It's real, the Royal Highness, Prince William and The Dutches of Cambridge, Kate Middleton are chit-chatting with President Barack and First Lady Michelle.
This 'socializing' happened in the Buckingham Palace today, May 24.
The US' first couple head to London for a two-day-visit to The Queen, and squeeze in some attendance to both Houses of Parliament at Westminster Hall. Pretty busy, huh!
artnet Launches Icons: 20th-21st Century Photographic Portraits Sale Featuring 200 Photographs of Legends from Madonna to Obama
200 photographs by 70 renowned photographers Estimates from $1,000 to $20,000
June 15 - 25, 2009
Actress Grace Kelly, 1955 New York / Berlin, June 15, 2009 - From June 15-25 artnet Auctions will feature Icons: 20th-21st Century Photographic Portraits, a special sale of 200 original fine art photographs of legendary figures including The Beatles, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, President Barack Obama and Elvis Presley.
Screen Sirens Leading the sale is an exceptional group of fifteen photographs of screen stars Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe from the 1950s-1960s. Highlights include a rare photograph of Audrey Hepburn taken at the pinnacle of her career in 1956 by renowned portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh. This work has never before been seen at auction and is offered in pristine condition (estimate: $15,000-$20,000). Also featured in this section are two luminous portraits of Grace Kelly taken in 1955 by fashion photographer Howell Conant shortly before she became Princess of Monaco (estimates: $3,000-$3,500 each). Among the other highlights are some of the most recognizable photographs ever taken of Marilyn Monroe, including Marilyn Monroe Singing "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy, 1962 by Bill Ray (estimate: $2,500-$3,500) and Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder On The Set Of The Seven Year Itch, 1954 by George Zimbel (estimate: $5,000-$6,000).
Music Legends The sale celebrates music legends including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain, Bob Dylan and Madonna. Madonna's rise from a virtual unknown to pop icon is chronicled in five photographs by artists from Lee Friedlander to David LaChapelle. Friedlander's Nude (Madonna) is a rare nude portrait taken of Madonna in 1979 before she became famous (estimate: $25,000-$35,000) while LaChapelle's Madonna: Mythical Swans, 1998 captures the radiant pop megastar two decades later (estimate: $12,000-$14,000).
The sale also chronicles the evolution of Rock 'n Roll in the 1960s and 1970s featuring classic photographs of the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix. The Beatles Land in Los Angeles, 1964 by Bill Ray captures the young musicians on their second world tour (estimate: $2,500-$3,500) while John Lennon, New York City taken by Bob Gruen in 1974 reflects the change in both the artist and the times (estimate: $1,400-$1,600).
Fashion Icons Fashion icons also figure prominently in the auction, with works ranging from the 1930s to the present. Leading this group is a collection of 20 rare vintage portraits by Louise Dahl-Wolfe from the 1930s to 1950s. One of the great fashion photographers of the 20th century, Dahl-Wolfe photographed a cross-section of fashion and film stars for Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. The collection includes photographs of Lauren Bacall, Josephine Baker, Balenciaga, Christian Dior, and Spencer Tracy (estimates: $1,000-$3,000 each). Also featured in the sale are contemporary fashion icons such as Kate Moss Veiled, 1993 by Albert Watson (estimate: $7,000-$9,000) and Naomi Campbell, 1995 by Sante D'Orazio (estimate: $8,000-$10,000).
United States Presidents Two U.S. Presidents are also the subject of photographs in the sale, including a pensive 2008 profile of Barack Obama taken by Kwaku Alston, who photographed the Obama family extensively on the 2008 campaign trail (estimate: $3,000-$3,500). President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy are the subject of five photographs in the sale, including John Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, a beaming 1960 photograph by Bill Ray (estimate: $1,000-2,000) and Will McBride's John F. Kennedy, Willy Brandt & Konrad Adenauer, Brandenburg Gate Berlin, which documents Kennedy's historic 1963 trip to Berlin (estimate: $2,500-$3,500).
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LONDON, June 15/PRNewswire/ -- US president Barack Obama was yesterday named the most stylish man in a poll of men.
The 47-year-old father of two, who moved into the White House in January, has wowed people across the globe with his sharp suits and smooth sense of style.
Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt came second thanks to his ability to look stylish in a sharp suit and dressed down jeans.
His chiselled looks and good style have bagged him a string of beauties including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie.
Jonathan Heilbron, President & CEO of luxury shirt company Thomas Pink, which carried out the poll, said: "Barack Obama has a great sense of style, which no doubt adds to his popularity. World leaders and politicians are not known for their dress sense, so it's refreshing to have Obama who seems to genuinely care about his appearance."
Third place in the poll of 3,000 men is footballer David Beckham, whose trendy style has seen him become one of the most photographed men in the world.
