Marie Claire articles from February 2007

Marie Claire archives from February 2007

Editor's note.(Editorial)
February 1, 2007... WE DON'T REALLY need Valentine's Day to show sex some love. We all live for it, laugh about it, and these days, log on to it. And yet as men and women evolve, so do our sex lives. To really get a fix on how we make love now, we partnered with...

Final judd-gement.(LETTERS: What you wrote about, called about, cared about)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... It's great that you featured such a genuine activist on your cover in December! I loved reading about Ashley Judd's thoughts and experiences. Please continue to feature inspiring people like her! --TARA BOND, Grand Rapids, MI

Dubai uncovered.(LETTERS: What you wrote about, called about, cared about)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I JUST FINISHED reading "Mecca Stars" (December 2006) and am disappointed that you didn't do your research on Dubai. Thousands of workers are being paid very little to build these ultra-slick mega-malls. They work under very difficult...

Couch-potato consensus.(LETTERS: What you wrote about, called about, cared about)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING in "Prime Timing: SHARP TV" (The Filter, Dec. 2006)! I am so tired of the dumbing down of America. I love every show that you mentioned, and thank God for the FX Network! It's a crime that Two and a Half Men gets the...

Anchors away.(LETTERS: What you wrote about, called about, cared about)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... FOR A BRILLIANT magazine like Marie Claire, it seemed sexist to super-impose a breast and baby on Elizabeth Vargas ("The Mother of All Tough Choices," Dec. 2006). I am also an anchor-reporter, married to a composer and stay-at-home dad. I'm...

What happened at this month's cover shoot ...(BEHIND THE SCENES)
February 1, 2007... THE SUBJECT: Cate Blanchett THE LOCATION: Sydney, Australia THE PEDIGREE: 29 movie performances under her belt (most recently The Good German and Notes on a Scandal), three upcoming releases, and one Oscar. THE VIBE: Energetic. Our cover girl...

Give us some skin!(SHOPPING)
February 1, 2007... Can you bear it? Backless, sleeveless, sassy frocks Are cut up to here and cut-out there. And lingerie Goes peakaboo, too. Ready for takeoff? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sneak peeks: stock up on the bronzer! Springs girliest styles bare our shoulders, back, and feet like never before.(SHOPPING)
February 1, 2007... $128 French Connection; (310) 854-1965. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $79 Nine West; (800) 999-1877 for stores. Give 'em the bold shoulder: Slip on a sleeveless dress and carry something with a trendy Lucite handle. Clearly, you're cool....

Short cuts: in a season of miniskirts and microshorts, balance bare legs with graphic shoes and big bags.(SHOPPING)
February 1, 2007... $78 Necessary Objects; www.necessary objects.com for stores. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $48 Kenzie at Macy's; (212) 695-4400 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $19.90 H&M; www. hm.com for stores. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $176 Sass...

Trench connection: need a coverup for dresses, jeans--or nothing at all? Consider this super-sexy spy classic. Nobody does it better ...(SHOPPING: MOST WANTED)
February 1, 2007... Coat Worthy Steal a few style tips from trench-dressing icons, from Kate Hepburn to Kate Moss: * Switch the self-belt for" a trendy patent-leather or pony-skin one. * Pair with skinny pants and sleek booties for on-the-money rood...

Off with their hair! In a sea once ruled by long-haired models, a pack of young rebels are bobbing to the top with attention-getting short cuts.(MODEL DIARIES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... MARTA BERZKALNA didn't realize she was making a statement when she tucked her long hair into a black bob wig on a recent fashion shoot. "Clients suddenly saw me in a hip, new light," she says. "And I thought, Why not take the plunge?" Luigi...

Shop talk: accessories are the appetizers in fashion's great feast--and spring's best will hit stores this month. Get 'em while they're hot.(SHOPPING)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2007... Clear for Takeoff Forty years ago, a character in the Dustin Hoffman classic The Graduate summed up the future in one word: "Plastics!" He was on to something, judging by all the designers now doing clear bags, including Chanel, Fendi, and...

Splurge vs. steal: so busted: lingerie's been stealing ideas from the fashion runway--here, our favorite options for both the financially well-endowed and the flat broke.(SHOPPING: LINGERIE)
February 1, 2007... feminine $302 SPLURGE Bra, $188, brief, $114, Fifi Chachnil; www. catrionamackechnie.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $65 STEAL Bra, $37, hipster, $28, Belabumbum at Katie's Place; (561) 265-1305. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $52...

