Marie Claire articles from September 2008

Marie Claire archives from September 2008

Don't bore Nina!(Welcome to SEPTEMBER)(Editorial)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOME OF THE BEST FUN I have all week is tuning in to Project Runway and watching judge Nina Garcia give the once-over to some aspiring designer's latest creation. P The poker face and quizzical arched brow speak...

Congratulations.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Congratulations to Gretchen Voss, whose story about late-term abortion (left) has won the 2008 Maggie Award for Media Excellence from Planned Parenthood. For those of you who missed it in the magazine, go to...

Reader of the month!(WE'VE GOT MAIL)
September 1, 2008... Kate Hogan of New York City will receive an MC beauty bag, because she knows how to kick back: "I've passed 'Beating the Sunday Blues' [July 2008] around to 10 girlfriends, and they all loved it. I was seriously rolling on the floor, it was so...

For the love of sex.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Readers raved about MC's oral history of Sex and the City, "The Girls Are Back" (July 2008). * I'm now a happily married morn of two, so it was fun to reminisce about Sunday-night SATC parties with wine, food,...

Sunday, bloody Sunday.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MC's cheat sheet on "Beating the Sunday Blues" resonated with some reluctant perfectionists. * I was so glad to not be the only "type A" woman dealing with a feeling of worthlessness on Sundays. Is my life so...

Table for one.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... "The Lonely Girl Diet" (July 2008), by Sarah Ivens, whose nutritionist inaccurately labeled her obese, got readers seeing red. * I applaud Ivens for wanting to trim down, and I appreciate her attempt at making the difficult topic of weight...

On the hunt.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Even in this stiff job market, there is life after the pink slip, as "Surviving a Layoff" (July 2008) revealed. * My dream job was pulled from me within 17 months. I went through the same disappointments, and...

Marked progress.(WE'VE GOT MAIL)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In The Home Stretch" (July 2008), Ning Chao banished her pesky stretch marks. But for one reader, they are visible proof of a major life change--just the kind of body-image boost we love to hear. * I had to tell...

How models dress themselves!(model spy)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... OFF THE CATWALK, MUSES PREFER QUIRKY TO couture DU JUAN & NATASHA POLY Gamine chic in sailor stripes and black leather. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SASHA PIVOVAROVA Hectic schedule, eclectic getup. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Ravishing rebels in the biker staple.(leather spy)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... VROOM SERVICE: WHAT ELSE ENSURES INSTA STREET CRED? MAY ANDERSEN Sweet but street in Elise Overland. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RIHANNA Takes the high road in Gucci. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ASHLEY OLSEN Ready to...

A-listers up to their necks in style.(scarf spy)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... SHAWL'S WELL: PUTTING THE FUN IN FUNCTIONAL NICOLE RICHIE Yummy layering of vest, tank, and Yohji scarf. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TAYLOR MOMSEN A girly take on lumberjack from Forever 21. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

It boys chill in cool knits.(guy spy)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... DRESS CODE: CASUAL--BUT OH SO CAMERA-READY! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JONATHAN RHYSMEYERS The Tudors star sports hip finery. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PATRICK DEMPSEY Layers classics with surgical precision. ...

Gwyneth Paltrow: class act.(Fashion resume)(Brief article)(Biography)
September 1, 2008... education * 1972: Born to showbiz dynasty--film-director dad Bruce and Tony-winning-actress mom Blythe Danner. * 1983: Studied and performed with her parents in summer-stock productions. * 1998: Wore pitch-perfect pink Ralph...

Eva Mendes.(behind the COVER shoot)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... We shot the glowing beauty poolside at a palatial Laurel Canyon, CA, estate, in drapey gowns with cool palettes WORK IT Mendes and photog Mark Abrahams clicked. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAP OF LUXURY No dips in the pool...

Roll 'em!(behind the FASHION shoot)
September 1, 2008... How did MC shoot 23 TV stars in three days (p. 212)? Check out the controlled chaos at L.A.'s Smashbox Studios [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PUNK'D PREP While Ashton Kutcher shows off his balancing skills, photographer Matt Jones snaps...

