Photos Courtesy of AEG

Annie Horth lives and breathes fashion. One of Canada’s most sought-after stylists, Horth has been by Céline Dion’s side for well over a decade, working closely with the superstar singer to dress her in stunning couture dresses and gowns. Dion’s regular stylist since 2006, Horth created the costumes for Dion’s 1999 European tour, as well as her 2008-09 Taking Chances world tour. So when Dion decided to return to Las Vegas for a second run at Caesars Palace, she turned to her trusted friend to give her a classic, romantic, yet modern, look for her new show.

Known for her signature elegant, clean and classic style, Horth worked side-by-side with some of the biggest names in fashion: Armani Privé, Atelier Versace, Lanvin, Elie Saab, Balmain and Givenchy, among others, to accomplish her goal.

Horth says she always begins her design projects by identifying a few key words on which to focus her creativity. In the case of Dion, it should come as no surprise that Horth chose “glamorous,” “sophisticated,” “sensual” and “contemporary”— words synonymous with Dion herself.

Horth says she used photographs of Sophia Loren, Marlene Dietrich and Grace Kelly as inspiration for the looks seen in the show. For Horth, outfitting Dion was about “pure elegance,” she says, “a concept Céline embodies beautifully.”

Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment Corp.

The Linq, a vibrant new retail, dining and entertainment experience aimed at attracting Gen X and Y visitors, will have a Bourbon Street vibe and be “the new address for fun on the Las Vegas Strip,” said Gary Loveman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Caesars Entertainment Corporation, in announcing the $550 million project the company is building.

Construction of the pedestrian promenade and entertainment district will fill a void in the heart of the Strip, giving visitors a walkable urban party hub, said Jan Jones, Caesars Entertainment’s senior vice president of Communications. “[Visitors] want something edgier and hipper. They want to club hop and bar hop.”

And they’ll have plenty of places for that. The Linq, when it opens in 2013, will be made up primarily of bars and restaurants—many with rooftop lounges and patio seating. Some retail will also be mixed throughout the district. But what visitors will notice first is the change to the skyline when the world’s tallest observation wheel gets built behind Flamingo Las Vegas.

Nine feet taller than the Singapore Flyer and 107 feet taller than the London Eye, The Las Vegas High Roller will top out at 550 feet. The wheel will have 28 enclosed, transparent sphere cabins, each holding up to 40 passengers. It will take 30 minutes for the wheel to make one revolution.

The Linq will be constructed across from Caesars Palace. As part of the plans, the Imperial Palace will be renovated and renamed, while O’Sheas Casino will be rebuilt and incorporated into The Linq.

Photo Courtesy of Brian Bowen Smith / AEG Live

“I feel like I’ve climbed a very giant mountain and I’m standing right on top with my arms opened wide, breathing rarified air,” Shania Twain said of becoming the next superstar headliner at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. And now, as you read this, Twain is somewhere planning for the December 2012 launch of her show “Shania: Still The One.”

“I will now let my imagination run wild,” Twain told fans, saying she’s entering “a world of endless creative possibilities” as she prepares to bring her “pop country spin” to Las Vegas. Twain said the two-year residency will allow her to design an amazing experience for her fans. “This is a huge freedom and I’m going to go nuts.”

Twain, the top-selling female country artist of all time, has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide and had 18 top-ten songs, eight of which reached No. 1 in the United States.

Photo Courtesy of JSquared Photography/Joe and Jared Schlachet

Matt Goss is bringing that old-time glamorous “style and swagger” back to Caesars Palace, where he performs Friday and Saturday evenings in The Gossy Room at Cleopatra’s Barge. A contemporary reinvention of the vintage Rat Pack swing, he entertains guests with a full-blown production featuring a mix of his career hits, songs off his new album and popular standards like Sinatra’s “Luck Be a Lady” and “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder.

Goss, former lead singer in the British band Bros that sold more than 17-million albums, was back in the recording studio recently. Here’s what fans can expect:

Tell us about the live album. I just recorded a live album at Capitol Records where Sinatra recorded. There was a private audience of ninety people. We played a few songs, chatted with the audience, then played a few more songs.