Hollywood's great expectations: as more and more celebrities go public with their pregnancies, the question naturally arises: how best to dress your bump?(STAR STYLE)
February 1, 2007... "WITH CHILD" NO LONGER means "without style": Designers are making belly-friendly frocks a mainstay of their business. But when it comes to walking the red carpet, ACCESS HOLLYWOOD co-anchor Nancy O'Dell (who will be covering the awards this...

The filter: what all your friends will be (or should be) talking about this month.(CULTURE)
February 1, 2007... THIS MONTH, NOTHING is quite what it seems. Consider: Ex-confection CHRISTINA AGUILERA heads out for her Back to Basics tour--which gets us wondering, What's basic about a peroxide blonde with bodyguards, killer pipes, and a white Bentley? Also...

The must-own-now album.(MUSIC)
February 1, 2007... THE MUST-OWN-NOW ALBUM: West (LOST HIGHWAY RECORDS) There are artists who suffer for their craft and artists who craft their suffering into something useful, LUCINDA WILLIAMS is the latter. Singing and growling with equal parts fragility and...

The sophomore effort.(MUSIC)
February 1, 2007... THE SOPHOMORE EFFORT: A Weekend In The City (VICE RECORDS) On the follow-up to BLOC PARTY's surprise 2005 hit debut, the Brit rockers achieve a mature sound, exploring trickier topics and arrangements than last time, making them into an epic...

The I'm-surprised-I-like-this album.(MUSIC)
February 1, 2007... THE I'M-SURPRISED-I-LIKE-THIS ALBUM: Two Shoes (VELOUR MUSIC GROUP) So maybe jam bands aren't your thing. That's OK, they're not ours either Yet somehow, Australia's THE CAT EMPIRE rises above the melee, thanks to a ska-influenced brass...

Paolo's ultimate playlist.(CULTURE)
February 1, 2007... Already a hit in the U.K., Paolo Nutini's debut CD, These Streets, hits U.S. shelves this month. We asked the 20-year-old singer-songwriter for his ultimate playlist, which he has titled "Really Cool Songs." Prepare to swoon; he's one smooth...

The inspirational flick: the Astronaut Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen).(Movie review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... THE INSPIRATIONAL FLICK: THE ASTRONAUT FARMER (BILLY BOBTHORNTON ANDVIRGINIA MADSEN) Charles Farmer wants to be an astronaut. So much so that he's built a rocket in his barn and plans to use it, taking on the FBI and CIA in the process....

The romantic comedy starring a British charmer: music and lyrics (Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore).(Movie review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... THE ROMANTIC COMEDY STARRING A BRITISH CHARMER: MUSIC AND LYRICS (HUGH GRANTAND DREW BARRYMORE) We could have sworn Hugh Grant was deep in retirement, but this one makes us glad he isn't. Here he plays Alex Fletcher, a has-been '80s pop star...

The charming British romantic comedy: starter for 10 (James McAvoy Alice Eve and Rebecca Hall).(Movie review)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... THE CHARMING BRITISH ROMANTIC COMEDY: STARTER FOR 10 (JAMES MCAVOY, ALICE EVE, AND REBECCA HALL) Think of Starter for 10 as an '80s teen cult classic with a British accent. James McAvoy plays Brian, the adorably awkward trivia whiz whose sole...

Two-minute date: Tom Cavanagh.(INTERVIEW)(Interview)
February 1, 2007... LONG BEFORE TOM Cavanagh was an actor, he was a 6-year-old boy running around a small coastal fishing village in Ghana, where his morn and dad were teachers. Not typical? Sure, but after talking to him for just a couple of minutes, you realize...

Web: logged on at your desk, but trying to avoid actually working? Five hot spots to surf this month.(CULTURE)(Website list)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... 1. fametracker.com Which pretty accoutrement do you find truly indispensable: Heidi Klum or your bra? This site of cage-match essays and more, tagged as "The Farmer's Almanac of Celebrity Worth," dares to ask the tough questions. An...

Off The King's Road.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2007... OFF THE KING'S ROAD, by Phyllis Raphael ($24.95.OTHER PRESS) TO SUM UP: Perennial good girl from Brooklyn discovers drugs, sex, and poetry in '60s London after her husband dumps her for an 18-year-old. WHY THIS MEMOIR'S NO SNOOZE: Sure, it has...

Wish I Could Be There: Notes From a Phobic Life.
February 1, 2007... WISH I COULD BE THERE: NOTES FROM A PHOBIC LIFE, by Allen Shawn ($24.95. VIKING) TO SUM UP: Another memoir, only here, Shawn tries to understand his many paralyzing fears--water, elevators, and parking lots, to name a few--with a little help...

