Tabla de contenidos para April 2013 en ELLE

THE ELLE MUST DO CHECK LIST Tuesday, April 2 IT'S ALL GOOD (Grand Central Life & Style) Goopies rejoice: Gwyneth Paltrow's second cookbook, coauthored by Julia Turshen, is full of recipes free of gluten, sugar, and dairy—yet delicious; we promise! Sunday, April 7, 8 P.M. ET/PT 48th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS Tonight, pay homage to C & W's best and brightest—such as reigning Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift—as country kings Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan host the show on CBS. Tuesday, April 23 HERE LIES LOVE Experimental music masters David Byrne and Fatboy Slim created the music for this fully immersive club-kid musical about Imelda Marcos, the notorious former first lady of the Philippines, and her infamous 1,000-plus-pair shoe collection, opening tonight at New York City's…

Reign Check A year ago at our annual Women in DC dinner, I was seated next to the supersmart and supercool Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a congresswoman who represents Broward and Miami-Dade counties in Florida and who also helped fund President Obama's 2012 campaign as chair of the Democratic National Committee. We got to chatting and soon figured out that I lived in her district during high school. In fact, she knows my father, who's been a city commissioner there. And, she told me, he helped with her election when she first started out. It turns out that all politics really is local! I had the chance to see Debbie again recently, at a brunch that ELLE, Google, and the Center for American Progress threw for female power players in Washington,…

NAME: James Patrick Herman PROVENANCE: Weirton, WV NOW: Los Angeles PROFESSION: Writer; editorial director of Verge THIS MONTH: "Agent Provocateur" (page 328). "I said [to Nicki Minaj], 'I feel bad that you had to spend your Friday night having dinner with me.' She said, 'Please! Who else would I be with?' " BONA FIDES: BA, creative writing, Denison University; work has appeared in Spin, Glamour, InStyle, Travel + Leisure, and New York LINGUISTIC STUDY: "I spent my junior year abroad at Oxford University in England, partially so I could lose my accent; at the time I sounded like the coal miner's daughter. Basically, I just spoke in a fake English accent, like Madonna, for a year. It was kind of silly, but it erased the West Virginia." NEIGHBORHOOD HAUNT: "I…

I really want to wear a giant bandage on half my face for this magazine interview and then refuse to talk about it." This is what Kelly Oxford tweets a few hours before we're scheduled to meet. It feels a little weird to read it, as though I've overheard something I wasn't meant to—a tossed-off remark intended for a friend. Then again, it's just the kind of off-the-cuff wisecrack that has made Oxford a Twitter superstar. At Hugo's, a health-food joint in Studio City, L.A., Oxford is not wearing a bandage of any size. And even if she were, I have a feeling she'd end up telling me all about it. At 35, she's conspicuously pretty—a young Katharine Hepburn with electric blue fingernails, wearing Acne leather leggings and blue-and-white Isabel…

1 KIMBERLY OVITZ FOR SHAPEWAYS Your new favorite jewelry just might come out of a printer. If that sounds impossibly futuristic, that's because, until now, it was: Ovitz is taking things into Tron territory this season, partnering with Shapeways, a technology that allows users to turn 2-D designs they've uploaded into 3-D objects. Look for her innovative collars, earhooks, and ear cuffs, a bracelet, and winding-staircase rings, all made from printer-extruded stainless steel or nylon. 2 MARY KATRANTZOU The print maven and London favorite is introducing rectangular clutches that bear the same stamp and currency motifs as her spring ready-to-wear collection. 3 PAMELA LOVE FOR ZADIG & VOLTAIRE It seems fitting that downtown cool girl par excellence Love would team up with the retailer that caters to downtown cool girls…

Pretty florals and rosette details add an extra dose of sugar to delicate looks SEEN AT 1. Rose necklace with green garnets, LYDIA COURTEILLE, price on request, visit lydiacourteille.com | 2. Silk satin skirt, DIOR, price on request, call 800-929-DIOR | 3. Silk and wool jacket, GIAMBATTISTA VALLI, $3,000, collection at select Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide | 4. Rosette-trimmed bag, RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION, $3,950, visit ralphlaurencollection.com | 5. Embellished Lucite glasses, ALEXIS BITTAR, $900, visit alexisbittar.com | 6. Printed pump, TABITHA SIMMONS FOR PETER SOM, $845, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC | Model at left wears: Strapless silk dress, ERDEM, price on request,…

The season's slick black leather separates give good reason to be naughty 1. Manolo Blahnik 2. Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière 3. Stephen Webster 4. Blk Dnm 1. Leather sandal, MANOLO BLAHNIK, $1,035, call 212-582-3007 | 2. Calfskin bag, BALENCIAGA BY NICOLAS GHESQUIÈRE, $1,045, collection at Barneys New York | 3. Rhodium-plated-silver bracelets with pavé black diamonds, white diamonds, or rubies, all, STEPHEN WEBSTER, $695–$1,195, call 310-246-9500 | 4. Calfskin and shearling jacket, BLK DNM, $3,995, call 212-966-6285 | Model above wears: Leather fringe-trimmed jacket, sequined top, knit sweater, diamond-pattern skirt, Swarovski-crystal-embellished draped chain necklace, belt, all, RODARTE, visit rodarte.net BALMAIN STELLA MCCARTNEY…