You’re also working with music producer Ron Fair on an original album? Ron is legendary. He’s the first producer who wants to enhance my music, not change it. Ron has such a massive musical hard drive in his head. He’ll come up with references from 1942 or the mid-sixties, or an Italian artist I’ve never heard of. He’s a profound influence on this record.

What details can you share? I’ve written all the songs for it. The working title is Midnight Phone Calls, which stems from me calling my managers, [Pussycat Dolls founder] Robin Antin and [Britney Spears confidant] Larry Rudolph, asking if they like a certain song. My creative energy comes alive from midnight to eight a.m. My new single, “Fighting for Love,” is a beautiful song with a great string arrangement.

How do you feel about comparisons to Sinatra? It’s incredibly flattering being compared to him, but also a bit daunting. I’m greatly influenced by that era in terms of fashion and the kind of camaraderie and swagger he had with his friends. I get a kick out of bringing that back to Las Vegas. When you are compared to one of your heroes, it’s almost too big to handle.

You mention fashion. Who are some of your favorite designers? Vivienne Westwood because she’s quirky and true to what she does. Tom Ford and John Varvatos.

You have a tattoo that reads “Civility Costs Nothing.” What does it mean? It’s been my mantra for years. Civility is an endless list of little moments of common courtesy that can change people’s day.

Growing up, who inspired you musically? Sinatra and Nat King Cole, and of course if you’re a Brit, you grow up listening to the Beatles. I was a real Ska boy. Ska music is heavily influenced by reggae, but a little more edgy with a bit of punk and soul. I was also profoundly influenced by Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

Who are some of your favorite female singers? Sade, Billie Holiday, Anita Baker, Nina Simone—and Brenda Russell’s “Piano in the Dark” is brilliant.

Who would you like to do a duet with? Céline Dion. She is a massive talent and the warmest person. I’m also a huge Gladys Knight fan. She has one of the greatest soul voices in history.

What can people expect to see in your Caesars Palace show? If you love great music, swagger and flirtation, sexy dancers in fishnets called The Dirty Virgins, and a good time, come to my show on Friday and Saturday nights. We perform our hearts out for two hours. I do a Ska swing version of “Hotel California.” I’m told that Don Henley’s daughter said it’s her second-favorite version. Whether that’s true or not, I’m going to believe it. After the show the room becomes a club until three a.m.

You are a spiritual person. How does this help you creatively? I’m not massively religious, but I have a lot of faith. It will never leave me. I have faith in goodness, in kindness, in compassion, in burying the ego. I have a saying, “My space is your space and your space is mine.” I can effectively make someone’s day better and you can make mine better.  We have to be more conscious, especially with social media because our space spreads even further. All I can do is be myself. Everything I do is in a public forum and it’s been that way for many years. The best way is to kick off your flip-flops, put your feet on a beach somewhere, and be conscious of where you’re standing.

For our female readers—are you currently single or taken? I’m out of a long relationship, something that was a fairly painful experience, and I’m still trying to find my way. I love women and I’m enjoying being single, but I’m still looking for that someone who takes my breath away. I don’t really care what kind of work she does as long as she is passionate about it. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s glamorous or not. There are some benefits of being with someone who understands the entertainment industry, but at the same time there is something very interesting about someone who isn’t involved in that world. I can’t compromise my heart. I want to find someone I can really be candid with.

Photograph by Danny Inglewood

The change to winter’s cooler temperatures can take a toll on all skin types, causing dryness and fine lines. But no matter what Mother Nature does, you can still look and feel your best.

Maintaining hydration in your skin during the harsh winter months depends on two key factors: exfoliation and the use of hydrating products. As we age, our normal cell turnover slows down, causing skin to become dry. Exfoliation is a simple way to improve skin texture and increase product absorption.

Planet Hollywood Spa by Mandara offers several treatments to help combat dry skin. Mandara’s signature Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial is “the first-ever treatment of its kind that allows skin to clean, peel and heal in one session,” explains Jennifer Greene, Mandara’s aesthetician. “Patented micro-encapsulated enzyme therapy enhances the exfoliation process by breaking down dead cells that make the skin appear dull and uneven without damaging living skin cells.”

Through resurfacing, this facial targets fine lines, superficial scarring and uneven skin tone. Greene says a single treatment can leave your skin noticeably smoother and more refined.

