Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2015 i ELLE Australia

ELLE’S DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR, EDEN ABAGI, WHO DESIGNED THE “LOOK BETTER, NOT YOUNGER” FEATURE ON P138, SHARES THE BEST BEAUTY ADVICE SHE’S EVER RECEIVED. “My mother Iman is the most beautiful creature I know. Even her name is attractive! But her two best beauty tips go deeper than the surface. She always said, ‘You will look young if you have a smile on your face,’ and ‘The secret to looking beautiful is confidence – and a good head on your shoulders’. Looking back at photos of my brooding, teenage self (in my ‘skip class and chase boys’ phase), I wish I’d listened to her earlier. Take note!” BELINDA XIA, THE MASTERSTROKE BEHIND THE ILLUSTRATIONS ON P159 AND P178, DRAWS HER AUTUMN/ WINTER WISH LIST IN THE HOPE THEY MANIFEST IN…

HOT CHOCOLATE Satisfied your sartorial side? Now you can indulge your sweet tooth, too. Lindor Balls, $4.06 for five, Lindt, shop.coles.com.au Chocolate, $20 for 11, Belle Fleur Fine Chocolates, bellefleur.com.au Chocolate, $49.50 for 20, Haigh’s Chocolates, haighschocolates.com.au…

Fashion and art have long been BFFs, with high-fashion houses collaborating with superstar creatives (think Yayoi Kusama for Louis Vuitton and Sterling Ruby for Dior) and labels creating their own galleries (such as Fondazione Prada in Milan). Taking the relationship to the next level is Cocurata. The liquor-fuelled epiphany of Ksubi founder George Gorrow and art dealer George Benias, the project enlists new artists each season, but rather than hanging their works on a wall, they’re translated into wearable art. “We want the artist and their artwork to be the foundation and centre of the project itself,”says Gorrow. Abstract conceptualist Matt Jones says his “jaw dropped” when he saw his art in tailored form. “Cocurata seems to have had my graphite drawings liquefied then reformed onto T-shirts. They understood what…

DAILY UNIFORM When I’m working, I usually partner my Nike Dunk Sky Hi trainers with an all-black look, especially when I’m running between photoshoots and my three salons. MOST TRAUMATIC CUT In early 2000 I had a chic mullet with a side undercut. It was a “look”, okay? MOST TREASURED HEIRLOOM My husband Jim gave me a Bulgari Serpenti diamond ring. FAVOURITE LABELS Christian Dior, Céline, Gucci and Sass & Bide. IN-FLIGHT HAIR REPAIR I always take a volumising or texturising spray onboard. Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray comes in a perfect travel size and helps build volume. WARDROBE WISH LIST Gucci’s Jackie suede bag in blue. PARTY TRICKS I fill my house with roses from Grandiflora and serve high tea in my beautiful Royal Doulton china. I add cloves to…

brought to you by levi’s® Since the age of 14, I have littered – excuse me, adorned – the internet with Taylor Swift analyses. I was first struck by how much more agency she has over her songwriting and public image than other popular artists tapping into my demo, and by how it felt to get permission from a girl wielding a guitar to shamelessly express one’s emotions, despite how often doing so can get you called “crazy” (that sexist euphemism for “feminine”). With the release of her fourth album, Red, in 2012 and a handful of highly publicised romances, Taylor was criticised by the press and other entertainers for such sinful acts as dating people and writing songs about it, gaining a reputation as boy-crazy and love-ridden. But I…

They invented the original blue jeans in 1873, so it’s safe to say Levi’s® knows a thing or two about denim. For nearly 150 years, the iconic brand has been painstakingly perfecting its designs, managing to make great jeans even better, season after season. And the women’s spring 2015 collection is the best yet. Knowing how to enhance a woman’s body and the styles she likes to wear, Levi’s® has achieved the seemingly impossible: jeans that look as good as they feel. We want the entire range. THE LOWDOWN FIT: The Levi’s® women’s spring 2015 collection offers jeans that fit better than ever before. With styles to suit every body type – from super skinny to bootcut, high-rise to low-rise – the result is denim that flatters, no matter your…

