Inhaltsverzeichnis für May 2014 in ELLE

MAY THE ELLE MUST-DO CHECKLIST May 14–May 25 Jane Campion presides over the Cannes Film Festival jury. May 23–May 25 Central Washington State hosts the Sasquatch! festival's May weekend with shows from M.I.A. and Neko Case. May 26 Previews begin for Holler if Ya Hear Me, a Broadway musical inspired by the songs of the late, great Tupac Shakur. Monday, May 5 HAPPY 26TH BIRTHDAY, ADELE Tuesday, May 6 POSH PANORAMA The UK's first Shangri-La hotel is a surplus of superlatives. Located in the iconic Shard tower, it is the tallest hotel in Western Europe and contains London's highest bar and infinity pool, meaning it's possible to take a swim while ogling the view from the fifty-second floor. Friday, May 9 MOVIE NIGHT Rose Byrne shows off her comedic chops…

Three years ago, as the ink was drying on the contract that brought ELLE to Hearst, I sent David Granger, the editor in chief of Esquire (also owned by Hearst), an e-mail saying that our magazines should date. It was a long courtship, but the fruits of the flirtation—a content swap in which the editors of ELLE try to explain the female condition to men and Esquire editors attempt to do the converse for us—has finally arrived. Call it fraternal twins of different mothers, to keep torturing the metaphor. I've known Granger since we were both young editors in our twenties, trying to make our way in New York and, we hoped, some kind of impact. David turned out to be a supereditor, much lauded for the highly ambitious (and…

Kai Z Feng PROVENANCE: Shanghai, China NOW: New York City PROFESSION: Photographer THIS MONTH: "Hear & Now" (page 288). "Ariana [Grande] is so beautiful and delicate in person that you're surprised she has such a big voice. She's this cute Disney kid, and then suddenly she opens her mouth—I was like, 'That can't be coming from her!' She has a really incredible voice." BONA FIDES: Work has appeared in Harper's Bazaar and Glamour READING: Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card. "I read the entire Ender's Game series. I am a big sci-fi fan." CREATIVE SPARK: "I get my inspiration from the people surrounding me. I love to talk to people and get their stories and different perspectives and incorporate them into my work." DREAM PROJECT: "I'd love…

A little over a year ago, I moved from downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn Heights, a leafy, cobblestoned neighborhood laden with pedigreed dogs and their well-heeled, mostly white-haired masters. That first day, when the movers had finally finished their hauling and gone on their way, I surveyed my new box-strewn studio, sighed with exhausted satisfaction, and went out for a walk. It was quiet. There were no recent NYU grads, no fixed-gear bikes, no "practice spaces." Often referred to as "America's first suburb," the neighborhood has been gentrified for more than a century. Some of the country's most famous writers have lived here—Arthur Miller, Norman Mailer, Truman Capote—alongside bankers, lawyers, doctors. This is not the Brooklyn made internationally legible by pop culture. There's nothing hip about it. Strolling the tree-lined street,…

Cohen, shooting the Ace&Jig fall/winter 2014 video "I got the Star," says Hannah Cohen, stepping out of an improvised tarot booth where she has just had her cards read at Beautiful Dreamers, the boutique and art space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. "That means you're working on something you're really passionate about." The on-the-rise singer-songwriter—formerly an artist's model for photographer Ryan McGinley and painters Richard Prince and Will Cotton—has been hard at work on her sophomore album, due out this summer, a follow-up to her 2012 debut, Child Bride. It's a bold effort coming off her soft, almost Feistian first LP—a confident and in her own words "visceral" compilation that takes the ethereal Cohen from muse to artist. Today, after a long day of shooting a video for Ace&Jig designers Cary Vaughan…

Cotton-blend blazer, MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS, $160, collection at Macy's stores nationwide Leather tote, ETRO, $1,895, visit etro.com Jacquard pump, MICHAEL KORS, $350, at select Michael Kors stores nationwide Twill trousers, THAKOON ADDITION, $390, visit thakoon.com Silk shirt, JASON WU, $795, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC Trends Your inner bohemian will flip for the plethora of patterned goodies at ELLE.com/morepaisley.…

Wool and marabou feather shirt, N°21, price on request, collection at Intermix, NYC Leather handbag, MARNI, $2,100, collection at net-a-porter.com Wool-blend sleeveless coat, RACHEL COMEY, $518, collection at Totokaelo, Seattle Wool mule, GIANVITO ROSSI FOR ALTUZARRA, $805, similar styles at theline.com Trends The Beach Boys were known for their love of Pendleton plaid. They sported the brand's shirts on the cover of their Surfer Girl album.…

Gold, black enamel, and white topaz ear clips, VERDURA, price on request, at Verdura, NYC Limited-edition rose gold and black, white, and cognac diamond cuff, ROBERTO COIN, price on request, visit robertocoin.com Black agate, gold, and diamond ring, LAGOS, price on request, visit lagos.com Rose gold and brown diamond link bracelet, POMELLATO, price on request, call 800-254-6020 Jasper, diamond, and gold pendant, $3,200, gold and diamond chain, $2,200, both, PHILLIPS HOUSE, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide Accessories ELLE.com/blackgold has more of spring's strongest statement pieces.…

"I love references," says Charles Harbison, "and putting disparate things together." The American sportswear maven is not understating the case. Ask the Charlotte, North Carolina, native about the inspirations for his debut New York Fashion Week presentation and you'll get a veritable laundry list (or an object lesson in divine bricolage, depending on how you see things): "Preppiness, Yves Klein, Aaliyah's 'Rock the Boat,' and a Slim Aarons photo of Katharine Hepburn in a Rolls-Royce at Montego Bay." The mix sounds quite random, but the resulting spring/summer 2014 collection—Nantucket ginghams, tropical floral jacquards, vibrant pops of blue, and '90s-reminiscent silhouettes, such as cropped jackets, miniskirts, and baggy cargo trousers, freshly combined into tailored ensembles—is youthful while also incredibly work friendly. "A double-breasted blazer can't be just a double-breasted blazer," says…

