Marie Claire articles from May 2009

Marie Claire archives from May 2009

Suits me!(Welcome to MAY)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN I FIRST HIT the workplace, a few more years ago than I care to count, the only thing an ambitious woman could wear to the office was a suit. Sure, the hemline might meander an inch or two in one direction or the...

Reader of the month!(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Erica Sabol of Richmond, VA, will receive an MC beauty bag because she's our kind of recessionista: "I lost my job last month and was forced to wonder how I was going to pay my mortgage and my car and student loans...

The view from down there.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Lauren Ruotolo opened up about having a disease that has severely stunted her growth in "Get Shorty" (March 2009), her larger-than-life determination was contagious. >> I'm a Turner syndrome girl who is only...

Girl talk.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... When we rounded up the stars of He's Just Not That Into You for "Gossip Girls" (March 2009), the talented trio were loose-lipped about love, Hollywood-style. >> I really enjoyed that three wonderful women were on the March cover. Not only are...

Pink-slip payoff.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... For "An Upside to the Downturn" (March 2009), Amy Reiter talked to women who have found a silver lining in our troubled economy. >> After I was laid off in August, I was upset. But I soon realized that I was gaining back my time--and what could...

Reinvention convention.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Five career-hopping women ditched their day jobs to pursue their dreams in "The Art of Reinvention" (March 2009). >> Thank you for publishing such an uplifting piece. I too have recently reinvented myself--from...

Rachel McAdams.(behind the COVER shoot)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... On a two-day shoot in New York, the totally It actress not only nailed the asymmetrical trend, but led a spirited book-club discussion to boot! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DO THE WAVE Hair genius Renato Campora adds some extra oomph....

Thoroughly modern Calvin.(FASHION resume)(Calvin Klein )(Brief article)(Biography)
May 1, 2009... Calvin Klein Collection's FRANCISCO COSTA [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 1964: Born in rural Guarani, Brazil; apprenticed in his family's clothing factory. * 1976: At 12, designed a burgundy safari suit to wear to a horse show. *...

Stars tee off with a street-chic staple: graphic prints for flaunting one's hard-earned cool cred.(t-shirt spy)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AGYNESS DEYN Tapping her Gen X appeal. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RIHANNA In the loop with Betty Boop. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VANESSA HUDGENS The High School Musical start earns an A in...

Chunky jewels on A-list necks: go for baroque--and yes, size does matter.(trend spy)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MOLLY SIMS Vegas girl strikes gold. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MARISA TOMEI We'll wrestle you for the rocks! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FREIDA PINTO Who wants to look like a millionaire? [ILLUSTRATION...

101 ideas: workwear special: like women in the work power dressing's come a long way. (Now we really mean business!).(SHOPPING)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... 1920 So My Typo Baring arms during office hours way before Michelle O., these post-WWI working girls tried to temper their flapper inclinations. 1925 1933 Icons Man Up Like fellow trouser wearer Kate Hepburn, screen star...

Power sleeves: flex some executive muscle with an arm-baring jacket.(STYLE 24/7)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Corporate breakfast A cafe au lait palette--and a kickass heel--will wake things up. $169. Ann Taylor; anntaylor.com. $1150. Anya Hindmarch: (973) 379-7183. $98. Marc by Marc Jacobs; macys.com for stores. [ILLUSTRATION...

Success dress: grown-up, not girly, the smart slim dress is going places.(STYLE 24/7)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Morning flight Touch down looking fresh in a classic navy shift and exotic accessories. $189, Club Monaco; clubmonaco.com for stores. Price upon request, Calvin Klein Collection; (212) 292-9000. Price upon request, Salvatore...

Executive suit: case for the classic jacket: it's supple, embellished, empowered.(STYLE 24/7)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... CEO summit Think outside the boxy by choosing shapes with strategic flourishes. $340, Cesare Paciotti; (212) 452-1222. $199, Antonio Melani; dillards.com. $59.50, Victoria's Secret; victoriassecret.com. $88, J.Crew;...

