Facial hair is every boy’s passage into manhood. From the very first sprouts to poke out of the corner of the young lad’s upper lip, there is something truly sacred about a man’s facial hair, as precious as a US work visa is to a foreigner working in the States. In fact, the American Mustache Institute (AMI) was specifically established to advocate facial hair and promote greater acceptance of moustaches in the workplace and throughout modern culture. Seriously!

To honor famous facial hair, here’s a look at some of the most celebrated beards and moustaches worn by some of the biggest, baddest stars.

Tom Selleck

“The Magnum Moustache”

Sam Elliott

“The Horseshoe Moustache”

I believe this quote justly sums up the greatness of Sam Elliott’s man-stash: Sam Elliott’s mustache exudes complete testicular endowment. His mustache is like John Wayne’s sweat mixed with a chainsaw, three pints of Guiness, Indiana Jones, early Nintendo era Castlevania and motor oil. -Gents with cool ass facial hair-

Chuck Norris

“Behind Chuck Norris’ Beard is another fist.”

Frank Zappa

“The Imperial Moustache”

Zappa became so identifiable by his moustache that after his death its image was copyrighted by the Zappa Family Trust.

ZZ Top

“The ZZ Top”

In the 80s, Billy Gibbons (guitar) and Dusty Hill (bass guitar) were offered millions of dollars by a razor company to shave their beards off. They declined.

Joaquin Phoenix

“Chief Crazy Beard”

When Joaquin seemingly lost his mind, quit the movie business, grew a shabby Jesus Morrison beard and made his rap debut, rumors circulated that it was an elaborate hoax. In fact at the time, Casey Affleck was filiming a documentary on Phoenix called I’m Still Here: The Last Year of Joaquin Phoenix.The Los Angeles Times reported that the film featured “more male frontal nudity than you’d find in some gay porn films and a stomach-turning sequence in which someone feuding with Phoenix defecates on the actor while he’s asleep”. Reportedly film buyers, after seeing it, were still uncertain whether it was a serious documentary or a mockumentary.

Brad Pitt

“Van Dyke/Goatboy”

Pitt told Britain’s The Sun that the reason he is growing a beard is because he’s bored.

Hulk Hogan

“The Handlebar”

Salvador Dali

“The Dali”

The famous painter’s trademark moustache, is characterized by long points bent or curved steeply upward which require an artificial styling aid (i.e. stash wax). Dalí published a book dedicated solely to his moustache.

 

John Waters

“The Pencil Moustache/Mouthbrow”

The pencil moustache is narrow, straight and thin as though it has been drawn on with a pencil. It is closely clipped, outlining the upper lip, with a wide shaven gap between the nose and moustache. It was the moustache of choice for the fictional character Gomez Addams of The Addams Family. Billionaire-aviator Howard Hughes was known for his iconic pencil moustache, which he grew after a 1946 plane crash.

Gene Shalit

“The Handlebar”

Known for his frequent use of puns, rocky relationship with Bryant Gumbel and the bushy, mother-of-all handlebar moustaches. (Handlebar moustaches resemble the handlebars of a motorcycle)

 

Billy Mays

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless—boys and women—and I am neither one”-Greek Quote-

 

 Geraldo Rivera

When he isn’t helping people in wheelchairs, he must be using his time grooming his bountiful salt-and-pepper man-stash.

 

Rollie Fingers

“The Spaghetti Stash”

The spaghetti stash got its name for its stereotypical association with Italian men. Rollie Fingers certainly had one bad-ass stash and a name to match.

Groucho Marx

“The Greasepaint-Satsh”

The greasepaint moustache and eyebrows Marx painted on originated as a quick-fix reaction prior to a vaudeville performance when he did not have time to apply the pasted-on moustache he had been using, plus he did not enjoy the removal of the moustache because of the effects of tearing an adhesive bandage off the same patch of skin every time he wore it.

Charlie Chaplin

“Sole Stash, The Chaplin,The Hitler Stache or The Toothbrush”

Chaplin devised his moustache from a bit of crepe hair belonging to Mark Swain, an American actor and vaudevillian, prolific throughout the 1910’s-1930’s. Both Marx and Chaplin wore artifical moustaches most of their lives.

Alexi Lalas

“Ginger Beard”

Ron Jeremy

The “Hedgehog’s” moustache make him possibly one of the most recognizable faces in the porn industry.

Strikebeards

 The strike beards were the result of the Writers Guild of America strike. Conan O’Brien, grew his first-ever beard, calling it “a hobby on my face”.

