Table of contents for June 2013 in ELLE

"That ringtone. She would recognize it anywhere…She knew before she pulled her phone from her bag what she would find, but she was still shocked to see those two words on her caller ID screen: Miranda Priestly…Andy took a deep breath, hit ignore, and tossed her phone back into her bag. It started ringing again almost immediately." Tuesday, June 4 DEVIL'S SPAWN Call off the search for your next beach read: Revenge Wears Prada , the sequel to Lauren Weisberger's devilishly dishy 2003 best-seller, hits bookshelves today. That's all. Tuesday, June 4 ON HER OWN Fiery Furnaces front woman and hipster style icon Eleanor Friedberger releases Personal Record , her sophomore solo effort, full of clever and refreshing '70s-inspired pop/folk songs. Download now: "Stare at the Sun," an…

There's a scene in the very funny Pitch Perfect in which the winsome Brittany Snow steps naked into a shower with the equally beautiful Anna Kendrick. Totally starkers, they've just finished belting out a song together when Snow stops, points to her body, and says, "I'm pretty confident about all this." How refreshing—a woman actually admitting to liking her own body. There's another scene (okay, I really liked this movie, based on a book written by ELLE contributing editor Mickey Rapkin) in which the character played by the fantastic, amazing, hilarious—how many glowing adjectives can I use to describe her?—breakout star Rebel Wilson explains why she calls herself "Fat Amy": "So twig bitches like you don't do it behind my back." Women seem to take a bifurcated approach to their…

• NAME: Samira Nasr PROVENANCE: Montreal NOW: Brooklyn PROFESSION: ELLE Fashion Director THIS MONTH: "There's Something About Kerry" (page 224) and "Singular Sensation" (page 244). "I've known Kerry [Washington] for a long time, so it was a dream come true to actually get to shoot a cover with her. I've seen her progression over the years in terms of her style and in terms of her becoming this superstar. It was really fun to spend the day with her. She's just a fundamentally good person." BONA FIDES: BA, philosophy, Concordia University, Montreal; MA, journalism, New York University IF I WEREN'T A FASHION DIRECTOR, I'D BE…: A student. "If I could make a profession out of being in school, I would. My dream is to go back and pursue my studies…

Some seven years ago, shortly after moving from New York City, where I'd lived for more than a decade, back to my hometown of Hong Kong, I was invited to Sunday races at the Jockey Club, a swank, glass-enclosed aerie overlooking the racetrack, where punters drink beer and bet on horses. I was seated next to a dapper Chinese man who had just returned from London. I asked if he had gone for work or pleasure. "To have lunch with the Queen, actually," he deadpanned. I played along: "So what'd she serve?" At some point during his description of his and the Queen's shared obsession with horse breeding, I realized he wasn't joking. (He gallantly chose to ignore my gauche attempt at humor.) I'd been away from Hong Kong too…

1. Donna Karan New York 2. Lucky Brand 3. Alexander Wang 4. Suno 5. Monique Péan BOTTEGA VENETA BCBGMAXAZRIA DIANE VON FURSTENBERG 1. Leather and metal necklace, DONNA KARAN NEW YORK, $1,395, at select Donna Karan New York stores nationwide | 2. Nylon-and-spandex swimsuit, LUCKY BRAND, $98, visit everythingbutwater.com | 3. Leather mule, ALEXANDER WANG, $775, call 212-977-9683 | 4. Cotton dress, SUNO, price on request, collection at Hu's Wear, Washington, DC | 5. Fossilized jet and fossilized woolly mammoth bangle with yellow gold and white diamonds, MONIQUE PéAN, price on request, visit moniquepean.com | Model at left wears: Silk dress, $2,720, leather bag, leather boots, prices on request, all, BOTTEGA VENETA, visit bottegaveneta.com…

BROOKLYNRachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel's debut collection of minimalist totes comes with a bit of a surprise, in the form of brightly hued interiors. The bags are available at Steven Alan in New York City and Madison in Los Angeles. mansurgavriel.com NEW YORKUniqlo is on a roll for spring. The Japanese retailer continues its American invasion via its latest collection, created with New York City–based Suno designers Erin Beatty and Max Osterweis. The label's signature oversize florals crop up on dresses and skinny jeans; best of all, each piece rings in at under $40. uniqlo.com COPENHAGENThink Scandinavian design is strictly streamlined? Freya Dalsjø's wares are evidence to the contrary. The Danish designer's fall collection features linebacker-worthy shoulder shapes, risqué cutouts, and a healthy dose of fur (fauxhawk strictly…