Mathieu Mirano's dining-room table is littered with Ziploc bags of chrome-hued meteorite shards. Believe it or not, this kind of thing isn't an unusual occurrence for the 21-year-old. Mirano takes the term "experimental designer" literally, treating fabric as his chemistry set and fashion as his crucible. The meteorite chunks in question—roughly 5,000 of them, sourced from an eccentric Argentine collector, and each about the size of a pea—are to be wrapped in tulle and sewn onto pieces for his fall collection. On the other side of his studio, in New York's Chelsea, hang colorful offerings from his spring 2013 line, for which Mirano spliced together a heroine who is equal parts Alien's Ellen Ripley and Jurassic Park's Dr. Ellie Sattler. "A scientist who gets infused with the DNA of a…

Usually we suggest dressing around one key part of your look. This month, we invite you to dig a little deeper and start with the pieces that most people never see—lingerie. The season's straight-from-the-boudoir trend isn't about letting it all hang out: The new lingerie dressing can be downright demure (see Jill Stuart's wide-leg cream silk trousers), perfectly professional (Jason Wu's transparent-organza and leather blazer), or even seriously streetwise—lace-trimmed denim, anyone? We've cherry-picked spring's most feminine offerings to deliver looks that will take you from the bedroom to the boardroom with one quick costume change. Should you prefer to tread lightly with this particular theme, we have just the fashion fix: Jimmy Choo's corsetlike lace-up peep-toe booties in shocking pink suede, or Valentino's take in chic black lace. Sometimes just…

Cars are hardly allowed in Times Square anymore, but we're still gridlocked every April as producers steer their hoped-for hits into Broadway's 40 theaters before the Tony Awards cutoff at the end of the month. This year the jam is worse than ever—or maybe better—because so many of the newcomers look to be worth fighting the traffic for. SPLASH: Naturally, the five musicals make the biggest impressions. Kinky Boots, based on the 2005 movie about a shoe factory saved by big-footed drag queens, is the most traditional of the bunch, with Harvey Fierstein (who else?) writing the book and Cyndi Lauper—inspiredly—providing the songs. Competition comes in several interesting forms, including the dark, direct-from-London hit Matilda, based on Roald Dahl's novel about a brilliant girl with repellent parents and telekinetic gifts.…

Amber Dermont, whose debut novel, The Starboard Sea, was a critical and commercial success, again impresses with her imaginative powers and cutting humor in Damage Control (St. Martin's), a collection of stories that examine some of the harsher realities of wealth, inheritance, and family ties. Her protagonists encounter adversity in various incarnations, from the banal to the fantastical, and draw us in unexpected and often disconcerting directions. Dermont has crafted a contradictory cast of characters who struggle at life's crossroads. In "The Language of Martyrs," a prospective mother-in-law—a diminutive Russian immigrant unwilling to relinquish her hold over her only son—is "a pocket-sized martyr, a redheaded action figure whose superhero skill set included the badger, the guilt trip, the supreme glare of disappointment." In "Lyndon," a teen refuses to reconcile her…

BIG EASY SPECIALTY: Parisian hairstylist Olivier Lebrun serves up the textured, matte finish favored by actresses and models such as Emma Watson and Constance Jablonski. SECRET WEAPON: Lebrun revives lifeless hair by blasting just the roots with L'Oréal Elnett hairspray and then blow-drying. "It adds volume and shine," he says. QUICK FIX: To prevent static and flyaway strands, Lebrun rinses hair with S.Pellegrino sparkling natural mineral water. "I can't explain why," Lebrun says. "It just works!" THE KIT From left: Rinsing with S.PELLEGRINO sparkling water "boosts body"; BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Styling Lotion smooths hair before a blow-out; SCHWARZKOPF Osis ≠ + Magic Finish "protects damaged hair"; TIGI Bed Head Superstar Queen for a Day Thickening Spray "makes hair malleable and easy to style"; GARNIER Fructis Hydra Recharge…

HOME BASE: Sephora, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA SPECIALTY: A bride's best friend, Soto delivers timeless makeup that looks breathtaking both on the big day and many anniversaries later. QUICK FIX: For Soto, preparation is key. He lays the groundwork for a flawless finish by smoothing skin with Make Up For Ever HD Elixir before applying foundation. The elixir "hydrates, tightens, and refines pores," he says. Soto's complexion-revitalizing secret weapon? YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch: "Just a few strokes work to reflect light and brighten." HOME BASE: Clarins, Bloomingdale's Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA SPECIALTY: Age defier Orozco turns back the clock temporarily, without the help of fillers. QUICK FIX: Orozco prevents makeup from migrating into fine lines and wrinkles by using a setting spray such as Clarins Fix'…