In The Country Of Men.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2007... IN THE COUNTRY OF MEN, by Hisham Matar ($22, THE DIAL PRESS) TO SUM UP: A young boy in 1979 Libya discovers his dad is part of the revolution against Qaddafi, Like your typical 9-year-old, he's not sure what that means, and spends the book...

Bombshell: The Life and Crimes of Claw Money.(BOOKS)(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2007... BOMBSHELL: THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF CLAW MONEY ($3S, POWERHOUSE BOOKS) For more than 10 years, graffiti queen Claw Money has bombed the streets of New York and L.A. with her spray-paint can. Now she's dropping something heavy on your coffee...

A political chat with Charlize Theron.(Q&A)(Interview)
February 1, 2007... YOU KNOW her strong, smart on-camera work. Now, she has produced a documentary, East of Havana, in theaters this month. What else about Theron surprises us? Her frank takes on geopolitical mayhem. Q: East of Havana follows the lives of...

Liya Kebede.(MORE THAN A PRETTY FACE)(Interview)
February 1, 2007... Name: Liya Kebede Age: 20-something (model never tell!) Family: Married with a son, 6, and daughter, 1 Job: Model and Goodwill Ambassador For Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Famous last words: "I've seen a lot of poverty,...

Home sweet cubicle: palm trees, scented oils, and chandeliers? It turns out not all cubes were created equal. See how your office space stacks up.(EYE ON THE WORLD)
February 1, 2007... "OUR WORK SPACES COME IN CRATES" NAME: Annmari Seia Hansen AGE: 45 COMPANY: Innovation Lab, a company that interprets technology trends for everyday use LOCATION: Copenhagen, Denmark JOB: Project Manager AT MY...

Why can't America's sweethearts stay married? If you're Reese, Jen, Jessica, or Britney, you can have it all. Until you can't.
February 1, 2007... ON NOVEMBER 7, 2006, a historic event took place. You mean when the Democrats took Congress and Representative Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House? Not exactly--Britney Spears filed for divorce from her husband,...

Cate the great: after a breezy, chatty afternoon in Sydney Cleo Glyde finds even more to love Cate Blanchett than the chic cheekbones and impeccable performances.(Cover story)
February 1, 2007... I'm WAITING FOR Cate Blanchett in a breakfast cafe in Balmain, a Sydney Harbour peninsula dotted with 19th-century cottages, close to the neighborhood where she lives with her husband and two golden-tressed boys. Given Blanchett's Streep-ian...

The new rules of sex: how you want it, get it, love it.(SEX NOW)
February 1, 2007... Welcome to your sex life, 2007, where the bases have changed (but they're still all loaded), we're plugging in to get turned on, and we understand and misunderstand each other more than ever, depending on the day. How to make sense of it and...

Top 5 roles we wish we'd been cast in.(FILM)
February 1, 2007... 1. Rose Byrne in Troy. Held captive and expected to service Brad Pitt? The horror, the horror... 2. The mango in How Stella Got Her Groove Back--the one caressed by Taye Diggs's tongue. 3. Demi Moore in Indecent Proposal. Sex with...

Top 5 books that sound like they're about sex but aren't.(BOOKS)
February 1, 2007... 1. The Call of the Wild, by Jack London 2. Anything by E.E. Cummings 3.Hard Times, by Charles Dickens 4. They Came Like Swallows, by William Maxwell 5. My Life, by Bill Clinton

Top 5 sex videos we've seen but wish we hadn't.(VIDEO)
February 1, 2007... 1. Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee 2. R. Kelly and the underage girl 3. One Night in Paris 4. Screech's threesome 5. Bob Dole's Viagra commercial

What men wish you knew: what do guys really want in bed? We asked the editors of Esquire to write us a letter spelling it out. See our comments in red.(SEX NOW)
February 1, 2007... Ladies, We know you like sex. We've seen women's magazines. We've noticed those articles about orgasms, and how to achieve them more frequently and/or with greater intensity. Well, here's the good news: We like sex, too--the tastes, the...

From Russia with mixed emotions: at age 8, she was living in poverty behind the iron curtain. At 16, she was shopping the malls in California. A tale of two cultures.(FIRST PERSON)
February 1, 2007... IT TOOK ME a while to choose an outfit for work this morning. I was dressing for an important event: the Moscow Millionaire Fair, reputed to be the most exclusive luxury-goods expo in the world--$500,000 gold-plated mobile phones, $1.5 million...

Mr fix it: why do I always fall for the broken girls with troubled pasts and self-esteem issues? Simple: I love a project.(DATING)(Short story)
February 1, 2007... SUDDENLY, EMILY STOPPED kissing me. The lights in her room were off, we had been attached at the mouth for maybe 30 minutes, and I could tell by the way she peeled back that something was bothering her. She fixed her hands on my chest as if...

