Marie Claire articles from August 2008

Marie Claire archives from August 2008

My life in outfits.(Welcome to AUGUST)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] IF T.S. ELIOT'S PRUFROCK measured out his life with coffee spoons, I sometimes feel I measure mine with panty hose. The milestones are like a series of clothing memories: I recall exactly what I wore the first day...

Reader of the month!(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mallory Pickard of Cary, NC, because she's one of us: "Bikini season always leaves me downtrodden and diet-obsessed. So I was moved to tears of relief after reading 'Loving My Non-Bikini Body' (June 2008) and...

Mighty Heidi Klum.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... MC had an intimate look at the busy life of America's top glamazon in "Project Heidi" (June 2008). * I can't thank you enough for featuring the lovely Heidi Klum. I have long admired her combination of brains and beauty, and the interview...

Gunning for firearms.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... One university club made the case for bearing arms in "Why I Want a Gun on Campus" (June 2008), although not everyone sees the need. * Increasing the number of weapons on campus raises significant risks. Even trained police officers hit...

Escaping the circus.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... In "Please Set Me Free" (May 2008), Abigail Haworth reported on Burmese "longneck women" forced to act as tourist attractions in Thailand. * I'm appalled that the Kayan tribespeople are being kept against their will in Thailand for profit....

Free fall.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Laurie Sandell's addictive virtual relationship, described in 'I Wasted Two Years on a Man I Never Met" (May 2008), served as a cautionary tale for one reader. * I felt a wave of mixed emotions as I read this article. After three years of...

A sad good-bye.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... In "Losing Stephanie" (June 2008), Gretchen Voss told the dramatic story of Stephanie Martini, a beautiful, life-loving mother of three who fell fatally ill from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a variant form of which has been linked to eating...

Fashion resume: Rachel Bilson: fashion darling.(STYLE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... education * 1981: Drama is her birthright. Dating back to Bilson's great-grandparents, her family is full of writers, directors, and producers. * 1984: At age 3, while browsing in an Esprit store with her mother, announced that the...

Style stars earn their stripes.(trend spy)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KATE MOSS Juicy Couture sailor stripes float over acid-washed jeans. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANNE HATHAWAY Rocking a retro boat-neck and vest. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KATE HUDSON She's...

Maggie Gyllenhaal: the onetime indie girl is back in a whole new way. Playing off a vintage-inspired set, she channeled the '30s with jewel tones and lots of va-va-va-voom.(behind the COVER shoot)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN THE MOOD: Gyllenhaal flirted with the camera. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A STEP UP: (Above) Chic heels by Just Cavalli, Pedro Garcia, and Te Casan. NAIL ORDER" (Right) Manicurist Tabitha mixed an arsenal of...

101 ideas. (SHOPPING).(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Amp up your classics-denim, too!-with beaming black-and-white accessories STARK CONTRAST Clockwise from top left: CUFFS $3400 each, Taher Chemirik at Barneys New York: (212) 826-8900 by special order, CLUTCH $50, Amici Accessories:...

Executive material.(DENIM SPECIAL)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Class up your work jeans with authoritative accessories work-jeans rule Bright blazers, embellished blouses-the best toppers for office denim. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jacket $1675, Armani Collezioni at Bergdorf Goodman;...

Distress signal.(DENIM SPECIAL)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... For a timeless weekend look: made-to-fade jeans with retro-chic pieces weekend denim rule Color-balance faced jeans with punchy florals, olaids, even acids Jeans Left, $49.50, American Eagle Outfitters; ae.com. Right, $230,...

Tight at night.(DENIM SPECIAL)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... After dark, think skinny shapes and shiny extras night rule black or gray jeans get glam with statement metallics. Pants $690, Just Cavalli: (212) 888-4333. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Top $295, Vera Wang Lavender...

MC readers try the trend: denim.(101 IDEAS)(Marie Claire)(Buyers guide)
August 1, 2008... Talk about wiggle room: there's a hot new pair of jeans for every body denim rule Summer style doesn't get any better than jeans, heels, and a sexy white tank. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STYLE: TROUSER CUT (far left) GOOD...

Denimology.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)
August 1, 2008... How and what to buy now? We asked professional jean-iuses for a cheat sheet FIT'S FIRST RULE Whether the leg is skinny or flared, jeans should have a flatteringly tight fit from waist to knees. "Denim will always stretch." ...

Splurge vs. steal.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Street-smarten up your weekend wear with sexy remixes of denim skirts and blazers blazer-and-denim rule Gem-toned clutches and large, patterned scarves provide color--and unmistakable air of cool. STEAL SCARF & CLUTCH ...

