Table of contents for September 2013 in ELLE

3 "A journalist recently asked me if I thought the runway models of the future would be robots… 'You clearly have not been to a fashion show in a while,' I replied, adding, 'The Cylons are already here.' " Tuesday, September 3 SIMON SAYS Barneys' Simon Doonan debuts The Asylum: A Collage of Couture Reminiscences… and Hysteria. As the title suggests, ruminations on everyone from Suzy Menkes to Kate Moss are cleverly long-winded. 20 Friday, September 20 BEDSIDE MANNERS In Thanks for Sharing, out today, Gwyneth Paltrow pokes fun at her own reputation by playing Phoebe, a body-obsessed New Yorker who falls for Adam (Mark Ruffalo), a recovering sex addict. Ah, dating in Manhattan. Monday, September 30 VISION QUEST Six months after releasing The 20/20 Experience and fresh off his…

BEST IN SHOW: BRONFMAN'S GREATEST HITS 1. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS Wearing Fendi as the cochair of Artwalk NY's benefit for Coalition for the Homeless 2. SHORT STORY Opening Ceremony shorts and a vintage Chanel jacket still fit the elegant scene at Marchesa's show. 3. LADY LIKE "I was delighted to rock this cool, feminine frock" by Tanya Taylor at the designer's NYC presentation. 4. SEEING RED In a Kiki de Montparnasse dress and vintage Bottega Veneta trench for a party during Paris Fashion Week Calling Hannah Bronfman busy is quite the understatement. When the New Yorker isn't spinning at the city's coolest spots (such as the Blind Barber, the Jane, and private parties for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana), hosting functions at MoMA, or dining at Acme (she's one of…

For this month's cover shoot, model-phenom Kate Upton took a jaunt to New York's Hamptons to play the bombshell next door in looks from Michael Kors, Lanvin, and Fendi—curated by ELLE Creative Director Joe Zee. Hairstylist Harry Josh: "[Photographer] Carter Smith was intrigued by the femmes fatales of antique murder mysteries." Makeup Artist Polly Osmond: "We kept the makeup simple: a smoky eye, a natural lip." Assistant Fashion Editor Sarah Schussheim: "Kate had fun listening to Daft Punk and playing around on set." Josh: "She has such a natural energy—and couldn't stop gushing about her horse, Robbie." Sounds like Upton's MO is our kind of sexy.—CATHERINE STRAUT If looks could kill: Upton in Dolce & Gabbana Amethyst and rose gold earrings, TACORI, $810, visit tacori.com Fox-fur scarf, BRYAN BOY FOR…

Most people can complain about their first apartment in New York City. Not me. At the height of the financial crash, my roommates and I hit a trifecta that even the slimiest New York real estate agent would admit is next to impossible to attain: location (on the Bowery and across the street from a Whole Foods); square footage (endless, even after dividing the living room in half to make a third bedroom); and price (two months free rent!). It was a heady time. We had an in-unit washer-dryer. Anne Hathaway lived upstairs. But after two years, in a case of all good things coming to an end, we were slapped with a rent hike so steep, I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry when I opened the…

A couple years back, one of my best girlfriends and I were invited to spend a day on Bondi Beach with some new friends. We were in Australia for a few weeks and thus far had completely mismanaged our time by watching marathons of Australia's Next Top Model instead of, oh, I don't know, going outside. "The beach? Absolutely not!" I screeched, rifling through the kitchen for snacks. I had unconsciously allowed 20 very noticeable pounds to rendezvous on my midsection since my last breakup and was in no emotional or physical place to take off my shirt in front of strangers, especially on Bondi Beach. I mean, didn't I just see a picture of Hugh Jackman swimming there? Doesn't everyone in Australia look like Hugh Jackman?! "We need to…

(From top) Ana Khouri yellow gold Lucky ring, yellow gold Sly bracelet, and rose gold and diamond stem hand bracelet (Clockwise) Khouri in her red Valentino, with her own yellow gold leaf rings; an Anndra Neen cage clutch with Ana Khouri jewelry; Khouri sketches while wearing Narciso Rodriguez, her own stem hand bracelet, and white gold and diamond Mirian ear cuff "The vintage thing is a passion of mine," says Brazilian jewelry designer Ana Khouri, gesturing around the new midtown aerie with panoramic 57th-floor views of Central Park she has all to herself. By vintage you quickly realize Khouri doesn't just mean the sort of pieces you might pick up at her New York City mainstays Resurrection and Rare—though her overstuffed closets enclose a lustworthy assortment of vintage Chanel, Yves…

Embellished wool dress, price on request, wool sweater, $770, suede belt, $375, leather sandals, price on request, all, PRADA, at select Prada boutiques nationwide, visit prada.com THIS MONTH IN FASHION: TRENDS Spots you'll go dotty for page 330 // Military dressing pulls rank page 328 // ACCESSORIES The season's most wearable boot page 352 // Fine jewelry (literally) inspired by poetry page 350 Among the other things Miuccia Prada has rendered suddenly chic: fisherman's waders (fall 2009), monkeys and bananas (spring 2011), slipper-sock shoes (spring 2013).…

Leather and pony-hair boot, ISABEL MARANT, $1,505, at Isabel Marant, NYC Wool coat with leather details and removable alpaca liner, BELSTAFF, $3,995, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC Yellow gold and diamond bracelet, WILFREDO ROSADO, price on request, collection at Just One Eye, L.A. Wool skirt, MCQ ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, $740, visit alexandermcqueen.com/mcq Embroidered clutch, RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION, $3,500, at select Ralph Lauren stores nationwide FASHION Trends The navy-inspired thread ran through many fall collections, including Calvin Klein. Ready to enlist in the military look? First stop: ELLE.com/militarytrend.…

White gold watch with leather strap, ROLEX, price on request, visit rolex.com Lamb leather jacket with cotton collar, ACNE STUDIOS, $4,200, visit acnestudios.com Suede bag, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, $1,650, call 866-337-7242 Suede and patent leather boots, PIERRE HARDY, $1,665, call 646-449-0070 FASHION Trends You only need one hue to be a colorful character. Just ask Violet Beauregarde, the Thin White Duke, Joan Jett, and the rest of your favorite monochromatic dressers at ELLE.com/monochromers.…

Silk satin and metallic leather sandal, PRADA, price on request, visit prada.com Patent leather pump, CARVEN, $1,120, visit carven.fr Leather pump, MIU MIU, $950, visit miumiu.com Faux-leather pump, STELLA MCCARTNEY, $825, call 212-255-1556 TRENDS Accessories The term riot grrrl was inspired by a comment reportedly made by Bratmobile collaborator Jen Smith to lead singer Allison Wolfe in response to Washington, DC's Mount Pleasant riots of 1991: "This summer's going to be a girl riot."…

MADE IN ITALY With concert snaps and depictions of design details—from close-ups of dazzling draping to novel fabrics—Gucci (@GUCCI) is at the top of its Insta-game. HEART OF GLASS Wes Gordon's (@WES_GORDON) yacht shots and mirror images elevate his brand of sophisticated style to the next level. CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER From the luxurious (sumptuous shots of Bali beaches) to the lavish (drag queens who could give Almodóvar a run for his money), Timo Weiland and codesigner Alan Eckstein pepper their feed (@TIMOWEILAND) with intriguing imagery. CEREMONIAL ATTIRE Keep up with the cool kids at Opening Ceremony (@OPENINGCEREMONY)—Humberto Leon and Carol Lim constantly update with new arrivals, travel inspirations, and what's hot at their newly opened Tokyo store. GIMME SUGAR Cynthia Rowley's (@CYNTHIAROWLEY) sweet pics lend her girly-yet-polished brand an intimate…

