Princess Diana's most iconic dresses set to raise over £800k in 'fabulous and historic' London auction

Ten of Princess Diana's most iconic dresses that her son William persuaded her to part with for charity are set to fetch up to £830,000 at auction.
They include the Saturday Night Diva creation that Diana wore when she memorably danced with John Travolta at a White House ball in 1985.
The Victor Edelstein midnight-blue silk velvet outfit became the most famous dress ever worn by Diana and is valued at up to £300,000.

Saturday Night Fever: The iconic Saturday Night Diva creation that Diana wore when she memorably danced with John Travolta at a White House ball in 1985 is on auction

A Catherine Walker pink silk evening gown made for Diana's State visit to India in 1992 is tipped to raise up to £120,000.
There are five other glamorous Catherine Walker evening gowns up for grabs; another by Victor Edelstein; a Bruce Oldfield black velvet gown; and a Zandra Rhodes white chiffon cocktail dress.


Kerry Taylor Auctions, which is staging the sale in Bermondsey, south-east London on March 19, has hailed the collection of dresses as 'fabulous and historic'.

The Princess wore the Mughal-inspired Catherine Walker pink silk gown by Lord Snowdon in 1997

At the time of the White House ball thrown by President Reagan, Diana was the world's most famous woman.
First Lady Nancy Reagan quietly took Grease heartthrob Travolta aside and whispered that Diana wanted to dance with him.
He later recalled how he crossed the dance floor at midnight and approached her.
He said: 'She turned around and she did that look that she did so, so beautifully and I asked if she would care to dance and she said she'd love to and we danced for twenty minutes to a medley of Grease and Saturday Night Fever.
'I was on cloud nine. She has great rhythm. We did spins and turns. We did a kind of modern fox-trot and she followed me very well. 
'"Maybe some day we'll get to do this in a less-watched situation", I said near the end. "That would be great", she replied.'
He described the experience as being like a fairytale'.

A Catherine Walker gown that the late Princess wore in 1991 will also be going on auction at Kerry Taylor auction house

Diana wore the same Victor Edelstein gown on several more major occasions - on State visits to Vienna and Bonn, to the Royal Opera House in 1991, when she met Vivienne Westwood, and for an official portrait by artist Israel Zohar in 1990. 
It must have been of special significance to the Princess because in 1997 she chose to wear it for her last portrait by Lord Snowdon - and with the same necklace she had worn twelve years earlier when she had danced at the White House. 
The Princess was also photographed wearing the Mughal-inspired Catherine Walker pink silk gown by Lord Snowdon in 1997. 
Richly embroidered with layered pink sequins and amber, green and pink crystal beads, it is one of the most lavish of all her gowns. 
A Catherine Walker black velvet and beaded evening gown, worn for the Vanity Fair photo-shoot by Mario Testino at Kensington Palace in 1997, is valued at £70,000.
Another Catherine Walker burgundy outfit, worn to the premiere of 'Steel Magnolias' in aid of the Prince's Trust in 1990 and for the State visit to Korea in 1992, is tipped to fetch £60,000.

This Catherine Walker burgundy outfit, worn to the premiere of 'Steel Magnolias' in aid of the Prince's Trust in 1990 and for the State visit to Korea in 1992, is tipped to fetch £60,000

This Bruce Oldfield black velvet evening gown has an estimate of up to £50,000, she wore it to the gala opening of Les Miserables

A Bruce Oldfield black velvet evening gown, worn at the gala opening of 'Les Miserables' at the Barbican centre in 1985, has an estimate of up to £50,000.
And the Zandra Rhodes white chiffon cocktail dress, worn to a benefit event at the London Palladium in 1987 is valued at £40,000.
Shortly before her death in a Paris car crash, Diana raised almost £2million for her favourite charities by selling 79 couture creations at an auction at Christie's in New York.
In the catalogue notes to the 1997 sale, Diana wrote: 'The inspiration for this wonderful sale comes from just one person; our son William.'
The young prince, then just 15, had told his mother to sell off her crowded wardrobe for charity.