Advice for winter skin care from Mandara aesthetician Jennifer Greene:

Studies show that ninety percent of wrinkles are sun-induced. Even in winter, the sun is damaging. Always wear sunscreen to protect against spots and premature aging.

Maintaining hydration is equally important. Drink sufficient water throughout the day to stay hydrated inside as well as on the surface.

Don’t be afraid of change. Our skin changes with the seasons, and you may need to use different products: perhaps a creamy cleanser or heavier moisturizer, depending on your skin type.

Use hydrating products. Look for ingredients such as avocado oil, peptides and antioxidants.

Defy the eyes’ aging. Invest in an Elemis eye cream with anti-aging benefits and hydrating ingredients. With proper care, you can diminish the appearance of crow’s feet around the delicate eye area.

Manicurist Deborah Lippmann has worked with the top fashion houses including Valentino, Rodarte and Donna Karan, and designed polishes for Lady Gaga, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Jessica Parker and past Caesars Palace headliner Cher.

Lippmann even mixed a special nail color to complement Mariah Carey’s 1998 Academy Awards^® dress. The color was named “Satin Doll” for its shimmering beige shade, and so began The Deborah Lippmann Collection. Today the collection contains more than 45 shades of long-wearing nail lacquer with names inspired by popular song titles.

Vegas Player recently sat down for a chat with the nail aficionado.

What are the hottest nail trends for the holiday season?
We will be seeing a lot of jewel tones and glitter. Layering is also a huge trend. It’s one of the things that got me into making color to get the right shade.

What’s the best length and shape for a woman’s nails?
The length of the tip of your nail should never be longer than the base of your nail. In terms of shape, an almond shape is very chic and sophisticated.

For do-it-yourself lacquer lovers who can’t get to a salon, what’s your advice?
Hydration is key, so hand cream is important. Second, always keep the edge filed. Every three to four days, run a file across the tip to keep them smooth. Third, push your cuticles back once a week.

You’ve collaborated with a number of stars, such as Cher. How did this come about? I was doing Cher’s nails for her tour and she had been layering four colors to achieve a look she had in mind. We were waiting forever between coats, so I said, maybe we should put this entire concept into one bottle. That’s how “Believe” was born. The color is silver and gold. It’s fantastic onstage and goes with everything she wears.

You’re an accomplished singer. Is that how the concept came about for naming your polishes after song titles? Music is close to my heart. It was emotional branding. I thought if you knew the song then the name would take you someplace else. It’s cute and fun and resonates on a different level.

Photo Courtesy of Caesars Entertainment Corp.

Finding a steak in Las Vegas is as simple as finding a blackjack table. But locating that perfect cut of meat—that great steak—is a bit more challenging. For chefs, the type and quality of the beef they buy, the cut, how long it’s aged and the kind of seasoning they use are all factors that go into creating an amazing signature steak.

The top grade of beef for most is Prime Black Angus. As for the cut? “The rib-eye is my personal favorite,” says Johnny Church, executive chef at P.J. Clarke’s inside The Forum Shops at Caesars. “It has the most marbling and the cap of the rib-eye is so tender and juicy.”

That juiciness quota increases when the cut contains the bone, is aged for a specific length of time and is simply seasoned, as Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab operating partner Dave Quillen notes when talking about Joe’s signature 24-ounce rib-eye.

“This melt-in-your-mouth steak is dry-aged for thirty-five days under the watchful eye of one of New York’s finest butchers. It’s then hand-cut to our specifications and directly shipped to us,” Quillen explains. “We then season it with salt, pepper and butter, and broil it to perfection in our 1,700-degree broiler.”

Chef Leonard Young at the Steakhouse at Bill’s agrees. His 16-ounce bone-in rib-eye steak is also “dry-aged and well marbled to enhance the flavor.” But he says it’s the “tenderness and low-fat content” of his filet mignon, with its consistency of flavor, that has diners raving about the steakhouse inside Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.

Less marbled than the rib-eye, the 40-day dry-aged New York strip being served at BOA Steakhouse is prepared rather simply, according to Brent Berkowitz, the restaurant’s director of development. It’s liberally seasoned with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper, cooked in a broiler, and finished with fleur de sel (sea salt) from Normandy.