Click today, wear tomorrow.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shop online for these transitional pieces, and get a quick rail fix! Top $198, Juicy Couture; juicycouture.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shoes $175, Cole Haan; colehaan.com. [ILLUSTRATION...

Style wish list.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... MC Senior Fashion Editor Zanna Roberts pushes the work-chic envelope Zanna's style rule Besides jeans? For a cool job, think tailoring with a twist: a safari vest--not jacket--and an ultra-long cardi." Top $350, Alexander...

Best shoes.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Killer stilettos are so back for fall; it's patently obvious you need to nab a pair 1 COLE HAAN, $350; colehaan.com. 2 SERGIO ROSSI, $550: (212) 956-3303. 3 JIMMY CHOO, $820; jimmychoo.com for stores, 4 BURBERRY, $695; burberry. com. 5...

Best bags.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Absolutely grab-ulous as a day-to-night necessity: medium-size top-handles in lustrous dark jewel tones 1 FURLA, $795; furlausa.com. 2 DOLCE & GABBANA, $3900; saks.com for stores. 3 MIU MIU, $1345; (888) 977-1900. 4 SMYTHSON, $1900;...

Designer dossier: Vera Wang.(STYLE)(Interview)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... While ruling her self-started $300 million Wang Dynasty, the empress wears leggings [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] YIN TO MY YANG: "I was raised on Manhattan's Upper East Side but always had a downtown edge. It's why I love the model Stella...

Obsessions & confessions with Ying.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... "My fave in-flight multitasker? Clean Well Hand Sanitizer spray: After a long haul, celeb colorist Jet Rhys suggests massaging it into your roots to give hair volume." COOL TOOLS Timid about makeup's trendy Pop Art palette? Consider...

Toss try buy.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)
August 1, 2008... August's ultimate refresh-your-routine guide from MC's beauty editors TOSS Matte makeup--it's a lost cause during this sticky month! TRY Enhancing your dewy complexion with a rosy stain over an SPF moisturizer. BUY Benefit Posie...

Custom eyes ... and lips and cheeks! Compacts to refill with your fave shades.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... 1 Hip to Be Square For the perfect touch-up on the go. Bobbi Brown Empty 4 Pan Palette, $10, eyeshadows and blushes, $20 to $22 each. 2 Natural Beauty The magnets securing the palette and the mirror are lead-free. Aveda Environmetal Compact...

Woman to watch: Billie Piper.(radar)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... WHY SHE'S ON OUR RADAR: The pillow-lipped former pop star and coolest actress in the U.K. sizzles as Belle, a high-priced escort, in Showtime's latest potboiler series, Secret Diary of a Call Girl. HER SHTICK: Sexily unapologetic and...

Towelhead.(BIG SCREEN)(Movie review)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... TOWELHEAD Alan Ball, the mind behind Six Feet Under, brings us this twisted coming-of-age flick about 13-year-old Jasira, who is sent to live in Houston with her rigid Lebanese father (a hilarious Peter Macdissi). As she adjusts to the...

Pineapple Express.(BIG SCREEN)(Movie review)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... PINEAPPLE EXPRESS Another loser-makes-good pic from the king of the genre, producer Judd Apatow. This one stars, yep, schlubby Seth Rogen as process server Dale Denton, a pothead on the lam with his pajama-clad dealer (and fellow Freaks end...

In search of a midnight kiss.(BIG SCREEN)(Movie review)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS It's been a rough year for Wilson (Scoot McNairy), an aspiring screenwriter. Unemployed and painfully single, he's busted by his friend while whacking off to a picture of the guy's girlfriend. Ouch, Wilson posts an...

Just die already!(PLOT WATCH)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Just Die Already! Hollywood's gone terminal, as evidenced by the relentless parade of recent films that revive a tired plotline: If you were told you had only a few weeks left to live, what would you do with them? Bette Davis originated the bit...

Top 4 campus comedies.(radar)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The super screenwriting duo of Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith tag-team on this month's sorority comedy, Tire House Bunny. Here. their fave college capers: 1. ANIMAL HOUSE "Reinvigorated the Greek system during the '70s, when most...

Why we're freaky for ... Rainn Wilson.(TWO-MINUTE DATE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Everyone's favorite socially awkward paper-supply drone from The Office sheds the LensCrafters glasses and center hair part for leather pants and silver skull medallions in this month's Spinal Tap ode, The Rocker....

