Innehållsförteckning för Jul-12 från ELLE

4th Wednesday, July 4 SIPPIN' USA Toast our nation with the perfect patriotic punch from NYC hot spot Catch: Iris (Serves 8 ) 2 c Grey Goose vodka 1 ¼ c fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice ¾ c honey ¾ c hot water ½ c (packed) fresh mint leaves 1 c dry sparkling wine 8 mint leaves, for garnish Muddle mint and hot water in a punch bowl. Add honey; once dissolved, mix in Grey Goose, grapefruit juice, and ice. Stir to chill. Top with sparkling wine, garnish, and enjoy! 10 Tuesday, July 10 SLICK MICK Because Christopher Andersen couldn't fit enough sex, drugs, and classic rock into just one headline-making biography, the author returns with a follow-up: Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger (Gallery Books), revealing…

TALK THAT TALK Since 2007, the ons, offs, ups, and, most notably, downs of Rihanna and ex-boyfriend Chris Brown have incited near constant conversation about the state (and sanity) of their relationship. Before our May cover story, "Forever Strong," went to press, Rihanna released a remix of the track "Birthday Cake" that featured Brown— who was accused of domestic violence against the singer in 2009—singing lyrics like, "Girl, I wanna f--- you right now…," again reigniting the are-they-or-aren't-they/how-could-she-possibly dialogue. When ELLE Senior Features & Beauty writer April Long pressed Rihanna for comments on Brown and the never-ending attention they draw, she confided, "People end up wasting their time on the blogs or whatever, ranting away, and that's all right. I don't hate them for it. Because tomorrow I'm still going…

BARBARA BUSH, 30 In 2009 "we went into meetings thinking that people wouldn't really pay attention to us," says Barbara Bush (yes, daughter of), Global Health Corps' cofounder and CEO. "But everyone we met was like, 'Yes! We need to invest in our future's leaders!' " Three years later, GHC, which partners with local and global organizations to deploy young professionals on fellowships in impoverished communities, is sending 90 fellows into the field. "As dire as world health care has become," Bush says, "I'm not overwhelmed by the issues because I talk to people, our fellows, who are doing something about them every day."—Seth Plattner MELISSA FISHER, 34 As chief operating officer for Friends of the High Line, the organization turning 1.45 miles of elevated train tracks into a vibrant…

Satin and cotton top, $3,150, cotton frill-collar top, $595, cotton pants, $2,150, jersey gloves, $525, crocodile and leather bag, price on request, all, BALENCIAGA BY NICOLAS GHESQUIèRE, call 212-206-0872 | Vintage earrings, from HOUSE OF LAVANDE, Palm Beach, $498, call 561-802-3737 Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière INSIDE COOL JACKETS, HOT NEONS, AND MORE……

1. Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière 2. Bill Blass 3. MFP-Maria Francesca Pepe 4. Nicholas Kirkwood 5. Lynn Ban 6. Pierre Hardy 1. Resin and brass bracelet, BALENCIAGA BY NICOLAS GHESQUIèRE, $865, collection at Barneys New York | 2. Silk and Lurex blouse, BILL BLASS, $495, call 212-689-8957 | 3. Brass heart-pendant collar pin with Swarovski crystals, MFP-MARIA FRANCESCA PEPE, $280, visit mfpepe.com | 4. Printed satin, patent leather, and suede sandal, NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD, $1,090, visit nicholaskirkwood.com | 5. Sterling silver and enamel earrings, LYNN BAN, $400, at Kirna Zabête, NYC | 6. Suede bag with lacquered jewels, PIERRE HARDY, $610, collection at The Webster, Miami Beach | Model at left wears: Printed silk top, $2,350, lambskin skirt, $1,895, printed tights, $145, pony-hair and calfskin boots, $1,495, all, BALENCIAGA BY NICOLAS…

INSIDE DESIGNERS, SHOPS, HOT SPOTS, AND MORE… EDITED BY ANNE SLOWEY LONDON Belgraves, the Thompson Hotels' first London outpost—in the posh Belgravia district, natch—offers an intimate, bohemian alternative to the city's plethora of straitlaced high-end establishments. Make no mistake, though: With a Mark Hix (of The Ivy and Le Caprice fame) restaurant and bar, it's still British at heart. thompsonhotels.com PARIS Louis Vuitton's latest creative collaborator is legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, famous for her delightfully dotty paintings, installations, and performances, which she's translating onto everything from sunnies to ready-to-wear. The collection debuts at the house's boutiques this month. louisvuitton.com NEW YORK Narciso Rodriguez makes a bold, almost Mondrian-esque return to accessories with shoes and bags featuring color-block exotic skins, like alligator and ostrich. Scope them out at…

