Innehållsförteckning för December 2014 från ELLE

Monday, December 1, and Monday, December 29 FACTORY BOYS Art Kane, whose visionary eye Andy Warhol once compared to "a pumpkin sun in a blue sky," and Billy Name, whose images Warhol anointed as the only ones to truly capture the scene at the Factory (where he lived in a closet), get books dedicated to their work. Friday, December 5 THREE'S A CROWD Indie film Life Partners focuses on two friends, one gay (a decidedly headband-free Leighton Meester) and one straight (Community's Gillian Jacobs), who drift apart after the latter couples up with a bro played by Meester's real-life husband, Adam Brody. Sunday, December 14 MODERN MASTERS Is evoking timelessness what makes a painting of our time? Ponder this and other art-world questions at MoMA's The Forever Now, which presents…

THE RIHANNA-SPHERE Next June I'll celebrate my fifteenth year as editor-in-chief of ELLE. A lot has happened in those 15 years, not least of which were 9/11, the birth of my two children, and the sale of ELLE by a French company, Lagardère, to an American one, Hearst. In that time, this month's cover subject, Rihanna, has been shot for the magazine five times and has been on four different covers: June 2008, July 2010, May 2012, and this month, December 2014. Which makes her the most covered celebrity of my tenure. This realization gave me pause, in no small part because the very first time we interviewed her, for an inside story in July 2007, we asked her for her defining pop-star moment, and she said, "I've had a…

Cary Leitzes PROVENANCE: Irvington, NY NOW: New York City PROFESSION: Founder, Leitzes&Co. "We coordinate strategic partnerships between creative pop-culture figures and brands." THIS MONTH: "Women in Art" (page 334). "It's a really fun jigsaw puzzle. We have representatives from the full breadth of the art world—artists, dealers, curators, philanthropists—but also a range of ages and places where people are in their careers. I think we all enjoyed seeing Amy Phelan's house. Everything was fabulously over-the-top, down to a bowl of green color-coordinated M&M'S and jelly beans in the living room." READING: Living Well Is the Best Revenge, by Calvin Tomkins. "It's about an artist couple who lived in Paris and the south of France in the 1920s, and the circle of artists they attracted, and the inspiration that came…

It's been a banner year for feminism in celebrity circles, what with Katy Perry's and Taylor Swift's public renunciations of their I-am-not-a-feminist stance, HeForShe's sudden popularity, Emma Watson's gender-equality speech at the UN, and Beyoncé's performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in September, where, in the middle of a 16-minute medley, she struck a pose in front of the word FEMINIST projected in large white letters at the back of the stage and stood there while a voice clip from Nigerian writer Chima manda Ngozi Adichie's TEDx Talk "We Should All Be Feminists" (which Queen Bey sampled in her 2013 song "Flawless") resounded through the arena. I've always taken for granted that I'm a feminist. The biggest conflict for me, as a tail-ender of second-wave feminism, was how to…

BAG OF TRICKS Surveying Sarah Morris' cavernous, sun-drenched Long Island City, New York, studio, once the site of a private-plane interiors outfitter, it's difficult to imagine the artist being restricted to a small square of nylon. Everything here is monumental; her average work is 10 feet by 12 feet. Nonetheless, the abstract painter and filmmaker, best known for her pin-sharp, glossy paintings in which she creates delightfully complex patterns from simple geometric forms, has lent her considerable talents to Longchamp, tinkering with the French firm's iconic Le Pliage totes. "It really was the perfect project; it's like reinventing an envelope," says Morris, who was given carte blanche to play with the bag's proportions, fabrication, and even stitching. "Luckily it's a small, family-owned firm, so I only had to go through…

Leather handbag, JIL SANDER, $1,812, at Jil Sander boutiques nationwide Embroidered cotton T-shirt, $1,014, skirt, $1,259, leather belt, $581, all, VERONIQUE LEROY, collection at Fivestory, NYC Perforated-leather clog, FENDI, price on request, at Fendi, NYC. MARC JACOBS LOUIS VUITTON FRANCESCO SCOGNAMIGLIO Suede jacket, 3.1 PHILLIP LIM, $1,995, at 3.1 Phillip Lim, NYC GIFT IT! Wooden Four Up game, RESTORATION HARDWARE, $179, visit rh.com Trends Connect the dots in your closet with grommet-covered separates and extras. For 15 more choices, circle back to ELLE.com/fashion-dots.…

Suede boot, GIANVITO ROSSI, $1,495, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Suede handbag, LOEWE, $2,690, visit loewe.com Calfskin handbag, HERMÈS, price on request, at Hermès stores nationwide Accessories Songwriter Carl Perkins got the idea for the hit "Blue Suede Shoes" when he overheard a voice shout "Don't step on my suedes!" and turned around to find a boy in—you guessed it—blue suede shoes.…

RAINBOW Calfskin and suede pump, CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA, $1,095, at Charlotte Olympia stores nationwide Leather sandal, AQUAZZURA, $795, collection at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC Leather pump, CHARLINE DE LUCA, $620, visit charlinedeluca.com Leather sandal, PIERRE HARDY, $895, visit pierrehardy.com SADDLE BROWN Leather tote, LONGCHAMP, $1,270, visit longchamp.com Calfskin handbag, FENDI, $2,350, at Fendi, NYC Leather handbag, MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS, $358, at select Michael Kors stores nationwide Leather tote, GUCCI, $3,450, visit gucci.com WHITE ACCENTS Leather sandal, JASON WU, $795, visit jasonwustudio.com Leather sandal, TORY BURCH, $250, at Tory Burch, NYC Leather sandal, MAIYET, price on request, collection at Barneys New York Leather and elaphe sandal, SERGIO ROSSI, $730, collection at forwardbyelysewalker.com Accessories Archeologists believe that ancient Egyptians donned sandals only for special occasions, carrying their footwear with them to their destination.…