In the land of no right angles.(PAGE TURNERS)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN THE LAND OF NO RIGHT ANGLES By Daphne Beal (Anchor) We were skeptical of another story about a pretty college student abroad in Nepal--the whole enlightened-expat thing makes our eyes roll (all three of them). Yet...

It's a crime.(PAGE TURNERS)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S A CRIME By Jacqueline Corey (Ballantine) White-collar mischief doesn't typically inspire vigilante justice. But that's just what happens when Pat Foy's husband is imprisoned for accounting fraud--"How could...

Iodine.(PAGE TURNERS)(Haven Kimmel )(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IODINE By Haven Kimmel (Free Press) Brilliant college senior Trace Pennington grew up poor before fleeing an abusive home. In the ensuing years, she wove an existence built on lies, fantasy, and wishful thinking When...

Conor Oberst.(PLAYLIST)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CONOR OBERST Conor Oberst (Merge) Whether fronting indie bands like Bright Eyes or going solo, singer-songwriter Oberst seduces with sincerity. Here, he saws away on guitar and matches his reedy voice with sunbaked...

Kid Sister.(PLAYLIST)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... KID SISTER [Untitled at press time] (Downtown Recordings) She's the Chicago rapper whose sass charmed even hometown kingpin Kanye West. Her song "Pro Nails" is buoyed by handclaps and a catchy vocal hook; West appears on the remix here. Kid...

CSS.(PLAYLIST)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CSS Donkey (Sub Pop) Burpy synths and spiky guitars--CSS's ingredients are right out of the new-wave home-brew kit. But this Brazilian quintet is one big dance-floor flirt, beckoning you with punchy grooves. Bop to...

Juliana Hatfield.(PLAYLIST)(How to Walk Away)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JULIANA HATFIELD How to Walk Away (Ye Olde Records) Hatfield's achy pop once lent late-teen laments a poignancy beyond dorm-room bathos; now she gives a youthful blush to romantic resignation. These are songs that...

Your entertainment diet for August.(THE CULTURE PYRAMID)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... GUILTY PLEASURES (partake sparingly) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. And you thought your J Brand jeans were magical just because you managed to squeeze into them last week. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Gossip Woman: ...

Crime writer Ruth Rendell has been the literary drug of choice for generations of Brit readers. With her 55th whodunit now out in paperback, the MC book club considers how well she's holding up ...(BOOK CLUB)(The Water's Lovely)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE PLOT: Ruth Rendell's latest, The Water's Lovely, is the story of Ismay and Heather Sealand, whose stepfather drowned in the tub when they were both teenagers. Ismay thinks 13-year-old Heather had something to do...

Sexy 101.(THE LIST)(List)
August 1, 2008... What's sexy? Let's start with what isn't: leggings, butt cleavage, Cancun. What gets smart women hot and bothered? Kanye West live, Mad Men, real estate, volcano-surfing... Here, our definitive It list of the celebs, splurges, trends, and...

Toxic hype: are the mainstays of a modern girl's life--water bottles, cell phones, smoggy city air--really poisoning us?(BULLETIN: TRENDS, THE WEB, THE STATE OF THE WORLD ... BEHOLD, YOUR WATERCOOLER CHEAT SHEET)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE TOXIC DANGERS in this contaminative world--phthalates and -enols and -alenes, oh my!--are enough to turn a nervous Nellie into a paranoid Patty. But Geoffrey C. Kabat, Ph.D., epidemiologist and author of the new...

Fierce moves.(eye ON THE world)(Brief article)(Photograph)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1992, nagged by memories of the grim conditions in the slums of her hometown of Fortaleza, Brazil, Dora Andrade (below) quit a successful ballet career in the U.S. and moved back She sold her car, her jewelry, and...

Harvard, exposed.(Q&A)(Interview)
August 1, 2008... AT 31, JOURNALIST Philip Delves Broughton was burned out after six years of' running the New York and Paris bureaus for the London Daily Telegraph. But while most of us would cope by calling in sick for a few days or vacay-ing someplace with no...

Former sex slave brings the smackdowm.(DISPATCH)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Women everywhere should give a mental cheer for Hadijatou Mani (left, at center), a former sex slave who is suing her home country of Niger, in West Africa. Mani, 24, claims her government--which outlawed slavery...

10 things: we won't ask you to do to cut back at the pump this summer.(BULLETIN)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... 1 Fill your car with helium balloons and float to work. (Although you would avoid the Beltway backup.) 2 Use bald tires--less drag. 3 Cut your engine when going down steep hills. 4 Play See How Far You Can Push My Car with the...

