shoes.taps2010.com

She’s just come from convincing Chinese leaders to free blind dissident Chen Guangcheng. Soon she’ll cajole India’s leaders to reduce oil imports from Iran. But at the moment, Hillary Rodham Clinton is renewing old friendships in one of the world’s poorest nations.

“Two of my favorite men in the world!” she gushes as she sits down to chat with Muhammed Yunus, a pioneer in providing microcredit to the poor, and Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of the world’s largest development organization.

This is vintage “Hillary,” as the headlines here dub her: part tough-talking diplomat, part back-patting politician. As she prepares to leave the national stage after a 20-year run, Clinton is winning bipartisan respect at home and admiration abroad for her role as the nation’s 67th secretary of State.

“You have got a beautiful smile,” says Nabila Hossain, 25, a lecturer at American International University here, who nabbed the best front-row seat for one of Clinton’s signature town hall events this month. “You’re maybe the most influential woman in this world.”

How she uses that influence as she approaches 100 countries and 1 million miles — this 18,932-mile jaunt tied her with Madeleine Albright’s record 96 countries — is the story of a natural-born politician in diplomat’s clothing.

Ah, the clothing. The “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits,” as Clinton calls it, captivates people wherever she goes, along with her changing hairstyles and on-again, off-again glasses. On Page 6, The Telegraph of Kolkata, India, calls her “the most powerful woman in the world.” On Page 17, it notes her power is coiled inside “a black pantsuit, finished with white detailing, a white crew neck tee and patent black shoes with an inch of block heel.”

At 64, the former first lady and U.S. senator from New York cannot escape the stereotyping she has spent a lifetime combating. Instead, she uses it to make her case for gender equality, one of the paramount causes of her career.

The book on Clinton may not be complete if she tries to become the first secretary of State since James Buchanan in 1856 to win the White House (something she says she will not do). But the chapter on her tenure at Foggy Bottom is largely written, and the reviews are in: Indefatigable. Innovative. And indentured, some say, to a president who has made the major foreign policy decisions himself.

Eight months before her self-imposed retirement, Clinton is piling up awards and accolades faster than clear-cut achievements. She hasn’t done anything as momentous as opening the door to China like Henry Kissinger or assembling the first Gulf War coalition like James Baker. Still, the liberation of Libya, establishment of diplomatic ties with Burma and the assembly of a coalition against Iran bear her imprimatur.

Clinton’s goal, exemplified in her dealings this month with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is to pull allies and even adversaries into more and deeper alliances so that as the world turns, U.S. values and interests are advanced.

“We want a seat at every table that has the potential for being a partnership to solve problems,” Clinton said in an interview with USA TODAY. “I think it’s a smart but necessary approach in the 21st century, where we are all so networked and where we don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing. We have to be engaged everywhere.”

Heather Hurlburt, executive director of the National Security Network, credits Clinton with restoring “diplomacy that’s so sure-footed, you don’t notice.”

“That has everything to do with her presence and stature on the one hand, and her sheer doggedness and ability to master her brief on the other,” Hurlburt says.

Clinton has done it while dealing with her share of professional and personal complications, from the Arab Spring and the Wikileaks breach of diplomatic correspondence to her mother’s death, husband’s heart surgery, daughter’s wedding and her own broken elbow, which postponed trips to Italy, Greece and Russia.

Vancouver’s one per cent have a new place to spend their millions.

Starting Wednesday, wealthy members of Colton’s Personal Couture will pay $25,000 upfront to shop the couture brands by appointment in a private showroom stocked with their favourite luxury labels. Of the annual fee, $7,500 goes to membership dues, and the $17,500 balance is store credit. “Fashion confidantes” will guide them toward clothes and accessories that look classy and tasteful, and that suit their lifestyle.

More than 400 people, culled from the client lists of private bankers and luxury car dealers, have already expressed interest in the concept.

But at first, the club — Owned by Howard Colton — will only accept 200 clients, gradually increasing to 400 as they iron out new-business kinks.

It will primarily cater to the Asian population which, as Colton said, love brands and love to shop, but can benefit from the guidance of fashion experts.

Even the super-rich need help navigating trends and putting together a personal style, Colton said, adding that he believes $25,000 isn’t a barrier for the clientele he will serve.

The establishment of the club — which also provides clients with a personal limousine service so they can travel to and from the showroom — indicates the changing retail landscape of the city. Twenty-five years ago, Leone was the only luxury brand store in Metro Vancouver. But in recent years, Tiffany, Coach, Hermes and The Room at the Bay have opened to cater to the high-end consumer.

As the principle partner and luxury Italian supplier of the online retailer BlueFly, Colton has well-established connections to European design houses. But this is not another BlueFly, he said. He wanted to create a new business that has a more personal touch.

“I wanted to do it in a more bespoke kind of way,” he said, emphasizing that this is not a typical retail shopping experience.