A CURE FOR SUICIDE by Jesse Ball Fans of eerie dystopian settings à la Never Let Me Go will love this read, which centres on a village where doctors try to “cure” people who attempt suicide by giving them new identities. But when one medic works out a way to manipulate patients’ memories, things start to get real. $29.99, Text Publishing PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME HERE by Tania Chandler Brigitte’s life is turned upside down when a cold case – in which she was the prime suspect for murder and her now-husband the lead detective – is reopened after 14 years. So is she a loving wife, or a psychopathic killer? $29.99, Penguin THE LONEY by Andrew Michael Hurley The UK may have found its answer to Stephen King in…

With 10 million-plus albums sold worldwide and an anthem that defined the ’90s (altogether: “I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is tornnnn!”), Natalie Imbruglia knows a thing or two about success. But 21 years after leaving Neighbours, the face of Kailis recently decided to revisit her first passion: acting. After working with acting coach Ivana Chubbuck (who’s helped guide Brad Pitt, Halle Berry and Jared Leto), the 40-year-old scored a part in the 2014 UK theatre production Things We Do For Love. Her performance was met with critical praise, which is all the more impressive considering she recorded her new album Male – covers of songs sung exclusively by men – during rehearsals. LEARN TO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE “I intentionally don’t put albums out every…

“THE ONLY THING WORTH FIGHTING FOR” This haunting melody had everyone asking, “Who sings that?!” after it featured in a trailer for the new season. “MY LEAST FAVOURITE LIFE” The sparse song was written after the show’s creator, Nic Pizzolatto, asked for a track “about a lover who dies and comes back as a crow”. “CHURCH IN RUINS” The rawness of the track was achieved by Lynn singing and playing electric guitar simultaneously.…

THE POWER GAZE This one means business, and is best used in work or conflict situations when you want to stare someone down. Imagine a triangle on the other person's forehead and focus on the middle-point, between the eyes. THE SOCIAL GAZE When a gaze drops below the other person’s eye level, it builds a friendly, neutral, social rapport. Just keep your eyes “travelling” over the other person’s nose or mouth to indicate interest. THE INTIMATE GAZE The most suggestive of the bunch, this is used to indicate attraction. Let your eyes travel in a triangular pattern: from eye to eye, down to the mouth. In close proximity, form a triangle from the eyes to both sides of the chest.…

An old friend recently tagged me in a Facebook post that read: “Kids 20th anniversary reunion scheduled for June at BAMcinemaFest.” He added the comment: “So, are you gonna come over for this or what?” I knew the anniversary was coming up but never thought there’d be a reunion – that made it personal. In trackpants on my couch in rural Australia, I’d missed countless sentimental milestones over the years, so I felt guilty letting another one slip by. The notion of going home to New York, where Kids was filmed all those years ago, came with mixed emotions. Of course, there was the obvious excitement of seeing old friends, but also a reluctance to share that part of my life with my own children. The scenes I was in…

If your tried-and-true skincare routine is falling flat, a treatment mask can add a frisson. Clinique, creator of the cult Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, has added three new products to its line-up, making it easy to deeply hydrate, purify or exfoliate, whipping skin into shape and over its plateau. TAME THE MANE Fight winter static now and build strength over time with these new strand smoothers.…

Hover around the ELLE beauty department at around 3pm and you’ll be treated to a symphony of three sounds. First, the vibrations of text conversations brainstorming dinner options. Second, the rummaging of peckish hands through desk drawers, searching for a stray chocolate, and third, the unmistakable sound of my mid-afternoon face spraying session, easily my third round of the day. Mid-morning slump? I go for a hydrating mist. Skin feeling blah? I reach for the uplifting rose blend. Makeup refresh at 5pm? Always the antioxidant spray. You’d think being a beauty editor would give me licence to unabashedly spritz the day away, no questions asked, yet my colleagues remain puzzled by the frequency of my applications and the extent of my collection. I’ve been addicted to atomised hydrators since I…

