fathers (46%) don’t think their workplaces offer enough flexibility to adequately juggle childcare with work
  • Much discrimination against women surrounds preconceptions on their taking time off to have children

gorgeousbaby

It is a man’s world, a part from when it comes to children. Courts tend to favour the mother and many men don’t get to see their own children as much as they like, if at all. In fact, if a couple is not married, the man has no rights at all.

One in five fathers (22%) would like more time off work to bond with their children according to a survey by serviced office provider Business Environment. The research shows that modern men are finding it difficult to maintain a work / life balance that allows them to spend enough time with the kids.

Almost half of fathers (46%) feel that their workplaces do not offer enough flexibility to juggle childcare commitments with work life. While the debate usually revolves around flexibility for mothers, this research highlights that employers are behind the times by overlooking the importance of flexible working for fathers.

When asked about the changes in paternity law that will allow parents to share maternity/paternity from next year, 75% of men and women welcome the changes believing that it will help fathers bond with their children and decrease the discrimination against mothers in the workplace. Those who answered negatively cited reasons such as the cost of implementing new legislation and their belief that childcare is the domain of women.

Positively, more than half (56%) of respondents say they would share leave equally with their partner if given the chance, demonstrating the potential to affect changes in attitudes towards women if it were perceived that men were just as likely to take time off to have children.

David Saul, managing director, Business Environment said: “Since I founded Business Environment 20 years ago, I have seen a huge shift in perceptions about both men and women at home and in the workplace. The view that women should stay at home and look after the kids while the man brings home the money is archaic to say the least. However, our research suggests that employers are not keeping up with the times. We hear a lot about ensuring there is flexibility in place for working mothers, but today it is just as important that men are considered equal in sharing childcare commitments – and that means making allowances in their working schedules too.”

While men may be feeling under pressure, much of the gender discrimination that takes place in the workplace centres on women having children. The research found that more than a quarter of employers would be reluctant to hire a women if she were of child-bearing age (27%) or already has children (26%).

David Saul explains how the change in paternity law may have a positive effect for women, as well as men: “I believe the changes in paternity leave will have a two-fold effect. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, more men taking time out when their children are born will reduce the stigma that still surrounds women in the workplace, opening up more opportunities and making bigger cracks in the glass ceiling. Secondly, of course, it will allow fathers to spend more time bonding with their children.”