Sommaire pour March 2014 de ELLE

MARCH THE ELLE MUST-DO Checklist Friday, March 7–Sunday, March 16 South by Southwest fest, a dream buffet for music, film, and tech lovers • Friday, March 7 A trio of experts offers up unique perspectives on contemporary art for the Whitney Biennial • Sunday, March 23 After a six-year hiatus, Les Misérables breaks Broadway's heart all over again. Sunday, March 2 STEP UP With heavy contenders such as 12 Years a Slave and Gravity, the eighty-sixth annual Oscars demand comic relief from Ellen DeGeneres, who picks up hosting (and fancy footwork) duties for the first time since 2007. Oh, to be a pair of black-tie Chuck Taylors upon those dancing feet! Tuesday, March 4 BAGGAGE CLAIM There's irreverent, and then there's Chelsea Handler. In her new book of travel (travail?)…

I think often about what the founding editor of ELLE, Hélène Lazareff, had to say when she launched the magazine in Paris just after World War II. It was 1945, the city was just coming back to life, and her job, she said, was to "open women's appetites." When I read that I thought, What a great thing to do with your life: to be charged with inspiring half the population to live as fully as possible, with as much passion and bravado as they can muster. Last month, we ran a gorgeous black-and-white photograph of Mindy Kaling on one of the four covers for our Women in Television Issue, meant to celebrate women whose talent, work, and all-around genius and coolness inspire us, in a medium in which, historically,…

Beth Fenton PROVENANCE: Manchester, England NOW: New York City PROFESSION: Fashion editor/director/stylist/consultant THIS MONTH: "Leader of the Pack" (page 474). "I wanted to shoot jewelry made from found objects and pieces with a homespun, customized feel. I discovered a few really interesting designers." BONA FIDES: BA, fashion, Northumbria University; work has appeared in V Magazine, Muse, The Wall Street Journal, and Self Service READING: Among Women Only, by Cesare Pavese FIRST GIG: "I worked at Benetton. It was an introduction into personalities and professionalism, as well as folding clothes." GUILTY PLEASURE: Urbandictionary.com ON REPEAT: "The Hotel New Hampshire for its great assortment of oddball characters and Moonrise Kingdom for its dialogue and cinematography. I would love to work on a film one day—it allows you to delve further into characters…

As a child, I loved watching my mother get dressed for Mass. She folded and twisted and pinned her ichafu until it sat on her head like a large flower. She wrapped her george—heavy beaded cloth, alive with embroidery, always in bright shades of red or purple or pink—around her waist in two layers. The first, the longer piece, hit her ankles, and the second formed an elegant tier just below her knees. Her sequined blouse caught the light and glittered. Her shoes and handbag always matched. Her lips shone with gloss. As she moved, so did the heady scent of Dior Poison. I loved, too, the way she dressed me in pretty little-girl clothes, lace-edged socks pulled up to my calves, my hair arranged in two puffy bunny-tails. My…

A …IS FOR AALIYAH Have you been watching the runway like a hawk in the sky? If so, you've noticed designers paying homage to the gone-too-soon '90s R&B prodigy, complete with midriff tops and billowing layers. B …IS FOR BROKEN GLASS Tom Ford's shattered designs cut chic. C …IS FOR CROWNING GLORY Forget delicate fascinators. In this season's headgear derby, size matters. The winner: this Louis Vuitton. D …IS FOR DIVIDENDS Invest in a banker-style oxford or a pair of crisp boxers-inspired shorts, and expect your stock to skyrocket. E …IS FOR ELLE (WOODS) From Barbie to pale Pepto, the Legally Blonde ditz turned Harvard law grad's favorite color is the new black. F …IS FOR FACE FORWARD Miuccia Prada sent a mug-printed parade down the catwalk. Meanwhile, Giles' dresses…

Acrylic clutch, EDIE PARKER, $1,395, collection at Hirshleifers, Manhasset, NY Sequin pants, J.CREW, $198, visit jcrew.com Silk shirt, TOMMY HILFIGER, price on request, similar styles at Tommy Hilfiger, NYC Leather sandal, MANOLO BLAHNIK FOR BAND OF OUTSIDERS, price on request, call 212-582-3007 Trends The first Hawaiian shirts came into being in the 1930s and were originally influenced by a combination of fabrics from Japan, China, and the Philippines.…

Tweed and chiffon skirt, ERDEM, $1,825, collection at barneys.com Silk organza dress, HELMUT LANG, $520, at Helmut Lang stores nationwide Jacquard and polyamide knit blouse, ROCHAS, $680, collection at modaoperandi.com Suede and mesh ankle boot, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, $1,095, call 212-279-7365 Trends Ready to bare a little more skin? Dive into an array of cutout pieces at ELLE.com/springcutouts.…

Calfskin, nylon, and metal handbag, MARNI, $2,400, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Rock crystal and rhodium-plate necklace, LELE SADOUGHI, $298, visit lelesadoughi.com. Crystal, blue goldstone, and oxidized vermeil necklace, ERICKSON BEAMON, $978, collection at shopbop.com Embellished patent leather sandal, MIU MIU, $1,350, at select Miu Miu boutiques nationwide Accessories "Big girls need big diamonds."—Elizabeth Taylor…

GET LUCKY You'll look like you've been collecting for generations, but New York City–based fine-jewelry designer Ippolita Rostagno has done it for you. Her new range of engraved zodiac signs and initials, resembling tokens picked up on far-flung travels, are available in materials such as carved coral and hand-cut mother-of-pearl, and look best in clusters. Gold and silver charm holders with gold, silver, black silver, diamond, gemstone, and mother-of-pearl charms, all, IPPOLITA, $195–$2,995, visit ippolita.com White gold, diamond, emerald, and pink sapphire ring; white gold, diamond, and blue sapphire ring; both, SABINE G., $3,445 each, collection at Fivestory, NYC WELL BUILT Bulgari puts a graphic spin on its Mediterranean roots with its latest high-jewelry collection, Intarsio. The chiaroscuro contrast of black onyx and pavé diamonds mimics the complex geometry of…

"It's time to clean up your act!" That seemed to be the directive this season on London's once digital-print-mad runways. A common thread ran through Dorchester Prize–winner Huishan Zhang's smocked suits (6), the little white shirt-and-pants combos (7) from palmer//harding duo Levi Palmer and Matthew Harding, and 1205 designer Paula Gerbase's sportif separates (8). But if spring's official fashion-week calendar was all simple lines and monochromatic palettes, the after-hours were anything but restrained. For editors arriving bleary-eyed off the night flight from New York, it was five days of grand-opening celebrations—from champers with Kate and Mick at the new Longchamp flagship to champers with Tom Ford at his first British store. Edeline Lee filled a basement room at Somerset House with black balloons and models dancing to eerie lullabies (1).…

