ELLE December 2012

Friday, December 7 SPY GAME In the BBC/Sundance Channel miniseries Restless , Michelle Dockery, better known as Downton Abbey resident Lady Mary, sheds her period costumes to play a young woman who learns her mother is leading a double life as a British secret service agent. Friday, December 7 ROCK PAPER Today, quirky-cool publishing house McSweeney's debuts Beck's Song Reader , the alt-rocker's new album that exists solely as hand-illustrated pages of sheet music. Frame them, or take it as an opportunity to pluck "Do We? We Do" on your ukulele. ON THIS WINTER'S NIGHT Grammy-collecting country trio Lady Antebellum play with a full orchestra on their first full-length holiday album. CEELO'S MAGIC MOMENT Gnarls Barkley's front man enlists a cappella-ers Straight No Chaser on "You're a Mean…

Thursday, December 20 PEAK OF CHIC London's Browns Hotel got a holiday boost from shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood, who designed custom ornaments for its annual tree. Stiletto tree toppers, anyone? brownshotel.com Friday, December 21 FORTUNE-TELLER Astrologer to the stars (clients include LeeLee Sobieski and Mena Suvari) Aurora Tower is branching out into stationery. If we had to predict, we'd say you'll love her correspondence notes, available engraved with each zodiac sign. brightstarlights.com Tuesday, December 4 LADY IN RED Diana Vreeland mania continues: Hot on the heels of filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland's documentary, The Eye Has to Travel, author Amanda Mackenzie Stuart takes an in-depth—419 pages!—look at the legendary editor with Empress of Fashion. harpercollins.com Saturday, December 15 KNIT WIT There's still a month left to check out…

ELLE.COM/HOLIDAY Whoever said it's better to give than to receive did not take into account the dizzying amount of gift options available this holiday season—or the amount of legwork required to sift through them all. With that in mind, ELLE.com has taken the hassle out of the holiday-gift hunt, whether you're shopping for the outdoorsman in your life or an impossible-to-please boss. Curated by our team of hawkeyed editors, ELLE.com's budget-specific gift guides offer click-to-buy ideas for everyone on your list: from art-deco wine stoppers for that entertaining-obsessed cousin, to a Milly by Michelle Smith tree ornament perfect for a label-loving in-law, to the one festive sweater your boyfriend will actually wear (thank you, Gant). Take our out-of-the box advice and we guarantee you'll get the Chicest Stocking Stuffer superlative…

In October, one of the all-time great public personalities, James Carville, stopped by the Hearst Tower (Hearst is the parent company of ELLE) with his writing partner, Democratic pollster and intellectual stud Stan Greenberg, for an afternoon tea on the occasion of their new book, It's the Middle Class, Stupid!, with the company's executives and editors. Carville is nothing if not opinionated, and in his opinion, as he kept reminding us, the single most important thing about this election is that there's a real distinction between the candidates, which is better for a healthy democracy than two sides arguing for the same middle. By the time you read this, the voters will have chosen which path they want the country to take—and the pollsters will know how well, or poorly,…

GOTTA GET BRIT It's Britney, bit—oh, never mind, you get it by now. Whether she's up, down, or somewhere in the middle, were we ever not rooting for Britney Spears? In our October cover story, "The Brit Factor," the queen of pop gave an exclusive interview to Senior Editor Claire Gutierrez, opening up about her new gig as a judge on The X Factor, her kids, and even her engagement to Jason Trawick. And Britney fans, forever loyal, were thrilled as always. "Finally she's on the cover!!!!! LOVE her!!!!!!!! <3"—kjbl, Justjared.com "She's looking flawless."—fight4thislove, Ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com "Strong and sexy, Britney Spears on the cover of ELLE, October!"—@Versace, Twitter "She looks great! Better than she has for a long time. She is really turning her life around. Good for her!"—Lightwins, Huffingtonpost.com "omg…

With the kind of features that stun even in the grittiest of films (Winter's Bone, anyone?), Jennifer Lawrence is undoubtedly one of the sexiest young stars in Hollywood these days—which is why ELLE Creative Director Joe Zee knew the 22-year-old would have no trouble playing the bombshell next door. Lawrence may have made a name for herself by portraying tough, tragic characters, but this month's cover shoot proves Zee right. On set at an ultramodern Los Angeles residence, Lawrence—fresh from attending her first couture show, Raf Simons' debut for Dior—showcased her shape in sleek, curve-conscious clothes by Dolce & Gabbana, Narciso Rodriguez, and Alaïa, paired with bold red lips and sun-kissed skin that radiated cool, contemporary poolside glamour. Hairstylist David Babaii amped up her natural waves with IT&LY Purity Design…