But the AC Milan player hasn't always been so stylish - previously stepping out in a sarong and wearing a matching PVC outfit with wife Victoria.
James Bond star Daniel Craig is at number four, followed by The Godfather actor Al Pacino.
Suave George Clooney was voted into sixth place, with designer Giorgio Armani even saying that the former ER star makes a suit look "simply fantastic".
Bill Nighy, who has recently been on the big screen in The Boat That Rocked, came seventh, while painter and filmmaker Andy Warhol was at eight.
Clint Eastwood and Will Smith completed the top ten.
Other style icons to feature in the poll include actor Danny Dyer at 11, former 007 Pierce Brosnan at 15 and Elvis Presley at 16.
The poll also asked what they considered to be the most essential fashion items in a man's wardrobe; a crisp white shirt came first followed by a pair of blue jeans and a casual t-shirt. The nominated 'most stylish' men have all been photographed numerous times wearing white shirts, each adding their own individual stamp to this most timeless of looks.
Jonathan Heilbron, President & CEO of Thomas Pink, added: "These guys have access to the latest designer trends and can get away with wearing virtually anything, yet time and time again they are seen in a sharp white shirt with jeans or a suit. And they have all dated or married the world's most beautiful women - it would seem that simple good taste wins out over extreme fashion when it comes to sex appeal for a man."
Thomas Pink now has a White Shirt Bar at its flagship Jermyn Street store and online, which offers men a choice of 21 year round styles plus seasonal limited editions. The White Shirt Bar offers men a one stop shop, where they can choose the perfect white shirt whether it's for work, the weekend or a special occasion.
TOP TWENTY MALE STYLE ICONS
1. Barack Obama 2. Brad Pitt 3. David Beckham 4. Daniel Craig 5. Al Pacino 6. George Clooney 7. Bill Nighy 8. Andy Warhol 9. Clint Eastwood 10. Will Smith 11. Danny Dyer 12. Johnny Depp 13. Dean Martin 14. David Bowie 15. Pierce Brosnan 16. Elvis Presley 17. Justin Timberlake 18. Sean Connery 19. Steve McQueen 20. Vernon Kay
Notes to editors:
3,000 men aged 25-55 took part in the poll which quizzed them on their fashion habits and views on stylish male icons. Conducted by market specialists OnePoll.com, the survey was commissioned by Thomas Pink, the British luxury shirt brand.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Benjamin Ola. Akande, Dean of Webster University School of Business & Technology:
As a child growing up in Nigeria, I was a dreamer. My parents never dismissed my dreams. They were always encouraging. No matter how outright unbelievable my dreams were, they would assure me that dreams do come true. Dreams provide a glimpse of what the future will look like. I wish I could have recorded all those dreams.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream was recorded. It was a dream that was played out in front of thousands of people and like most dreams, no one really knew how it would play out. As the dream was recalled over the years, it became clear that this was a significant and compelling vision of the future. Martin's dream was in the form of a remarkable prose on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Most of us can hear him recite this dream in our subconscious. "I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together." It is a dream that visualizes a future where all those things that seemed impossible and improbable will happen despite overwhelming obstacles.
Barack Obama
The election of Barack Obama was a manifestation of Martin's dream. I would like to believe that Martin Luther King's dream highlighted how difficult it is to make change happen. Martin spoke about how mountains and hills (obstacles) shall be made lower and rough places (institutional changes) will be made straight. The recognition was that monumental changes of this magnitude take considerable time. Indeed, it takes the force of nature to break through the harsh reality of status quo and history.
Dreaming enables us to transcend the present and position us on the balcony for a better view of the future. And, because dreaming offers no restrictions, the greatest dreamers are often characterized as crazy and out of touch with reality. What history has shown us is that you may vilify them, you can criticize them, and you may even assassinate them. But, you can't kill a dreamer's dream. MLK's dream took a long time to come to fruition, with small significant steps and some big setbacks along the way. But on Nov. 4, 2008, the full realization of the great civil rights leader's dream came to pass with the election of a junior senator from Illinois as the first African American President of The United States of America..
Martin Luther King taught us that adversity is a lot easier to overcome than success. And that is the power of dreams. He knew it would happen. He even foresaw that his own demise may keep him from seeing his dream come true. "I've seen the promised land," he said. "I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land." Forty-five years later, his vision is still unfolding. But one thing is crystal clear. Dreams do come true.
Source: Webster University School of Business and Technology
CONTACT: Susan Kerth of Webster University, +1-314-246-8232
Obama Daughters Hire Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson Performs At Super Bowl, Britney Moves, Estelle Denies Love For Kanye, Amy Winehouse Acts, Victoria Beckham Shed Clothes, Hayden Gets Booted.
