Man Crush Monday: John Wayne

Hey there princess!

John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison (1907 - 1979), was an American actor and filmmaker famous for his portrayal of the classic cowboy.



While working as a prop boy, Wayne was discovered by director Raoul Walsh who cast him in The Big Trail (1930) and gave him his new name. The film was a flop, but audiences loved Wayne and his career in B movie horse operas took off as a result. His first real success as an actor was with Stagecoach (1939), after which he was afforded the opportunity to star in numerous box office successes, even winning an Academy Award for True Grit (1969). He also earned the nickname "Duke."



Biographer Ronald Davis said, "John Wayne personified for millions the nation's frontier heritage. Eighty-three of his movies were Westerns, and in them he played cowboys, cavalrymen, and unconquerable loners extracted from the Republic's central creation myth." Certainly, Wayne meant more to America than a gunslinger on the big screen. He was a larger-than-life icon that symbolized the values and ideals of his country.



Get a guy like John:

• Aims high
• Shoots straight
• Has a faithful steed
• Works hard
• Has a cool nickname

Man Crush Monday: Jimmy Stewart

Hey there princess! Happy New Year!

With today marking the close of an absolutely fabulous holiday season, I wanted to take a minute to pay homage to one of my favorite male stars of all time: James Stewart.

James Maitland Stewart (1908 - 1997) was an American actor and military officer who is one of the most popular stars in film history. Not only was he nominated for five Academy Awards for films such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1940), It's A Wonderful Life (1947), and The Philadelphia Story (1940), which he won. Frank Capra once said of him, "I think he's probably the best actor who's ever hit the screen."

In addition to his talent as an actor, Stewart was also a decorated military officer in both World War II and the Vietnam War, rising to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserve. He had deep family military roots as well: both of his grandfathers served in the Civil War, and his father, Alexander Maitland Steward, served in both the Spanish-American War and World War I. James Stewart went on many of his military assignments uncredited due to his celebrity status, and spent much of 1944 with the 2nd and 20th Bomb Wings flying over Germany. There, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three oak clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre.

Get a guy like Jimmy:

• Can laugh at the silly things in life.
• Has a flair for the dramatic.
• Loves his family and his country.
• Looks good in loafers. 

Man Crush Monday: Leonardo DiCaprio

Hey there princess!

This week's ginchy guy has captivated audiences since he was saving Rose from dire circumstances in Titanic.

Whether he's a star-crossed lover, skilled artist, charming conman, strategic dreamer, or a mysterious guy who throws a great party, Leo is always portraying my idea of the perfect leading man. Though, it doesn't hurt that he also owns his own island off of Belize.

Perhaps my favorite attribute of Mr. DiCaprio is his ability to float seamlessly from loose t-shirts to expertly tailored tuxedos. Seriously! With those sea foam blue-green eyes for accessories, he can make anything look like haute couture.

His most recent cinematic endeavor has been to take on F. Scott Fitzgerald's misunderstood playboy Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby. All of his suits for the film were made by Brooks Brothers, a men's clothing company founded in 1818.

Watch the film below for more information about costuming in The Great Gatsby, in theaters now.