andy warhol 2

"Andy Warhol began as a commercial illustrator, and a very successful one, doing jobs like shoe ads for I. Miller in a stylish blotty line that derived from Ben Shahn. He first exhibited in an art gallery in 1962, when the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles showed his 32 Campbell's Soup Cans, 1961-62. From then on, most of Warhol's best work was done over a span of about six years, finishing in 1968, when he was shot. And it all flowed from one central insight: that in a culture glutted with information, where most people experience most things at second or third hand through TV and print, through images that become banal and disassociated by repeated again and again and again, there is role for affectless art. You no longer need to be hot and full of feeling. You can be supercool, like a slightly frosted mirror. Not that Warhol worked this out; he didn't have to. He felt it and embodied it. He was a conduit for a sort of collective American state of mind in which celebrity - the famous image of a person, the famous brand name - had completely replaced both sacredness and solidity. Earlier artists, like Monet, had painted the same motif in series in order to display minute discriminations of perception, the shift of light and color form hour to hour on a haystack, and how these could be recorded by the subtlety of eye and hand. Warhol's thirty-two soup cans are about nothing of the kind. They are about sameness (though with different labels): same brand, same size, same paint surface, same fame as product. They mimic the condition of mass advertising, out of which his sensibility had grown. They are much more deadpan than the object which may have partly inspired them, Jasper Johns's pair of bronze Ballantine ale cans. This affectlessness, this fascinated and yet indifferent take on the object, became the key to Warhol's work; it is there in the repetition of stars' faces (Liz, Jackie, Marilyn, Marlon, and the rest), and as a record of the condition of being an uninvolved spectator it speaks eloquently about the condition of image overload in a media saturated culture. Warhol extended it by using silk screen, and not bothering to clean up the imperfections of the print: those slips of the screen, uneven inkings of the roller, and general graininess. What they suggested was not the humanizing touch of the hand but the pervasiveness of routine error and of entropy..."

andy warhol

Andrew Warhola (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987), known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as a painter, avant-garde filmmaker, record producer, author, and member of highly diverse social circles that included bohemian street people, distinguished intellectuals, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy patrons.
Warhol has been the subject of numerous retrospective exhibitions, books, and feature and documentary films. He coined the widely used expression "15 minutes of fame." In his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The Andy Warhol Museum exists in memory of his life and artwork.
The highest price ever paid for a Warhol painting is $100 million for a 1963 canvas titled Eight Elvises. The private transaction was reported in a 2009 article in The Economist, which described Warhol as the "bellwether of the art market." $100 million is a benchmark price that only Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-August Renoir, Gustav Klimt and Willem de Kooning have achieved.

vouge uk 2

Vogue (UK) Ltd has been pioneering craftsmanship and innovation since its foundation in 1990. Today, Vogue UK is one of the last true UK towel warmer manufacturers and one of the largest UK’s producer and distributors.
For over 17 years the company has had its home in the UK’s manufacturing centre in the heart of the Midlands but now has presence in Europe and North America.  The Vogue UK innovation leadership is enabled by the development of high designed products, finest materials and advanced functionality. With a broader, more versatile range of high-quality towel warmer designs than many other UK brands, Vogue UK expresses its commitment to ‘UK Crafted Luxury’.
Vogue UK’s commitment and respect to tradition while offering innovation, underline its core values of performance, precision and setting new standards.The secret of Vogue UK´s worldwide success is unique design, as well as excellent quality.  From material development and production to fabrication of designs, every step of the process is in Vogue’s hands.  Continuing its tradition of creating truly exciting heating concepts for the home, Vogue UK is proud to offer our exclusive quality hand-crafted products, accompanied by our total commitment to our customers and, when required, our reliable and unequalled after-sales service.
The company’s towel warmer and radiator range is a successful blend of traditional, contemporary and modern, with the majority of the models available in Hot Water, Dual Energy or All-Electric versions to fully compliment any style of bathroom or kitchen design.
Available in Chrome, Gold, White, Stainless Steel and bathroom suite colours, all of our products are manufactured from the finest materials available and individually tested to exceed stringent Quality Control Standards in accordance with Vogue UK’s ISO9001:2000 Quality Accreditation.  Each is fully CE marked with many of the electric products UL approved.Vogue operates in the UK, Europe, and North America.  Over a quarter of our turnover comes from outside the UK and the range of our products varies from region to region.  We see increasing scope for using expertise established in one part of the world to grasp emerging opportunities in another.
United Kingdom
The UK provides some 74% of our business and continues to be an exciting market for us.  With our expertise and track record, and a receptive marketplace, we’re developing innovative and unique designed products for a variety of consumers.The way we run Vogue UK is about much more than simply hitting targets and profit margins. We have certain responsibilities to society – responsibilities we take very seriously. Every one of our directors, employees and suppliers strives to meet our core commitments:
Ethics:
These underpin the way we behave, the decisions we make and where our business is going. We encourage a way of working that is honest, responsible and respectful.
Safety:
Providing a healthy and safe working environment is our top priority. We continually assess and manage risks to make sure we are performing at our best.
Leadership:
This is a big part of any successful organisation, so our management works to inspire our team, encourage teamwork, sharing, learning and open communication.
Value:
We are committed to giving our shareholders strong and continuous financial growth. At the same time, we aim to give customers excellent value for money and treat our suppliers with openness and integrity.
Responsibility:
Or responsibility to the environment and local communities guides our decisions. We work in partnership with local communities, set challenging environmental targets and constantly measure our performance.Safety and Health; Environmental Stewardship; Respect for People; Ethical Behaviour
Vogue UK has a legacy of core values, rooted strongly in safety, health and environmental stewardship.For almost 18 years, we have been reducing the environmental footprint of our own operations. Today, footprint reduction is expected of all companies.  The challenge – and the opportunity are products and manufacturing processes that are safer, less toxic, more energy efficient, use less water, less energy, and produce fewer greenhouse gases.
Our goal is to put our innovation and values to work to help our customers and their customers grow their businesses while contributing to social and environmental progress worldwide.

