Most revealing red carpet fashions

Rihanna’s dress at the Grammys got us thinking… Who can forget Jennifer Lopez’s famous jungle dress at the Grammys, or Lil’ Kim’s pasties at the VMAs? When celebrities want attention, they know how to get it. From almost naked to way too sheer, these 10 celebrities’ red carpet outfits left little – or absolutely nothing – to the imagination.

Rihanna
As Rihanna walked the red carpet at the 2011 Grammys, people actually asked her “Who are you wearing?” How was that their first question? Ours was, “what, exactly, do you have on underneath the tissue paper stripes you have swathed around your naked form?” In case you wanted the answer to the first question, it’s Jean Paul Gaultier. The answer to the latter question remains a mystery.

Jennifer Lopez

 Ah, the infamous Versace jungle print ‘dress’ that introduced the population to a whole new interpretation of what qualifies as an appropriate award show outfit. When Jennifer Lopez arrived at the 2000 Grammy awards, she was basically wearing a sarong that had been fashioned into a dress over teal bikini boy shorts. She was actually nominated for an award that night, but does anyone even remember whether she won or lost?

Toni Braxton

It was so innovative of Jennifer Lopez to start the whole, “there’s really no need to wear a ‘dress’ when you can just put on some scraps of fabric” trend. As you can see, it caught on quickly among famous exhibitionists like Grammy nominee and winner Toni Braxton. The singer wore this uh, white apron-cape with a sequin belt (for what? modesty?) at the 2001 awards. We really hope it wasn’t windy that night.

Taylor Momsen

 It’s not just the Grammys that brings out celebrities’ inner provocateurs. Taylor Momsen has become quite well known for wearing underwear as outerwear on red carpets despite the fact that she is 17 and looks horribly inappropriate when she shows up at, say, the premiere of Justin Bieber’s movie dressed this way. If this picture has you asking “where are her parents!?” don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Leighton Meester

On the opposite end of the classy spectrum is Taylor Momsen’s Gossip Girl co-star, Leighton Meester. The stylish and usually fully covered star startled everyone when she showed up at the Harry Winston Court of Jewels Recreation in a completely sheer Marchesa romper with a plunging neckline. Our rule of thumb? If your outfit requires you to borrow your grandmother’s lace underwear (and it shows), do reconsider.

Rose McGowan

 Honestly, Rose McGowan, there’s shock value, and then there’s just showing up naked. You did the latter at the VMAs in 1998. Très déclassé.

Lil’ Kim

If you’re having a sparkly lavender bodysuit custom-made for the ’99 VMAs, it’s only natural that you’d say to your seamstress, “could you sew it so my left breast is completely exposed and then make a matching pasty? I really think it would add a little something extra – I just don’t think my sparkly lavender bodysuit and matching purple wig have enough of a wow-factor.” At least, that’s the conversation we like to imagine took place…

Katy Perry

While Jennifer Lopez gets credit for single-handedly reviving the double-sided tape industry, Britney Spears helped launched another form of titillating bodywear in the music video for Toxic: the bedazzled nude bodysuit. Katy Perry wore the dress form of this trend to the 2010 MTV movie awards, but she adapted Spears’ bodysuit, on which the rhinestones were randomly scattered, to make her outfit a little more MTV-audience-friendly.

Christina Aguilera

This is how Christina Aguilera looked in 2000. We’ll just pause and let that sink in. Remember our rule of thumb for Leighton Meester? We have one for Christina, too. Laces are for shoes, not clothes. We’re not even going to address that hairstyle.

Coco Austin

 

Craziest pop star makeovers

Craziest pop star makeovers

Alice Cooper

 Veteran rocker Alice Cooper pioneered the whole shock rock thing in the early 1970s. 40 years later, he's still at it.

 But the man born Vincent Furnier isn't always to be found in full makeup with a snake draped over his shoulders. He could pass for a trendy teacher in this still from his appearance on Daybreak last year.

Britney Spears

Britney's always been fond of a costume change or two but she took things to new heights on her most recent tour.

Off-stage is a different matter though. See? They're just normal people underneath all the showbiz glitz and glamour.

Cheryl Cole

Cheryl's unusual in that she's got three distinct styles. There's the futuristic-urban look she rocks on-stage, the classic Hollywood glamour image she projects on X Factor, and...

 well, whatever you want to call this. Lumberjack chic, perhaps?

Elton John

Think Lady Gaga started the trend for outrageous stage outfits? Elton John's been at it since before Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born that way.

But like any new father, he can't always look his best. Loving the blue tracksuit, Elton.

Jessie J

Jessie J has said she wants to take on the Gagas, Katy Perrys and Beyoncés by becoming a homegrown international pop icon. She's certainly got the costume side of things down.

Being caught at the back entrance of a TV studio is a different matter though. You still look great, Jessie. Just, you know, more like an ordinary person.

Katy Perry

Of all the new breed of wacky pop dressers, Katy Perry's style is the most colourful and fun.

 But she's not averse to a bit of geek chic, particularly when travelling longhaul.

