Girl About Town.(Sarah Jessica Parker)

Byline: --HANNAH MORRILL

Who? Sarah Jessica Parker. What? The February cover of allure , shot by Tom Munro. When? December 3. Where? Pier 59 Studios in New York City. Why? This spring, in Smart People , Parker plays a doctor who finds herself treating her former professor (and crush), played by Dennis Quaid. Show and Tell: On the day of the shoot, the actress looked like the consummate New Yorker, wearing mirrored aviator sunglasses and no makeup, carrying a Starbucks cup. (Parker sipped the hot coffee through a straw--a special skill all its own.) She was excited to show allure creative director Paul Cavaco the clothes she had brought, including a flowered coat from Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere and some pieces from her clothing line, Bitten. "She has impeccable taste," said Cavaco, who suggested Parker wear Bitten corduroys in one picture. Make It Snappy: Because she had an afternoon meeting, Parker made the most of her time at the shoot. Within five minutes of arriving, she was getting her hair blown out by Garren while manicurist Gina Eppolito started on a pedicure. She also read The New York Times , ate scrambled eggs, and worked on her BlackBerry--before her hair was finished. Tailor Made: Because the five-foot-four actress often has trouble fitting into clothing, she brought her tailor, Buick Audra, to the shoot. Audra switched a few buttons on a Henley shirt and took in a black velvet Dolce & Gabbana hat to fit the actress' head. Until Next Time: Before she left, Parker said good-bye to the crew, and told Garren how much she'd enjoyed working with him. Since their first meeting five years ago, Parker has requested him for various appearances, but their schedules haven't meshed. "Just because you can't do it doesn't mean I'll stop trying," she told him as she slipped out the door.