Fashion's timetable is a funny thing—just as summer arrives, our favorite looks from that peculiarly named yet increasingly useful season, prefall, are finally hitting stores. Thankfully, stylish women everywhere are embracing the blurred lines of seasonality with zeal whether out of taste or necessity (consider those chilly boardrooms at the peak of summer's heat). To facilitate, we've pinpointed the five key items from prefall that we consider simply too great to be put on hold. Naturally, how you wear, say, Prabal Gurung's sleeveless peplum blouse in June versus September will vary greatly, but either way it's completely doable, thanks to our trusty roundup of complementary pieces that will help your wardrobe additions go the extra mile (or in this case, season). Leather jacket, BURBERRY BRIT, $2,495, visit burberry.com THIS MONTH…

WEAR IT NOW: Sunglasses, SHERIFF & CHERRY, $145, visit sheriffandcherry.com Gold charm bracelet, MONICA RICH KOSANN, price on request, visit shop.mrkstyle.com Rose gold watch on calfskin strap, HERMÈS, price on request, at Hermès boutiques nationwide 3. THE PEPLUM BLOUSE Cotton peplum top, PRABAL GURUNG, $895, collection at saksfifthavenue.com Satin and canvas shorts, both, HONOR, $995 each, at Honor, NYC Woven straw and crocodile tote, NANCY GONZALEZ, $3,750, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC Denim espadrille, SOLUDOS, $55, visit soludos.com The clock is ticking. Don't miss our roundup of the best watches on the market: ELLE.com/watchguide. WEAR IT LATER: Goatskin handbag, MARC JACOBS, $1,395, similar styles at Marc Jacobs boutiques nationwide Wool cape, CARVEN, $1,270, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide Leather hat, GUCCI, $695, at select Gucci stores nationwide Wool…

"In my everyday life, I'll definitely throw on more T-shirts and jeans than I would for a performance," says Sophie Auster of the line of demarcation between her on- and offstage personae. "I definitely like suits and a Marlene Dietrich kind of vibe when I'm performing. I don't walk around in, like, Yves Saint Laurent suits when I'm getting my groceries!" The Coveteur caught Auster in the midst of preparing for the fall release of her new album, Dogs and Men, which she describes as a mix of "songs about relationships and surrealist dream imagery." Auster is literary royalty—her parents are novelists Siri Hustvedt and Paul Auster, and Dad's old typewriter has pride of place next to her Pierre Hardy heels. But she's also a master of finding vintage treasures,…

In Locke, a conscientious husband, father, and boss is hurtling through the night on a British motorway, straight toward a massive midlife crisis. What with the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, a new generation of thirtyish British heartthrobs is in ample supply. But there's always room for one more. That would be Tom Hardy, best known for playing rough—but be assured that the heartthrob part is coming our way. It was Hardy's avid fanboys, British and American, who put him on the radar in 2009 with Bronson, titled after the nom de guerre and alter ego of Michael Peterson, a hypermuscular, shaven-headed, mustachioed Englishman who was sentenced to seven years for robbing a post office and, over the course of the next three decades, became renowned…

From gritty Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, I step inside the cozy Café Zona Sur to talk with Katherine Faw Morris about her adrenaline rush of a debut novel, Young God (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), which is already garnering heady praise and serious international buzz. I walk past a young woman with long blond hair who's wearing an animal-print jacket, skinny jeans, knee-high boots, and blue-glitter nail polish. Bold eyeliner makes her almond-shape eyes pop when she looks up from checking her phone. Her vibe is more edgy than Morris' chignon-coiffed author photo. But then she approaches me and introduces herself. Poised, confident, and direct, the 30-year-old Morris cops to this being her first sit-down interview for Young God and says, "It's the first book I ever finished." A…

Don't go to the Sunset Tower if you want to be on TMZ. At the 85-year-old hotel, discretion is king, and for Dior Beauty's fifth annual charity lunch, attended by a close circle of stars, each with her makeup artist, the hotel's legendary Terrace provided a backdrop of quiet Hollywood glamour for an afternoon of serious tip swapping. Best of all, for each couple in attendance, Dior donated the funds for one cleft-palate surgery to Operation Smile. CHRISTINA HENDRICKS AND BEAU NELSON CH: My dress is vintage, and this lip was an homage. BN: We used Dior Contour Lip Liner in Rouge Dior and ultrapigmented Rouge Dior Lipstick in N°999. Blue reds look great on pale skin, brick reds work on medium skin, and orange reds look stunning on darker…

See the past seven years of Green Star winners at ELLE.com/greenstars. Get mega-magnified metallic lids with YOUNGBLOOD Crushed Mineral Eyeshadow (shown in Azurite, Haze, and Raven), which can be applied wet for extra intensity. FRIDAY-NIGHT BRIGHTS NATURAL INGREDIENTS MEET HOT HUES Create supermodel cheekbones with rose hip– and sesame-seed-oil-rich ILIA Illuminators in Polka Dots & Moonbeams and Sway. For perfectly winged liner that will last all night, reach for ZUZU Luxe Liquid Eyeliner in Black Pearl, free of artificial colors and fragrances. Paraben-free OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS Lip Tar (show in Anime and Grandma) creates center-of-attention lips without a lot of fuss. It's ultrapigmented, so you need only a little. HEAD TURNER GO GREEN WITH…

Stressed-out executives in need of relief should be dispatched to Tata Harper's farm in Shoreham, Vermont. After traveling a winding road lined by verdant fields and hoofed creatures, one can't help but smell the homegrown lavender. And between romp sessions with a trio of Saint Bernards (three of nine pups), Harper's handsome husband, Henry, whisks guests around in a golf cart. (That's the most practical way to get around the Harpers' 1,200-acre spread.) "This used to be under water during the Ice Age," he declares while whizzing past a football field–size clearing where he, his wife, and some friends played a game of champagne-fueled paintball last winter. It may seem an unlikely setting for a mega cosmetics brand—Tata Harper Skincare—that counts Sephora and Neiman Marcus among its 300-plus vendors. But…