ARTSY MINGLING, KALE'S NEW TWIST, AND MORE… Hi! Up here!" Ry Russo-Young calls down to the street from the window of her second-floor West Village apartment, her brown hair cascading as she pokes her head out, waves, and lowers a key tied to yarn. That the gesture is so New York—in a grainy, black-and-white, Woody Allen way—is unlikely to be lost on any of tonight's dinner-party guests. After all, at 31, Russo-Young has already made a name for herself crafting cinematic moments. In 2009, she directed and cowrote girl-in-crisis drama You Won't Miss Me; in 2007, she acted alongside Greta Gerwig in SXSW fave Hannah Takes the Stairs. But Russo-Young is perhaps best known for directing last year's indie Nobody Walks (starring John Krasinski and Olivia Thirlby), which she wrote…

In every life, there are times when the bottom falls out from under us and we find ourselves sinking below the surface we're used to living on. But, for four unfathomable months last year, that happened over and over again to Tig Notaro—the 42-year-old who is poised to be the next queen of comedy, whom Jerry Seinfeld has called a genius, and whose stand-up about her personal catastrophes was recently described by Louis C.K. as "an amazing example of what comedy can be." First Notaro contracted pneumonia, and the antibiotics she took left her vulnerable to a life-threatening bacterial infection that literally consumed her from the inside out. "My body was deteriorating," she said, sitting in her friend Amy Schumer's dormlike Manhattan apartment, where Notaro and her writing partner, Kyle…

Nicki Minaj is naked. Granted, we're not talking full frontal, but for the hip-hop superstar, her ELLE photo shoot was almost as shocking—and terrifying—as an actual nude scene. "When I saw myself with barely any makeup at all, it was such a…like, I'm so, so attached to my pink lipstick, it's hard. I feel that it's become a part of me," she says, becoming flustered by the memory. "To go in front of the camera, without pink lips or big ol' crazy lashes—you know, nothing—I felt naked. It was scary! So this photo shoot was a real accomplishment in my eyes." Her dramatic makeunder may render her unrecognizable to the legion of devoted Twitter followers (nearly 16 million and counting) that she refers to as her "Barbz," a reference to…

Printed jacket, Louis Vuitton, price on request, at select Louis Vuitton stores nationwide. Silk long-sleeve crewneck, Proenza Schouler, $815, at Proenza Schouler, NYC. Leather blazer, Versace, price on request. Lace tank top, $1,765, guipure lace skirt, price on request, both, Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière, at Balenciaga, NYC. Tights, Falke, $44. Leather bag, price on request, satin pumps, $1,261, all, Louis Vuitton. Pendant necklace, Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co., $675. For details, see Shopping Guide. Python jacquard coat, Gucci, price on request, at select Gucci stores nationwide. Plaid jacquard skirt, $695, calf-hair and lambskin bag, $1,995, both, Marc Jacobs. Tights, Falke, $44. Satin pumps, Louis Vuitton, $1,261. Striped coat, Marc Jacobs, $1,700, at Marc Jacobs, NYC. Knit top, Louis Vuitton, price on request. Viscose skirt, Versus, $745. Leather bag, Prada,…

ARIES (Mar 21–Apr 19) The group of heavenly bodies—including the Sun, Uranus, Mars, Venus, and a new moon—that made its way through Capricorn and Pisces is now set to move into Aries by the 10th, giving you presence and control as others seek you out for direction and motivation. Love also looks very bright in the first three weeks of April, thanks to the Sun and Jupiter in perfect sync. Your most romantic day is the 6th, when Venus and Mars unite, bestowing upon you an irresistible charisma. But stay on your toes, as tension could arise simply because you'll be doing so much, and you don't want to lose sight of the main event: launching something dearly important to you, especially in a business sense. Mars is giving you…

THE ELLE MUST DO CHECK LIST Tuesday, April 2 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Photographer Mary McCartney—daughter of Paul and sister of Stella—has released a cookbook-slash-memoir titled simply Food. Mom Linda would have surely approved of the vegetarian recipes like Linda's Lemon Drizzle Cake that McCartney mixed in with family photos and anecdotes. Saturday, April 20 GREENER PASTURES Starting today, Urban Greenwalk partners with Bleecker Street boutiques to offer helpful hints on how to be more green, whether it's by bicycling or composting, so you've absolutely no excuse for buyer's remorse. Monday, April 1 PRINTED MATTER Forget April Fools' and take your look seriously. Sportmax has teamed with Design Miami/Basel cofounder Ambra Medda on Carte Blanche, a limited-edition collection of scarves, bags, and totes featuring botanical prints by London-based textile designer Ying Wu.…

CLAIRE DANES "I was more than thrilled to finally see Claire Danes on your cover ["Crazy Good"]. She's beautiful, intelligent, always fashionable, and a damn good actress. I grew up watching and loving My So-Called Life. Shopgirl holds a special place in my heart, and Homeland simply rocks. When her characters smile, I smile; when they cry, I cry. Her talent is perfection, and she deserves every nomination and award she's received. Watching her on-screen is always interesting and emotionally real."—Tara Ann Stridh, Woodside, NY, via e-mail "Girlstuff I love: @teganandsara's new album, Claire Danes looking sultry & talking smart in new Elle Magazine, Juliette Barnes & Olivia Pope"—@lenadunham, via Twitter (retweeted nearly 300 times!) "Claire Danes on the cover of Elle…DANG GURL"—@ladyshazrasta, via Twitter "Claire Danes will take over…

