If you know where you are going, you are not learning

So often as children we are told that we need to have goals and dreams. But although goals and dreams are essential to the makings of successful and happy people, they should by no means be the only things that lead one’s course in life.

We should never be so focused, intent, and course-driven that we know exactly where we want to go and who we want to be. We should not draw our lives out like a map to a destination. I’m sure you’ve heard that the best part of the trip is the journey itself and not only in reaching the destination.

It’s so easy to become so goal-orientated that in looking to the point on the horizon we want to reach, we miss the beautiful scenery around it. If you know where you are going, you are not learning. And if you are not learning, then what’s the point of living? It’s in learning that we live, and in learning that we enjoy the journey all the more.

Tom Ford – Designer of sexy now on Instagram

Instagram has become one of the main portals for celebs to stay in touch with their fans, uploading personal and behind-the-scenes photos from their lives and work. Tom Ford is the latest major celeb to join the social network and, to the delight of fans everywhere, posted his first image on Instagram on March 14^th. And of course, in true Tom Ford demeanour, the first pic is raunchy, sexy, over-the-top, and features a bag (and an ass) that most women would love to own.

Although the designer is only 7 pictures in so far and most of the images are for Tom Ford’s “Shop online” campaign, the promise of more spectacular images to come is worth the wait.

Ford gained international notoriety for his turnaround of Gucci and the creation of the Tom Ford label. He also directed, produced, and co-wrote the breathtakingly beautiful Oscar-nominated film “A Single Man” in 2009 starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.

The Tom Ford label, and more especially the ad campaigns, has become synonymous with sexy, bawdy, and illustrious. Many of the label’s ads have been banned in certain countries for its subjective vulgarity but he has not lost his loyal fan base – which has in fact grown tremendously.

Tom Ford is loved for his experimentation with images and his open acceptance and recognition of the importance of one’s sexuality and his ad images always reflect this concept. With his vision and creativity that has surpassed many in the fashion industry, one would never guess that he is over his 50s and has even been seen in some of the images used in the label’s ad campaigns.

The images that Tom Ford has produced over the years have become iconic within the fashion and beauty industry and are distinctly unique and recognizable among a myriad of designer labels. And now that he is officially on Instagram, his fans have instant access to an insight into the world of all things Tom Ford

Words; the most powerful drugs used by mankind

They say that men fall in love with what they see but women fall in love with what they hear. But maybe we all fall in love with what we hear, whether it is true or not.

Words intoxicate, written and spoken, like drugs or alcohol. And just like those two intoxicants, words are often abused too; used where they shouldn’t be to mean things other than what they should.

Words are like the beads strung together on a rosary to form sentences, and are clutched in the hands of those who desperately seek to believe in something greater.

The words of love, acceptance, understanding spoken to us by others become the rosary which we hold in our hands, silently being thankful for the high they give us. That words can have this power is truly something of a miracle and a curse in its own.

The very hot and very new Vamp Magazine

There isn’t, by any measure, a dearth of fashion and beauty publications around the world but there aren’t very many objections to hot new magazines being put to print either.

The latest American edition to the newsstands is Vamp Magazine from the founders of Hercules, another fashion magazine. The new magazine’s ethos is based on the focus of featuring profiles of strong and prolific women as well as fashion and beauty spreads shot by the latest and hottest photographic talent. Their aesthetic vision is to emulate the fashion prints from the 70s and 80s.

The magazine went all out for its premiere issue featuring some of the hottest models at the moment all on six separate covers. Models Emily DiDonato, Andreea Diaconu, Liya Kebede, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Karmen Pedaru and Carolyn Murphy all look stunning in their respective covers; photographed by Paola Kudacki, Giampaolo Sgura, and Santiago and Mauricio Sierra.

The magazine is definitely off to a good start with beauties like these headlining their opening edition. And the spreads within the magazine don’t disappoint either. Its brilliant photography and dazzling concepts. And although all the models are breathtaking, Emily DiDonato is definitely a stand out from the others with her sublime images.

The magazine seeks to inspire women by showcasing other women who have made it to the top in their respective fields. According to its creators, it’s a magazine for women determined to succeed and be taken seriously but who also happen to love fashion and beauty.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” straight out of Wes Anderson’s imagination

Wes Anderson has come to be appreciated most for his unique and intricate visual style in the direction of his films. He has received copious amounts of critical praise for his work and vision and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for “The Royal Tenenbaums” in 2001 and for “Moonrise Kingdom” in 2012, as well as for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for “Fantastic Mr. Fox” in 2009. But now it is being said that every film he has directed prior to his latest release, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, has just been a starter to this fantastic main course of cinematic pleasure.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” could aptly be called typically Andersonian. The film conjures tales within tales and manages to be at once whimsical and winsome as well as haunting and sombre. In a nutshell, the film recounts the marvellous adventures of Monsieur Gustave H., a renowned and legendary hotel concierge at a famous European hotel, and Zero Moustafa (played by 17-year-old Tony Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

Like most of Anderson’s films, this one too revolves around a middle-aged man and a gifted young boy whom he takes under his wing. One of the treats of the film is the captivating Ralph Fiennes in the lead, playing the role of Gustave H. He has mastered the slight nuances of his character, who can be seductive and flattering to his older female guests while being ruthless and abhorrent in his work ethic.

The film also features actors in cameo roles; including Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Owen Wilson, a nearly-unrecognizable Tilda Swinton, as well as newcomers to the Anderson club; F. Murray Abraham, Jude Law and Saoirse Ronan, among other very pleasant surprises.