The Woman: Kate Foley, New York City The Job: Buyer for indie chainlet Opening Ceremony, founded in 2002; selects the merch for New York City, Los Angeles, and London locations as well as online The Uniform: Whether jetting off to Paris for fashion week or writing up inventory orders at the office, Foley can be spotted in the same Proenza Schouler and Suno looks she snags for the store. She'll subvert girlier styles with Delfina Delettrez finger cuffs or blood-red Nike high-tops. "It's pretty random," she says. "And sometimes it just doesn't work." ELLE: Opening Ceremony is known for its intimidatingly cool selection. How do you know which items make sense for the brand? KATE FOLEY: The way we buy is different from the…

TOGGLE As seen at Givenchy Wool-blend toggle coat, UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON, $269, visit benetton.com Wool-felt toggle coat, HARNOLD BROOK, $635, collection at Bloomingdale's stores nationwide Wool toggle coat, TOCCA, $909, visit tocca.com Silk skirt, SACAI, $725, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide Leather boot, DEREK LAM, $995, at Derek Lam, NYC OVERSIZE As seen at Stella McCartney Wool, mohair, and angora coat, BLK DNM, $1,195, at Blk Dnm, NYC Embroidered wool coat, DRIES VAN NOTEN, $2,600, collection at Nordstrom stores nationwide Felted-wool coat, TOME, $1,295, visit tomenyc.com Wool-blend pants, ACNE STUDIOS, $430, visit acnestudios.com Shearling and leather handbag, COACH, $798, at select Coach stores nationwide BIKER As seen at Altuzarra Leather jacket, THEORY, $1,195, at Theory stores nationwide Leather jacket with mink collar, BALLY, $5,000, call 212-751-9082 Distressed…

BABY-DOLL As seen at Saint Laurent Silk blouse, MARC BY MARC JACOBS, $198, collection at shopbop.com. Cotton dress, MARGAUX LONNBERG, $295, collection at shopbop.com Printed twill dress, ANNA SUI, $466, at Anna Sui, NYC Cotton-blend dress, ASOS, $65, visit asos.com Cashmere sweater, CHINTI AND PARKER, $475, collection at net-a-porter.com. Pearl and metal ring, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, $175, at Alexander McQueen, NYC Calfskin boot, BALLY, $950, at Bally, NYC GROWN-UP JUMPER As seen at Prada Wool dress, NOVIS, $1,185, visit novisnyc.com Wool cardigan, L.K. BENNETT, $150, at L.K. Bennett, Las Vegas. Tweed dress, THE LIMITED, $90, visit thelimited.com Silk-blend dress, CH CAROLINA HERRERA, $660, at CH Carolina Herrera, NYC Snakeskin and leather handbag, CéLINE, $4,250, collection at Barneys New York. Leather loafer pump, MULBERRY, $1,000, to special order, call 888-685-6856 FUR SHIFT…

The Perfect: Tote Chloé's spacious Bailey crocodile tote can truly do (and hold) it all, making it the ideal in-flight companion or workplace workhorse and classic. Crocodile handbag, CHLOé, price on request, at Chloé, NYC The Perfect: 24-7 Pump No one would dare question the icon status of Manolo Blahnik's perfectly proportioned BB. Introduced in 2009, it's regularly seen on everyone from Gwyneth to Rihanna. Suede pumps, all, MANOLO BLAHNIK, $595 per pair, to special order at Manolo Blahnik, NYC BB sketch, drawn exclusively for ELLE by Mr. Blahnik The Perfect: Toggle Coat The beauty of this Saint Laurent topper is in the details. Intricate stitching and impeccable tailoring take the collegiate classic well beyond the tailgate. Wool toggle coat, SAINT LAURENT BY HEDI SLIMANE, $2,950, at Saint Laurent, NYC…

WHAT TEAM ELLE IS BUYING NOW Pleated polyurethane skirts, CALVIN KLEIN, $110 each, visit calvinklein.com JADE FRAMPTON SENIOR MARKET EDITOR Pleated Pleather Skirt "I can't wait to pair one of these with either a plain white tee or a simple black turtleneck. They may be minimalist, but the pleats and material give them texture and keep things interesting." MARIA DUEñAS JACOBS ACCESSORIES DIRECTOR Geometric Gold Rings "I love that these are delicate but also statement making. They have a cool factor but also seem timeless. And they're perfect for everyday wear." 1. Gold and diamond ring, KISMET BY MILKA, $2,890, visit fragments.com. 2. Gold ring, DJULA, $1,044, visit djula.fr. 3. Gold and diamond double-finger ring, JENNIFER FISHER, $530, visit jenniferfisherjewelry.com. 4. Gold and diamond ring, EVA FEHREN, $4,345, collection at…

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an unusual leading man: sensitive, slight, almost fragile, whether playing the heel-clicking young suitor in (500) Days of Summer or the teenage hustler in Mysterious Skin who's willing to hold a lonely man whom no one else wants to touch because he's dying of AIDS. Even when Gordon-Levitt hit the big time as one of the tough guys in Inception, he looked more like some tough guy's nephew. "I've played the smart kid, the funny one, the nice sweet one, even the angry one," he has said, "but never the sexy one." Now he's done just that with Don Jon, his writing and directing debut, and it's an excellent joke. Gordon-Levitt has given himself the title role of Jon Martello, a strutting, pumped-up Jersey boy with hot…

"There are feelings you can't hide from yourself, even if you'd just as soon chop off your hand as admit them to anyone else," confesses a regretful Little League umpire with an estranged gay son in "The Smile on Happy Chang's Face," a standout in the new short-story collection from Little Children novelist/screenwriter Tom Perrotta. Nine Inches (St. Martin's) brims with such secrets. Perrotta fixates on small-town types whose complex quirks make them not extraordinary or noble but average; what is extraordinary is Perrotta's empathic insight into how his characters cope—or, short of that, forget. An abiding hunger for intimacy drives these unhappy suburbanites to beat up, stalk, cheat, trash-talk, and undermine the people they supposedly love. Nine Inches references a middle school's rule in the title story mandating students…

1 CONTENDERS THE STUFF OF LEGEND As the stars of this fall's pair of most anticipated biopics, actors Idris Elba and Naomi Watts will likely be bolstering the oft-cited stat that playing a real person is the surest path to an Oscar (in the past 10 years, more than 50 percent of lead actors and actresses nominated for portraying historical figures have gone home with a gold statue). Convincingly playing a man as charismatic, emblematic, and beloved as South Africa's first democratically elected president is a daunting feat, and 40-year-old Elba rises to the occasion in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, out November 29. The London-bred Elba—imposingly tall and equally as convincing as a Machiavellian gangster in The Wire as he is an adversary to Jim Halpert on The Office—camouflages…

CARVEN LE PARFUM BY CARVEN According to designer Guillaume Henry, Carven Le Parfum began with a question: "If Carven fashion were a smell, what would it be?" The answer is an eau that evokes, he says, "a just-picked bouquet," with a sophistication and freshness that nod to the classic couture silhouettes (1) of Madame Carven—who founded the French house in 1945 and developed its green-and-white-stripe signature motif (2)—as well as Henry's gently quirky ready-to-wear creations. Jasmine (3) blooms alongside delicate white hyacinth (4) and sweet pea (5) before settling into a sensual sandalwood-laced dry down. During the scent's development, its code name was Trocadéro (6), because it was conceived to be "as Parisian as a woman walking beneath the Eiffel Tower, leaving a beautiful trail in her wake." When Carven's…

STEP ONE: London-based hairstylist Adam Reed recommends starting by brushing hair back tight and low, securing with a bungee elastic. STEP TWO: Tame flyaways with smoothing cream. To prevent any damage from heat styling, prep the pony with thermal-protecting spray. STEP THREE: Carefully crimp inch-wide sections of the tail, holding each piece taut as you work from base to ends. Leave one section uncrimped. TIP: For an ultratight pony, tilt back your head and look up at the ceiling while you fasten hair. STEP FOUR: Work styling cream through the smooth section and wrap it around the elastic; secure with a small bobby pin. Spray texturizer onto a paddle brush and break apart crimped strands. HAUTE PONYTAIL Above (clockwise from top left): ORIBE Dry Texturizing Spray; PERCY & REED It's…