Let's face it: Few fashion quandaries are more trying than the search for the perfect swimsuit. Luckily, we've saved you some of the legwork by cherry-picking the best suits of the season, based on both your silhouette and your destination. Whether you're blessed with a boyish figure and like to summer in Bar Harbor, Maine, or plan to flaunt your enviable curves while island-hopping in the Caribbean, we have everything you need to make a splash wherever the warm months take you. Now, on to those travel plans….…

After reading a New York Times article about newly elected Republican senator from New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte—who when she sat down in a congressional reading room had a security guard tell her it was "for senators only"—comedienne Amy Schumer tweeted the story, adding: "People still try to order drinks from me before I go on at clubs #thingsaretoughallover." "That just happened again," she recalls, weeks later. "I was headlining Gotham Comedy Club in New York City," where she lives, "and this guy waved me over. Everyone else at the table seemed to know [it was me], so it was probably like slow-mo to them. Like, 'He's not doing this, is he? Kevin!' But Kevin says to me, 'Can I get a drink?' So I got him an iced tea and…

Dad wrote, 'Real friendship is based on extremity where the boundary lines between people break down. It's like if you're in an elevator with a group of strangers and the elevator breaks down. Suddenly you look into each other's eyes and you're no longer strangers. You can only have real communication when you realize you're facing possible disaster.' " For Steve Abbott, as his daughter, Alysia, illuminates in her affecting memoir, Fairyland (Norton), the relevant disaster was the AIDS epidemic and the growing conservative backlash against gay rights in 1980s America. Alysia was born in Atlanta and was only two when her mother died in an auto accident. Soon after, Steve came out of the closet, moved with her to Haight-Ashbury, and established a middling prominence in San Francisco's poetry…

ROYAL GUARD Two new ways to make SPF feel like a luxury, not a chore: La Mer's Soleil de la Mer SPF 30 body lotion doubles as an anti-ager, containing the brand's famed "miracle broth" and golden algae to stimulate collagen. And although housed in a retro-chic case inspired by Shiseido's '60s packaging, Shiseido Sun Protection Compact Foundation combines high-tech titanium dioxide and thiotaurine to fend off UV rays. FLUFF PIECE Summer is scorching enough. Ditch the hot hair-dryer for natural texture, amplified and perfected with these whipped (never crunchy) wonders: Oribe Curl Shaping Mousse creates frizz-free waves with repairing wheat protein; Philip B Russian Amber mousse plumps strands, sans drying alcohol; and Bumble and bumble Thickening Full Form Mousse adds the right oomph to every hair texture, making it…

Exercise has always been a necessary evil for me. Actually, for a while it felt like an unnecessary evil, one to be avoided at all costs: I perfected the list of excuses that would get me out of gym class (periods and ear infections work, for the record) and lasted less than one practice on the field hockey team (I was done when I discovered we wore the cute skirts only on game days). Then I went to college, gained the freshman 15 (okay, 20), and that was it: I had to exercise, no matter how much I hated it. In the decade since graduation, I've joined gyms; taken Pilates, boxing, and yoga classes; lifted weights; hiked up mountains; and run half-marathons. But the habit has just never stuck—I'd fall…

The first thing I do when I wake up every morning is slip off my UP, a health-monitoring bracelet made by Jawbone, and plug it into my iPhone to see how I've slept. There's something consistently interesting, almost magical, about seeing my slumber deciphered in blue and orange graphics on the bracelet's accompanying app: how long it took me to fall asleep; time spent in bed versus time spent actually sleeping; number of awakenings; and, the most magical of all, hours (hopefully not minutes!) spent in deep versus light sleep. A few times a day, I also sync the UP to my phone to check my progress toward my daily movement goal of 10,000 steps (the recommended default setting). When I remember, I manually enter what I eat and drink.…