vouge uk

BUILT BY BRITISH CRAFTSMANSHIP
Vogue (UK) continually pursues a duel quest of excellence and performance. This passion has led Vogue to take up its greatest challenge and design towel warmers and radiators that continually push the boundaries of perception, reliability and design.
The authenticity that make Vogue’s designs a global success now inspires the heritage of radiator manufacturing toward new possibilities. Timeless, Originals, Contemporary and Interiors: are words that have characterised Vogue’s philosophy since its founding. Innovative spirit, dedication to precision and a quest for excellence in the design and craftsmanship of its products has characterised Vogues strength to stand out as one of the last truly British icons.
FOR THOSE WHO DEMAND THE BEST.
From the bathroom to the kitchen, from the architect’s creations to interior designs, Vogue's handcrafted products offer genuine innovation that raises the ambience of all environments. Embodying the perfect combination of technique and aesthetics our collection is designed to appeal to connoisseurs of excellence, heritage and to all who appreciate exceptional quality. With a thrust towards the future Vogue (UK) remains at the forefront of design, technology and craftsmanship

metrosexual look in men 7

In recent times, the Indian women were in for a bit of a surprise when the metrosexual male took over the country. Metrosexual males were everywhere. Right from the movie stars to the guy next door. It seemed that men had found a new obsession. Apart from their regulars like fast cars and fast life, who knew that we would be privileged enough to see men patronizing salons, doing facials, plucking their eyebrows and even waxing their chest hair!

Overall, the Indian women gladly welcomed a man into her life who was well kempt and looked atrociously clean and devoid of any facial hair. Infact the Indian men seemed to have evolved as squeaky-clean versions of their earlier self. All thanks to the regular scrubbing and polishing that they subject their bodies too. Well, I won't be surprised to find out that not many Indian women frequent their parlours as often as these metrosexual male counterparts do. However, this is a welcome sight and I think that most Indian women are very open-minded and are accepting this change, which is against the old, common notion that men should be rugged.

John Abraham - Garnier Deo Ad
While we all like squeaky-clean men, it is still a bit of an amusement when you walk into your brother's, son's or even your boyfriend's room and find stacks of cologne and thousands of other beauty products. Of course, if you think like me then no one really wants their man to look better than themselves. We always want to be one up on our men, especially when it comes to beauty. Beauty is a woman's territory that these creatures of Mars have dared to tread on. So much so that their recent escapades with the beauty products has given birth to a new avatar of the "Metrosexual Male".
If you ask me, there is nothing really sexual or interesting in having your man drenched in endless lines of fairness lotions and beauty products. You would not like him either to spend long hours getting his facial done or his pedicure done. Some of us still love the rustic looking man; with jaggered jaws, a nice hairy chest, and muscles galore. It's not just an Indian thing, it's how women generally like their man. It's good for men to look clean, but we will get bored of an eye candy. We women want our men to look strong and dependable. It is definitely a funny sight if the metrosexual man looks too "chikkna" or "softy", and appears as if he needs his woman to protect him.