TREAT YOURSELF When you were six years old, it was candy buttons and sugary lollipops behind a glass counter. Now our definition of a special treat involves something infinitely more luxe—and what better way to indulge that sweet tooth than Prada's new croc bags in confectionary colors? This month, our Shops section is jam-packed with spring's newest and most splurgeworthy offerings, from unstuffy florals to sporty plaids. Plus, we check out model and The Face coach Anne V's envy-inducing closet. Talk about a sweet deal. When you were six years old, it was candy buttons and sugary lollipops behind a glass counter. Now our definition of a special treat involves something infinitely more luxe—and what better way to indulge that sweet tooth than Prada's new croc bags in confectionary colors?…

BOLD MINI As seen at Saint Laurent Cotton skirt, H&M, $60, visit hm.com Cotton-blend and sequin skirt, UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON, $65, at United Colors of Benetton, NYC Cotton skirt, ZADIG&VOLTAIRE, $385, at Zadig&Voltaire stores nationwide Sequin blazer, MAJE, $625, visit maje.com Metal clutch, KATE SPADE NEW YORK, $498, visit katespade.com KNIFE-PLEAT SKIRT As seen at Dior Silk skirt, NICOLE MILLER ARTELIER, $375, at Nicole Miller, NYC Pleated skirt, ANN TAYLOR, $98, visit anntaylor.com Pleated skirt, J.CREW, $118, visit jcrew.com Nylon sweater, MIU MIU, $730, at select Miu Miu boutiques nationwide Leather and metal sandal, MARCIANO, $228, visit marciano.com EMBELLISHED JEAN As seen at Louis Vuitton Denim jeans, TORY BURCH, $275, visit toryburch.com Lace-detail jeans, HOUSE OF HOLLAND, $236, visit houseofholland.co.uk Stretch-cotton jeans, JOE FRESH, $49, at Joe Fresh, NYC…

Single-Button Blazer "Equipment has been my go-to blouse for years. I was so excited to hear the brand is now making blazers, as I knew the cut and fit would be impeccable, and no surprise—they are." Wool blazers, EQUIPMENT, $468 each, collection at equipmentfr.com JOANN PAILEY MARKET DIRECTOR Modern Choker "This emerald and diamond collar by Jemma Wynne for Gemfields proves that fine jewelry can still be cool and modern. I love its beautiful simplicity, which can be dressed up or down." Gold, emerald, and diamond necklace, JEMMA WYNNE FOR GEMFIELDS, price on request, collection at junesimmonsjewelry.com The Everything Bag "This bag is equal parts utilitarian and luxurious while remaining understated and carrying me from day to evening. I can wear it with jeans and a T-shirt and still feel…

With The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson tips his hat to 1932's glamorous Grand Hotel; the heavy-handed drama of the original was no great shakes, but it looked good, and besides a couple of Barrymores it boasted two jaw-dropping young stars: Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. A latter-day critic called it a "gleaming deco dinosaur." You could say that about Anderson's film—only his dinosaur is alive and well and full of gut-busting jokes, many of them cheerfully lewd. First seen shimmering in the distance, Anderson's grand hotel is a delicate pale-pink chimera so beautifully wrought that it looks like it might float right up to heaven. But even the most elegant hotels harbor earthy secrets, suggested here with walls of rich red silk, touches of gaudy gilt, and most of…

"It's like déjà vu—the nightmare all over again. I seem to never learn," says Amy Chua, of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother fame. That 2011 book about her disciplinary parenting of her two daughters had people publicly wondering whether, as Chua laughingly puts it, she really burned some stuffed animals in the service of teaching some Larger Life Lesson. Today she's talking about an early critical ambush on The Triple Package (The Penguin Press), cowritten with husband and fellow Yale Law prof Jed Rubenfeld. The book meticulously documents that a variety of subgroups—Chinese, Mormons, Jews, Iranians, Indians, and Nigerians, among others—are higher-achieving than the average American; its 182 pages of text come with more than 100 pages of supporting notes. In analyzing how these groups, all of which identify…

"Every girl in the world should have geisha training," Diana Vreeland once said. "The idea is that you learn from exaggeration. The way they move, their voices, their faces—the makeup!" I try to remember this as I galumph mannishly through the streets of Kyoto in thick, wooden-soled clogs and a 40-pound kimono, with a hot, heavily ornamented, helmetlike wig teetering on my head. I have just undergone a full transformation at the hands of a pro team of Japanese geisha experts, who have spent an hour bestowing upon me the traditional makeup of a meiko, or apprentice geisha: My skin is covered in opaque white pigment, my eyebrows are streaked with red, and my lower lip—only my lower lip—is painted matte crimson, which makes me look as though the bottom…

The first guy asks me to remove my sneakers before I enter his office, so of course I don't trust him. Who says "sneakers"? And if I have to remove my shoes, how come he gets to wear his? Plus, through the partially opened door I can see a king-size mattress on the floor, which creeps me out. And he's wearing an ugly purple shirt. I know enough about the talking cure to realize that by focusing on Mr. X's (no real names here, because I think it's the decent thing to do) off-putting attributes, I might be manifesting what those in the field call "resistance" and what an ex has called my "very strong and sadly self-defeating dickheadedishness." I know if I want help, I need to be open…

After spending the day with stylists Emily Current and Meritt Elliott, friends since their undergrad days at UCLA, business partners—best known for their runaway-hit denim line, Current/Elliott, which launched in 2008—and neighbors whose homes line the same quiet West Hollywood street, you might be tempted to ask if a disagreement has ever disrupted their almost-too-perfect-to-believe harmony. But the pair, comfortably curled up on Elliott's white sofa, only laugh. "Everyone asks us that!" Current says with an octave-spanning chuckle, while Elliott, half a foot taller and twice as reserved, nods. "It's crazy," she insists, "but we really haven't." Indeed, as they lead a tour of their neighboring abodes—along the way discussing clients Jessica Alba, Emma Roberts, and Mandy Moore, all of whom they style in a clever mix of Rodeo Drive…

