Monday, December 26, 2011

Stuff's top 10 lifestyle stories

This year wedding fever swept the globe. The fairytale came to life when Prince William wed Kate Middleton - now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge - on April 29 in a glittering ceremony.

Two billion viewers worldwide were swept up in the royal magic, making this Life & Style's most viewed story of the year.

The royal wedding also launched Kate's sister Pippa Middleton into the limelight after she wore "that" bridesmaid's dress. In fact, Pippa's curvaceous derriere was one of the most-searched subjects on the internet this year.

Dual Cypher of Prince Albert and Princess Char...Image via WikipediaMonaco also hosted a royal wedding in July, when Prince Albert II married South African former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock.

And while Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's wedding wasn't quite on the same scale, the queen's granddaughter wed her own Prince Charming in July.

Here are the ten most popular Life & Style stories of 2011.

1. WILLS AND KATE

It should come as no surprise that Stuff readers devoured anything to do with Prince William and his wife Catherine this year.

Prince Harry's best man speech for the "Dude and Duchess" tops the list as the most-read Life & Style story of 2011.

The Prince donned a fez and had some 300 close friends and family in stitches at the wedding reception at Buckingam Palace.

Prince William's James Bond moment, when he drove a vintage Aston Martin convertible after the wedding reception, and his tribute to his mother, Princess Diana, were also click magnets.

And people wanted to read anything to do with the beautiful Duchess of Cambridge, from her similarities to William's mother to her secret scar from a childhood operation.

2. PIPPA MIDDLETON

The royal wedding also introduced Kate's little sister, Pippa Middleton, to the world stage.

From her love life to what she was wearing to her relationship with Prince Harry, millions couldn't stop reading about "the other people's princess".

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3. MONACO WEDDING

One Royal Wedding that didn't end in happily ever after was that of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco. The couple made headlines for all the wrong reasons: he faced a third paternity suit while she allegedly ran away several times only to be dragged back with financial inducements.

They reportedly spent their honeymoon in separate hotels 16 kilometres apart and left early so Prince Albert could undergo DNA tests to counter claims by at least one woman that he had fathered his third illegitimate child.

4. MIRANDA KERR'S WELLINGTON SHOOT

Stuff readers were keen to check out Miranda Kerr's New Zealand photo shoot.

The supermodel sizzled in a series of shots taken by her husband Orlando Bloom on Wellington's Miramar Peninsula. The couple were in town in October for filming of The Hobbit.

5. WHY I WORE NO PANTS ON TV

High-waisted knickers would be confined to the bedroom for most woman, but not for Stuff blogger Bronwyn Williams.She donned a pair on TV to prove that Paris Fashion Week had gone a step too far.

6. NEWSWEEK'S DIANA AT 50 COVER

The front cover of Newsweek featuring a computer-generated picture of Princess Diana at age 50 sparked outrage around the world, with one writer calling it "beyond tacky".

The magazine speculated that, had she lived to see 50, Diana would have twice remarried, used Botox, and been slightly jealous of daughter-in-law Kate Middleton.

7. NEW ZEALAND'S NEXT TOP MODEL

Showing she's not above school balls, New Zealand's Next Top Model winner Danielle Hayes went back to high school with her cousin Joel Claydon.

The 19-year-old is now based in Sydney, and is signed with modelling agency Chic.

8. PARALYSED BRIDE

A tragic accident didn't stop a bride from marrying the man of her dreams.

A year after she was paralysed in poolside horseplay at her bachelorette party, Rachelle Friedman finally make it down the aisle with her partner, who had been waiting to exchange vows with her since the accident.

The bridesmaid who changed her life by shoving her into the shallow end of the pool was also at the wedding. Friedman, a Beatles fan from North Carolina, got a tattoo on her neck after the wedding with the words "let it be".

"It symbolises that I'm at peace with it," she said.

9. ZARA PHILLIPS

Eager to avoid the fuss of her cousin William's wedding, world champion eventer Zara Phillips and rugby star Mike Tindall had a low-key ceremony in a small Edinburgh church.

The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Harry, Prince William and Catherine were amongst the guests. One advantage of your granny being the Queen - the reception was at Holyroodhouse, the monarch's official residence in Scotland.

The England player later embarrassed his bride during the Rugby World Cup when he was seen embracing a woman later revealed to be ex-girlfriend Jessica Palmer.

10. WIFE SUES OVER LACK OF WEDDING BLISS

Rounding out the top ten, a wedding story with a twist.