Request for date feedback How would you rate your date's physical appearance? Stunning Pretty Adequate Next question Did you find your date to be a good conversationalist? Yes She laughed at my jokes I've had better talks with Siri At any point during the date did you want to have sex? Yes, the entire time The thought occurred to me Not once Overall, how would you rate the date? Life altering I like meeting new people Total waste of time Would you go on another date with this person? Yes, absolutely Possibly, if there was nothing else going on Only if sex is guaranteed Nope Additional comments_____________________________________________________ Name (optional)______________ Date of date / / Location of date_______________ Tired of being romantically rejected, Maura Kelly decided to figure out why from…

THIS MONTH IN READER: Survey says: How to even the playing field at work page 544 // The woman America loves waking up to page 548 Karla Gonzalez didn't think anything of the sounds of car doors closing or the voices outside her bedroom window when they woke her at 4:30 one November morning. She'd recently started renting a one-story home in a quiet, if modest, subdivision of Glendale, Arizona, a neighborhood where she didn't have to worry about the meaning of middle-of-the-night noises. But she couldn't fall back asleep, so she cleaned her kitchen before waking her 14-year-old son, Cruz, for school. As he showered, Karla, 39, dressed for work as a manager at a Phoenix store that sells candles and natural health remedies, letting Merlly, her two-year-old daughter,…

BRING THE CAKE! This Column Is Turning 20. What's Happened to the American Woman Since 1993? Now that we know Uncle Sam is hacking the e-mails and calls coming in to Ask E. Jean, the love lives of those pasty analysts at the NSA ought to be a shade more fascinating. Indeed, the classic wormhole for tracking sexual, professional, and cultural changes in America is, weirdly, the advice column. (Read the 14 years of Dan Savage's "Savage Love" to see what I mean.) Hand on my left bra strap, I swear to you that the Ask Eeee letters are such a direct beam into the soul of the American woman, I sometimes think we are running a secret government project. Where else could one receive the first warnings that anyone…

Leather and mink coat, price on request, jacquard skirt, $1,770, wool bag, $4,300, satin and leather shoes, price on request, all, PRADA, at select Prada boutiques nationwide. Silk and lace dress slip, CARINE GILSON, $1,025. Akoya cultured pearl strand with yellow gold clasp, MIKIMOTO, $2,980. Beauty Secret: Get red-hot hair color with PUREOLOGY Reviving Red Reflect Enhancer. Mohair-and-wool-blend sweater, JILL STUART, $548, at Jill Stuart, NYC. Dress, CARVEN, $1,650. Akoya cultured pearl strand with yellow gold clasp, MIKIMOTO, $2,980. For details, see Shopping Guide. Silk twill dress, price on request, knit bra, $1,050, cotton briefs, $990, all, DIOR, at Dior boutiques nationwide. Akoya cultured pearl strand with yellow gold clasp, MIKIMOTO, $2,980. Leather sandals, RIUDAVETS, $120. For details, see Shopping Guide. Mink coat, silk dress, both, EMILIO PUCCI, prices on…

Hollywood royal Ireland Basinger Baldwin is growing up fast. And the 17-year-old spitfire and new model—here wearing fall's oversize early-'90s-inspired outerwear—isn't coming of age quietly Ireland Basinger Baldwin is 17 years old. She stands 6'2", weighs 145 pounds, and wears size 27 jeans. She is turned off by men who are moodier than she is. She would rather "get trampled by a herd of rhinos than have to deal with traffic and parking tickets." Her boyfriend has never pressured her sexually. She accidentally exposes her nipples on occasion. She tried smoking weed and hated it. And I knew all of this before I met her. Because the model and aspiring actress shares such personal tidbits on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and Vine—accounts she updates upwards of 30 times a day. This…

Perforated faux-leather shoulder bag, STELLA MCCARTNEY, $1,295, collection at select Neiman Marcus stores nationwide. Leather bag, THE ROW, $2,950, collection at Just One Eye, L.A. Leather flap-front satchel, MICHAEL KORS, $1,195, at select Michael Kors stores nationwide. For details, see Shopping Guide. Leather boot, ISABEL MARANT, $1,385, call 212-219-2284. Ponyskin lunch bag, PROENZA SCHOULER, $1,150, call 212-585-3200. From left: Pony-hair boot, TOD'S, $1,265, visit tods.com. Leather boot, GIORGIO ARMANI, $995, at select Giorgio Armani boutiques nationwide. Calfskin boot, BIONDA CASTANA, $695, visit mywardrobe.com. For details, see Shopping Guide. Leather sandal, GIANVITO ROSSI, $1,200, collection at Barneys New York. Calfskin boot, PIERRE HARDY, $985, call 646-449-0070. Leather clutch, NARCISO RODRIGUEZ, $1,095, collection at Barneys New York. For details, see Shopping Guide.…

With an energized new moon on the 5th, fiery Mars entering Leo, and Pluto at last leaving retrograde, September's cosmic dance will kick up all sorts of celestial dust for an exciting autumn VIRGO THIS MONTH FOR VIRGO: (AUG 23–SEPT 22) Despite an influx of energy and enthusiasm, be patient for the time being, as Mars, the action planet, will lag behind the Sun and thus command a period of reflection. Although it may feel like the moment to launch an important initiative, some pieces of your plan have yet to fall into place. Instead, use the particularly affirmative new moon on the 5th—at an ideal angle to gift-giver Jupiter—as a juncture to set goals for the coming year. Though the new moon will offer support in many ways, Neptune…

Who still believes that models should be seen and not heard? Kate Upton, our cover girl, is as voluble as she is voluptuous, and, as she tells Jessica Pressler, she has her sights set on mogul-dom. "I don't like failing," Upton says. (Apparently, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree: "My dad is extremely competitive; you can't even play Ping-Pong with him.") Between Upton, fellow models Karlie Kloss and Ireland Basinger Baldwin, and model turned actress Amber Heard, our fashion pages are extra beautiful this month—we even have one beautiful boy, actor Ansel Elgort. And speaking of beauty, photographer Txema Yeste and fashion editor-at-large Lori Goldstein are bringing plenty to our pages, unveiling some of fall's most stunning be-feathered fashions—just a turn of the page away. Embroidered tulle net…

Sexiness is, of course, singularly subjective, so when I say that I find myself sighing at the way a fair number of people dress with a kind of neutered, unisex sloppiness (even at the Metropolitan Opera here in NYC, where I was the other night—c'mon, people! Leggings?) on the one hand, or a vulgar overemphasis on body parts on the other, I'm saying these looks aren't sexy to me. Enter fashion, which always has something interesting to say about sex, and this season the message particularly reso nated. Prada, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana—each was having a sophisticated conversation about provocation, desire, and possibility, with clothes that didn't just hint at suggestiveness but promised deliverance. The clothes also drew a distinct line between what's male and what's female, and played…

NAME: Maria Dueñas Jacobs PROVENANCE: Born in Madrid, raised in Miami NOW: "I recently relocated to the Upper West Side with my husband and my blue British shorthair kitten, Frankie. I've always lived downtown, so this is a new experience—a grown-up version of myself." PROFESSION: ELLE Accessories Director THIS MONTH: "Opposite Day" (page 640). "The set designer came up with an idea to mimic shadows made by the accessories with black vinyl. So what you see are actually not shadows but black vinyl shapes that he cut out." BONA FIDES: BA, Fashion Institute of Technology; work has appeared in Glamour RECENT SPLURGE: "I've been decorating my home, so I bought a new dining table, chairs, sofa, and bed. Every time I move, I try to start over. With New York…

We're used to beauty ideals that come in waves—bombshells, waifs, Amazons. So what's the model moment now? For a certain kind of person—I'm raising my hand here—one of life's great pleasures is spotting a model in real life. Their limbs, so lanky in photos, often downright insectoid in person; their heads curiously small; their cheekbones as sharp-edged as a Donald Judd cube. Every fashion week they pop up like crocuses, beanpoling down Broadway in simple tanks and skinny jeans. For model spotters, part of the thrill lies in the analysis: parsing each girl's particular beauty for signs of an emerging "moment." That old saw about hemlines being an economic indicator—that miniskirts supposedly herald a boom, maxis a recession—has turned out to be a myth, but surely our taste in models…