Rockin' royal.(101 IDEAS: Come fall, colors get richer; accessories get edgier)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clockwise from top left: SHOES $69.95, Bakers, bakersshoes.com. CLUTCH $1395 Christian Louboutin: (212) 255-1910, NECKLACE $1995, Burberry Prorsum; burberrycom. SHOES $850, Prada: (888) 977-1900. CUFF $225. Alexis...

English accent.(HOT TREND)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] British country fabrics meet '70s cool. Fab for fall weekends! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sweaters $119 each, Lauren by Ralph Lauren; ralphlauren.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dress & Top $138,...

Cool in jewels.(HOT TREND)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fashion's precious moment? Gemstone colors galore. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bracelet $350, Badgley Mischka; badgleymischka.com for stores. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dress $1125, Alberta Ferretti...

Gypsy groove.(HOT TREND)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fringed, printed, shaggy. Your party look's complete! Cardigan, Dress & Necklace $88, Kensie; dillards.com for stores. $880, Just Cavalli; bloomingdales.com for stores. $80, Twinkle by Wenlan at Bio; (212)...

Frill seeker.(HOT TREND)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An emblem of both girl power and retro glam-rock, ruffles rule! Skirt $785, Sportmax at MaxMara; (212) 879-6100. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dress $730, Blugirl; blugirl.it for stores. ...

Splurge vs. steal.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... It's rich girl meets alt rock in loose, layered knits and an earthy grunge palette STEAL CARDIGAN $118, French Connection; lordandtaylor.com for stores. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TOP & SKIRT $39.50, The Limited; (800) 756-4449...

We can't believe they're all under $100!(101 IDEAS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... DRESS & BROOCHES $89.50, Esprit: esprit. com for stores. $38 to $98 each, JoomiNYC; (212) 242-0520. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SKIRT $69, United Colors of Benetton: (800) 535-4491 for stores. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RING $49,...

Style wish list.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Marie Claire's Kathryn Floyd blends urban staples with Navajo edge Cardigan & Tunic $325, Blue Blood at Atrium NYC; (212) 473-3980. $40, Hurley; zappos.com. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Dress $347, Tehya at Nirvana; (732)...

Click today, wear tomorrow.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... September's time to get smart: Shop these hip must-haves online Top $140, Lacoste; lacoste.com. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Clutch $78, Jessica Simpson Collection; jessicasimpsoncollection.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

MC readers try the trend: workwear.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dressing for the office now means putting oomph into structured classics with ladder-climbing accessories JOHANNA TORRES. 24, winner of El's reality show Lost Model Standing (MC was one of the judges!), in an Ann Taylor dress, $158. ...

Instant update.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... No longer just a fashion "extra," jewelry's in a starring role this fall, giving a spectacular--and not always pricey--boost to basics [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHAIN NECKLACES With an antique/ modern dynamic and a maverick mix of...

Fashion 401K.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Worth the investment: Traditional pieces (with trend cred!) that earn interest as you wear them and wear them and... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RING, $2300, Slane & Slane; neimanmarcus.com for stores. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TOP,...

Best shoes.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Like a Hollywood meet-cute romance: posh pumps hook up with edgy platforms, for fall's wear-anywhere wonder shoe 1 HOGAN, $425; (888) 60-HOGAN. 2 L.A.M.B. FOOTWEAR, $355; heels.com. 3 YVES SAINT LAURENT, $785; ysl.com for stores. 4 BANANA...

Best bags.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Recession jitters? Stash your cash in a hardware-fastened, top-handle bag [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 MARC JACOBS, $1295; (212) 343-1490. 2 BANANA REPUBLIC. $280; bananarepublic.com. 3 AMICI ACCESSORIES, $50; amici accessories.com. 4...

Best watches.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Now you can indulge your lust for candy-colored or textured leather (even if strapped for dough!) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 CARTIER, $20,725; cartier.com for stores. 2 TIFFANY & CO., $2200; tiffany.com. 3 DE BEERS, $10,000; debeers.com...

Fashion prediction.(101 IDEAS)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leave it to Prada to work ladylike lace into what's sure to be the season's power-girl cult coat. Talk about crafty!

