Marie Claire articles from December 2008

Marie Claire archives from December 2008

Welcome to December.
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not-so-basic black Clockwise from top left: Makeup artist Genevieve gives Jennifer Connelly a killer smoky eye; bold statement jewelry; modeling a twist on the LBD by Alexander McQueen for MC's Zanna Roberts;...

My two cents.(Editorial)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... A FEW YEARS AFTER I graduated from college, I achieved the life-changing goal of many young, single career women: I shed my roommate (the night she came home crazy-drunk and ate a pound of raw sausage from the fridge convinced me I had to) and...

Reader of the month!(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Patti Ann Miller of Martinsburg, WV, will receive an MC beauty bag because she put us to good use: "For the nonpolitical, busy professional, the October piece 'How to Talk About Issues You Don't Really Understand'...

Boss ladies.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For "I Am the Boss of Me" (October 2008), Abigail Pesta interviewed five fabulous entrepreneurs who went straight to the top--on their own terms. * This article was great. I loved the diversity of the women and...

Manic marriage.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... Wedded to an undiagnosed bipolar man, Y. Euny Hong shared her very personal experience--and the avalanche of emotions that went with it--in "Living With a Crazy Husband" (September 2008). * I saw the signs coming for a long time, and now...

Rock the vote.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MCs election cheat sheet, "How to Talk About Issues You Don't Really Understand" (October 2008), by Yael Kohen and Lauren Iannotti, condensed the candidates' views so readers were prepared for both the cocktail-party...

Style-philes.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] October's eye-catching fashion spreads took the new trends to artful heights, according to some readers. * Brava! "Britannia Rules" was gorgeous. I was delighted to see people of all ages in the photographs....

Her best shot.(UPDATE)(Malalai Kakar)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In April 2007, we ran a story called "Her Best Shot" by Dina Temple-Raston, about Malalai Kakar, an intrepid police captain and head of the department of crimes against women in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (Read it now at...

Celebs boot up and boogie on down: making great strides in booties and thigh-highs.(boot spy)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... SARAH JESSICA PARKER White hot in L'Wren Scott for Christian Louboutin [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHANEL IMAN Kicking it off the catwalk during the NYC collections. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHENNA MILLER Well shod for a casual...

Fashion resume: Leighton Meester: scene queen.(STYLE)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... education * 1996: After starring in a local production of The Wizard of Oz at the age of 10, began to crave the spotlight. * 1997: Moved from Florida to New York City to model, immediately landing a Ralph Lauren ad, shot by Bruce...

Feel-good gifts.(marieclaire.com)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Charity is the new black. Go for the gifts that give twice: bags, jewelry, and even a gorilla to adopt--with proceeds going to a worthy cause. Start giving at marieclaire.com/charity.

The luxe list.(marieclaire.com)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Ring in the season with the most glamorous goodies: inspiration-worthy items to get you in the spirit, from a super-chick Prada cell phone to a jet-set trip around the world. For more gifts, go to marieclaire.com/luxe.

Perfect presents.(marieclaire.com)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... We've got the hottest gifts for everyone on your list, from the men in your life to the domestic divas. Plus, gifts under $20 and chic stocking stuffers. Go to marieclaire.com/gifts and get shopping!

101 ideas.(SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... GLOW IN THE DARK Clockwise from top right: CLUTCH $59, Nine West; (800) 999-1877 for stores. SHOES $79, Nine West; nine west.com. BAG $1595, Prada; (888) 977-1900. SHOES $770, Salvatore Ferragamo; (800) 628-8916. BOOTIES $1030, Christian...

American at sea.(RESORT TREND)(women's fashion)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Accessorized with a yacht or not the season's reinvented nautical classics put you in cruise control 1. Top $69.50, Lauren by Ralph Lauren; macys.com for stores. 2. Sunglasses $125, Lacoste: lacoste.com for stores. 3. Shoes $225, Tory...