In the winter of 2012, as my fiftieth birthday approached, I began to write what turned into my autobiography, a look at my own life through the lens of food. In it, I told the truth about my father beating my mother, my math teacher molesting me, my marital problems, all without anger or overdramatization. I tried to paint these powerful male figures in my life as human, fallible, and complex, with problems of their own. "Where's your rage?" a friend asked when she read the section about my teacher. "That fucker molested you!" "I'm not angry," I told her, feeling strangely agitated. "It's just another thing that happened to me. I don't want to give it undue weight." I used my father's and ex-husband's real names, but I changed…

his morning Dakota Johnson slept with Seth Rogen. The weird thing is, Rogen doesn't even know it. The two were seated next to each other on a 6 A.M. flight to Los Angeles from Vancouver, where Johnson was shooting some non-naughty bits of Fifty Shades of Grey. Johnson is a big fan of Rogen, but he didn't recognize her. Her hair is dyed from her natural blond to dark brown for Fifty Shades, making her look even younger than 24. Not that Rogen would have known who she was anyway. She tells the story with a goofball smile, its DNA lifted straight from her mom, Melanie Griffith. "I didn't want to be like, 'Hey, wake up, I'm Dakota.' " Johnson should cherish her relative anonymity—relative is the right term when…

Robin Wright and Sean Penn's daughter plays outside the Hollywood-royalty box in some of this spring's most covetable pieces You've heard the rumors. Dylan Penn and Rob Pattinson: the romance that has Kristen Stewart twisting with regret. Sorry to disappoint, but let Penn be the first to tell you: She has no interest in dating celebrities, not even sparkling vampire types. "It is such a bullshit lie," she says, her eye roll almost audible. "Rob is cute but just a friend. I can't imagine dating someone famous. I try to stay away from that as much as I can." Fair enough: As a Hollywood scion (she is nearly the spitting image of mother Robin Wright, and her disdain for artifice and ease with profanity comes straight from her father, Sean…

Take a page from Debbie Harry, Gwen Stefani, and Chrissie Hynde this season: Surround yourself with a pack of (adoring) males and add their style staples—newsboy caps, relaxed jeans, and mannish overcoats— to a repertoire of feminine classics Woven leather jacket, cotton and nylon skirt, prices on request, knit tank, $650, all, CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION, at Calvin Klein Collection, NYC. Metal and found-objects earring, DIVA DESIGN ART, $75 (for pair). Silver and cast-resin necklace, $625, silver and glass ring, $175, both, SUSAN LENART KAZMER. Silver, bronze, and brass necklace, $800, ring, $350, both, THOMAS MANN. Antique gold and sapphire ring, DOYLE & DOYLE, $4,800. Vintage leather boots, from NEW YORK VINTAGE, price on request. For details, and information on all men's apparel, see Shopping Guide. Taffeta jacket, $3,900, wool shorts,…

COVERS Technical bonded dress by John Galliano, price on request, visit johngalliano.com. Sheer thigh-highs by Donna Karan Signature Collection, $20, collection at Lord & Taylor stores nationwide. Suede sandals by Manolo Blahnik, $725, collection at Bergdorf Goodman (NYC). Tweed dress, $7,050, by Chanel, at select Chanel boutiques nationwide, call 800-550-0005. PVC belt by Prabal Gurung, $575, special order at Barneys New York. Pearl, white gold, diamond, gray sapphire, and black spinel bracelet, $322,000, white gold and diamond bracelet, $39,000, by Chanel Fine Jewelry, at Chanel Fine Jewelry boutiques nationwide, call 800-550-0005. BEHIND THE COVER PAGE 176: Bracelet by Anna Sheffield, $6,050, visit annasheffield.com. Jacket by Belstaff, call 212-897-1880 or visit belstaff.com. THE LOOK PAGE 247: Dress, top, scarf, sandals by Derek Lam, at Derek Lam (NYC). Cuff by Eddie Borgo,…

MARCH THE ELLE MUST-DO Checklist Saturday, March 1 A Dries Van Noten retrospective bows today at Les Arts Décoratifs in Paris. • Sunday, March 2 Flock to the opening of "Plumes & Feathers in Fashion" at the MoMu Fashion Museum of Antwerp. Sunday, March 2 We'd love to see a starlet or two break the Oscars' mold tonight. One suggestion that would certainly wake up the red carpet: Charlotte Olympia's rainbow-striped range of towering heels and evening clutches created with whimsical Brit jeweler Solange Azagury-Partridge. Saturday, March 8 Celebrate the weekend by taking a well-deserved break at Kate Spade's oh-so-appropriately named Saturday shop in SoHo. It's the first Big Apple outpost for her bargain-priced, superchic line of cheerful, candy-colored RTW and accessories. Thursday, March 13 Pick up a little something…

SMALLS' WORLD For our January 2014 cover shoot, supermodel extraordinaire Joan Smalls was all dramatic glamour in Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, and Chanel. She impressed photographer Michael Thompson with her chameleonic abilities, and writer Molly Young with her sharp sense of humor and unwavering opinions. "Last time I checked," Smalls told Young, "the world is a multicultural place…. Beauty is universal. These doors have to open." ELLE readers agree wholeheartedly: The supermodel era is over, said no one, now that we've seen Joan Smalls on the January cover of ELLE. It's exciting to see a model back on a major fashion magazine cover—and, with a cover line describing her as "the world's real top model," we have a feeling we're going to see a lot more of her face in print.…

Maria Cornejo's trip to Santiago, Chile, was more than just a far-flung sojourn, it was a homecoming. The New York–based designer, who founded her namesake label in 1998, was born there under Augusto Pinochet's rule, and fled with her family when she was 11 for Manchester, England. "This trip was special because I was returning for a happy reason," says Cornejo, who traveled to the South American metropolis as a guest of magazine Revista Ya, which was celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. It was the first time Cornejo had visited in 13 years. "There are so many interesting things happening in Latin America right now—art, architecture. It was nice to see how the country had evolved."—Catherine Straut STAY: "I stayed at the Noi hotel, in the Vitacura neighborhood, which gave us…

Many words could be used to describe Lunchbox Fund founder Topaz Page-Green's personal aesthetic—she has long favored the sort of ubiquitous floaty layers and homespun fabrics seen everywhere from Missoni to The Row this season—like, say, easy or effortless. Just don't call the eclectic mix in her greenhouse of an apartment in New York City's East Village (where you'll also find the odd ficus or kumquat tree and bougainvillea) boho. "It makes you sound like you're a pampered hippie," says Page-Green of the overused adjective. "So much of what's in my wardrobe is hand-me-downs, so my style was actually invented for me by family and friends." Page-Green has other things on her mind besides the latest in luxe fringe. The South African model turned philanthropist heads an NGO whose mission…