Photograph by Robert John Kley

Once Jaymes Vaughan finishes tearing tank tops in half and flirting with a television camera, he starts a backstage tour of the $10 million Chippendales Theater in Las Vegas where he’s asked, “What is the one question you get most?” The chiseled Chippendales dancer and lead singer with the spiky blond hair chuckles and says, “Do we get fully nude?”

He laughs again and answers, “We’re not going to show you everything. We keep it classy here. But you definitely do see your share of skin.”

Vaughan is one of only 24 men in the world who can call themselves a Chippendales dancer. “The rest are imitators,” he says before talking about the cast. “All the guys have real jobs. They’re more than a pretty face and six-pack.” In fact, they’re medical students, professors, realtors, web designers, entrepreneurs, mortgage brokers, chefs, construction workers and stock brokers by day, Chippendales dancers by night.

Started in 1979, and now seen by more than two-million people worldwide each year, the Chippendales have just one permanent home: the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, where an intimate 400-seat theater, retail boutique and the Flirt Lounge were built specifically for them. Another traveling troupe of the male revue tours cities in the United States and across the globe with stops in Central and South America, Europe, Canada, Asia and South Africa.

It’s those stopovers in places like Zurich, Switzerland, which can get a little crazy. Like the time a girl climbed up a fire escape to reach Vaughan’s hotel-room window. In another city, he says, he jumped out a second-story window to avoid a crowd of girls in the lobby, just so he could grab a bite to eat.

“You go overseas and say ‘Chippendales’—it’s insane,” Vaughan says. “These girls see us as rock stars. We have paparazzi and people following our tour bus.”

They’re chasing their fantasy. And while Chippendales is known as being a hotspot for bachelorette parties in Las Vegas, Vaughan points out that the crowds are still quite mixed. “It’s something that works for girls who are eighteen and women who are ninety. We had three generations come one time. They drove cross-country from Maine and ended up in Las Vegas. Every single one of them had a good time for a different reason. So it really speaks to the fact that there is something for everybody. Everyone leaves here with their fantasy fulfilled.”

Photo by Danny Inglewood

Kenneth Shey has compiled a wine list at The Range Steakhouse at Harrah’s Las Vegas that’s attracting national attention. A respectful mix of recognizable vineyards and hard-to-find small family vintners, it recently caught the eye of connoisseurs—earning the restaurant a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Shey also knows the secrets of pairing a great wine with an equally matched meal. It all starts, he says, with knowing your guests. Shey offers some sage advice about how to marry wine with food, whether for an intimate meal for two or a festive dinner party for eight. First and foremost, he says, is to find a wine with a nice structure and balance, and to match it with light or contrasting flavors.

Chicken with a white-wine sauce and fresh vegetables, he says, pairs best with a sauvignon blanc, with its herbal components, or with a light red in the form of a pinot noir. Shey believes the solid texture of pork works perfectly with a wine from France’s Rhône Valley or a Grenache/Syrah mix because of its strength. His suggestion is a “stunning Châteauneuf-du-Pape, ‘New Castle of the Pope,’ because it has gorgeous flavors with red-dark berry and is a bit smoky.”

A rosemary-crusted rack of lamb is a classic match for cabernet, as the aromatic style of the herb draws out the fruit in the wine, while a boneless rib-eye filet featuring a Delmonico mustard-brandy peppercorn sauce is best with a red zinfandel because the wine’s “nice ripe fruit and slight tang” bring the flavors together, Shey says.

As for fish: The Gewürztraminer grape variety has spiciness and a slight apricot citrus with hints of honey, making it pair well with ahi tuna, soy sauce and the heat of wasabi. “The flavors match up” magnificently, Shey points out.

Photograph by Laspata DeCaro for Blackglama

If Michael Jackson was the King of Pop, his sister Janet could be called the Queen. The youngest of the Jackson kids grew up to become a chart-topping performer, whose album sales have topped 100 million as she brought her own provocative style to dazzling performances. Looking back on more than three decades in show business, she says, “To survive as long as I have and to have as much success was not easy. What keeps me going? God. I start every day with a prayer, and I try to live my life in a way that I have no regrets. Life is too short.”