SETTINGS THAT STUN, STEAK THAT SIZZLES, AND MORE… Certain food can be art, but I don't like to think of my food that way," says Manhattan chef Melia Marden. "For me, cooking isn't about me or my personal take on the world. It's just about making something people will enjoy, like a nice lunch." Coming from Marden, the 32-year-old executive chef of The Smile, the subterranean East Village bistro that's become a clubhouse of sorts for the fashion crowd since opening four years ago, reluctance to throw around the word art is understandable: Her father is Brice Marden, whose monochrome panels hang in such venerable institutions as MoMA and the Guggenheim, and her older sister, Mirabelle, is a photographer and cofounder of the now defunct Rivington Arms gallery. (Even the…

JANE EYRE HAD LIVED, LIKE, 17 LIVES BY THE TIME SHE TURNED 23 DEAR E. JEAN: Serious question: Does life actually get better after you get past your twenties? Success was already starting to happen to the Brontë sisters by the time they reached my age: 23. I'm falling behind my peers and feel I can't catch up! Please tell me the thirties are better. —Your Wilting Gardenia GARDENIA, YOU YOUNG BLOCKHEAD: Bah! You'll spend your thirties regretting how you fouled up your twenties if you run around comparing yourself with those three little English stiffs. A live girl is better than a dead icon. Because, if you're lucky, you'll live many lives, Miss G. And if you're very lucky, you'll live several of those lives in…

Wool coat with printed cowhide collar, Gucci, $2,850, at select Gucci stores nationwide. Wool-blend sweater, A.L.C., $495. Wool shorts, J.W. Anderson, $500. Beauty Secret: Create the look of naturally smooth, poreless skin in one step. Try Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Radiant Foundation. Crepe dress, Chloé, $2,695, collection at select Neiman Marcus stores nationwide. For details, see Shopping Guide. Cropped jacket, $2,867, sleeveless blouse, $1,397, shorts, $1,250, all, Louis Vuitton, at select Louis Vuitton stores nationwide. Printed calfskin trench coat, Burberry Prorsum, price on request, visit burberry.com. Calfskin boots, Chanel, $1,375. For details, see Shopping Guide. Lambskin shirt, $3,700, skirt, $3,950, leather messenger bag, $1,200, all, Bottega Veneta, at Bottega Veneta boutiques nationwide. Lambskin coat, Dior, price on request, at Dior boutiques nationwide. For details, see Shopping Guide. Silk bodysuit,…

For a guy who's just 30, Jason Wu (who looks even younger in person) has figured out an impressive number of things already. Aside from being able to eyeball any item of clothing and deconstruct how it was made, he knows who he is—"I'm a fashion nerd," he admits happily over drinks at the Lambs Club in New York City's midtown one evening in early April—and who he is not: "I'm not trendy. I don't have a grunge bone in me." The Taiwan native (he was raised in Vancouver) goes on to clarify: "You won't see me in a dive bar. It's not me. I went through my crazy-hair phase and my I'm-not-Asian phase. I had blue eyes and blond hair for a while." Wu, who, by his own admission,…

For six seasons on the CW's Gossip Girl, Penn Badgley's Dan Humphrey, the do-good, earnest writer otherwise known as Lonely Boy, was the soap's moral center (such as it had one)—that is, until the series finale, when it was revealed that Humphrey was all along our titular tattler. Up to that point, Badgley, 26, was also the show's unlikeliest tabloid target, thanks to his two-and-a-half-year relationship with costar Blake Lively. But dating a coworker can be problematic, especially when the romance ends and she marries Ryan Reynolds while the show is still in production. Still, not much seems to slow down Badgley, who's been working since he relocated from Seattle to L.A. as a teenager to pursue acting. He's moved on to other projects (he impresses as the late musician…

Wednesday, June 12 RED ROSE DAY Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With Small Spells planters and Encendia Biochar soil from the new Steven Alan Home Shop, at 158 Franklin Street in NYC. And pretty maids in Liberty prints by Sleepy Jones—a new collection of "not-quite-ready-to-wear" lounge basics created by Andy Spade and the design studio Partners & Spade and available at Sleepyjones.com—all in a row. Tuesday, June 18 BIG SPENDER Celebrate National Splurge Day on a Martone Cycling Co. cruiser. Designed by luxury advertising pro (and Marc Jacobs ex) Lorenzo Martone, these fashion bikes feature red chains, Lucite pedals, and oversize baskets ready to accommodate up to 20 pounds of shopping bags—all the more reason to take one for a spin. Saturday, June 15 WARHOLIA Legendary…