Crepe dress and cutout top, $2,990, satin fringe scarf, $490, leather sandals, $695, all, DEREK LAM, at Derek Lam, NYC. Silver-plated cuff, EDDIE BORGO, $315. Silver-plated ring, BOND HARDWARE, $55 THIS MONTH IN FASHION: TRENDS The goth look any woman can wear page 248 // The hippest Hawaiian prints ever page 250 // ACCESSORIES Surf sandals hit the pavement page 266 // New fine jewels to spring for page 274…

Calfskin sandal, SOPHIA WEBSTER, $450, visit sophiawebster.co.uk Lamé dress, LANVIN, $2,115, similar styles at Lanvin, NYC Diamond and gold ring, $3,100, black diamond and gold ring, $2,600, gold band, $1,680, engraved gold band, $1,990, all, FINN JEWELRY, collection at Barneys New York Neoprene dress, ASOS, $110, visit asos.com Trends Sometimes the medium is the message. See a slide show of the greatest hits in logomania at ELLE.com/logos.…

Canvas ankle boot, GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI DESIGN, $1,295, at Giuseppe Zanotti Design boutiques nationwide Metallic dress, CLAUDIE PIERLOT, $415, collection at Bloomingdale's, NYC Calfskin handbag, BALLY, $2,795, at Bally, NYC Cotton-blend romper, COMPTOIR DES COTONNIERS, $185, at Comptoir des Cotonniers, NYC Trends Sand can range in color from bright orange (at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, in Utah) to black (the volcanic sand on the Greek island of Santorini).…

This season, designers from Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld to Lanvin's Alber Elbaz looked up for inspiration—to the constellations. The result: glimmering ear cuffs, crystals strung on braided grosgrain, and pop-art-worthy starburst rings. The best part: You won't need a telescope to see these sparklers. Gold and diamond ring, KHAI KHAI JEWELRY, $1,825, visit khaikhaijewelry.com Gold and diamond earrings, DAVID YURMAN, price on request, at David Yurman, NYC White gold and diamond bracelet, CHANEL FINE JEWELRY, price on request, at Chanel Fine Jewelry boutiques nationwide Gold and diamond ear cuff, RUNA, price on request, visit runa-jewelry.com Crystal, metal, and grosgrain necklace, LANVIN, $2,490, at Lanvin, NYC Gold and diamond ring, H.STERN, price on request, at H.Stern, NYC Accessories "We saw to the edge of all there is/So brutal and alive it seemed…

MILAN Fausto Puglisi balances his duties as designer at Emanuel Ungaro with running his namesake line, for which he piled on the '80s excess for spring—think "Carolina Herrera meets Axl Rose," he says. A collaboration with Casadei resulted in punchy palm-print pumps. faustopuglisi.com NEW YORK Now that you've read up on Alexander Wang (page 514) and Proenza Schouler (page 224), prepare to shop the boy wonders at two new locations: Balenciaga's Mercer Street flagship and Proenza's Greene Street outpost. balenciaga.com/us; proenzaschouler.com NEW YORK Veruschka: From Vera to Veruschka (Rizzoli) features photographer Johnny Moncada's never-before-seen images of the six-foot stunner (born Vera von Lehndorff) in dream-getaway locales. rizzoliusa.com NEW YORK Bobbi Brown has already taught us how to turn our faces into works of art. Now she's giving…

To take a line from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song, Serafina Sama is "strictly a female female." Says the Ravenna, Italy–born, London-based designer, "I think a woman can be confident but feminine without looking like a warrior." After working for an impressive roster of European houses—Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Marni, and Chloé among them—Sama began to develop her retro-modern line, Isa Arfen (an anagram of her first name). She began with summery frocks that were quickly snapped up by her industry pals. Encouraged by the experiment, she officially launched the line in 2011. She rented a hotel room during Paris Fashion Week and invited editors and buyers—"really, anybody I could think of." Most never wrote back, but Opening Ceremony took an interest. Now in her third season, Sama…

BLOOMING PRINTS As seen at Christopher Kane Day: Sunglasses, TORY BURCH, $195, visit toryburch.com Silk dress, NINA RICCI, $2,890, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide. Moonstone ring, TORY BURCH, $195, call 866-480-8679 Mesh and patent leather pump, JIMMY CHOO, $625, at select Jimmy Choo stores nationwide. Leather handbag, MULBERRY, $2,700, at Mulberry, NYC Night: Gold and crystal necklace, ROGER VIVIER, $1,350, at Roger Vivier, NYC Lace-detail T-shirt, CHRISTOPHER KANE, $300, collection at Barneys New York Cotton-blend shortsuit, SEA, $430, collection at Van Jean, Columbia, SC Crystal-embroidered satin clutch, ROGER VIVIER, $2,550, at Roger Vivier, NYC. Embroidered satin pump, RUPERT SANDERSON, $925, visit rupertsanderson.com Weekend: Resin and crystal earrings, AKONG, $310, visit akonglondon.com Cropped cotton sweatshirt, MARKUS LUPFER, $328, collection at selfridges.com Cotton and PVC sneaker, MSGM, price on request, visit…

SPORT INSPIRED As seen at Emilio Pucci Mesh dress, SANDRO, $285, visit sandro-paris.com Cotton and mesh dress, M MISSONI, $695, at M Missoni stores nationwide Perforated dress, BANANA REPUBLIC, $140, visit bananarepublic.com Leather clutch, COACH, $598, at Coach stores nationwide. Stretch-nylon, mesh, and suede sandal, BALENCIAGA, $1,065, similar styles at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide '80S SHAPES As seen at Saint Laurent Silk-blend dress, BLUMARINE, $3,545, visit blumarine.com Sequin dress, TOPSHOP, $120, at Topshop stores nationwide Rayon-blend dress, BCBGENERATION, $88, visit bcbgeneration.com Linen-blend and leather blazer, VINCE, $495, visit vince.com Printed calf-hair clutch, JIMMY CHOO, $1,595, visit jimmychoo.com SHIRTDRESSING As seen at Nina Ricci Cotton dress, BCBGMAXAZRIA, $368, visit bcbg.com Cotton crop top, $285, shirtdress, $300, both, PAULE KA, visit pauleka.com. Gold-plated metal belt, RAINA BELTS, $42, visit rainabelts.com Cotton-blend dress,…