No offense to Disney World, but according to musician and artist Sarah Sophie Flicker, it's Copenhagen that is the happiest place on earth. "No, really," Flicker says, citing the glut of studies that rank Danish citizens as the happiest in the world. Flicker, who now lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children, can also speak from experience: She was born in Denmark and moved to the U.S. at age five. (Her great-grandfather Thorvald Stauning was the Danish prime minister throughout the 1930s.) But it's not simply the rose-colored-glasses ethos that keeps Flicker making yearly trips to her homeland—it's the country's commitment to social activism, which has clearly inspired Flicker's work: After Bush was reelected in 2004, she founded the cabaret collective the Citizens Band with BFF model-singer Karen…

Not long ago, while browsing postholiday sales at the mall, I admired a flimsy blue-and-white-striped sequined tank top. My fiancé, an absentminded professorial type whose often disheveled appearance belies his unerring good taste, wrinkled his nose and said, "At this point in your life, you should be buying things of better quality, with more substance and heft." Don't mince words, I thought, and sourly hung the shirt back on the rack. But he was right. The tank top was a very young woman's trifle. Although my inner self still feels like she's 16 years old, I'm a journalist in my midthirties. Lately, the universe has been conspiring to send me the message that it might be time to grow up and dress my age. Do I want to be one…

Rachel Zoe and I share something special. No, I'm not talking about the fact that we both dress celebrities for a living, started our careers in New York's fashion-editorial world, and moonlight on TV. I'm talking about end-of-alphabet real estate on most fashion roll-calls. (Save the best for last, right?) Industry folks also delight in the Zee-Zoe similarity: RZ has been my assigned seatmate at countless fashion dinner parties, and we once even mocked our own alliterative last names in dual cameos on Gossip Girl. But here's what sets her apart: RZ is arguably responsible for the existence of a new breed of fashion superstar, the multihyphenate. Once upon a time in our industry, you were just a stylist, or a designer, or a writer, and the lines never crossed.…

SEEN AT 1. Lambskin shorts, APRIL, MAY, $480, visit shopbop.com | 2. Leather clutch, PROENZA SCHOULER, $1,795, visit proenzaschouler.com | 3. Embellished striped leather cuffs, GIVENCHY BY RICCARDO TISCI, $775 each, collection at Barneys New York | 4. Zip-front hooded coat, DKNY, $795, visit dkny.com | 5. Leather wedge sneaker, GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI DESIGN, $895, visit giuseppezanottidesign.com | 6. Rubber and enamel bracelet, DELFINA DELETTREZ, $375, collection at Opening Ceremony, NYC | Model at left wears: Zip-front jacket with mesh inserts, JUNYA WATANABE COMME DES GARçONS, $1,550, at Susan of Burlingame, Burlingame, CA. Shield glasses, MYKITA & BERNHARD WILLHELM, $549, visit mykita.com. Silver-plated brass collar,…

Yellow gold link watches, yellow gold link watch with diamonds, stainless steel link watches with diamonds, stainless steel link watch with mother-of-pearl dial, all, CHANEL WATCH, prices on request, call 800-550-0005 TIME AND A HALF The fashion world is notorious for operating at least an hour behind schedule, but a sharp timepiece remains essential. Chanel's chain-accented Première watches are a delicate alternative to the borrowed-from-the-boys look—their shape is inspired by the cap of Chanel No. 5's iconic bottle and the Place Vendôme. White and pink gold ring set with pink sapphires and diamonds, yellow and white gold ring set with white diamonds, colored sapphires, and a heart-shape fancy vivid yellow diamond, both, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, call 877-VAN-CLEEF FLIGHT PLAN George Carlin once quipped, "The caterpillar does all the work,…

Dear FKIA, I work for a Republican think tank and typically wear a suit to the office. I'm looking to buy one standout piece for spring that will be on trend but still fit in with my somewhat somber personality. —Susan, Washington, DC Dear Susan, I have one word for you: leather. This season's game changer doesn't have to involve a psychotic break from your right-leaning values or taking your lead from an S&M style manual. Honestly, the season's chic tailored leather pieces—paper-thin calfskin shifts, pleated skirts, and even blouses—may be the easiest way to update your wardrobe. Besides, sometimes it pays to push your style boundaries a bit. Let me give you an example. On the eve of the spring/summer 2013 shows, a friend who's the publicist for a…

THE WOMEN OF GAME OF THRONES, MAYA ANGELOU'S LATEST, AND MORE… Before being cast as Jordan Baker in Baz Luhrmann's kaleidoscopic retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic The Great Gatsby, 22-year-old Elizabeth Debicki had a different role in mind. "I always imagined that I was more of a Daisy," says the Melbourne, Australia, native. "She's bubbly and beautiful—she's the heroine." But after seeing Debicki bring Fitzgerald's "wan, charming, discontented" society girl to life on an audition tape, Luhrmann flew the unknown actress to L.A. to take a meeting. "It's kind of an amazing and completely unreasonable thing that happened," concedes the 2010 University of Melbourne graduate, whose only film experience was a small part in the 2012 comedy A Few Best Men. And yet, four months later, she was back…

