A Glam Slam

WHO'S HAUTE? THURSDAYS: LANDON DONOVAN

This is a huge year for soccer with the much anticipated 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa. And no one is more excited than Major League Soccer's highest-paid and most-prized American superstar, Landon Donovan. Donovan was just loaned to Everton of the English Premier League for six months, from the Los Angeles Galaxy. For you non-soccer fans out there, this is a major deal. But Landon is no stranger to soccer success. He is the all-time leader in scoring and assists for the U.S. National Team. Landon continues to be the dominant force in U.S. Soccer, with record-breaking caps and goals and the honor of being named the Honda Player of the Decade.

Many believe Landon is the “Michael Jordan of soccer” and it’s easy to see why. His play on the field, good looks and giving nature have also attracted major brands like Nike and most recently Gatorade. Landon will join the likes of Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning in representing the iconic sports drink brand. Not only will he be the new face of Gatorade’s G2, but he will become the first male soccer player ever to endorse the brand.

And speaking of endorsements; the Landon news that proved to be just as popular as his move to Everton involved a Mexican Lottery commercial. Seriously. Landon is so popular in Mexico that he has recently appeared in a new TV commercial for the Mexican Lottery where the motto is “Winning in Mexico is much easier.” The guy even has a great sense of humor.

To top it all off, this soccer stud is really easy on the eyes. And good news ladies: he’s recently single after splitting with wife, “Rules of Engagement” star, Bianca Kajlich. Soccer fan or not, Landon is a great reason to tune into the World Cup this Summer.

Landon Donovan is Who’s Haute.

 
 
 
 - Glam Gal -

SHARAPOVA EYES A DESIGN OPPORTUNITY WITH TAG HEUER

Tennis star Maria Sharapova is just as well known for her play on the court as for her keen sense of style. She’s already lent her creative mind to help develop clothing and accessories for brands such as Cole Haan and Tiffany & Co. In her latest fashion venture, the tennis princess will be developing Eyewear for Tag Heuer.

Maria is already known for being a “TAG Heuer woman” and is a brand ambassador. Now she has collaborated with the brand to design a stunning new collection of sunglasses that will offer both functional and fashionable benefits.

The Maria Sharapova Collection by TAG Heuer Eyewear will include two distinctive styles: the iconic aviator style and the over-sized round look. The collection is described as “avant-garde, ultra-feminine and extremely comfortable” and is available in a variety of lens and frame color combinations.

Though she was just ousted in first round of the Australian Open, you can still expect to see Maria sporting her new collection both on and off the court. 

The Maria Sharapova Collection by TAG Heuer Eyewear will be available in stores in March 2010 and sold exclusively at TAG Heuer Eyewear retailers nationwide.

 

- Glam Gal -

OAKLEY HONORS THE WINTER GAMES

Oakley Inc. has announced the release of a new line of products designed to pay tribute to Oakley’s Global Team of athletes, who will participate in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Oakley has been one of the leading sports brands for decades, providing innovative products for world-class athletes and consumers alike.

This special collection will include an array of eyewear, apparel and accessories, accented with custom Oakley graphics to salute the participating nations and to recognize the heritage of the country and province hosting the games. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to see:

Global Crowbar Snow Goggle: This uniquely rendered edition of Oakley’s signature Crowbar Goggle, features bold and bright graphics that highlight the flags of various nations. The goggles combine both the Oakley logo with a national flag in one of 11 country designs: Austria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.

 

Global Fuel Cell: The eyewear piece in this new collection interweaves a “flags-of-nations motif” with the Oakley company logo. These limited edition shades feature Oakley HDPolarized lenses and lightweight, comfortable frames that adhere to the contours of the face.

Global Apparel Collection: Items in the new Oakley Global Apparel Collection feature either a Canadian Maple Leaf with stylized totem art or the "one-world emblem," a ripple effect of the flags of the nations. Hoodies and tees for men and women comprise the collection.