“We don’t want 5,000 people to come through every day like Holt Renfrew, Leone or Boboli. We want one-on-one. And that we should become their fashion confidantes.”

Colton also understands that even the very rich love a deal. So his mark-up is lower than usual. He’ll make his money on the membership fees.

The club is in a Richmond, B.C. penthouse that Colton has transformed into a luxurious personal fashion showroom. Chandeliers adorn every room and it boasts over $500,000 in merchandise, including unique Alexander McQueen clutches and a $50,000 handbag by Hermes.

Lancome is getting patriotic already, just in time for the Diamond Jubilee. The beauty brand has teamed up with fashion designer Georgia Hardinge to customise two of their iconic skincare bottles – Genefique and Visionnaire.

Hardinge will be hand-painting each bottle (Genefique will be embellished with a red, white and blue crown while Visionnaire will receive a sceptre), and the boxes will be decorated with Union Jack prints and suitably dressed Corgis.

If that’s not enough to get you in the Jubilee spirit, head down to Oxford Street’s Selfridges on 31st May and 7th June. Georgia will be on hand to personalise your Lancome purchases, just in case you fancy even more crown jewels on your moisturiser.

Lancome’s Jubilee designs will be available exclusively from Selfridges from 31st May. The 50ml Visionnaire 50ml is 85, the 75ml Genifique is 95.
See more of this month’s best beauty buys in our shopping guide below:

The costs of war are too high — a truth that is not new. In that same proclamation, Howe wrote, “‘Disarm! Disarm!’ The sword of murder is not the balance of justice. Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.” More than 140 years ago, we knew that violence and war were not the answer to conflicts, yet they continue to wreak havoc on the lives of women everywhere.

On a sunny late April morning in Monte Carlo, 42 exceedingly rare vintage cars from around the world assembled on the plaza in front of the famed casino. The roar of revving engines in autos dating from 1913 to a token modern concept car reverberated through our bones as we awaited the start of the Louis Vuitton Classic Serenissima Run. The brand, which claims travel as a core theme, has sponsored seven Louis Vuitton Classics around the world since 1993.

Serenissima’s route took drivers and navigators 1,400 kilometers (about 870 miles) over four days on a scenic Alpine journey to Venice with overnight stays in Menthon-Saint-Bernard, France, Stresa, Italy, and Verona.

The field included Arturo Keller’s 1938 Mercedes-Benz 500K, which claimed the best of show prize, Bruce Meyer’s 1929 Bentley 4liter, Michael Leventhal’s 1950 Ferrari 166 MM, and Thomas Price’s 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, a model so rare that one recently sold for more than $30 million. Christian Philippsen, who is in charge of the jury and car selection, piloted a one-of-a-kind 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS “256.”

The first leg of the race challenged the cars with a long climb of winding switchbacks through the Mercantour national park in southern France. “These cars are like sculptures, they are truly art in motion,” said Philippsen as we descended the serpentine road following lunch at Napoleon’s Retreat. “Cars can feed the senses: You can look at them and see the shapes, proportions, and colors; you can touch them, smell them, and listen to the engines. If you buy a painting, you just put it on the wall and leave it there.”

One, Barack Obama is an evolutionary, 21st-century hero who supports equality for all. Two, Mitt Romney is a gay-bashing bully mired in the previous century, who also supports a war on women and, oh yeah, hates dogs.

Obama’s Big Announcement that he supports gay marriage came about for the following reasons: (a) He had no choice after Vice President Joe Biden said on “Meet the Press” that he was fine with same-sex marriage; (b) one in six of Obama’s campaign bundlers, those who raise big bucks, is openly gay; (c) Obama risks nothing except the votes of those who wouldn’t have voted for him anyway.

And last, but certainly not least, because supporting equal treatment of all Americans under all legal contracts, including marriage with all its attendant rights and responsibilities, is the right thing to do. In this respect, Obama may have evolved in his thinking, as millions of other Americans have, including yours truly. Indeed, polls show that the country is about evenly divided on the question, with younger Americans supportive of same-sex marriage. In another generation, this conversation will be irrelevant.

Yes, Obama’s statement carries symbolic weight but it changes nothing. In fact, by also saying he thinks the issue should remain with the states, he is both taking a conservative, states’ rights position and passing the constitutional buck. If the president believes that equal marriage rights are constitutionally protected, then he has a duty to fight for those rights rather than hand off the issue to the states.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines  – Watched by a throng, National Capital Region’s Maureen Emily Schrijvers didn’t disappoint and dazzled the crowd with a jump to remember.

The tall, comely Schrijvers, 16, bagged the secondary high jump gold in record fashion – her 1.62m leap shattering the four-year old mark of 1.61m set by Cordillera’s Marie Felice Ellago in Palawan.

Schrijvers, born in Manila to a Belgian father and a Chinese mother, went for the 19-year-old national juniors mark of 1.64m set by NCR’s Cherry Ann Janeza-Arqueza in the Phl National Open in Manila by attempting a 1.65m jump but failed in three tries.

