We recently featured Audrey Hepburn here at celebrityicing.com, so this month when I was looking for a new celebrity to feature, I naturally thought of the other famous Hepburn…

Katherine

Born on May 12 1907, Katherine Hepburn was a Taurus. Although I’m sure she would have thought the very idea was ‘poppycock.’ Yet Taurians (is that what you call them?) are known for their steadiness of character, calmness in the face of obstacles,and steadfast nature. Characteristics that even Kate probably wouldn’t snort at.

Katherine Hepburn appeared in many,  many movies over a long lasting career. She won 4 Oscars and is deeply respected today for her talent and her strong personality, particularly considering the era in which she started her career.

Katherine Hepburn was able to portray very strong women who were also uniquely vulnerable – this made her roles very interesting (and timeless).

She also had a talent for comedy and an ability to be beautiful and funny at the same time.

My favorite Hepburn movies has to be Philadelphia Story – I think I’ve seen it more than any other, and I still enjoy it every time. There is a another version of the same story starring Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby, and it is also good – but not AS good as the Hepburn version.

Hepburn Style

If Katharine Hepburn inspires you, let her style inspire your style…

Isn’t She Yar?

This diamond bracelet would be perfect for her character in the Philadelphia Story.

Seating For One

Here’s an opportunity to support the theatre, celebrate your own individuality, and pay respect to Katharine Hepburn’s hometown at the same time. You can ‘buy’ a seat at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, Connecticut: “preserve her legacy – her fame – her personality – and her snappy style – by sponsoring a chair with your name or a name of someone you would like to honor on a chair plaque.”

Classic Style

Katharine Hepburn had an understated style that was very elegant, like these two-tone earrings and this gold diamond engagement ring. Yellow gold is the perfect type of gold for the Taurus, as well as anyone who enjoys classic movies, and vintage style.

The weather is getting warmer, the sun is out, and that means it’s time to get outside. No more excuses about the weather to stop you from getting out there! I love to run, and nicer weather is always that extra inspiration.

Famously Fit

Here are some celebrity runners to inspire you to hit the streets. You don’t have to have a personal trainer or the most expensive gear to run, just a good pair of shoes and the will power.

Reese

Kate

Nicole

What are the Stars Wearing?

Black capri-length bottoms are the perfect fit for running, whether you are a famous movie star or not. Show off your rock hard calves and draw attention away from anything you are trying to run back into shape. The Running Room version below are called the “Be Fresh” capri because they “silver infusion” makes them “odor free and anti bacterial”.

These panties from Vivvos feel like you are running around without anything on at all. They are made from a material that doesn’t leave lines and are great for wearing under athletic wear, yet pretty enough to wear under formal clothing, too!

If running makes you feel less than glamorous, you can add some icing by accessorizing with your sunglasses – like these cool black shades from Oakley – which match the panties above, by the way! (As an added bonus, part of the proceeds go to the Young Survival Coalition which focuses on young women affected by breast cancer.

Mr. Muscle

Still not ready to strap on your shoes? Celebrity Icing offers you some eye candy to get your motor running… Yummy.

Matthew

Matt

Jake

Running Man

Will Smith on the importance of running and reading, two of my favorite hobbies…

We continue our series on style inspired by the star signs this week with a feature on Libras (September 23 – October 22).

Libra’s love to dress up. They also love art and public service. They do not like to be rushed and they also dislike sloppiness and dirtiness.

Let’s look at some famous Libra stars while celebrityicing points you in the right style direction.

Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes (1900 – 1993) is nicknamed “The First Lady of American Theatre” and is one of only ten people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. She was also a “generous donor of time and money to a number of causes and organizations.” (wikipedia.org).

My favorite Helen Hayes quote is “If you rest, you rust” but, a wise and observant person, she has many others. For example, “From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot in front of the other. But when books are opened you discover you have wings.”

condenaststore.com

Flat Edge Knot Design Band

Catherine Zeta Jones

Catherine Zeta Jones’ beauty and style is an attention-stealer where ever she goes. She manages to combine elegance and sophistication with a healthy vibrance, not easy to pull off successfully.

Load up on silver necklaces and accentuate with a diamond pendant for this look.