NAME: Esteban Cortazar AGE: 30 PROVENANCE: Bogotá, Colombia, and Miami CURRICULUM VITAE: Despite his lack of formal training, Esteban Cortazar learned the ropes hanging around the workshops of Miami's seamstresses and patternmakers as a fashion-obsessed teenager before making history in 2002—at age 18—as the youngest designer ever to present at New York Fashion Week. Five years later, Cortazar was named creative director of Emanuel Ungaro, where he remained for two years. Now, at the end of a two-year exclusive with e-tailer Net-a-Porter (for which he designed two capsule collections) and with new investors aboard, Cortazar is once again setting out on his own—though he's in no rush to repeat the meteoric rise of his youth. BACK IN THE SADDLE: It seems a fitting inspiration for Cortazar's debut collection, after his…

BOND, BABY BOND Cotton tuxedo coverall, DOLCE & GABBANA, $320, at select Barneys New York stores SPIFFY SOAPS FROM AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY RECIPE Unscented triple-milled organic oatmeal soap set, IZOLA, $16, at Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store, Brooklyn THYME, LAVENDER, AND CEDAR, TO SET THE MOOD FOR A BLACK-TIE BASH Silenzio candle, FORNASETTI, $495, collection at barneys.com THE COZIEST BOW TIE OF ALL TIME Rabbit coat, MARC JACOBS, $3,200, visit marcjacobs.com A CAPSULE WARDROBE FOR HER BOOKSHELF Fashion Memoire five-book slipcase, ASSOULINE, $125, visit assouline.com ITS SAPPHIRE-GLASS FACE BOUNCES PRISTINE LIGHT WHEREVER YOU GO Gold and sapphire glass watch on satin strap, DOLCE & GABBANA, price on request, at Dolce & Gabbana boutiques nationwide AND AFTER THE PARTY, IT'S THE AFTER-PARTY… Leather door sign, ALEXANDER WANG, $38, visit alexanderwang.com TROMPE L'OEIL…

THE CASE OF CHOICE FOR ELLE.COM HOROSCOPERS THE ASTROTWINS iPhone 5 cases, all, KATE SPADE SATURDAY, $25 each, visit saturday.com AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD POOCH PUFFER Pupper vest, AMERICAN BEAGLE OUTFITTERS, $40, at American Eagle stores nationwide AN 18K CASSIOPEIA SHE CAN REACH OUT AND TOUCH Gold and diamond ring, SOPHIE BILLE BRAHE, $3,400, collection at Barneys New York NOTHING SAYS ATMOSPHERE LIKE LE SMOKING CHIC Silk top, $414, pants, $295, both, PIAMITA, collection at Barneys New York LEAD-CRYSTAL CURVES FOR THE WINE-LOVING FUTURIST Crystal decanter, RIEDEL, $350, visit barneys.com WHETHER SHE'S INTERESTED IN THE LUNAR CYCLE OR JUST COMPETITIVE Baltic birch moon-phase dominos, FREDERICKS & MAE, $100, at ABC Carpet & Home, NYC PROVING LUXURY HANGS IN THE BALANCE Gold, brown diamond, tsavorite, and mother-of-pearl medallion on gold chain, KHAI KHAI,…

CONFESSIONS OF THE HARD-TO-SHOP-FOR MAN I am your nightmare. If I need shoes, I will spend six months looking for the right pair. Suits take two years, minimum. If you attempt to find me said suit or shoes, I will not quite like them, and my stated reasons will be impenetrable, bound up in a web of irrational biases and eccentric theories that change on a regular basis. Then, when I do find something I like, I will buy it on the spot, robbing you of a potential gift. Plus, I like to be surprised. But, as my penance, I come with coping strategies. One: Look for consumable goods—a great bottle of whiskey, tickets to something we like, a useful class that teaches us to do or make something, which…

British writer Ali Smith's innovative new novel, How to be both (Pantheon), at this writing short- listed for the prestigious international Man Booker Prize, comes in two parts—"Eyes" and "Camera"—and is being published in two versions, with the sections in switched order but sporting identical book jackets. Posits Smith, "Who says stories reach everybody in the same order? This novel can be read in two ways…Eyes, camera. Camera, eyes. The choice is yours." "Eyes" revolves around an obscure (but real-life) fifteenth- century Renais sance artist, Francesco del Cossa, whose Italian hometown, Ferrara, is famous for its brickmaking. He narrates the story of his life and art in a dazzling interplay of passages: boyhood, apprenticeship, fresco painter, old man. "Camera" features a precocious girl, George, whose coming-of-age centuries later, in modern-day…

Even though my grandmother lived until I was a freshman in high school, I never really knew her. In her late fifties she began showing signs of dementia, and by the time I—the third of her four grandchildren—was born a few years later, she had regressed to needing the round-the-clock care of a nursing home. I got to know her through the stories my family would tell about her, which loomed large and almost always concerned her beauty: that her neighbors would peer out their windows just to catch a glimpse of her while she pushed my dad in a stroller; that she'd been a hand model in her youth; that my two aunts were constantly complimented growing up on how beautiful their mother was. One refreshing point that was…