The recent St. Stephen graduate actually came close to accomplishing the feat on her second try but the heel of her shoes touched the bar as she was about to land on her back to the disappointment of the crowd, which was then growing by the second.

“It hit my foot,” was all Schrijvers, who also speaks fluent Filipino, could say minutes after the event.

It was actually the second record Schrijvers had posted in the event as she also recorded one in elementary girls 200m dash in Palawan where she won three gold medals.

Berenice Bejo ”plays the game” by being glamorous on the red carpet.

The ‘Artist’ actress favours a more low-key look in her everyday style but is happy to don jewellery for high-profile events because she thinks it is important to live up to the expectations of being a star.

She said: ”I don’t usually wear jewellery but it’s part of the character you have to create when you go to a red carpet.

”It’s very important to play the game and give people something a little bit more glamorous and you know, not too normal. I love it when actors make you dream a little bit as they used to do.

”In my real life I’m totally different. That’s what’s funny. When I’m promoting a movie or doing awards I have to be one Berenice but you can’t wear Louis Vuitton dresses or Chopard earrings to pick up your kids or buy

milk.”

The 35-year-old beauty will attend the opening and closing ceremonies at Cannes Film Festival this year and is already planning what accessories she will wear.

She told Britain’s HELLO! magazine: ”I’ve already chosen two Chopard pieces for Cannes. Earrings and maybe something for the hair. The Chopard Red Carpet 2012 Collection for Cannes is beautiful. I like the rings, the pink stone is so beautiful.”

As I was evaluating Mrs. Jones for the first time last week, I stopped after doing an inventory on all her prescriptions.

I looked her in the eyes and told her that I was all about money. I then told her I was all about her money. She was on four name brand medications for hypertension, elevated cholesterol and diabetes.

Mrs. Jones revealed to me her total costs monthly were more than $250. She then tearfully revealed she was on a fixed income, which resulted in missing months of prescription refills. She stated that some months she would take diabetes medications, and others she would take hypertension or cholesterol medications.

This was the reason for her blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol always being uncontrolled. She also told me her last physician canceled her follow up appointments because he said she was not compliant with her medications.

This is the story for many Americans today. The pharmaceutical companies are spending big bucks to get the physicians to write the latest medications. The pharmaceutical companies send many pharmaceutical representatives to my office on a daily bases. These representatives purchase expensive lunches and give presentations of the latest medications. These representatives use to be able to do lots more but had their ability to give lavish gifts taken away by the government after review. The government determined the pharmaceutical companies were at risk of causing the physicians’ decisions to possibly be biased based on the gifts.

Dinosaurs have never seen such amazing footwear as what was on display last Friday at the ROM. Although I’m sure the cave ladies did their best with what they had, I just don’t think they could hold a torch to some of the attendee’s choices, which were highlighted by a pair that had steel spikes all along the heel — the perfect weapon for a night that was all about Fashion (with a capital F, yes).

Part of the roughly two-month long Friday Night Live On this particular Friday night, the ROM looked like it had gone to New York on a shopping spree. Curtains hung lavishly, mannequins regally lined up like Madeleine with dresses from the 80s to the present (i.e. my wardrobe). There were a lot of “someones” in this beautiful space — i.e. people who project an air of importance but who you can’t actually recognize. And then there were others who I hoped to meet.

series, if my experience on this night was any indication, the museum turns out to be a solid nightspot in Toronto. On a first date? There’s a lot to look at, a lot to comment on, and the requisite booze to lubricate your flirtation. Don’t stay up past 9 p.m. anymore? That’s not really a problem either, as these events give you a whiff of a nightclub without having to commit to giving up your Saturday (they wrap at 11 p.m. so you could stay out afterwards). Just make sure you’re wearing the right shoes.

Between parking, packing and getting through security, I often find going to the airport to be an anxiety-producing experience.

On my last trip, I was running behind schedule and could not find a place to park anywhere in the South Garage of Richmond International Airport. After driving around and around, sometimes following wrong-way arrows and bumping over curbs, I grew desperate. Fearing I might miss my plane, I parked in a space with slanted lines across it — clearly not meant for parking; in fact, it blocked the pedestrian walkway to the elevator. I pulled in, grabbed my suitcase and backpack and rushed to check in. At the American Airlines counter, I told the woman what I had done.

“When does your plane leave?” she asked. “I think you have time if you can move it in 10 minutes.”

I rushed back, and just as I was looking for a free space, the car next to me pulled out. Great I thought, I’ll just move there … but it was for handicapped. Darn! ‘Tis better to be in a handicapped space than blocking a walkway, I thought as I pulled in. I scribbled a note on a scrap of paper. “I am so sorry, but I cannot find a free parking space, and I am afraid I am going to miss my plane.”