FRIDAY “I’m heading to a location shoot, so my skincare is simple” “These subtle shades pop on blue eyes” “I add a red lip to go out to dinner with friends” FROM LEFT Clarifying Day Oil, $62, Dr Hauschka, (02) 8765 1100; Eyelash Curler, $29, Shu Uemura, 1300 651 991; Convertible Colour in Peony, $34, Stila, mecca.com.au; Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in Brun Cendré, $45, Chanel, (02) 9900 2944; Hypnôse Doll Eyes, $52, Lancôme, 1300 651 991; Certified Organic Paw Paw & Honey Balm, $9.95, Suvana, nourishedlife.com.au; Foundation Primer – Radiance, $45, Laura Mercier, (02) 9663 4277; Le Teint Touche Éclat, $79, Yves Saint Laurent, 1300 651 991; Bronze, $22, ModelCo, modelcocosmetics.com; Couture Palette in Afrique, $98, Yves Saint Laurent, 1300 651 991; Rouge Allure in Pirate, $52, Chanel,…

There’s nothing wrong with a spray tan in June, a linen jacket in July or a glass of crisp rosé in August. Produce, however? It should be dependent on the season – and that punnet of blueberries that costs more than a movie ticket is just the start of how accustomed we’ve become to buying against nature. “It’s hard to change something we’ve been doing all of our lives, but eating in season goes hand-in-hand with us as humans biologically,” says Matt Purbrick from the Victorian farming duo Grown & Gathered. “It makes more sense for the body to eat what is grown locally and, off the back of environmental issues coming to light, there has been a massive wave of people trying to live and eat more sustainably and…

The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery Tucked away in the art-loving Warehouse District, this hotel is the old kid on the block, made new again. Originally a warehouse built in 1854 to service the city’s port, a slick renovation has preserved the best of the building’s past life (like hardwood floors and exposed brick walls) while pops of nostalgic styling, from retro clocks to fabric bedheads with leather accents, make it the industrial-chic stay of our dreams. Bonus points for fun details like the “do not disturb” signs, which read, “Let’s just say things got a little crazy last night and leave it at that”. old77hotel.com Le Méridien New Orleans This stylish hotel, located near the French Quarter, expertly balances the resources of a huge chain with the feel…

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PRONUNCIATION GUIDE If you’re going to name-drop these cooler-than-cool artists, you’d better get it right TOVE LO (say: Too-vah Loo) The Swedish pop singer is known for her raunchy lyrics and hit song “Habits (Stay High)”. HIATUS KAIYOTE (say: Hi-ae-tus Kay-oh-tee) A Melbourne-based electro-soul foursome who scored a Grammy nomination for their collab with Q-Tip in 2013. MS MR (say: Mz Miss-tah) Hailing from New York, this indie-pop duo’s breakthrough track “Hurricane” has racked up more than four million YouTube views. ODESZA (say: Oh-Dess-Zah) The electro scene’s next big thing – you’ve probably heard their remix of Sia’s “Big Girls Cry”. MØ (say: Meu – like how the French would pronounce “bleu”) A Denmark native who was plucked from obscurity by Iggy Azalea to perform…

Welcome to our first-ever annual Women in Music issue, brought to you in association with Levi’s. Obviously I had no choice but to put Taylor Swift on the cover. I’m not ashamed to confess that I’ve had her 1989 album on repeat pretty much exclusively since it came out last year. I’m comfortable enough in my adulthood to admit that I googled whether the lyric really is “Starbucks lovers”, and that I’ve Dubsmashed (admittedly with my nine-year-old niece) to “this sick beat”. Okay, and “boys only want love when it’s torture” – but that’s it. What I love about T-Swiz isn’t just that the girl is a pop-music genius, but that she took the potential tragedy of teen success and somehow managed to develop into what seems like a completely…

CLEAN LINES AND AN insouciant attitude ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY. Complement khaki separates WITH CREAM, DENIM AND BRETON STRIPES TEAM UNDONE utilitarian WORKWEAR WITH soft layers OF SHEARLING, SILK, KNITWEAR AND SUEDE…