For our April cover story, American Idol judge Nicki Minaj swapped her trademark "Barbz" look for subtle makeup, mermaid hair, and structured pieces from Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, and Salvatore Ferragamo. Though the spitfire lyricist says she "felt naked" without her trademark pink lips and "big ol' crazy lashes," readers fell in love with Minaj's softer side: "She looks beautiful on that cover! More makeup doesn't always equate to more beauty. This is really a lovely look on her."—LJS, Eonline.com "Nicki looks so incredible! The jacket she wears on the cover is to die for, and the natural look really suits her. I think it is really cool that she is such a chameleon—both in her looks and her personality." —helena, Stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com "Nicki Minaj looks great in ELLE. Finally,…

Let's face it: Jane Coxwell might just have the best job ever. As the executive chef aboard Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller's three-masted, Bermuda-rigged schooner, Eos—one of the largest of its kind in the world—Coxwell's work has taken her to the white-sand beaches of Tahiti, the azure waves of the Mediterranean, and the magical cays of St. Barts. (Technically, Coxwell, who has been known to whip up meals for as many as 25 guests, does most of her actual work in the ship's compact galley—but, details.) "I've been able to travel to places I'd never have been able to otherwise," says the South African, who has held her post for the past four years. "Some of the places we've traveled to have been so remote that we've been told…

The fall/winter collections were more personal than any in recent memory. By personal I mean intimate, easy, practical, and smart, as in well put together. That doesn't mean there wasn't large-scale drama. On the contrary, many of the biggest ideas from the shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris were larger-than-life—'40s femmes fatales, luxe '30s-inspired damsels, mighty military cross-dressers, and some of the best roomy coats I've seen in years. But beneath these themes ran a current of understated elegance and craftsmanship that signals a return to good taste and sophisticated day dressing. What was new was the brand-be-damned anonymity of it all. Which is a relief, considering how fashion of late has seemed to stray from sating the desires of women—delivering what we really want—as opposed to those…

1. Dezso by Sara Beltrán in collaboration with L'Imperatrice 2. Tory Burch 3. Lanvin 4. Oscar de la Renta 5. Boucheron CÉLINE ELIZABETH AND JAMES BALENCIAGA 1. Blue tigereye, resin, and brown diamond necklace, DEZSO BY SARA BELTRáN IN COLLABORATION WITH L'IMPERATRICE, price on request, visit dezsosara.com | 2. Beaded sandal, TORY BURCH, $395, call 866-480-8679 | 3. Beaded satin clutch, LANVIN, $2,590, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC | 4. Textured stone earrings, OSCAR DE LA RENTA, $295, collection at select Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide | 5. Yellow gold and diamond ring, BOUCHERON, price on request, visit boucheron.com | Model at right wears: Printed silk top, $2,850, skirt, $2,550, leather boots, $2,350, all, CéLINE, at Céline Boutique, NYC…

NAME: Josep Font AGE: 45 PROVENANCE: Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Spain CURRICULUM VITAE: Font studied architecture at Polytechnic University of Catalonia "to please my parents," but fashion was always his calling. While pursuing his degree, he managed to squeeze in fashion and pattern-design courses at FD Moda in Barcelona. BACKSTORY: Font started a namesake ready-to-wear line in 1991, showing at Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Madrid, and Tokyo fashion weeks. Beginning in 2008, he presented a couture collection during Paris' haute couture week for four seasons. NEW HORIZONS: Much like Carven designer Guillaume Henry, Font has been tapped to bring new, youthful life (and ready-to-wear) to a historic house. After being courted by Delpozo—a relaunch of the 39-year-old Spanish heritage brand formerly known as Jesús del Pozo—he joined last year as its…

BOYS OF SUMMER, THE FUNNY GIRL, AND MORE… There's a scene in Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring, the based-on-true-events retelling of the 10-month-long, $3 million burglarizing spree of L.A. celebrity homes by a clan of teenagers—one boy and four girls—in which Katie Chang, 18, slings a just-lifted Birkin onto her arm with such nonchalance that you're all but convinced the coveted bag belongs to—no—deserves to be with her Rebecca, the Korean-American doyenne of the group, rather than its privileged owner. That's the thing about Rebecca: She believes in a sort of skewed Robin-Hood-ing so blindly that her fame-obsessed delusion becomes almost sympathetic. "It's a self-involved self-loathing," says the very self-aware Chang, of Rebecca's nature. "She's just a girl who desperately hates herself and thinks that these possessions are going to…