Rock Candy Gwen Stefani teams up with OPI to bring us party-ready polishes. Seen here: Rollin' in Cashmere, a rich gold, and First Class Desires, a sparkly eggplant. Continental Drift Byredo's best-selling Bal D'Afrique scent, with notes of citrus and amber, dances its way into a luxurious bath oil. Frost Bite A lipstick–lip balm hybrid, Dior Rouge Dior Baum (shown in Star) comes in 15 shades; each packs subtle sheen plus ultrahydration in a single swipe. Clock Stopper Talk about discerning: The scientists behind AmorePacific Prime Reserve Epidynamic Activating Creme hand-select each green tea leaf that goes into their plumping, moisturizing anti-ager. Pen Pal The new essential for a wild night out: YSL Touche Éclat—in a limited-edition leopard-print tube—nixes undereye circles with its legendary blendable formula. It List Have you…

Professor Bolin, or Brianne, as she tells her students to call her, might as well be invisible. When I arrive at the building at Columbia College in Chicago where she teaches composition, I ask the assistant at the front desk how to locate her. "Bolin?" she asks, sounding puzzled, as she scans the faculty list. "I'm sorry, I don't see that name." There is no Brianne Bolin to be found, even though she's taught four classes a year here for the past five years. She doesn't have a phone extension to her name, never mind an office. The mother of a disabled eight-year-old boy named Finn, Bolin rushes in late to the lobby—she'd offered to give me a tour of her workplace. Her red hair is pulled back in a…

Crepe dress, VALENTINO, $3,990, at Valentino boutiques nationwide. Gold-plated brass and stone earrings, A PEACE TREATY, $176. Metal necklace, $895, bracelet, $675, both, VALENTINO GARAVANI. Silver and moonstone ring, $225, brass ring, $120, brass and amethyst rings, $195–$225, silver and amethyst ring, $150, all, BROOKE PERSICH. Gold-plated brass rings, both, PAULA MENDOZA, $175 each. Gold-plated brass and amazonite ring, PUSHMATAAHA, $130. Suede boots, MIU MIU, $890. Shearling tunic (on chair), MICHAEL KORS, $4,395. For details, see Shopping Guide. Crepe dress, VALENTINO, $3,990, at Valentino boutiques nationwide. Gold-plated brass and stone earrings, A PEACE TREATY, $176. Metal necklace, $895, bracelet, $675, both, VALENTINO GARAVANI. Silver and moonstone ring, $225, brass ring, $120, brass and amethyst rings, $195–$225, silver and amethyst ring, $150, all, BROOKE PERSICH. Gold-plated brass rings, both, PAULA MENDOZA,…

If reincarnation truly turns out to be an option, I want to come back as a sibling of whomever the Olsens come back as. Yes, partly because of the sizable discount it would afford me on the covetous accessories and clothing they produce for their American luxury label, The Row. But also because the twins, despite being designers, are two of the most relaxed people I've encountered in 20-plus years in the industry. That Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have become one of the most acclaimed design teams in fashion surprises no one more than them. Launching in 2004 with a perfect white T-shirt, they weren't setting out to create a line of daywear basics as lust-able (or as pricey) as Hermès. It just sort of happened. After the tee came…

Christoph Waltz has two Academy Awards and a singular gift for infusing even the scariest villains with a cool charisma. As Colonel Landa, an SS officer in Inglourious Basterds, the Vienna-born Waltz, 58, made a meal out of every word, turning malapropisms like "That's a bingo!" into scary, T-shirt-ready catchphrases. And in Django Unchained, his Dr. King Schultz was perhaps the most likable bounty hunter you'll ever meet. The same skill set is used to perfect effect in this month's Big Eyes, the Tim Burton retelling of the story of Walter Keane, a Bay Area artist who became a global sensation in the '50s for his portraits of sad waifs with evocative, oversize eyes. The only problem? Keane didn't paint the girls—his wife did. Here, Waltz, who, along with his…

THE ELLE MUST-DO CHECKLIST Monday, December 1 Scandi minimalist high-street favorite COS gave U.S. fans a website earlier this year—now it's coming to us direct, with a brick-and-mortar store in Beverly Hills. Thursday, December 11 Plastic? Fantastic! Casio's first watch for women, the G-Shock S-Series, made a fashion statement when it popped up on the spring/summer 2015 runways of such buzzy New York–based designers as Tome, Timo Weiland, and Jonathan Simkhai. Get yours when the full range is officially released this month. Tuesday, December 30 Put a little Old Hollywood in your winter getaway with the launch of Kate Spade New York swimwear, packed with throwback silhouettes and the house's trademark graphic patterns. Thursday, December 18 Need a midmonth pick-me-up? Bright pigments meet sharp geometry in Meatpacking District boutique Owen's…

ELLA ENCHANTED ELLE's October issue is dedicated to personal style, and our 2014 cover girl Lorde—née Ella Yelich-O'Connor—has it in spades. From her ethereal beauty to her candid opinions, the New Zealand singer charmed readers with her utter realness: "There is something amazingly throwback about this—the cloud of hair, the brow, the minimalist makeup, the devastatingly pouty expression. It's perfectly retro without being musty or dated. Really breathtaking." —Heather Cocks of Go Fug Yourself "This is GORGEOUS. And it doesn't feel like something layered over her. Inside, there are more gorgeous pictures and beautiful looks that suit her surprisingly well." — Tomandlorenzo.com "Lorde looks like herself—they've used natural makeup and there's a stark absence of the kind of heavy slap that magazine faces are usually drenched in. What a refreshing…