The Zandra Rhodes white chiffon cocktail dress, worn to a benefit event at the London Palladium in 1987 is valued at £40,000

Florida-based socialite Maureen Dunkel snapped up 13 of the dresses at the time for £500,000.
She set up The People's Princess Charitable Foundation in 1998 with the declared purpose of preserving and displaying Diana's dresses.
She loaned some of the dresses for an exhibition at Kensington Palace for a while.
But on their return to the US they ended up in less grand locations including Disneyworld in Florida, the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show and the Flying Monkey Movie House at Mill Falls, New Hampshire.
In 2011, Diana's 'exquisite' Emanuel spare wedding dress and shoes fetched £84,000 at a Kerry Taylor Auctions sale in London.

Florida-based socialite Maureen Dunkel snapped up 13 of the dresses at the time for £500,000 but went bankrupt

A Catherine Walker sea-green sequined evening gown that Princess Diana wore for a State visit to Austria in 1989 that is tipped to fetch up to £50,000 at auction

A Catherine Walker burgundy crushed velvet evening gown that Princess Diana wore for a State visit to Australia and to the film premiere of 'Back to the Future' in 1985 that is tipped to fetch £50,000 at auction

Two Piece Swimwear: Twice The Fun

Two piece swimwear has been a beach and swimming pool stable since it become popular in the 1950s. Made with less fabric than any other type of swimwear, it made a splash in the typical conservative thought of the day. These days however, two piece swimwear is common. All it takes to wear two piece swimwear is a decent body and some confidence.

When most people think of two piece swimwear, they're thinking of the bikini. The bikini shows more skin than other swimsuit styles. Luckily, there are more modest bikini options for women who want to cover themselves up for one reason or another.

The one big advantage two piece swimwear has over other swimsuit choices is customization. Two pieces means two opportunities to choose color, pattern, fit, and cut. Obviously you'll want things to match well enough to look nice together, but a two piece swimsuit means you don't need to try to decide between a solid color and a pattern, for example. You can have the best of both worlds.

Triangle, bandeau, halter...what do these things have in common? They're all styles of bikini tops. Two piece swimwear tops come in many varieties. Having so many options is great because it means there's something out there for every woman. Halter and triangle tops are most often seen because they fit almost everyone. Bandeau tops are a little harder to pull off, but have a certain retro flair that can't be matched by other styles. Whatever you feel most comfortable is what you should be wearing.

There are just as many two piece swimwear bottom options as there are tops, if not more. It's important to pay attention to the cut of bikini bottoms, because coverage can vary a lot. For those who don't mind showing some skin, string bikini bottoms are a sexy choice. Skirted bottoms and boyshorts are great for people who don't like the revealing nature of other bottoms. Finally, there are standard bikini bottoms for those who are in the middle. Some bottoms are embellished with decorations like belts and beads.

Still dressing for her younger men! Ivana Trump, 63, wears Daisy Dukes and midriff baring shirt as she steps out with her Italian stallion toyboy lover

She is known for her penchant for younger men.
And as she dates toyboy after toyboy, Ivana Trump continues to keep her wardrobe youthful.
The 63-year-old socialite stepped out in a pair of orange denim Daisy Dukes and bared a snippet of her tummy in a matching shirt as she went shopping in St. Barts with her younger boyfriend Marc Antonio Rota on Wednesday.

Keeping youthful: Ivana Trump, 63, wore orange Daisy Dukes and a matching shirt which displayed her tummy as she went shopping in St. Barts with her younger boyfriend Marc Antonio Rota on Wednesday

The ex-wife of billionaire Donald Trump rounded out the ensemble with a pair of simple flip-flops and an orange leather shoulder bag.
With her famous beehive coiffed to perfection, the former Czech model shielded her eyes with oversized shades as she enjoyed the sunny afternoon.
Meanwhile, her handsome younger beau, who has been seen on her arm in recent months, wore an open-necked pink shirt which displayed his chest and stomach.

Smitten: The tanned twosome walked arm-in-arm as they perused the shops on the upscale French Indies island

Could he be the one? Ivana has been dating her younger Italian stallion for several months and reports say that the pair are smitten with one another

The statuesque European matched the bright attire with checked shorts and wore a baseball cap on his head.
The tanned twosome walked arm-in-arm as they perused the shops on the upscale French Indies island.
Ivana's man certainly looked pleased as he emerged from each store clutching onto several shopping bags.

