Coleen Rooney Fashion Ambassador for Littlewoods

Liverpool’s own fashion icon and Wag wearing one of her own LBD’s designs from her spring/summer 2011 collection.

With recent affair speculations on behalf of her husband Wayne Rooney, Coleen Rooney has had her fair share of bad press. Nevertheless, Coleen has become a well-known wag, celebrity, fashion icon, mother and wife in her own right with a career spanning from strength to strength.

From a fresh faced 16 year old teenager attending sixth form at Liverpool’s St. John Bosco High School little did she know her life would be changed forever when her boyfriend Wayne made it as a professional footballer. Coleen Rooney formally know as Coleen Mcloughlin was just known as Wayne’s girlfriend yet the nation took Coleen to their hearts inevitably changing her life and providing her with once in a lifetime opportunities.

Coleen has numerous: Books (Biography, Auto-biography and Style book), TV Series (Coleen’s Real Women), Magazine Columns (OK Magazine and Closer Magazine), Clothing Ranges (George at Asda and Littlewoods), Perfumes and Make up ranges to name a few all under her belt in the last couple of years. Not only to mention her marriage to Wayne in 2008 and the birth of their first child Kai Rooney who was born in 2009.

Coleen first joined Littlewoods in late 2009 early 2010 and with a contract rumored be around two million pounds will not only appear in their TV ads, but also in their directories were she dishes out fashion tips to customers.

Coleen commented “the role is a perfect match in enabling me to select and wear my favorite styles as well as share my ideas on how to carry off the season’s newest trends.”

Shop Directs Retail Director Gareth Jones also commented “she has great style, a real interest in fashion and is very approachable and has a warm personality.”

“Not only do our customers identify strongly with her, they also have huge admiration for her work, championing fashion and style for real women.”

Coleen’s First Littlewoods TV Advertisement Appearance

Coleen first appeared as fashion ambassador for Littlewoods the online fashion and home shopping retailer when they first introduced their new television advertising campaign featuring the leading fashion icon.

The “Nice Boots Camp” campaign was launched on our screens on the 1st September 2010 and was run for six weeks. The advertisement created by Leo Burnett featured Nancy Sinatra’s song “These boots are made for walking” and was filmed on location at Bentley Priory using over thirty-five extras.

The sixty and forty minute adverts feature Coleen and her band of drill sergeants putting some new recruits through their fashion paces at the “Nice Boots Camp.” We see the un-fashionable and un-styled girls polishing high-heels in the barracks, practicing how to change arms with hand-bags, taking on the assault course matching the perfect outfit and learning how to march in time.

The advertisement finishes with the standard passing out parade with all the girls looking fabulously fashionable thanks to Littlewoods stylish clothes and accessories and the scouse style icon’s style, advice and guidance.

Viewers of the TV ad and fans of Coleen where also encouraged to enroll in the “Nice Boots Camp” via the Littlewoods website where they receive fashion advice and regular updates from Coleen as well as competitions and music downloads.
Coleen was an un-doubtable natural choice for the catalogue and brand Littlewoods press-a-dented with a well and truly passion for fashion and style.

“This is my first TV ad for Littlewoods and I really enjoyed making it. I loved the way that the ad features such a wide variety of real women and shows some of my favorite pieces from the Littlewoods collection” says Coleen.

The TV campaign was also supported by “Nice Boots Camp” digital display banners and a press campaign. Shop Direct Group’s Retail Director Gareth Jones couldn’t have been happier to have Coleen on board the Littlewoods team.

“We are delighted with the ‘Nice Boots Campaign’ and Coleen has proved to be an inspirational style ambassador for Littlewoods. We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration in the future.”

Coleen’s First Fashion Range for Littlewoods

Coleen Rooney surrounded by models at the catwalk launch of her new spring/summer 2011 collection for Littlewoods.

Her latest Littlewoods venture includes the design of her fashion range and collection for spring/summer 2011.

The twenty-five piece collection is based and designed around Coleen’s signature style. Some pieces include: floor sweeping summer maxi dresses in a floaty paisley print and magenta-pink, glamorous sixties inspired shift dresses in beige and coral, a brown leather biker jacket key to adding glamour to any outfit, a strapless floral fifties style prom dress and a desirable three piece collection of LBD’s (little black dresses) all in a range of stunning to die for fabrics such as silks and leather.

The collection is due to be released just before New Year’s Eve just in time for the continuation of the party season and the begging of a New Year.

