Well isn’t this high street chain doing well for itself; first they had Karl Largerfeld design a collection, then Madonna and now Jimmy Choo. According to H&M’s official website this will be the first time the store will be ‘collaborating with an accessorise brand, and in celebration of this the brand will also design a collection of women’s outfits to compliment the accessorise- what more could you ask for!

Obviously the first thing to go will be the shoes, theres no doubt the Carrie Bradshaws of this town will be fighting for piece of the collection. But don’t go pushing your mates to the floor in a rush to get a pair- the collection is said to be a around over the festive season.

A look at what will be included in the collection

Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M said: “We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers.” you said it Margareta.

So if any of you have yet to decide what to get your friend/sister/daughter/mother (basically any women you know) nothing says I care like a pair of Jimmy Choos. Londoner’s better watch out as i’m sure there are going to be tonnes of women stomping the pavement in these red-carpet favourites.

King of Pop

We all know that Kanye West is known for having a bit of an ego, but never in a million years did we think he would try and replace former King of Pop Michael Jackson so soon after his death.

Well neither did he, according to recent reports Kanye West fell victim to a internet hoax as rumours began to spread that the singer was ready to replace the former King of Pop.

The confusion arose after Kanye made the comments on a spoof interview on Scrapetv.com.

He said: “You know everyone loves and respects Michael but times change – it’s so sad to see Michael gone but it makes a path for a new King of Pop and I’m willing to take that on.”

Fans of the former legend were both shocked and outraged by the singer’s comments.  It was later reported that the quotes were made up and false.

This bizzare story is just one of the many reports that can be added to the ever growing Jackson files; over recent weeks the public has been witness to child custody battles, paternity tests, questions over his will and legal battles over the singers assets- the King of Pop surely knows how to keep making headlines.

And it doesn’t stop there, It seems the singer has also been conducting interviews from the  hereafter as well; website www.michaeljacksonfromthegrave.com has claimed to have made contact with the singer and have even produced an entire transcript of the interview. The interview discusses the cause of the singer’s untimely death and includes personal messages to family, friends and fans.

As for his children grandmother Katherine Jackson has won the legal rights to take care of the children-biological mother Debbie Rowe has been given visitation rights but will not receive any financial support.

After discovering dangerous amounts of Propofol, search warrants were issued to Dr. Conrad Murray’s Las Vegas offices and home as officers  began looking into any record of communication between Jackson’s personal physician and a number of other doctors including rheumatologist Allan Metzger and anesthesiologist Randy Rosen.

It is still unclear when or if a final autopsy report will be released.

Baitmag will keep you posted on further Michael Jackson updates.

Last night, like a BILLION other people around the world, I watched the phenomenal memorial service of Michael Jackson live on television. Celebs and close friends of the King of Pop paid emotional tributes in front of 19,000 mourners and Michael’s glittering coffin at the Staples Centre in LA.

Michael’s brothers made a moving tribute to the star by wearing his trademark white glove. Songs dedicated to the tragic superstar were sang by legendary artists including Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie and teary-eyed brother Jermaine who’s rendition of Smile, Michael’s favourite song, was extremely moving . Mariah Carey, Usher and even our very own Shaheen Jafargholi, aged 12, also performed at the memorial. 

Last night was also the first time ever Michael’s daughter Paris was heard. In the heart-rending finale, the teary 11 year old went on stage and told the world: “Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you ever imagine. And I just want to say I love him so much.” At that point, I’m pretty sure that there wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium, let alone in my own living room.

The memorial couldn’t have ended more perfectly. The backup singers, who rehearsed with the late music icon just days before his death, performed Michael Jackson’s favourite number (“We are the World/Heal the World”) of his would-of-been 50-cencert comeback tour in London. The Japanese/Black lead singer Judith Hill, has a noticably great voice. It was an overwhelmingly touching performance. Just an insight of how amazing the show would’ve of been adding more to the heart break. But like his close friend songwriter, Smokey Robinson said, “He’ll never really be gone.” Because his music will live on forever and ever.

BRAND FOCUS;

WILDFOX COUTURE

LA-made brand, Wildfox Couture, is an American vintage-inspired women’s knitwear/t-shirt brand. Sound familiar? Unsurprising, as the brand has a strong celebrity following, visible in the fashion press. Celebrity followers include: Audrina Partridge, Vanessa Hudgens, Whitney Port, Katy Perry, the list goes on.

Inspired by Native American artwork and vintage rock & roll t-shirts, the young designers and childhood friends, Emily Faulstich and Kimberley Gordon created a brand that tells a story of their generation and friendship. Get an insight of their world here.

The collection offers a range of super-soft and loosely fitted tees that gives a touch of vintage to any outfit. What I love most about the tees are the fun graphics and boyfriend-fit which easily gives them that “my favourite vintage t-shirt” factor. Part of my personal desire-list are oversize roses t-shirt and love potion no.9.

What sucks though, is the lack of distributors here in the UK. But, once again, ASOS saves the day!