Flashing some flesh: Her handsome younger beau, who has been seen on her arm in recent months, wore an open-necked pink shirt which displayed his chest and stomach

Pleased: Ivana's man certainly looked pleased as he emerged from each store clutching onto several shopping bags

It seems that Ivana or himself splashed out on some designer items at designer store Roberto Cavalli.
Later the pair were snapped relaxing outside a restaurant where they happily smiled for the cameras.
Rota, who is said to be a real estate investor, is not as young as some of Ivana's past loves.
The Italian stallion is thought to be around 50-something and recent reports claim that the couple are smitten with one another.

Happy: Later the pair were snapped relaxing outside a restaurant where they happily smiled for the cameras

Ivana has become known for her penchant for younger men since the end of her 15-year marriage to real-estate mogul Donald in 1992.
Her fourth and most recent husband, fellow Italian stallion Rossano Rubicondi, was just 36 when he married Ivana, then 60.
And in February last year, she was photographed frolicking in the Caribbean surf with 50-year-old Italian actor Antonio Zequila.

She likes them younger: Ivana has become known for her penchant for younger men since the end of her 15-year marriage to real-estate mogul Donald in 1992

Buying A Plus Size Swimsuit

Nowadays, women''s full figured outfits are seen as stylish, beautiful, and interesting because of how they make plus size women look their best wherever they're going.

Designers who have pioneered the creation of plus size designs and clothing trends have opened the minds of many who once thought the one thing beautiful nowadays is sexiness and being slim.

We have the advertisements to thank for that. Full figured outfits for women have progressed from merely blouses and jeans to actual gowns and swimsuits to ensure that any woman look their finest wherever they go.

Interestingly enough, women''s plus size swimsuits have grown to be more and more obtainable in retail stores as well as online clothing stores, the industry big plus as well.

There are several designers including Delta Burke, Longitude, and Carol Wior have contributed towards the development of beautiful and trendy women''s plus size swimsuits which have renedered many women fashionable and trendy to look at.

From the black and boring plus size swimsuits we now see multicolored swimwear with designs that actually enhances the sexiness of a plus size woman. Wearing black swimwear before made plus size women embarrassing to look at, and that's why these designers have brought to life a clothesline of women''s plus size swimsuits to be able to destroy that mentality.

Using color and design has actually covered some of the physical flaws that black colored swimsuits exhilarate too much, making women feel a lot more confident about themselves.

The anatomy of an Academy Awards speech: How more Oscar winners thank Harvey Weinstein than God and less than HALF thank the Academy

'I'd like to thank the Academy' has become one of the most widely recognisable phrases of the Oscars.
But new research reveals less than half of actors and directors say it when accepting their golden statuettes.
A study of Oscars speeches over the last 60 years has revealed Harvey Weinstein has been thanked a total of 12 times - more than God.

Classic: Sally Field exclaiming, 'You like me!' for her win for Places in the Heart (1985) remains one of the most memorable Oscar moments to date

Georgia Tech master's student and lead researcher Rebecca Rolfe watched more than 200 speeches from 1953 - the first year the ceremony was televised - in a study focused on gratitude.
Analysis was conducted on 207 of the 300 speeches Rolfe was able to view for the study, focusing on five categories: actor/actress in a leading role, actor/actress in a supporting role and best director.

 

Results published in ScienceDaily.com reveal almost half of the winners thank family; there are 11 total mentions of God and 12 of Weinstein.
The Miramax co-founder has produced films including The Artist, Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds, The Reader and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and won best picture for Shakespeare in Love, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, in 1998.

Emotional: Halle Berry and Gwyneth Paltrow, pictured accepting their respective best actress Oscars for Monster's Ball (2002) and Shakespeare in Love (1999)

Something to shout about: Cuba Gooding Jr was among 26 per cent of actors who hoisted the trophy in the air after he won for best actor in a supporting role for Jerry Maguire (1997)

When they're not thanking Weinstein, forty per cent of winners say 'I'd like to thank the Academy', referring to their fellow members in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Seventy nine per cent close by saying a version of 'thank you'.

Twenty-six per cent of winning actors hoist their statue in the air, while nearly 60 per cent of winning actresses cradle the award with both hands.