French kisses.(RESORT TREND)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Naughty by nature, the boudoir-inspired nude palette, in airy fabrics and languid shapes, sets an innocently sexy mood 1. Top $295, Geren Ford; saks.com. 2. Bra & Panty $130 & $50, Elle Macpherson Intimates Boudoir Collection; saks.com for...

Indian stunner.(RESORT TREND)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Gone Bollywood: Top designers do timeless Indian chic--in all its glittery glory--for easy-to-wear trend-proof pieces 1. Clutch $175, Nicole Miller Collection; nicolemiller.com. 2. Notebooks $20 each, Ann Taylor Loft; anntaylorloft.com. 3....

Best shoes.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Nights in bright satin get sexier with silky, strappy heels--smooth move, girl! 1 KAREN MILLEN, $255; (212) 334-8492.2 ESCADA, $650; escada.com for stores. 3 MARC FISHER, $79; macys. com for stores. 4 DIOR, $860; (310) 859-4700. 5...

Best bags.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Muted is the new cute bag color--a nice break from your brights and blacks 1 COACH, $798; (866) 262-2440.2 J.CREW, $395; jcrew.com. 3 REISS, $190; (212) 925-5707. 4 CHLOE, $2375; chloe.com for stores. 5 CHANEL, $1895; {800) 550-0005.6...

Get the trend for under $100!(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Tux-inspired party looks that let you save your bucks for the champagne bar [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HEADBANDS $70 each Jennifer Ouellette: (212) 927-7451. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DRESS $98, DKNY Jeans: macys.co ...

Style lesson: 31 ways to update your party look.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2008... Three experts on the perfect festive pieces--just in time for soiree season Olivia Palermo socialite Buy a great oversize clutch that works for day or night. Keep double-sided tape in your bag to shorten a hem in a pinch. Mix hard...

Outfit 911: what to buy in a style emergency.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... If the dress code says "cocktail"... think faux-mink jacket and flirty, flared '50s-style frock Satin stilettos and sparkle clutch keep this retro look in the now BELTED COAT $168, Simply Vera Vera Wang; kohls.com. [ILLUSTRATION...

Splurge vs. steal.(101 IDEAS)(necklaces, bags, dress, and shoes)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Take one simple shift, add a wow necklace, sexy bag and shoes, and stir things up! shift-and-necklace rule When the sparkle is front and center with a showpiece necklace, the dress and shoes go minimalist. STEAL [ILLUSTRATION...

MC readers try the trend: LBD.(101 IDEAS)(little black dress)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... This season's little black dress is anything but a straight-up cocktail frock; sassy shapes and sexy accessories provide the fizz Ibd rule Doesn't get any more basic than this: black dress, black shoes, even black bling! ...

Nina Garcia's gift guide.(101 IDEAS: BEST GIFTS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Here are some gifts our fashion director will be giving this season: It's not size, label, or even the thought that counts--it's all about style [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clutch $250, Rashedah; georgiany.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Designer dossier: Lacoste's Christophe Lemaire.(STYLE)(Interview)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WINNING STREAK "We're coming to the end of fashion craziness, due in part to the economic situation, People want timeless, street-inspired design rather than artificial, media-driven trends, and that's why, no...

Beauty buys: my top stop for guilt-free beauty gifts: beautorium.com, for its wealth of global green brands and a "good to know" link that tells you how organic and natural each product is.(THIS MONTH'S BEST)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOR YOUR CHIC COLLEAGUE: Violet Tendencies The most alluring way to work the shade of the moment into your holiday look: Add deep purple shadow to a neutral smoky eye. CK's Eyeshadow Quad in Purple Variation...

Toss/try/buy.(101 IDEAS)(cosmetics)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Winter's ultimate refresh-your-routine guide from MC's beauty editors [TOSS] Summery hot-pink eyeshadows. [TRY] Cool hues like greens, blues, and purples that brighten the whites. [BUY] Cargo Plant-Love 100% Natural Origin Eye...

Shiny happy presents.(101 IDEAS: BEST GIFTS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Talk about metal urges: silver-and gold-trimmed holiday gifts you'll buy for others--but want to keep! 1 AMOUR IN THE AIR Aphrodisiac ylang-ylang heats things up. Estee Lauder Private Collection Amber Ylang...