Who says you can't go home again? Two budding accessories designers—milliner Gigi Burris and tote and jewelry maker Ariela Suster—look to their hometowns for inspiration Despite having worked her way up at fashion glossies such as Lucky, Harper's Bazaar, and InStyle, where she served as an accessories editor, Ariela Suster still felt the pull of her Central American roots. "I loved working in fashion, but I always knew I wanted to go back to El Salvador," says the 32-year-old, who moved to the States to get her degree at Skidmore College. Suster found a way to reconcile the two: Sequence, a line of beach-ready totes and clutches made by artisans in her native country, which launched at Shopbop.com this spring. "With every piece, you are aware of the production sequence:…

Denim peplum romper, PORTER GREY, $350, at shopbop.com Leather jacket, ANDREW MARC, $595, visit andrewmarc.com Linen tote, JOHN DERIAN DRY GOODS, $64, at John Derian Dry Goods, NYC Leather sandal, ALAÏA, $1,545, collection at net-a-porter.com Smoky quartz drop earrings, DEAN HARRIS, price on request, collection at avenue32.com Panama straw hat, ROD KEENAN NEW YORK, $775, visit rodkeenannewyork.com Cotton T-shirt, PENCEY, $75, visit pencey.com Cotton bralette, $174, panty, $149, both, ARAKS FOR CREATURES OF THE WIND, collection at journelle.com Sunglasses, VERSACE, $245, at select Sunglass Hut boutiques nationwide Silk shirt, MOTHER OF PEARL, $549, at Opening Ceremony, NYC Silk tiered dress, 10 CROSBY DEREK LAM, $635, at select Bloomingdale's stores nationwide Textured silk shorts, HONOR, $695, at Honor, NYC Leather-trim cotton bag, MAJE, $460, visit maje.com Leather sandal, AQUATALIA, $350, visit…

A down-to-earth narrative spiked with the fantastic and buoyed by a gorgeous, fiddle-heavy score, Beasts of the Southern Wild is one of those out-of-left-field movies—think Precious or Hunger—that comes flying through a film festival's doors and blows everybody away. The first feature directed by young maverick Benh Zeitlin, Beasts was made on a shoestring, which didn't stop it from taking top honors at Sundance, including best cinematography, and sparking a five-company bidding war. Zeitlin has made a wildly entertaining movie of big ideas—like the perils of a civilization hostage to pseudoscience and unbridled greed. But instead of a lecture, we get a pissed-off posse of feral aurochs (giant Eurasian cattle that became extinct almost 400 years ago) thundering across the screen, the very embodiment of an environment thrown out of…

Chris Cleave spins a heart-racing tale of strength, sacrifice, and soulfulness en route to Olympic glory. In keeping with this summer's Olympic fever, best-selling novelist Chris Cleave brings us Gold (Simon & Schuster), a tale about three British speed cyclists who endure extreme physical and emotional tribulations in pursuit of their Olympic dreams. Zoe, Kate, and Jack—friends, lovers, and rivals since they were teenagers—find their careers culminating in the 2012 London Olympics. Due to a last-minute rule change, only one female cyclist is allowed to represent England in the games, forcing Kate and Zoe to face off. Against the backdrop of this intense rivalry and turbulent friendship, Jack and Kate's leukemia-stricken eight-year-old, Sophie, fights for her life. In Gold, Cleave again displays a remarkable aptitude for rendering female characters with…

HOW TO GLOW FROM HEAD TO TOE, DNA DIETS, AND MORE… TIME REWIND STOP THE CLOCK WITH THESE NATURAL WONDERS Our pros prep with Kiehl's Açaí Damage-Repairing Serum; the antioxidant-rich blend "brightens skin" for an all-day SUPERNATURAL GLOW. Treat eyes overnight with the soothing aloe and firming oats found in John Masters Organics Firming Eye Gel; the duo "tones sagging lids" and "decreases puffiness," making it our experts' pick for LINE-FREE LIDS. For patients too sensitive for prescription retinols, our derms recommend Ren Clean Bio Active Skincare Rose 012 Moisture Defence Serum. The rose-hip-oil-derived vitamin A promotes cell turnover for a YEARS-YOUNGER FACE. Ideal "for dry and sensitive types," Aubrey Organics Natural Sun SPF 30+ protects against UVA and UVB rays with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, plus moisturizing shea…

There are few certainties in life, but that I will get into trouble with my oldest friend, Jules, is one of them. In junior high alone, we were caught smoking, drinking, driving without a license, and reading aloud pages 23 and 24 of The Godfather, howling over Sonny Corleone's sexual encounter with a bridesmaid—a passage that still manages to be hotter, and more hilarious, than all Fifty Shades of Grey. But we're older and wiser now, with serious concerns, which for Jules includes my love life. She arrives at my Manhattan apartment from Minneapolis, drops her bag, opens my computer, and calls up a popular dating website, which requires us to register an e-mail address and create a user name. Naturally, I enter my 70-year-old friend and neighbor Grace's e-mail…