A new voice delivers sharp, earthy insights into the human condition. Those of us who give up our homelands live with quiet knowledge nestled in our blood like an incurable disease; even as we are here, we are tied to somewhere else," writes NoViolet Bulawayo, winner of the 2011 Caine Prize for African Writing, with the wisdom of hard-earned experience. In her impressive debut novel, We Need New Names (Reagan Arthur/Little, Brown), Bulawayo chronicles the life of Darling, an impoverished Zimbabwean girl who struggles to maintain her sense of identity after escaping to America at the cusp of adolescence. Bulawayo's meditations on displacement and belonging have already garnered widespread critical praise and comparisons to the likes of Zadie Smith and J. M. Coetzee. Born in the district of Tsholotsho, a…

What registers right away when listening to Anton DiSclafani talk is the same generous aptitude for storytelling that so forcefully stamps her bravura first novel, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, out this month from Riverhead. At nearly 400 pages, the book has the roomy, conscientious feel of a nineteenth-century novel whose ink lines cross in the literary firmament somewhere between Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens. There's a touch too of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who called his novels "romances"—ambitious narratives that melded plot with atmosphere to produce works of uncommon sense and sublime sensibility. "I have always been drawn to the idea of a secret in a story, a secret being revealed," DiSclafani says. "I had this idea of a girl being sent away from her family for something that she's…

I never wanted to be a one-trick pony," says superstylist Luigi Murenu. The Sardinian-born hair master is just as adept at creating electric-shock frizz and woven bunches as he is at delivering classically pretty, voluminous waves. Earning his stripes as an editorial stylist, Murenu quickly collected a celeb roster that includes Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the reigning queen of effortlessly cool everything, Kate Moss. Murenu and Moss joined forces yet again for Kérastase's latest campaign: she as the face (er, hair); he as the French brand's newly minted artistic director of couture styling. The secret to Murenu's success? "Being a hairdresser is not enough," he says. "You need to have a vision. I don't think I could live without a vision. I would rather be dead." What was…

GLOW FOR IT: Before top Victoria's Secret models hit the runway, they stop by the office of NYC derm David Colbert, MD, for a 20-minute snooze in his infrared LED-light Collagen Body Bed. "The allover treatment helps even skin tone while slowing down collagen degradation," Colbert says. For non-derm-assisted radiance, use a gradual self-tan formula such as Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer twice a week to build a natural-looking touch of warmth, says London-based tanning expert James Read. If you go overboard, "soak a washcloth in water mixed with soap, baking soda, and lemon and lime juice. Microwave the cloth briefly, then wipe over skin to remove excess tanner." For an instant temporary tan, Read suggests misting limbs with Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs. SPF TIP: Water-friendly sunscreens, such as Neutrogena…

NEON LITE: Like treacherously high heels, a full face of makeup doesn't really work at the beach. But a pop of color, says London-based makeup artist Andrew Gallimore, is just right. "A bright lip is perfect for hot weather; it stays put and is quick to apply." For a tequila-sunrise pout, "first nourish the lips with a good balm, then pencil in the entire mouth so you have a matte base," says Gallimore, who used M.A.C Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in More To Love to create this look. "Follow with a layer of fuchsia lipstick." For cocktail (or lollipop) hour, amp up the glow with champagne highlighting powder on the inner corner of eyes and over the Cupid's bow. Finish with a few sweeps of Diorshow waterproof mascara. "It ain't…

Late last summer, my family relocated from Los Angeles to a picturesque town on the Hudson River. It's the kind of place where homemade ice cream and antiques stores abound and weekend visitors gaze longingly at the storefront real estate postings, contemplating a simple life in a refurbished farmhouse. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them. From the moment I arrived, I felt constrained by small-town life, with its tyrannical predictability and smug sense of safety. I cringed at the prospect of waving at the same five familiar faces every time I left the house. I knew I still belonged in the sun-washed anonymity of the David Hockney tableau I'd abandoned when my husband took a job in New York City. We'd ended up in the suburbs because he hadn't wanted…