"It was the most petrifying thing I've ever done in my life," says model Anne V about her first season as a coach on Oxygen's The Face (season two debuts March 5). Less anxiety inducing? Inviting cult blog (and ELLE spies) The Coveteur to her TriBeCa apartment for a look at her trove of designer wares. On hand: the sporty (denim and ball caps) and the sexy—plenty of power pumps, including her "go-to shoe," Christian Louboutin's Pigalle, which she wears for every red-carpet appearance. Get Her Look "I love jeans, and I love black. That's pretty much all I wear during the day," says Anne V (above left). "I have all these colorful things, but even if I go to Miami, I still wear black, white, and jeans." Above and…

Joe Weisberg, creator of FX's The Americans, was looking for something specific when casting the early-'80s undercover Soviet spy/suburban DC housewife Elizabeth Jennings: a thirtysomething who could be alternately frigid and hotheaded, sexually enticing yet detached, good with a firearm but bad with a skinned knee. Out of nearly 100 actresses, one, famous for playing a lovesick coed with corkscrew curls, stood out. "If you've seen her in Waitress, you know that Keri Russell can inhabit anyone you ask her to," says Weisberg. Case in point: In The Americans' pilot, the 37-year-old Felicity alum, clad in a leather bustier and platinum blond wig, performs a sex act on an intelligence-spilling U.S. government employee. A few scenes later, in high-rise Guess stovepipes and a violet scoop-neck, she mechanically clears breakfast plates…

To get the Italian bombshell look created by makeup artist Pat McGrath at Dolce & Gabbana, try Passioneyes Duo Mascara in Terra, Shaping Eyebrow Pencil in Soft Brown, Luminous Cheek Color in Rosebud, and Classic Cream Lipstick in Bellissima, all by Dolce & Gabbana. This month in BEAUTY: The four-step perfect blow-out page 370 // A smooth-skin breakthrough from Japan page 372 // Anti-aging secrets from France's top spa page 376 LIFE OF THE PARTY ART POP THE LOOK: From greasepainted lids at Chanel and Jackson Pollock paint-splattered skin at Vivienne Westwood to gilded brows at Dior and crystallized faces at Givenchy, this makeup is about having fun and being seen. At Givenchy, P&G Beauty global creative design director Pat McGrath created an army of glimmering warrior women. "It was…

As the cofounder (with her husband, Bertrand) of luxe skin-care line Caudalie, Mathilde Thomas has perhaps the most beautiful inspiration board on earth: her parents' Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard. The 600-year-old winery in Bordeaux, France, is home to the original Caudalie spa—a chic aerie above a picturesque outdoor pool—where many of the company's products are used as treatments. Since securing its first patent in 1995, Caudalie has been steadily discovering new ways that ingredients derived from grapes can beautify the skin. "I was raised with the idea that wine can be a beauty elixir," Thomas says. Santé! Are French women more accepting than American women of aging? Americans have more pressure from the media—many on TV have a lot of Botox. We do have a few French celebrities who…

Candy Coated Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Enamel in Apricot Nectar releases a sweet, fruity aroma as it dries. Tip: Skip topcoat for the strongest fragrance effect. Soft Focus Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Volupté in N° 19 Rose Orfevre provides ultrashiny coverage without feeling sticky. Bloom Town The lightest of florals, Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Parfum blends feminine notes of white amaryllis, daffodil, and water lily. Split Personality Inspired by women who rock, Burberry Brit Rhythm Eau de Toilette fuses fresh notes such as English lavender and orange flower with the sultry smell of blackberry leaves. Here Comes the Sun Gray winter weather is no match for Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Summer Escape Bronzing Powder in Deep Glow. All Aflutter Guerlain's Cils d'Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara in Moka…

When a fire alarm bleats repeatedly in the lobby of the Algonquin Hotel, where I'm talking to New Yorker environmental writer Elizabeth Kolbert about her new book, The Sixth Extinction, she keeps talking. She doesn't pause as she lays out a detailed description of climate change, mass extinction, and the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, nor as she shifts seamlessly from musing about which animals might have roamed Manhattan 10 million years ago to the carbon impact of driving her twin 15-year-old sons to soccer. As we're escorted to our table for lunch, a deafening announcement apologizes for the multiple interruptions. Lucky that we didn't have to decamp to the sidewalk, I say. "I missed it," Kolbert responds, her gray-blue eyes widening. "How did you hear the alarm going…

NO APPETITE FOR AN AFTERNOON DELIGHT DEAR E. JEAN: I've been sneaking away for long "lunches" with a married man from my office. He tells me he loves me, I tell him I love him, and this has been going on for a year. Knowing I was doing wrong, and that he'd never leave his big-time breadwinning wife, I broke it off and had a date with a wonderful new man. My married friend turned up the charm, I couldn't resist, and we started all over again! But recently I saw him talking to a new girl from PR, and yesterday they went out for "lunch" and never returned. I was so distraught that a guy in my circle of work friends tried to comfort me. He said he knew…

Beauty Secret: For high-impact eyes, try Diorshow Art Pen in Catwalk Black and Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in Over Black, both by DIOR. Mink and fox bolero, HELEN YARMAK, price on request, at Helen Yarmak, NYC. Brocade dress, LANVIN, $3,990. Silk scarf, NINA RICCI, $535. Horn, rose gold, pavé diamond, quartz, and moonstone necklace, JACQUIE AICHE, price on request. Brass link bracelet ring, JENNIFER FISHER, $750. Diamond and moonstone hand piece, COLETTE, price on request. Silk dress, GIORGIO ARMANI, $3,295, at select Giorgio Armani boutiques nationwide. Feathered skirt, MARCHESA, price on request. Silk chiffon scarves, LAUREN RALPH LAUREN, $42 each. White gold–plated silver earrings, AS29, price on request. Gold and diamond bracelet, WWAKE, $327. Gold, silver, and pavé diamond bracelet, CATBIRD, $188. Gold vermeil bracelet ring, BLISS LAU, $495. Plexiglas…

Sequined silk gown, DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, $1,500, at DVF, NYC. Gold-plate necklace, ALEXIS BITTAR, $1,995. For details, see Shopping Guide. Printed top, $2,050, skirt, $2,100, necklace, price on request, all, CéLINE, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC. Sunglasses, PRABAL GURUNG BY LINDA FARROW GALLERY, $405. Acrylic clutch, EDIE PARKER, $995. Suede sandals, BRIAN ATWOOD, $1,795. Sneakers (on Superman), NIKE, $120. Printed cape, VICTORIA'S SECRET, archive from the Victoria's Secret 2011 Fashion Show. For details, see Shopping Guide. Printed cape, VICTORIA'S SECRET, archive from the Victoria's Secret 2011 Fashion Show. For details, see Shopping Guide. Mesh- and metal-embellished embroidered silk jacket, price on request, cotton overalls, $3,600, brass necklace, $675, calfskin boots, $1,900, all, BALMAIN, collection at Barneys New York. Sneakers (on Captain America), NIKE, $120. Sequin dress, GIVENCHY BY RICCARDO TISCI,…