Inside How to go green without getting the blues, and more… As Aurora Tower navigates her red Jeep up the snaking dirt road to Dove Cottage, the villa she began building six years ago in St. John, it's easy to see why the two-bedroom hideaway is an ideal place for the New York–bred Vanderbilt descendant to sidestep the society-pages lifestyle. As the sun begins to set, a warm Caribbean breeze is drifting in through the block-printed paisley curtains, and gentle rays reflect off the infinity pool's surface, blanketing the home's white interior in lazy afternoon light. "I guess I came here to grow up a little bit," says Tower. "I just wanted the time to be with myself. Coming from such a structured, achievement-focused background, it's something that appealed to…

ALMOST AS GOOD AS IT GETS DEAR E. JEAN: I've met the man of my dreams. He's incredibly gorgeous, and we have amazing, mind-blowing sex nightly—and usually daily as well. He's kind, morally upstanding, open-minded, and accepting, without a cynical or jaded bone in his body. He's a hard worker, generous (he paid my rent when I was in a car wreck and couldn't work), and is always there for my friends and family. On top of everything, he's funny and fun to be with, and I have zero doubt he'll be nothing short of an amazing husband and father. However, there's one problem: He's dumb. He can hold a fairly intelligent conversation and reads good books, though how much he understands is up for debate. My last boyfriend was…

Silk evening dress, $3,995, suede and leather clutch, $1,495, both, Burberry Prorsum, visit burberry .com. Cultured pearl strand necklaces, cultured pearl and diamond necklace, bracelet, all, Mikimoto, prices on request. Felt cloche, Rike Feurstein, $240. Silk georgette dress, ChloÉ, $3,295, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC. Jewel-embroidered silk headband, Dolce & Gabbana, $512. Clear quartz pendant, Ippolita, $395. Rose gold and diamond watch, Patek Philippe, price on request. Acrylic glitter clutch, Jimmy Choo, $1,150. Crystal-embellished leather shoes, Marc Jacobs, $1,395. For details, see Shopping Guide. Beauty Secret: For an allover incandescence, highlight shoulders, cheekbones, and cupid's bow. Try Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator in Natural. Silk velvet evening gown, Bottega Veneta, price on request, visit bottegaveneta.com. Hat, glass pearl necklace, both, Chanel, prices on request. Jewel-adorned leather clutch, Dolce & Gabbana, $4,495.…

On the day we are scheduled to meet, Peter Copping is running late. His assistant explains that this is out of character for the British-born artistic director of Nina Ricci, but he was detained by Manuel Puig, vice chairman of Puig, the Spanish fragrance company that owns the French house. An hour later over a lunch of Dover sole, I tell an apologetic Copping that the extra time allowed me to catch the Helmut Newton exhibition at the Grand Palais, a short walk from his Avenue Montaigne flagship. "Did you see 'BeautÉ animale'?" he asks, referring to a concurrent show at the museum, about the relationship between artists and animals beginning with the Renaissance. I hadn't. "See, that's me. I'd much rather see that than the Newton," he says. It…

Anthony Mackie may be a career genre-hopper, but in love he's a one-woman man. Mickey Rapkin learns his secret. (Hint: Better work on that credit score) Anthony Mackie made his big-screen debut as a wack M.C. in 8 Mile, which is fitting because his career reads like one long mash-up. Raised in New Orleans, he's that rare bird: a Juilliard-trained actor who oscillates seamlessly between absurdist Broadway comedies (A Behanding in Spokane, alongside Christopher Walken), Oscar-winning indies (The Hurt Locker), and giant summer popcorn flicks (this month's genre-bending thriller Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter). When it comes to women, he's been equally all over the map. Following a string of sour relationships—or learning experiences, depending on how you internalize breakups—Mackie, 32, decided to buy a house in New Orleans, invest some…

"When I'm packing for a beach vacation, I make time for things that aren't always practical in everyday life: Big jewelry, big hats, bright colors—it's like a fantasy!" Kelly Framel's whimsically girly aesthetic has made her blog, The Glamourai, a major player in all things fashion, beauty, and decor over the past four years. The Austin-bred, Brooklyn-based tastemaker began blogging after being christened "the Glamourai" at her Asian-themed twenty-fifth birthday party, which celebrated the vintage Chinese textiles that inspired the eveningwear collection she was designing for Naeem Khan at the time. These days, the style siren's work takes her everywhere from the exotic to the provincial—Milan for a Bulgari fragrance launch, São Paulo for a photo shoot, and, more recently, to Massachusetts' Brimfield Flea Market, a trip that resulted in…