Day to night ... done right: who's got time for a full change of clothes before hitting the town after work? Three fashion pros show you wardrobe tweaks you can make at the office.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2009... Sarah Easley (left) & Beth Buccini OWNERS OF NYC BOUTIQUE KIRNA ZABETE Keep a shopping bag full of key pieces under your desk for quick but effective changes. "Trade your neutral day shoe for a brightly colored or leopard-print one,"...

Get the look for under $100.(101 IDEAS)(men's clothing)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pinstripes ruffled, pants cropped, oxfords python-ed? Menswear at work! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Blazer $79.50, Land's End; landsend.com 2. Bracelets $65 each, Erica Anenberg at 8upplementsNY;...

Splurge vs. steal.(101 IDEAS)(women's clothing)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... When the Dow's down, dress up. Simple skirts turn fierce when [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STEAL EARRINGS From left: S140, Wendy Mink; wendyminkjewelry.com. $78, Sequin at Henri Bendel; (800) H-BENDEL. $100, Lily Posh at SupplementsNY at The...

Fashionomics: six great excuses to get back in the stores this month!(101 IDEAS)
May 1, 2009... Holy Toledo! Every American designer dreams of a thumbs up from the first lady, and when Mrs. O. chose a lemongrass outfit by Isabel Toledo to wear on Inauguration Day, the Cuban-born couturier's clothes became insta-collector's items. If...

Posh spikes.(101 IDEAS)(dress, sandal)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Walk the fine line between elegant and edgy: Pair a slim-fitting day dress with the ultimate black stiletto sandal [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. APT 9, $54.99; kohls.com. 2. GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI DESIGN, $750; (212) 650-0455.3. MARC FISHER,...

Dream weavers.(101 IDEAS)(bags )(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Spring's hippest handheld device: the colorful woven artisan bag [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clockwise from top left: LANVIN, price upon request at Susan of Burlingame; (415) 922-3685. BURBERRY, $450; burberry.com for stores. BOTTEGA...

Designer dossier: Frida Gianninni/Gucci.(STYLE)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With eleven collections under her studded Gucci belt, this hip young creative director retools the luxe brand's staples with a nod to today's cool pragmatism [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TO SURVIVE THE RECESSION...

Beauty buys.(THIS MONTH'S BEST)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Half 'n' Half Breakup to makeup: Snapping lip and eye pencils in two assures ease of application and portability. The Balm's stubby Pick-Up Liners, $18 for three, come ready to go. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Lucky charms: magical thinking: fashion finds that transform into perfumes and glosses.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Dressed to Thrill Sweet pear and spicy licorice in a blinged-out bottle. Muse Times Two Click open this bag bauble for a posh pair of glosses in a raspberry-red tint and a crystal shine. Sunny Honey A cell-phone trinket gloss...

15 years of celebrity hair.(15TH ANNIVERSARY)
May 1, 2009... This month, in honor of MC's 15th anniversary, we're reuniting with a blast from the blowdryer past. Here, the unforgettable star styles that we copied for better or worse--cut, color, perm, and all--over the last decade-and-a-half ...

Woman to watch: Jordana Spiro.(radar)(Interview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Why she's on our radar: The 31-year-old New York native stars in the new season of the TBS summer treat My Boys, playing PJ, a Chicago sportswriter and the lone dame in her wisecracking, beer-loving crew. HER...

Rudo Y Cursi.(Movie review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... RUDO Y CURSI We never thought we'd fall for a Spanish-language soccer film, but writer/director Carlos Cuaron is some kind of magician. Gael Garcia Bernal slyly ignores his drop-dead gorgeousness to reteam with a shrewd Diego Luna in this loony...

