The Kingfish, Huey Long, a New-Deal-era governor, was a master of the style, followed closely by his younger brother, Earl.

ECONOMIST: American politics

Skate-skiing, a faster but harder-to-master skate-style motion that originated in Europe in the 1980s, is growing in popularity across North America, and the Methow has plenty of dedicated followers.

BBC: Cross-country skiing in Washington��s Methow Valley

By the time the clarion call was sounded by the Museum of Modern Art's "Modern Architecture" show in 1932, he had become a master of the International style.

WSJ: Finnish Master Alvar Aalto | By Ada Louise Huxtable

With his backroom savvy, copious network and tidy bank balance, he is also a master of Thailand's old-style politicking.

CNN: 'I Have Time'

He became a master at wing-chun, the kung fu style best used for close-quarter fighting.

BBC: Bruce Lee: The kung-fu legend

Bond is not only a master spy and seducer, he is also a style icon.

FORBES: James Bond vs. Darth Vader: Style Edition

Captain Jeff Stevens--an affable, dry-witted Brit who's sailed these waters for 16 years--spent three years handcrafting this traditional-style boat, using native woods from the Grenadines and working with master shipwrights from the island of Carriacou. (The name Jambalaya is an anagram of their initials.) Since 2002 he's lived on board and taken guests of the private island resort Petit St.

FORBES: Places We Love

After a round on the inflatable floating trampoline, jet-powered surfboards or James Bond-style underwater "sea bobs, " whoever's lucky enough to commandeer the master cabin can wash off in what Connor believes is the world's first yacht-board aromatherapy shower.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

While the hotel interiors, library and rooms were designed by grand master Jacques Garcia to have Parisian flair (many have a claw foot tub in the room, faux garret-style), it is the restaurant that is getting a lot of early buzz, with rave reviews already coming from the New York Times and top food blogs.

BBC: Openings: Maldives, New York, Edinburgh, Boston