Writers, John Updike once wrote, are like snails, "leav[ing] behind a faint thread excreted out of ourselves." As with Updike and Philip Roth, readers of Mona Simpson's powerful, nakedly autobiographical novels can pick up the thread of her life without ever speaking a word to her. And what a life! Simpson's story is the stuff of myth: abandoned by her father at age five, dragged across the country by her charming yet unbalanced single mother at 13, and—in a twist out of a Victorian novel—reunited in her midtwenties with her long-lost elder brother, Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, whom her parents had given up for adoption as an infant. With alchemical ease, Simpson has whipped this rich material into dazzling fiction. Her first book, Anywhere But Here, fictionalized Simpson's cross-country road…

Denim has always connoted lawless American style. This month we showcase its new, sophisticated incarnation (yes, you really can wear jeans to work!). And speaking of lawless, it's hard to believe that it has been nearly a year since Miley Cyrus—in her current shorn, shocking, Hannah Montana who? incarnation, that is—started commanding our headlines, our airwaves, and our hand-wringing think pieces about twerking. But, Cyrus tells writer Tavi Gevinson, a very different kind of young feminist phenom, she's been misunderstood. "I'm not just walking around bent over with, like, no clothes," she says. "That is me but it's not, and it's funny when you hear the world get so up in arms about it." For our seventh-annual Women in Music Issue, we gave the mic to 12 of today's most…

Left: Silk fringe top, $2,675, brass belt, $3,590, earring, $910 (for pair), all, DOLCE & GABBANA, at select Dolce & Gabbana boutiques nationwide. Below: Lamb leather jumpsuit, price on request, brass cuffs, $970 each, all, BALMAIN, collection at Barneys New York. For details, see Shopping Guide. Silk dress, $3,000, viscose dress (worn underneath), $2,450, both, CéLINE, at Céline, Beverly Hills. Cotton socks, NIKE, $16. Patent leather sandals, MANOLO BLAHNIK, $745. Cotton trench coat, $1,350, skirt, $650, both, ALEXANDER WANG, collection at CUSP by Neiman Marcus stores nationwide. Rose gold and diamond earring, ANITA KO, $1,995. Socks, ADIDAS, $14. Suede and mesh sneakers, NEW BALANCE, $75. Stylist's own hat. For details, see Shopping Guide. WHEN THE RAPPER ANGEL HAZE, born Raykeea Angel Wilson, was 16, her science teacher gave her a…

Entering Nicola Formichetti's TriBeCa apartment is a bit like falling down the rabbit hole (or, in this case, up four flights in a steel elevator) and emerging in a light-filled space with leafy vines crawling along the walls; throw pillows shaped like panda heads; Japanese comic-book figurines with globular breasts; pyramids of stuffed toys, including Takashi Murakami's rainbow sunflowers and Yayoi Kusama's dotted pumpkins; and two yelping Pomeranians named Tank and Bambi. In the living room, Formichetti sits cross-legged on the floor like a contented child among his possessions, reluctantly shoveling green goop into his mouth with a straw. "It's just veggies and shit," he says. "I don't really like to eat vegetables, but I have to start." In an industry that can often seem overly self-serious and smug, 36-year-old…

Josh Hartnett wasn't an actor so much as a cultural phenomenon. Between the ages of 19 and 23, he made something like 10 movies—including Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down—but the one truly worth savoring is Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides. Hartnett starred as Trip Fontaine, the feather-haired teenage lothario who strolled down the high school hallway to Heart's "Magic Man." It was a movie star's entrance, but before long the backlash (This kid with the unibrow? A movie star?) and the nicknames (Josh Hotnett) were too much too soon, and Hartnett retreated home to Minnesota for 18 months to figure out what the hell just happened. While he's worked mostly in indie films since, Hartnett, 35, hasn't been able to stay away from blockbuster women. He's been linked to…

MAY Monday, May 5 After countless requests, Winnie Beattie's surfcentric NoLIta boutique, Warm, is adding menswear to its Marais-meets-Malibu mix of hard-to-find brands. French labels include Wait as well as Cuisse de Grenouille, whose Surf in Paris sweatshirt sold out twice before it even hit the sales floor. Thursday, May 15 Today is the fiftieth-anniversary celebration of Marimekko's Unikko print at the Finnish brand's Fifth Avenue flagship. Created by designer Maija Isola in 1964 after the textile firm's founder had announced it would never do florals—as they are far more beautiful in nature—the print's distinctly unnatural look was an instant hit. Can't make it to NYC for the festivities? Catch the clutch (above) and other colorful pieces from the Marimekko capsule collection at Banana Republic stores nationwide. Friday, May 16…

NATURAL BORN Our March cover girl, Dakota Johnson (Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson's daughter), has been Hollywood royalty since birth. But it wasn't until she was cast in the role of Anastasia Steele in next year's highly anticipated movie Fifty Shades of Grey that the 24-year-old skyrocketed to superstardom. ELLE Creative Director Joe Zee styled Johnson in provocative pastels for a shoot that had readers head over heels: Couldn't have asked for a more classy and sexy lady to be Ana. —Aileen Maria Pierce, via ELLE.com Dakota Johnson looks stunning in her elle photo shoot *faints* —@haimxcheese, via Twitter When I first heard they cast Ms. Johnson, I was dismayed with the choice. Now I couldn't picture anyone else as Ms. Steele…She won me over. She's 50 shades of fabulous!…

That it's the birthplace of Napoleon—the extent of most people's working knowledge about Corsica—might make it sound like a History channel kind of getaway. But discerning jet-setters, such as Larkspur & Hawk designer Emily Satloff, know the small Mediterranean island as the low-key alternative to the congested beaches of Saint-Tropez. The New York City–based Satloff, whose line of Georgian-era jewels with a modern twist is sold at Net-a-Porter and Liberty of London, recently spent a week there with her husband and their two sons. In addition to some much needed R & R, Satloff had the bonus of finding inspiration for her Tessa collection, out this month. "I was literally having my husband take pictures of the water because I knew that was a color that had to be captured,"…