I grew up in a house full of sexy, glamorous women—no men. My parents divorced when I was six, and from then on it was my mom, who raised me and my two younger sisters alone, and a small cast of female boarders who lived in the downstairs room she rented to make ends meet. There was Chris, who had feathered blond hair, full hips, and a penchant for bruise-colored eye makeup. There was our cousin Robin, who lounged around drinking beer and listening to Bruce Springsteen records in silk camisoles worn under shaker-knit sweaters. And there was Debbie, with her mile-long legs in Chic brand jeans and salt-and-pepper frosted hair. She'd met my delicate, redheaded mother on a singles-only ski trip, and though she didn't ever live with us,…

SHEER LAYERS GIVENCHY There was plenty to digest at Riccardo Tisci's latest outing, from Antony Hegarty's performance to the feminist manifestos placed on every seat. But the designer's perverse take on formal dressing was perhaps our favorite: leg-baring transparent skirts topped with—what else? A floral sweatshirt. DE-PRISSIFIED EVENING PRADA Miuccia Prada has a knack for upending convention in a single stroke. She made polished look passé with her loose, wonderfully sensual take on distressed glamour: unbuttoned cardigans worn under gowns, plus casually draped furs and antithesis-of-prim lug soles. SUITE LIFE LOUIS VUITTON Marc Jacobs has a knack for conjuring worlds out of whole cloth. At the latest Louis Vuitton show, he whisked us away to a place of comfort, giving his audience a voyeuristic glimpse at the denizens of a…

Swarovski-crystal-embellished silk headband, SHOUROUK, $425, visit shourouk.fr Harlequin crystal-embellished top, PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI, $1,768, visit stylebop.com Crystal-embellished satin pump, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, $2,795, call 212-396-1884 Jewel-embroidered leather dress, ERDEM, $4,140, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC FASHION Trends The Marchesa Casati, who famously said, "I want to be a living work of art," once donned a diamond-encrusted costume with bejeweled wings by couturier Charles Frederick Worth. Top that.…

Drop earrings, DIOR, $350, call 800-929-DIOR Silk blouse, TOMMY HILFIGER, $199, call 212-223-1824 Yellow and white gold bangle with diamonds, ROBERTO COIN, price on request, call 800-853-5958 Rayon romper, JUICY COUTURE, $158, visit juicycouture.com Satin flat, GIORGIO ARMANI, $595, at select Giorgio Armani boutiques nationwide FASHION Trends The first recorded usage of the term polka dot was in Yale Literary Magazine in 1854—a decade after the polka dance was introduced to America.…

Sequined skirt, TOPSHOP UNIQUE, $570, visit topshop.com Alpaca shawl-collar coat, ISA ARFEN, $1,650, visit thecorner.com Leather shoulder bag, MULBERRY, $2,300, call 888-685-6856 Tweed pump, BLUMARINE, $525, visit blumarine.com Rose gold collar with rainbow quartz, sapphires, garnets, citrine, smoky quartz, and diamonds, VIERI HAUTE JOAILLERIE, price on request, visit vieri.com FASHION Trends Hermès renamed its sac à dépêches the Kelly after the actress used it to conceal her pregnancy in 1956. Check out the cover-up hall of fame at ELLE.com/bumpwatch.…

David Yurman's Willow collection is literally the physical embodiment of a poem—inspired by a haiku-like verse the designer wrote while walking near his country house in the Hamptons: "Willow's icy reflection/ Dancing on the pond/ My heart is light." These glimmering pavé diamonds set in strands of yellow gold are, indeed, worth their lovely syllables. Yellow gold and diamond ring, bracelet, both, DAVID YURMAN, prices on request, visit davidyurman.com TRENDS Accessories For more on the inspiration for the Willow collection, check out a behind-the-scenes video at ELLE.com/DavidYurman.…

"It was one of her desert paintings, definitely, and there was a skull involved," says Ryan Lobo, one half of the duo, along with fellow Aussie Ramon Martin, behind the 2013 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award winner Tome. Lobo is trying to recall the first time he encountered the work of Georgia O'Keeffe, chronicler of the American Southwest and muse for Tome's fall collection. The tightly edited array of Italian jacquard shirting, double-face wool outerwear, and nipped-waist silk-charmeuse-and-georgette dresses is rendered in a neutral palette shot through with such vibrant hues as carbon blue and berry, like blooms in an arid landscape. Lobo and Martin, both 34, met as first-year fashion students at the University of Technology, Sydney. They vowed that if they started a line they would do so…

September is when most of us start to seriously revamp our wardrobes, so what better month to debut our new and improved Shops guide to the season? There's plenty to look forward to, from editors' current obsessions to ELLE's new collaboration with cult blog The Coveteur. It's all about showing you not only the perfect items to buy for fall but also how to put them all together—so that you, like model Kel Markey (page 412), can master the how'd-she-do-that art of personal style. Our aim, as always: to present the best of fashion as clearly as possible. And speaking of clarity, how about these transparent stunners from Chanel and Gianvito Rossi? Leather pump, GIANVITO ROSSI, $750, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC. Plexiglas evening clutch, CHANEL, price on request, at…

FULL CIRCLE As seen at Burberry Prorsum Wool jacquard skirt, MARLOTA, $450, visit marlota.es Jacquard skirt, ZAC POSEN, $3,290, to special order, call 212-925-1263 Twill skirt, PHILOSOPHY BY NATALIE RATABESI, $795, at Philosophy, NYC Wool-blend cardigan, GUESS, $89, visit guess.com Satin pump, CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA, $975, at Charlotte Olympia, NYC ANIMAL-PRINT PENCIL As seen at Burberry Prorsum Printed silk skirt, EMANUEL UNGARO BY FAUSTO PUGLISI, $1,195, collection at Forty Five Ten, Dallas Printed woven and leather skirt, DKNY, $895, collection at net-a-porter.com Printed twill skirt, KENNETH COLE NEW YORK, $98, visit kennethcole.com Pony-hair ankle boot, BRIAN ATWOOD, $1,795, at Brian Atwood, NYC Wool sweater, ACNE STUDIOS, $340, visit acnestudios.com SCHOOLGIRL MINI As seen at Chanel Pleated leather skirt, ALICE + OLIVIA BY STACEY BENDET, $495, visit aliceandolivia.com Pleated cotton-blend skirt, DIANE…

The Victorian bootie at Miu Miu The menswear slipper at Marni The fur stiletto at Versace The cage pump at Salvatore Ferragamo Suede ankle boot, CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA, $1,195, at Charlotte Olympia, NYC Velvet loafer, GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI DESIGN, $725, visit giuseppezanottidesign.com Mink and leather sandal, BRIAN ATWOOD, $1,295, at Brian Atwood, NYC Suede lace-up pump, AQUAZZURA, $735, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Velvet lace-up boot, TABITHA SIMMONS, $1,195, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide Flannel loafer, VINCE CAMUTO, $98, visit vincecamuto.com Beaver fur and patent leather pump, PAUL ANDREW, $1,295, collection at saksfifthavenue.com Suede lace-up pump, ALEJANDRO INGELMO, $1,295, visit alejandroingelmo.com Pony-hair and leather boot, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, $1,395, at Christian Louboutin, NYC Pony-hair loafer, AGL, $425, visit attiliogiustileombruni.com Mink and crocodile-embossed leather sandal, GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI DESIGN, $1,095, at select…