Ned Flanders

Lesbian fashion is something that has puzzled me to no end. As an openly gay, feminine woman, sexually attracted to other feminine women, I have always been curious as to why, in our day and age, it seems the majority of lesbians continue to assume more masculine roles and styles whether it’s in the clothes they wear, their comportment, or even the adoption of butch/femme gender roles in relationships. Lesbians come in a wide variety of shapes, moods and sizes and some are built with a lot more fashion sense than others. If you’ve ever wondered what lesbian fashion is, or better yet, how sexuality can have a style, I have broken down the main tenets of lesbian fashion and provided some insight as to why some lesbians identify with a particular lesbian style over another. This article will contain generalizations and stereotypes that may not be suitable for audiences that don’t have a sense of humour.

The Lipstick Lesbian

As the name suggests, the lipstick lesbian is not afraid of make-up, heels, dresses and accessories. She embraces the typical aspects of what is considered feminine, long hair, make-up, clothes that show off her curves. This often leads to the assumption that she is straight, bi-curious or at most bisexual. Given that lesbians had to hide their sexuality for so long, there are still many lesbian women today that may dress in a way that coincides with the heterosexual norm. Others will be open about their homosexuality yet still take on more feminine roles. They may prefer dating women who present themselves in a more masculine way. Then again, there are many lipstick lesbians who are attracted to girlie girls and also like looking like girlie girls. They blend right into mainstream heterosexual culture while being completely comfortable with their sexuality.

The Butch Lesbian

We love softball and hiking

Butch lesbians were particularly prominent in the working-class lesbian bar culture of the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. In the 1940s many butch lesbians were living a double life, dressing in typical feminine attire during their work week, saving their best shirt and tie for an underground bar event over the weekend. By the 1950s however, a new generation of butches emerged, wearing “butch” attire full-time. This usually limited them to a few occupations with no dress codes, such as factory work and cab driving. Nowadays many butches continue to commemorate their butch roots wearing trucker hats, construction boots and cut-off tee-shirts, pulling together the look with those stunning mullets.

The Tomboy/Soft Butch Lesbian

I didn’t know Hilary Swank’s character in “Boys Don’t Cry” could become a pop star!

The soft butch/chapstick lesbian is androgynous in appearance, shops in the Boy section of Men’s stores and is in great part responsible for hipster fashion. You’ll be able to spot her from her lopsided haircut and arm-sleeve tattoo, wearing skin tight black jeans, canvas shoes, a wallet-chain, and perhaps some thick, black-framed Clark Kent glasses. Though the soft butch typically has short hair, male clothes, and a masculine attitude she embraces gender dichotomies and chooses to blend them.

The Power Lesbian

Adopting the assured, strong qualities typically associated with men,the power lesbian is a career-driven, flat shoe, DKNY wearing woman-on-the-go, juggling full-time corporate responsibilities like the talent management of her employees, but always finding time to slip out of the office for a quick “boxed lunch”. (Who doesn’t love a lesbian pun?) The power lesbian is of the lesbian elite. She has money, connections and power, and will only be seen wearing the most sophisticated, tailored attire, letting everyone know who’s boss.

The Artsy Lesbian

You’re most likely to find the artsy lesbian working as an art curator at your local art gallery dressed head to toe in black Japanese designer clothing. Turtlenecks are also very popular among this group.

The Literary Lesbian

She listens to Ani DiFranco and Kenny Star, knows the complete works of Djuna Barnes, is an activist on a raw food diet and most likely using her cat’s excrement to fertilize her plants.

Drag Kings

John Goodman as “Deli Owner”

Drag kings dress in masculine drag personifying male gender stereotypes as part of their performance. A drag king routine usually incorporates dancing, lip-synching, singing, either individually or in groups.  Drag kings will exaggerate macho male characteristics and often impersonate male celebrities like Elvis Presley.

The techno fashion world is a smooth blending of technology and futuristic museum pieces rolled together to make up a line of clothing like nothing else to hit the runways. Sleek and full of artistry, there are no limits or boundaries for the techno fashion enthusiast. What was once a fashion faux pas with the likes of Barbarella, the techno fashion movement has captured with an inspiring collection of comfortable and practical garments to usher in a celebration of science and technology while maintaining style and grace.

The characteristics of the elite techno fashion market pays close attention to detail with fabrics, cuts, and clean defining lines. Not for everyone, the techno circuit can also intimidate with sheer and contouring lines that magnify body flaws to the hilt. So, if you were contemplating a gym membership, perhaps now is the time to sign on the dotted line. However, in the same vein as affliction clothing, the techno fashion statement sets the body free to express itself in its own unique way.

With your techno fashion clothing, complimentary accessories are a must. The techno fashion hand bags serve not only a fashion companion to the clothing line, but have proved to be some of the most practical and functional bags for gals on the go. The small, medium and large DJ bags are made with form fitting straps to hold tight when its time to hit the dance floor. No more flimsy straps and useless open compartments. The techno fashion bags are designed for utility, and lots of it with compartments for your cell phone and more, neatly arranged and secured for your active lifestyle.