A PC founder Jean Touitou and co-designer Louis Wong follow the philosophy that simplicity is perfection. Their staple denims and discreetly luxurious seasonal offerings rise quickly to It-status – no wonder admirers include style heavies such as Miranda Kerr, Michelle Williams and Kanye West (whose collabs with the brand have proven a huge hit) – and fans obsess over hidden details such as embossed buttons, mouliné tweed and patent leather. Following a warm welcome to Melbourne last year, APC will open a store on Sydney’s Crown Street this month. We chat to Wong about why quiet fashion is having a moment. WHAT IS THE APC DNA? We like to think we are at the essence of real minimalism – this can be a navy sweater and pure denim with a…

Orry-Kelly is the most famous Australian designer you’ve never heard of. Hailing from the New South Wales coastal town of Kiama, the late costumer is behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic moments. The black fringed number Marilyn Monroe shimmied in, ukulele-in-hand, in Some Like it Hot? Him. The “red” taffeta gown worn by Bette Davis in Jezebel? Him again. With an epic career designing for 300-plus films and three Oscar wins, the intriguing figure is back in the spotlight thanks to the Orry-Kelly: Dressing Hollywood exhibit, opening this month at Melbourne’s Australian Centre for the Moving Image. As well as archival gems like photos of celebrity fittings and original costume sketches, ACMI will screen Women He’s Undressed, a documentary by Australian director Gillian Armstrong, based on the unpublished memoir Kelly…

Victoria Alonso is a boss. As the executive producer and executive vice-producer of visual effects and post-production for Marvel Studios, she’s had a hand in making almost every comic-book adaptation, from Avengers to Iron Man. She’s also the only female EP on new release Ant-Man, starring Paul Rudd as an ex-con who fights crime in a suit with shrinking powers. The 49-year-old Argentinian also puts her status as one of very few female studio execs in Hollywood to good use, calling for gender equality in her industry. Case in point: breaking from her speech at a recent visual effects summit to ask where the “girls” were in the room. We chat to her about making it in the industry and the news a female superhero film is on the way……

FILLR This is a new app I’ve come across and love – it takes the hassle out of filling out online forms on your mobile by automatically filling in saved personal information. HUGE time-saver. Price: free PERISCOPE It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of sharing the daily goings-on of my life at home and work, and this social-media app lets me record video and live-stream it. Price: free MOLESKINE TIMEPAGE This essentially turns your phone into one of Moleskine’s sleek diaries (you even get to customise the colour), making appointments, contacts, maps and weather forecasts look chic. Price: $6.49 SCANNER PRO BY READDLE I’m always on the lookout for mentions of our brands or talent in the media and this app allows me to take…

“Goodbye Stranger” – SUPERTRAMP For some reason, this song (and the entire The Very Best Of Supertramp album) made a tremendous impact on me as a bored eight-year-old. I thought the record (yes, record) cover was intriguing and exotic. Back then I didn’t realise the song was an ode to one-night stands, I enjoyed the catchy melody and Supertramp’s signature optimism. To this day I love singing along theatrically, mimicking those awesome falsetto rock vocals that were so popular in the ’70s, whenever I’m driving, packing, unpacking, in a good mood, in a bad mood, cleaning the house and, obviously, whenever I’m leaving a one-night stand. – Zoë Foster Blake, author and founder of Go-To Skincare “Cherish” – MADONNA The ultimate ’80s kid, I absolutely adored this song.…

FIT CLUB Start getting in shape for spring with healthy eating tips, targeted workouts and fun retro exercise classes. TRAVEL Planning a road trip? We’ve mapped out the must-do drives of a lifetime, from Victoria’s Great Ocean Road to California’s Highway 1. ZEITGEIST The relationship advice, life hacks and pop-culture moments everybody’s talking about. FASHION Style files, advice and inspiration from It-girls, models and trendsetters. STREET STYLE We’ve got your inspiration for the tricky dressing months covered, with colourful accessories and new ways to work classics. BEAUTY Get the lowdown on face oils, faking fuller hair and achieving your best complexion yet. LAYER UP Take notes from street-style stars and learn how to master trans-seasonal dressing.…

