Archive for March, 2010

Liam Gallagher Knows Nothing About Fashion

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Liam Gallagher has openly admitted to not knowing anything about fashion even though he launched a clothing line, Pretty Green, which has been successful. This comes just as his brother Noel mocked his fashion career.

At his second concert since splitting from Oasis, Noel took a swipe at Liam on stage. After an audience member called out to ask where Liam was, Noel took the opportunity to slam his brother’s Pretty Green fashion line. His response was that Liam was probably being a real northerner somewhere designing the perfect desert boot.

It was then revealed that Liam admitted to knowing nothing and not wanting to know anything about fashion in an interview. He said that he’s into suede shoes, wanting to make a desert boot-like shoe. He likes what he likes, he added.

Liam has also recently expressed a desire to release a range of sex toys. His Pretty Green line focuses on men’s clothing right now, but he wants to branch out into women’s products – including vibrators. He seemed excited when talking about making knickers, thongs and things like vibrators. However, he is only throwing around the idea and doesn’t have any plans to extend the range just yet.

Meanwhile, Liam says that he’s been spending as many as 4 days a week in the studio with his new band. He said that it takes more than Noel to stop him from playing. He continued that he could sit at home or do what he likes to do, which is being involved with a band and making music. The new band is expected to release a single this October with an album coming out next year, Liam added.

Lindsay Lohan’s Mental Health Concerned by LA Police

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

The LAPD has voiced their concern over the mental health of Lindsay Lohan, even though she continues to insist that she is healthy and stable. These are the same officers that have seen the 23-year-old actress during her low moments and have reportedly expressed their want to force her to get help.

According to reports, police officers that have routinely come in contact with Lindsay during late night and early morning partying encounters say that they are worried about her attitude and erratic behavior. Authorities became so concerned one night after she was partying that they talked about taking her in for a 5150 evaluation. They decided against it, because she didn’t fit all the criteria and could still take care of herself.

On the night in question here, Lindsay was seen leaving a LA party with a puff of white powder coming from the heel of her shoe. This has led many people to think that she was carrying cocaine.

Even Lindsay’s family and friends have become more concerned in recent months, as her stability has reportedly worsened. Aside from the worry of drugs leading to her death, her friends are also concerned about rejections she keeps getting for work and at a-list parties. One friend exclaimed that she will die if she doesn’t get help soon.

Lindsay, however, says that she is not having any trouble functioning at all. She revealed that she is working and healthy – a statement that came after a report alleged that Lindsay needs to clean up her before she ends up killing herself.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

Monday, March 29th, 2010

The Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign, which is launched by charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer in the UK, is best known for its logo-shirt with a target on it – designed by Ralph Lauren. However, they are using 3 top celebs dressed in nothing but sheets to launch this year’s campaign, which aims to raise awareness and £1 million for breast cancer research during the next 6 weeks.

Singer Kylie Minogue, actress Sienna Miller and model Claudia Schiffer have all joined the initiative, wrapping their naked bodies in sheets for photos taken by Mario Testino. The sheets are silk and printed with the campaign’s logo. The campaign will sell a special clothing range on the high street, in designer collections and online during the next 6 weeks to raise the money.

This is the first time that Kylie has joined a campaign for breast cancer since she was successful in treating her own run-in with the disease 5 years ago. At the time, she was suppose to appear at a charity ball for the disease in London. She had to cancel, but sent a message that she aimed to be a survivor. Kylie says that she wholeheartedly supports the campaign’s efforts to raise money for the vital work Breakthrough Breast Cancer has undertaken.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer was started in 1996 by Ralph Lauren after Nina Hyde, his friend and Washington Post fashion editor, died of breast cancer. Since then the campaign has raised over £10.5 million with the logo and has grown to include specially designed garments. At least 30% of the garment prices go directly to the charity.

Kingfisher and Next Report 2009 Profit

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Sales in the UK’s retail sector improved greatly between January and February, but there are two retailers reporting a significant rise in profits for last year, during which the world was suffering a recession. Next, the second-biggest fashion retailer in the UK, has reported an 18% increase in profit, while B&Q owner Kingfisher, the largest European home improvement chain, has reported a 50% rise.

Next says that pretax profits increased £505.3 million, while sales totaled £3,406 million, for 2009. The company says that the cutback in consumer spending during the recession wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be.

Next chairman John Barton said that they faced an unstable economy at the beginning of the year, with falling sales and the weakness of the pound against the euro and US dollar. Despite this, consumers continued to spend on the High Street, the company continued. The fashion chain also said that like-for-like sales increased for the first time in 5 years. However, this year’s outlook is still uncertain, depending on government policy, they added.

Kingfisher, however, reported much better results, with profits reaching £566 million, which is up £547 million (excluding one-off gains). This is almost a 50% increase from a year ago. The company’s UK businesses, which include Screwfix and B&Q, had 64.5% increases in profits. They also own businesses in Poland, France and China.

Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire said that business showed a strong performance improvement with most of the business resulting in profitable growth. He added that they remain cautious about consumer demand across Europe, but are confident that growth will continued.

Budget 2010 Includes Small Business Fund

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

On Wednesday, Chancellor Alistair Darling revealed budget plans for 2010 to the House of Commons. In it they decided, instead of introducing the 3p fuel duty increase all at one time, they would stagger the rise over the year. This is mainly due to the recent hike in the price of petrol.

The fuel duty increase of 3p was due to be effective on April 1. However, now they will only introduce a 1p per litre rise, which will typically increase the cost to refill a car by £38 a year. Then they will introduce another 1p increase on October 1 and a 0.76p rise on January 1, 2011. Darling also said that they want to remain committed to the fuel duty escalator and will increase the duty every year by 1p per litre until 2014.

Campaigns from motoring groups have tried to get the increase shelved because of the struggling economy failing to recover – not to mention the rise in wholesale petrol costs. During the week, central London fuel prices reached £1.20 per litre, while residents in rural areas are facing even hire prices. Families are having to pay an extra £50 in petrol costs every month already due to the hikes.

In July 2008, the UK hit is record average high for unleaded fuel at £1.20 as well. At the time, crude oil prices across the globe were at a record high as well – $150 per barrel (petrol is priced in American dollars). However, prices are at the same level, but crude oil is only $80 per barrel.

Experts believe that motorists will be relieved to know that they won’t have to face a 3p fuel duty increase all at one time. However, their satisfaction will be short-lived when the prices continue to increase.