Accessories steal the spotlight this season with throwback color-blocking, bold brushstrokes, and neon gems. Watch out: Street-style photographers will be nipping at your (eye-popping) heels Opal and sapphire ring, TEMPLE ST. CLAIR, price on request, visit templestclair.com. Rainbow sapphire and gold double ring; yellow sapphire and gold double ring; blue sapphire and gold double ring; white sapphire and gold double ring; green sapphire and gold double ring; all, SOPHIE BILLE BRAHE FINE JEWELLERY, $3,300 each, collection at stylebop.com. Yellow gold, emerald, sapphire, and opal ring, ANDREA FOHRMAN, $1,750, collection at twistonline.com. Printed toile handbag, CHANEL, $2,700, at select Chanel boutiques nationwide. Beryl, tsavorite, and gold ring; tsavorite and gold ring; violet sapphire and gold ring; red sapphire and gold ring; all, CANTAMESSA, prices on request, call 212-759-1096. Leather handbag, CéLINE,…

PISCES THIS MONTH FOR PISCES: (FEB 19–MAR 20) Putting others first is an admirable quality, but make the first two weeks of March all about you and your dearest desires, for the new moon from February 28th, under the influence of good-luck Jupiter, marks the beginning of an exciting birthday month. With Neptune conjuncting the Sun and moon—and all three well angled to Jupiter, in your artistic and romantic fifth house—now is the time to nurture new ideas, or, if you're hoping to conceive, try for a baby. In regard to finances, Mars in retrograde (until May 19th) and a feisty new moon on the 30th may make collecting on your invoices difficult or bring unexpected expenses, potentially from a business venture, a social engagement, or even a romantic liaison.…

"THERE'S ALWAYS time to recapture and maintain skin," says Harold Lancer, Kardashian's go-to for her year-round glow. To combat morning puffiness Lancer recommends exfoliating and rinsing with cold water. Then apply a cocktail of vitamins C, D, and E (or Retinol). Who says real women can't keep up? TO PLAY UP HER RAZOR-SHARP cheekbones, FLOTUS calls DC contour guru Carl Ray. His prescription for a more angular look: Make a kissy face and apply bronzer to hollows, dab blush "in the same family" as your lip color to the bone line, and add shimmer (Ray's favorite: $21 Anastasia brow highlighter). FROM PARIS, WITH LOVE All throughout Paris Fashion Week—designers debut fall collections between February 25 and March 5—make ELLE.com your source for next season's trends French dressing is traditionally about…

With shooting of Fifty Shades of Grey in full swing, Dakota Johnson is in high demand. For our March cover shoot, masterminded by ELLE Creative Director Joe Zee and contributing photographer Carter Smith, Johnson perfected her soon-to-be-famous smolder playing a not-so-prim housewife in pastel John Galliano and delicate Chanel. Smith: "We wanted a slightly twisted suburban story. A bored woman who dresses up in elaborate outfits and is confined to her frozen-in-time home." Hairstylist Adir Abergel: "My inspiration was the stars of the '60s. She loved it—she said that her hair hadn't looked this beautiful in years." Assistant Fashion Editor Sarah Schussheim: "Dakota was right off a plane from filming, and we listened to RJD2 and Pusha T to keep the energy way up. She had fun with the clothes!…

"I don't want to be in anything trashy," Tamara Ecclestone says calmly but emphatically in her clear British accent, her azure eyes looking determined but not steely as she describes her vision for an upcoming photo shoot. "I'd like the shot to be stripped back, natural, minimal makeup, casual. I don't want it to be massive eyelashes." It's a Monday morning in late November, and Ecclestone, the pregnant and very pretty 29-year-old daughter of Formula One auto racing billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, is hard at work transforming herself from a minor celebrity—known mostly for her huge shopping sprees, which are regularly dissed in the Daily Mail and other UK tabloids—into a full-fledged transatlantic household name. We all know money purportedly can't buy love, but the question that Ecclestone's unfolding trajectory raises…

With their innovative fabric techniques and couture-like sensibility, Proenza Schouler designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are redefining what it means to be modern. The offices of Proenza Schouler are situated on the top two floors of the New Era Building in SoHo and will soon expand to fill a third. In the reception area, young people in jeans and sweaters rush by hauling garment bags and heaps of folded fabric. On a windy morning last December, the brand's designers, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, are running late, and so I'm shown to a conference room with Eames chairs and framed posters advertising the brand's Madison Avenue store, which serve as a reminder of how far the "boys," as they're so often called, have come. What famously started as a…

Victorian jet and rose gold necklace, LUCIFER VIR HONESTUS, price on request, visit lucifer-vir-honestus.com Crystal-embroidered top, SHARON WAUCHOB, $1,685, collection at shop.leclaireur.com Crystal-embellished tweed and leather tote, LOUIS VUITTON, price on request, at select Louis Vuitton stores nationwide Metal-embellished silk skirt, MARNI, $3,970, collection at net-a-porter.com Trends In the Victorian era, jet was traditionally a part of mourning dress; Queen Victoria wore jet beads throughout her grieving period for Prince Albert.…

Linen patchwork top, 3.1 PHILLIP LIM, $625, at 3.1 Phillip Lim, NYC Embroidered mesh and leather boot, SERGIO ROSSI, price on request, similar styles at sergiorossi.com Viscose maxiskirt, BEBE, $89, visit bebe.com Python clutch, CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION, price on request, at Calvin Klein Collection, NYC Trends For spring, Calvin Klein Collection designer Francisco Costa was inspired by the Herero tribe of Namibia as well as the inventive construction of shacks in Manila.…

Leather flat, NARCISO RODRIGUEZ, $795, collection at Barneys New York Calfskin handbag, DELVAUX, $2,750, at Barneys New York Sunglasses, STELLA MCCARTNEY, price on request, at Stella McCartney, NYC Leather handbag, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, $1,990, at Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques nationwide Suede sandal, JASON WU, $995, visit jasonwustudio.com Accessories "I always wear beige, black, or white. For one thing, I look good in them." —Edith Head…