Best gifts.(101 IDEAS)(cosmetics)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 14 BOWED OVER Carry this makeup case as a clutch to streamline your look. Yves Saint Laurent Bow Collection Multi-Usage Make-Up Palette, $90. 15 CUBI-COOL A remix of floral and leather notes makes this a...

Woman to watch: Nikki Reed.(radar)(Interview)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHY SHE'S ON OUR RADAR: Reed, 20, plays the gorgeous but bitchy Rosalie in the big-screen adaptation of the best-selling vampire series Twilight. AS SEEN IN: Thirteen, Lords of Dogtown, The O.C. HER SHTICK:...

The Wrestler.(Movie review)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Yesterday's joke Mickey Rourke is today's Oscar bait in this buzzed-up drama, thanks to his stirring portrait of small-time wrestler Randy "The Ram." Edgy director Darren Aronofsky embraces sports-genre cliches: Marisa Tomei is a golden-hearted...

Slumdog millionaire.(Movie review)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Ultra-talented director Danny Boyle (Millions, Trainspotting) has created an action-filled crowd-pleaser. "From rags to rajah"--that's how the host of India's Who Wonts to Be o Millionoire? sums up big-winner Jamal, an 18-year-old former slum...

Wendy and Lucy.(Movie review)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Non-diva Michelle Williams--no makeup, dark cropped hair--creates an achingly sad portrait of down-on-her-luck Wendy in this plotless indie. She's heading for a fresh start in Alaska when her car dies; her beloved dog, Lucy, gets lost; and she...

What's up, Doc?(Q&A)(H.L. 'Doc' Humes )(Interview)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Author H.L. "Doc" Humes helped define--and shake up--post-WWII America. But when mental illness struck in the '60s, it left him paranoid and homeless. His daughter, Immy Humes, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, tells his...

Top 4.(radar)(movie adaptations)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For a perfect play, the leap to the screen can be fatal. We asked drama king John Patrick Shanley, who shifts Doubt into movie theaters this month, to pick four films that did their stage versions proud: 1. BORN...

Liev Schreiber gets epic in the Oscar-worthy Defiance.(TWO-MINUTE DATE)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Theater wunderkind Liev Schreiber isn't the first person you'd think of as a monosyllable ruffian--but for the man The New York Times weightily dubbed "the finest American theater actor of his generation" for his Hamlet and his Macbeth, the...

Wrap and Go .(PAGE-TURNERS)(books)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lit baubles and gems for everyone on your list. For... ... THE LOVELORN NEUROTIC who can't let go of her therapist: Atmospheric Disturbances, Rivka Galchen's nutty tale about an agitated shrink who thinks his...

Whitley: The Submarine.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Submarine (Dew Process/Universal) Built from the same raw instruments as folk, this 23-year-old Aussie's debut achieves something gorgeously different. Banjos sound impossibly elegant; love songs feel more...

Love is all: A Hundred Things Keep Me Up at Night (What's Your Rupture?(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Hundred Things Keep Me Up at Night (What's Your Rupture?) Remember teen romance, all dizzy hopes and furtive kisses? This five-piece band from Sweden sure does. Josephine Olausson's shouty vocals narrate tumbling...

Mascott: Art Project.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Art Project (Red Panda) Mascott's Kendall Meade isn't speaking directly to you--it just seems that way. The intimacy starts with chamber pop--choruses buttressed by strings and piano. Lyrics aren't confessional, but...

The Killers: Day & Age.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Day & Age (Island) Synths, suits, and saxophones-Day & Age is a stunning new take on Spandau Ballet's early '80s New Romantic sound, as Brandon Flowers's sensitive vocals trill lyrics above a flood of pulsing beats....

Your entertainment diet for December.(THE CULTURE PYRAMID)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... GUILTY PLEASURES (partake sparingly) Comeback, take two: Britney Spears names her new disc Circus over runner-up titles Sorry "Bout That Last Year, Yell and It Was Sam Lutfi's Fault. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Serious ac-tor Jim...