Chuck Bass! (....and the other two)

There is no doubt about it. Apart from teen shows such as Skins, the lives of the scandalous upper east-siders in Gossip Girl have us hooked beyond all else. Like shows such as the original Beverly Hills 90210 and our older generations’  trials and tribulations with Carrie and the girls in Sex and the City, audiences have been inspired by what they see beamed into their front rooms on plasma screens.Gossip Girl has been influential in the way that they have switched up the impressions that us lot over the pond have on American fashion and teen culture. Sure Marissa was good girl gone bad and did a few lines of coke but her fashion sense wasn’t exactly cutting edge. One Tree Hill? Puh-lease.

Most people focus on the lovely ladies of the series, prim and proper Blair and “manly” Serena and racoon-eyed Jenny advice but what about the xoxo Gossip boys?

Chuck Bass

Notably the most flamboyant dresser of the series, most of his outfits are loud for the sake of being loud. The set stylist should be given a raise, Chucks outfits are usually hilarious, totally OTT and weirdly sexy. Whether he’s donning a shark embroidered chunky jumper or trying to get us to believe the idea that a seventeen year old boy would rock a bow-tie religiously, he manages to pull it off. If I was a guy he would so be my muse.

Nate Archibald

Obviously no teen TV show would be complete without the compulsory pretty boy role. Lucas, Ty, Maxxie, Justin-the list is endless. Nate Archibald is the epitome of W.A.S.P chic. He is a walking billboard for Ivy League schools, “vacay” in The Hamptons and Abercrombie and Fitch. His disheveled prepster uniform of polo shirts, tan trousers and lace ups scream “old money”  in a good, take-him home-to- mum way, Great eyebrows too.

Dan Humphrey.

Brown, Green, Grey, Blah, blah Black. The book geek from Brooklyn has the most uninspired look in the whole show but unlike the rest it has an element of truth to it. After all you are more likely to bump into a guy dressed in indigo wash skinnies and a khaki jacket than a neon orange trench coat with purple trousers next time you go to the shops.

(Okay, I admit that I know exceedingly little about men’s fashion. All I know is that if I only had a choice of a shirt and trousers or a t-shirt and jeans for my whole life, I would be exceedingly depressed.)

Following a surprise election defeat Tehran has been the scene of violent outburst and disturbances as demonstrators show their outrage at the election of Mr Ahamadinjad.

Mr Ahmedinjad’s opponent Mir Hossein Mousavi claims he was a victim of ‘fraud and manipulation’ after receiving only 33.7 per cent of the public vote in comparison to Mr Ahmedinejaad’s 62.6 per cent.

At this point there is no evidence to suggest that the election was rigged in anyway, but many Iranians are still in disbelief about the wide margin of defeat.

In the run up to the election many polls had placed both candidates on par with one another, with many predicting a shock defeat for Mr Ahmedinejad- due to his negative attitude towards the west and poor economic record.

Washington was in hopes that Mr Hossein Mousavi would win the presidency, as US President Barack Obama had begun organising plans on how to bring Iran back from 30 years of diplomatic isolation from the West. Mr Mousavi’s presidency would have also opened up negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, which is currently seen as a major threat to the regional peace of the Middle East.

In a recent report released by the Telegraph, the re-election of Mr Ahmadinejad (a son of a blacksmith, who has collected a populist gathering from his approach to strict Islamic codes of conduct) has been welcomed back in to power by many of his political allies abroad.

One of his allies, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, was the first to congratulate the president. In a statement he said the Victory:  ”represents the feeling and commitment of the Iranian people to building a new world,”

Israeli Officials on the other hand, have described the result as very worrying, as it could lead Iran into a confrontation with the West- in particular over its nuclear weapons programme.

Israel’s deputy foreign ministry spokesman, Danny Ayalon, said: “With the results of the election in Iran, the international community must stop a nuclear Iran and Iranian terror immediately. If there was a shadow of a hope for change in Iran, the renewed choice of Ahmadinejad expresses more than anything the growing Iranian threat.”

Following the results a great darkness has fallen over the capital, Tehran. Sources have said they have not seen such uprising since Iran’s student protest in 1999.

Whilst police do their best to calm the crowds, Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khan has urged the nation to follow the elected leader saying the results were caused by : “divine assessment.”

This week the news has been dominated by the recent reports surrounding the Airbus A330. The plane was travelling from Brazil to Paris when it encountered harsh weather- and disappeared from radar screens.

Today Military aircrafts and warships from Brazil and France are continuing to search large areas of the Atlantic for any signs of the Air France jet- which disappeared with 228 passengers on board.

The French environment minister, Jean-Louis Borloo, told France Info radio that it was “a race against time” to find the wreckage of the flight.

Borloo said the plane’s black box would emit information for only 30 days and needed to be found as soon as possible.

He did however, express concern that the search operation would be extremely difficult because the current is strong and the water is very deep. Further complications have also arisen because of uncertainty surrounding the time the jet went down.

French minister for transport, Dominique Bussereau, warned that the investigation could be lengthy, he said: “It could be a few days, a few weeks or a few months.”