A 51-year-old Frenchman was sued by his ex-wife for not having sex with her enough during their 21 years of marriage.

The couple were granted divorce in Nice, southern France, two years ago. The 47-year-old women later took the matter back to court to seek 10,000 euros (NZ$17,000) in damages for the inactive sex life.

The woman was successful under France's civil code, which states that a married couple must share a communal life.
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Major Blair-Louis Scene Ahead on Gossip Girl, But ...

Prince Louis is just not that popular with Gossip Girl fans.
The Dair and Chair 'ship wars aren't likely to end anytime soon, but if there's anything they can agree on, it's that Blair should not marry into Monaco's royal family. Case in point: The survey results below.
With the royal wedding set for January 30, is there hope?
For either Dan or Chuck, that is? Well, E! Online says ...
Blouis Photo
There is more than hope, according to show insiders. There will be a "pretty epic scene" involving Dan and Blair in one of the upcoming episodes that shows he's still very much an important part of her life.
Whether that means romantically remains to be seen.
Also, it looks like there will be a Blair and Louis scene that proves critical ... because it shows Chuck may be even more important to Blair than anyone. Make of that what you will, and hit the comments!
Who does Blair belong with?
Dan
Chuck
Louis
View Poll »

Read more: http://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/12/major-blair-louis-scene-ahead-on-gossip-girl/#ixzz1h6M2gZZ2

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Number 3: The Royal Wedding

The whole world watched the wedding — and is still watching every move, fashion and otherwise, of Kate Middleton, who became the Duchess of Cambridge in tying the knot with Prince William. Every outfit she wears is scrutinized and when replicas hit the high street, they’re instant sellouts. Has a style icon been born?

The jury’s still out on whether her fashion persona can live up to the likes of Diana or Jackie. Her style is chic but understated. While she’s made no major faux pas so far, nor has she ventured into the vulgar, she hasn’t exactly pushed the envelope, either. In choosing Alexander McQueen for her wedding gown, she catapulted the house into nearly “household-name” status. Kate mixes it up when it comes to her fashion choices, wearing high street labels like Reiss, Zara, LK Bennett and Whistles, while for designer, she’s worn McQueen, Erdem, Diane von Furstenberg, Amanda Wakeley, Jenny Packham, Issa and Roksanda Ilincic. She picks lots of strong solids, more or less conservative silhouettes, and seems to be on a one-woman quest to bring back hosiery.
English: Alexander McQueen (17 March 1969 – 11...Image via WikipediaWith the eyes of an estimated 2.5 billion around the world trained on the nuptial festivities, the dress in question made its first appearance when the bride stepped out of the Rolls-Royce at Westminster Abbey. Middleton surprised with her choice of a label known for its beautiful yet directional designs. But designer Sarah Burton’s vision trod an appropriately elegant line. She created a corseted dress with a cinched waist and full skirts in ivory and white satin, with modest, long lace sleeves and a high lace collar, worn with an ivory tulle veil.

Clarence House said Middleton chose McQueen “for the beauty of its craftsmanship.”

“Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen’s work,” the palace said. And in a nod to England’s heritage, Burton had worked with London’s Royal School of Needlework to create the delicate lace that adorned the dress’ bodice, sleeves and skirts. The designer — who had endeavored to keep her work on the dress a secret — also created the slinky, figure-skimming white bridesmaid’s dress that Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, wore as maid of honor.

Just as fascinating were the getups that the 600 guests chose for their trip to Westminster Abbey. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie took an adventurous turn with their Philip Treacy headpieces, which took on something of a life of their own, with Internet spoofs likening Beatrice’s hat to everything from an octopus to a pretzel. But Beatrice saw the funny side, and wound up auctioning the hat on eBay to raise money for children’s charities, fetching about $126,000.

Aside from Kate and William’s ceremony, 2011 proved to be a major year for weddings, royal and otherwise. In July, Prince Albert of Monaco married Charlene Wittstock, who walked down the aisle in Monaco in a Swarovski-studded Giorgio Armani silk gown, complete with a 65-foot train.

Later in the summer, Kate Moss got hitched to musician Jamie Hince in a laid-back, quintessentially English ceremony in the Cotswolds, for which the bride wore a custom John Galliano bias-cut gown, inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald. Fittingly for a supermodel, Moss managed another two outfit changes on the night — Stella McCartney designed an oyster silk chiffon dress for the model’s first dance with Hince, and a gold beaded minidress for the evening party, which stretched into the early hours.
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