Coleen 24 added, “I tried to design clothes for everyone, with lots of going-out dresses, jeans and day tops.”

The fashion icon recalls selecting clothes from the Littlewoods catalogue as a school girl for her mum to buy her. The company being primarily based in Liverpool is well known and loved across the city and has a good reputation for the quality and styles of clothing in which it supplies. It’s no wonder Coleen jumped at the chance to be its first style ambassador.

Coleen had inevitably took to her new role really well almost like a duck to water as it is all about what she knows best. The styles ambassador is however not the first celebrity to have designed a clothing range for Littlewoods. Fellow celebrities such as: Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby also have clothing ranges in the Littlewoods catalogue but Coleen’s range is set to be more popular as more people like and relate to her style.

“I like to design in the office, but I get ideas all the time – ‘should I shorten that hemline? Should I add more embellishment?’ My favorite piece is the shift dress with beaded neck-line in coral, I think it is such a striking colour, also I like the crushed paisley scarf.”

Coleen who has wasted no time in suggesting she is in it for the long haul has already put her hand to design a collection for next winter. If her next collection is set to be anything like this spring/summer collection then we can’t wait to see what’s coming next from the style icon.

Coleen’s designs are perfect to planning, updating and adding color to our spring wardrobes. While waiting for the weather to get warmer why not look for something that you can wear as part of your winter wardrobe which is the case in Coleen’s cropped leather biker jacket, which you can wear with layers and a chunky knit scarf while it’s still cold. It can then ideally be used still in the spring to toughen and roughen up any spring dress such as the pretty applique dress also in Coleen’s collection as the weather warms up.

So whether you’re looking for a casual outfit or a glamorous party dress, day to night maxi dresses or some fabulous shoes to pull any outfit together. Coleen’s got it all covered with her key pieces letting us all have a slice of her signature oh-so-chic style that we’ve come to know, love and lust after.

“The thought of updating our wardrobes with new styles designed by Coleen herself was enough to make us count down the days until Christmas was over and we could start wearing our favorite spring looks.” Says Littlewoods fashion blogger Sarah.

Coleen’s signature range is available to view online at www.littlewoods.com and is available in a range of sizes 8-24 from the 29th December 2010.

Cheryl Cole – CD Review “Messy Little Raindrops”

Album release date: 1st November 2010

With the release of her second album Cheryl Cole’s solo career looks set to be going from strength to strength. From the success and high download ratings of “3 Words” “Messy Little Raindrops” looks set to be just as successful as the last.

It seems the second most beautiful woman of the twentieth century has had a hard time lately with her private life being aired and publicly splashed across newspapers and magazines daily, leading to a “messy” divorce from her former partner and Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole. As well as a near brush with death when the singer contracted Malaria earlier this year it seems Cheryl Cole has had her fair share of upset leaving her with plenty to be sad about.

Her recent hard times can almost be seen as a reflection through some of the songs in which have been produced on the album. Songs such as “The Flood, Amnesia, Raindrops, Humming Bird and Happy Tears” can be identified that Cheryl has took inspiration from her recent experience as a means of getting over her hard year.

The album also produces a number of upbeat almost hip-hop tracks such as “Promise this, Yeah Yeah, Live tonight, Everyone, Better to lie, Let’s get down and Waiting” guaranteed to be popular in clubs. The tracks also reflect the Cheryl Cole we all knowingly fell in love with when we first met the ‘Geordie lass’ as a member of the well-known girl band Girls Aloud. Some of the tracks also include a number of collaborations with famous artists such as: Dizzee Rascal, Will I Am, August Rigo and Travie McCoy. Such collaborations enable Cheryl to establish the type of artist in which she is aspiring to be which can be identified as almost mainly hip-hop. Cheryl knowingly expressed her love for hip-hop on the Girls Aloud ITV 2 show a few years ago.

Quite simply the album can be seen as true reflection on Cheryl’s life at the moment but her infectious loveable personality leaves you wanting to carry on listening. This album is guaranteed to be as successful as her last amongst Cheryl fans and almost defiantly destined for number one hit singles as well as album charts. As for her establishment as a solo artist it looks set that Cheryl’s solo career is only just begging and she inevitably looks destined for a long successful one.

I would un-doubt-ably give this album 5/5.

Blues Dominate 2Nil Derby Victory!

Everton V Liverpool
17th October 2010
Kickoff: 12:30

The 183rd Merseyside Premier League Derby today took place at Goodison Park. With the blues taking a whopping two nil victory from their Stanley Park neighbor’s leaving them in despair.