Well, the good news however is that the rugged look is still in vogue. Although men are loyal to their salons and colognes, they are continuously reinventing themselves. While they still apply loads of fairness creams and lotions, they are now also venturing into sporting unkempt hair and keeping stubbles on their faces.

Hugo Boss Fragrances for Men

Well, if you ask me, the rugged look is anyday better than the squeaky-clean sophisticated look. What say?

You can check-out the Latest Cosmetics products for yourself and your man in our Cosmetics section.

metrosexual look in men 6

Metro sexual is a term too narrowly defined for men nowadays. Designers for men are concerned with style, attitude, look and feel. It's evident today that brands play a major role in giving out an impression for a person. Women have joked about it for years that "if you want to know what kind of a man he is, look at his shoes". These are no longer the times where men stick to the classic and try to not gauge any attention, "vanity best left to the women". Men and women are now equally in line with fashion, with trends and with wearing and being seen with just the right brands.

Designer shoes do not just bring with them the brand value, but also the significantly higher quality of their products. Designer accessories and footwear use the best and the highest quality of raw materials and products available in the markets. What more, they bring with them the expertise in the field. The research which goes for having these companies make the products that they deliver is extensive. There are hundreds and thousands of sample sizes and objective and subjective feedbacks and only then do they arrive at the right formulation. So you know that this is the best that can be made available. Most people agree with it, but shy away from buying designer shoes because men's designer shoes are costly and expensive. But what if all these branded designer footwear are made available to you on discounted prices? That would rule out any glitches which might be there. Yes, now all the major brands in the world are available to you on sale prices ranging from thirty percent to seventy percent and sometimes even more. Very often, Designer shoes carry out clearance sales, which are really the best bargains that you can have.

You can avoid the queues and browse through the wide available ranges of shoes, of all the international designers all at one online portal. The sizes are well defined, the shoe availability is instantaneous and the return policies are fair, what else can a shopper want?

metrosexual look in men 5

Macho man has bitten the dust: he's been replaced by something just as tough inside, but softer at the edges. Peter Gotting reports on a new target market.

He loves Armani, is seen just as often near a catwalk as competing in sport, confesses an adulation for Kylie Minogue, even designs his own jewellery. But he's not gay.

So Ian Thorpe told Australia in a radio interview last November. With interests outside the domain of the traditional, Aussie, macho male, Thorpe talked about his sexuality for the first time. He was flattered that the gay community identified with him, he said, but he was, in fact, heterosexual. "You know, I'm a little bit different to what most people would consider being an Australian male," Thorpe told ABC Radio.