Rolfe said of the trends: 'Winners tend to start their speeches broadly by thanking the Academy or fellow nominees, then gradually make it more personal. After reflecting on the win's significance, they typically thank their peers, colleagues and sometimes even their lawyer before mentioning family.'

Tears have become more common over the years. Seventy-one per cent of tearful speeches have been made since 1995.

Memorable: Kate Winslet accepted the Oscar for best actress for her work in The Reader (2009)

Taking the stage: Kim Basinger gave her acceptance speech after winning the best supporting actress Oscar for L.A. Confidential (1998)

Twelve of the 15 last best actresses have shed tears, and only one director: Steven Spielberg for his Schindler's List win in 1993.

Rolfe reasons: 'Much like the movies, acceptance speeches are a type of performance. I believe the tears are real, but perhaps, maybe even subconsciously, actresses know what is expected of them when they accept the honor. Maybe the public has come to expect an emotional speech, so actresses are more emotional than they would be otherwise.'

As Science Daily reports, speeches have also become more drawn out over the decades, lengthening from an average of 40 seconds to nearly two minutes in current day, with only nine of them being cut off by the orchestra.

AP-Google Journalism and Technology Scholarship Program, overseen by the Online News Association, funded the study.

More thanks than God? Producer Harvey Weinstein, left with Georgina Chapman and producer Thomas Langmann at last year's Academy Awards, has been thanked 12 times over the last 60 years, compared to 11 mentions for God in the five main categories

The 85th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to broadcast live from Los Angeles on February 24, hosted by comedian Seth MacFarlane.

Best picture nominees include: Amour, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook and Zero Dark Thirty.

Bradley Cooper, Daniel Day-Lewis, Hugh Jackman, Joaquin Phoenix and Denzel Washington are up for best actor in a leading role; Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Emmanuelle Riva, Quvenzhané Wallis and Naomi Watts will compete for best actress in the same category.

Best director nods also go to Amour (Michael Haneke), Beasts of the Southern Wild (Benh Zeitlin), Life of Pi (Ang Lee), Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell) and Lincoln (Steven Spielberg).

Bikini Swimsuits - Wearing Them Confidently

Lots of women feel terrified by the thought of wearing bikini swimsuits, particularly when they don't feel they have what they consider to be an ideal shape. They are worried that every flaw they've got will be shown off to everybody.

The secret here to rocking a bikini is to be sure you wear it confidently. Unsure how to wear one confidently? Here are some tips that can help you out this year so you're able to hit the beach clad in a terrific bikini feeling comfortable with yourself.

First, ensure you own bikini swimsuits that will be flattering to your figure. You need to make sure that you get the proper size. Plus you could possibly get control panels in addition to underwire options that may help you keep any kind of flaws under wraps. Seek out swimsuits that play up your best features and mask your less desirable ones. This way you are going to feel like you are putting your best foot forward at the pool.

A cover-up is an excellent addition to your swimsuit as well. If you are a bit insecure wearing your swimsuit, have a nice cover-up, such as a tunic or sarong. Just having it with you can make you feel much more at ease, even if you don't wear it. You will realize that in case you start feeling awkward it's there for you to slip on.

Recognize that everybody else is having a great time. They're not looking at you, judging your shape, and attempting to pick out your imperfections while you are wearing bikini swimsuits. More than likely they're stressing about how they look too, and so they won't be even worried about you.

'I was attacked unfairly... I've got a huge bum, there's nothing I can do': Kelly Brook hits back at Katie Price after 'heffer' slur and reveals she was overwhelmed with support

She was attacked by plastic fantastic Katie Price for being a 'heffer' but curvy Kelly Brook has hit back at the reality star, saying women should be a lot more supportive of each other.
The 33-year-old, who astonishingly thinks she has a 'huge bum', responded to Katie's flab slurs by simply saying women should be celebrating each others' beauty and not spend their time slating each other.
Although newly single Kelly couldn't resist a slight jab herself at mother-of-three Katie, saying she was attacked unfairly by the former glamour model.

Attacked unfairly: Kelly Brook was branded a 'heffer' by Katie Price

Kelly told OK!: 'I was attacked unfairly by another female celebrity recently, so many woemn jumped to my defence - I was overwhelmed. Women would contact me and say they loved my body and that I was beautiful.
'I was so touched. It's hard being 33-years-old and still modelling.'
Kelly admits she doesn't go to the gym but keeps trim doing yoga, Pilates and by walking everywhere.