Still very much in demand for her modeling skills, Danish-born Helena Christensen now balances an already impressive CV with a burgeoning photography career. Thanks to more than two decades in front of the lenses of the most talented names in the business, Christensen honed her skills, and her work has appeared in publications worldwide (Fat Magazine, Vs.). This talent came in handy during a recent jaunt to Vienna—former capital of the Hapsburg empire; stomping ground of Mozart and Freud—where Christensen was performing official duties as ambassador for The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, which was celebrating the reopening of its Hotel Imperial.—Naomi Rougeau DO: "It's easy enough to be a tourist and take all the obvious shots. In my work, I aim to show the atmosphere and the beat of…

I am not a big fan of Red Carpet Style, the uniform practically synonymous with Hollywood awards season that is simultaneously superformal, superfroufrou, superpredictable, and, in my opinion at least, superboring. Spangles and paillettes, I just can't countenance. Acres of tulle, I can't abide. Which is probably how I found myself arriving at the sixty-seventh annual Cannes film festival without anything by-definition black-tie appropriate. "You have packed a gown, of course?" a publicist meeting me at the airport in Nice inquires. Well, no. I'm here to attend the launch of Viktor & Rolf's Velvet Rock jewelry collection for Atelier Swarovski, scheduled in the thick of the movie premieres. Somehow the powers that be have granted me a ticket to tonight's gala screening at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, so it looks…

Limited-edition silk satin handbag, ROGER VIVIER, price on request, to reserve, call 212-861-5371 GIFT IT! Matisse Cut-outs, edited by Gilles Néret and Xavier-Gilles Néret, TASCHEN, $70, at Taschen, NYC Silk dress, $2,450, scarf, $250, both, MARNI, at Marni boutiques nationwide Elaphe sandal, SERGIO ROSSI, $1,050, at Sergio Rossi, Las Vegas Suede skirt, BURBERRY PRORSUM, $4,895, visit burberry.com Trends Matisse's portfolio from 1905 to 1907 represents the artist's Fauvist period, characterized by unexpected color use and swift brushstrokes.…

GIFT IT! Wool needlepoint and velvet sunglasses case, JONATHAN ADLER, $42, at Jonathan Adler stores nationwide Printed jacket, $2,870, trousers, $1,675, both, MARY KATRANTZOU, visit marykatrantzou.com. Leather belt, RAINA BELTS, $85, visit rainabelts.com Printed jacket, pants, both, DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, prices on request, similar styles at Diane von Furstenberg, NYC. Calfskin belt, MISSONI, $445, at Missoni, NYC Snakeskin handbag, TRADEMARK, $598, visit trade-mark.com Trends Though leisure suits were the grooviest of '70s staples, they date back to 1930s England, when the signature wide lapel was often employed in British sports uniforms.…

Moonstone, diamond, and white gold necklace, VERDURA, price on request, at Verdura, NYC Blue moonstone, diamond, and white gold earring, NINA RUNSDORF, price on request, collection at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide Gold chain, price on request, moonstone, cabochon amulet, rock crystal, tanzanite, and gold pendant, $3,700, both, TEMPLE ST. CLAIR, call 800-590-7985 Moonstone, sapphire, and platinum earring, TIFFANY & CO., price on request, call 800-843-3269 Accessories Contrary to popular belief, moonstone (a combination of orthoclase and albite feldspar) got its name from its lunar shimmer, not its origins. Sri Lanka is a major source of top-quality moonstone.…

THE GALLERY GIRL Jessica Kreps, 30, sales director, Lehmann Maupin Gallery Daytime Dress Code: "You can be a little bit punkier in a creative field—I can wear blue nail polish and that looks cool. I like to do classic with a twist." Transitional Piece: Thakoon Addition jumpsuit. "I'd bring a blazer with me during the day to meet with clients and leave it off for an evening event." Finishing Touch: "Pile on a few gold necklaces or maybe slip into a bright shoe. But really, it's all about attitude." Crepe jumpsuit, THAKOON ADDITION, $690. Gold and diamond choker, JENNIE KWON DESIGNS, $1,430. Brass choker, JENNIFER FISHER, $375. Gold fringe necklace, ZOë CHICCO, $550. Leather pumps, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, $675. Her own cuff THE RAINMAKER Alexandra Blair, 29, fundraising officer, John Jay…

FORTUNE FINDS Jewelry designer Lizzie Fortunato and her twin sister, business partner, and traveling compadre, Kathryn, share a love for craft traditions. The 30-year-olds champion global artisans and cull materials, inspiration, and keepsakes from far-flung corners of the earth, such as Morocco, Uruguay, and India, for their bijoux, which are made in the U.S., often by single mothers. "The problem with this model," says Kathryn, "is that living in New York City apartments, you never have room to store all the treasures that you bring back." Lizzie adds: "My boyfriend will have his friends over to watch football, and they'll have to sit amidst all these vintage textiles!" The guys will be glad to know that the duo are currently unloading some of their stash—woven Mexican baskets, pillows made from…