Twenty-two-year-old Florida native Markey has graced the catwalks of Chanel and Dior and fronted campaigns for Jill Stuart and Helmut Lang, but it's her unique brand of casual chic that has onlookers abuzz. Boyish trousers and loosely tailored separates worn with a certain Reality Bites–era panache are her trademarks—not to mention that perfect blunt-cut bob. Gold and howlite earrings, EDDIE BORGO, $250, at select Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Cotton sweater, SANDRO, $250, visit sandro-paris.com Sunglasses, ALDO, $12, visit aldoshoes.com Wool vest, J BRAND, $995, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide Leather pants, PROENZA SCHOULER, $4,760, at Proenza Schouler, NYC Distressed leather backpack, ALEXANDER WANG, $1,075 at Alexander Wang, NYC Patent leather loafer, FRATELLI ROSSETTI, $640, at Fratelli Rossetti, NYC "Comfort is key. If it's only beautiful, it belongs in…

Wool hat, ALDO, $25, visit aldoshoes.com Cindy Crawford provides a lesson in layering, September 1987 Wool felt coat, MICHAEL KORS, $2,295, similar styles at select Michael Kors stores nationwide Hermès' Collier de Chien was all the rage in October 1988 Calfskin and gold-plated bracelet, HERMèS, $1,150, visit hermes.com Reversible double-face-wool coat, LACOSTE, $750, at Lacoste boutiques nationwide Angie Everhart works the scarf trench, a big hit in November 1992 Suede loafers, COLE HAAN, $198 per pair, at Cole Haan stores nationwide Silk-blend dress, MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS, $160, at select Bloomingdale's stores nationwide Get your fashion-nostalgia fix on Instagram every Throwback Thursday @ELLEUSA…

"You never know somebody till you get in the room with them," says Terius Nash, perhaps better known by his nom de R&B, The-Dream. The room in question would be the studio, where he works with today's Top 40 divas to write massive hits, such as Beyoncé's perennial wedding-dance-floor filler "Single Ladies" and Rihanna's career-making "Umbrella." He's a solo artist, yes (his latest album, IV Play, was released this past spring), but the Atlanta native has found more success as a songwriter for, by and large, women. In the process, The-Dream has emerged as a sort of hip-hop Zelig, who not only sings like his collaborators, but becomes them. "I don't think many people actually know that a man wrote that record," Nash admits of "Single Ladies." "But it's just…

Literary alchemist Jonathan Lethem is seated at an outdoor picnic table at a Brooklyn café, wearing rectangular eyeglasses, a checked short-sleeve shirt, jeans, and green Chuck Taylors. If I didn't know him, I might have mistaken him for one of the servers on break from slinging iced lattes and vegan wraps. The 49-year-old best-selling author of the instant classics Motherless Brooklyn and The Fortress of Solitude won't be taking any orders, but he is eager to dish about his ambitious new novel, Dissident Gardens (Doubleday). Nursing a tall, sweaty glass of iced tea, Lethem is visiting his own childhood outer borough for a quick 24 hours before he'll rejoin his wife, Amy, and their two young boys at their summer home in Blue Hill, Maine. That remote coastal abode couldn't…

THIS MONTH IN BEAUTY: The ultimate kiss-me-now lip page 486 // Fall's best designer fragrances page 492 // 18 beauty pros to follow on Instagram page 500 // What do your former boyfriends really think of you? page 524 // And more… For a backstage pass, visit ELLE.com/beautydiaries to check out fashion-week diaries from Dick Page, James Kaliardos, and more… INSTANT CROWD-PLEASER WINGED LINER THE LOOK: Last season's feline flick was superprecise, but a messier cat eye feels fresh for fall. "It's not supposed to look perfect," says P&G global creative director Pat McGrath, who chose major liner (often in lieu of shadow) for more than a half-dozen shows. SEEN AT: Anna Sui, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Monique Lhuillier, Salvatore Ferragamo DIY: The look is deceptively easy to execute: Color your…

THE REAL DEAL: @SCOTTBARNES68 The man behind J.Lo's glow (left), makeup artist Scott Barnes 'grams real-woman makeovers, plus shots of his hairstylist partner, Frank Galasso. THE COLOR CHAMELEON: @AURACOLORIST Navy is the new black, pink the new platinum in the vivid photos of NYC colorist Aura Friedman. THE DRAMA CLUB: @BLEACHLONDON From undercuts to rainbow dip-dyes, London-based salon Bleach shows the future of hair. THE CLASSICS MAJOR: @JINSOONCHOI Nails, nails, nails! Fashion-world manicurist Jin Soon Choi fills her feed with office-appropriate polish picks. THE HAUTE SHOT: @GUCCIWESTMAN Makeup artist Gucci Westman is our imaginary bestie thanks to her life-is-good photos, like this one promoting the Red Lippy Project charity. THE RAD PROFESSOR: @LISAELDRIDGEMAKEUP We're hot for teacher—specifically, makeup artist Lisa Eldridge and her amazing how-tos. THE ARCHITECT @ORLOPITA The hair…

The minute I heard the rumor that the supremo designer, über-philanthropist, megamogul, aviator-sunglassed Michael Kors was retiring from Project Runway to devote more time to fashion-challenged women in need, I knew, toot sweet, I'd be the first girl to clock time with him. As anyone who knows me (or doesn't) will attest, I live in pajamas and am nothing if not a depthless well of need. Not just need—need! Jules, my best friend in junior high: "Do you remember in home ec when you needed me to finish your caftan project? Only two seams, and you needed me." Mikey, my (gay) best friend in college: "Remember needing me to give you a hickey to make George Sutherland jealous? I'm still in therapy." Liesl, my (editor) best friend: "Holly, you needed…

My condition first presented as a harmless, if painful, urinary tract infection. I was on a work getaway in the New England woods, far from my regular doctor, when the symptoms began. "I just need some antibiotics," I told the regional clinic's nurse-practitioner. I'd had many UTIs in the past, I assured her. I knew what they felt like, and they felt exactly like this. Nonetheless, she insisted on testing my urine. She returned to the exam room, perplexed. She'd found no bacteria, she said, but wanted to send my sample to another lab. "If that test also comes back negative, you might have interstitial cystitis." She gave me some handouts about "IC," and refused to write me a prescription for antibiotics until she received my lab results in two…

Herewith, a surprisingly positive, occasionally infuriating survey on what women and men think about leaning in, having a life, scoring a raise, speaking up, and being the boss—and what we can do to make sure our daughters live in a world where glass ceilings are just those things you put up to get some light. By ELLE and the Center for American Progress LOOK WHO'S TALKING! Contrary to expectations that women go mute in meetings, more than half of men and women said they speak up "all the time" or "frequently." And, happily, experience counts: One third of entry-level workers are regular talkers, compared with three quarters of higher-ups. HOW I GOT THAT RAISE 1. I asked. Obvious, maybe, but although it was the third time I'd talked to an…

"Funny story," a guy who knew Kate Upton in high school wrote not too long ago on the message board for Gamespot.com, a site for video-game news. "She dated a guy our age we knew pretty well for a while, and she was head over heels for him, right? Then he goes and cheats on her. Naturally she finds out, and that's the end of that. And of course, a year or so later…." He trails off meaningfully. At this point, everyone—from the guys on message boards to the middle-aged businessmen at Sant Ambroeus on the Upper East Side who are currently trying not to stare as Upton, in a leather skirt and towering spike Saint Laurent heels, picks her way through the tables—knows what happened next, which is that…

When Karlie Kloss stands up from the makeup chair to greet me, it's like watching a giant sunflower unfurl in a children's movie: She just keeps going up, up, up, over my head, her elfin face tilting down to say hello. If remarking upon a model's height—6'1" in bare feet; in today's heels, easily 6'6"—seems like declaring a sky blue or a stoplight red, well, bear in mind that I am 5'10". It's a rare thing to find myself looking up into the eyes of another woman. The eyes are green, by the way, and radiate an attentiveness rare in 21-year-old phenoms whose job is drawing all eyes to themselves. "Are you sure we've never met before?" she asks, as if that couldn't be possible. It's that famous Karlie Kloss…