Morgan (left) and Kate Wendelborn in The Apartment Artwork by Traina's husband, Max Snow, hangs above the bed Sometimes the farther you are from something—whether it's a place or a love object—the more you romanticize it. Growing up in Wisconsin, Morgan and Kate Wendelborn were sure they'd inhabit the ideal SoHo loft they had glimpsed in movies and magazines. And now, in a manner of speaking, they do. After working as style director at online retail giant Shopbop and as a freelance fashion designer, respectively, the identical twins decided to pursue their dream via a sprawling Greene Street loft-cum-store stuffed with the best in art, furniture, beauty products, and, of course, clothes—their capsule wardrobe is housed in a walk-in cedar closet. The Apartment, as they call it, is a brick-and-mortar…

I think everyone remembers where they were at that exact moment on December 13, 2013, when they found out. I do: in L.A., at a Mexican restaurant, having just wrapped a cover shoot. Midmeal, I checked my phone and screamed. "Holy sh**! Beyoncé just released an album. Fourteen songs and 17 videos!" No warning, no promotional TV appearances, no magazine covers, not even a cryptic anticipatory tweet. My fellow diners didn't believe me until they too checked their iPhones and joined in my freakdom. Screw sleep—Beyoncé had landed. iTunes would go on to briefly crash a few hours later in the wake of demand for her self-titled "visual album" (at least one video per track), and by the following morning she had secured the number one and two slots on…

The German modernist school was a wellspring of inspiration this season, with colorful abstraction ruling the runways Leather skirt, DEREK LAM, $2,690, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Metal cuff, CéLINE, $620, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Wool and acrylic handbag, BURBERRY PRORSUM, $2,295, visit burberry.com Suede boot, PIERRE HARDY, $1,595, visit pierrehardy.com Trends Bauhaus architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was known for his dictums "Less is more" and "God is in the details."…

Jacquard clutch, STELLA MCCARTNEY, $1,160, at Stella McCartney, NYC Printed-cotton clutch, ROGER VIVIER, $1,550, at Roger Vivier, NYC Metal, resin, and crystal necklace, OSCAR DE LA RENTA, $695, visit oscardelarenta.com Jacquard sandal, ERDEM FOR NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD, $1,900, at Nicholas Kirkwood, NYC Accessories "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,/ And summer's lease hath all too short a date."—Shakespeare, Sonnet 18…

Tiffany & Co. might be practically synonymous with a very particular hue, but don't be fooled: Throughout its 177-year history, the American heritage jeweler has dispatched gemologists to scour the globe for rare stones of every color. Inspired by early-twentieth-century sketches from the Tiffany archives and featuring a warm array of garnets, pink sapphires, yellow diamonds, and fire opals set in 18-karat yellow gold, the standouts from the 2014 Blue Book collection burn bright. Fire opal, pink sapphire, yellow diamond, and gold ring, TIFFANY & CO., price on request, call 800-843-3269 Fire opal, pink sapphire, yellow diamond, and gold pendant necklace, TIFFANY & CO., price on request, call 800-843-3269 Fire opal, yellow diamond, and gold bracelet, TIFFANY & CO., price on request, call 800-843-3269 Garnet, pink tourmaline, fire opal, and…

What's in Store For more of the design phenom's favorite things, including the chicest combs (yes, really!), go to ELLE.com/ambramedda. "Personal, eclectic, and spontaneous": That's how Ambra Medda sums up her personal style, but she could just as easily be talking about the engaging mix of furniture, jewelry, and objets on her website, L'ArcoBaleno (the name means "the rainbow" in Italian, and the offerings are appropriately colorful). Where else can a Brazilian-made hammock keep company with folksy medicine-bag necklaces (1) from mother-daughter label VK Lillie and a circa 1932 Bruno Weil cabinet (5)? Medda, a cofounder of the Design Miami fair, created L'ArcoBaleno last year as "an online world dedicated to extraordinary design." While Medda doesn't sell clothing on the site, for her own wardrobe she'll definitely be grabbing color-saturated…

WEAR IT NOW: Crystal brooch, MICHAEL KORS, $395, call 866-709-KORS Cashmere cardigan, CHRISTOPHER FISCHER, $375, visit christopherfischer.com Sunglasses, ANNA-KARIN KARLSSON, $665, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC 1. THE A-LINE DRESS Embroidered shantung dress, MICHAEL KORS, price on request, at select Michael Kors stores nationwide White gold and diamond watch, PIAGET, price on request, visit piaget.com Suede pump, STUART WEITZMAN, $335, visit stuartweitzman.com Python handbag, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, $2,650, at Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques nationwide WEAR IT LATER: Acrylic scarf, ECHO DESIGN, $38, similar styles at echodesign.com Cotton and Lycra jacket, MOTHER, $250, visit motherdenim.com Mohair cardigan, MCQ ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, $505, visit alexandermcqueen.com Leather handbag, SAINT LAURENT BY HEDI SLIMANE, $1,390, at Saint Laurent, NYC Suede moccasin, CLARKS, $120, visit clarksusa.com Transition Dressing Less than three years after taking his company public, Michael…

WEAR IT NOW: Cotton T-shirt, RAG & BONE, $160, at Rag & Bone stores nationwide Cotton sweater, A.L.C., $450, collection at shopbop.com Feather earrings, both, PRADA, prices on request, at select Prada boutiques nationwide Leather tote, KURT GEIGER LONDON, $460, at Kurt Geiger, NYC Leather sandals, COACH, $228, at select Coach stores nationwide WEAR IT LATER: Calfskin jacket, CARVEN, $4,200, at Carven, NYC Acrylic beanies, both, ASOS, $13 each, visit asos.com Cashmere cardigan, CHRISTOPHER FISCHER, $275, visit christopherfischer.com Sunglasses, CÉLINE, $450, at select Nordstrom stores nationwide Mink and leather handbag, FENDI, price on request, at Fendi, NYC Lambskin boot, IKKII, $320, visit ikkiiboots.com 4. THE SPORTY MINISKIRT Viscose skirt, BALENCIAGA, $965, collection at Barneys New York Despite their spacey name, Moon Boots were created in 1969 by Italian footwear company…