WE’RE BRINGING TOGETHER MORE THAN 15 EXPERT THINKERS, INFLUENCERS AND ACHIEVERS. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS, VISIT ELLE.com.au The fashion entrepreneur JULIE STEVANJA Mensa member Stevanja is the CEO and founder of successful activewear shopping site Stylerunner and a passionate advocate of women’s networking. The arts visionary JESS SCULLY Festival director Scully brings together business and creative influencers as curator of Vivid Ideas. She is also a public art consultant and a TEDxSydney curator. The beauty brain ZOË FOSTER BLAKE An adept multi-tasker, the author, journalist, blogger, advice columnist and TV commentator is also the CEO and founder of natural skincare brand Go-To. The app developer TORI BOWMAN The former Vivien’s model agent is the creator of the groundbreaking Snaptch app, helping modelling talent share their portfolio and…

JANNA JOHNSON O’TOOLE BEAUTY & FITNESS DIRECTOR JANNA Global girl crush Olivia Palermo lends her stylish touch to a trio of oh-so-perfect polish shades that’ll make you fall in love with the classics again. Paint Pot in (from left) Hutch, Nantucket and Sundays, $34 each, Olivia Palermo X Ciaté London, mecca.com.au JANNA To celebrate its 30th birthday, Jurlique is gifting us with this super-charged hand cream. Packed with rosa gallica flower petal water, it’s the brand’s most indulgent formula yet. Precious Rose Hand Cream, $75, Jurlique, 1800 805 286 JANNA Notes of mandarin, magnolia and sandalwood add depth to this sweet, ultra-feminine scent that works with both leather and lace. Embrace in Rosebuds And Vanilla, $39, Vera Wang, 1800 812 663 SARA McLEAN CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR SARA Straight from the…

1. POLE POSITION Scandinavian style is moving from our Pinterest boards to the great outdoors with Nordic blading – a combination of Nordic walking and roller skating, complete with walking poles. Expect to stride your way to a tighter core, stronger arms and toned legs. nordicwalkingwa.com.au 2. TAP INTO FITNESS If you’ve Zumba-ed and hip-hopped yourself into a fitness rut, consider tap dancing. The brainchild of four elite Aussie dancers, TAPfit is the newest at-home dancing cardio and resistance program. The TAPfit pack includes workout DVDs, a resistance band, a roll-out tap-friendly floor and fetching tap attachments for your trainers. It sounds like fun and games – and that’s because it is – but a high heart rate and the deep burn you feel in your butt and thighs proves…

“Paddling builds shoulder definition, strengthens the lower-back muscles and increases cardiovascular fitness, while popping up engages the core and pecs, and standing and riding waves increases leg strength, flexibility and balance,” says Zoe Wood of Surfset Fitness, an indoor workout designed to emulate surfing. If you don’t live near the ocean (or are traumatised by Bondi Rescue), these moves achieve the full-body effects without ruining your blow-dry. PLANK Besides blasting the abs, the plank strengthens the shoulders, arms and glutes. Alternate to a side plank to engage the obliques. SUPERMAN Lying on your stomach, float your arms and legs off the ground to switch on and strengthen the back muscles. SQUATS & LUNGES Tone your legs and glutes with reps of squats and lunges. Working these larger muscles will raise…

The epitome of a feast for the eyes, interior designer Marta de la Rica’s Madrid apartment takes more than a minute or two to take in. Her statement femininity jumps out instantly – the curved lilac velvet sofa, chic brass coffee tables and multiple vases of peonies and pink blooms scattered across surfaces – but it’s the intricate botanical and animal elements that steer this Spanish space away from girlie-girl territory and towards grown-up glamour. “Nature is an infinite source of inspiration,” says de la Rica. Vases of flowers, ferns, birds, starfish and coral collected over time coexist with elegant vintage finds and Art Deco pieces. “I am fascinated by nuances in colours and I love rescuing antiques.” To pull off this eclectic concept and keep the focus on her…