FROM THE C. Z. GUEST SCHOOL OF KNICKKNACKS Gold and emerald rhinoceros box, gold and ruby alligator box, both, DAVID WEBB, prices on request, visit davidwebb.com FROM THE C. Z. GUEST SCHOOL OF KNICKKNACKS Gold and emerald rhinoceros box, gold and ruby alligator box, both, DAVID WEBB, prices on request, visit davidwebb.com A CASHMERE DUO FOR THAT FIRST-CLASS FEEL Throw, $2,995, eye mask, $295, both, BAJA EAST, collection at fortyfiveten.com YOU ALWAYS WISHED YOU COULD GIVE HIM THE WORLD Calfskin world atlas, SMYTHSON, $395, at Smythson, NYC FOR THE NEW BEAR ON THE BLOCK Acrylic-blend hoodie, $27, pants, $15, both, BABYGAP, visit gap.com IF LIPS COULD KILL: AN ICONIC RED IN AN EXOTIC CASE Limited-edition Le Rouge lipstick in crocodile case, GIVENCHY, $300, exclusively at select Barneys New York FROM…

IF ONLY YOUR E-MAIL LOOKED THIS GOOD Gold and diamond ring, KHAI KHAI, $1,100, visit khaikhaijewelry.com ART, ARCHITECTURE, AND GEOMETRY COLLIDE IN A COLORFUL MEMORY GAME Handmade oak puzzle bricks, REMEMBER, $140, similar styles at piqproducts.com YOUR JUICER, FUNNEL, CHEESE GRATER, AND MORE—IN A BOTTLE Plastic all-in-one kitchen tool set, BIN AKEBONO, $40, visit momastore.org THIS WEARABLE BAND PROVIDES INSTANT UPDATES TO YOUR SMARTPHONE AND PREDICTS YOUR BABY'S SLEEP PATTERNS Wireless silicone sensor baby monitor on nylon band, SPROUTLING, $249, visit sproutling.com FROM YOUR IPHONE TO YOUR PICTURE FRAME, IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS Plastic and coated glass Instant Lab photo printer, THE IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT, $199, visit momastore.org AUDIO GIANT MONSTER + FRENCH LUXURY EMPIRE = KILLER HEADPHONES Lambskin headphones and case, CHANEL, price on request, at select Chanel boutiques…

THIS MONTH IN INTEL: MUSIC Seth MacFarlane, Christmas crooner page 240 BOOKS A novel in two versions—inside the same cover page 242 Billy Magnussen can woo anyone in under a minute. Take a recent appearance on HBO's The Leftovers, for example. As a slick salesman at a conference who's just spilled wine all over a female guest, he deploys such deft C-suite confidence and frat-boy insecurity that when he's finished, her clenched jaw has gone completely slack. The whole scene lasts 47 seconds. "Billy is a surprising actor," says producer Marc Platt, who worked with the 29-year-old on two of his upcoming—and most anticipated—projects. First up: Into the Woods, the Christmas Day film adaptation of Sondheim's seminal 1987 fairy-tale mash-up musical, in which Magnussen—who also sings and plays guitar…

Worn with completely bare skin and lids, brown '90s throwback lips look just as alluring today as they did on Winona Ryder as Lelaina Pierce in Reality Bites. Makeup artist Misha Shahzada created this creamy chocolate hue by coating lips with balm for a hint of shine before tracing with M.A.C Eye Pencil in Coffee and applying NYX Matte Lipstick in Maison. "Take pleasure in the details," as Ethan Hawke's bad-boy slacker, Troy Dyer, once chided Lelaina. Or for one-step cocoa perfection, try a swipe of Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy in Caffe. Pretty rad. THIS MONTH IN BEAUTY: Your healthiest skin ever page 250 // Expand your beauty investment portfolio page 252 // Scarlett Johansson's blockbuster beauty hits page 260 // Plan your dream spa getaway page 264 Like a…

"It's all about balance, and that doesn't necessarily mean you have to choose one thing over the other," says Scarlett Johansson, speaking not of her varied movie roles but rather of her anything-goes evening-makeup philosophy. "Sometimes it's nice just to be minimal and be fresh, and other times you can wear a red dress and red lipstick and it looks great." On her first red carpet, in 1997, at age 12— she wore a chocolate-latte-colored lip to the Independent Spirit Awards—Johansson established her perfect big-night-out recipe: heavy on the Old Hollywood, with just a dash of rock 'n' roll. These days, when pressed for time before a big event, "I take off my concealer under the eye, a little around my nose, and refresh those areas with new foundation," she…

After making art in their shared Culver City studio all day, potter Shio Kusaka and her husband, painter Jonas Wood, are back at their airy bungalow, 15 minutes away in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles, focusing on the biggest collaboration of their domestic lives: their daughter, Momo, four, and son, Kiki, two. It's dinnertime, and hanging over the utilitarian table is a 2010 abstract drawing by Wood that could fetch thousands, but the kids only have eyes for their rice balls topped with dinosaur-shaped nori. The couple, fast-rising art stars who moved to Los Angeles in 2003, have attracted attention for their ambitious work. Kusaka, 42, creates quirky pots influenced by her grandmother's tea ceremonies in her native Japan, which are collected by Richard Prince and Cindy Sherman…