But he's not that different, at all. Men of all sexualities are taking a greater interest in their appearance. They go to hairdressers rather than barbers; avoid using soap because it's too harsh on their skin; visit the gym instead of playing sport and even have difficulty deciding what to wear.
They're occupying their time differently - not only spending more of it in front of the mirror, but also at boutiques, in bars rather than pubs, enjoying a dance at a nightclub and going to beauty salons. Cosmetics brands such as Ella Bache say men make up as much as 40 per cent of their salon customers in some areas.
Marketers are spurring on the change, dropping the macho element from products that target men. Gone are the tough male images, even from beer and car ads.
Men's fashion chains are growing, with women's stores such as Esprit launching men's ranges, and department stores offering boutique-style experiences. Men's magazines are increasing their coverage of fashion - not just for editorial reasons, but because they're getting more ads. The men's title FHM says its fashion and grooming advertising has increased 35 per cent over the past three years.
Twenty years ago, male fashion, skin care and vanity in general were identified with gay men. Now sexuality, it seems, is irrelevant. In fact, British newspapers have even found a new word for the softer man: the "metrosexual".
David Beckham, the man whom British academics have credited with changing male behaviour, has been deemed the ultimate metrosexual.
Beckham has helped break "masculine codes", says Warwick University sociology professor Dr Andrew Parker, "defying various manly expectations such as what clothes a man is allowed to wear".
Mark Wahlberg's semi-naked appearance for Calvin Klein underwear in the early 1990s is often cited as the beginning of mainstream male vanity.
Like Thorpe, he's a "little bit different" from the traditional, heterosexual male.
Beckham may be captain of the English soccer team, but he wears sarongs and nail polish, and has even posed for gay magazines. As the American online magazine Salon said, he has admitted that he likes to be admired, and does not care if it's by women or by men.
Whether they have heard of the term "metrosexual", that's how men across the world are appearing. Stores such as the Myer Grace Bros chain say it's a trend that's starting to hit the mainstream. This year, the company will launch a department for male cosmetics and fragrances. While David Jones says its men's cosmetics range is experiencing double-digit growth.
There have always been men who have taken great care of their appearance, but now, says Myer Grace Bros cosmetics buyer Marissa Galatis,
"we are trying to appeal to the wider, men's market. In particular, to young men: a lot of this growth is driven by them."
Mark Wahlberg's semi-naked appearance for Calvin Klein underwear in the early 1990s is often cited as the beginning of mainstream male vanity. Marketing legend has it that the ad was aimed at a gay market, but straight men took notice. Whether it was because women were ogling, or men themselves thought the former rapper looked good, Calvin Klein soon became cult clubwear, with men wearing their pants low to show off the brand.
Ten years ago, Weight-Watchers was strictly for women and "gutbusting" was seen as the more acceptable term for a bloke. Now it's OK for guys to watch their weight.
"The under-40s are certainly interested in the way they look and their physique," says Allan Bolton, a key developer of WeightWatchers for Men. "Over-40s are interested in how they look for the health benefits."
Role models are changing and it's not just Beckham and Thorpe. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Pat Rafter, Hugh Jackman, Lachlan Murdoch and footballers such as Craig Wing are manicuring their appearance and showing their softer side: Rafter appears as a caring father; Jackman in musicals as well as in tough-guy roles in films such as X-Men. Wing told women about his gentle side in a Cleo bachelor-of-the-year competition.
In response to this groundswell, magazine publishers have established men's titles such as Men's Health and GQ. Even the blokier ones such as FHM and Ralph have increased their fashion and skin-care coverage.
The general manager of men's wear at David Jones, David Bush, says, "There's no doubt that David Beckham, Robbie Williams and Ian Thorpe and the 'blokey blokes' that are interested in fashion send the message that, by being so, you are not going to look like a fairy.
"Twenty years ago, we sold clothes and now we sell fashion." Younger men, in particular, are taking to their bodies with closer shavers, fragrances, moisturisers and hair dye. Calvin Klein's fragrances, Crave, is aimed primarily at 15 to 22-year-old males, who spend much more time in front of the mirror than their fathers. Why?
As the presence of women increased in men's social and working lives - as their rights were belatedly recognised - men have changed the way they act. Straight men, some marketers believe, are changing because women demand their partners take greater effort with their appearance.
"The feminist movement has been the biggest contributor to the men's market since it has developed," says Jean-Marc Carriol, director of the fashion company Trimex, which represents Clarins in Australia.
As women have pushed for equal rights, Carriol says, "the success of that push has fundamentally altered the way men and women interact within the workplace. Appearance and grooming are really important."
The workplace itself has changed for many men, too. As the proportion of white-collar workers grows, so does the need to look good. To compete in today's work environment, you must dress well, have your hair cut neatly and take care of your body.
And as the world becomes increasingly globalised, Australian men are starting to see that men in other countries, particularly in Europe, proudly take care of themselves.
Even with beer, marketers are taking on a less macho tone when they communicate with men.
"We have certainly seen a change towards more segmentation (of the beer market)," says Lion Nathan's premium marketing director, Paul Foster. "There's still that 'hardcore' masculine image at the core end of the market, (but) there's also a lot more progressive market segments."
Men are also changing the way they buy homeware, cars and electrical goods, says Alan Treadgold, director of research and consulting at the advertising agency Leo Burnett.
"There's a lot of categories that are purchased by males, but using what we would conventionally regard as female cues," says Treadgold. "Traditionally, when purchasing home entertainment systems, we would expect guys to be motivated by gadgetry and technical features. But, increasingly, there's a certain type of male choosing it from what might be seen as female attributes, such as the environment of the store, level of service and other intangible things."

In car advertising, for example, much more emphasis is being placed on the people driving and the feelings they are experiencing rather than the car's specifications.

Global research by the advertising agency Euro RSCG last year showed that men were more secure in their masculinity, with those aged 40 and above displaying greater sensitivity, particularly through family values.

"The definition of what it means to be male is changing," says Euro RSCG's strategy planning director, Matt Donovan