In the past two seasons of HBO's hit series Game of Thrones, there have been a lot of battles, blood, and heaving bosoms throughout GOT's medieval setting, the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. And while it's sometimes impossible not to gratifyingly gasp or gawk at such diversions, what's more intriguing to the pay-cable smart set, as the show preps for its return on March 31, isn't so much the archetypal maleness of Westeros as it is the female power dynamics at the periphery of the men's incessant wheeling, dealing, and attempted Iron Throne stealing. There's a lot at stake—for everyone—as war looms over the capital city of King's Landing, and these five women play the who's-ahead-of-the-pack game every bit as keenly as the men. You'd never call them a sorority (talk…

GET IT-GIRL HAIR, BETTER SKIN OVERNIGHT, AND MORE… Hungarian model Barbara Palvin, above, told ELLE she keeps her skin camera ready by washing her face with cold water, then slathering on a superhydrating cream. Try L'ORÉAL PARIS Hydra-Renewal Continuous Moisture Cream. THE EYE-CATCHER SPECIALTY: Forget perfectionism—German-born makeup master Jürgen Braun, who created this metallic khaki eye, prefers "lived-in, day-after makeup." Think diffused, smoky shadows in blue and green shades and smudged liner. SECRET WEAPON: For '80s drama in less than 30 seconds, Braun traces upper and lower lids with Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl eyeliner in Black Ebony, then blends using fingertips. QUICK FIX: Braun revives models' tired skin with a splash of ice-cold water. "It increases circulation and reduces the appearance of pores." THE KIT From left: ESTÉE LAUDER Invisible…

EVEN SCORE SPECIALTY: New York City–based derm Rosemarie Ingleton, MD, believes in hope in a jar: She arms many of her patients with OTC products to achieve smooth, even tone—no Rx required. SECRET WEAPON: Combat pollution with works-on-everyone SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum. "The high concentration of effective antioxidants fights against aging free radicals. It also brightens the complexion over time." QUICK FIX: For a pre-event glow, try La Mer The Radiant Serum. "It instantly hydrates and plumps skin." THE KIT From left: ELIZABETH ARDEN PREVAGE Anti-aging Daily Serum is "highly effective"; GARNIER Skin Renew Dark Spot Overnight Peel gently fades discoloration; AVEENO Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 contains tone-evening soy; growth-factor-packed SKINMEDICA TNS Recovery Complex is Ingleton's "youth elixir." THE TECHIE SPECIALTY: Manhattan socialites postpone their first trip…

PRISM BREAK Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancer erases dullness with a mix of ultrafine glimmer pigments. LOVE ACTUALLY Pink grapefruit and rose meet cherry blossom and musk in the unapologetically girly Kenzo Amour I Love You. GARDEN PARTY The sweet, feminine floral See By Chloé Eau de Parfum—the sundress of scents—blends notes of bergamot, apple blossom, and jasmine. PUFF PIECE The latest iteration of Viktor & Rolf's iconic Flowerbomb? This chic perfumed shimmer powder, perfect for allover touch-ups anytime. STARGAZER Sweep Lancôme Color Design Infinité 24H eye shadows onto lids for a pearlescent finish (shown: Evermore Lilac and Tremendous Turquoise). MODEL BEHAVIOR JINsoon's spring polish shades are inspired by runway darlings' fave flowers. Hungarian model Vanessa Axente loves Coral Peony; Chinese beauty Fei Fei Sun chooses ultrafemme Tea…

WORK IS THE NEW VACATION! EVERYBODY'S DOING IT! BURN DOWN THE CORPORATE LADDER! MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS! HACK YOUR PERFORMANCE REVIEW! READ YOUR BOSS'S MIND! LEARN TO LOVE WORK! THE MATERNITY-LEAVE SO LUTION! I was a 19-year-old college sophomore the year I took care of Brooks and Hunter. They were nine and seven, respectively, and the job—pick them up from school, stay with them until dinner—seemed so easy, especially compared with my summer's toil: 60-hour weeks tending to four children, including a two-year-old whose parents insisted he was potty trained (he wasn't) and a five-year-old with a speech impediment, the frustrations of which left her prone to inconsolable tantrums. I had been caring for children since I was 12, and I could take "accidents," screams, fights, tears, and whining in…

RIP UP THE RED CARPET DEAR E. JEAN: My boyfriend is in the entertainment business. We travel by private jet and vacation as guests in the most beautiful houses in the world. We constantly attend red-carpet events and are invited to movie-star parties on yachts—and I'm miserable. I was married with two young children when I met my boyfriend. He pursued me for a year. I succumbed to his charm, left my husband, took the children, and moved into his world in L.A. My kids suffered terribly from the divorce. My five-year-old threatened suicide. The man I chose to be with is not a family man. During the first years, he persuaded me to keep our relationship secret because a powerful woman he needed in the business was in love…