Your TV is brainwashing you.(THE SHORT LIST)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... * In Ireland, thanks in part to the arrival of Sex and the City, vodka has overtaken whiskey as the spirit of choice. * A dramatic drop in Brazil's birthrate over the past four decades, from 6.3 to 2.3 children per woman, is partly...

Rebuild Myanmar. (BETTER WAY TO SPEND 25 BUCKS).
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * WHAT: Cyclone Nargis, a 15-foot sea surge that ravaged Myanmar (formerly Burma) in early May. As of press time, more than 130,000 are dead or missing, and in the hard-hit Irrawaddy Delta, the storm left upwards of...

Interview Bob 'n' Weave.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: I've got a job interview coming up, and I know they're going to ask the "What's your biggest weakness?" question. It's a cop-out to respond, "Working too hard," so what can I say that doesn't sound like BS? ...

The cool kids' table.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Q: A clique has formed in my workplace, and I'm not part of it. Should I ignore it or fight my way into this potentially career-boosting inner circle? I feel like I'm back in high school. A: CC may be the wrong person to ask about this,...

Bossing your buddies.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Q: I've just been bumped up to management, and I'm the same age as many of those I'll be supervising. I was advised by my boss to "be friendly" with my reports, but don't be their friend. Where do I draw the line? A: A popular CC query,...

August rush.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Q: Half the office will be taking vacation this month. I'm not, so is there something I can do to get ahead while they're all sitting around the lake grilling tilapia? A: CC likes the way you think. It's OK to chill and cut out early the...

CC's deal-breaker of the month.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)
August 1, 2008... On your resume, leaving out the "L" in "Public Speaking Experience." (Don't laugh--CC caught that one recently.)

Mega Maggie: once the queen of quirky indie movies, The Dark Knight star Maggie Gyllenhaal braces for the highs--and surprising lows--of blockbuster-size fame.(Cover story)(Biography)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOR HER BREAKTHROUGH role as a kinky office assistant in 2002's Secretary, Maggie Gyllenhaal earned $65,000 for a performance that required her to be spanked and deliver mail on all fours. The budget was so low for...

The hunger: then Maura Kelly's mother died and her family came unglued, she found a way to cope--but it nearly killed her too.(FIRST PERSON)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It WAS IN EIGHTH GRADE--four years after my mother died--that I first remember becoming unhappy with my body. Every night, after brushing my teeth and squeezing some blackheads, I'd look in the mirror and pound on my...

The cool girl's living solo.(SURVIVAL GUIDE)(Buyers guide)
August 1, 2008... Your current roomie bounces her rent check, eats your cornflakes, and tries to make out with your boyfriend. If you're thinking of striking out on your own, you're not alone. In 2007, single women bought one of every five homes sold. Here, your...

Survival sex: imagine: one day you're a nurse leading a quiet middle-class life; a few years later you're in a strange country doing the unthinkable--selling yourself. For some Iraqi refugees, prostitution is the only trick they feel they've got left.(INTERNATIONAL REPORT)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S LATE EVENING in Amman, Jordan, and the city, a sea of white stone, is particularly quiet. But not far from the center of town, in a neighborhood known as The Gardens, The Cottage is coming to life. A staircase...

Your fashion future is now.(FASHION)
August 1, 2008... Comin' at ya, girl: the hot looks for fall you'll want to wear right now, and denim's new instaclassics you'll be rocking forever [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Fall fashion "statements".(FASHION)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So many trends, so little time! As fall clothes start hitting store, we asked designers what to look for. Listen up! floral "Fall's flower prints look fresh when mixed with textures you'd never expect--like...

Fast fwd to fall.(Buyers guide)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For every tweedy working girl, there's an elegant lady and a boho wild child holding their own. On these 12 pages, fall fashion's many frames of mind NEED FOR TWEED DOMENICO DOLCE AND STEFANO GABBANA, DOLCE...

Factory girls.
August 1, 2008... Ultra-girly chiffon for weekend? Yeah, right. Sexy tomboys will hang tough in every variety of hardworking denim--from skinny jeans to minidresses. Inspiration: indie rock star. Blues traveler Left: Coat, $1700, Preen by Thornton...

Moody blues.
August 1, 2008... Take four of today's freshest designers with very different signature styles and see how they run with the most ordinary fabric: denim Elise Overland ROCK CHIC KNOWN FOR: Her sexy designs--heavy on the leather--which are...