Designer dossier: Michael Kors: for the Project Runway judge and native New Yorker, the perfect muse is a Hitchcock ice queen with a twist of Amy Winehouse.(STYLE)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OF FASHION VISION AND TELEVISION: "If I learned anything from my retail days [Kors once fit boots on Jackie O], it's that American women value ease above all: Fashion has to feel good. For fall, we layered...

This months best beauty buys.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... No time for a pedi? Celeb manicurist Jin Soon Choi swears you can stay smooth well past sandal season with the PedEgg callus exfoliator ($10, pedegg.com). One Love Once the official hippie perfume, patchouli gets a makeover this fall...

Toss/try/buy: fall's ultimate refresh-your-routine guide from MC's beauty editors.(101 IDEAS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TOSS Old-school foam makeup sponges. TRY An ergonomically shaped application tool that keeps fingers clean. BUY Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge ($9.99), with a cone-shaped tip that's genius for dabbing around...

Home sweet home.(101 IDEAS)(home decors)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Now your dwelling can be as delish-smelling as you are [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 1 CARPET SWEETENER Sprinkle, on carpet, vacuum, and voila! Primrose bouquet. Esteban Paris Vacuum Powder in Pivoine Imperiale $13.50. 2 A CURRANT AFFAIR A...

Woman to watch: Kerry Washington.(radar)(Interview)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHY SHE'S ON OUR RADAR: The 31-year-old seasoned thesp plays a newlywed whose interracial marriage inflames her nutty neighbor (Samuel L. Jackson) in the suburban thriller Lakeview Terrace. HER SHTICK: Regal,...

The Duchess.(Movie review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... You have to wonder how Keira Knightley doesn't topple under the weight of her towering wigs, but she never falters as the 18th-century beauty Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Georgiana's arranged marriage to the cold-blooded duke (Ralph...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona.(Movie review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... If you're going to compete for a guy, who better than Javier Bardem? In this witty rom-com from the new, improved Woody Allen, Rebecca Hall plays stable Vicky, and Scarlett Johansson her on-the-prowl friend Cristina. Summering in Barcelona, the...

Choke.(Movie review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... This edgy comedy, based on a novel by gross-out writer Chuck Palahniuk, features the author's favorite literary hero: the scuzzball. Sam Rockwell plays a sex addict who works at Colonial Williamsburg and, on the side, pretends to choke in...

Cho and tell.(FLATSCREEN)(Margaret Cho)(Interview)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Genital augmentation? Pastie scars? Dwarfs? Margaret Cho, star of a new VH-1 reality series, The Cho Show, and a touring burlesque act, gets intimate with us Q: What makes your series unique? A: My life is anything but typical. My show...

... with Michael C. Hall, who isn't as creepy as he seems.(TWO-MINUTE DATE)(Dexter)(Television program review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dexter Morgan feels no guilt when sneaking up behind his victims, stabbing them with a hypodermic needle, and using a power saw to take them apart, limb from bloody limb. So what is it about Dexter, Showtime's acclaimed series now premiering...

American Wife.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AMERICAN WIFE by Curtis Sittenfeld (Random House) What is Laura Bush thinking? That's the question Sittenfeld ponders in her novel, loosely based on the life of our First Lady. Alice Lindgren is a small-town bookworm...

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson (Knopf) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This sensational Swedish thriller reminded us of The Do Vinci Code, only with better writing and way more Volvos. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is asked to...

The Smart One and the Pretty One.(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE SMART ONE AND THE PRETTY ONE By Claire LaZebnik (5 Spot) It's easy to love your sister's carefree personality when she's 3000 miles away. Not so easy, however, when she's crashing on your couch. That's the...

Amie Miriello: I Came Around.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AMIE MIRIELLO I Came Around (BellaSonic/Jive/Zomba) A sure sign everyone involved knows they have a hit on their hands: The first track, album, and single all carry the same name. The title song gets its addictive...

Ray Lamontagne: Gossip in the Grain.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... RAY LAMONTAGNE Gossip In the Grain (RCA) There are no careless whispers from Ray LaMontagne. His hushed notes brush past your ears and trickle down your spine to create a ravishing intimacy. As his raw-wool voice hovers over the acoustic...

