ELLE December 2013

DECEMBER THE ELLE MUST-DO Checklist Tuesday, December 3 Celebs get iced-out for the annual UNICEF Snowflake Ball in New York City. • Thursday, December 5 Sheryl Sandberg leans into the TEDWomen 2013 conference in San Francisco. • Sunday, December 29–Tuesday, December 31 The yearly SnowGlobe electronic music fest lights up Lake Tahoe. Wednesday, December 4 LORD OF THE RINGS On the eve of Art Basel Miami Beach, celeb-loved jeweler Eddie Borgo and luxe South Beach retailer The Webster throw a VIP bash for their collection of six signature Borgo styles, reimagined in an exclusive crystal-and-gold finish. Hoi polloi can shop the pieces (including this $500 five-knuckle-duster) online, today. Thursday, December 5 NIGHT SHIFT Best known for flattering A-listers with her slim silhouettes, L'Wren Scott debuts a line for Banana Republic,…

THE ELLE MUST-DO Checklist Sunday, December 1 Toms Marketplace serves up perfect presents from 32 socially conscious brands at Toms.com. • Thursday, December 5 Suno debuts 10 of its signature crop tops and cutout dresses in three exuberant prints exclusively for the Webster at Art Basel Miami Beach. Wednesday, December 4 Don't miss "Tracey Emin: Angel Without You," the first American museum exhibition dedicated to the controversial Brit artist, now at the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami. Focusing exclusively on neon signage, the show features more than 60 beaming and brutally honest messages, scrawled in Emin's own hand. Tuesday, December 31 Diane von Furstenberg and DJ Harley Viera-Newton's feline-inspired iPod accessories are the perfect companions for New Year's Eve—which just happens to be DVF's sixty-seventh birthday. Saturday, December 21…

THE X FACTOR Unfamiliar with Priyanka Chopra, the most sought-after actress in Bollywood? At this point, you just might be alone—she has more than 5 million Facebook fans and 4 million Twitter followers. And although she's long been ubiquitous in India, Chopra isn't one to settle for anything less than global icon status—hence her swift, chart-topping entrée into pop music this past year. Judging by her anthemic dance-pop collaborations with the likes of will.i.am ("In My City," which landed her the 2013 theme song of the NFL Network's Thursday Night Football) and Pitbull ("Exotic"), she's certainly on her way. And this month, Chopra adds ELLE.com blogger-in-residence to her glinting résumé. Though Chopra's first album won't drop until early 2014, the singer is already well versed in the ways of a…

What's the right amount of time to keep to yourself after the death of a loved one? How long before you can be seen smiling in public without being called callous, or worse? When you're very famous, as our cover girl Lea Michele is, what can you do to avoid the criticism you'll receive for appearing on the Teen Choice Awards less than a month after your boyfriend, also very famous, died of a drug overdose? Not much, actually, so you should probably just do whatever feels right and best to help yourself get through it. As Michele did. She opens up to writer Lizzy Goodman this month about what it's like to face such an unfathomable loss, in the public eye and in private, where real life is lived.…

UNBREAKABLE For our October 2013 cover story, pop priestess Lady Gaga gave Nojan Aminosharei an emotionally exposed look at the woman behind the performance. At her shoot, Gaga was radiant in minimalist pieces by Dries Van Noten and Versace. Whether she's in survivor mode—as she calls it, "Rocky, round 12"—or faux-lash-less and vulnerable, ELLE readers clearly adore their Mother Monster: "She's absolutely a perfectionist, and flawless!" —Jeffrey Ortega, ELLE.com "This woman breaks the stereotype of beauty, and so much more, that's why I love her!" —xJUUGO, Youtube.com, in response to ELLE's exclusive cover-shoot video "Considering Gaga's public ensembles have, thus far, included a meat dress and a giant egg, I can only imagine what she considers a 'hot mess' look." —Andy Swift, senior entertainment editor, Hollywoodlife.com "WOW, the cover is…

The ELLE team took the fashion fast track this month when shooting Glee star Lea Michele at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California. Photographer Carter Smith: "We riffed on a classic pinup: a gorgeous girl and a car." ELLE Creative Director Joe Zee: "I was inspired by early photos of Cindy Crawford and Kate Moss at the racetrack." Assistant Fashion Editor Sarah Schussheim: "Lea especially loved the Tom Ford leather and gold Saint Laurent accessories." Hairstylist Harry Josh: "She also requested pump-up music, so we rocked out to Justin Timberlake, Gaga, and Jay Z." Videographer Marcel Wepper: "Lea sang along the whole time, and chatted about her upcoming album. When it comes to her career, Lea's in the driver's seat."—Catherine Straut Vintage motorcycle helmet, from abrshop.etsy.com ,…