Kerry Washington tells writer Ben Austen that she's never really seen herself as a cover girl—but considering the chiseled cheekbones, piercing eyes, and strong-meets-sexy frame the Scandal star brings to the cover of our annual Body Issue, we might beg to differ. Though she tells Austen, "I felt when growing up that you had to choose whether to be beautiful or smart," the Phi Beta Kappa graduate has clearly learned that one doesn't have to make the choice between brains and beauty. (Or between brains and high fashion: Just google her speech at the NAACP Image Awards earlier this year, delivered while wearing a pink-and-green Oscar de la Renta confection. The actress is well past what she calls her "learning to pronounce Hermès" phase.) In the pages ahead, as we…

Polyamide-and-elastane swimsuit, Marie France Van Damme, $329, collection at Nancy Meyer, Seattle. Yellow gold earrings with diamonds, ring, all, Repossi, prices on request, collection at Barneys New York. Yellow gold necklace with rubies, Ilias Lalaounis, price on request. Leather sandals, Gianvito Rossi, $1,530. For details, see Shopping Guide. Beauty Secret: Shield skin from sun damage and hide imperfections with Dior Diorskin Nude Tan BB Creme. Right: Yellow gold necklace with rubies, Ilias Lalaounis, price on request, visit lalaounis.com. Far right: Lycra swimsuit, Calvin Klein Swimwear, $118, visit calvinklein.com. Yellow gold necklace with rubies, hammered-gold cuff, satin-finish gold bracelet, all, Ilias Lalaounis, prices on request. Leather sandals, Barbara Shaum, price on request. For details, see Shopping Guide. Polyamide-and-elastane swimsuit, Gottex, $228, visit saksfifthavenue.com. Yellow gold necklace with rubies, gold ring with…

COVERS Cashmere cardigan, $1,295, plaid shorts, $1,800, by Marc Jacobs, at Marc Jacobs (NYC), call 212-343-1490 or visit marcjacobs.com. Bra by Carine Gilson Lingerie Couture, $465, at Nancy Meyer (Seattle), La Mode Lingerie (Houston), visit net-a-porter.com. Diamond earrings by Harry Winston, price on request, call 800-988-4110 or visit harrywinston.com. Bracelet by Ana Khouri, $10,254, visit anakhouri.com. HOT CONTENTS Page 32: Necklace by Tory Burch, at Tory Burch (NYC). Skirt by 3.1 Phillip Lim, at 3.1 Phillip Lim (NYC). BEHIND THE COVER Page 64: Pump by L.K.Bennett, at L.K.Bennett (Las Vegas). Ring by Cartier, call 800-CARTIER or visit cartier.com. TRENDS AND ACCESSORIES Page 114: Dress, bag by Bottega Veneta, at Bottega Veneta boutiques nationwide, call 212-371-5511. Necklace by Donna Karan New York, visit donnakaran.com. Mule by Alexander Wang, at Alexander Wang…

GUEST BLOGGER: WELL+GOOD'S ALEXIA BRUE AND MELISSE GELULA Former SpaFinder editors Alexia Brue and Melisse Gelula spent more than 15 years in magazines before launching Well+Good, a health-and-fitness-focused site, in 2010. Thanks to the boom of the luxury-wellness industry, Well+Good's healthy-living content nabs over two million monthly page views from readers globally. The GOOP-endorsed site is essential reading for the buzz on the of-the-moment dance guru (Anna Kaiser), best at-home kombucha recipes, and latest spinning craze (watch the throne, Flywheel and SoulCycle). "We're often the first to let people know of a new Juice Press or which instructor you can't miss at Physique 57," Brue says. Check out their posts this month on ELLE.com to get the body and balance you want.—Catherine Straut WORKOUT WIRE TREND WATCH Each Wednesday in…

Washington in Marc Jacobs Sharp and sexy in Armani and vintage cutoffs DOLCE & GABBANA TOM FORD Embellished tank top, VERA WANG COLLECTION, $1,995, at Vera Wang, NYC Cotton jeans, MIH JEANS, $242, visit mih-jeans.com White gold and sapphire ring, CARTIER, price on request, at select Cartier boutiques nationwide Jewel-embellished suede pump, L.K.BENNETT, $695, visit lkbennett.com Lip Maestro lip gloss in Flesh and Red Fushia, GIORGIO ARMANI, $32 each, visit giorgioarmanibeauty.com…