The timing is right for the techno fashion wave, as women have had enough of binding clothing and restrictive shoes and accessories. The techno fashion line makes a bold statement that says you are a free spirit and refused to be defined by ruffles and frills. Power, strength and aggression are celebrated with a line of clothing that lets your inner strength shine through. The techno fashion line may not be for everybody, but for those who wear it well, it might just be the most liberating line of clothing ever created.

Today’s woman will do her own self definition, thank you, and the fashion moguls have finally caught on. Techno fashion offers a bevy of creations appropriate for street ware to Saturday night specials, with a boundless collection to reach the innermost expression of every woman. Choose from light and wispy dresses to full metal motifs, all created to shout it out that you are a leader, not a follower.

The female body was made to bend, stretch and take part in every aspect of physical activity, and for centuries, this basic human function has been ignored by the fashion industry. Whether by suggestion or by revolt, the tide has turned. Techno fashion clothing makes a bold statement that says “we are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore”. Be confident and be yourself with bold techno fashion garments for a dynamic statement that comfort and utility trumps everything else. Strong women are outspoken and assertive and have finally demanded a clothing line that agrees.

Tech gadgets are becoming increasingly incorporated into clothing, enhancing function and giving it a modern edge. Living in our fast-paced, highly tech-driven society, it is no wonder the fashion industry is becoming a number one hotspot for inserting gizmos. Turning snaps into switches, sneaking tracking devices into earrings for kids, electronics are being integrated into fabrics and here are some really neat wearable tech fashions merging fashion and practicality for the future.

Sports EyeTap

 

A very cool, sci-fi looking device that may one day come to replace eye glasses- the Sports EyeTap allows the wearer, while in a stadium, to follow a particular player in a field and have the EyeTap display statistics relevant to that player in a floating box above. This kind of technology would be useful in just about any field where a user would benefit from real-time interactive information. The EyeTap is also being explored as a potential tool for individuals with visual disabilities.

Pollution Dress

 

Designed to raise environmental awareness, the LED-Equipped “Climate” Gown responds to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere using conductive embroidery that transmits information to hundreds of tiny LED’s laced into the dress. This results in patterns that range from slow pulses to rapid flashes depending on the concentration of the greenhouse gas.

AK-39

 

Though for now the AK-39 is a wearable keyboard intended specifically for military use, devices like it are already underway for the general public, providing instant and reliable means of communication. Designed by iKey to be worn on the arm, this rugged keyboard provides a simple compact data-input solution that does not restrict the user’s arm movements. It is designed to meet MIL-461 standards and is intended for use in very harsh electro magnetic interference (EMI) environments, as well as withstand harsh environmental conditions such as rain, dirt or extreme temperatures.

Hug Shirt

 

The shirt that lets you give love even when you’re far away, the Hug Shirt, made by Cute Circuit, allows you to send and feel hugs to and from other Hug Shirt owning friends. The Hug Shirt is filled with wearable sensors and actuators, with a Bluetooth and Java enabled mobile phone- running on the ‘Hug Me’ Java software application. The sensors feel the strength of the touch, the warmth of the skin and the heart-rate.

MOTION RESPONSE sportswear

 

Designed by Kerri Wallace, MOTION RESPONSE sportswear, uses thermochromic printing techniques which enable fabric to change color in response to the wearer’s heart rate and body temperature. Much like the concept of a mood ring, the fabrics change colours based on the change in temperature. The technical term for this is thermochromism and as the athlete heats up, the Thermochromic ink disappears while the Thermochromic Liquid Crystal (TLC) ink becomes colorful. The color spectrum ranges from clear to turquoise to black and allows you, as well as others, to see the intensity of your workout.

HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam

 

Every lady needs a good clutch and now it seems she also won’t leave the house without her computer. Vivienne Tam’s stylish computer clutch has a 60GB hard drive and weighs 1kg. It has a 10-inch LCD display, a built-in webcam, and is powered by Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processors. Designed for the fashion-forward, woman on-the-go; the HP Mini 1000 sells for $1,199.

Dream Jammies

 

There is an element of creepy to this wearable tech fashion. Dream Jammies allow you to see how your loved ones are sleeping, even if they are on the other side of the world. The pajamas’ sensors are embedded into the embroidery and connect you to your loved ones’ phone which then displays an ambient colour that represents the state of sleep.

Designer and inventor, Alexander Reeder explains: “As you lay down to sleep, the screen fades from green to blue, the shade of blue reflecting your body temperature. As you roll around, the screen flickers red. By shaking the iPhone your partner is able to reach out, causing the chest of your pajamas to vibrate. Not pleasant while you sleep, but a perfect alarm clock. Not only are you able to keep in touch while living on opposite sides of the world, Dream Jammies offer insight into how you sleep by capturing data as you snooze.”