Jackson’s life and career have had highs and lows, but she’s always found ways to reinvent herself. The adorable fresh-faced kid from the TV hits Good Times, Diff’rent Strokes and Fame became a sexy performer with all the right moves, scoring with songs like “Nasty,” “Control” and “All For You,” and went on to make her mark on the big screen in Poetic Justice and the box-office-busting comedy Nutty Professor II: The Klumps opposite Eddie Murphy.

Now, she’s become the family superstar who’s keeping the Jackson legacy alive after the devastating death of her brother. But she insists, “I don’t think about that. I just try to stay focused on my music and my acting. Michael and I grew up sharing our dreams. I was his little sister and he always knew that I had his back. Still not a day goes by that I don’t think of him.”

And Jackson has made her brother part of her current world tour, “Number Ones: Up Close and Personal.” She does a virtual duet of “Scream” with Michael as he appears on a screen on the stage. “I didn’t have doubts about including that,” she says. “I wanted to give something to the fans who are, like our family, grieving. Performing with Mike is therapeutic. The energy of ‘Scream’ is fierce but it makes me smile inside when I hear him, when I hear his voice.”

The main feature of Jackson’s show is not the sexy spectacles that made her famous, but the hit songs that have endured. “This is the first time that I have done concerts where I only sing what the fans made number one,” she says. “It is great to revisit these songs and feel the love from the audience all over again.

“What’s funny is that you would think at the end of a concert that you would be exhausted,” she continues. “But the energy that’s flowing through you is so intense that, after the show, I’m still on a high. You’re still wound up, so you can’t go to sleep. You’re trying to make yourself relax.”

Vegas Memories

Jackson has some special memories of taking her tour to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. “I was really looking forward to being back in Las Vegas,” she says. “It’s an exciting city, with people from all over the world. There is something to do any time of the day or night, and I enjoy seeing the shows, shopping, visiting friends. My family has been going there for as long as I can remember.”

In fact, she began her career in Las Vegas when she was seven years old, joining the Jackson family act onstage to do a Mae West impersonation in a duet of “I Got You Babe” with her brother Randy. Those who were there remember that audiences loved it.

Although she’s singing the songs that made her famous and earned her a top spot on the list of wealthiest female entertainers, Jackson promises to have a new album in the works. “I will go back to record at some point soon,” she says. “I am always thinking about new songs, but I am not sure what they will be yet. My music is very personal and I write about what is going on in my life.”

Photo courtesy AEG Live

We probably won’t witness Rod Stewart doing a tango on the Dancing with the Stars stage anytime soon, but the rocker’s footwork was on display when he kicked off his new two-year residency at Caesars Palace. A soccer fanatic, Stewart booted autographed soccer balls into the audience while singing “Hot Legs” at his opening night show.

With his career in its fifth decade and more than 100 million records sold worldwide, Stewart has an extraordinary catalog of music to choose from for his show, Rod Stewart: The Hits.

“This is the first night of a thirty-four year run, on and off,” Stewart joked with fans before tearing into an evening of his biggest hits, including “Maggie May,” “Rhythm Of My Heart,” “Forever Young,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “You Wear It Well” and the Vegas-appropriate “Some Guys Have All The Luck” and “Shake Your Money Maker.”

Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment Corp.

A new side bet at Three Card Poker tables could pay off up to $1 million, thanks to a bonus jackpot available exclusively at Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas resorts.

The game, Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus™, was unveiled this summer, and pays players generously if their three cards and the dealer’s three cards combine to make certain five- and six-card hands. Top prize for a six-card Diamond Super Royal is a cool $1 million; players hitting other suited Super Royals rake in $100,000.

Unlike other table-game jackpots, which take time to build and reset to lower amounts once they’ve hit, the top prize in the new Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus™ pays $1 million all the time without any progressive element. That has Jeff Kowalchuk, Caesars Entertainment’s director of corporate table games, excited about the possibilities for players to strike it rich, and he expects the jackpot to attract more players. In anticipation, Caesars Entertainment has 83 Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus™ tables across its Vegas properties.

“Giant, life-changing jackpots always have been available on slot machines, but there has never been a table-game jackpot of this magnitude available to customers on an everyday basis,” he says. “Our goal was to create something new.”