NAME: Vanessa Metz PROVENANCE: "Born in Belgium, but moved to Paris when I was 10." NOW: Paris PROFESSION: Stylist THIS MONTH: Styled Nina Ricci designer Peter Copping and actress Clémence Poésy for "Ladies' Man" (page 202). "She's such a beautiful girl, she doesn't need anything to make her look better. I just kept her natural." BONA FIDES: Has styled for Numéro and Karl Lagerfeld FIRST BRUSH WITH FAME: "I got to work with Lagerfeld early on. I was nervous for the first five minutes, but he made me feel comfortable. It's every stylist's dream to work with somebody of his talent and taste." CURRENTLY READING: Des Vies et des Modes (Life and Fashion), by Jean-Jacques Picart HEROINE WORSHIP: Burmese politician Aung…

This is me dressed up," jokes Fiona Apple, detailing her outfit as we sit in a secluded room off the lobby bar in Manhattan's SoHo Grand Hotel. "These are vegan boots that I cut the tops off of because they were unattractive," she says, raising a beat-up biker boot. "These are old tights that I got from my last round of the last album," she says, pulling up her black maxiskirt to reveal crocheted burgundy tights, "and this," she tugs on the arm of her comfy Mr. Rogers–style cardigan, "is a sweater that used to be much larger, but I washed it." Singer-songwriter Apple, 34, has always had a style all her own in just about everything she does, including her habit of surfacing with a new album only every…

1. Hakaan 2. Hannah Martin 3. Kenneth Cole Collection 4. Yael Sonia 5. Yael Sonia 1. Leather jacket, HAKAAN, $3,315, visit shopbop.com | 2. Colored sapphire and ruby pyramid ring, HANNAH MARTIN, price on request, visit hannahmartinlondon.com | 3. Leather pants, KENNETH COLE COLLECTION, $795, call 800-KEN-COLE | 4. and 5. Gold bracelets with gemstones or Tahitian pearls, YAEL SONIA, prices on request, visit yaelsonia.com | Model at left wears: Leather jumpsuit, price on request, plate earrings, $875, leather gloves, $795, leather boots, $1,750, all, GIVENCHY BY RICCARDO TISCI, collection at select Neiman Marcus stores nationwide…

Leather-trim paillette- embellished bag, LOUIS VUITTON, $2,879, at select Louis Vuitton boutiques nationwide Leather trolley suitcase, FENDI, $2,740, at Fendi, NYC Leather weekender, ALEXANDER WANG, $1,500, at Alexander Wang, NYC Ostrich beauty case, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, price on request, at Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques nationwide Hard-side canvas suitcase with leather trim, PRADA, price on request, visit prada.com…

NAME: Jonathan Anderson AGE: 27 PROVENANCE: Born and raised in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland; currently lives in London CURRICULUM VITAE: Studied acting at Washington, DC's Studio Theatre; graduated from the London College of Fashion (BA in menswear); formerly a stylist for Rufus Wainwright and a window dresser at Prada; creative director of British heritage label Sunspel and his own company, J.W. Anderson BACKSTORY: Anderson initially wanted to be an actor but hit a roadblock during his intense studies in DC. "I woke up and I knew, two years into this course, that I couldn't break away from who I am, never fully saturate my body with another character." Not that being a designer doesn't require a certain ability to get inside another's head: "What I do every season is become this…

INSIDE TOP TOTES, SANDALS, SUNDRESSES, AND MORE… Have you found yourself simply working for the weekend? Come summer, the quick getaway provides a necessary respite from the mayhem of urban life. Whether your destination is the Hamptons, with their natural beauty; the oenophile haven of Sonoma County; or simply a favorite lake, our stylish suggestions of what to do and, of course, what to wear while you're there are positively indispensable. In addition, we've also found what you need to gift—all thoughtfully edited to fit into your favorite weekender tote—to show your gratitude, ensuring both a happy hostess and subsequent invitations. Industrial-strength canvas tote, BEST MADE COMPANY, $78, visit bestmadeco.com. Tassel-embellished leather sandals, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, $1,595, at Christian Louboutin, NYC…