Representatives from the airline have said the 12-member crew (including a 58-year-old pilot who had worked for it since 1988) were all highly experienced.

The families of passengers stayed the night in hotels at Charles de Gaulle airport, paid for by Air France.

Borloo said that relatives could eventually go to the crash zone if they wanted to.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, has released a statement in which he said he will invite the families of the passengers to the Elysée palace on Monday.

François Brousse, of Air France, claimed that several of the plane’s mechanisms malfunctioned, which in turn made it difficult for the plane to make contact with air traffic control. Some have gone on further to speculate the jet was struck by lightening.

 If the tragic conclusion turns out that there are no survivors, it will be documented as the world’s worst aviation disaster since 2001, and the deadliest in Air France’s 75-year history.

A minute’s silence will be observed at France’s friendly football match against Nigeria today, when the French players will wear black armbands.

Passengers on the aircraft included 61 French citizens and 58 Brazilians, as well as 26 Germans and at least a dozen other nationalities.

The 12 crew members were French, while seven children and a baby were aboard.

Patricia Coakley from Whityby (North Yorkshire) conducted an interview with Sky News; she believed her husband, Arthur was on the flight after completing a four-week program on a Brazilian oil rig.

“He was very excited about seeing his children and going on holiday to Corfu on Friday,” she told Sky News.

“My only hope is I keep phoning his mobile … it rings, so it can’t be at the bottom of the sea.

“I have three distraught children … we hope daddy will be coming home soon.”

From Samba and African dance to hip-hop and break dancing Balé de Rua is a thrilling dance and music spectacular that has come to Barbican as part of an international tour. Following sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year, the troop has collected an ever growing following of fans. The Brazillian dance group has produced shows inspired by 300 years of Brazilian history; from slavery to favelas, the dance moves its way through time and ends with a look at contemporary Brazil.  With capoeira, hip hop, break dancing, samba and Afro-Brazilian percussion Balé de Rua is an exhilarating take on the diversity and richness of Brazilian culture.

Cia de Dança Balé de Rua was created in 1992 by Fernando Narduchi, Marco Antônio Garcia and José Marciel Silva. They had already been collaborating in the working class districts of central Brazil’s Uberlândia for four years. They became an overnight sensation after they first played Europe at the Biennale de la Dance in Lyon in 2002; performances at the Barbican will be the company’s first visit to London.

Having toured worldwide, the dance company is still committed to its community dance programme back home in Uberlândia and has recently opened its own cultural centre, backed by the Brazilian Ministry of Culture.

So if you are interested in a great night out- book your tickets now at:  www.barbican.org.uk  

But hurry they are only at the Barbican Theatre from Thursday 21 – Sunday 31 May 2009 and tickets are selling out fast.

With summer just around the corner many of us are delving into our new wardrobes, so why not accompany it with one of the latest trend setting hairstyles . If you’re stuck on where to start, check out some of the reinvented looks fashioned by today’s A-list stars.

The Ponytail: Catwalks this year have been home to the up-dos- which range from slick ponytails to careless buns. To re-create this look hair has to be clean, straight and smooth, so use a good conditioner to keep hair at its best. Be sure to invest in a smoothing serum or cream to produce the most polished ponytail you’ve ever seen.

The Heavy Fringe: If you do decide to adopt this look make sure you go all the way; the biggest mistake you can make is getting a short fringe. The maximum fringe length should be just above your eyes. The problem with this look is that fringes tend to get separate and oily during the day so make sure to use clarifying shampoo; and to keep it in place try using an intensive firm-hold hairspray.

The Bed-Head: This is a care free tousled look that makes hair look both effortless and casual- but takes a lot of effort to make it just right. For this look heated rollers will not go a miss- it will help create a wavy relaxed look- use curl booster sprays in keep them in place and lightly brush in some wax or cream to add some final texture.

The Alice Band: This is a quick an easy way to accessorize and complete any outfit . Make sure your hair is straight and smooth, keeping the hair in super sleek condition. Whether you decide to keep it up or down, use serum to smooth out any kinks and bumps and go for a wide Alice band for a smart and fashion-forward look.

The Tousled Twist: Who would have though a bun could be so chic and hip? There are no exact rules for this style, just pull your hair up and pin it into a bun in whatever style suits you. Use creams and texturising lotion to give your hair hold and shape, finish it off with a shine spray to make sure your hair looks cute not dry.

The Boy-cut: On the other end of the spectrum, you can move away from soft, feminine hairdos and try a masculine hairstyle which is also becoming a summer favourite. Agyness Deyn’s trademark boyish crop is a perfect template for anyone who wants to copy the look. To create this short and sleek hairstyle, start by applying mousse or gel through your hair.  Next, blow-dry your hair using a large round brush (pulling all the layers under and down). Then to add an extra smooth finish, run parts of your fringe through a flat iron and then top off the look with hair spray.

So here are the looks- but before you go at your hair with the closets pairs of  scissors make sure you have the right face cut for these looks- otherwise you’ll end up with the longest bad hair day ever!