The karma collectors: in Thailand, gathering up the dead brings good luck. Which is why, on any given night, Bangkok's urban professionals are fighting over, yes, fresh corpses.
February 1, 2007... ACROSS THE MID-section of Shanida Stijui's khaki jumpsuit are three tiny safety pins, evenly spaced. They aren't holding anything together, at least not in a literal way. Spiritually, though, they're working hard to keep Stijui's life on the...

Trump power: at 25, Ivanka the mogulette is making her move--an apprentice to Daddy no longer.(Interview)
February 1, 2007... IT'S 10:30 ON A SEPTEMBER MORNING, and everyone wants a piece of Ivanka. In her office on the 26th floor of--what else?--Trump Tower, both cell phones are trilling, her BlackBerry's erupting, she has a conference call at 11, and her father, who...

Horoscope.
February 1, 2007... AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) Domo arigato, Ms. Roboto--easy with those icy stares and that mechanical banter. The new moon on the 17th will make you seem more aloof than usual. Try to warm up a little, especially since Saturn's...

Spring trend preview: (get inspired!).
February 1, 2007... Why are we so hot for spring clothes when in many places, baby, it's cold outside? For one thing, these styles are already in stores, and if you snooze, you'll lose out on the most coveted items. Besides, if that floral dress seems a little...

101 ideas: spring trends are hot, tho' the weather's not. Here's what to snag--and how to wear it--even in winter!
February 1, 2007... MANUAL OF STYLE (UNDER $500) TOP: Blouse, $231, Yaya; cami, $24, Victoria's Secret; necklace, $200, Indulgems. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CENTER: Jacket, $118, DKNY Jeans; dress, $118, Kenneth Cole New York; necklace, model's own. ...

Go figure!
February 1, 2007... White is right in all seasons, but the wrong shape adds weight to hips and thighs. Slenderize with a generously cut top and neutral bottoms Cool, white, floaty tops draw attention to your face and upper body. A gently embellished scoop...

10 steals, 1 splurge.
February 1, 2007... You're hired! What works for work: smart-priced classics teamed with a luxe laptop bag--to prove how connected you are 1. SHIRT, $39.50, Gap; www.gap.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2. BLOUSE, $68, Banana Republic; www.banana...

Wake-up call: face your future! The outlook is promising if you follow our beauty primer for your 20s, 30s and 40s.(BEAUTY)
February 1, 2007... Once a supermodel... Paulina Porizkova catches some beauty Z's with a little help from the Wink sleep mask by Jimmyjane. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Gorgeous--at any age: while good genes and bones play a part in how gracefully you age (hello, Paulina Porizkava!), never underestimate the power of good planning! Here, experts evaluate the best makeup and skincare strategies for you--decade by decade.(BEAUTY EVOLUTION)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2007... IN YOUR 20s Your Skin Unless you're an SPF slacker, your skin doesn't need much help--yet. "You're nestled between baby fat and fine lines," says Debra Jaliman, M.D., a New York City dermatologist. "Typically, ache is the only thing...

"What I love about me".(BEAUTY ROAD SHOW)
February 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KIRSTEN GINNITY, 29 "My face says it all. I express the tension in my life through my mouth, and sorrow and happiness through my eyes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PATRICIA O'SULLIVAN, 17 "On a good day,...

Steal his stuff: what's in his shaving kit for you?(BEAUTY 101)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... BARE FACT: Swipe a squirt of his ingrown-hair cream and apply it along your bikini line to banish bumps. MC RECOMMENDS: The Art of Shaving Ingrown Hair Night Cream, $40. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SMOOTH OPERATIVE: The heft of men's razors...

Skin & tones: the difference between pretty and knockout sexy? The feel-good factor. Skin experts spill their top 10 body-smoothing sexcrets--for every inch of you.(BEAUTY)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2007... 2 SAVE YOUR NECK So close, and yet so far! The sad truth is, treating your neck like your face doesn't work. "Your neck ages in its own way and so has special needs," explains Adrienne Denese, M.D., Ph.D., of the eponymous skincare line....

News: progress makes perfect: play DIY derm, slick on nutritious gloss, pick a Vera-designed rose.(BEAUTY)
February 1, 2007... Good-for-you gloss? Who knew? The average woman ends up inadvertently "eating" two to four pounds of gloss off her lips in her lifetime. It's not toxic, but it's not exactly health food either--until now. Tarte has teamed up with Borba--to...