COFFEE, TEA, OR ME DEAR E. JEAN: After our first vacation, my boyfriend of six months finally told me "I love you"; almost in the same breath, he added that he'd also "love" to watch me in bed with someone else and suggested that a waitress at his neighborhood bar might be "game." Mind you we were making love—actually middeed—when he said this. The next day I told him that I returned his affections but made my position clear that the aforementioned suggestion was not for me. He replied that he "never wanted" me to "feel insecure." A week later, we were in the middle of having sex again, and he whispered that he wished the waitress from the restaurant where we'd just dined could be watching us! What is…

Far left: Cashmere and cotton sweater, THEORY, $345, similar styles at Theory, NYC. Chiffon shirt, REED KRAKOFF, $1,190. Rose gold, tsavorite garnet, and onyx necklace, CARTIER. Gold and diamond serpent ring, TEMPLE ST CLAIR, $4,700. White gold, diamond, and yellow sapphire rings, all, SABINE G. Gold ring, BULGARI, $2,200. Gold bracelets, both, FRED LEIGHTON. Gold bracelet, GUCCI. Rose gold bracelet, ROBERTO COIN. Gold and diamond watch, CHOPARD. Left: Coat, turtleneck, both, CéLINE, at Céline boutiques nationwide. Gold, emerald, and diamond earrings, MARINA B FOR GEMFIELDS. Sapphire and diamond bracelet, ring, both, FRED LEIGHTON. Gold, platinum, diamond, and sapphire rings, both, DAVID WEBB. All prices not mentioned, on request. For details, see Shopping Guide. Feather-embellished mesh twill coat, DKNY, $1,200, at select DKNY stores nationwide. Cotton turtleneck, JASON WU, $695. Wool…

COVER Crystal-embellished mesh bustier and draped silk gown by Atelier Versace, price on request, at select Versace boutiques nationwide, call 888-721-7219. Wool-and-nylon-blend tights from Wolford, $160, visit wolford.com. Diamond and gold hook earring by Hirotaka, $795 for a pair, collection at Barneys New York. White gold, diamond, ruby, sapphire, and black diamond earring by Ileana Makri, $3,195, collection at Barneys New York. Black gold and black diamond earring by Colette, $3,140 for a pair, visit colettejewelry.com. BEHIND THE COVER PAGE 104: Jacket by Helen Yarmak, visit helenyarmak.com. Necklace by Piaget, visit piaget.com. THE LOOK PAGE 141: Jacket, shirt, pants, scarf, boots by Gucci, visit gucci.com. TRENDS AND ACCESSORIES PAGE 142: Basketballs by Shinola, visit shinola.com. Sneaker by Jimmy Choo, at select Jimmy Choo stores nationwide. PAGE 144: Coat by Emilio…

GUEST BLOGGER OLIVIA BEE The wunderkind photographer has captivated a generation of second-screen savants. Now, as our blogger-in-residence, she'll be posting photo essays and fashion editorials on ELLE.com all month long "I used to always have a camera on me, but my attitude toward that has changed a little bit," says Olivia Bee, the buzzed-about fashion photographer whose dreamy depictions of youth—or, in her case, moonlit shots of the crew she grew up with in Portland, Oregon—grabbed the attention of Converse ad execs when she was just 15. A slew of zeitgeisty gigs soon followed: ethereal self-portraits for Hermès; a shoot with Zosia Mamet for The New York Times; an ongoing working relationship with client turned confidante Tavi Gevinson. "I find it easier to photograph people I know, so that's…

LOOK CLOSER As fashion's daring muse and music's chart-scorching hit maker, Rihanna has worn it all (and almost nothing at all). For our December cover story, we present the rebel raconteur draped in the most opulent haute couture and fine jewelry of the season. On a balmy early fall Wednesday, she arrived at Brooklyn's Root studios, the picture of off-duty superstar: striped oversize sweater-vest, black miniskirt, python baseball cap, and suede Miu Miu sandals. After emerging from hair and makeup with little more than a crimson lip, Rihanna took her mark in front of the camera, dancing to Drake and Rick Ross and posing like a pro: "Rihanna could have been a silent-movie star. She gets so much across without having to be a loudmouth," said ELLE fashion editor-at-large Lori…

Nora Ephron was a friend and mentor to me. I use these terms proudly but also loosely, as she was a friend and mentor to dozens if not hundreds of other young female writers of roughly my generation and sensibility. When she died unexpectedly in the summer of 2012, we all seemed to come out of the woodwork like mistresses at the funeral of a raging yet irresistible philanderer, churning out paeans to her in any publication that would let us and sizing one another up as if saying, "She took you to lunch, too?" Even before then, I knew I was far from the first rung of Nora acolytes. We had lunch a few times, once or twice in New York ("Next time I'll invite Joan to join us!",…

HISTORY LESSON Can you think of a better way to spend a morning than combing through Verdura's sizable archives, getting up close and personal with treasures such as the enameled Maltese cross cuffs that Duke Fulco di Verdura created for Coco Chanel circa 1930? The occasion for my archive dive was a planning meeting for Verdura's seventy-fifth-anniversary exhibition, which runs through December 23 at the iconic jeweler's new Fifth Avenue gallery space. Owner Ward Landrigan—who purchased the house in 1984, six years after the duke's death—enlisted Verdura friends Carolina Herrera and her husband, Reinaldo, as well as their daughter Patricia Lansing, to help curate the show. Verdura was the first fine jeweler to promote yellow gold and colored stones for everyday wear and the first to work with natural elements…