Silver Multi Chain Necklace

Diamond Cluster Pendant

Naomi Watts

I just saw Naomi Watts in ‘The International’ which I really liked (I was disappointed to see that it didn’t get very good reviews). Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman are reportedly best friends and they have a similar style and look (although Naomi is more natural; while Nicole is perhaps more polished).

Dangle Disc Bracelet

This week celebrityicing compares two famous and iconic American boys: John F Kennedy Jr and Nick Simmons.

Sadly, JFK Jr’s plane crashed tragically in 1999, so he is no longer with us (although our crushes on him will live forever).

A Life Built on the American Dream

The original Kennedy, Joseph (John F Kennedy’ father), still held the tenacity and ambition of his Irish immigrant family – making his fortune in banking and the film industry. Gene Simmons came to the US with his mom Florence (a holocaust survivor) from Israel and built his fortune in the entertainment industry using raw talent, ingenuity, and excellent business and marketing skills.

Joe Kennedy; Gene Simmons with his Mom

Controversial Dads/Grandads

According to time.com, Franklin D Roosevelt called Joe Kennedy (JFK Jr’s grandfather) a ‘crook‘ (although indirectly). According to wikipedia.org, Al Franken (now a US Senator) described Gene Simmons (Nick’s dad) as “the most awful person I’ve ever met” during a 2002 interview.

Famous Family

The Kennedys and the Simmons are the closest thing Americans have to the royal families of European countries. The average person is very familiar with their lives, which are covered in the media in detail. They are affluent, exciting, inspiring, and -most importantly – photogenic.

US President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacquie Kennedy, daughter Caroline Kennedy, and son John F. Kennedy Jr make up the most famous first family of the United States of America and belong to one of the most famous, wealthy, and influential US families (“the Kennedys”).

Rock bassist, vocalist, actor and successful businessman Gene Simmons, girlfriend Shannon Tweed, daughter Sophie Tweed, and son Nick Simmons make up one of the most famous rock n roll families (perhaps a close second to the Osbournes?).

American Royalty: Two Families

Surprisingly Vulnerable

Despite all of the advantages that good looks, wealth, and popularity bring –  both JFK Jr and Nick Simmons seem(ed) to be rather flustered by the attention and even embarrassed by their situation. (JFK Jr grew out of this so perhaps will Nick Simmons.) The tousled hair, eye-rolling, and awkwardly long limbs during the post teen years help purvey this image of course.

Professional Pursuits

John F Kennedy Jr was a talented actor but was discouraged by his family and studied law instead. He also founded the magazine George. Nick Simmons is also an actor (he plays himself on a reality TV show about his family) and creates comic books.

Tall, Dark, and Handsome

Swimsweets, I mean suits...

Here at celebrity icing we get style inspiration from our favorite stars. To get the JFK/Nick look above:

Meaningful Necklace

Chai Necklace (Judaic symbol, means "alive or living")

Swim Trunks

speedousa.com

Tousled Hair

It’s raining here today and many people

are already grumbling

about Summer being at an end

but there’s a whole lot of August left – so…

Let’s Get Beachy!

Here’s a shot of Lindsay Lohan in Malibu. She doesn’t let her lack of pants keep her from loading on the jewelry, and somehow it all works – she looks like she’s out for a casual, relaxed day.

Hand protects us from her glare

Lohan Loads On the Bangles and Necklaces With a Clunky Ring.

What are the rich and famous wearing in the waves?

Here’s sun-kissed Jessica Alba looking positively golden – with gold accessories to match. She’s wearing 5 bracelets and at least two necklaces and six rings; not to mention a lovely chain belt.

Gold on Gold

Jewelry Sure to Brighten Up Any Shore…

Toned down, this look could work for anyone – two necklaces and several rings are perfect if you stick to the same metal (and color) or select sleek designs.

Silver 16 inch Multi Chain Necklace

Sterling Silver and Gold Hearts

Beach Party? For shore!

Jim Carrey seems to think his classic suit is enough, but I would recommend something sparkley to really pull his look together.

May I suggest this Silver and Grey Pearl Drop Necklace?