The birthplace of jazz, New Orleans is home to a buzzing music scene that can be enjoyed everywhere, from intimate jazz dens to iconic concert halls. The first port of call should be Frenchmen Street, a strip of cool bars in the Faubourg Marigny neighbourhood where traditional jazz, modern brass bands and soulful R&B can be heard any night of the week. Popular venues such as The Spotted Cat, DBA, Snug Harbor and the Blue Nile are often packed to the rafters with partygoers, who spill out onto the streets clutching “go-cups” (drinks “to go” in plastic tumblers). Meanwhile, in suburban Uptown, Tipitina’s is another temple for live music, as is Maple Leaf Bar. Our favourite local acts to look out for: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Rebirth Brass Band,…

French 75 Part of the famed Arnaud’s restaurant, a drink here is like stepping back in time thanks to its Art Deco style and the staff’s penchant for blasting Édith Piaf. The bartenders are hailed as the best in town, but you don’t need them to tell you to order the signature cocktail, the French 75 (that’s Courvoisier VS, sugar, lemon juice and Moët & Chandon). arnaudsrestaurant.com/bars/french-75 Cure Many attribute the city’s cocktail renaissance to this hip watering hole, located in Uptown’s reinvented Freret Street neighbourhood. Best of all, it’s far enough from the tourist hordes that it still feels insidery, packed to the hilt with well-dressed locals. It’s hard to pick a favourite from the constantly revolving cocktail menu, so you’re better off playing “tell me what to drink”…

1 DOWNLOAD THE FREE viewa APP 2 SCAN ANY PAGE THAT SHOWS THE viewa LOGO TO START SHOPPING OR TAP INTO MORE ELLE CONTENT Download viewa free from: VIEWA.NET iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc, registered in the US 24 and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. viewa is available on Android devices, versions 2.2-2.4…

In full swing DEE JENNER, style editor My love of large sleeves began aged 10, in the celestial context of a Christmas play where I played an angel. My mum cut the oversized, billowy sleeves of my costume from a sheet, finishing them with tinsel stitched around my neck. I’d never felt more graceful. Years on, the tinsel may have gone but my love of the statement sleeve is still as strong. A full, flared arm is romantic, evoking nostalgia in that floaty Woodstock hippie kind of way, part of fashion’s current love affair with the ’70s. Unexpected fabric choices – like Awake’s oxblood shag or Ellery’s stiff linen – keep the look modern. I am currently living in a crisp, white cotton incarnation by Acne Studios. By day, I…

“Big coat and bare legs: fashion loves a paradox.” “Neutral, exotic skins are the best way to balance tone-on-tone. A striking ashen ponytail helps.” “Bespoke bombers and BFFs. Is there more to life?” “Yes to matching your hair to your gloves, but the best bit about this Coach look is her IDGAF attitude.” “Three things that shouldn’t go together, but do: pinstripes, statement fur and a snakeskin clutch.” “The once-forbidden colour combo of navy and black is a sleek, modern substitute for classic monochrome.” “Ellery is having an international moment. The label’s dramatic sleeves and flares were spotted in all four fashion capitals.” “Sensing a theme? Yes, I love fun fur.” “Customised leather and feather-light fringing offer the perfect mix of punk and girlie.” “A chic aviator jacket will always…

When I moved from Sydney to Paris in 2011, I was in possession of a single coat – a mid-weight, single-breasted APC number in blue marine. My thinking was this: like other cities where the temperature dips below 15 degrees for months on end, France’s well-heeled capital is ably equipped with central heating. A coat, while essential, is something to get you from A to B before it’s tossed on a peg or draped on the back of the chair to reveal what lies beneath – a chic silk blouse, a luxe cashmere knit – pieces I’d always been much more focused on nailing. “The cold weather will be over soon and I’ll figure it out next year,” I said to myself, not realising winter would trudge on for months.…