Lykke Li: Youth Novels.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... LYKKE LI Youth Novels (LL Recordings) A 22-year-old Swede with the voice of a haunted pixie, Lykke Li makes electro-pop that's both warm and chilling Melodies are fashioned from chunks of Icy synth noise, while lyrics about relationship woes...

Solange: Sol Angel and the Hadley St: Dreams.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... SOLANGE Sol Angel and the Hadley St: Dreams (Music World Entertainment/Geffen) "I'm not her," Solange coos, introducing the disc's I'm-different theme--different from her big sis, Beyonce, that is. Genres and eras blur, from the Motown-infused...

Your entertainment diet for September.(THE CULTURE PYRAMID)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... GUILTY PLEASURES (partake sparingly) The New Kids on the Block reunion tour kicks off this month. And yes, a pig just flew by your window wearing an "I Heart Joey" button. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clique of high-powered, flirty...

This month, the book club takes on the church, competitive girls soccer, and yes, sex, in Tom Perrotta's The Abstinence Teacher, now out in paperback. Worth a trip to Barnes & Noble? Read on ...(BOOK CLUB)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE PLOT: A group of evangelicals have descended on sex-ed teacher Ruth Ramsey's Northeast town, and now the 41-year-old divorced mother of two is forced to teach a dubious abstinence curriculum; meanwhile, her...

That's all right Mama: expecting twins with her fourth husband, Lisa Marie Presley talks frankly to Marie Claire about ex-husband Michael Jackson, being ripped off by her staff, and refusing to turn into her father.(Interview)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT IS LUNCHTIME at New York's Mandarin Oriental hotel, and Lisa Marie Presley is piqued. At the tabloids, or maybe at the people who read them--bottom-feeders, she says, who are basically crossing their fingers,...

Foreign affairs: we can get over the fact that Lara Logan, CBS's sexy war correspondent, was a swimsuit model--but can she?(THE RANT)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LARA LOGAN IS THE KIND of breathy stunner who makes men grovel and women take a sidelong look. The 37-year-old South African's meteoric rise from swimsuit model to lady Scud Stud has us bothered--but not for the...

Under wraps.(eye ON THE world)(Cameroon's girl rituals)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Where Chinese foot-binding was supposed to enhance femininity and attract suitors, breast-ironing--placing hot stones on a young woman's chest, then binding it with a wide band to stunt growth--is meant to do the...

The brothel busters.(MEN WE LOVE)(Jared Greenberg and Nicholas Lumpp )(Interview)
September 1, 2008... SOME GUYS PLAY XBOX and fantasy football in their spare time; Jared Greenberg and Nicholas Lumpp save young women from sexual slavery in Southeast Asia. The 25-year-old Air Force Academy graduates are the founders of the Somaly Mare Foundation,...

Saudi Arabia's women-only hotel.(DISPATCH)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IMAGINE: You're traveling on business, and the hotel you've booked kicks you out on your ear because you've forgotten to bring a "permission letter" from your father or husband. Believe it or not, career women in...

Career, interrupted.(TALKING POINTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Does taking an extended diaper sabbatical ruin you for the corner office? No, says Emma Gilbey Keller, author of The Comeback: Seven Stories of Women Who Went From Career to Family and Back Again. Here, three keys to...

6 things you should know about Englishmen.(POSTCARD FROM LONDON)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Sarah Lyall is like an American Jane Goodall, but instead of mist she's got fog, and instead of apes she's got a more inscrutable species: Englishmen. A reporter for The New York rimes, Lyall has lived among the repressed wit-machines for 13...

Sister smackdown.(BULLETIN)(Serena and Venus Williams)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No one's more competitive than sisters, but it's rare that you get to see the drama play out on Centre Court at Wimbledon. When Venus Williams clobbered her kid sis to win the championship in July, she tried to...

Medical-leave angst.(Cubicle Coach: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Q: I'm about to take a leave of absence for a medical procedure, and I don't want a coworker who's been eyeing my job to steal my spot. How do I make sure my boss remembers me while I'm gone for a few months? A: Pro sports teams have an...

Next up: ropes course.(Cubicle Coach: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Q: My team recently got a new director who has us do bonding and trust-building exercises, like telling revealing personal stories. I feel uncomfortable doing this. How do I bow out without looking like a whiner? A: Is the rest of the team...