And some classy studs will really make this stud’s day at the beach shine. Studs are always a better option just in case you get pulled into a game of beach volleyball or have to dive in to the ocean and rescue a swimmer in distress – large or dangly earrings might get caught and tear  your ear; or even worse, you might lose them!

The fifth installment in our astrology series!

Give Your Accessories Some Star Power

If your birthday falls between July 23 and August 22 you are a LEO just like some of Celebrity Icing’s favorite stars: Amelia Earhart, Zelda Fitzgerald, Mick Jagger, Dustin Hoffman, and my friend Darcy! (Happy Birthday Darcy!)

This week we will look at some classic Leos from the black and white era of film…

According to astrology-online.com, Leos are “the most dominant, spontaneously creative and extrovert[ed] of all the zodiacal characters” (astrology-online.com).

Clara Bow

The characters played by silent film star Clara Bow fit this description perfectly: a real ‘go-getter’ who would always get her man. According to a fansite, she “was the first actress who visibly flaunted her sex appeal” and has become “an icon of sexual freedom for women everywhere” (clarabow.net).

clarabow.net

Note that Ms. Bow didn’t feel the need to wear showy jewelry to get attention – her natural charisma and confident poise would have been enough. Instead she wears a simple gold watch and a yellow gold link bracelet.

danforthdiamond.com

Myrna Loy

Another favorite of mine, Myrna Loy is best known for her role as Nora Charles in the Thin Man movies.

Here’s a glimpse of her wilder side. The picture is from an early role in the movie “Across the Pacific”. Note this famous Leo’s wild mane – perfect for a lioness. Hair like this is the only accessory you need (and I should know, trust me!) Perhaps a flower tucked behind your ear is a nice touch; otherwise, simple gold earrings would be enough.

wikipedia.org

Her most famous roles cast her as a perfect wife – her response to this was “Some perfect wife I am,” she said, referring to her typecasting. “I’ve been married four times, divorced four times, have no children, and can’t boil an egg.” (wikepedia.org)

Myrna Loy

Happy Birthday Leos!

Here are some gift ideas for the Leos in your life.

Amber or yellow stones are always a favorite of the feline friendly…

The Tiger Eye stone traditionally belongs to Capricorns, but also suits Leos.

It also reportedly helps you gain personal empowerment and courage (not that most Leos need help in those areas). Here’s the perfect gift for the stylish Leo man in your life:

amazon.co.uk/Fred-Bennett-Tigers-Eye-Cufflinks

Charm Your Leo

A sweet tiger will charm your Leo.

neimanmarcus.com

We all know that A list celebrities can afford the very best of the best. We also know that most of them are following strict diets to maintain their famous figures.

What if you have a sweet tooth and a fat bank account but you’re on a calorie budget?

It’s all about quality not quantity…

Featured in our very first Celebrity Icing article, Jessica Simpson might want to sweeten up with some of these tasty treats  now that her and Tony Romo’s relationship has gone sour. (See “Jessica Simpson Covered in Icing“, September 2008.) The couple got together in 2007 and there were rumors in 2008 of engagement ring shopping, which Jessica denied. Rumors of an impending wedding surfaced again as recently as January 2009 (USmagazine.com).

I never met a chocolate I didn’t like. (Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation)

The Best Chocolate in the World (and most expensive chocolate)

Amedei Porcelana

The Chuao bar from Amedei has received Chocopaedia’s highest rating so far (9.3 out of 10). It shares this rating with four other bars – you can see the entire list at Chocopaedia – they describe themselves as an “encyclopaedia of fine chocolate, with lists and information about fine chocolate makers and reviews of the chocolate bars they produce.”

Chuao, Baby!

wikipedia

“The often-quoted price of this chocolate is $90 a pound” (wikipedia). The cocoa beans used to make this chocolate are very rare so that only limited quantities of the chocolate can be made each  year, contributing to the high price.

While Amedei Porcelana has often been called the world’s most expensive chocolate, the truffle pictured  below is $250. For. Just. One.