The Brothers Bloom.(Movie review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE BROTHERS BLOOM If you're in love with a con man, why not join him as a con woman? That's a no-brainer for Penelope (played by an adorably comic Rachel Weisz) in this Ioopy globe-trotting caper. Her man is a...

Easy Virtue.(Movie review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EASY VIRTUE Driving a roadster, Jessica Biel zooms into this stylish comedy set in the Roaring '20s as Larita, a brash American, who shakes up a staid British family when she marries their naive son (Ben Barnes). In...

Keep your knickers on.(PANTS POLICE)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... What is it with Hollywood It girls who keep stepping out on the town sans trousers? ANNA FRIEL Ironically, she wore this to go dress--not trouser--shopping. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LINDSAY LOHAN Leggings-lover Lilo moves...

Our lover's quarrel with Ewan McGregor.(TWO-MINUTE DATE)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We've had a soft spot for Ewan McGregor, the sandy-haired Scot with a smile that could power Edinburgh Airport, ever since he played a smack addict in 1996's Trainspotting. A master of the quirky-smart indie with a...

Nobody Move.(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] **** NOBODY MOVE by Denis Johnson (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Who doesn't like a heist? Jimmy Luntz loves to gamble. The problem? He's a real loser--and if he doesn't pay his bookie soon, someone will bust his...

The Family Man.(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2009... *** THE FAMILY MAN by Elinor Upman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) On the surface, Elinor Lipman's 10th novel might seem like a too-wacky tale of the relationship between lonely, gay Henry Archer and his 29-year-old ex-stepdaughter, a wannabe...

Shanghai Girls.(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] *** SHANGHAI GIRLS by Lisa See (Random House) Those poor Chin sisters! First they found out that Dad gambled away the family's money. Then sweet-ol pa sold them off in arranged marriages. Now Pearl and May are...

1. Zee Avi.(PLAYLIST)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. ZEE AVI Zee Avi (Brushfire) She grew up in Borneo, studied fashion in London, and was living in Kuala Lumpur when a Webcam video landed her in Jack Johnson's recording studio. It's a good story. The record is even...

2. Ben Lee.(PLAYLIST)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2. BEN LEE The Rebirth of Venus (New West Records/Ten Fingers) Lyrics espousing happiness sung to spun-sugar melodies are the perfect welcome to summer. Over sprightly guitars, "What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)" is...

3. Metric.(PLAYLIST)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3. METRIC Fantasies (Metric Music International) This band's urbane electro-pop is both sleek and tattered--all the synth crescendos and arty rhythms seem battered by romance. Front woman Emily Haines's vocals...

4. Operation Aloha.(PLAYLIST)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 4. OPERATION ALOHA Operation Aloha (Operation Aloha Records) Yes, there's ukulele. Fourteen musicians (including members of Maroon 5 and Phantom Planet) with a free month between band obligations made this record...

Your entertainment diet for May.(THE CULTURE PYRAMID)(Brief article)(Calendar)
May 1, 2009... GUILTY PLEASURES (partake sparingly) Matthew McCona ughey dons a shirt long enough to confront Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All hail the fresh princess of Bel Air: A Midwesterner gets a movie makeover in...

Must watch: desperate housewives: it's a block party! Make this simple, recession-friendly recipe for a quick, chic get-together and become the instant envy of your street.(TV dinner!)(Recipe)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Must eat: Suburban comfort When Sunday night mils around, home is the hippest place to be, and no one knows that better this...

Rachel McAdams is an open book: we heard the State of Play star was a smarty, so we invited her to be the Marie Claire Book Club's first-ever celebrity guest. Turns out the rumors were true.(Book Club: CELEBRITY EDITION!)(Interview)(Cover story)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHE'S OUR PRE-EMINENT girl crush--a celebrated actress (Mean Girls, The Notebook, Wedding Crashers, Married Life) who could also be a friend. At least that's how it feels, given the smarts...