Generation slacker.(Cubicle Coach: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Q: The younger staffers in my office feel entitled. They leave on time and get sullen when I ask them to go above and beyond. When I was starting out, I killed myself for my boss. How do I get them working like dogs? A: Hmm, maybe by not...

Kill her with kindness.(Cubicle Coach: Got a workplace worry? Take it to a pro)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Q: My boss just offered me a promotion, which means working with a supervisor who doesn't like or respect me. Should I mention the problems with the little boss to the big boss? A: No. Part of moving up in the ranks is the expectation that...

From what best-selling novel, now in paperback, is this passage?(CC'S BONUS ROUND)
September 1, 2008... "We were fractious and overpaid. Our mornings lacked promise. At least those of us who smoked had something to look forward to at ten-fifteen."

The cool girl's guide to surviving business travel: travel of any kind is a tarmac-sized pain, but corporate tips come with their own set of hassles, specially if you're gal-on-the-rise (lugging a laptop while teetering on heels, fetching documents from your boss's hotel room when he's still in his PJs). Here, our guide to navigating the tricky yet career-enhancing life on the road.(WORK LIFE)
September 1, 2008... TRAVELING WITH THE BOSS The head honcho just asked you to join her on the next out-of-towner, and you can practically hear your proud father's voice: "Don't screw this up!" We asked Penelope Trunk, author of Brazen Careerist: The New Rules...

Eva wants you! After a string of sexy roles in movies for dudes, Eva Mendes is tapping her inner girl's girl.(Interview)(Cover story)
September 1, 2008... Every time I mention the name Eva Mendes to another guy, he gets this stupid grin on his face while, no doubt, fantasizing: Eva Mendes mowing his lawn. Eva Mendes juicing kale in his kitchen. But when I mention Eva's name to a woman, the...

Project Pearl: the bravest class in town: will a dogged grouped of college students in D.C. solve the grisly murder of journalist Danny Pearl before the FBI does?(EXCLUSIVE)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JESSICA RETTIG, a 20-year-old journalism student wearing a bright blue cotton sundress and flip-flops, is sitting in her professor's office at Georgetown University, dialing a number in Pakistan. She's hoping to...

Barack in the saddle: you know how he feels about Iraq, health care, and the economy. But where does he stand on Miley Cyrus? A candid interview with Barack Obama about women-what we face, what we need, and what it's like to be married to an outspoken alpha.(Interview)
September 1, 2008... * SITTING IN A classroom amid the peppy trappings of school--sports trophies, pennants, and posters (GO, RAMS!)--Ba rack Obama, in a sharp dark suit and red tie, cuts an absurdly chic figure. It's mid-July in Fairfax, VA, where Obama has just...

What's a nice girl like Brooke doing at the Bunny Ranch? The long, strange journey of Brooke Taylor, the star of HBO's Cathouse.(SEX IN AMERICA)
September 1, 2008... BROOKE TAYLOR had all the makings of the kind of woman that does the Midwest proud. At age 12, attentive to the teachings of' her church's Sunday school, she atoned for prank-ordering pizza by mowing the lawn to repay her debt. Three years...

The shape of things to come.(fashion)
September 1, 2008... Designers redo the past with Goth lace, funky classics, iconic pants--tailor-made for fall! STATE OF LACE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STAR STYLES [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COLOR CODE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STAR STYLES...

The lace age.(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2008... In the Southern gothic city of Charleston, lace works its black magic on intricately detailed dressing for after dark. Frilly, yet fearless... Coat dress, $3680, tulle skirt, price upon request, Alexander McQueen; necklace, $772, Dori...

Bright fantastic.(shoes and bags)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2008... The ultimate turn-on: bags and shoes in high-voltage shades. Wear just one color, or go for shocking contrast [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Alpha Berry This page, clockwise from top: Bag, $2345, Tod's; shoes, $780, Sergio Rossi; patent bag,...

Hot pants.(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2008... To celebrate the comeback of trousers, we salute a group of rebel style icons who always wore the pants--on camera and off [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jane Birkin "My mother was right: When you've got nothing left, all you can do is...