La Madeline au Truffe, by Knipschildt Chocolatier

$250 at knipschildt.com

Knipschildt Chocolate

According to their website, Knipschildt Chocolatier was “voted as one of the top 3 chocolates in the world by Gourmet Magazine” (knipschildt.com). Not all of their chocolates are priced so high – you can get their Giant Chocolate Box for $25.00. Warning – it only contains 9 chocolates (the term ‘giant’ refers to the fact that each chocolate is slightly larger than the regular size).

“All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!” (Lucy Van Pelt, Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

Not Rich and Famous, But Still Want a Taste the Sweet Life?

Pralus

In contrast, the ‘Le 100%’ bar from Pralus is ranked equally with the Amedei bar mentioned above – and you can buy a 3.5oz bar online for $7.75 .

worldwidechocolate.com

Controversial court cases, gossip, and plastic surgery aside – certain adjectives come to mind when I think of Michael Jackson.

Sparkly

Those glittery socks, the glove  and the shiny red jacket with all those zippers. Michael Jackson definitely knew how to catch our eye.

You wouldn’t know it from watching his performances, but he actually DID have more than one glove…

According to luxist.com, the glove from his Victory tour will go up for auction in early October and is estimated at a value up to $80,000 (somehow that seems low to me, but I guess we’ll see). The glove was designed by Ted Shell and is covered with beads, Austrian crystals and 50 tiny lights (a 9 volt battery in his cuff powered them).

The ‘Billie Jean’ glove was different – shiny all over with jewels and sequins and worn during almost every performance of the song and during many other public appearances. Samanthamo.com claims to offer the closest replica on the market – the glove is custom tailored to your hand size and the jewels are sewn on by hand for around $200.00 US.

samanthamo.com

Costumed

Just like a little boy who never quite grew up – Michael Jackson also seemed to find a lot of pleasure in playing ‘dress up’. Remember his military style phase? The jacket below, along with many other possessions were to be put up for auction in April but then Michael Jackson had a change of heart and cancelled.

Original 1994 Jacket

Influential design house Balmain offered a similar jacket for its Spring 2009 collection which means that there are plenty of Balmain-inspired coats on the racks of the more price-accessible stores if you’d like to wear one as a farewell salute to MJ.

The King

Elvis was the King until he came along – thanks to Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis has been relegated to ‘The King of Rock N Roll’ and Michael Jackson is ‘The King of Pop’. Elvis has Graceland, Michael has Neverland. I wonder if they will sell all sorts of monogrammed and portraited bling at his gift shop? And,  instead of Elvis glasses, they will probably sell gloves?

In the meantime, you can buy this matching set from Etsy seller PopBangles so you can be a little bit pop and a little bit rock n roll…

PopBangles.etsy.com

PopBangles.etsy.com

Too Much? Instead you can just wear a ring as a reminder of his passing, perhaps one like this that recalls a quote from one of his songs – that it ‘doesn’t matter if you are black or white‘…

danforthdiamond.com

Loyal Friend

It’s kind of unclear whether Michael Jackson was a loyal friend or whether he just inspired loyalty from those around  him, but he definitely had several long-lasting friendships that survived the different struggles and transformations he faced along the way. Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minelli, Diana Ross are some famous examples I can think of at the moment…

Many of us grew up with him, and feel a loyalty and special nostalgia for his earlier days… It’s been said over and over that his passing is one of those remarkable days where everyone will remember exactly where they were when they heard the news.

You may not have danced outside the Apollo Theatre and you may not have tickets to the Memorial today.  Perhaps like me, you pulled  a bunch of old Jackson 5 videos up on YouTube and had a dance party in your living room as you introduced the songs to your children… Or perhaps you just spent some time feeling grateful for your own family, your good health, and your ability to walk around this world freely and enjoy the sunshine.

Let’s face it, it’s hard to come up with good names for your kids. You might go out of your way to give your child a unique name only to have 5 other kids with the same name in his or her kindergarten class. A few years ago, no one would have said Isabella was common but now the playground is teeming with Bellas and Ellas. Isabella (or a version thereof) is the new Jennifer and Ava is the new Stephanie…

The trick is to come up with a name everyone involved is happy with, that isn’t too common -but that is also easy to pronounce and spell. My own pet peeve is ‘unique’ spellings of common names – the Jenyfurs, etc –  I’ve always thought it just makes it look like your parents can’t spell. Is your child really going to thank you after the thousandth time they’ve had to correct the spelling of their name? 