Ke$ha

 Ke$ha has been photographed drinking what appears to be animal blood on-stage but she's just a normal girl really…

See? We told you Ke$ha isn't always an animal blood-drinking pop mentalist. You wouldn't give her a second glance in the street when she's off duty

Lady Gaga

Ahhh... Lady Gaga. We were just talking about you. Do you ever take a day off?

Hmmm... sort of. Gaga got her revenge on the paparazzi by snapping them while promoting her single Paparazzi. She looks almost, well, normal here.

Marilyn Manson

Ooooh Marilyn Manson, you are scary with your Halloween makeup and stuff.

The police generally don't allow it for mugshots though. Suddenly, not so scary.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj has been referred to as the Lady Gaga of hip-hop, and with good reason. Now that's a party outfit.

As with Katy Perry, the demands of a longhaul flight require something a little more practical.

Pink

Pink has arguably the most theatrical stage show you'll ever see.

 Not that you'd ever guess it if you met her out shopping.

Rihanna

 As a great man once said, if it wasn't for Lady Gaga, Rihanna would still be wearing pretty dresses on stage.

 We hate to be mean but the blanket Rihanna is carrying here is very unflattering.

Shakira

 Shakira, Shakira. So good they named her twice.

But perhaps only once in this shot.

Source : MSN

8 essentials for authentic red velvet cake

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Nicole Taylor did a segment on real Southern red velvet cake on her foodie radio show, Hot Grease. Nicole is a Southern girl, born and raised in Georgia, and she has some pretty strong opinions about authentic red velvet cake. She searched for the real thing in New York City and came to the stunning conclusion that red velvet here is just wrong, wrong, wrong!

Well, if the culinary capital of the nation can't get it right, does anyone north of the Mason-Dixon get it right? And what's getting lost in translation? What exactly goes into the quintessential red velvet cake?

Although red velvet cake has a mild chocolate flavor, it is not, by definition, a chocolate cake. Rather, it’s a devil's food cake that's made with cocoa, white vinegar, baking soda, and buttermilk. The deep red color comes from red food dye, and the cake is traditionally iced in rich cream cheese frosting. Legend has it that the cake was actually born in the North, at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. But there's no question that regardless of its origins, it has become a Southern specialty.

Some bakers out there seem to think all they need is red batter and white frosting to make red velvet cake. Not so, says Nicole, who has eight rules for the truly authentic red velvet cake:

1. The cake must have some cocoa, but not too much because it is not a chocolate cake.

2. The cake must have red food coloring; beet juice does not add the right kind of red.

3. The cake must have cream cheese frosting.

4. There should be pecans. (This was news to me.)

5. You must use high-quality ingredients, including White Lily flour, a Southern specialty flour.

6. Precise measurements and meticulous attention to detail are key for this cake; therefore, it must be made in small, easy-to handle, family-sized batches. (Mass-produced batter just doesn't cut it. Sorry, large-scale bakeries.)
7. You must use a hand-held electric mixer, not a stand mixer: Larger machines can over-mix the batter, which sometimes prevents the cake from rising properly.

8. Red velvet cake batter needs vegetable oil, not butter or shortening. Oil yields a very moist cake.

I've looked around for a recipe and was thrilled to discover this one, which incorporates all eight essentials for the perfect red velvet cake.

Paula Deen’s Red Velvet Cupcakes from Food Network

    * 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    * 1 1/2 cups sugar
    * 1 teaspoon baking soda
    * 1 teaspoon salt
    * 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
    * 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
    * 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
    * 2 large eggs, room temperature
    * 2 tablespoons red food coloring
    * 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
    * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

    * 1 pound cream cheese, softened
    * 2 sticks butter, softened
    * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    * 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
    * Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Garnish with chopped pecans, fresh raspberry or strawberry, or sprinkles.

Source : Yahoo

Most Provocative X-Rays Pinup Calendar

“Miss September” wears stiletto heels as she strikes a pose for the Eizo X-ray pinup calendar.

It seems there is always someone thinking up new ways to shock us. This year’s pin-up calendar features X-rayed not X-rated girls. Yes, you heard me right. Bizarre but true.
This 2010 pin-up calendar is the weird brain child of a German advertising agency called Butter. The idea was to promote Eizo’s high-precision displays for medical imaging so they used X-rays to shoot the pin-up models.

The Butter Agency declares that “pin-ups are more often found in auto garages rather than in medical offices.” I’ll say. “Eizo breaks this taboo,” Butter boasts. “This pinup calendar shows absolutely every detail.”

Their ad promotion made quite a splash on the Coloribus ad archive recently. Ever since these bizarre pin-up photos have been making their rounds on the Internet like the bizarre version of a Playboy centerfold.

Apparently, this calendar is a promotion only kind of thing and is not available as an actual calendar though certainly plenty of guys have tried to procure one. When several emailed the company: “Sorry, you can’t get it here. However, we appreciate the impact it has had on Eizo’s U.S. brand recognition,” the company wrote back.

What’s next? First we have skeletal thin fashion models because of eating disorders and the beauty world’s pressure to be too thin. Now we are gonna X-ray them too for display as pin-ups?

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