He mesmerised the world when his long anticipated role in the London 2012 Olympic Games was finally revealed as he ferried the Olympic torch along the Thames in a striking suit.

And despite now being in his late 30s, the former England star and father of four has been voted the sexiest man in a suit, beating off a host of other tailored gents to claim the accolade, including runner-up George Clooney and Daniel Craig.

In fourth and fifth place were Take That frontman Gary Barlow and Hugh Grant respectively, in the poll carried out by Austin Reed to launch their charitable Suite Swap. A spokesman said: “Undoubtedly David Beckham is one of the most stylish men to grace the planet. His allure is that he can pull off the casual scruffy look but transforms himself into a dashing gent when he dons a sharp suit. Equally George Clooney looks effortlessly debonair on the red carpet when he sports a tailored suit. A good suit can transform a man.”

Formula 1 driver Jenson Button drove into sixth place as the best dressed suit wearer, closely followed by Princes Harry and William. Button’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton was in ninth place followed by lovelorn Twilight actor Robert Pattinson.

Other men to carry off a good suit were named as X Factor host Dermot O’Leary, TOWIE heartthrob Mark Wright and Little Britain star David Williams.

— Daily Mail

Legal Rumble?

St James’s Palace last week confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had launched legal action for breach of privacy against the publishers of Closer magazine in France after it published topless pictures of Kate. The ‘furious’ Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were forced to put on a brave face as they attended a tea party held in their honour in Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier, a spokesman for the couple told Mail Online: “Their sadness has turned to anger and disbelief as we have learnt more about the photographs. We believe a red line has been crossed and we are consulting the French lawyers to see what, if any, action can be taken.” But in a show of unbelievable strength the Duchess of Cambridge managed to smile and laugh her way through a recent Diamond Jubilee tea party at the British High Commission. Kate sipped tea and chatted to several guests including shoe designer Jimmy Choo.

She appeared determined not to let the strain of the morning’s revelations show — laughing and chatting to the designer without an apparent care in the world — although William at times did appear to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. The couple were informed over breakfast of the scandal shortly before they departed to visit a mosque in Kuala Lumpur, and have seen copies of the pixellated photographs.

— Daily Mail

Pink Penelope

Fashion stylists like to advise against flaunting either the legs or the cleavage. But Penelope Cruz showed that rules are made to be broken as she dazzled in a revealing pink gown. The actress displayed her ample cleavage and her shapely legs in a baby-pink halter gown with draping at the bust and a thigh slit while attending the recent Toronto Film Festival premiere of Twice Born. The 38-year-old Oscar winner had flawless make-up and accessorised her glamorous movie-star look with a gold clutch and strappy platforms as she strutted outside Roy Thomson Hall. In Twice Born, the curvacious actress tackles the most challenging role of her career — next to Volver in 2006 — a single mother named Gemma.

Her character in the Italian-Spanish co-production, shot in Rome last fall, brings her teenage son to Sarajevo, where his father died in the Bosnian conflict years ago. Penelope, who speaks Spanish, Italian, French and English, was joined at the premiere by the filmmaker Sergio Castellitto, who also directed her in 2004’s Don’t Move Back.

— Daily Mail