Gingham jumpsuit, RICHARD NICOLL, $1,052, collection at avenue32.com GIFT IT! Wicker picnic basket for four, WILLIAMS-SONOMA, $350, visit williams-sonoma.com Stretch nylon-blend maillot, LISA MARIE FERNANDEZ, $390, collection at Barneys New York MSGM ALTUZARRA Limited-edition woven fabric and leather handbag, ROGER VIVIER, $4,150, at Roger Vivier, NYC Collared dress, Nº21, price on request, collection at matchesfashion.com Trends The blue-and-white gingham dress worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (1939)—one of several test iterations crafted by MGM costume designer Adrian—was auctioned for more than $400,000 in 2012.…

Gold-plated brass cuffs, both, MICHELLE CAMPBELL, $1,675 each, visit campbelljewelry.com Knit dress, VERSACE, $2,195, at select Versace boutiques nationwide GIFT IT! Sunglasses, JEREMY SCOTT FOR LINDA FARROW GALLERY, $459, visit lindafarrow.com Suede, leather, and patent leather sandal, SOPHIA WEBSTER, $1,075, collection at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide Trends Early retail therapy: Built between 107 and 110 A.D., Rome's Trajan Markets are considered to be one of the earliest shopping malls.…

In addition to her seemingly infinite design talents, Coco Chanel knew how to have a good time. A different kind of power player, she turned her 31 rue Cambon apartment into the gathering place for the who's who of her day, where society fixtures such as Etienne de Beaumont mingled with artists like Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau. Now the meeting of those worlds inspires Café Society, a 66-piece collection that features a rainbow of precious stones set in interlocking diamonds and anchored by a mammoth 10.02-carat blue sapphire. Sapphire, orange garnet, red spinel, diamond, tsavorite, and white gold necklace, chanel fine jewelry, price on request, at Chanel Fine Jewelry boutiques nationwide Accessories "My reason for choosing diamonds is that, dense as they are, they represent the greatest worth in…

NEW YORK Rizzoli's whopping 278-page tome Jeremy Scott is the definitive word on fashion's most beloved wild child. Including never-before-published Polaroids, the book offers a unique glimpse into the designer's fantastically high-low vision. rizzoliusa.com LONDON Fossil's Retro Timer watch, a holiday collaboration with design duo Eley Kishimoto, was inspired by a '50s kitchen timer and makes for a whimsical—and practical—stocking stuffer. fossil.com NEW YORK A Peace Treaty brand founders Dana Arbib and Farah Malik are determined to create a place in the fashion world for age-old artisanal techniques. Now added to their mix of scarves and jewelry: breezy chiffon caftans produced by seamstresses in Lahore, Pakistan. apeacetreaty.com RIO DE JANEIRO Brazilian luxury brand Osklen teamed with Parisian It Girls Alexia Niedzielski and Bianca Brandolini d'Adda, both of…

TO BORROW SILICON VALLEY'S BIGGEST BUZZWORD, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHEN WE ALL HAVE A SINGULAR MISSION: TO DELIGHT. WE CAREFULLY CURATED THIS LIST OF 62 FINDS TO THRILL YOUR FRIENDS, IMPRESS YOUR BOSS, PAMPER YOUR MOTHER—AND EVEN, THANKS TO SOME HELP FROM OUR DISCERNING PALS AT ESQUIRE, SOOTHE THE ULTRAPICKY MALES IN YOUR LIFE. FIRST THINGS FIRST: IF HER IDEA OF "SAINT NIC" IS MONSIEUR GHESQUIÈRE HIMSELF, A LOUIS VUITTON INITIAL NECKLACE—OR, SAY, SEVEN—IS SURE TO SPELL B-E-S-T G-I-F-T E-V-E-R. SHOP ON! Gold-plated brass necklaces, all, LOUIS VUITTON, $480 each, at select Louis Vuitton stores nationwide. For details, see Shopping Guide…

GET YOUR BAGUETTE FIX, CARB-FREE Rose gold and diamond earrings, ANITA KO, price on request, collection at Jeffrey, NYC A ONE-OF-A-KIND "MAGICAL" TALISMAN Gold and pyrite necklace, ANA KHOURI, price on request, collection at Barneys New York ADD DASH TO HER CASH Engraved brass money clips, IZOLA, $18 each, collection at nestdallas.com ONLY LOOKS LIKE IT WILL SET OFF METAL DETECTORS Leather luggage, RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION, $3,750, visit ralphlauren.com HANDMADE SULTAN-STYLE SEATING TO GLAM UP ANY SPACE Leather pouf, JOHN DERIAN, $345, visit johnderian.com GIVE NEW MEANING TO "MIDAS TOUCH" Leather gloves, BURBERRY, $425, visit burberry.com TIMELESS AMERICAN LUXURY Steel watch, MICHAEL KORS, $225, at Michael Kors stores nationwide OENOPHILES WILL DIVE IN (AGAIN) Bronze wine stopper, KELLY WEARSTLER, $295, at Kelly Wearstler, L.A. IT'S IN THE BAG Satin handbag,…