Left: Matte satin dress, Calvin Klein Collection, $4,650, at Calvin Klein Collection, NYC. Silk shirt, $640, pants, price on request, both, Dries Van Noten. Drop earrings, Stanmore, $215. Black diamond necklace, $2,745, oxidized silver and yellow gold chains, $1,690–$2,680, all, Armenta. Brass and enamel rings, Chrishabana, $160–$200. Calfskin bag, Hermès, price on request. Mink sandals, Céline, $1,050. Right: Silk chiffon gown, Gucci, price on request, at select Gucci stores nationwide. Cashmere and wool cardigan, Chanel, $4,890. Wood choker, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, $1,965. Mink sandals, Céline, $1,050. For details, see Shopping Guide. Wool jacket, Chanel, price on request, at select Chanel boutiques nationwide. Cotton-blend shirt, $395, pants, $395, silk skirt, $1,360, all, Dries Van Noten, collection at Blake, Chicago. Rabbit-hair fedora, Rod Keenan New York, $950. Cameo ring, Amedeo, $3,000.…

Until recently, Anthony Vaccarello was likely the most buzzed-about designer you'd never heard of. Then Anja Rubik wore his precariously slashed-to-the-waist white gown to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute gala last May—exposing not only the entire right side of her body but also the brash talent of the dress's designer. "Honestly, I was not making a statement," declares the handsome young Belgian, perched on a black leather sofa in the Parisian four-story walk-up that houses both his apartment (upstairs) and his atelier (downstairs), with a zipper factory in between. Vaccarello says he imagined the Polish model wrapping satin sheets around her body, as if emerging from bed and heading off to the party. And anyway, his pièce de résistance had a built-in swimsuit underneath—so it wasn't as risqué…

In the past year, Alexander Skarsgård has been linked to a racy film adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey, a Tarzan reboot, and the actress Charlize Theron. All appear to be rumors, but when you're a 6'4" Swede famous for playing the 1,000-year-old, slightly demented yet nurturing vampire Eric Northman on HBO's hit series True Blood, people expect you to run around in a loincloth and have a sex dungeon. But Skarsgård, son of Mamma Mia!'s Stellan Skarsgård, has a simpler story: After a brush with fame as a child actor, he ran the other way, enlisting in Sweden's Marine Corps and working in intelligence. Still, a leopard can't change its spots—or whatever the equivalent Swedish expression is—and Skarsgård eventually invaded Hollywood, stealing scene after scene from under his costars'…

GUEST BLOGGER: KARLA DERAS Jewelry designer, visual artist, vintage clothing collector, and e-tailer Karla Deras has built a brand out of being something of a stylish jack-of-all-trades. After starting Karla's Closet as a personal-style blog in April 2008, the Los Angeles native's keen eye for old-school threads and her signature West Coast look quickly made waves in the fashion blogosphere. Fueling the buzz, Deras expanded her blog into a shoppable site, selling finds from her thrift and vintage hauls, and capturing the attention of brands such as Coach and Elie Saab, both of which she has since collaborated with on limited-edition accessories and promotional videos. But it wasn't until she took on the role of jewelry designer for Roman Luxe in February 2012 that Deras—a former apparel manufacturing student—was able…

For this month's ELLE cover shoot, our team took a less-is-more approach with Nicki Minaj. Here, an insider account of the star's magnificent make-under at L.A.'s Milk Studios. Photographer Thomas Whiteside: "We wanted to create a totally new look: Raw Nicki." Creative Director Joe Zee: "She was excited to reveal a different side of herself." Makeup Artist Joyce Bonelli: "We'll always have fun doing wild looks, but Nicki is just so naturally beautiful, and I've always wanted to show that. I used simple, illuminating makeup: Chanel foundation, L'Oréal mascara, and M.A.C Strobe Cream." Assistant Fashion Editor Sarah Schussheim: "Everything was stripped-down. In Nicki's favorite shot, she rocked Ferragamo leather pants with a Jeremy Scott for Adidas bathing suit." Styling Assistant Brittny Chapman: "Nicki's a fan of Scott's—she was wearing his…

ALYSSA MASTROMONACO The Presidential Vault Remember Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman on The West Wing? White House deputy chief of staff Alyssa Mastromonaco is the real-life version, and she talks and thinks faster than any Aaron Sorkin character. She was Obama's scheduler back when he was a mere senator, orchestrated his every movement throughout the 2012 presidential campaign, managed his hunt for a running mate, and since then has become his go-to gal for everything from overseeing the cabinet staff to managing the Hurricane Sandy response. "When people need something at the White House, I have a lot of swat," she admits, laughing. She is known not only for her ability to read the president's mind but for having the discretion to keep it to herself. To prevent a slip…

In marketing circles, there may be no higher aspiration than to turn a company into a "lifestyle brand"—the overused, albeit elastic, coinage that has something to do with everything from Pepsi's estimated $50 million deal with Beyoncé to how Tory Burch positions itself. But if ever there were an entrepreneur who was born into the business of living beautifully, it is Aerin Lauder. That would be the veteran executive of twenty years standing at Estée Lauder, not to mention the granddaughter of the cosmetics titan's founder, who, until she debuted her namesake line, AERIN, last fall, was publicly best known as an Oscar de la Renta–wearing fixture of the society pages, the onetime face of Private Collection fragrance, and the owner of three oft-photographed residences: in the Hamptons and Aspen…