For the record: Judith Hill is not a background singer. The misnomer is understandable, because the 30-year-old was a background singer, for the likes of French megastar Michel Polnareff, Stevie Wonder, and, most notably, Michael Jackson (she was to also serve as his duet partner on his ill-fated This Is It tour). Then, Hill appeared alongside supporting legends such as Darlene Love and Merry Clayton in this year's Oscar winner for best documentary feature, 20 Feet From Stardom, which illuminated the highs and lows of life as an A-lister's onstage sidekick. But where 20 Feet set out to highlight Hill as an artist struggling to grab center stage, the Biola University Music major didn't have the patience for the two years the film needed to get to the big screen.…

The Broadway premiere of Violet forgoes the typical musical theater quick fix to reveal a realistic take on the beauty within. Are you dirty or fat or forbiddingly prim? A hick with two left feet or a fish with no feet at all? Come to the musical theater, where despite any handicap you may start with, by the final curtain you will emerge as marriage material. Such transformations have become key narratives of the form, shaping the plots of everything from My Fair Lady to Hairspray to The Little Mermaid. It's not hard to see why: Makeovers are visual and exciting, providing a theatrical shock in real time. Nor does it hurt that they often involve physical liberation, thus playing right into the musical's strengths in song and dance. Indeed,…

Model Chiharu Okunugi flashes a smile backstage at Chanel. To get the lip created by makeup artist Peter Philips, try CHANEL Rouge Coco Shine in Satisfaction. THIS MONTH IN BEAUTY: 2014's biggest beauty breakthroughs page 204 // One Direction's secret to glowy skin page 224 // The world's best eco-beauty products page 226 // The hangover fix for serious party girls page 238 PIXIE DUST At Chanel, the cat eye was given an alluring update. Makeup pro Peter Philips traced upper eyelids with black liquid liner and illuminated the lower lash line with a dazzling rim of iridescent sequins (try faux-lash glue as an adhesive). Philips offset the holographic sparkle with virtually bare skin and lips. CHANEL Ligne Graphique de Chanel; MAKE UP FOR EVER Medium Size Glitters SMOKE SIGNAL…

As long as I can remember, I've had a sick fascination with American blonds. Old-movie classics were how this Iranian-American immigrant learned English—my early diary entries are full of mid-Atlantic-accented leading-lady coos like "Ain't life grand!" and "Golly!" Between AMC and the wonderful local indie video store in the greater Los Angeles enclave of South Pasadena, California, where I grew up, my psyche was firmly molded by eras past. I'd take Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Jean Harlow, and Betty Grable over sitcom ingenues and Tiger Beat fare any day. But when I'd pose with a black crayon dangling from my lips, draped in my aunt's furs, tangled in costume jewelry, I always knew I was playing someone I was not. I was no blond. By my teenage years, I'd given…

Violet Crown Give your eyes the royal treatment with a sweep of CoverGirl Flamed Out Blazing Purple shadow along both upper and lower lash lines. Force of Nature For the superfans speeding through bottles of Versace Bright Crystal, Donatella launches Absolu, an ultraconcentrated take on the fruity, floral original. Liner Notes Musician Santigold teams up with Smashbox to combine her favorite pencil shades—minty green and brilliant yellow—in the new Limitless liner duo. Petal Power Garden party–ready Givenchy Very Irrésistible L'Eau en Rose is a sweet, soft blend of florals, blackberries, and soft musks. Earth, Wind, and Fire Sally Hansen helps you pick your polish prism, with neutral, grounded Greige and sunglasses-necessary Play Koi. Juicy Fruit Cool and crisp with hints of mandarin, Humiecki & Graef Eau Radieuse brings to mind…

About three years after they got married, in 2007, wedding photographer Mari Smith* and her husband began batting around the question of when to have kids. "We gotta get started on this," he'd say. "I know," she'd reply. "Just not now." A few months shy of Smith's thirty-seventh birthday, "now" seemed like the worst time ever. After plodding through the recession, her business had finally picked up. She'd come a long way from the early days when she'd made as little as $15,000 a year and had to do family portraits on the side. Now clients booked her months in advance for million-dollar weddings and flew her as far as Thailand and Mexico. Although she and her accountant husband earned a combined income in the low six figures, Smith craved…

SEVEN PAGES OF INSIGHT, ADVICE, AND EVERYTHING WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE FROM THE EDITORS OF YOUR BOYFRIEND'S/ HUSBAND'S/ BROTHER'S FAVORITE MAGAZINE PLUS: 847 WAYS TO DRIVE US WILD IN BED. NOT REALLY, BUT SERIOUSLY, WE HAVE SOME REQUESTS. ALSO: OUR THOUGHTS ON LEAN IN, DOWNTON ABBEY, AND WHAT YOU SHOULD WEAR. HOW TO TALK TO A MAN USEFUL FOR DATES 1 THROUGH 17 BY ROSS MCCAMMON We—you and us—have been made to think that we are from different planets, that we communicate in different ways. This is nonsense. We are from the same planet. And we speak exactly the same language. That language might involve some bumbling. For us especially. And it is in the bumbling—a perfectly natural result of anxiety and glee—that things get dicey.…

Leather jacket, just cavalli, price on request, visit justcavalli.com. Leather bralet, $3,695, shorts, price on request, both, moschino. Leather sneaker pumps, jeremy scott for adidas, $300. For details, see Shopping Guide. I was eight years old when Miley Cyrus made her debut on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana and beginning my senior year of high school when she delivered the VMAs performance that single-handedly butchered the teddy-bear industry. Since then, a flurry of think pieces and open letters have declared Miley to be either the blind victim of puppeteering managers or a maniacal genius of publicity. All seem to agree that her recent reincarnation is just ex-child-star protocol, à la Britney Spears or Justin Bieber, and/or the sign of a mental breakdown. The concern at the heart of it all was…