Cotton dress, A.L.C., $354, collection at Alene Too, Boca Raton, FL Embroidered canvas clutch, OLYMPIA LE-TAN, $1,450, visit olympialetan.com Leather sandals with crystal detail, GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI DESIGN, $995, at select Giuseppe Zanotti Design boutiques nationwide Single-breasted blazer, JUICY COUTURE, $278, at select Nordstrom stores nationwide Shorts, JUICY COUTURE, $138, at select Nordstrom stores nationwide Waxed cotton tote, WANT LES ESSENTIELS DE LA VIE, $395, collection at Maison KitsunÉ, NYC Crystal necklace, CA&LOU, $800, collection at saksfifthavenue.com Pleated top, BEBE, $69, visit bebe.com Cotton dress, LACOSTE L!VE, $110, at Lacoste boutiques nationwide Jacquard knit top, PRABAL GURUNG, $825, to special order, call 646-351-6199 Sunglasses, CÉLINE, $325, at select CÉline boutiques nationwide Floral denim jeans, GUESS, $138, visit guess.com Rose gold bracelet with pink opal and diamonds, IRENE NEUWIRTH, $3,540, collection at…

New stats on America's most-loved plays reveal our neuroses. FAMILY TIES When Sigourney Weaver first enters USA's gripping Political Animals (premiering July 15)—smartly pantsuited as Elaine Barrish, an ex-first lady who loses a party nomination and becomes Secretary of State under her rival—it's practically impossible not to see Hillary Clinton. But instead of having a politics-shy daughter, Elaine has boys: a Kennedy-esque campaign chief (James Wolk) with a willful fiancée, and a gay wild child (Sebastian Stan), whose sexuality is no big whoop (hey, it wasn't for the Cheneys) but whose drug abuse is. Below, more unruly polikids in TV and reality. On Starz's Boss (back August 17), the corrupt Chicago mayor (Kelsey Grammer) is estranged from his reformed addict daughter. In real life, Noelle Bush (on Jeb's side) went…

The best memoirs track the path of not only a life but a life's work—the challenges, mistakes, anguishing setbacks, joys, and triumphs that arise from the hard labor and risk-taking of following a calling. Marcus Samuelsson's memoir, Yes, Chef (Random House), does all this and more; it reads like a riveting novel about a scrappy, ambitious, brilliant, charming orphan who makes his way in the world, rises to the top of his profession, marries his dream girl, and finds his true home. Samuelsson's account is painstakingly honest and deeply reflective. "When I read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential," Samuelsson says in a phone conversation from Red Rooster, his Harlem restaurant, "I realized that a chef book can be like this—not necessarily just about food, but about life. I wanted to cover…

I have come to Greece in search of light. Not just your garden-variety sunshine, but a type of illumination specific to this part of the world, often referred to as "magic light": a late-afternoon incandescence with such skin-perfecting powers that every face it touches looks flawless, lit from within. It's the sort of soft-focus golden glow that suffuses '60s-era photographs of jet-setters in striped maillots sipping cocktails while basking on Aegean beaches; the nimbus surrounding Jackie O. in those iconic images of the former first lady strolling in Skorpios wearing slim white trousers; the radiance that renders Beyoncé's beauty so supreme in candid snaps, posted on her website, of the singer relaxing on her yacht. It's the happy light of holidays, in which everyone appears their most dazzling. Athens-based brand…

CAT'S MEOW Tailor a winged eye for summer heat with fadeproof L'Oréal Paris Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner in Black; smoke out at nightfall with the built-in smudger. JUICY FRUIT Maxed out on lipstick, makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis created her Lip Tint in Sweetness, a barely there watermelon red. PERFECT STORM To capture the freshness of a just-rained-on deep forest, mint leaves and lemon meet cedarwood and red sugar in the refreshing Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia Essenza. HORSE POWER Dressed in an equestrian-inspired stirrup, Voyage d'Hermès Pure Perfume spray spices things up with warming cardamom, woody juniper, and subtle amber. ON THE ROCKS Our very own ELLE Nail Lacquer in Tropical Blush tints tips a beach-ready, peach-Bellini-like hue. KISS AND MAKEUP Long-wearing Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, in…

Hello, am I speaking with Lisa Anne Chase, daughter of David Ross Chase, granddaughter of Anna McKinley Chase?" asked the stranger on the other end of the line. I hadn't heard my grandmother's name in many years. She died when I was a kid. But even now it was jarring to hear her called "Anna"—she went emphatically by Anne as an adult; she thought Anna made her sound like a hick. Even though her father lost all his money in the early 1900s and she was fobbed off, Cinderella-like, on her grandparents in Pennsylvania; even though she (inexplicably) married my grandfather, a farm boy with one year of high school who started out counting boxcars for Republic Steel and worked his way up to a middle-class life in Cleveland; she…

When Madonna urged us not to "go for second best, baby," she was referring specifically to our love lives. But, as our July issue illustrates, refusing to settle can be a life philosophy: Take cover girl Selena Gomez, who, despite having achieved mega-mega-idoldom in the teen world, isn't content to call it a day. "I want to push myself," she told us between takes on her newest project, Harmony Korine's indie Spring Breakers. (Gomez certainly looks the part of Hollywood It Girl, in grown-up red-carpet-worthy frocks and come-hither cropped tops.) Also gunning to be the best of the best are the awe-inspiring female Olympic hopefuls you'll be cheering on this summer. We photographed eight of them (including swimmer Natalie Coughlin, who's just one medal away from being the most-decorated woman…