The long awaited fixture is always of importance to the people of Merseyside dividing the city blue and red and was described by Alan Hansen as “Liverpool’s biggest game in thirty years or possibly the biggest Merseyside derby in thirty years.”

With Liverpool lingering third from bottom today’s defeat could almost cost the club premier league status as Liverpool’s once righteous rein looks far from over leaving nothing but distant memories of 2005 for fans.

The teams stood as:

Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Heitinga, Arteta, Osman, Cahill, Yakubu. Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Gueye, Mustafi, Baxter.

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Konchesky, Gerrard, Lucas, Meireles, Cole, Maxi Rodriguez, Torres. Subs: Jones, Aurelio, Jovanovic, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Kelly.

Referee: Howard Webb

To Everton’s advantage Phil Jagielka was back fighting fit and in the starting line-up. Although, Poulsen and Johnson where both missing for the visitors.

The story of Liverpool’s recent takeover was the high talking point before the game with David Moyes commenting “takeover story has taken the pressure off Liverpool players a little bit.” Newly appointed Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson also added “it won’t affect the way we play. But there’s no doubt the change of ownership….can only be absolutely positive.” The recent takeover has enabled Liverpool fans with hope of getting their team back to its former glory.

Kick off commenced at 12:35 with both teams fighting fit. Everton looked very much the better team domineering Liverpool totally in the first half. It was at 34 minutes that Everton took a 1 nil advantage over the reds with Tim Cahill heading the toffees scoring sheet. Seamus Coleman done superbly down the right, going past three challengers before pulling back for the late arriving of Cahill to hammer into the roof past Reina.

Once half time came Liverpool fans could only hope wise words from manager Roy Hodgson could provide them with the spirit and determination to get back into the game giving Everton a run for their money.

Once the second half commenced Liverpool came out to be looking at fighting back certainly taking more shots at goal trying every much to get back into the game. It was Torres’s bundling into Baines that conceeded a free kick to the blues but to Liverpool’s advantage his bad touch letting him down. It was Bilyaletidinov’s win at a corner that at 50 minutes Everton took a two nil victory against their Stanley Park rivals a stonking strike from the Spaniard Mikel Arteta. Baines’s corner was nodded away by Kyrgiakos but only for as far as Arteta on the edge of the box. Allowing just enough time to barrage a shot that went swerving past the helpless Pepe Reina.

The pressure ultimately doubled for the helpless Liverpool side and they began to look slack and clearly over dominated by Everton. Even Liverpool’s latest signing Joe Cole looked out of place leaving the question ‘where is he even playing?’
The match continued with total toffee domination leaving Liverpool’s chances ultimately slipping away.

Finally, Howard Webb called time at 90+3 minutes. Goodison Park erupted into mounts of cheers as Everton took a whopping two nil victory and a well-deserved three premier league points fans couldn’t be any happier about. The result inevitably left Liverpool dropping to nineteenth place. Who would have thought it at the begging of the season?

Match Facts

Bookings – Everton - Cahill (28), Beckford (76)
Liverpool - Maxi-Rodriguez (18), Raul Meireles (31), Torres (88)

Corners – Everton 8 (53%) Liverpool 7 (47%),

Goal Attempts – Everton 8 (36%) Liverpool14 (64%),

On Target – Everton 4 (40%) Liverpool 6 (60%),

Fouls – Everton 10 (50%) Liverpool 10 (50%),

Attendance- 39,673

Scouse Comedian Chris Cairns: “I’ve noticed a rise in the quality of comedy in Liverpool especially since the recession.”

“A funny man who is going to the top” Liverpool Echo

Despite the ongoing recession one area of entertainment is still going strong. Comedy boomed twenty years ago and is still going strong today.

The public continues to look forward to laughs from comedians such as Liverpool’s own Slaughter House comedian Chris Cairns who stepped out on to the circuit twelve years ago.

With bags of charm and natural enthusiasm making him irresistible to audiences Chris has appeared in a number of performances with famous comedians and other fellow scouse comedian John Bishop.

Known for his ability to be able to deal with a good heckler Chris was crowned winner of the Eric Morecambe comedian of the year in 2002 and was voted Liverpool comedian of the year in 2003.

With his career spanning from strength to strength and a number of successful performances behind him, we met up with Chris and asked him….

Hi Chris, I hear you have done a lot of charity work with young people on Merseyside as well as being one of the tutors for The Comedy Trust. How does it feel to be helping young comedians and giving them a venue in which to start?