Zip-front color-block dress, ETRO, $1,920, visit etro.com. Silk long-sleeve bodysuit, DONNA KARAN NEW YORK, $795. Wool beret, A.P.C., $95. Socks, WE LOVE COLORS, $6. Silk scarf, $230, leather boots, $1,200, all, MIU MIU. Leather and lambskin coat, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, price on request, at Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques nationwide. Wool beret, A.P.C., $95. Silk scarf, MIU MIU, $230. Tights, GASPARD YURKIEVICH BY GERBE, $78. For details, see Shopping Guide. Wool jacket with fox, Mustela, and goat fur trim, studded skirt, both, ROBERTO CAVALLI, prices on request, visit robertocavalli.com. Wool beret, A.P.C., $95. Silk belt, $170, cotton socks, $185, all, MIU MIU. Beauty Secret: Matching feels modern with twin reds; try Rouge in Love Lipcolor in Sequence of Love and Vernis in Love nail color in Rouge in Love, both by LANCôME. Satin…

It's a blistering summer day on Manhattan's Lower East Side, the kind of thermometer sweller that causes mascara to run and tempers to flare. Kids are playing in a sprinkler that offers the only relief from the heat, while adults are reduced to merely sweating inelegantly. But when Francisco Costa steps onto a local playground, holding a crisp white shirt aloft on a hanger, he looks as though he's encased in his own personal air-conditioning pod. In tailored jeans and black smoking slippers that reveal a few inches of bronzed ankle, he resembles an Italian movie star—an Italian movie star, that is, who's down-to-earth enough to carry his own costume change. Though he now makes less-than-cutting-edge Murray Hill his home, this part of New York City was Costa's original proving…

With a love life nearly as varied as his career, it's no wonder Ethan Hawke occasionally lets one inform the other. Mickey Rapkin finds out the lessons he's learned and how a student inevitably became the teacher For the Gen-X woman, Ethan Hawke will always be the romantic, dirty-footed hero of such films as Reality Bites, Great Expectations, and Before Sunrise. That last movie was about two strangers meeting on a train and falling in love. In real life, Hawke seemed just as impulsive. He married young, at 27, to Uma Thurman. He also divorced young, just six years later, amid infidelity rumors. Lucky for us, he channeled his frustrations into Before Sunset, a sequel he co wrote about those same two strangers meeting again nine years later. (Sample bit…

7 Saturday, September 7 Saint Laurent's long-awaited SoHo flagship, designed by Hedi Slimane, is a sight to behold, with polished brass surfaces and majestic marble pillars. So it's only fitting that a retrospective of paintings by Sonic Youth priestess Kim Gordon, a Saint Laurent Music Project participant, opens today at White Columns gallery in New York. 10 Tuesday, September 10 Celebrate Swap Ideas Day by checking out the Pop Touch collaboration, a meeting of the minds of Tod's and David LaChapelle. Equine images of the new Sella bag play off the Italian heritage house's saddlery-influenced leatherwork and the photographer's surreal, cartoon-come-to-life aesthetic. 26 Thursday, September 26 Wear your heart on your sleeve—or sleeveless dress—to the opening of the Whitney Museum of American Art's "Robert Indiana: Beyond Love." This graphic shift…

SHAK VALUE She may be in the one-name-only club, but, as Joseph Hooper discovered in "Shakira's Prime Time," our July cover girl is a veritable she-wolf pack of personas: international superstar, thoughtful on-screen mentor, shrewd businesswoman, mother. ELLE readers applauded The Voice judge's unapologetic approach to a life well juggled: "I think she's the first celeb who's described motherhood without sounding pretentious or like she is the only one who has experienced it." —Boxingwithangels, People.com "Wow. A woman who doesn't have to control her man's every thought. Gorgeous, smart, a good mom, and independent too. She's a keeper!" —Randy, Dailymail.co.uk "Shakira has always been my favorite female artist: She can sing, dance like a superstar, speaks five languages, plays eight instruments, and is an active philanthropist with a genius IQ.…

When Aurélie Bidermann needs inspiration, she starts packing. "My collections are influenced by memories of my travels," Bidermann says of the low-key, wayfaring lifestyle that informs her pieces, beloved by shoppers at Barneys and Opening Ceremony for their delicate detailing and witty, luxurious sense of adventure. Sometimes a short jaunt to the south of France will suffice—but when the jewelry designer really wants to get away, a more committed sojourn is in order. Recently, Bidermann set off with a group of artistically minded friends for an extended safari in Namibia and Botswana. "I'd wanted to travel there for the longest time," Bidermann says. "It was a paradise." Aside from taking notes for her current fall collection—"the shape and color of the dunes in Namibia were certainly in my mind, and…

EMILY WEISS, 28 BEAUTY QUEEN With compulsively followed columns such as The Top Shelf, Weiss's three-year-old beauty portal, Into The Gloss, boasts 300,000 unique visitors a month. ALLEGRA VERSACE, 26 HEIRESS APPARENT As the majority shareholder in her family's $1 billion empire, for which she also is a stylist, "I have extremely high standards to live up to," Versace says. "But my mum is my biggest inspiration, after my late uncle, who is an ever-present guide to me." JENNA ELIZABETH, 26 FASHION FILMMAKER Her intense, close-up-heavy style attracts clients like Kanye West and YSL Beauté, not to mention friends like Chanel Iman and Erin Wasson. Iman stars in Elizabeth's surreal short Spectral, which recently got a blog shout-out from Beyoncé; a debut feature film is in the works. CARA DELEVINGNE,…

Someone once told me that the only reason we think anything is "good" is because we recognize it. The remark was made at a party where I was talking to a woman who, having learned that I emigrated from Russia to Coney Island as a preteen, suggested that my story would make a good memoir. "No, it would not," said a man after the woman walked away. "She only thinks that because she's heard that story before and it sounded familiar, like a Woody Allen parody." This exchange has always made me think of vintage shopping, an activity that is, by definition, a search for things that remind us of another time, another place, another woman. And it returned to me again when considering the fall runways, so many of…

A ASLEEP! Go ahead, hit that snooze button. The fashion-conscious are going unconscious with roll-out-of-bed chic, including mussed hair, lingerie details, and daytime pajamas. After unveiling a naptastic collection for Louis Vuitton, dream weaver Marc Jacobs even took his bow in printed pj's. B BEASTLY: This motif crossbreeds Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are and a Nick Cave horse sculpture. Ladylike furs these are not: Per trendsetters like Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi, Joseph Altuzarra, and Tom Ford, untamed finishes dominate. C CRACKED: Taking up residence at a historic fashion house can be, uh, daunting. Unless you're Alexander Wang, that is. In his debut Balenciaga collection, New York's wild-child designer coated chunky knits with paint, which cracked once dry. Call it Extreme Home Makeover, Fashion Edition. D DECONSTRUCTED DELIGHT: The…

Printed canvas clutch, KOTUR, $495, visit koturltd.com Angora-and-wool-blend sweater, KENZO, $720, visit kenzo.fr Printed suede and laminate pump, APERLAï PARIS, $1,004, collection at saksfifthavenue.com Enamel lips cuff, NORA KOGAN, $585, visit stoneandstrand.com FASHION Trends Evening gowns dripping with trompe l'oeil tears? The infamous shoe-shape hat? For a slide show of surrealist moments in fashion history, visit ELLE.com/surrealistfashion.…

Aged-gold necklace, TORY BURCH, $750, visit toryburch.com Leather boot, DRIES VAN NOTEN, $1,150, collection at Barneys New York Print skirt, ALICE + OLIVIA BY STACEY BENDET, $330, visit aliceandolivia.com Enamel and gold clutch, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, $3,975, visit alexandermcqueen.com FASHION Trends "Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow." —Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden…

