Life's But A Walking Shadow

RIP Daul Kim

It's Funny Cuz It's True

Eternal Beauty

Remember when actors and actresses grew old with poise and grace? Before the influx of plastic surgery Hollywood's thespians would age in the public eye - whether they liked it or not. Now it seems that even older celebrities are pulling and pinning their way to youth. That's not to say that people haven't been toying with plastic surgery for centuries. In actuality plastic surgery operations were performed by the Egyptians and Romans, but for the purposes of this post I'm focusing on more recent operations. Both Natalie Wood and Marilyn Monroe, were rumored to have gone under the knife, and even the gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor is said to have had a nose job in her 20s after MGM studios deemed her nose "too thick". So how is it possible that women as breathtaking as Elizabeth, Marilyn, and Natalie thought they needed improvements? Humanity's obsession with beauty is innate. Everywhere we turn we're reminded that beauty is just a step away. Just one tweak, one improvement, and it's ours. Let's hope our desires haven't blinded us from the truth, that even if we can't see our own beauty, someone out there surely will.

Full & Fabulous

Plus size model Crystal Renn is gorgeous at any size, but her story differs from most models in the fashion industry. It wasn't her jutting collar bones, or her gaunt stature that garnered attention, but rather the reemergence of her natural size. After battling an eating disorder, and reclaiming her curvacious body, fame came calling. She recounts that arduous journey in her new book Hunger, released yesterday by Simon & Schuster. The Mississippi native was told to shed 70 pounds in order to reach her model potential, and she did just that by starving herself. Even after the dramatic weight loss, Renn was told she was still not thin enough. Faced with that horrible realization, Renn decided enough was enough. She underwent a complete mind/body makeover, and emerged as the fierce full figured vixen shown above. Featured on the covers of French, Italian and American Vogue, Renn feels like she's finally made it, and she did it all with the body God gave her. It's inspiring to see such a healthy figure being praised by the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier, a longstanding member of the fashion elite. Fashion has seen many trends come and go, but it has rarely embraced reality with such fervor. Momentum seems to be growing with Glamour magazine's latest nude icon, Christina Hendricks' bodacious curves, and now the gorgeous Crystal Renn showing us all that reality can be a beautiful thing. Amen to that.

The Animal Within

1. Betsey Johnson 'Carlos' Bootie, $200; betseyjohnson.com, 2. M·A·C 'Style Warrior' Lipglass in Liberated, $14; maccosmetics.com, 3. Leopard Risky Business Sunglasses, $14; urbanoutfitters.com, 4. Bernie Dexter Rebel Knit Pullover Top, $85; berniedexter.com.

A little leopard can go a long way. Whether you're offsetting a delicious LBD, or unleashing your inner sex kitten, animal print is a frisky way to up your ante. I've long been a lover of these ferocious prints, but there's a fine line to be walked when it comes to a pattern as bold as this. One toe over the line, and you end up looking like Linda Richman from Coffee Talk - that's a look we'll be reserving for retirement thank you very much. So keep it minimal: if you're rocking Bernie Dexter's Pullover, then make sure to pair it with black high waisted capris for a 1960s bad girrrl vibe. Be bold, be brazen and have fun! You'll be sure to find purrrfection.