Celebrities seem to be be very challenged in this area – I guess their approach is different because they know that little “Rebel” or “Free” will never have to put their name on a resume or seek employment in the real world. A world where studies have shown that any name that is too hard to pronounce, or even just too ethnic – means less interviews… 

Well, here at Celebrity Icing we like to celebrate our favorites, so rather than making fun of all the goofy names selected for celebrity spawn we thought we’d spend some time featuring some of the names we like!

Beckett is the bee’s knees

Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher named their son Beckett and their daughter Bailey (presumably before Grey’s Anatomy went on the air…). The name Beckett means ‘Bee Cottage’ which is rather cute and inspires one to all sorts of nursery room decorating ideas. Beckett may have been named after the famous Irish writer or (and I hope it’s this one) Scott Bakula’s character from Quantum Leap. What child wouldn’t want to be named after the mysterious and adorable time traveler?

Coco is classy yet cute 

Courteney Cox Arquette  and David Arquette named their daughter Coco (rumor: after Courtney Cox). This name meets all of my criteria: if you see it in writing, you immediately know how to pronounce it – yet, at the same time, it’s very rare. According to thinkbabynames.com it is originally from Spain and is the short form of Soccoro (which means ‘lover of soccer’? no, just kidding…). It is cute, yet with a classy hint of Coco Chanel. My only fear would be that people might not take my daughter seriously – but that won’t be a problem if she turns out to be funny like her dad or a strong personality like her mom… 

Tallulah springs to mind

Bruce Willis and Demi More AND Simon LeBon and Yasmin Parvaneh both named a daughter Tallulah. This name means “leaping waters” in the Choctaw language (behindthename.com) or “jumping water” (babynamewizard.com). There is a waterfall named Tallulah in Georgia, where famous Tallulah Bankhead came from. It’s a beautiful sounding name and very rare. According to the namevoyager at babynamewizard.com – it’s never been in the top 1,000 names in any decade on record. (In contrast, Gertrude was ranked #24 in the 1890′s and Isabella was #2 in 2007.)  Tallulah Bankhead was actually notorious for her promiscuous behavior, boozing, drugging, and is actually thought to be the inspiration for 101 Dalmation’s Cruella Deville so I’m going with the idea that these children were named after the waterfall! Then again, so many parents named their daughters “Paris” in 2004, that it is ranked #156 in popularity – so nothing can surprise me anymore… yuck… 

ngeorgia.com

The third installment in a series about how your accessories can have some star power!

Born between May 21 and June 20? Then you are a Gemini just like Johnny Depp, Joan Rivers, Stevie Nicks, and Nicole Kidman.

Geminis are adventurers in life – they aren’t afraid to try new things and they are fun people to have around. Geminis are known as great communicators – they’re good talkers but also good listeners and are usually dialed in to all the dirt on their friends (famous gossip columnist Hedda Hopper was a Gemini). The Gemini, or two sisters, are also known for having two sides to their personalities.

Gemini Star Style: Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman’s adventurous spirit is seen in her very diverse choice of film roles: from chick flick Practical Magic, edgy comedy To Die For, experimental foreign film Dogville, to blah Hollywood flicks like Far and Away and Days of Thunder. Like all Geminis, Kidman has two sides to her character: she is a celebrity but she is also a humanitarian (recipient of the United Nations Citizen of the World Award). She has had two very different husbands. She is a dual citizen: American and Australian – she was born in Hawaii but has lived most of her life in Australia.

One of my best friends is a Gemini and all of these characteristics fit perfectly with her as well: she loves life and is a fantastic listener. She has her professional side, working in the corporate legal world, but also uses her connections and talents to contribute to local fundraising. Early years in California but living in Canada – she has enjoyed two very different childhoods. Happy Birthday, Kristine!

Gems for the Gemini

When a Gemini arrives in our world, Summer is just around the corner. Perhaps that is why they look great in anything that catches the light: sparkly stones, transparent gems, and silver or white gold.

Here are some great birthday gifts for Geminis:

Bulky Bracelet

Birthstone Moppet