1. When Raf Simons renders even the iconic Dior Bar jacket in denim, the jean jacket—or suit?—has been elevated to a whole new level of legitimacy. 2. The midnight rinse is back: Consider the ultra-wide-leg trouser in Marni's quirky-chic Winter Edition collection. 3. And if you're gonna go for broke, this season's shimmery copper and brazen brass finishes are anything but basic. Stretch cotton blazer, CURRENT/ELLIOTT, $348, visit currentelliott.com Cotton denim blazer, LEVI'S, $78, at levi.com Cotton jacket, JOE'S, $220, visit joesjeans.com High-rise jeans, A.P.C. & VANESSA SEWARD, $330, call 212-755-2523 TRUE RELIGION, $271, at True Religion stores nationwide 7 FOR ALL MANKIND, $235, at 7 For All Mankind stores nationwide AG ADRIANO GOLDSCHMIED, $235, visit agjeans.com JUICY COUTURE, $198, visit juicycouture.com FASHION Trends The etymology of the word denim…

PARIS It's going to be a busy month for Giambattista Valli. In addition to introducing his label's first handbag—the ladylike Valli top handle—the designer is releasing a coffee-table book (above) with contributions from collaborators and clients including Lee Radziwill and Francesco Clemente. rizzoli.com NEW YORK Leandra isn't the only Medine taking fashion by storm. The Man Repeller's older brother, Haim, is hot on her trail with Khai Khai, his new line of fine jewelry that's sure to make waves, with 18K gold and diamond rings featuring such hipster motifs as simians, marijuana leaves, and handcuffs. khaikhaijewelry.com LONDON Katie Hillier is quite the multitasker these days. In addition to creating her own line of whimsical animal jewelry, she has been appointed creative director of Marc by Marc Jacobs and…

Elvis-emblazoned minidresses and Grease-style high-school-locker backdrops are hardly what you'd expect from London's new crop of designers, most of them far too young to know the term bobby-soxer. But an unmistakable rockabilly vibe pulsed through fall 2013, at Ashley Williams (4, 6), where the king's visage decorated frocks; and at Tata-Naka (7), with models posing in pep-rally getups in front of yearbook-ready tableaux. Two other diametrically opposed (yet very British) threads emerged this season. The first: romantic florals—hand painted, outsize, and bordering on the psychedelic, from up-and-coming labels Jena Theo (8) and Keiko Nishiyama (2). (For their antecedents, look no further than the Fashion Museum in Bath's retrospective on Laura Ashley [11].) Meanwhile, London's rebellious streak, epitomized by pink-haired Zandra Rhodes—herself the subject of a solo show at the Fashion…

Day: Acetate-blend blazer, DKNY, $445, collection at Bloomingdale's stores nationwide Silk top, EQUIPMENT, $218, visit equipmentfr.com Brass barrette, HENRI BENDEL, $18, visit henribendel.com Leather tote, GAP, $198, at Gap stores nationwide Leather oxford, STUART WEITZMAN, $390, call 212-750-2555 Wool faille trousers, TOMMY HILFIGER, $349, at Tommy Hilfiger, NYC TUXEDO JACKET As seen at Hermès Night: Wool and silk blazer, PERIDOT, $690, visit peridotlondon.co.uk Stretch-nylon jumpsuit, BEBE, $129, at Bebe stores nationwide Jeweled satin clutch, ROGER VIVIER, $3,325, at Roger Vivier, NYC Lucite cuff, CH CAROLINA HERRERA, $175, call 212-744-2076 Leather pump, SERGIO ROSSI, $1,290, visit sergiorossi.com Weekend: Silk scarf, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, $520, at Alexander McQueen boutiques nationwide Satin blazer, SANDRO, $460, visit sandro-paris.com Tencel trousers, MICHAEL STARS, $148, visit michaelstars.com Acrylic-blend top, KENSIE, $79, collection at Macy's stores nationwide Suede…

Fisherman's sweater As seen at The Row Cashmere and silk sweater, J.CREW, $648, visit jcrew.com Alpaca sweater, YIGAL AZROUëL, $595, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide Alpaca-blend sweater, THEORY, $295, at Theory stores nationwide Angora sweater, JAY AHR, $2,500, collection at net-a-porter.com Cotton sweater, TOPSHOP, $110, at Topshop stores nationwide Wool-blend sweater, VINCE, $325, at Vince stores nationwide Wool-blend sweater, BOSS, $345, at Hugo Boss stores nationwide Wool sweater, BOAST, $232, visit boastusa.com Wool-blend sweater, JOE FRESH, $49, visit joefresh.com Shops Fall Shopping Guide Editor's tip: Want to make a rustic knit look city chic? Pair it with tailored trousers.…

The jewel-box clutch at Fendi The elongated frame at Bottega Veneta The pouch at Céline The animal print at Carven Satin and strass clutch, LANVIN, $2,500, at Lanvin, Costa Mesa, CA Calfskin handbag, HERMÈS, price on request, at Hermès stores nationwide Alligator and mink clutch, BURBERRY PRORSUM, price on request, visit burberry.com Printed calf-hair tote, EMILIO PUCCI, price on request, at Emilio Pucci, NYC Beaded brass clutch, JASON WU, $2,495, collection at Fivestory, NYC Calfskin handbag, MARNI, $1,780, at Marni boutiques nationwide Leather clutch, JIL SANDER, $540, at Jil Sander, NYC Printed pony-hair handbag, TOD'S, $2,665, at Tod's boutiques nationwide Embellished wood clutch, DEVI KROELL, $2,490, at Devi Kroell, NYC Calfskin handbag, VALEXTRA, $3,030, collection at Barneys New York Leather and shearling clutch, 3.1 PHILLIP LIM, $650, at 3.1 Phillip…

"I just started a closet purge," says Olivia Munn—who plays sharp but socially inept reporter Sloan Sabbith on HBO's The Newsroom—apologizing for the chaos in the Los Angeles home she shares with The Killing's Joel Kinnaman. Munn occupies a fascinating niche: the girl who's known as much for being wicked smart as she is for being scorchingly hot, and her style—Current/Elliott jeans, Wildfox tees, vintage Coach bags, and Giambattista Valli heels—speaks to both, with form-fitting dresses balanced by boyfriend button-downs.No wonder guys love her. Satin sandal, AQUAZZURA, $775, collection at net-a-porter.com Faux-suede sandal, NINE WEST, $89, visit ninewest.com Satin pump, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, $995, similar styles at Christian Louboutin, Miami "My friends tell me that I only wear neutrals and that I need a pop of color. I try to do…

In honor of the 250-year anniversary of Berlin's Royal Porcelain Factory, the coveted Bottega Veneta Knot clutch gets a makeover: burnished gold Ayers snakeskin, cabochon glass studding, and a crowning glory—porcelain medallions handmade by the factory's artisans. Those fortunate enough to snag one of the 250 to be produced will join the ranks of countless European royals whose collections house the firm's fine china. Ayers snakeskin and porcelain medallion clutch, BOTTEGA VENETA, $4,680, at Bottega Veneta, NYC Shops Elle Exclusive Cameos began being mass-produced in the nineteenth century, after Queen Victoria made them her signature.…

Jesmyn Ward writes novels with bleak themes; her second, Salvage the Bones, was about a widower, his children, teen pregnancy, some pit bulls, rural poverty, and Hurricane Katrina. It was, arguably, a hard story to embrace, and at first it didn't get a lot of notice. Then it won the 2011 National Book Award. Now comes Ward with Men We Reaped (Bloomsbury), a memoir that, in plainsong prose punctuated with sudden poetic flashes, schools us in the unforgiving experiences from which she has drawn her triumphal fiction. Organized around the deaths of five young men she grew up with—one of them her only brother, Joshua—it paints in unshowy colors her impoverished coming-of-age in the narrow strip of lowlands where Mississippi touches the Gulf of Mexico. Her mostly absent father's notion…

One evening in late September 2009, I stood before an audience of several hundred Canadians I'd never met to speak about a woman I barely knew. The attendees at the swank and sprawling restaurant in Calgary were wealthy and dressed for a night out on the town. Meanwhile, the woman in question—local freelance journalist Amanda Lindhout—was somewhere in Somalia, half-starved and in chains. The event was a fundraiser to help buy the freedom of Amanda and her freelance companion, Australian photographer Nigel Brennan; and I, as the last Westerner to see them before their kidnapping by a Somali militia, was the night's featured speaker. Since that day in August 2008, I'd enjoyed perhaps the most satisfying year of my journalistic career. I'd written two cover stories for The New York…