The question "where are you from?" really means, what is your place in the world? I've never quite known how to answer it. Navy brats, my brother and I grew up on a succession of military bases, uneasy hybrids of everywhere and nowhere. Whether our officers' quarters were built on a Pacific bluff clawed by storms or beside a miasmic Georgia swamp, they had the same generic feel and floor plan. When I visited a schoolmate for the first time, I knew to walk down the long hall and take two lefts. Naturally she'd have the same room as me. The only house that seemed different was ours. A gifted interior designer, my mother had worked hard to get accredited—I remember her studying for her ASID exams with the same…

The all-American one-piece is back and cooler than ever. Creative Director Joe Zee pays homage to the old-school suit, showing us how to wear the classic shape on and off the sand The fashion world's idea of beauty is ever evolving. It's a cyclical matter, with nose shapes and body types coming and going like maxiskirts and floral prints. And, because of such whims, success as a model can be even more fleeting than beauty itself. When I started my first fashion-magazine job in 1991, it was the era of the supermodel, starring the holy trinity of Linda, Christy, and Naomi. But their thrones were usurped by Kate Moss and her band of waifs, who were then ousted by the Belgians. Then came the curvy Brazilians, followed by the "interesting"…

Pint-size Plaza dweller Eloise got a grown-up makeover at Marc Jacobs' fall show for Louis Vuitton. The designer channeled a glamorous heroine who's taken up residence in a dimly lit four-star hotel—painstakingly re-created in the Louvre's courtyard, the Cour Carrée. Should madame ever emerge from her luxe lodgings, the brand's retro-chic sunglasses would handily keep the paparazzi at bay. The logo-free shades combine '30s-inspired accents—namely the tortoiseshell finish and retro silhouette—with a chunky, futuristic shape.—Véronique Hyland…

This exec at the soon-to-be relaunched (and Justin Timberlake–backed) Myspace gives Zuck and his hoodies a run for their money THE WOMAN: Neda Azafar, 32 THE JOB: Senior director of communications at Myspace, which is debuting next month with a new co-owner (Justin Timberlake), URL (new.myspace.com), and music focus. THE UNIFORM: Streamlined yet playful separates from Ted Baker, Diane von Furstenberg, and Marc Jacobs COMPANY STATS: Founded: 2003 Headquarters: Beverly Hills Users: 40 million Employees: 150 Silk jacquard sweater, Burberry Prorsum, $795, visit burberry.com. Pants, Louis Vuitton, $1,617, call 866-VUITTON. Cuff, Knight$ of New York, $375, visit shopbop.com. Calfskin iPad case, Mark Cross, $695, visit markcross1845.com. Leather and suede pumps, Nicholas Kirkwood, $795, call 646-559-5239. Her own ring ELLE: When most people think of Myspace, they think of a website…

The Kings of Summer, Jordan Vogt-Roberts' delightfully fresh debut feature, starts off with a hilarious bang. Many hilarious bangs, actually. They're provided by two suburban teenage boys facing each other in a dense, verdant wood as they pound away on a derelict pipeline with heavy fallen branches, while a third, much shorter boy dances wildly on the pipe with such agility that if his knees went any higher they might graze his ears. Intentionally or not, this scene brings to mind the poet Robert Bly, who responded to the women's liberation movement by organizing "Iron John" retreats in the early 1990s with drumming and chanting men looking to create their own movement and heal their diminishing masculinity. The Iron John men seemed almost comically overpowered by women, most of whom…

Are you a woman? Me too! So we know exactly who we are when it comes to sex: It's better if we feel an emotional connection with our partner. We're not crazy about pornography, but if it must be on, we prefer it narrative, softer lit, less violent. We are, relative to men, seductive, submissive, receptive, and monogamous. We get more attached than men do when we have sex. We want to be in trusting and respectful long-term relationships. Let's call ourselves Dutiful Wives. But wait—this just in: Journalist Daniel Bergner finds that none of the above is true! We are in fact turned on, he reports, by every contextless pornographic scene imaginable: straight and gay sex, masturbation, copulating apes. We get turned off by the too familiar (husbands…); we…

BIG-HAIR SECRETS, OUR ANNUAL BEACH-BODY GUIDE & MORE… Bright face paint isn't just for Bonnaroo—bold, sunset-inspired pigments on eyes and lips are surprisingly wearable all summer long, says London-based makeup artist Sharon Dowsett, who created this look for ELLE. The key to tripling up on brights? Begin by perfecting skin and brows, then commit to cool or warm tones—not both—advises Dowsett. Forget precision, she says. "It's about making your mark and not being perfect." For a glossy finish, top lids with Vaseline after applying Eyestudio Color Tattoo 24Hr Cream Gel Shadow in Tenacious Teal and Painted Purple, both by Maybelline New York. To re-create the eye-catching lip look, try Colorsensational Vivids lipstick in Fuchsia Flash by Maybelline New York.…