BEAUTY NOTE High-impact blush can still be street-friendly – just opt for a cream formula. Try PhotoReady Cream Blush in Flushed, $26.95, Revlon, 1800 025 488…

MERYL STREEP ROCKS LEATHER PANTS AND PUNK PLAITS in RICKI AND THE FLASH Streep plays an ageing rocker who attempts to reunite with her estranged children after ditching them to become a star. Out August 13 JOEL EDGERTON MAKES HIS DIRECTORIAL DEBUT with THE GIFT He also stars in the film as a psychologically disturbed man who stalks his high-school bully (Jason Bateman) and pregnant wife (Rebecca Hall). Out August 27 JAKE GYLLENHAAL’S RIPPED BODY in SOUTHPAW He gained seven kilos of pure muscle to play a championship fighter in the boxing drama, which also stars Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker and 50 Cent. Out August 20 A NEW CAST CLAWS BACK THE REP of FANTASTIC FOUR Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Miles Teller and Michael B Jordan slay as Marvel’s longest-running…

That Taylor Kitsch shouldn’t need an introduction at this point in his career, yet still does, is the central preoccupation of this profile, so let me provide one: Kitsch played Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights, a TV show about a Texas high school and its football team, though it was really about coming of age and family – the one you’re born into and the one you make. It’s an anti-soap opera; a frank, uncondescending look at lives and loves in a small town. That everybody in the town happens to resemble a movie star, and nobody more so than Kitsch, was the only “Hollywood” thing about it. As he walks towards me, post-ELLE shoot, I stand, my heart kicking in my chest. I’m nervous. This is a high-stakes…

In a recent yoga class, the teacher announced he was going to lead us in an “eye contact exercise”. We were told to sit opposite the person next to us, and focus softly on their left eye. At first I struggled to keep a straight face; I know it isn’t very namaste, but “teamwork” at yoga makes me uncomfortable. Once the giggles subsided, though, a wave of emotion washed over me. I felt vulnerable, and then warmth for the woman sitting across from me. It was incredibly intimate – I’ve never even looked into my partner’s eyes for that long. When time was up (it felt like 10 minutes but was only two), I was fighting the urge to cry. Around the room, other pairs embraced, and tears were wiped…

Lou Teasdale Lou Teasdale, 31, is the hairstylist who stirred up the beauty industry with the defiant aesthetic of rock’n’roll hair and makeup DIY guide The Craft , a smash-hit seller on Amazon. She is responsible for One Direction’s iconic “mops” and has almost four million followers on Twitter and Instagram. “I love the way social media has given the beauty industry a voice. Old-school hair and makeup artists used to have to showcase their work in magazines, but now it’s much easier to get new ideas out there. Without social media, there’s no way I’d be where I am in my career. That’s why I’m so diligent about posting and interacting with fans. “I studied fashion at the London College of Fashion, and my degree had…

The fashion industry has been in a state of flux for some time, searching for inspiration in places obvious (’80s rock chicks) and less so (normcore anonymity). But few of these attempts at doing something new – many of which felt half-hearted at best – caught fire at the retail level, perhaps because many of the clothes themselves simply lacked the must-have characteristics that compel most women to hand over their credit cards. But this time around, designers from New York to London, Milan to Paris, delved deep into the ’70s and ’90s – two decades rich with ideas – and came up with a host of winning shapes: cropped pants, high-neck blouses, midi- and maxi-dresses, trim pants suits and an endless parade of coats of every ilk. That they…

Face FADE AWAY If brown spots have you seeing red, an arsenal of over-the-counter products can neutralise the issue. Dr Li-Chuen Wong, dermatologist at Sydney Skin, recommends kojic acid to fade spots, while “retinoid creams plus alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid and lactic acid can help exfoliate away pigmentation”. For a slightly more hardcore approach, at-home peels deliver a potent dose of actives. Try SriVectin’s 5-Minute Weekly Glycolic Peel ($135, strivectin.com.au) or opt for prescription-strength hydroquinone and always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen such as Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Daily Moisturiser With SPF 15 ($19.99, aveeno.com.au). MAJOR LASER Hot date IRL? Don’t fret about filter-free flirting – it’s never been easier to zap sun spots with zero downtime. Brisbane-based derm Dr Shobhan Manoharan recommends the PicoSure laser, which gently delivers…