The season's separates and accessories take a walk on the wild side, in on-the-prowl prints SEEN AT 1. Printed flap-front bag, ROBERTO CAVALLI, $2,340, at Roberto Cavalli boutiques nationwide | 2. Printed goatskin jacket, EMILIO PUCCI, price on request, at Emilio Pucci, NYC | 3. White gold and enamel bangle with emeralds, CARTIER, price on request, call 800-CARTIER | 4. Calfskin, patent leather, and mesh sandal, SOPHIA WEBSTER, $680, collection at select Neiman Marcus stores nationwide | 5. Crystal-embellished leather and mink collar, 3.1 PHILLIP LIM, price on request, call 212-334-1160 | Model at right wears: Satin coat, $2,500, satin skirt, $995, calfskin bag, $1,295, satin boots, $995,…

SEEN AT 1. Hammered-metal collar, SERGIO ROSSI, $1,550, visit sergiorossi.com | 2. Metallic corset dress, BURBERRY PRORSUM, $2,595, visit burberry.com | 3. Sunglasses, WESTWARD LEANING, $165, visit westwardleaning.com | 4. Laminated python clutch, LANVIN, $2,990, at Lanvin, Las Vegas | 5. Leather sandal, ROGER VIVIER, $1,145, call 212-861-5371 | Model at left wears: Satin T-shirt, $1,050, skirt, $1,385, belt, price on request, all, PROENZA SCHOULER, call 212-585-3200. Collar, JOOMI LIM, $270, visit joomilim.com…

INSIDE DESIGNERS, SHOPS, HOT SPOTS, AND MORE… PARIS Roger Vivier (Rizzoli) explores 60 years of the legendary cobbler and his creations—one of which, the stiletto, he invented in the '50s—and the brand's current incarnation under creative director Bruno Frisoni. rogervivier.com PARIS Kenzo's prints have become a hit with the street-style set, who are sure to be spotted in the brand's new line of neon-hued, leopard-print itsy-bitsy bikinis and maillots. Will they take these suits to the sidewalk? We wouldn't be surprised. kenzo.com NEW YORK Revisit the heyday of the American socialite with Rizzoli's C.Z. Guest American Style Icon. Its pages read like those of a fascinating guest book, with cameos by everyone from Diego Rivera to Joan Rivers. rizzoliusa.com PARIS Paparazzi dodgers, rejoice! Belgian wunderkind Cédric Charlier…

THE WOMAN: Danielle Chang, 41, New York City THE JOB: As the founder of culinary event agency Lucky Rice, Chang is dedicated to bringing the food she loves to a broader audience. "I've always dreamed of sharing Asian culture through the lens of food and drink," says Chang, who was born in Taiwan and moved to the U.S. at the age of five with her family. Her banner event, the Lucky Rice Festival, a weeklong extravaganza with events such as the Dim Sum Mahjong brunch headlined by celebrated chef Susur Lee and a dinner hosted by LCD Soundsystem front man James Murphy, kicks off in New York City this month. (There will be additional stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Miami.) Chang's day-to-day responsibilities include scouting new…

The intense dramas of two twentieth-century social movements make for terrific cinema in a pair of gripping films out this month. Supported by a great cast that includes Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon, and Julie Christie, Robert Redford directs and stars in The Company You Keep, about the afterlife of the Weather Underground, the most infamously violent antiwar radicals of the 1960s and early '70s, most of whom were eventually caught or gave themselves up. And Brian Helgeland, better known for screenwriting (L.A. Confidential, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3) than directing (A Knight's Tale), is about to knock his reputation out of the park on both fronts with 42, the trial-by-fire tale of Jackie Robinson, the first black player to break into baseball's major leagues. 42 is a bona…

In her prologue to Mom & Me & Mom (Random House), African-American poet and memoirist Maya Angelou—best known for her classic coming-of-age testament I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings—sets the tone for this latest, and most potent, of her serial autobiographies: "Love heals. Heals and liberates. I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins." Angelou, who describes her parents as "matches and gasoline," was three years old and her brother, Bailey, four when they were sent by train from California to Stamps, Arkansas, to be raised by their paternal grandmother. On a family visit to St. Louis when Angelou…

THE CLASSICIST SPECIALTY: Versatile nail pro Typhaine Kersual, who created the confetti nail art above, always returns to classic polish shades—the perfect pale pink or timeless red. But the Paris-based manicurist doesn't stop at nails; caring for hands is equally important. "Models love my massages," Kersual says. SECRET WEAPON: When leisurely drying time isn't an option, Kersual tops finished looks with Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Fast Dry Top Coat. "It's fabulous for shows and shooting," she says. QUICK FIX: Kersual combats ragged cuticles with Sephora Collection Brush-On Nourishing Cuticle Oil. "Repeat as soon as you feel dry skin." THE KIT From left: One of Kersual's favorite reds? YSL La Laque Couture in Rouge Pop Art; ESSIE Nail Polish in Sugar Daddy is her go-to "for a natural look"; Kersual uses…