Curves: Kelly shows off her gorgeous body for her New Look shoot

Her nemesis however is a fan of liposuction and fake tan.
The feud began when Katie accused Kelly of 'comfort eating' her way through her recent split from rugby player Thom Evans, and admitted she was stunned to see just how 'big' Kelly is.
However, as she continued her rant, Katie did grudgingly acknowledge Kelly's beauty by writing that while she is larger than she expected, she's 'still hot'.

Outspoken: Katie Price, seen here modelling her own swimwear range last year, has labelled Kelly Brook a 'heffer' in her newspaper column after seeing pictures of her wearing a bikini in Miami

'Still hot': After her astonishing verbal attack, Katie admitted that curvy Kelly, seen here modelling in Miami, is still a good role model for young women thanks to her above average size for a model

Outspoken Katie wrote in The Sun: 'The pictures of Kelly modelling her latest New Look swimwear range in Miami don't seem to be airbrushed and I'm FLABbergasted to see how big Kelly really is.
'You're a heffer, Kelly, but still a hot one.'
But later in her column, Katie did admit that while Kelly is above average size for a model, she is still a 'brilliant role model for young girls' because of her curvy figure.

Curvy girl: Kelly's collaborations with New Look on underwear, swimwear and clothing ranges have proved incredibly successful

Lots in common: Kelly and Katie have both dated rugby player Danny Cipriani

Katie's comments come after the mother-of-three revealed in a previous interview that she would want Kelly to play her in a movie of her life.
She said: 'Because of the boobs, I would say Kelly Brook.
'I actually saw her in Piranha 3D and I thought she was alright.
'People gave her a stigma, but I thought she was good.'
And Kelly and Katie also have something in common given that they both dated rugby player Danny Cipriani, who Kelly has been romantically linked to once again following her split from Thom.
However, when Kelly confirmed the break-up last week, she denied that it had anything to do with Danny.
She wrote on Twitter: 'Thom and I mutually agreed to go our separate ways some time ago.
'It had absolutely nothing to do with a third party.'
A spokesperson for Kelly declined to comment on Katie's column.

How to Select Perfect Tankini

Fashion, especially swimwear and beachwear fashion, have all jumped onto the bandwagon this season. Each showcase display their own unique tankini range, containing some of the most captivatingly, beautiful tankinis seen to date. With brands like Billabong, Body Glove, Speedo, Gotcha, and Banana Moon, once again, fighting for top position. The consumers face an array of styles, colors, tones, and even textures, to suit any body shape or size.
But when the range becomes this vast, the selection process is often tedious; making the right decision is often tougher than one would think. What works on your BFF, does not necessarily work for you. Therefore, understanding how to choose that perfect suit for your body goes a long way. Especially when selecting the top tankini look that will enable you to flaunt your body this season.

Most stores have started selling the tops and bottoms separately. This makes it easier to select the right outfit without having to buy two separate tankini sets. Although it makes it easier on the budget, it does not make it easier for choice.
Here are some quick tips on how to select the tankini, for your body:
* Larger framed ladies- try the selection of halter neck tank tops in solid colors
* Petite ladies- look at tops with spaghetti straps, or the strapless variety.
* Curvy bodies- look at higher cut bottoms and combine with tops incorporating details on the bust. Alternatives are halter or plunging necklines.
* Straight waistline- the shorter tank top styles with details at the sides are ideal for creating the appearance of a waistline. Do not combine with hi cut bottoms as it will draw attention to your thighs, 

* Tall ladies- try combining the boy short style bottoms with a mid length tankini top to break up that length. Playing with various patterns will also help.
* Ladies with short torsos- try and combing a high cut bottom in a solid color with a full length patterned top. If you have the tights for it you may even try the boy short style bottom, but it is not recommended for ladies with fuller hips and thighs. These will all help your body to look longer.
* Larger and heavier framed ladies with some bulk in their mid sections- go for bolder patterns in a conservative or darker color. Some detail pleats or ruffles on the bust line will help you smuggle that tummy, alternatively combine with a mid thigh length skirted bikini in a solid color (not bright though) to draw attention away from your mid section.