“Teaching kids standup is a way of building up their confidence and introducing them into public speaking. It’s really satisfying watching kids who are painfully shy doing really well and actually doing really good. I’ve found it’s normally the popular guy with the loud mouth that falls flat on their face and really struggle with standup. Teaching kids is really satisfying it’s touched my life and changed it in a way. I wish I would have had someone to do that for me.”

You’re known for your ability to deal with hecklers have there ever been times you have found it difficult?

“When I get something funny you have just got to let it go, if I get a good one you can’t just say something back as they think saying something funnier than the comedian is funny. I can deal with a good heckler especially around Christmas time although I don’t particularly like hecklers but I like when they say something.”

Do you find it hard being a scouse standup comedian when you go to different venues across the country?

“It doesn’t do any harm really it depends where you are. I find I get a lot more stick in London like they will say ‘you come down here to knick all our videos’ but people are like that everywhere if they shout something out you have got to be ready to say something back and make sure it’s funny. Although, scouse comedians get away with everything!”

Are there any comedians you look up to?

“I tend to look up to comedians such as: Sean Lock, Lee Mack, Phil Nickel, Jimmy Carr – great comedian, Frankie Boyle and Peter Kay who appeals to everyone. Although I don’t base my material on anyone if you do tend to base your material on anybody then I find you tend to lose yourself.”

Have you ever had a bad review and how does it affect you?

“My first bad review was in 2002 when I was a year or two into standup just starting out really I remember like it was yesterday it was by a guy called Steve Bennett. It didn’t really affect me in fact it sometimes does help you. The thing is he’s seen me perform plenty of times after the bad review and he still has never changed his review of it.”

You have performed in some big venues which was the most special venue and why?

“I’ve performed in a lot of big venues but my most favorable performance would have to be my panto performance in The Royal Court in 2005 with John Bishop. I really enjoyed it, it was the best thing I’ve ever done really it was really great but really terrifying at first but I’d happily do it again another time but I’d like to be a baddy.”

Have you ever had a joke gone bad or gone wrong?

“I haven’t really had a joke gone wrong myself but somebody I know asked a member of the audience what their daughter was called when they answered Maddy he asked do they know where she is. It was around the time of the incident when Madeline McCann disappeared so the audience didn’t find it one bit funny and he had to spend the rest of his time digging himself out of the hole. A joke only really goes bad when people go out to take offence. I tend to get away with a lot of stuff though I get away with murder. Another incident of a bad joke was the Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross situation which was the best thing that’s ever happened to him. A lot of bad press is good.”

When did you decide you wanted to be a comedian?

“I kind of fell into comedy really someone I know suggested I did it as a dare and it went down really well and it sort of spiraled from there. It was my way really of a kind of a way out to getting a proper job so know I can play call of duty all day I’m living the dream.”

Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to start out to be a stand-up comedian?

“Comedy gigs are today better run and it’s harder to get into clubs know if you perceive and work hard then you will get there as comedians drop out in a terrible rate which is probably worse now. We offer open mike nights on Thursdays at the Slaughter House for anyone wanting to start out. We start off with a headline act then near the end of the night introduce new acts sometimes it can be a car crash but they wouldn’t get the opportunity otherwise. If anyone is starting off I’d advise getting an agent as it is key to getting seen and key to being a comedian as they are selling you really on your behalf.”

What makes a good comedy club?

“People just think you just set up a mike and stand performing but it’s not like that at all. A well-run comedy club should be well timed keeping the audience waiting. With our gigs at the Slaughter House we live and die by our acts producing a range of quality acts and make sure it comes natural as a community. You also have to make sure the audience is on your side before you start because the audience can really turn on you and then that’s when it escalates like if you pick on the audience they will turn on you.”

Do you think comedy and comedy clubs have become more popular in the past years?

“Yes, definitely I’ve noticed a rise in the quality of comedy in Liverpool
especially since the recession/cuts/deficit hard times. Comedy does really well and got massive twenty years ago. People want to go out to be entertained I’ve noticed gangs of lads coming to the club a younger generation are becoming more interested. There’s a massive variety of people who are going out now for entertainment and comedy caters for all. Comedy is not very advertised or publicized but the best form of advertisement and best publicity is having a good night out and word of mouth. We have loads of regulars every weekend.”

For great comedy nights out why not visit Chris at the Slaughter House
13-15 Fenwick St, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 7LS 0151 231 6881.

