Thinking Out Loud star Ed Sheeran ditches scruffy style and is spotted in swanky skate gear as he invests in fashion firm Hoax
Could the chart superstar be transformed into a fashionista after an unlikely new career move or is there another reason the usually dressed-down singer has re-branded his wardrobe?
WHEN it comes to music there is no stopping ED SHEERAN, yet even he would admit his style needs a bit of work.
But now the chart superstar could be transformed into a fashionista after an unlikely new career move.
I’ve learned that Ed has invested in local clothing brand Hoax in a bid to help the company go global.
The singer has been a big fan of the skater firm’s clothes since he was a kid because it was started in his home county of Suffolk.
And after years of buying their gear he is keen to help them out in any way he can.
That includes wearing their clothes on a public platform — as I’ve noticed Ed has been wearing Hoax clothing on every single promo appearance he has made over the past month.
A source revealed: “Ed is a huge fan of Hoax’s stuff and has been wearing their clothes since he was a little boy.
“He knows the guys at the company and wanted to help them out as much as he could so he has invested in their business.
“Now he is wearing the brand during as many promo appearances and performances as he can to get their name out there.
“It’s an amazing gesture from Ed. Everyone always talks about how generous he is but this is really going the extra mile.
“He adores Suffolk and loves giving back to his hometown. He still lives there and is regularly spotted down the local pub.”
Ed wore a white Hoax T-shirt in his official comeback shots and on various radio stints on the day of his single release, , and even wore their top for his first performance in a year at London’s Natural History Museum in November.
Hoax boss Jason Carter is overwhelmed to have him on board.
He said yesterday: “Ed is a great supporter of local businesses, the Hoax brand has been around since 1994 and he has always been a big fan. We’re stoked to have him as an ambassador representing Hoax worldwide”
The latter is an ode to Suffolk, where he sings about local sights including the fields and country roads.
Given his new venture, he missed a trick not mentioning his local fashion shop.
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Lindsay in Islam hint
LINDSAY LOHAN picked up far more than just fashion tips during her trip to Milan.
Fans believe the actress has finally converted to Islam after she returned to Instagram on Saturday for the first time since wiping her account clean and wrote “Alaikum salam” in her bio, which translates to “and unto you peace” in Arabic.
Tweets of congratulations flooded the star, pictured over the weekend in the Italian city for Men’s Fashion Week along with stars including PARIS HILTON and SOFIA RICHIE.
Lindsay caused a stir when she was pictured carrying a Koran on the first day of her community service at a New York kids’ centre last year.
The images fuelled speculation that the Catholic-born actress had converted to Islam. She broke her silence in Bizarre last year, admitting she was indeed studying the religion. She told me at the time: “I’m a very spiritual person and I’m really open to learning.
“America has portrayed holding a Koran in such a different way to what it actually is. We all believe in something and at the end of the day it all ties to a god or a spiritual adviser.”
I wonder if she managed to get Paris and Sofia on board.
Funny pair Sher the workload
PRODUCERS of stage show Funny Girl are ensuring SHERIDAN SMITH stays in tip-top condition this time round.
I’m told the actress will perform just over half the dates of the musical’s UK tour after her gruelling schedule last year saw her signed off for two months with exhaustion.
Sheridan will miss ten out of 24 weeks when the show re-opens in Manchester on February 18, making sure she is suitably rested after putting in seven strenuous two-hour shows every week.
It means the star – who made a triumphant return to the stage at London hotspot Bunga Bunga last Thursday six weeks after the sad passing of her dad Colin to cancer – will play Fanny Brice for no more than three weeks at a time under the new measures.
Last night a rep for Sheridan said: “It is absolutely standard for tours of theatre productions to have leading actors sharing the run.
“Other examples of this include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, The Bodyguard, Ghost, The Sound Of Music, Oliver, Annie, Priscilla and Chicago, to name but a few.
“As such, this is the schedule the producers put in place for Funny Girl.”
Sheridan will alternate with understudy Natasha Barnes, who was forced to step in for the star when she fell ill last May.
During her last run she lashed out at producers on Twitter and accused them of pressurising her to perform during her dad’s cancer battle.
But after taking two months out, she returned to rave reviews, which I’ve no doubt will only continue.
Hopefully her legions of fans won’t be too disappointed.
KATY PERRY gave ORLANDO BLOOM a surprise for his 40th birthday – a new look.
The star debuted this strawberry blonde do as she threw a party for her British boyfriend in Palm Springs, California, over the weekend.
But it was overshadowed by another treat – an appearance from Orlando’s mum Sonia.
The Pirates Of The Caribbean star called her arrival “the best gift ever”.
Perhaps he’s not a fan of ginger hair after all.
Lou wanna be pals?
LOUIS TOMLINSON has found help for his solo career from former enemy JAMES ARTHUR.
X Factor champ James, recently made up with the 1D star after a the pair had a big spat.
In an exclusive chat, he said: “Louis is now with the same management as me. We talked quite a lot about collaborating. I just sent him a lot of tunes as I knew he was on the lookout. He has all my back catalogue.
“We had a phone conversation to clear the air. He got to see that I was a different person and that helped us bond.”
How times have changed.
LAST week photos emerged of THE WEEKND kissing SELENA GOMEZ.
But it didn’t take long for model BELLA HADID, who he split from just two months ago, to air her feelings on the matter.
The next day, she enjoyed a girly meal with her sister GIGI and mum YOLANDA, who I’m sure had some choice words about her daughter’s ex.
The couple dated for 18 months but difficulties co-ordinating schedules led to their break-up.
It looks like The Weeknd is having no such problems with Selena.
IF there’s one person who knows a thing or two about winning awards, it’s SIR ELTON JOHN.
After bagging enough to fill a whole trophy room, he’s been giving a helping hand to his artist ANNE-MARIE, who is up for three gongs at the Brits thanks to her CLEAN BANDIT collaboration Rockabye.
But recalling an accident on the phone, she exclusively revealed: “When Elton called me the first time, at the end of the conversation I totally forgot who I was on the phone to and I said ‘love you’ like it was my mum.”
Critics’ Choice winner RAG’N’BONE MAN also took a call from Elton, saying: “He called me up the other day. It was ‘unknown’ and usually I wouldn’t answer an unknown number. It could have been PPI.”
Although there are quite a few surprise choices and one or two shock snubs, I’m thrilled LITTLE MIX finally broke the snobbery barrier to be nominated for
British Group as well as Best Single and Best Video.
I’ll have my fingers crossed for them on February 22 when the ceremony takes place.
Bizmeter: Dan's diary
Monday
A STATUE of much-loved entertainer CILLA BLACK will be unveiled outside the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool, where she worked as a cloakroom attendant before hitting the big time. Tune in to ITV’s This Morning at 11am for the big reveal.
Wednesday
THE stars will be out at LA’s Microsoft Theater for the People’s Choice Awards. TOM HANKS, JENNIFER LOPEZ, ELLEN DEGENERES and ROBERT DOWNEY JR are likely to be there. FIFTH HARMONY will make a debut performing as a four-piece.
Thursday
FILM buffs should keep an eye on the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. Manifesto, in which CATE BLANCHETT has 13 roles, and JACK BLACK’s The Polka King, about a musician who fools investors, are among films being premiered.
Friday
NATALIE PORTMAN plays what looks to be the role of a lifetime in Jackie, a film based on the story of JFK’s widow as she fights grief to protect his political legacy following his assassination. It’s out in cinemas today.