It's so hue: in fall's back-to-natural hair-color trend, there's less expense and less maintenance but a lot more you.(beauty)(hair colorings styled by Zanna Roberts)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COFFEE BREAK Highlights are risky business for brunettes. Too many too often and, well, you end up a blonde. The trick to natural-looking, sun-kissed strands is to lift color only to light brown and take 'a break...

House calls: whether you're sealing in a salon hue or dyeing it yourself, these new products ensure bright--but believable--shades.(beauty)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... L'Oreal Professionel Colorist Collection Shampoo in Cherry Bark [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] T3 ColorLock Collection Press (here) and Pressing Spray (below) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pantene Pro-V Highlighting Expressions Daily Color...

United States of hair color: which celebs are influencing America's hair color? Stylists across the country name names.(Beauty)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * PHOENIX, AZ Enchanted Red Hair-color idol: Amy Adams "Since my clients are dressing in bold colors and big geometric prints, it seems they don't want their hair to compete. I'm getting lots of...

Self-service skin: with increasingly high-tech at-home remedies, advanced skincare is going DIY. Time to ditch your dermatologist?(beauty)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NOW THAT SKINCARE OPTIONS like laser hair-removal devices and microdermabrasion machinery are readily available, you could easily set up a derm clinic at home. Why not save trips to the spa or the doctor's office if...

What makes Liv Tyler rock? The sultry-and newly single-star chats about dreaming of donuts and her struggle to stay slim.(Beauty snoop)(Interview)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Paparazzi don't define "remote island" the way normal people do. Just ask Liv Tyler, who, not long ago, thought it was safe to wander out to the beach in Mauritius (off the coast of southern Africa, if you don't...

What I love about me: in the Olympic city of Beijing, it's not just the athletes in competition. Who's the fairest of them all? Tough call!.(Beauty road show)
August 1, 2008... BEIJING, CHINA * Talk about the place to be: This month, roughly 10,000 Olympic athletes and 2.5 million spectators are expected to visit the city, which is already home to 16.3 million people. * Beijing-born film star Zhang Ziyi...

Scrub club: get your glow on by bagging one of these skin-smoothing exfoliator & lotion combos.(FREE FOR YOU)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... 25 SETS OF EACH TO WIN 1 BEES' KNEES Royal jelly gets free radicals to buzz off. Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion and Exfoliating Body Wash, $7.99 and $8.99. 2 A MIGHTY TART Verbena extract purifies and tones. L'Occitane Verbena Body...

Jump start: your workout: five Olympians share their secrets to getting fitter, faster.(Health)(Interview)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whether you want to tone up down. we'll show you how with tips from these Beijing-bound athletes KRISTIN ARMSTRONG, CYCLING Kristin Armstrong (pictured on the next page) is used to being mistaken for someone...

First loves: green with ... no, not envy.(LOVE/SEX)(boyfriend dyed his penis green)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * MY BOYFRIEND DYED his penis green for me. To answer the recurring questions I've been asked as I've told this story over the years: No, I didn't request it. No, I didn't ask him why. No, green is not my...

I'll be watching you: what would you do if your ex-boyfriend became your stalker?(LOVE/SEX)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN KATE BRENNAN DUMPED her controlling boyfriend, her troubles really began. First, he started calling obsessively and driving around her block; then he moved in across the street to keep an eye on her. The police...

Huggable, yes. But hot? Not so much.(LOVE/SEX)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The bear population is out of control, judging from the local Cineplex this summer. There's chubster John C. Reilly and muffin-topped Will Ferrell in Step Brothers (right), doughy Seth Rogen in Pineapple Express, and...

The Bush agenda: could the Brazilian wax be a lot less sexy than we think?(Sex Files)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... On a recent evening, I found myself huddled with a group of strangers to learn about the benefits of feather ticklers, penis vibrators, and anal plugs. I was at Kiki de Montparnasse. an erotic-lifestyle boutique in New York City. Just for...

London calling: when I moved across the globe for a British guy, the weather wasn't the only thing that was foggy.(LOVE/SEX)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I WAS ON ASSIGNMENT in Alberta, Canada, for a newspaper, working out of a pressroom that was swarming with men. William stood out from the rest of the pack. Dark-haired, square-jawed, and a head taller than everybody...

Horoscope.
August 1, 2008... August inspires industrious Virgos to go big at the office, while self-conscious Sags struggle to get in gear (we're pulling for you, Brit!) [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] LEO (July 23-August 22) It's eclipse time, which means you...

The opinionated guide to August.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... the good [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lollapalooza in Chicago (August 1-3): The pope just heard, and he's flying back. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Harley-Davidson celebrates its 105th anniversary: Who needs an OhMiBod? ...