Who's her daddy? The book club digs into Lauren Groff's The Monster of Templeton to uncover the familial mystery rooted in a small, supernatural town. Worth the 360-page commitment? Read on ...(BOOK CLUB)(Book review)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE PLOT: Willie Upton is having a bad summer. A Ph.D. candidate, she slept with her professor, got pregnant, and then tried to run his wife over with a bush plane. Willie then retreats to her tiny hometown, where...

The year in women.(THE MOMENT)
December 1, 2008... Whew! We had a year, didn't we? Women owned '08. In her historic run for lady-prez, Hillary dodged iron-my-shirt invectives and left 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. Then Sarah Palin took up her hockey stick and smashed it some more. ...

Quiz: me? sexist?(THE MOMENT)(Sarah Palin)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The rise of Sarah Palin found budding Gloria Steinems in surprising places. Can you match the allegation of chauvinism with its finger-pointing source? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Pat Buchanan, right-wing commentator ...

The Hillary index.(THE MOMENT)(Hillary Rodham Clintion)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Her historic campaign, by the numbers Amount spent on pizza: $43,127 ... and on postage: $19,958,867 Number of books published about her since she announced: 22 Google hits for "Hillary and bitch":...

Seeking asylum: a new book offers an unflinching look inside American psychiatric hospitals.(BULLETIN: TRENDS, THE WEB, THE STATE OF THE WORLD ... BEHOLD, YOUR WATERCOOLER CHEAT SHEET)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NORAH VINCENT SHOT TO prominence after passing as a dude and writing about it in her fascinating book Self-Made Man. But pretending to be a guy took its toll, and a depressive spiral led to a quick stint in a mental...

Diplomats behaving badly.(DISPATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Used to be that diplomatic immunity meant a Saudi prince could park on the sidewalk in D.C. and no one said boo. But recent cases involving diplomats who enslaved domestic workers in their homes are bringing the above-the-law status of...

Girl crush: Rachel Maddow.(Q&A)(Interview)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WE WEREN'T SURPRISED when pundit Rachel Maddow, 35, got her own show. The openly gay poli-sci Ph.D. was a radio star at struggling lefty outpost Air America before nailing a guest-hosting gig on Countdown With Keith...

Friendly fire.(WEBWATCH)(Erik Riesenberg of nicecritic.com)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... Is your cubemate constantly shrieking into the phone about her cat's digestive issues? At NICECRITIC.COM, you can choose a prewritten, anonymous, tactful admonition--from requesting a perfume drawdown to suggesting less time on eBay--then type...

Preparing for takeoff.(eye ON THE world)(flight attendants)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each year, 20,000 aspiring flight attendants study personal grooming, fitness, and "self-development" at Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training in India. The school attracts young women from the provinces hoping...

The price of protection.(THE SHORT LIST)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... * An epidemic of kidnappings has led affluent Mexicans to pay $4000 to have secret transmitters implanted in their arms, which can pinpoint their location by satellite. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Harrods now sells bulletproof shirts,...

Lunch-hour activism.(BETTER WAY)(Amnesty International)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scratch your do-gooder itch and help fight human-rights violations around the world by joining Amnesty International's new star-studded campaign at protectthehuman.org. December marks the 60th anniversary of the...

Christy goes to Washington: feeling the post-election, blahs? Get over it! You can still make a difference by lobbying for a great cause. Marie Claire's new contributing editor Christy Turlington Burns shows you how.(POLITICS)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] LET'S FACE IT: Lobbyists have an image problem. It sounds like a job where you re either furthering the interests of zillionaires or hanging around in... lobbies. But there are other kinds of lobbyists--do-gooders...

The thin line.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: I'm in a position of authority, and I think one of my subordinates has anorexia. It hasn't affected her work, but she's lost a lot of weight lately and she seems very unhappy. Is it overstepping to say something?...

Single gals need not apply.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Q: What does the happily unmarried woman do when her boss won't invite her to dinner parties because they're couples-only? I feel like I'm missing out on networking opportunities. A: First, be sure that's the reason you're not being...