Cotton shirt, GAP, $60, at Gap stores nationwide. Leather dress, cashmere scarf, leather handbag, all, PRADA, prices on request. Brass choker, JENNIFER FISHER, $375. Silver ring with semiprecious stones, ART SMITH, price on request. Leather boots, LOUIS VUITTON, $2,060. For details, see Shopping Guide. Muslin blouse, CHRISTOPHE LEMAIRE, $285, collection at Fivestory, NYC. Jeans, LEVI'S MADE & CRAFTED, $195. Suede belt, price on request, leather boots, $2,060, all, LOUIS VUITTON. Brass choker, JENNIFER FISHER, $375. Gold and crystal pendant necklace, GABRIELLA KISS, $2,400. Silver ring with semiprecious stones, ART SMITH, price on request. Denim jumper, GAP, $70, visit gap.com. Cotton skirt, RAG & BONE, $198. Cashmere scarf, PRADA, price on request. Brass choker, JENNIFER FISHER, $375. Gold and carnelian pendant necklace, DOYLE & DOYLE, price on request. Silver ring with…

COVERS Strass-embellished jacket, $4,295, crystal pearl–embroidered pants, $2,445, by Emporio Armani, at Emporio Armani boutiques nationwide. Gold bracelet by Cartier, $36,500, call 800-CARTIER or visit cartier.us. Sequin tunic, $6,200, pants, $7,200, by Marc Jacobs, at Marc Jacobs stores nationwide, visit marcjacobs.com. Diamond and white gold bracelet by Chanel Fine Jewelry, $254,000, at Chanel Fine Jewelry boutiques nationwide, call 800-550-0005. Gold bracelet by Cartier, $36,500, call 800-CARTIER or visit cartier.us. White gold and diamond rings by Chopard, prices on request, call 800-CHOPARD or visit chopard.com. BEHIND THE COVER PAGE 84: Blazer by Balmain, collection at Bergdorf Goodman (NYC), Maxfield (L.A.), Neiman Marcus stores nationwide. Pants by Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet, call 646-747-1232. THE LOOK PAGE 127: Sweater, skirt, $5,600, handbag, sandals by Bottega Veneta, call 800-845-6790 or visit bottegaveneta.com.…

BROWN-EYED GIRL To inaugurate our beauty Brush Up series, Atlanta de Cadenet masters the smoky eye. Get the step-by-step at ELLE.com/ATL "I often do a red eye," says model and It Girl Atlanta de Cadenet, who isn't just talking about her impending late-night flight to Paris. "I use blush because it makes my brown eyes look lighter." But when we challenged the recent New York City transplant to adopt a smoky rock 'n' roll eye, courtesy of Dior glam guru (and Rihanna favorite) Ashunta Sheriff, the 22-year-old was more than happy to defect to the dark side. After Sheriff showed her how to apply Diorshow Felt-Tip Eyeliner all around her almond-shape eyes, de Cadenet (whose dad is Duran Duran bassist John Taylor) marveled at the change. "I don't want to…

Cyrus in Emporio Armani Rose gold and diamond earrings, KISMET BY MILKA, $1,867, collection at fragments.com For our annual Women in Music Issue, the chameleonic Miley Cyrus played up her inner glam-rock goddess. ELLE Creative Director Joe Zee: "Initially we began pulling from a David Bowie exhibition that I saw in Toronto, but somehow along the way we morphed into early Madonna." Hairstylist Andy LeCompte: "Joe Zee had a great Blonde Ambition tour jacket that he brought to the set." Zee: "Miley loved it, and she took an Instagram picture with it." LeCompte: "I sent it to Madonna, and Madonna's reply was 'I love that girl!' " Makeup artist Pati Dubroff: "I used a burnished taupe to contour her eye, and then for a little bit of rock-star sizzle, I…

In September 1981, Stevie Nicks appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. She'd just released her legendary first solo album, Bella Donna, and was busy working on Fleetwood Mac's Mirage on the outskirts of Paris in a decaying 30-room château that David Bowie, who'd also recorded there, believed to be haunted. In the interview, Nicks talked about her affection for the Hindu goddess Devi, her desire to build her own pyramid, and her certainty that she'd been a monk in a past life. The story reads like a portal into a lost world, one in which decadence and eccentricity were prerequisites to rock stardom. On the cover, shot by Annie Leibovitz, Nicks' delicate finger serves as a perch for a giant white bird (in homage to the Bella Donna album…

Paloma Faith is walking down the Takeshita-dori, the pedestrian-only thoroughfare of Tokyo's Harajuku shopping district, documenting her first visit to the Japanese capital on Instagram. The London-based singer-songwriter is in town to perform at Marvelous Max Mara Tokyo, a fashion show last fall staged in a sumo-wrestling arena to celebrate the Italian luxury brand's twenty-fifth year in Japan, where it operates 65 thriving stores. Minimalist elegance might be the phrase that first comes to mind for the fashion house beloved for its gorgeous outerwear, but in recent seasons Max Mara has showcased a classic-meets-avant-garde side to its aesthetic through saturated monochromatic looks, such the Robert Ryman–inspired red silk-blend pantsuit Faith is wearing today—winning over a whole new fan base here in the land of manga and piquing the curiosity of…

This month in FASHION: TRENDS How the Bauhaus school is still defining cool page 130 // Range rover: the season's best Western looks page 134 // ACCESSORIES Bondage extras that would make E L James purr page 146c Cashmere sweater, $1,400, embroidered jacquard skirt, price on request, leather handbag, $2,900, jacquard sandals, $830, all, bottega veneta, at Bottega Veneta boutiques nationwide. Brass cuffs, both, jennifer fisher, $295–$325 each. Gold-plated brass bracelet, vita fede, $365. For details, see Shopping Guide.…