Chew on this.(ASK DIDI: Someone need a beauty hug? Beauty Director Didi Gluck is here for you)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Q: NICE GIRLS DON'T GNAW THEIR NAILS, I'M SURE--BUT I CAN'T STOP MYSELF.--Kate Josephine A: Nibbling's one of my nasty habits, too, and I've tried--and failed--with nail polishes that taste bad and even hypnosis. What has worked: getting a...

Streak show.(ASK DIDI: Someone need a beauty hug? Beauty Director Didi Gluck is here for you)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Q: I HOPE TO WEAR A GORGEOUS BLACK DRESS ON VALENTINE'S DAY, BUT I'M NERVOUS THAT MY DEODORANT WILL LEAVE WHITE MARKS.--Silvia Papett A: Don't sweat it! What you need is a water-based solid, which, unlike the traditional wax-based variety,...

Chop talk.(ASK DIDI: Someone need a beauty hug? Beauty Director Didi Gluck is here for you)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Q: I JUST GOT A GREAT SHORT HAIRCUT, THINKING IT WOULD SIMPLIFY MY LIFE. BUT IVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO RE-CREATE WHAT THE STYLIST DID IN THE SALON--TO NO AVAIL.--Elaine Bowditch A: Believe it or not, your hair is suffering from trauma--a...

You and your shadow.(ASK DIDI: Someone need a beauty hug? Beauty Director Didi Gluck is here for you)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Q: HOW CAN I MAKE MY EYECOLOR STAY PUT?--Ida Salazar A: Pigment pileup is a common problem, but it's easily remedied. A primer--Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base is a good one--can help your eyeshadow adhere, and so can layering a...

Curl talk.(ASK DIDI: Someone need a beauty hug? Beauty Director Didi Gluck is here for you)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Q: WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT MY UNDERACHIEVING RINGLETS? THEY'RE NOT AS BOUNCY AS THEY COULD BE.--Andrea Assenti A: Relax--everything but your hair, that is: There's now an entire industry devoted to motivating and maintaining curls. If you care...

Brains are the new beauty: sex appeal in Hollywood is changing--and TV stars are leading the way.(WE TALK PRETTY)
February 1, 2007... "THERE'S THE SEXY beauty queen!" the man who works at my local news-stand says every morning. Where?, I think. Where is she? I turn, expecting to see Miss America: all smiles, waving the morning edition of The New York Times. But no one is...

Precious stone: Sharon Stone is still a sass act--and happy to sound off about makeup.(BEAUTY SNOOP)
February 1, 2007... ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S baddest good-time girls, Sharon Stone, is so ready for her new close-up. With a performance in Bobby that almost made you forget about Basic Instinct 2 and a global gig as the face of Dior's Capture Totale line ("Snoop"...

Splurge vs. steal: after springing for the top-notch flatiron, it only makes sense to keep other smooth-hair maintenance costs to a minimum. Here, some affordable lock options.(HAIR TAMERS)
February 1, 2007... SPURGE $79.99 Ion Anti-Frizz Ionic Ceramic Flat Iron This high-powered flatiron styles your hair with TLC, thanks to a blend of tourmaline and Japanese ionic-ceramic minerals that penetrate and moisturize each strand, preventing heat...

Our maquillage collage of must-haves.(10 BEST BEAUTY)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... 1. THINK BLINK: Sweep Benefit Bad Gal Brightening Blue Mascara, $19, onto tips of lashes. 2. LOVE POTION: Use Versace Bright Crystal Perfumed Body Lotion, $40, for sexy, silky skin. 3. BLUE CRUSH: Pulverize Venus Magical Pearls by...

7 myths about sleep: the real reason you can't get out of bed may be that you don't know the facts about sleep. Stay up and read this tonight (you'll thank us in the morning!).(HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... 1 To function best, you need go get eight how's. There's nothing magic about that number. Everyone has different sleep needs, and you'll know you're getting enough when you don't feel like nodding off in a boring situation in the...

Sleep around the world: where do you fit in?(HEALTH)
February 1, 2007... THE COUNTRY THAT NEVER SLEEPS: JAPAN. People there sleep less than anyone else on the planet: 41 percent snooze just six hours or less each night. THE COUNTRY THAT ALWAYS SLEEPS: AUSTRALIA. One poll found that nearly a quarter of...

What we talk about when we talk to ... Ayaan Hirsi Ali: this month, the former Dutch parliamentarian, 37, publishes a memoir, Infidel, and reveals what it's like to be a controversy magnet.(Q & A)(Interview)
February 1, 2007... Q: You made a short film with Theo van Gogh, called Submission, that featured Koran verses written on a woman's torso. After it aired on Dutch television in 2004, a radical Islamist impaled a written threat against your life on a knife plunged...