Tune in to Running in Heels: the TV show about life at Marie Claire: been too busy enjoying the warm spring weather (and your brand-new wicker wedges) to watch all the eps about the hardest-working glossy around? Catch up with our 60-second recaps below, then flip to The Style Network every Sunday at 8/7c.(style)(episodes)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The story so far... EPISODE 4: "Stressed to Impress Nina" WHAT YOU MISSED: It's a week of high glamour and high pressure as...

How do you survive the world's most public defeat? Just ask Sarah Palin's handler, Nicolle Wallace.(BULLETIN: TRENDS, THE WEB, THE STATE OF THE WORLD ... BEHOLD, YOUR WATERCOOLER CHEAT SHEET)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NICOLLE WALLACE IS SETTLED into a corner table at Fred's, a swank cafe at Barneys in Manhattan, dressed casually in jeans. It's surprising that she picked this spot, given her history: As an adviser to Sarah Palin,...

Coming to a computer near you: Zzz-mail.(BULLETIN)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TALK ABOUT A NIGHTMARE: Recently, a 44-year-old woman climbed out of bed at midnight, logged on to her computer, and sent her friends a news flash--make that a snooze flash. "Come tomorrow and sort this hellhole out....

Fighting with food.(Q&A)(Interview)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NICOLE JOHNS had hardly eaten for days when she drove to a gas station in a blizzard, bought dozens of stale doughnuts, and then crammed them into her mouth as she sped back home, planning to make herself throw up...

Hoofing it.(eye ON THE world)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A female equestrian team gets ready to charge at the annual "Fantasia" competition held in the city of Rabat, Morocco. Every spring, the riders, led here by team captain Halima Bahraoui (in red), must synchronize...

The cure for sex work in Holland? Shopping.(DISPATCH: THE NETHERLANDS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Is shopping better than sex? Depends on the sex (and the merch). But shopping certainly beats selling your body on the streets--or at least that's the thinking behind a new Dutch initiative to give prostitutes free...

... To spend your tax refund.(BETTER WAY ...)
May 1, 2009... Before you blow your cash on a box set of 30 Rock, indulge in some guilt-free shopping: In May, an army of designers, including Tommy Hilfiger, will sell orange-themed goodies--bracelets, tees, wallets--to raise money for the Nancy Davis...

Ick Alert: clean up your cube!(THE BOTTOM LINE)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The typical desk--home to the rarely cleaned keyboard, mouse, and phone--carries 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, says University of Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba, Ph.D. And since women tote more stuff to work...

Demanding perks--even in a recession?(The careerist: News, gear, and get-ahead tips--the cool girl's employee handbook)(Interview)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We were skeptical reading Womenomics, a new how-to guide for securing a more flexible work schedule. Aren't we supposed to be putting in more hours these days? We asked authors Katty Kay...

Office hookups on the rise.(MEMO FROM CUBELAND)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One unintended consequence of the recession: Your harmless flirtation with that hipster from payroll may soon heat up to a full boil. Experts predict a rise in office flings as pink-slip-wary employees work longer,...

Head count.(WORK LIFE)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... HEAD COUNT: What would you do to keep your job? That's the question we asked readers on MarieClaire.com. Of the 391 responses, 28% said they'd give up their offices; 27% said they'd work fewer hours; 18% said they'd give up vacation days; 17%...

Rex Lee.(EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The aggrieved assistant Lloyd on HBO's Entourage dishes on dressing for success: "Before Entourage, I worked at a casting agency. One day I showed up to the office in a bright-orange shirt and red board shorts. I mean, I was just an...

The preacher's unholy past: Pastor Melissa Scott presides over a televangelist empire. Hard to believe that she was once a triple-X plaything known as Barbie Bridges. Gretchen Voss uncovers the true story behind Scott's divine reinvention.(SCANDAL)(Biography)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MOST FOLKS DRIVE right past the gritty stretch of downtown Los Angeles that houses University Cathedral, a former movie palace whose marquee now advertises weekly evangelical sermons. But...