There may not be a creature more studied in its natural habitat than the Parisian woman. Elusive, discreet and just so damn chic, she remains the subject of careful observation and shameless fascination decade after decade. And if ever the species had an archetype, it would be Caroline de Maigret, descendant of French royalty, model, music producer and muse to both Chanel and Lancôme. She’s so French that last year she co-wrote the book How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are, just to give the rest of us a shot at possessing a fraction of her je ne sais quoi. But the first lesson, she says, is to keep it cool. WHY DO YOU THINK EVERYONE IS FASCINATED BY FRENCH WOMEN? Parisian women don’t try to look perfect, which creates…

ROBERTO CAVALLI Like a key to another world, one spritz of Roberto Cavalli Paradiso EDP and you’ll be transported to a villa in the Mediterranean, with the sun caressing your skin. Featuring notes of sparkling citrus, wild jasmine, pink laurel and parasol pine, the uplifting fragrance is like la dolce vita in a bottle. $110 for 50ml; 1800 812 663 ELIE SAAB The limited-edition Le Parfum Resort Collection fragrance from Elie Saab evokes the feel of an island escapade. Inspired by the label’s feminine cruise collections, it features notes of orange blossom, jasmine and frangipani, enhanced with the sweet scent of figs. $107 for 50ml; exclusive to Myer, 1800 811 611 NESPRESSO Nespresso lovers can now enjoy their coffee hit on the go. With its thermal insulators and innovative urban…

PLAYING WITH FIRE Warm up your winter dishes with ELLE’s hot sauce code. Entry-level sizzle Jalapeno Hot Sauce, $6, El Yucateco, saltmeats cheese.com.au The hotter hit Hot Sauce, $2.68, Tapatío, tastefuldelights.com.au Feel the burn Stinger Hot Sauce, $12.95, Diemen’s, diemens.com.au…

FAUBOURG MARIGNY AND BYWATER Down river from the French Quarter, these neighbourhoods are the bohemian heart of the city. Dotted with cute candy-coloured cottages, they’re what Instagram was made for – Solange Knowles has a house there. ST CLAUDE This area is home to artist-run collectives and traditional galleries, as well as boutiques, music venues and restaurants. It’s also near the historic St Roch food market, which has recently reopened after it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. MID-CITY Residential Mid-City has a suburban feel – but a recent boom in cool bars and reasonably priced restaurants (ELLE loves casual fine-dining joint Ralph’s On The Park) has seen locals from all corners of the city make the journey across town.…

BALANCE SCHMALANCE DEAR E JEAN , I’m at a very exciting time in my life. I’m 25 and have just started my own business. Opportunities are pouring in. I’m driven! I’m inspired! I’m finally where I’ve always wanted to be! So this is an odd career question… I adore living alone, doing things my way – just for me, just as I like. But I worry I’ll miss out on meeting an intelligent, sexy man if I keep up this kind of pace. If I’m embracing my business plan and solitary homestead, will I miss out on love? – Eyes For All EYES, MY EAGLET Stop wasting time writing me emails. Go! Plunge in up to your eyebrows! The fire in your gut is stronger than sex. A moment occurs…

LEO July 24 – August 23 Carpe diem, Leo! Lucky Jupiter rounds out a year-long tour through your sign on the 12th and won’t be back for 13 years. Amplify your ambitions to mission status; giving it all you’ve got is a must. Don’t worry if you don’t reach the finish line – motivator Mars is in Leo from the 9th and will pick up the baton. There’s also a new moon in your sign on the 15th, bringing the chance to grow. After the 12th, your keyword becomes “monetise”. Jupiter decamps to your financial zone until September 2016, helping you turn your visions into tangible strategies. Love could be complicated as Venus is in retrograde in your sign all month. Misunderstandings are likely and you could glorify an ex…