The Baume & Mercier Hampton City Chronograph, Definitely Not Just a Weekend Watch
The portfolio of watches produced by the Baume & Mercier luxury watch brand include the Marquise, an exquisitely crafted ladies watch with the dial integrated into a bangle, first unveiled in 1950 and the Riviera with its distinctive 12-sided case, launched in 1973, with contemporary interpretations of the original still being released. The Baume & Mercier company was established in 1830 in Les Bois, Switzerland. The history of this innovative marque features a number of associations with talented individuals and successful businessmen but the core values of the brand remain intact – the creation of luxury innovative mens and ladies watches with uncompromising quality. Today the Baume & Mercier brand is owned by the Richemond Group along with other famous watch brands Cartier and Piaget.
Perhaps the most defining watch in the Baume & Mercier new Hampton collection. First produced in 1994 this unique watch featured an adventurous rectangular-shaped dial and with its wonderfully curvy case was slightly retro in style. Named after the famous Long Island chill-out zone North of New York, the Hamptons, itself a fascinating mix of casual and sophistication, its namesake watch boasts similar qualities. This timepiece is undeniably stylish and elegant with more than a hint of kudos and cool very much in the glamorous but relaxed mood of that iconic summer colony. The design team at Baume & Mercier have added to this fabulous collection with the issue of the Hampton Milleis, the Hampton Spirit and the Hampton City.
The Hampton City Chronograph is one such piece in the collection. Powered by the Calibre 122894 automatic self-winding movement with chronograph function, it represents sporting chic with the emphasis definitely on style. The famous curved rectangular case is of stainless steel construction, with the generous case rim highly polished. The dial features Arabic numerals, steel hands and sub-dials at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions for small seconds and 30-minute registers. This watch is particularly impressive in the striking grey on black dial combination complimented by a black leather strap with tang buckle.
In the style and spirit of smart but casual and sporty but chic, the Baume & Mercier Hampton City Chronograph offers the perfect choice, a retro style wristwatch that is definitely not just for weekends.
Which Madonna Accessories?
Thinking about dressing up as something new this Halloween or perhaps another occasion? Something that is outside of your daily routine and will allow you to adopt a completely different persona, something within you that really needs to get out? Well, if your lucky enough to be from this era, or even if your not, one direction you could consider is Madonna. Upon doting as one of the most famous female Icons of all time, you will definitely turn some heads at any special occasion.
This opportunity can be very fun & exhilarating for anyone, but unfortunately a lot of people don’t take full advantage of their costume outfits. You can just feel there’s something missing, you’ve watched and tried to emulate Madonna since you were a kid, but your basic Madonna outfit is lacking the original 80s fashion. Then it comes to you, accessories, of course, which Madonna Accessories do I need to complete the look? Good costume or dress accessories can make or break the look your trying to achieve and set you apart.
Why are the proper accessories so important and which Madonna accessories should you consider? Well first of all, cool accessories can be the talk of the party and provide a vehicle to mingle. People will talk to you about them, respect you for all of the extra work you put in to your outfit (though usually involves very little extra effort) and for something they loath to do themselves, even flirt with you over the fascinating Madonna accessories you’ve chosen to sport.
As a rule, pertaining to the actual costume or outfit choice, you’ll probably want to stick to the 80s version of Madonna, possibly in to the early 90s, before she started wearing more traditional clothing! I would suggest the period between 1982-1985 (early Madonna) for the fact she always wore these flamboyant non-mainstream shinning accessories and big hair.
It was kind of a cross between a biker chick & Phylis Diller!
You’ll need items such as:
* Leggings.
* Short skirts.
* Bustier top or black tank top.
* Black lace fingerless gloves.
* Black ankle boots.
* Biker-style leather jacket (optional).
* Curling Iron (to get the crazy look).
* Big lace hair ribbon.
* Black eyeliner and eyebrow liner.
* Red lipstick.
* Bangle bracelets (mainly black & white with a little silver mixed in).
* Long necklaces (Crosses and religious symbols).
* Dangling earrings (also Crosses and religious symbols).
* Crinoline from under a formal dress or wear a simple mini skirt.
* Oh, and don’t forget the dirty blond wig! (usually will come with the purchased costume/outfit). etc……
Because of all the trend setting looks of Madonna, you shouldn’t have any problem choosing the feel your looking for, and when it comes to which Madonna Accessories to go with, it’s easy, just follow her lead! For a more thorough rundown of Madonna costumes and accessories check out MadonnaCostumes.org 
Madonna costume for Halloween
Madonna has been seen around town wearing a beautiful black flapper costume. Flapper costumes will always be popular costumes for celebrities like Madonna or Kim Kardashian. She is wearing dark sultry makeup, which includes deep red lipstick. In the photo she is wearing dark beads but she could have chosen to wear a colored feather boa or long strands of white pearls. We hope she came with a date wearing a gangster costume, but I am sure any date of Madonna would have worn something classy.
Women choose Halloween costumes based on fantasies. Actors and actresses get to act out their fantasies on stage and in movies. I am sure Madonna chose a flapper costume as they were epitomised as the spirit of a reckless rebel. Who better to wear a Flapper costume than Madonna. The ‘Roaring Twenties’ brought a lot of changes to women and how they were perceived just like Madonna broke the mould for many female entertainers. She caused an uproar with the vivid images in her “Like a Prayer” video or wearing costumes which left some people with their jaws left open. But the flapper costume is also very elegant and simple. Coco Chanel a world famous designer was the originator of the LBD – that little black dress. Women in the 20′s wore cloche hats, but Madonna chose to wear a sequined headband in black and white which looked just as elegant. It does not appear that she had to wear a wig but short wigs suitable for the flapper style are readily available at Celebrity costume stores online.