GILDED AGE Packed with fine shimmer, Estée Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée imparts a sheer wash of gold. LIQUID COURAGE Rose gets a spicy update with Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin Eau de Parfum. JADE RUNNER A thin slick of Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Barrow Street along the lash line makes eyes appear ultrabright. DOUBLE TAKE Intense moisture meets bold pigment in Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm (shown in Crystal Mandarin and Crystal Berry). BRONZE AMBITION Mix a few drops of Tom Ford Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust with foundation for a glowing, fresh-from-the-spa face. BRIGHT IDEA Givenchy nail lacquers (shown in Croisière Mat Orange and Croisière Purple) belong by the sea.…

WAVE RIDING: The shoreline of Saint Lucia set the scene for this ELLE shoot, but even with ocean water at hand, hairstylist Ward Stegerhoek opted to use a homemade concoction on stunner Martha Hunt's sun-kissed strands: a pinch of sea salt dissolved in warm water, then mixed with Living Proof No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner. "Any salt spray—whether DIY or store-bought—can be drying. Adding a conditioner leaves the hair soft, not sticky," he says. Spritz wet strands with the mixture, then twist small sections and let air-dry for natural-looking texture and waves. After swimming, rinse hair with tap water, Stegerhoek recommends, and apply a leave-in treatment, such as Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream, for "conditioning and smoothing." SPF TIP: Before hitting the beach, blot sunscreen along your part and hairline with a…

Here's the odd part: In my head, I am always thin. The persistence of this mental picture, given the alarming number on the scale, is such that I have intermittently wondered whether I suffer from an as-yet-unrecognized psychiatric condition that is the opposite of body dysmorphic disorder, the main symptom of which is an overly positive view of one's appearance. Or it might well be that this unchanging (and, let's face it, warped) perspective goes back to beginnings, to the first image of oneself in the mirror. I had been thin as a girl, just naturally, and then grew into a relatively thin young woman. Narrow hipped and tight of butt, with long, slender legs and full breasts—the sort of body that men reflexively eye, with enough shapeliness to cause…

In the predawn dark on the day she was to be sworn in to Congress, Kyrsten Sinema laced up her running shoes. It was an icy 30 degrees, but there was no question that the Arizona native was going to run. Sinema runs every day. And her running group from back home—the five women who are her best friends, her sounding board, and her informal political consultants—was there. As the sun came up, the women stopped for a breather on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and looked out over the National Mall. Some of them took cell-phone photos. Others teared up. Sinema, always the chatty one, kept repeating, "I can't believe this, I can't believe this." There's much about Sinema's story that seems unbelievable. Only 36 years old, she's…

If you know Kerry Washington from her current hit television show, Scandal, or from her role in Django Unchained, or from red-carpet photos, you might not initially recognize her in her first film, Our Song, an affecting no-budget indie from 2000 about three friends growing up in a Brooklyn housing project. Washington was then 22, a recent Phi Beta Kappa graduate of George Washington University, but she plays 15, switching seamlessly between English and Spanish, sounding all Rosie Perez. She is makeupless, with short, unadorned hair, her cheekbones not yet the sculpted objets d'art they now are. But the face is still undeniably Washington's, remarkable for not only its fine-boned, ethereal loveliness but also its sheer expressiveness. In one scene, as her character's mood swings rapidly, her velvety brown eyes…

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GEMINI (May 21–June 21) A group of friendly heavenly bodies—Mars, Jupiter, the Sun, and the new moon on the 8th—will support your greatest wishes, making this a truly special birthday month. Mars will give you the drive to gain control over any area in which you'd like to excel; when it comes to love, the Red Planet will make you catnip to admirers. Even attached Geminis will be so radiant and optimistic that your partner is apt to fall for you all over again. Though you may receive many offers across the board throughout June, proceed slowly. Your ruler, Mercury, will be in hard angle to Uranus at the full moon on the 23rd. Ensure that a supporter in your circle isn't actually working at cross-purposes to your goals.…