When Don Draper fell for his secretary at the end of Mad Men's fourth season, it was hard to believe our favorite corner-office cad had changed his ways. Then, at the dawn of 17-months-delayed season five, we were confronted with every superfan's worst nightmare: a happily married Draper. More surprising than his newfound fidelity was the fact that Don's gorgeous bride, Montreal-bred Megan—played by Jessica ParÉ with an early kick of feminist flair—seemed to be the first woman capable of putting him in his place. And despite our initial tsk-tsking, who could resist Megan's breathy birthday party rendition of the 1960s French pop song "Zou Bisou Bisou," with which she fearlessly declared her modernity—and her sexual liberation? "Megan wears shorter hemlines, and there's a lot more color blocking. Her hair…

COVERS Dress by Dolce & Gabbana, price on request, at select Dolce & Gabbana boutiques nationwide, call 877-70-DG-USA or visit dolcegabbana.com. Star earrings by Dean Harris, price on request, visit deanharris.net. Necklace by Tiffany & Co., $450, visit tiffany.com. Bracelet by Janis by Janis Savitt, $488, call 212-245-7396. Heart ring, $475, ID bracelet, $1,400, by David Yurman, visit davidyurman.com. Her own diamond initial ring. Embroidered lambskin top by Balmain, $33,300, collection at Bergdorf Goodman (NYC), Barneys New York, Maxfield (L.A.). Viscose skirt by Mugler, price on request, visit mugler.com. Charm bracelets by Tiffany & Co., $500–$6,250, visit tiffany.com. HOT CONTENTS Page 18: Case by 3.1 Phillip Lim, at 3.1 Phillip Lim (NYC; West Hollywood, CA). T-shirt by Something Else by Natalie Wood, at 25 Park (NYC), call 212-585-2525. Cuff by…

Not long ago, I was in an East Hampton bookstore waiting for a reading to start and noticed two women of a certain age sitting next to each other on a sofa. They were physical opposites: One had short gray hair, a lined face, probably 10 extra pounds, and an expansive laugh; she was at ease in her body and had a relaxed mien. Her friend was clearly the "prettier" of the two and had that look of high-maintenance preservation: face-lift, blonded and coiffed shoulder-length hair, the motionless upper lip of the filled and stilled, and the darting eyes of a small, hunted animal. She was theoretically beautiful, but it seemed so obvious who was sexier—the more natural one, who sat with her arm casually slung over the back of…

Last winter was one of the mildest I've experienced in two decades in New York City. I didn't see snow once. At Christmas, I was wearing a tee and spring windbreaker. When temperatures finally did drop in February, having to wear cashmere felt, well, odd. And fleeting. Within weeks, the temperature was back up, and I was back to lightweight cottons. It was style schizophrenia at its best—and I loved it. I'm of the minority that embraces extreme temperatures, hot or cold—or, even better, both at the same time. I love it when it's cold out but toasty inside, and I welcome icy blasts of air-conditioning when it's scorching. When I first moved to the city for college, I had no money for an air conditioner, so my roommates and…

When PR maven Winnie Beattie celebrated the opening of her NYC boutique, Warm, she threw a luau that paid homage to the island paradise of her youth. (Read: No plastic leis) An invitation to a luau held in the continental United States sets certain thematic expectations: synthetic grass skirts, plastic neon leis, punch packed with high-fructose corn syrup. But when Winnie Beattie, owner of Siren Public Relations (whose clients include Shu Uemura and M. Patmos), decided to throw a luau for her set of laid-back, downtown friends this spring to fete her new side project—a women's clothing boutique in Manhattan's NoLIta neighborhood called Warm—the mother of two wasn't about to break out the Hi-C: "We wanted it to be very authentic, very low-key, very in the spirit of aloha," says…

1. Sunglasses, ANNA-KARIN KARLSSON, $650, visit annakarinkarlsson.com | 2. Silk beret, LOUIS VUITTON, $520, call 866-VUITTON | 3. Wool-blend bomber jacket, BY ZOÉ, $409, collection at saksfifthavenue.com | 4. Hologram clutch, JIL SANDER, $461, visit jilsander.com | 5. Watersnake boot, PIERRE HARDY, $1,325, call 646-449-0070 | Model at left wears: Silk moiré jacket, $3,025, embossed leather jacket, $4,604, pants, $3,348, all, CHRISTOPHER KANE, collection at Opening Ceremony, NYC | Sunglasses, GREY ANT, $260, visit greyant.com | Resin and metal earrings, BALENCIAGA BY NICOLAS GHESQUIèRE, $725, call 212-206-0872 | White gold ring with amethyst and diamonds, DEBORAH PAGANI, price on request, collection at Barneys New York | Rhodium, silver, and black diamond cuff, LYNN BAN, $3,110, collection at Barneys New York…