 
 

Global Collection Accessories: Accessories in the Global Collection include caps, a beanie, a backpack, an umbrella and a commemorative pin. Each of these items feature the totem graphics that signify it as a collectible edition. 

 

These limited edition items will serve as great collectables, in commemorating the 2010 Olympic Games. Look for the collection at Oakley stores or at Oakley.com.

 

- Glam Gal -

 

A GLAM SLAM NEW FEATURE: EVENTS TAB

Hey, A Glam Slam readers! A Glam Slam wants to keep you up-to-date on events and happenings within the sports and fashion worlds. Whether it’s a book signing, special appearance, or charitable event, A Glam Slam wants you to know about it.

Be sure to check out the new "Events" tab to stay up-to-date. If there are any relevant events that you’d like to share or promote, please email all details to [email protected].

- Glam Gal -

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE...OLDER METS UNIFORMS

Back in November, A Glam Slam shared the news that the New York Mets would debut a new look for the 2010 baseball season. With the introduction of pinstripes, the Mets new unis channel those worn during the franchise’s earlier years.

The reactions among baseball fans have been mixed. While some welcome the pinstripes, others believe they are simply a “knockoff” of the New York Yankees uniforms. Some approve of the cream color jerseys, while others would opt for stark white instead. And some have said the high neck collar is not only unattractive, but appears as though it will make the players "choke" (No pun intended). But as the spectators, we’re only looking at the new uniforms, not playing in them. So what do the players/coaches think?

A Glam Slam’s friends over at SportsRev.TV caught up with the Mets during an recent event for Autism awareness and Reby Sky spoke to the guys about their fancy new look. And it wasn’t surprising to hear that their reactions were again, mixed.

Here’s what the team had to say:

For more on the Mets and their events to support Autism awareness, visit SportsRev.TV. SportsRev.TV is a local guide to New York sports, covering NY sports teams news and updates and offering fun, entertaining and original sports programming.

- Glam Gal -

VERA WANG TAKES THE ICE

Many of us know Vera Wang as an American designer whose trademark fashion is the bridal gown. But before she entered the fashion industry, Wang was a figure skater who competed at the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. When her skating dreams failed to take her to the Olympics Games, Vera swapped her skates for stilettos and ventured into the world of fashion.

Though she had previously fallen short of an Olympic run, Wang will have another chance to shine on the ice, at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. She will take part in designing the figure skating costumes for some of Team U.S.A.’s top contenders, including male favorite, Evan Lysacek.

This is tough task, even for Wang. The designer admits, "This is more pressure than an Oscar dress in a strange way," [AP] And it’s easy to see why. Skating is about more than triple salchows and sit spins. A competitor’s overall look is a vital part of their performance. Skating costumes must be as memorable and as glamorous as a bridal gown, but also functional, non-restrictive and comfortable for the skater. On top of all that, a designer must also take into account the athlete’s music, in order to tie the whole routine together.

But Vera is no stranger to designing skating costumes. She’s previously dressed Olympic competitors such as Nancy Kerrigan and Michelle Kwan.

For an inside look what goes into figure skating costume design, check out this blast from the past video of Vera Wang and Nancy Kerrigan. They demonstrate the creative process for developing Nancy’s 1992 and 1994 long program looks.

 

 - Glam Gal -

BATTLE OF THE BRIEFS CONTINUES: BECKHAM VS. RONALDO

Back in October, A Glam Slam shared the news that Portuguese footballer and Real Madrid team member, Cristiano Ronaldo, would replace David Beckham as Emporio Armani’s Menswear and Underwear spokesmodel. Three months after being named the company’s newest soccer stud, the first set of underwear shots have arrived. And the reaction has been nothing short of WOW.

Beckham had set the bar extremely high, gracing billboards with his gorgeous face, killer abs and…well we’ll leave it at that. But it’s safe to say that Ronaldo has filled his cleats quite nicely.