Anderson’s attention to detail and the breathtaking execution of his vision has become a hallmark of his cinema. But perhaps the greatest quality of this film is the sense of reverberant joy that one instantly picks up on that Anderson and his team had while putting this film together, like children constructing a play-house filled with magical toys and characteristics.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” is an ode to a world and time gone by when – adopting this ‘golden age’ mentality – life seemed more beautiful and palatable. Wes Anderson’s brilliant imagination and quirky sense of creation brings a stunning work to the cinema that exudes sultry and romantic nostalgia.

Silence isn’t empty

If you have ever had the good fortune of knowing someone you could sit with, or do absolutely anything with, and not have to say a word; you have come to know one of the greatest feelings on earth. To just be able to be with another person; there’s no other pastime quite like it.

But of course something as profound as silence is perhaps only best understood by those who have the feeling to understand it. If someone does not understand your silence, they will most probably never understand your words.

 When it comes to silence in love; maybe it was Rumi who said it best, “Words are a pretext. It is the inner bond that draws one person to another, not words.” And that inner bond is given the opportunity to become tangible through the intangibility of silence.

Silence isn’t something always meant to be filled, it is not always a void. Silence is a place where beauty and life can truly be felt. Silence is not empty.

Mario Sorrenti – The fashion photographer with an ‘obsession’

Almost all boyfriends take photos of their girlfriends, in an array of ways. So its fitting that in 1993, Mario Sorrenti made his explosive debut into the fashion photography world by taking a picture of his naked girlfriend. He was 21 years old and that girlfriend happened to be Kate Moss. And the images he shot were for Calvin Klein’s “Obsession” ad campaign. This guy is definitely talented, but maybe he’s also had some damn good luck along the way. Whatever it is, his bold and sensual images are now, 21 years later, a staple in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview, W, and many other fashion publications.

Currently signed exclusively with the agency Art Partner, Italian-born and New York-raised, Sorrenti is best known for his ability to capture the vulnerability and beauty of his subjects, even more so when nude. These are some of his most striking works featuring some of the world’s top models and stars:

[ WARNING: NUDE IMAGES BELOW. IF SENSITIVE DO NOT SCROLL DOWN ] 

Vanessa Axente for Calvin Klein – 2014

Andreea Diaconu for Vogue Paris – June 2013

Mila Kunis for Gemfields – 2013

Isabeli Fontana for the Pirelli Calendar – 2012

Joan Smalls for the Pirelli Calendar – 2012

Kate Moss for the Pirelli Calendar – 2012

Rihanna for GQ – December 2012

Candice Swanepoel for Vogue Italia – March 2012

Scarlett Johansson for Vanity Fair – December 2011

Dakota and Elle Fanning for W Magazine – December 2011

Abbey Lee Kershaw for Vogue Italia – August 2010

Eniko Mihalik for Vogue Paris – August 2010

Scarlett Johansson for Mango – 2009

Kate Moss for Calvin Klein “Obsession” – 1993

We cannot forget this haunting image of Kate Moss that started this enviable career and made Sorrenti a regularly mentioned name in fashion photography industry.

What’s in a name?

“’What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet”

-       Juliet, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Our name is the first possession that is given to us; something to belong to us, something for us to belong to.

We are born into families who bestow their name upon us, being born into our destinies. When Romeo fell in love with Juliet; he did not know that she was a Capulet, the rival family of his. And Juliet tried and tried to wrap her mind around what it was exactly that make our names so important.

Why should it define us when we could rather define it? When we can choose what our names represent or why people will remember that name once we’re gone. Or if they will remember it at all.

What’s in a name? It’s a label and we are the packaging. And although we can’t escape it, the way Romeo wished he could cut it out of his body if it would make a way to be with Juliet, we can make our names stand for something pretty great.

Eva Green – From Bond girl to kickass warrior princess

It’s not easy for an actress to break away from the Bond girl mould and achieve longevity in Hollywood. There have only been a few actresses who have had the role of James Bond’s eye-candy and have achieved the feat. But now with the incredibly successful release of “300: Rise of an Empire” over the past weekend, with Eva Green formerly best-known as Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale in 2006 of the “007” franchise, one more actress might be able to boast of this achievement.

As of the 10^th of March, the latest “300” film has dominated the competition in the States, bagging an approximate $45.1 million domestically and $87.8 million from 58 other countries. This is pretty cool seeing as the film has mighty armies of blood-thirsty men being led by a dainty, albeit feisty, woman – one, Eva Green.

Eva plays the warrior queen, Atremisia, in the movie and is not only being praised by audiences for her physique and beauty but also by critics for her performance and screen presence. She is perhaps the best thing about the movie.

Eva, who is 33 years old, was born in Paris to an actress mother and a dentist father. She also has a non-identical twin sister, Joy, who was born minutes after her. Eva found acting as a passion as a teenager and went on to graduate from the American University of Paris and then to further study Drama in Paris and London. Much more than in Hollywood, she is an accomplished actress in France.

But now that we have had a taste of Eva in leather in sword-fighting mode, we know we’re going to love her in her next release, the also highly-anticipated "Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For". The movie also stars Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, and Jessica Alba. With a cast like this, and with Eva playing a temptress who enlists Josh Brolin’s character in an attempt to escape her ex-husband, “Sin City 2” is definitely going to be another movie worth waiting for this year. Eva Green is the new ultimate femme-fatale.