I would love to see Madonna dressed like something from the medieval or renaissance period as I am sure she could pull that off very easily. But to work with some of the original 80′s looks she wore pearls, held a crucifix and mesh shirt. 90’s was her risque period. From the rocker chick, to the weird bra look there are so many sides to Madonna.
Is Alex Rodriguez Madonna’s New Interest?
Is Alex Rodriguez and Madonna an item?
The celeb gossip world is in turmoil these date with juicy allegations claiming Madonna and Alex Rodriguez might be more than just friends. Its been leaked that Rodriguez has made several late night visits over to Madonna’s Manhattan apartment according to The Superficial and other sources. But let’s get to the real juicy stuff. Although Madonna and Guy Ritchie are undergoing the divorce process she is still married. Yankees third baseman and mighty man Alex Rodriguez is married to Cynthia Rodriguez and the father to two small kids.
So is it true? or just another round of gossip to attract media attention? Well, let’s just wait and see.
Will Madonna Be Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame?
Madonna will be inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame?” Ahm.. That’s pretty unbelievable. Well, the induction will be tonight and fans of Leonard Cohen, The Dave Clark Five, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, John Mellencamp and The Ventures should be very happy. The induction of the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will happen at the Waldorf-Astoria New York City. Well, some may not be in favor of inducting Madonna but I cannot definitely say that she is really of the inductees. But I found this info in the Net: Justin Timberlake will induct Madonna tonight. Whoa, let’s just see..
Some Fast Facts
* The Dave Clark Five (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson, Rick Huxley, Denis Payton and Mike Smith) will be inducted by Tom Hanks
* John Mellencamp will be inducted by Billy Joel
* Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will be inducted by Jerry Butler
* The Ventures (Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Gerry McGee, Mel Taylor, Don Wilson) will be inducted by John Fogerty
* Leonard Cohen will be inducted by Lou Reed
Madonna and Malawi
Madonna and Malawi by Roxanne McDonald
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Madonna has instigated the firing squad of righteousness numerous times in her life. But was the human rights group all that right? |
I have followed Madonna’s career for years, but stopped in the last couple to do other stuff. Today, however, I came across some articles on Madonna’s adoption efforts of a child from Malawai—and what flattened me was how the controversy that is Madonna had been used against her when she was doing a public/world good…. Or was she?
The old news has been resuscitated, as Madonna is photographed visiting Malawi on April 16 for a three-day visit (according to Star Magazine), The news has resurfaced because Madonna filmed a video segment for American Idol Gives Back, wherein she is in Malawi surrounded by the starving and medically needful children who are HIV positive and is appealing to Idol viewers to donate.
And the news has come back about Madonna in Malawi because she not only built an orphan care center there, under the auspices of her foundation, Raising Malawi (as well as funding six other orphanages in Africa), but she and husband Guy Ritchie adopted a boy named David from Malawi and have yet to get those adoption papers finalized.
In the fall of 2006, then, Madonna and Guy announced their intentions of adopting thirteen-month-old David. But rather than do as smooth a transaction as Angelina Jolie has twice done for Ethiopian children, Madonna faced stern opposition.
Reportedly, Malawian human rights groups went to court to challenge the government’s granting Madonna adoption rights. Under the impression that Madonna pulled strings as a wealthy American celebrity, the protesters belonging to The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) moved to ensure the laws were “not bent� for Madonna.
The laws of adoption, that is, hold that anyone wanting to adopt a child has to stay with him or her for “at least eighteen months for assessment,� in a “fostering� role.
Too, it was soon after reported that David’s birth father, Yohane Banda, was confused when discussing giving up his child for adoption, not fully understanding the details in spite of his expressed assent. According to the man’s cousin, Profera Banda, Yohane is illiterate and therefore doesn’t understand—and that he and others in the family think of this adoption as a kind of temporary thing, with Madonna bringing the child back after a few years of caring for him.
Madonna Made Sense Most of the Time
Madonna Made Sense Most of the Time by Roxanne McDonald
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“Everyone has a right to my opinion,� she smirked. But despite her providing consistent shock value, Madonna brought [and continues to bring] covert encouragement and support in several ways. |
She dressed down for performances. She used props that rivaled those of The Exorcist and riled whole populations—burning crosses, African American saints, futuristic cone bras (as outerwear), boy toy belts. She pissed off everyone from political pundits to big name sponsors.
Pepsi cancelled Madonna’s Like a Prayer tour.
Cops came to arrest her on her Blonde Ambition tour.
She made Truth or Dare, and made us aware of sides of celebrity and star personality that we rarely (at that time) had much exposure to: the family frustrations, the loneliness, the exhaustion, and the behind-the-scenes Mama and her babies lectures and love-ins.
Madonna published Sex, and the public went nuts—in several ways, mostly contradictory.
She was married to bad boy Penn, then playing with bad boy Leon. She got pregnant as an unwed mother, sang songs about the rights to being an unwed mother.
She posed nude—and people continued to act as if she were the first to do so (harrumph, check great grandpa’s secret stash, folks). She staged a music video that implied (or that audiences interpreted) the tweenie watching her through a peep show window was her new lover. And, heaven forbid, she tongue-kissed fellow performers (female).
Her videos were banned; her images and music censored.