It's show time! remotes ready? As the new TV season rolls out, we pair surefire hits of fall fashion with the scene-stealing stars from our favorite shows. On the next 15 pages, an exclusive chic preview.(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LEIGHTON MEESTER Gossip Girl Meester steps back into her (designer) bitch boots as Blair Waldorf, the conniving queen of the CW's Gossip Girl. Of course, she doesn't take home Blair's attitude, but what...

The unique inspirations behind fall's must-have makeup.(beauty)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TALK ABOUT A FEAST: The kitchen is where Shiseido makeup mastermind--and master chef--Dick Page concocts some of his consistently vivid beauty products. He has whipped up a cream blush inspired by the pink of a...

Hair styling lessons: tired of being helpless in the hair department, Ning Chao signs up for backstage beauty school at New York fashion week and learns how to do the best hair trends at home.(Beauty)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] FORGET curly, straight, blonde, or brunette--when it comes to hair, there really are two types of women: those who've mastered the art of blowouts and those resigned to wearing their hair up. I'm a member of the...

Gwen's sweet escapes.(Beauty: snoop)(Gwen Stefani)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... The ever-platinum busy mom Gwen Stefani rocks her retro movie-star look through many moods and music styles (reggae to dance, hall to pop, baby!). With fame, family, and her L.A.M.B. fashion line, she relies on a secret stash to stay fragrant...

What I love about me: the coeds of supersize college town Madison, WI, were happy to say "Cheese!" for our camera.(Beauty: road show)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT MADISON: Bike trails galore. One of "America's Happiest Cities." Chris Farley's birthplace. Wisconsin Cheddar. Wisconsin Mozzarella. Cute college boys. Genesis of shopbop.com--Bop, on State Street....

Queen of the jungle: Lauren Hutton's latest project is all about going green--and giving back. In her diary of a journey to the Amazon, she describes how.(Beauty)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JUST FOR KICKS, Lauren Hutton likes to play with boa constrictors, wrestle alligators, and go diving with sharks. Yup, the pioneering model and style icon has done all that--and more--in her travels across the globe....

Girls gone wild: more benevolent indie brands that help sustain the earth's beauty--while boosting yours.(Beauty)
September 1, 2008... * TROPIC OF CARING Lisa Hoffman After being led by a "nose" (industry speak for perfumer) on scent treks through the rainforests of Brazil and Costa Rica, Hoffman found more than the right fragrance for her home spa collection: She...

I'm so stressed out! It's become an almost fashionable lament, away of saying I have a lot on my plate--life is rich. But does it also mean you're putting your health at risk? In this Marie Claire special report, we take a look at the new roots of our stress, the damage it's doing, and surprising ways to get a grip.(Body & Soul)
September 1, 2008... What stresses us out now? The causes of stress change with the times. While a typewriter ribbon's breaking during a hectic day in the steno pool could really get the blood racing in another era, our current demons are uniquely 21st...

The fitness files.(Health Monitor: Your monthly Rx for eating, thinking, and living better)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fall's waist-cinching belts shine a spotlight on meticulously whittled middles. For those of us currently sporting abs of a more convex variety, Michele Olson, Ph.D., who presented her latest ab research at this...

Mental getaway.(Health Monitor: Your monthly Rx for eating, thinking, and living better)(Spring Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Spring Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole, WY (springcreekranch.com) Take in the majestic beauty of Grand Teton and Yellowstone before the first crush of ski bunnies invades. MUST-DO: Hikes are a lot more interesting when you're entertained by...

Retail therapy: Adidas Supernova riot trail shoes.(Health Monitor: Your monthly Rx for eating, thinking, and living better)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... COOL FEATURE: Super-shock-absorbers that protect against heel impact and claim to reduce force on the knees by 30 percent. MOTIVATION: You have all winter for the treadmill. Choose an outdoor route with a range of inclines to burn extra...

Eat this now: apples.(Health Monitor: Your monthly Rx for eating, thinking, and living better)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Exotic superfruits may grab headlines, but research has linked frequent noshing of the humble apple--crunchy, sweet, abundant--to decreased risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and diabetes, thanks to the fruit's doses of fiber, potassium,...