A perfect nine.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Q: It's that time of year when we have to fill out self-evaluations as part of the review process. What's the best way to approach these things? I don't want to give myself all 10's but don't want to shortchange myself, either. A: The...

Hello, Delhi.(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Q: I oversee workers in India, London, and New York, so my first conference call starts every day at 7 a.m. and my last one ends by midnight, if I'm lucky. I'm desperate for help, but my bank just downsized. How long should I put up with this?...

Bonus round!(Cubicle COACH: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Name the sitcom working stiff who said the following, after experiencing a sudden burst of ambition: "I am about to do something very bold in this job that I've never done before: Try." * Over the past three decades, the Coach has been a...

The pink ceiling: it's the startling work trend that nobody's talking about: why do ambitious young women say they hate working for other women? Marie Claire investigates.(THE OFFICE)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rhea Gibbons was thrilled when she landed a job as a junior analyst at a small Manhattan brokerage firm. Gibbons's manager was the company's only female employee--until she hired Gibbons, a recent graduate of UC...

The Queen Bee Boss Hall of Fame.(THE OFFICE)(Brief article)(List)
December 1, 2008... You think you've got it bad? Imagine working for one of these meanies 1976 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) Network 1988 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Katharine Parker (Sigourney...

Beauty and the bandit: three years ago, Debra Ryan had a bustling career and a millionaire hedge-fund boyfriend, Sam Israel. But after he was convicted of fraud, she risked it all to help him flee. In this Marie Claire exclusive, Ryan opens up for the first time about the day her lover disappeared.(EXCLUSIVE)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] DEBRA RYAN'S LONG, coltish legs are folded beneath her as she lounges in the den of her childhood home in rural Hudson, NY. She's one of those natural stunners who looks far younger than her 45 years, sun-kissed...

Hungry for approval.(HUNGRY FOR approval)
December 1, 2008... Whether it's the boyfriend, the boss, or good old mom, everyone has an opinion on what and how we eat. How does that affect your habits? MC examines the impact of eating to please. Eating to score a second date IT WAS MY first date...

"Why I went AWOL": on leave from an emotionally wrenching tour of duty in Iraq, Kimberly Rivera had to make a choice: say good-bye to her kids and go back to the war zone--or become a fugitive. Here, she defends her decision to flee.(INTERNATIONAL REPORT)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KIMBERLY RIVERA SPOTTED the little girl outside the U.S. military base in Baghdad. Just a tiny face in an agitated crowd. Saturday was claim day," Kim explains, when Iraqi civilians would come to request compensation...

Jennifer Connelly: what do you love?(fashion)(Interview)(Cover story)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This much we know about Jennifer Connelly: She's devastatingly pretty. She won an Oscar for her work in 2001's A Beautiful Mind. Her latest, The Day the Earth Stood Still, with Keanu Reeves, opens this month; He's...

Floral majority.(fashion)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nothing like a little camping in sunny California to ward off winter blahs. Have a field day with the rugged/refined look of filmy florals layered with earthy knits, denim, and bad-boy biker chains bloom of one's...

Tough luxe.(shoes and bags)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Hard times call for a little hardware: zipped, studded, and sequined evening shoes and bags in variations of shiny black and metallic. Show 'em you're a master of making every accessory count [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This page: Bag,...

Crowning glory.(beauty)(hair care)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Holiday is all about glam accessories lot deliberately hair. "The more undone, the more modern Mark Townsend, who styled the pages. (PS: Earrings would be overkill.) [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] To prevent...

Extra credit.(Beauty)(accessories and cosmetics)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The perfect accompaniment for a memorable nightout? Crystal-studded headbands, bejeweled art deco barrettes, metallic eyeshadows, and a subtle sheen on lips and cheeks. HEAD GAMES 1. Felix Ray feather and...

Camera shy: tired of frumpy photos Yael Kohen turned to the image experts for lessons in looking fabulous on film.(Beauty)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I look like a wreck in photographs. My arms are flabby, the small pooch beneath my waist is suddenly a gut, and my face turns a pasty shade of eggshell. But worst of all is that damned double chin--the one that makes...