BUCKET BAGS Python bucket bag, ANYA HINDMARCH, $3,750, at Anya Hindmarch, NYC Leather bucket bag, LOUIS VUITTON, $3,700, call 866-VUITTON Crocodile bucket bag, MYRIAM SCHAEFER, price on request, collection at Maxfield, L.A. Python bucket bag, HUNTING SEASON, $1,595, visit hunting-season.com MULES Whipsnake mule, PAUL ANDREW, $795, collection at saksfifthavenue.com Leather and PVC mule, MONIQUE LHUILLIER, $895, at Monique Lhuillier boutiques nationwide Python curtus mule, ALEXANDRE BIRMAN, $650, collection at bergdorfgoodman.com Satin mule, GIANVITO ROSSI FOR ALTUZARRA, $750, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide FRINGE BAGS Leather handbag with fringe detail, RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION, price on request, at select Ralph Lauren stores nationwide Rope-tassel handbag, JIMMY CHOO, $1,695, at select Jimmy Choo stores nationwide Crocodile clutch with fringe detail, VALENTINO GARAVANI, price on request, at Valentino boutiques nationwide Suede handbag…

PARIS: OFF THE GRID Who better than Deborah and Priscilla Royer—the sister act behind Paris label Piece d'Anarchive— to clue us in to the city's hidden haunts? Plenty of designers pay lip service to the art world, but Deborah and Priscilla Royer pushed things further for spring 2014 (1), placing a coed group of models smack-dab inside a massive set by French installation artist Jean-Pierre Raynaud—cobbled together from buckets, shipping boxes, and rubble. Not exactly standard operating procedure for Paris Fashion Week, which tends more toward grand shows in Louis XIV–worthy locations. That the name of their label, Piece d'Anarchive, plays on the words anarchy and archive seems appropriate for a brand that draws on the past while quietly exploding convention: Witness the wacky grid-printed platforms and witty suspender dresses…

The Woman: Brooke Wall, 49, Chelsea, NYC The Job: CEO and founder of the Wall Group, the beauty and fashion talent agency she founded in 1998 that now reps more than 120 hair geniuses, makeup pros, and star stylists, including ELLE Fashion Editor-at-Large Lori Goldstein, Rachel Zoe, and Danilo. Wall's typical day runs the gamut from coffee with up-and-comers to power lunches with top execs at clients such as CoverGirl and Pantene. The Uniform: Stella McCartney suits; separates from Céline, Tom Ford, and Alexander Wang; chunky rings and classic Ray-Bans ELLE: You grew up outside Vancouver, Canada. How did that shape your style? BROOKE WALL: I was raised in a small town where I did a lot of hiking and tree climbing. With so much beauty around you, you don't…

BASEBALL JACKET As seen at Balmain Quilted denim bomber jacket, GAP, $90, at Gap stores nationwide Denim bomber jacket, NANUSHKA, $472, collection at American Two Shot, NYC Bomber jacket, BAND OF OUTSIDERS, $795, collection at shopbop.com Lambskin overalls, 10 CROSBY DEREK LAM, $1,495, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide Gold-plated metal and glass-stone ring, KATE SPADE NEW YORK, $58, visit katespade.com PLAID SHIRT As seen at Rodarte Linen shirt, A.P.C., $220, visit apc.fr Sequin-embellished shirt, ASHISH, $1,855, collection at ssense.com Cotton shirt, A|X ARMANI EXCHANGE, $98, at Armani Exchange stores nationwide Denim vest, A.N.D., $350, collection at Lester's, NYC Patent leather sandal, DKNY, $145, at select DKNY stores nationwide CROPPED SWEATER As seen at Michael Kors Viscose and nylon sweater, MILLY, $265, visit millyny.com Cotton and acrylic sweater, H&M,…

Whither the perfect wardrobe essentials? From denim to diamonds, we've rounded up a trio of favorites that never go wrong The Perfect: Forever Bracelet This stunner from new San Francisco–based fine-jewelry line Coléoptère is sleek enough for everyday wear but has hidden diamonds that will make even jeans and a T-shirt feel extra luxurious. Gold, platinum, and diamond bracelet, COLéOPTÈRE, price on request, visit coleoptere.us The Perfect: Not-Too-Skinny Denim J Brand's boyfriend jeans come in the ideal slouchy-but-not-baggy fit—plus their cuffed hems showcase statement shoes. Denim jeans, all, J BRAND, prices on request, visit jbrandjeans.com The Perfect: Day-to-Evening Clutch Tuck Hunting Season's sleek envelope in your work tote, then bring it out for cocktail hour: The neutral tone is perfect for daytime, while the lizard finish adds sizzle for evening.…

What a thing it must be for a young actor with only a handful of mostly British TV and film credits to get called out ("He could be a movie star") in a respected magazine (Esquire) by his A-list costar (Matt Damon) for the work in his first major Hollywood film (The Monuments Men). Or maybe not: "When I found out, I laughed," admits the recipient of Damon's ardor, UK native Dimitri Leonidas. "It was probably nervous laughter—I was so flattered. But Matt's words say more about him than they do me." That Leonidas, 26, is humble makes him no less dynamic in Men as Sam Epstein, a German Jew turned American GI and the youngest member of the group of U.S. soldiers tasked with reclaiming the world's art stolen…

Eight sterling tales composed over the past decade—some of which have been published separately—comprise story virtuoso Lorrie Moore's latest collection, Bark (Knopf). Moore's unsparing insights, coupled with her laserlike wit, beam through in ways that surprise, shock, sadden, and cajole on every page. Divorced moms and dads, diffident teenagers, friends who have departed or just been lost to time, would-be lovers, and long-married couples all come into pristine focus under Moore's emotionally astute lens. With her signature tough-love approach to her characters, she exposes their failings while leavening their dilemmas with resonating moments of humor, or pathos, or bliss. In "Debarking," a single father's get-together with a divorced pediatrician includes watching her play-wrestle in the living room with her 16-year-old son after dinner. Perhaps, the dad thinks to himself, it's…

Prep hair and prevent damage by spritzing Wella Professionals Thermal Protection Spray or Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Repair Heat & Protect Shine Spray. Duffy separates hair into three parts: a middle section from the front to the nape, and one on either side. Start at the back, working sections from bottom to top. Place a round brush under the roots, lifting at a 90-degree angle and moving through to the ends. For maximum body, wrap hair all the way around the brush. "You want to overdirect the hair," says Duffy, Vidal Sassoon Pro Series ambassador. After a few seconds of heat, set hair with a flash of cool air. Gently remove the brush, securing the coil with a bobby pin. VIDAL SASSOON Pro Series Color Last Dryer For each section,…