Suede handbag, PROENZA SCHOULER, $1,995, at Proenza Schouler, NYC Embroidered satin and crepe dress, BCBGMAXAZRIA, $1,228, visit bcbg.com Metal and enamel necklace, CHANEL, $1,725, at select Chanel boutiques nationwide Silk chiffon skirt, JASON WU, $990, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC Trends For more home-on-the-range ideas, mosey on over to ELLE.com/farmfresh.…

Leather ankle boot, RODARTE, price on request, collection at Opening Ceremony, NYC Leather loafer, TABITHA SIMMONS FOR CREATURES OF THE WIND, $895, collection at shopbop.com Python handbag, J. MENDEL, $4,500, at J. Mendel, NYC Lizard and gold-plated bangles, both, KARA ROSS NEW YORK, $235–$290 each, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC Accessories Cuban heels—named for the fancy footwear favored by musical performers from the island nation—became a staple of rock-star swagger when the Beatles commissioned boots in the style in 1961.…

MUNICH Don't expect to find Avedon and co. in The Art of Fashion Photography (Prestel). Patrick Remy's coffee-table tome focuses on emerging photographers, such as Camille Vivier and Viviane Sassen, examining how they navigate art and commerce. randomhouse.de NEW YORK When Assembly New York's Greg Armas went looking for a flat to accessorize his fall/winter 2014 collection, he turned to Brit brand Underground. In all-white—an Assembly signature—the shoe is available early for those who just can't wait. assemblynewyork.com COPENHAGEN Danish jeweler Maria Black's collaboration with Euro e-commerce site Designers Remix is unobtrusive enough for even the most accessories shy. Her range of rose gold and silver rings, pendants, and cuffs is Scandinavian minimalism at its best. maria-black.com NEW YORK Carolina Herrera named her CH Carolina Herrera Casati collection…

THE WOMAN: Ariel Ashe, 34, New York City THE JOB: Co-owner (with Reinaldo Leandro) of interior-design firm Ashe+Leandro. Her average day is spent meeting with contractors and retailers for projects that have ranged from a posh Victorian in London to a contemporary converted barn on Martha's Vineyard. THE UNIFORM: Tomboyish. Rag & Bone jeans and T-shirts with flat Fiorentini + Baker motorcycle boots. When attending the launch of a new fashion line or a gallery opening, she turns to Proenza Schouler and Carolina Herrera dresses and Maiyet jewelry. ELLE: You were a set-and-lighting-design major at NYU, and you interned in the set department at Saturday Night Live. What practical skills did you pick up there? AA: I learned about styling and spatial relations—how to draw blueprints and floor plans. I…

WEAR IT NOW: Far right: Rose gold and platinum earring with diamonds and pink sapphires, KWIAT, price on request, visit kwiat.com. Right: Gold earring with diamonds, emeralds, and blue and pink sapphires, SABINE G., price on request, visit sabineg.com Cotton dress, J. MENDEL, $3,200, at J. Mendel, NYC Sunglasses, SUNDAY SOMEWHERE, $265, visit sundaysomewhere.com Leather handbag, M2MALLETIER, $1,293, collection at Owen, NYC Leather oxford, GIANVITO ROSSI, $745, visit gianvitorossi.com WEAR IT LATER: Wool sweater, BAND OF OUTSIDERS, $425, collection at net-a-porter.com Wool-blend handbag, ELIZABETH AND JAMES, $545, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Viscose pencil skirt, CUSHNIE ET OCHS, $695, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC Silver- and gold-plated monogram rings, SARAH CHLOE, $89 each, visit sarahchloe.com Calfskin mule, CÉLINE, $940, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC 2. THE NAVY BLAZER Wool…

WEAR IT NOW: White gold and rhodium ear cuff, REPOSSI, price on request, collection at Barneys New York Leather trench coat, CLUB MONACO, $795, at Club Monaco stores nationwide Steel and rose gold watch, FOSSIL, $125, visit fossil.com Calfskin handbag, VALEXTRA, $2,020, collection at Barneys New York Leather sandal, SANTONI, $730, visit santonishoes.com 5. THE SLIM-LINE SHEATH Crepe dress, BOTTEGA VENETA, $2,750, at Bottega Veneta boutiques nationwide WEAR IT LATER: Sunglasses, TOM FORD, $395, at Tom Ford, NYC Faux-lamb coat, MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS, $225, collection at net-a-porter.com. Leather belt, RAINA BELTS, $160, similar styles at rainabelts.com Suede boot, SERGIO ROSSI, $1,590, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Sequin-embroidered clutch, GIVENCHY BY RICCARDO TISCI, $1,450, collection at Jeffrey, NYC…

They've lent vocals to other artists' tracks; they've hooked the Internet with viral performances; they've released handfuls of their own songs—or even become bona fide TV stars. Still, these three artists have only lingered on the cusp of musical breakouts. But with an industry-backed full-length album on the horizon for each, is all that about to change? Time to hedge a few bets.—Seth Plattner JHENÉ AIKO Age: 26 Genre: R&B Street cred: Female vocalist on numerous B2K tracks in 2002; signed with Epic at age 12; worked with Drake, Kanye West, and Miguel on an independent 2011 mixtape, Sailing Soul(s), and with Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino on her latest EP, 2013's Sail Out Speed bumps: Tension with Epic led to her leaving the label in 2004. Aiko went back…

Rivka Galchen, a sometime ELLE contributor, finds the perfect medium for her postmodern subject matter—from existentially rattling phone calls about Chinese takeout to a newly sprouted appendage and furniture that moves itself out—in the 10 stories that comprise American Innovations (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). This collection, which like her 2008 novel, Atmospheric Disturbances, responds to and echoes the surreal playfulness of the likes of Gogol and Borges, satisfyingly packages her wit and absurdist inclinations. Galchen plunges us into head-scratching romantic and domestic scenarios with untrustworthy guides, then yanks us right back out, leaving us gasping for breath, unsure of what exactly has happened. We're led through this skewed universe by lonely women in broken or breaking relationships who define themselves by what they're not doing—not making spaghetti, not surfing the…