Sixty years after Christian Dior launched his first lipstick, a shocking crimson called #9, Dior is celebrating by tapping one-name-only Paris-based makeup artist Violette to help launch 32 new shades of Rouge Dior, including the ruby #999, inspired by the original. "Mr. Dior did clothes, bags, hats, and shoes, and then lipstick. Lipstick for him was like a fashion accessory," says Violette. "And I see it the same way." How do you use lipstick as an accessory? Wear a bright lipstick like you would a pair of earrings. My favorite Friday-night look is just a beautiful, glowing complexion, no mascara, combined with intense red lips. It's very French: Add messy hair, a white shirt, a pair of jeans, and some heels—that's all you need. Lipstick seems like the easy part.…

I'm swaddled in an enormous terry-cloth robe in a master bathroom at Manhattan's swank Mark Hotel, poised for a transformation at the hands of Katy Perry's glam squad. The pop star's stylist and best friend, Johnny Wujek, wants me to try a garland-green Elie Tahari pencil dress and plum stiletto booties. "Katy loves a skirt or a dress," he says. "A suit will never happen. Never androgyny." He wraps a skinny belt around what should be a waist and cinches—tight! It's not easy carving Katy curves in my straight torso, the cankle of midsections. Wujek's model boyfriend, Ricky Bennick, reclines on the bed, watching him work. "She looks sort of old, no?" It doesn't sound like a compliment, but in this case, it is one. On the cusp of my…

PERFECTLY POLISHED Put it in neutral for fall with sophisticated scents, plum tips, and glowing skin By Lauren Elliott Get Cheeky Sweep Dior Blush Vibrant Colour Blush in Mimi Bronze directly below cheekbones for a sculpted effect. Instant Gratification Kanebo Sensai Ultimate The Eye Cream boosts skin cells' ability to hold water, perking up a dull complexion. Street Sense Downtown Calvin Klein captures the boldness of the big city with a sizzling blend of Tunisian neroli, pink pepper, and velvet musk. Line Dance Chantecaille Le Stylo Ultra Slim Liquid Eye Liner is so precise it could double as a calligraphy pen. Class Act With fresh, refined notes of jasmine and amber, Estée Lauder Modern Muse Eau de Parfum is as wearable as a little black dress. Control Freak The unique,…

THIS MONTH IN LIVING: How to throw a star-quality backyard bash page 538 // Meet the new Goop set page 539 Ali Larter is no stranger to using dessert to advance her career. A few strategically placed squirts of Reddi-wip in the 1999 football flick Varsity Blues took the New Jersey native from relative unknown to in-demand starlet with roles in Heroes and Legally Blonde. But tonight, as she stands in her Hollywood Hills kitchen putting the finishing touches on a salted caramel plum tarte tatin, the 37-year-old insists résumé building is the farthest thing from her mind. Okay, well, not farthest: The dish is from Kitchen Revelry, Larter's how-to guide for the aspiring hostess, out this month from St. Martin's Press. And its release is the reason she has…

Savannah Guthrie's smile is as sunny as her yellow lace dress as she greets the crowd outside Rockefeller Center. It's a steamy day in June, a few weeks shy of her one-year anniversary anchoring Today alongside Matt Lauer. Between segments, Guthrie works her way down the police barricades festooned with the show's stylized sunrise logo. She chats with a group of organ-donation activists. She pauses for a picture with a young woman from Missouri; when it doesn't come out as the woman hoped, Guthrie poses for another. Then a blond girl in a purple T-shirt stops her. The girl says she has to tell Guthrie something, her serious face in stark contrast to the I LOVE GAGA AND ONE DIRECTION sign she's carrying. Guthrie seems to sense that this is…

Glazed calfskin boots, CHANEL, $2,250, at select Chanel boutiques nationwide. T-shirt dress, VERA WANG COLLECTION, $795. For details, see Shopping Guide. Sequin-embroidered tulle gown with ostrich feathers, GUCCI, price on request, at select Gucci stores nationwide. Rose gold ring with jet and black diamonds, POMELLATO, price on request. Oval black onyx and white diamond ring, DAVID YURMAN, $2,450. Leather boots, CINZIA ARAIA, $1,100. For details, see Shopping Guide. Embroidered silk dress, $1,890, leather brief, price on request, both, SAINT LAURENT BY HEDI SLIMANE, at Saint Laurent, NYC. Patchwork fur coat, JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, price on request. Gold, ruby, and diamond collar, MARINA B, price on request. Leather boots, SERGIO ROSSI, $995. Woven plastic dress, GARETH PUGH, price on request, collection at select Barneys New York. Python bangles, PRESMER, $38 each.…

"I have a lot of weird interests," Ansel Elgort says while being patently ignored by a team of waiters at a trendy café in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, "but everything I do is artistic." That the son of opera director Grethe Holby and photographer Arthur Elgort—a fashion heavyweight who launched his career shooting Jerry Hall and Patti Hansen in the '70s—has artistic inclinations is not surprising; that his pastimes range from creating house music under the moniker Ansolo, to scouring sample sales for Loro Piana and Y-3 finds, to participating in the underground world of competitive miniature painting (customizing figurines and then playing a tabletop strategy game with them) suggests that 19-year-old Elgort, who portrays consummate high school bully Tommy Ross in next month's Carrie reboot alongside Julianne Moore…

When Amber Heard emerges from a midnight swim in the 2011 movie adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's The Rum Diary—all tawny skin, gleaming blond hair, cherry-red lips—she renders Johnny Depp's character instantly spellbound. "Why," he mutters after she disappears, "did she have to happen?" Today, as the 27-year-old slides into a chair at a Manhattan restaurant, whispering, "This place is so business lunch," it's clear why Depp was smitten offscreen as well (the pair are now dating). She's simply that stunning, even cloaked in an army jacket, her hair now an in-transition ombré after dying it brown for her role opposite Liam Hemsworth in the recent thriller Paranoia. In conversation, Heard proves to be both whip smart and headstrong—a combination that propelled her from her native Austin at the age…

COVERS Strapless neoprene dress, $3,885, script necklaces, $945–$1,195, by Lanvin, at Lanvin (NYC), call 646-439-0380. Curb link necklace, $18,000, oval link chain, $8,750, ceramic link bracelets, $6,900 each, black diamond pavé pinkie ring, $6,800, by David Yurman, visit davidyurman.com. Coat, bottoms, prices on request, blouse, $1,550, tights, $1,290, by Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane, at Saint Laurent (NYC), call 212-980-2970. Bag by Bottega Veneta, $2,500, at Bottega Veneta boutiques nationwide, call 212-371-5511 or visit bottegaveneta.com. Sandals by Diane von Furstenberg, $398, at Diane von Furstenberg (NYC), call 646-486-4800. BEHIND THE COVER PAGE 222: Bra by Carine Gilson, collection at net-a-porter.com, Just One Eye (L.A.). Scarf by Bryan Boy for Adrienne Landau, visit colette.fr, collection at Bloomingdale's stores nationwide. Skirt by Rochas, collection at thecorner.com. THE LOOK PAGE 323: Dress by…

DAILY NEWS You change your hair and makeup every day—why not your nails? Three time-pressed ELLE staffers take our four-day challenge WEDNESDAY: "Feeling low-energy on my last day of a juice cleanse, I keep it simple with a glossy white." TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes* THURSDAY: "For a reverse French, I brush on a tan stripe, and top the whole thing with iridescent shimmer." TOTAL TIME: 4 minutes FRIDAY: "The white as a base coat makes the classic red glow; I finish with a gold glitter tip because TGIF." TOTAL TIME: 6 minutes SATURDAY: "Dropping a glitter bomb on the rest of the nail earns me compliments at the bling-averse Brooklyn Flea." TOTAL TIME: 3 minutes TUESDAY: "A creamy gray, the perfect workweek shade, doesn't shock my staid book-club compadres." TOTAL…