The purist: Julianne Moore.(Beauty snoop)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Though this ethereal Celtic beauty wouldn't look out of place wandering the Scottish moors, she's actually in her element strolling downtown Manhattan with her two children, sans makeup. Here, the basics that keep...

Splurge vs. steal.(Beauty)(skin care)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2008... Feel the self-love: Get spoiled with global spa treatments (including those that come in a jar) in time to look radiant for New Year's Eve [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SPLURGE $150 PRO-COLLAGEN QUARTZ LIFT FACIAL Elemis Spa London,...

What I love about me.(Beauty road show)(women of Whistler, Canada)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Saying these women of Whistler, Canada, are fresh-faced stunners is no snow job [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mila Room, 24 "I want to look good before I go out--but not to be the center of attention. I never overdo it." [ILLUSTRATION...

Q&A: your personal consult with Dr. Amy Wechsler.(Beauty shrink)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shaunequa Brathwaite, 30, talks to MC's resident derm and psychiatrist about persistent blackheads and hyperpigmentation SB: I have blackheads and whiteheads on my nose that make my skin appear bumpy. I don't...

Can a pill make you smarter? A series of new drugs promises to increase our productivity and focus Joanne Chen tests the Rx.(Health Report)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I WOULD HAVE MADE the perfect poster child for the "Just Say No" campaign. Black coffee--lots of it--is my only vice. I militantly oppose tobacco, sleeping pills, and excessive alcohol. I assert a defiant Non? to...

From flab to fab: your holiday survival guide: Ditch the Spanx and trim down with last-minute pre-party tricks from top celebrity trainers--perfect for any outfit.(Health)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOR A CLINGY DRESS SLIM MIDSECTION "Since skintight dresses show the pooch, I suggest doing a lot of reverse crunches with a lift," says Ramona Braganza, who's sculpted the lean bods of Jessica Alba, Halle...

Health monitor: your monthly Rx for eating, thinking, and living strong.(Body & Soul)
December 1, 2008... Drink This Now: The No-Guilt Cocktail [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Why not use that rigorous schedule of holiday cocktailing to fuel up on extra nutrients? We asked the resident nutritionist and the chef/mixologist at Tucson wellness...

First date: must love job.(LOVE/SEX)
December 1, 2008... TWENTY MINUTES INTO dinner at a funky L.A. restaurant, my date, whom I'd met online, was looking very promising. She had a wry sense of humor, wavy auburn hair, college-educated brown eyes, and cleavage deeper than a Godard film. When she...

Sex crimes: should cosmetic surgery on your lady parts be banned?(LOVE/SEX)
December 1, 2008... NEVER MIND NOSE JOBS. Women are increasingly opting for a much more radical form of cosmetic surgery--on their genitals. But, says Marge Berer, editor of the medical journal Reproductive Health Matters, these procedures, which are aimed at...

Boy love.(LOVE/SEX)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The latest turn-on for a growing number of sensation-seeking gals? Yaoi, Japanese comic books written for women, by women, depicting "boy love," guy-on-guy sex among androgynous-looking men. The theory goes that the characters' relatable...

Lost love: he was my childhood sweetheart, my relationship safety net--until he wasn't.(LOVE/SEX)(Personal account)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HE WAS LITERALLY THE BOY next door. His name was Nello, a family name, and when I was angry, I used to call him "Jell-O" just to annoy him. Home videos show us spending entire days in my parents' maroon shag-carpeted...

Great expectations.(DATING/diary)
December 1, 2008... Rachel, 27, New York City FRIDAY 10:45 p.m., the bar: A guy friend introduces me to his single, adorable friend who's from the same Midwestern city as me. We hit it off. SATURDAY 3:30 a.m., my couch: He places his hand on mine. We hook...

Horoscope.
December 1, 2008... December means lucky Cancers will revel in romance (what else is new, Gisele?), while Aquarians like Aggie struggle with a crisis of confidence SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) The forecast: As Jupiter prepares to exit your...