This graphic designer strikes a balance between creative and corporate in pre-fall's fresh florals THE WOMAN: Roanne Adams, 31, Brooklyn THE JOB: Creative director and owner of fashion-savvy graphic design studio RoAndCo. Adams leads a small team of designers on branding projects for clients ranging from Monique Péan and Steven Alan to Nike and The New York Times. THE UNIFORM: "My work style is streamlined: blazers, button-downs with collars, pants, and heels," she says. "For separates, I love Max Azria, Isabel Marant, and Maje. To spice up the look, I'll alternate colors and fabrics, and add statement accessories. What I wear reflects my design aesthetic. Overall, it's minimalist, with pops of color." THE CHALLENGE: Balance this season's garden of feminine florals—seen everywhere from Jason Wu and 3.1 Phillip Lim to…

Annabelle Dexter-Jones is cozily ensconced in her West Village studio apartment, thumbing through The Catcher in the Rye. "That was the point of the collection," she says. She's trying to describe Annabelle Dexter-Jones for Faith Connexion Paris, a 25-piece capsule line she designed for the French contemporary label. "It's based on a sort of kooky, educated girl who reads a lot—or at least owns lots of books." Make that limited-edition works of art—the volume in her hands is one of the 2011 editions printed by appropriation artist Richard Prince (who cunningly replaced Salinger's name and bio with his own). This is just the sort of highbrow yet irreverent conceit that appeals to Dexter-Jones, who, at 25, still has the apple cheeks and permagrin of a mischievous schoolgirl. Raised in New…

Plated-metal latch cuffs, both, EDDIE BORGO, $450 each, visit eddieborgo.com Cotton tops, SAINT JAMES, $70 each, at Saint James, NYC Canvas jacket, 10 CROSBY DEREK LAM, price on request, at Derek Lam boutiques nationwide Leather and rope sandal, SPERRY TOP-SIDER, $60, collection at sperrytopsider.com Leather bag, HERMÈS, $3,650, at Hermès stores nationwide Cotton shorts, A.L.C., $165, collection at Chalk Boutique, Evanston, IL Sunglasses, OAKLEY, $150, at Oakley boutiques nationwide Cotton top, TOMMY HILFIGER, $98, at Tommy Hilfiger, NYC Rose gold, sugilite, and diamond pendant necklace, DEZSO BY SARA BELTRÁN, price on request, collection at Capitol, Charlotte, NC Silk dress, JUICY COUTURE, $298, at select Bloomingdale's stores nationwide Nylon and spandex top, $88, bottom, $78, both, MADE BY DAWN, collection at freepeople.com Wool shorts, PETIT BATEAU, $95, visit petit-bateau.us Patent leather…

INSIDE STAGE MATH, KIMBRA, AND MORE… As intellectually frenetic as his projects are, sometimes Aaron Sorkin's most potent characters come in unassuming packages: Jonah Hill in Moneyball, DulÉ Hill in The West Wing, and now John Gallagher Jr. as senior producer Jim Harper in the HBO drama The Newsroom. The show, premiering June 24, follows a testy cable news anchor (Jeff Daniels), his impassioned new executive producer (Emily Mortimer), and their staff as they quixotically try to relegitimize the cable news game. If you want to understand Jim, read Sorkin's stage direction for Gallagher: JIM HARPER, mid-20s, quietly enters the studio. JIM doesn't know that he's a good-looking guy, because he saw "All the President's Men" when he was seven years old and never looked back. "With that little gem…

A new family novel by a writer who has plumbed the discontents of modern marriage via fact and fiction. Cathi Hanauer has in several books explored the stresses and strains within modern marriage (The Bitch in the House, Sweet Ruin); in her new novel, Gone (Atria), she plangently and vividly depicts a relationship run off the tracks entirely—and then shows us why it might yet merit saving. Nutritionist Eve Adams' go-go-go routine will strike a familiar chord with many. She hasn't read a newspaper since eight-year-old Danny was born, and she skims e-mails and nutrition journals between clients. When she's not conjuring meal plans or promoting her book, she's putting out fires at home: dealing with 14-year-old daughter Magnolia's amateur nose piercing, for instance. And she can't silence a niggling…

When Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook, he famously gave his fellow millennials a handful of ways to classify their love lives: single, in a relationship, and, an unorthodox invention, "It's complicated." While the last ended up being used more as a joke than an earnest declaration—e.g., I've been having regular sex with this guy for months, but he's not my boyfriend, though I'm his plus-one at weddings—Zuckerberg was onto something. At least if you ask Jessica Massa, author of the new book The Gaggle: How the Guys You Know Will Help You Find the Love You Want. Thanks in no small part to our virtual social reality, Massa, who has a psych degree from Harvard, says that the norms for courtship have become more ambiguous: semi-flirtatious G-chats, for example, have replaced…

Carol Lim is celebrating an anniversary–two, in fact. This month marks one year at the helm of fashion house Kenzo, where she serves as co–creative director alongside business partner Humberto Leon. During the past 12 months, the pair has turned out brightly colored, geometric-patterned collections that have quickly taken the 42-year-old label from the sidelines to the spotlight. And this year, Opening Ceremony, the international chainlet of hipster-beloved miniboutiques that she and Leon founded, celebrates a decade of success. But with business ventures spanning continents, New York–based Lim has little time for champagne toasts. Splitting most of her days between red-eyes and hotel rooms, she's learned to celebrate the luxury of routine. "If you travel as much as I do, there are so many factors that are constantly changing," Lim…

A friend of mine was recently railing against the epidemic of obesity in America—about one third of Americans are obese and another third overweight—and thought she'd identified the culprit: fat people. "I don't understand why they don't just exercise some self-control," she said, sliding easily between two tables and into a banquette, a margarita in hand. This friend is blond, smooth-skinned, always immaculately dressed, and, of course, model-thin—"your basic nightmare," as Nora Ephron put it. "I don't think people have that much control over their weight," I said. Nearly 20 percent of American children are obese—hardly their fault—and obese children are at a much higher risk of becoming obese adults. I told her that I once profiled a woman who got bariatric surgery and would never forget her almost suicidal…

I feel like I'm five years old and playing doctor. Over dinner and a couple of glasses of wine, a relatively new friend leans in and tells me that she's getting sick of her husband. Stiffens at the sound of his voice, pirouettes away from his stubby fingers. I nod sympathetically while she ticks off all of his habits that nauseate her. The list is long. When she finishes and picks up her fork, it's my turn to talk. I know that a goofy aside about my new Chrissie Hynde–inspired bangs isn't going to cut it. This woman expects me to pull a problem out of my purse, expose myself. I think of that scene in The Silence of the Lambs in which Hannibal Lecter whispers to Clarice, "Quid pro…

We're sailing three and a half miles off the shore of St. Petersburg, Florida, aboard the Suite Jolene: me; Captain Jack, a talkative former radioman from New Mexico; Jesse, a 6'2", 250-pound brick wall of a bodyguard; and the lithe, luminous woman he's been shadowing for the past 26 days. She wears a shredded black tank, barely there black denim shorts, a pair of gas station aviators, and the implacable, blithe glamour of a Hollywood native. When we first made our way to the dock, two middle-aged women locked eyes on her in the kind of is that, is she, can it be? expression that accompanies the sighting of a movie star outside her celluloid habitat. But Selena Gomez isn't a movie star. Not yet. At 19, she's a television…

Alaina Williams, 22 Gymnastics, trampoline HOMETOWN: Amarillo, TX FOR THE RECORD: Three-time U.S. synchronized trampoline champion (2007, 2009, 2011); 2010 U.S. trampoline champ THE FLIP SIDE: "At least six days a week I'm in pink yoga sweats from Victoria's Secret. When I put on jeans, my fiancÉ says, 'Hey! You're getting dressed up!' I'm like, Are you kidding?" DREAM TEAM: "I remember watching the '96 gymnastics team—Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Kerri Strug, the Magnificent Seven—thinking, I'm going to be in the Olympics one day. I'm going to be like them.?" April Ross, 30 Jennifer Kessy, 34 Beach volleyball HOMETOWNS: Costa Mesa, CA; San Juan Capistrano, CA FOR THE RECORD: 2009 world champions; in 2007, lowest-seeded team ever to win a Grand Slam BODY POLITIC: "We definitely do not dress like…

CANCER (June 22–July 22) July starts with a bang when Mars moves into Libra and Mercury retrogrades midmonth. Translation: It's an ebb-and-flow summer for all signs. A long-term housing or family situation that has caused you much stress over the past few years will reach a critical juncture this month. It may not fully settle until October, but by July 18th, you'll have a solution in motion. In the meantime, a relationship will require your full attention near the full moon on the 3rd. It could be romantic or business-related, but a disagreement has to be discussed, decided, and acted upon. Indeed, your career will see ups and downs as the month opens, but by the 16th, when Jupiter and Mars work to boost your reputation, you'll see fewer bumps…