It's a typical winter day in Seoul, and my outfit—if you can call it that—is comprised of a fur trapper hat, an eight-ply cashmere sweater layered over a two-ply cashmere sweater, a Uniqlo Heattech long-sleeved shirt and leggings, leather leggings, L.L. Bean ski socks, and motorcycle boots. The weather outside is, in a word, frightful. But, according to Jace Hong, general manager of Seoul-based skin-care line Dr.Jart, these are the perfect conditions to learn about skin care in Korea. "The climate here is very special, isn't it? It's miserably cold and dry in the winter," he says with an agreeable smile, as he ushers me into Dr.Jart's (very warm) headquarters. "And in the summer, it's humid and terribly hot. "The extreme weather is why Korean skin care is so good…

I got all four corners to come down at once!" That's a line my mom once purred in her sleep, describing a tablecloth descending into place with flawless symmetry. And that snippet, I'm afraid, reflects the perfectionist streak that is my birthright: I come from a line of midwestern women who strive to keep all things as smooth and coolly satisfying as a heavy linen tablecloth laid down just so. I have high expectations for propriety in relationships; I strive to be an upright citizen, and I expect others to behave nicely too. Being optimistic and perkily determined has served me well, but one problem with my kind of bright-minded thinking is the painful, frazzling mismatch that results when my rosy worldview doesn't conform to reality. When a high school…

Earlier this year, Ashton Kutcher attended a memorable party in Beverly Hills accompanied by his girlfriend, the actress Mila Kunis. It was a sixtieth-birthday party for Bran Ferren, the cofounder of a laboratory called Applied Minds, attended by a who's who of superrich nerds, including Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons), Nolan Bushnell (founder of Atari and creator of Pong), and Bob Metcalfe (who invented the Ethernet). What was the conversation like? "We were talking about circular polarization versus vertical polarization," Kutcher says. "If a polarized wave is moving in a clockwise direction and it bounces off something, it will immediately reverse to moving counterclockwise. We were talking about that as it relates to transmission of radio frequency." Um, what? Kutcher, 35, takes a breath, then smiles. "I don't think…

In case Nicki Minaj's tongue-twisting, polysyllabic rhymes didn't make it abundantly clear, the woman is smart. And refreshingly up-front about her ambition. "World domination—in terms of creating an empire—that is absolutely my goal!" the rapper and American Idol judge tells writer James Patrick Herman. Coming from someone who, as an unknown, was able to attract the attention—and eventual backing—of Lil Wayne via her underground mixtapes, world domination doesn't seem a particularly outlandish goal. Playing dumb is no longer part of the pop-star playbook—thank goodness. Nicki, Gaga, and Katy have all been inspired by Madonna before them and certainly don't have a "Who, little ol' me?" attitude toward their success (or the hustle it took to get them where they are). Equally worth celebrating is the fact that dressing intelligently doesn't…

On her: Silk-blend coat, Boss, $625, at Hugo Boss stores nationwide. Print dress, Diane von Furstenberg, $495. Sunglasses, Tom Ford, price on request. Pendant necklace, A.P.C., $75. Gold link bracelet, Marco Bicego, $3,600. Gold-bar ID bracelet, Garland Collection, $1,950. Gold signet ring, $1,700, gold band ring, $1,325, diamond line ring, $1,900, all, Tiffany & Co. Gold-plated dot ring, Melinda Maria, price on request. Calfskin and lambskin bag, Mark Cross, $1,995. Vintage earrings, cuff. On him: Gabardine jacket, $1,790, pants, $740, cashmere turtleneck, $975, all, Gucci. Belt, Meredith Wendell, $245. Shoes, Maison Martin Margiela, $815. Ruffle bralet, J.W.Anderson, $770, collection at Opening Ceremony, NYC. Wool pants, Chloé, price on request. Gold and silver chevron necklace, Zoë Chicco, $352. Gold signet ring, $1,700, gold band ring, $1,325, diamond line ring, $1,900, all,…

COVER Leather jacket by Tom Ford, price on request, at Tom Ford (NYC, Las Vegas, Beverly Hills), call 310-270-9440. Leggings by American Apparel, $28, visit americanapparel.com. HOT CONTENTS Page 64: Boot by Brian Atwood, at Brian Atwood (NYC), call 212-415-4739. Ring by Stephen Webster, at Stephen Webster (Beverly Hills). BEHIND THE COVER Page 114: Boot by Alexander Wang, visit alexanderwang .com. Bracelets by Ca&Lou, visit caandlou.com. Fragrance by Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday, at select Macy's stores nationwide. T-shirt by A|X Armani Exchange, visit armaniexchange.com. THE LOOK Page 163: All by Céline, call 212-535-3703. TRENDS AND ACCESSORIES Page 166: Coat, skirt, bag, boots by Marc Jacobs, call 212-343-1490 or visit marcjacobs.com. Bangle by Cartier, $35,700, at select Cartier boutiques nationwide, visit cartier.com. Sandal by Sophia Webster, visit net-a-porter .com. Collar by…