PACKED WITH SCENTS TO MAKE EVERY HOUR COUNT Handcrafted incense with unlacquered brass burner, CINNAMON PROJECTS, $225 (for 120 sticks), visit cinnamonprojects.com A PUFFER THAT'S TRULY SLICK Oil-printed jacket, SANDRO, $775, at Sandro, NYC TIGEREYE TO KEEP HER (BEAUTIFULLY) CALM Rose gold, diamond, and tigereye ring, KIMBERLY MCDONALD, price on request, collection at Richards, Greenwich, CT #INSTANTSHELFIE Ceramic decorative flowers, all, JAYSON HOME, $12–$30 each, visit jaysonhome.com DECOR + DETOX = THE PERFECT MULTIASKER Himalayan mineral floral-scented bath salts, MULLEIN & SPARROW, $28–$48 each, visit mulleinandsparrow.com THIS TIME, THE BOX IS THE JEWEL Shattuckite, serpentine, and gold box with wood lining; malachite, serpentine, and gold box with wood lining, prices on request; lapis, serpentine, and gold box, $950, all, VERDURA, visit verdura.com SUSTAINABLE ACCENTS FROM AN ECO QUEEN Brass and…

Ever since the doe-eyed silent-film superstar Mary Pickford was anointed America's Sweetheart—no matter that she was Canadian—Hollywood has seen never-ending dollar signs in the pretty girl next door, whether it was adorable Debbie Reynolds in the '50s or a strenuously virginal Doris Day in the first half of the '60s. The second half of that astounding decade brought us the intertwining sexual revolution and women's liberation, which opened things up for women in movies—but not as much as one might have expected. America's sweethearts don't have to be virgins anymore, just cute, funny, and, well, harmless. For Reese Witherspoon, such light fare as the Legally Blonde comedies (2001, 2003) and Sweet Home Alabama (2002) made her famous; they also encouraged the impression that her peppy, bright-eyed shtick was all she…

Even in high-powered medical circles, Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, MD, PhD, might be considered something of an overachiever. With three degrees from Harvard—her BA was in biology and her PhD in molecular genetics (no biggie)—a Park Avenue practice perpetually chockablock with in-the-know New York beauties, a slew of scientific articles published under her name, her own skin-care line, and a new appointment as consulting dermatologist for Lancôme, she's one of the best qualified, and hardest working, specialists in the field. "I'm really focused on quality over quantity," she says, downplaying her copious achievements. "I'm always trying to move the field forward." Are you doing more Botox and fillers than you were five years ago? I'm doing more fillers than ever before. Fillers have been on the market for about 15 years, the…

GROUP THERAPY Nizuc Spa by ESPA Punta Nizuc, Mexico nizuc.com; from $400 Treatments at this airy escape combine ancient Mayan healing rituals—think gemstone massages and agave-and-sea-salt scrubs—with aromatic ESPA skin potions. The location feels remote, but Cancún's hedonistic heart beats minutes away. Don't miss: Who says sybaritic indulgence can't also be social? Drop by the coed outdoor relaxation pool for a postfacial dip—and make new friends by happy hour. Hotel Hacienda Na Xamena Ibiza Ibiza, Spain hotelhacienda-ibiza.com; from $241 Follow an all-nighter at Pacha with 45 blissful minutes in the Cascadas Suspendidas, a group of massage-jet-equipped saltwater treatment pools perched nearly 600 feet above sea level. The spa's supermodel guests are as breathtaking as the view. Don't miss: Finish your soak with mix-and-match mini spa treatments—25 or 50 minutes each—that…

SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE Is there such a thing as blissful monogamy? By Rachael Combe I was in my car at a stoplight last spring, spaced out, half listening to an NPR review of the latest solo album from Damon Albarn, the front man for Blur and Gorillaz. The reviewer said something about how the songs were those of a man weary of modern life. Then he played a clip: "I had a dream that you were leaving/ It's hard to be a lover when the TV's on/ And nothing's in your eyes." And there I was, blindsided, sobbing noisily over my steering wheel. The light turned green, and the car behind me honked. A pedestrian ducked his head to stare at me through my windshield. I wiped my eyes…

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MEET THE EXPLORERS CLUB: 12 MAKERS AND SELLERS, MUSEUM MASTERS, AND COLLECTION BUILDERS WHO ARE MAJOR PLAYERS IN ART'S BIG, BUZZY MOMENTS (RECORD SALES! SHOCKING SHOWS!) AND IN ITS EVEN BIGGER IDEAS: WHAT ART IS NOW, WHERE IT'S HEADED, AND WHAT THAT SAYS ABOUT US ALL. BY MOLLY LANGMUIR THE NEW OLD MASTER CECILY BROWN In one early Cecily Brown work, bunnies engage in an orgy. In another—a mass of limbs and genitalia—humans do the same. "I was so aware that people were very dismissive of painting," says Brown of the late '90s, when she burst onto the scene with lushly rendered paintings that blended Old Master–style brushwork with the imagery of hard-core porn. "I needed something ballsy to make people stop and look." It worked: Hers was an early,…

SAGITTARIUS THIS MONTH FOR SAGITTARIUS: (NOV 22–DEC 21) December will be a landmark month, as Saturn enters Sagittarius to stay for three years. Sagittarius generally is considered the bachelor sign, but Saturn will encourage you to commit to a major goal. Your closest relationship, either in love or business, could be its initial target, thanks to an assist from the 6th's sensational full moon. (This would be an enchanting date to get engaged or married.) When it comes to pairing up, you can't beat this moon, and the presence of Jupiter, your ruler, over the weekend of the 12th will have you positively brimming with happiness. Turn your attention to year-end finances after the 21st's new moon, in spite of the short jaunts that Mars in your close-by-travel sector…