The DIY stimulus package: hit a downturn? Let Marie Claire bail you out--with advice for dropping pounds, dumping your debt, jazzing up your pad, being a better lover and a better friend. We hope the Fed is taking notes ...(SURVIVAL GUIDE)(do-it-yourself, Federal Reserve Board)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [check] THE DIGS Breathe some life into your living space JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE spending more time in the nest doesn't mean you have to tolerate it as is. "You walk into the same house every day, and you see...

New frontier: it's a showdown between ruffles and rugged, frilly tulle and chunky turquoise. Think '30s style icon Millicent Rogers, godmother of Southwestern chic, loading up her Balenciaga gowns with Navajo jewelry ...(fashion)(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SUEDE DREAMS Poncho and belt, price upon request, Hermes; earrings, $72, Agatha; turquoise multistrand necklaces, $3800 and $4500, Katy Briscoe; purple gemstone necklace, $3630, Iradj; leaf pin, price upon...

Shore thing: topping fashion's heat index: boho-glam beachwear you'll live in all summer. Embellish with chunky, sun-reflecting trinkets.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ripple Effect Caftan, $2495, bikini, $430, necklace, $1055, Missoni; earrings, $2850, Robert Lee Morris; cuff, $725, Alexis Bittar. Splash Assets Swimsuit, $308, Lenny; earrings, $93, Elizabeth Cole...

Nude awakening.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There's an undeniable It-ness to the new pale palette, rich textures, and same-color embellishments. Welcome this spring's understatement pieces [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This page: Dress, $4250, belt, $270,...

Nude awakening.(SHOP THE SHOOT)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Put your summer palette in neutral and rev up the textures and trimmings [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DRESS $74, Kensie; dillards.com for stores. TOP $35, Alternative; alternative apparel.com. SHOES $155, Bloch at Beyond 7; (646)...

New frontier.(SHOP THE SHOOT)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Dead giveaway you've nailed Southwestern chic: You opt for gladiators over cowboy boots CUFF $364, Tous; tous.com. JACKET $69, DKNY Jeans Juniors; dknyjeans. com for stores. BAG Price upon request, Ralph Lauren Collection;...

Shore thing.(SHOP THE SHOOT)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Where there's splash, there's flash: Embellish beachwear with exotic stones and metallics. NECKLACE $220, Roberta Freymann; (212) 585-3767. TUNIC $645, Ankasa; (212) 861-6800. SHOES $295, Tory Burch; toryburch. corn for stores. ...

The cutting edge.(beauty)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What better time for an iconic haircut? We invited star stylist Chris McMillan--who created Jennifer Aniston's trendsetting "Rachel" 15 years ago--to set his scissors to work and show us this season's hottest looks...

HeadMaster: the tried and tested styling tools and tips to make the most of your genius new cut.(Beauty)(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WILD WAVES Use a large-barrel curling iron in random sections around the face to lend textural variety to curly or wavy hair. Separate the ringlets with a styling cream or mousse, then...

Liquid assets: perfumers are finding new ways to reinvent themselves--and offer up a true luxury you can afford right now.(Beauty)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ESCAPE CLAUSE When it comes to payoff, there's nothing like investing in perfume. Like a mental makeover, a new scent can invigorate and change your outlook--creating, essentially, a brand-new you. And if you're in...

Hues of the world: Americans want to look Brazilian, Mexicans want to look Colombian, and the French want to look like Julia Roberts. Women everywhere are abandoning their roots and reinventing themselves through hair color.(Beauty)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Aztec Red South of the border, bellezos experiment with a full spectrum of shades, but fiery red is currently Mexico's fave. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Mexican women indulge in frequent luxury color...

Top Gunn.(Beauty snoop)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Fashion's silver fox and star of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style is never not shipshape--right down to his specially laundered, lint-free black socks. Here, his meticulously chosen grooming arsenal [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION...