THE NEXT… OTC SKIN SAVIOR Elephant elbows, begone! Developed in partnership with dermatologists (who may have just lost some of their business), Dove DermaSeries Intense Repairing Rough Patch Treatment has been clinically proven to outperform prescription creams for moisturizing and softening severely dry skin. The secret? An exclusive fatty-acid complex that amps up cell renewal and creates a strong hydration barrier. THE NEXT… STICKER PARTY It sounds too good to be true: a sticker that pulls all the gross stuff from a blemish to reduce inflammation, speed healing, and deflate the bump overnight. Based on tech developed to treat severe burns, hydrocolloid acne bandages—available in Asia for years—are finally for sale on Drugstore.com. Nexcare's whimsical heart and star versions (above) are still sold only overseas, but the brand's round ones…

Among the images Harry Styles has given his 6 million Instagram followers to obsess over is a picture of Lou Teasdale's dirty white Reeboks. Also on his feed: a screenshot of her iPhone's favorite-callers list, where the pop star holds seventh place. As One Direction's longtime groomer (aka makeup artist), Teasdale helps the boys stay clear-skinned and baby-faced, even on tour, but the Yorkshire-born hair-and-makeup pro isn't just popular backstage. The multitalent has amassed a devoted female fan base that follows her around-the-clock advice on how to get a perfect complexion and sexily undone hair on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. (Want the perfect lilac rinse? Try hair dye from a party-supply shop, cut with conditioner.) Next up? Teasdale's first book, The Craft: DIY Hair and Beauty—out this month—which she calls…

Last night was epic. Jen, Aimee, and Amy hit the Las Vegas Strip to test the strength of the bottle service at the Bank, a nightclub nestled inside the Bellagio hotel. The twentysomethings mixed their own vodka cranberries, sucked down shots of Jack, twerked on tables, posed for their iPhones, stumbled out of the club, inadvertently mooned the casino's guests, and, finally, vomited in the elevator. The party ended at 3:30 A.M. The hangover was just beginning. At 10 the next morning, the trio files into an idling tour bus in oversize sunglasses and last night's eyeliner. Appointed with cream leather seats, drawn shades, and piped-in soft rock, it's a miniature retreat parked in the center of sizzling asphalt. They've come here to rehash the details of their evening alcohol…

I was an investment banker, and my then girlfriend, now my wife, was a corporate lawyer. When Lisa told me how much she earned, which was something like $130,000, I made fun of her. "Lipstick money," I said. My wife is very smart, much smarter than I am. I don't like this, because I am, or at least used to be, the sort of person who feels diminished when I see someone better than I am. Part of the way I protected myself with Lisa was by gathering up markers of status: prestigious schools, famous friends, money. When I said "lipstick money," we were discussing moving in together and how to split the bills. I'd pay for everything, I told her. She should keep her money to buy herself little…

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. DEAR E. JEAN: I got to chatting with one of the commenters on my blog, and I'd never felt so in sync with anyone. We were crazy in love before we even made love. And after? Oh. My. God. First of all, I LOVE SEX. But sex with him was off the charts. Best sex of my life, the first time we were together. The second time blew the first time out of the water. And this man has e-mailed me every morning for the past two years just to say I'm beautiful. When it started, he was "separated" from his wife. Then she came home, and he said that it was just "convenience" and that they "hadn't had sex" since the Bush administration. Then they went…

THE RAP RENEGADE IGGY AZALEA "It's less about vaginas and more about my life," quips Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea about her first full album, The New Classic. The 23-year-old, who has emerged as a Lil' Kim for the YouTube age, is well aware of her association with her early, unapologetically raunchy tracks, like "Pu$$y." A white-girl rapper with a Crocodile Dundee lilt? She officially proved the naysayers wrong, opening for Beyoncé on the singer's Australian tour this past fall. Now Azalea, who has given voice to brash girls everywhere, is ready to drop the swagger (for starters, she premiered a goofy, Clueless-inspired music video). "I never dove into my personal experiences. I didn't want to be vulnerable," she says. "I always felt like [rap] was escapism, but sometimes you can…

Beauty Secret: To keep long hair strong and shiny, run REDKEN Clear Moisture Instant Polishing Prep through towel-dried hair. Far left: Mohair turtleneck, $375, stretch-cotton shirt, $345, cotton T-shirt, $250, all, LES COPAINS, at Les Copains, NYC. Wool hat, STELLA MCCARTNEY, $300. Cotton and alloy bracelet, SACAI X AMBUSH, $630. Coated metal ring, ALEXIS BITTAR, $125. Headphones, CHARMING CHARLIE FOR VPL, $25. Left: Leather top, $4,425, cotton shirt, $595, leather skirt, $2,575, all, TOD'S, at Tod's boutiques nationwide. Alligator baseball cap, STALVEY, $3,810. Coated metal necklace, $495, ring, $125, both, ALEXIS BITTAR. Leather sandals, VPL, price on request. For details, see Shopping Guide. Nylon jacket, price on request, wool crepe top, $3,800, pants, $1,350, wool scarf, $450, all, DIOR, at Dior boutiques nationwide. Snakeskin-printed leather sneakers, REEBOK X MELODY EHSANI,…

TAURUS THIS MONTH FOR TAURUS: (APRIL 20–MAY 20) As May opens, you'll still be contemplating the many emotions stirred by April 28th's eclipse, and by the new moon in Scorpio and your relationship sector on the 14th, you may be forced into weighty decisions regarding your happiness. Be aware that the choices you make could have long-lasting, if not permanent, consequences. As Mars leaves retrograde on the 19th, the pace of your days will quicken as investments in both your health and work projects yield fruitful results. Midmonth will also be a sweet time for romance, thanks to Venus, your ruler, in orbit with Uranus on the 18th. The month's end brings a new moon in Gemini that could boost your professional standing. Trust your intuition, for Mars in fine…