Shy Rebecca Ferguson’s Confidence is Finally Starting to Grow

Liverpool’s own Rebecca Ferguson had so little confidence in her voice and herself that she refused to sing in front of her boyfriend and father to children of 6 years Karl Dures.

The star who has two children Lillie-May and Karl Jnr to Karl has dazzled the X-factor judges week in and week out with her soulful performances refused to sing until two years after they had met. Still then she insisted Karl stood with his face to the wall to spare her embarrassment.

Now thanks to the X-factor and mentor Cheryl Cole Rebecca 24, is finally building up her confidence in herself and her voice. Karl who split from Rebecca last year as they “drifted apart” insists “Becky has not shown half of what she can do. She won’t just win the X-factor she’ll be its biggest star.”

Rebecca auditioned for the X-factor back in 2004 (the year the couple had daughter Lillie-May together) but didn’t get past the first round.

“She would go to auditions and try to get her name out there but nothing ever happened” added Karl.

It was not until a year after the birth of their first child daughter Lillie-May that Rebecca felt she could sing in front of her man.

Karl said: “One day at home, totally out of the blue she said she had a song for me. But she wouldn’t sing it until I turned around and faced the wall. It was a Beverley Craven song, Promise Me, and from the first line the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up.”

“It was incredible. I was dumbstruck. I thought, ‘whoa, this girl is good’”

Rebecca who is self-taught and full of natural talent has never had singing lessons. “She sings at karaoke and has the crowd on its feet, blowing everyone away.”
Her painful shyness and low confidence seen by X-factor viewers and fans each week is said to be because of her difficult childhood upbringing in Anfield, Liverpool believes Karl.

He said: “Becky has had a hard life.”

Rebecca who attended Gateacre Community Comprehensive in Childwall, “was surrounded by middle-class children who would have new bags and clothes and things, and she had none of that and got bullied for it. She doesn’t want out children to have the life she did” says Karl.

Not only did Rebecca face bullies but she was also faced encounters of racism growing up in one of Liverpool’s toughest areas. It was from her experiences of racism in which she was inspired at the X-factor auditions to sing Sam Cooke’s civil rights anthem.

“That song she sang for the audition, a change is gonna come, was all about racism in America. She feels strongly about that and that’s why the song meant so much to her. It’s why she was almost crying at the end. I think her parents played it a lot.”

Devoted Christian Rebecca regularly attends church every weekend taking her two children with her and is staying grounded by attending college where she recently finished a course to be a legal secretary.
“Becky has been to college, so if this does fail, she has something to fall back on.”

Bricklayer Karl 25, believes the X-factor show and judges is providing Rebecca with the confidence she needs.

“When I’ve been speaking to her it’s been as though she felt she has already won, because amazing people like Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole were recognizing her as a singer for the first time. Now she has that confidence, just watch her fly.”

Councilors Meet to Discuss Proposed Public Sector Cuts

10th November 2010

Liverpool city councilors today formerly met at Liverpool’s Town Hall to discuss a number of agendas including the proposed public sector cuts which are about to upshot the whole of Britain next year.

On the day students took to the streets of London protesting against the rise in University tuition fees. Protestors and many parties gathered outside the Town Hall including The United Socialist party, The National Shop Stewards Network, councilors and union members.

The proposed cuts could see the loss of thousands of jobs and many under threat within the public sector service of the city, resulting in the ever increasing unemployment rate to rocket further.

Councilor Steve Radford added: “David Cameron and George Osbourne make out where all in this together when were not at all, all is a lie. They bailed out a bank using billions of pounds causing a deficit to occur. This bail out could have been used to bail out the deficit three times over and we want Liverpool Council to be resistant of the cuts.”

The crisis of the deficit will have a catastrophic effect on the average family as the introduction to voluntary labor of thirty hours per week for members of the public will need to be completed in order for families to get their benefits in order to survive.

Protestors chanted: “The Government is accused of trying to maximize their profits by making us slaves.”

Councilor Steve Radford also added: “We need to fight every inch of the way and fight against every pound taken away from us.”

With schools and education at risk the city is inevitably being “plunged into poverty” with the ever increasing unemployment rate the people of Liverpool are about to hit a “serious financial situation” added councilor Joe Anderson.

“The city is in desperate need of leadership to get through this difficult time.”

“When Liverpool voted Labour to be elected we got Tory and everything is going to be Tory owned and we want to say no to the apposed cuts and fight against them!”

Councilor Joe Anderson