Q&A: your personal consult with Dr. Amy Wechsler.(Beauty shrink)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kellee Knighten, 31, talks to MC's resident derm and psychiatrist about choosing the right doc KK: I'm a musical-theater actress, so it's important to look good. I recently tried salicylic acid to get rid of the...

What I love about me: even with the local economy cooling, it's still plenty hot in Dabai, the most modern, multiculti metropolis in the Arab Emigrates.(Beauty road show)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT DUBAI Flying-carpet ski lifts on Ski Dubai's indoor slopes. The global mix--80 percent expats. Dune-bashing in SUVs. Fruit-flavored hookah and mint-tea after meals. Lamborghinis and Porsches on Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai...

Let's get this straight: what does your hair say about you? Marisa Meltzer finds that swapping bouncy curls for a sleek new 'do requires a style--and attitude--adjustment.(Beauty)(hairdo)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN LEFT TO its own devices, my hair is sort of a cross between Shirley Temple's and Sarah Jessica Parker's: long, blonde, and full of ringlets. In the '80s heyday of spiral perms, having naturally curly hair seemed...

Health monitor: your monthly Rx for eating, thinking, and living strong.(Body & Soul)(prescription)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FITNESS FILES A QUICK METABOLISM KICK No time for a long, intense workout? James Timmons, Ph.D., at the Heriot-Watt University of Edinburgh, Scotland, suggests this quick and stunningly effective sprint...

Your life in hormones: what the hell is going on with your hormones and how can you harness them for happiness, health, fertility, brainpower, and energy?(Health)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] YOU KNOW THE BASICS: Your monthly hormone cycle kicks in with your first period and fades out with your last. But what's going on in between? How are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affecting your mood,...

Confessions: the worst thing my boyfriend ever gave me.(LOVE/SEX)
May 1, 2009... By Anonymous A FEW WEEKS BACK, I felt the familiar beginnings of a yeast infection. When my over-the-counter treatment didn't work, I set up an OB/GYN appointment; maybe I just needed stronger medicine. By the time I reached my doctor the...

Are we ready for MILF porn?(LOVE/SEX)(mom I'd like to fuck)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As Mother's Day approaches, when most of us spring for eggs Benedict and a tulip bouquet, another segment of the population will be honoring moms in its own uniquely Freudian way: by watching MILF porn, the adult...

The feminist gold digger.(LOVE/SEX)(Interview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... ELIZABETH FORD and Daniela Drake--an Emmy-winning news producer and an M.D., respectively-are no bimbos. And yet, they've written what sounds like a bimbo bible. In a chatty, if bitter, tone, Smart Girls Marry Money: How Women Have Been Duped...

Playing doctor: Talita, 24, magazine intern, L.A.(SEX/diary)
May 1, 2009... THURSDAY 9:30 p.m., airport: Waiting for a flight. I'm on my way to spend the weekend with a 37-year-old doctor I met while on vacation in Brazil. He e-mailed asking me to visit him in New York, where he lives, and said he'd pay for the ticket....

The bad godmother: what happens when your best friend decides you're unfit to raise her kid?(LOVE/SEX)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I HAD MY KIDS taken away yesterday. OK, they weren't my kids. And, well, I never technically had them. But still, I'm the godmother. Or I was. Five years ago, at Grant's birth, I was asked if I'd be willing to...

Horoscope.
May 1, 2009... May means recharged romance for Leos like Evangeline Lilly, while a pessimistic streak spoils the fun for Nicole Richie and fellow Virgos TAURUS (April 20-May 20) The forecast: When Mercury hijacks your finances, be honest about...

Things that make us love May.(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Red nails buffed to matte, as seen on the Giles runway. May's hot Clew accessory--your hands [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Oversize, West African--influenced bags by Marico for Furla. BlackBerry and lip gloss will think they're on safari. ...