While Armani played it a bit safer with Becks, they took Ronaldo’s campaign in a different direction. Not only will you find him drenched in water, but he can also been seen in a variety of unique poses that flaunt his amazing body. Some of the looks are even Statue of David-esque. Check out these campaign pics:

 
 

This certainly won’t be the last we’ll see of Cristiano in his underwear. And hopefully, the same goes for Beckham. Let’s look at these guys side by side. Who do you think wins the battle for the sexiest soccer star?

 

    - Glam Gal -

WHO'S HAUTE? THURSDAYS: JOEY LOGANO

After a brief hiatus, “Who’s Haute? Thursdays” is back in full force! In 2010, A Glam Slam will bring you a whole new set of athletes who are superstars in their sport and in their lifestyle.

In honor of the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, next month’s Who’s Haute? Thursdays will feature a new Olympic competitor each week, so make sure to stay tuned. For today, let Glam Gal introduce you to Joey Logano.

An 18 year-old who has been racing for over 12 years? Not possible right? Well it’s true. Joey Logano’s road to racing began at only 6 years old, with his first victory at the age of 7. And his success hasn’t stopped there. In only his third career Nationwide NASCAR Series, Joey Logano became the youngest winner in Nationwide Series history. He was also the 2009 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year. Now Logano will join the elite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona in February, as the new driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

This NASCAR cutie is known throughout his sport as “the best thing since sliced bread.” With a reputation like that, it’s no surprise that sponsors like Home Depot, GameStop and SportClips are always racing to represent Logano. But for Joey, it’s not only about nicknames and victories. His success does not let him get off track with what’s really important. Logano supports several charities including David’s House and The Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth and prides himself on helping others.

And though you’ll rarely see him without his racing suit on, this driver even knows a thing or two about accessorizing. Joey’s favorite piece of “clothing” is his Wiley-X Sunglasses. These shades are part of the Wiley X Racing Climate Control Series making them both fashionable and functional and giving Joey some major style points. Keep an eye out for this rising star.

Joey Logano is Who’s Haute.

 
 

    - Glam Gal -

FOR K-SWISS, TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE

K-Swiss Inc. has signed a deal with tennis champions, doubles partners and twin brothers, Bob and Mike Bryan, to join their 2010 roster. The two tennis hotties will represent K-Swiss footwear and apparel as part of a multi-year deal.

As the ATP World Tour No. 1 ranked tennis doubles team, the Bryan Brothers are just three victories away from becoming the winningest doubles team of all time, making this a huge win for K-Swiss as well. The Brothers had been with Adidas for the past 12 years, but it is the K-Swiss brand who will be affiliated with what could become a record-breaking year.

The pair will join Sam Querrey and Marty Fish as the new additions to K-Swiss. All four K-Swiss athletes hope to represent the United States in the Davis Cup play this year, potentially making K-Swiss the dominant brand of the 2010 U.S. Davis Cup team.

 

    - Glam Gal -

SURF GEAR: THE NEXT GENERATION

Just when you thought you had seen it all, Star Trek surf gear comes along. Yes, you heard correctly. What better way to making surfing “un-cool” than with a line of wetsuits designed to resemble the famous uniforms of the Star Trek crew.

Okay nerd jokes aside, these wetsuits are actually very unique. Developed exclusively by JMJ Wetsuits, the one-piece suits feature these iconic colors: Command Yellow, Science Blue and Engineering Red, as well as the Star Trek: The Original Crew chest insignia and RDT shoulder logo.

Each suit is custom made and tailored to your specific measurements for a perfect fit and enhanced performance.

So how much will it cost to explore the unchartered waters as Captain Kirk? Or Captain Spock? A whopping $469.95! But you'd be hard-pressed to find a "Trekkie" who wouldn't be willing to pay the price, to add this piece to their collection. And they can get their wetsuit here.

 

    - Glam Gal -