The author (center), surrounded by messages of solidarity I catch fragmented glimpses of my bald reflection in the elevator mirror as I go up, up, up—to a white-walled conference room, where a small herd of well-groomed doctors, all equally inscrutable, awaits. Dr. Cryptic, a top oncologist here at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic, shuffles papers in a file larger than any 34-year-old ought to have. My finger absently traces the Port-a-Cath jutting from my clavicle when he looks at me and asks: You're sure you want to do this by yourself…? The answer is yes. It's always been yes. The first word out of my mouth as a baby was myself. From that point on, my parents engaged in a relentless battle: their instinct to nurture me (as they did my perfectly…

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WORLD 41 INTERNATIONAL ELLE BEAUTY EDITORS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE PRODUCTS AND TOP-SECRET TRICKS FOR HEAD-TO-TOE PERFECTION "The king of serums," according to ELLE France: The revamped ESTÉE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair treats skin while you sleep. ELLE China's Helena Hu uses it twice a day: "It can really help repair your skin." CHANEL Le Jour, La Nuit, and Le Weekend "give your skin what it needs when it needs it the most," says ELLE Singapore's Vanessa Chia. "Just mix a drop into any other cosmetics that you use," recommends ELLE Poland's Marta Rudowicz. SISLEY Supremÿa Yeux La Nuit serum is the ELLE U.S. team's go-to for depuffing and revitalizing the delicate eye area overnight. Developed by dermatologist and ELLE U.S. Beauty Genius award winner Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, MD,…

He never so much as blinked when he was lying, and he lied about practically everything, to everyone. The lies were outlandish, almost beyond belief, which may be one of the reasons, paradoxically, why I and others found them so believable—who would dare to concoct such wild tales? He lied about his family background, pretending to be a blue blood and an orphan whose parents had died in a car wreck when he was young and whose only living sibling was a sister confined to a private mental hospital. He lied about his profession, describing himself as a "freelance central banker" who ran the economies of Third World nations using sophisticated software loaded on his personal computer. He lied about the art that he collected. The Pollocks, Rothkos, and Mondrians…

The countdown is on as Fifty Shades of Grey—the ultimate tablet read—is coming to the big screen. And star Dakota Johnson is making her major cover debut here, complete with a seriously sexed-up wardrobe. She tells writer Stephen Rodrick that in the hotly anticipated film, her and Jamie Dornan's characters "have this chemical pull to each other.… It allows both of them to do something that they are completely afraid of." Johnson and her on-screen alter ego aren't the only ones taking risks this month: Our spring-fashion issue tackles high-wire-act trends from ultrabright accessories to searing shine and also features death-defying feats of modeling by a corps of superheroes. Not to mention feats of animal wrangling by one-to-watch Dylan Penn (yes, Sean's little girl). We hope they inspire you to…

Sequin-embroidered dress, $1,850, lacquered metal and strass earring, $620, both, GIVENCHY BY RICCARDO TISCI, collection at Barneys New York. Gold earring, from NEW YORK ADORNED, $120. Rose-gold-plated brass and crystal earring, VITA FEDE, $565. Gold bracelet (worn on ankle), AURÉLIE BIDERMANN, price on request. Leather sneakers, NIKE, $130. For details, see Shopping Guide. Lamé blazer, $3,315, shirt, $2,435, pants, $2,905, all, LANVIN, at Lanvin, NYC. Polyurethane-blend jacket, price on request, neoprene swimsuit, $930, both, EMILIO PUCCI, at Emilio Pucci, NYC. Lacquered metal and strass earring, $620, leather sandals, $470, all, GIVENCHY BY RICCARDO TISCI. Rose-gold-plated brass and crystal earring, VITA FEDE, $565. Gold bracelet (worn on ankle), AURéLIE BIDERMANN, price on request. For details, see Shopping Guide. Georgette and cotton dress, CHLOé, $4,950, collection at net-a-porter.com. Cotton-blend sweatshirt, AMERICAN APPAREL,…

Cady dress, RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION, $3,195, at select Ralph Lauren stores nationwide. Platinum and diamond earrings, rings, all, HARRY WINSTON, prices on request. White gold and diamond bracelets, both, H.STERN, prices on request. Platinum and diamond rings, JACOB & CO., prices on request. Satin brogues, SIMONE ROCHA, $1,265. For details, see Shopping Guide. Silk intarsia shirt, $1,695, silk skirt, $2,495, both, CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION, at Calvin Klein Collection, NYC. Platinum and diamond earrings, necklace, all, KWIAT, prices on request. Platinum and diamond rings, all, HARRY WINSTON, prices on request. Platinum and diamond rings, all, JACOB & CO., prices on request. Viscose top, $1,750, silk pants, $2,650, both, FENDI, at Fendi, NYC. Platinum and diamond earrings, KWIAT, price on request. Platinum and diamond earring, DE BEERS, price on request. Platinum and…

One common sign of youth is a certain recklessness—all ego and little patience. But when Alexander Wang was named creative director of Balenciaga at 28, he handled himself with impressive humility. For his first collection in February 2013, he didn't come out swinging a sledgehammer against the storied house's foundation, but knelt before it, showing clothes that honored Cristóbal Balenciaga's rounded volumes and restrained elegance. Though Wang's appointment felt fairy-tale-like—the American party-boy prince who once upended the fashion industry with cashmere sweaters and streetwise separates invited to rule a French fiefdom—his graceful debut was a reminder of the reality, which is that Wang has long been a thoughtful, mature designer who seems to know exactly what he's doing. When Wang and I meet in New York one brisk afternoon in…

By his own admission, getting Colin Farrell on the phone to talk about women is "a recipe for disaster and self-shaming," he says with a laugh. We know what he means. When the Irish actor, 37, first arrived in America 14 years ago, he earned the respect of such A-list directors as Steven Spielberg and Terrence Malick—as well as a distinction for drunken carousing, best summed up by his tabloid nickname, the Lusty Leprechaun. (A sex tape with a Playboy model didn't help. Nor did telling an interviewer, "I come into [L.A.] and bang whoever I can.") Since getting sober eight years ago, this father of two has gained perspective on his libidinous past and emerged as one of the finest actors working today. He was heartbreaking as P. L.…