New Season of Top Model Short on Stature, Tall on Fierceness

Just so there's no confusion, 5 feet 7 inches isn't short for a woman. Nor is it short for a season of America's Next Top Model.

If the big turnout—and by "big," we mean frighteningly big drama—for if the auditions were any indication, Tyra Banks' troop of lovelies-in-training should be no less tall on talent than previous seasons.

For lucky cycle 13, premiering Wednesday, Sept. 9 on the CW, contestants could not exceed the 5-foot-7-inch height maximum. The shrimpiest is four inches shorter than that (gasp!).

Banks leads the panel of experts, including [noted] photographer Nigel Barker, runway expert J. Alexander and a revolving seat of guest judges, including Lauren Conrad and Kim Kardashian.

Without further ado, here's your list of beauties vying for a $100,000 modeling contract with CoverGirl, management by Wilhelmina Models and six pages in Seventeen magazine.

Megan Fox in a Bathing Suit

National Megan Fox Awareness Day happened last week—but really, there's no reason every day can't be National Megan Fox Awareness Day.

Especially with these hot outtakes from her June Elle cover.

But why does a women's magazine feature these photos? Scantily clad Megan Fox doesn't seem like it would be a big selling point for ladies when buying fashion glossies.

Sorry. What a stupid train of thought. It doesn't matter how or why these photos exist, just that they do.

One more after the jump...

Who's Haute Stuff? Luxe Leather Edition

Leather in the summertime? Only the most daring fashionistas are rocking this look. Which star pulls it off best?

- Rihanna
- Emma Watson
- Angelina Jolie
- Chloë Sevigny

Swanky Saturdays: Get Kourtney's Look for Less

She may have forgotten to take her pill, but Kourtney Kardashian hasn't forgotten how to steal the spotlight.

The mom-to-be used the streets of New York as her runway during her Big Apple promo trip for E!'s upcoming reality show Kourtney & Khloé Take Miami, which debuts tonight on E!.

The berry Alice + Olivia draped panel dress was sweet and simple. But the bold lia sophia necklace and sky-high YSL Trib Two platform pumps added that sex factor the Kardashian sisters expertly know how to deliver. Here's how to get Kourtney's look for less:

The beauty of a roomy trapeze dress, like this embellished one from Arden B ($48), is that you can get knocked up by your ex, and nobody will know.

Keep reading to shop the accessories to complete Kourt's hot mama look?

Beauty Trends: Sepia-Toned Makeup

“We were inspired by a sepia photograph of a woman from the 1930s and the shading on her face,” says makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, who created the look for Donna Karan’s fall 2009 show, adding that the gray-brown image had the same tonality as Karan’s collection (“We didn’t want to do anything too graphic or too colorful”).

To mimic the three-dimensional appearance of the sepia-toned headshot, Tilbury accentuated models’ cheekbones with a creamy, pale pink lipstick and framed eyes with M.A.C Cream Colour Base in Dusk and Root. A “plasticlike, wet, modern finish” came courtesy of gold-flecked black lip gloss for eyelids and pearlescent highlighter on cheeks and down the center of the nose.

Highlighter was also dusted on lips, over M.A.C Lipstick in Half ‘n Half and a layer of foundation: “The foundation dulls the lipstick down and makes it a little more neutral—I didn’t want any sheen,” says Tilbury. “Highlighter allows a little bit of light to come through and gives a soft, dreamy shimmer.”

Makeup Trends: Black Eye Shadow

Yigal Azrouël’s fall 2009 show was full of black pieces—with eyes to match.

“The clothes have a lot of leather and heaviness, so Yigal wanted something that was a little rock ’n’ roll,” says Polly Osmond, who invented the striking black-rimmed eyes for Azrouël’s fall 2009 show. “I’m trying to move forward from the regular greasy look, so I’ve created a supermatte black eye using four different products, layering them on top of each other.”

For an intense makeup look, Osmond utilized two black eye liners—an ultradark kohl pencil and M.A.C Fluidline gel eye liner in Blacktrack—as shadows, blending them over the entire lid. Next, she dabbed a tiny bit of gray eye shadow in the inner corners and mattified the lid with M.A.C’s Greasepaint Stick, which hits stores in October (“It’s not what it sounds like; it’s actually very, very matte,” Osmond says about the new product).

So why all the layers? “Matte makeup is difficult to work with—it sticks and it stays there. A base underneath is necessary in order to create movement.” To finish the three-dimensional black eyes, Osmond lavished lashes with a generous helping of black mascara.

The Coolest Cuts: Layers and Bangs

All-one-length tresses are totally over. To look up-to-the-minute sexy, you've gotta snip some bouncy layers or hip bangs into your locks. We help you choose the look that's right for you.

Everyone's doing it.

From screen stars to pop singers, all the trendsetting celebs are updating their tresses by getting piecey layers or eye-skimming bangs sliced into their locks. And there's a good reason: "Adding any kind of face-framing pieces to the style you have makes it much more flattering to your features and a whole lot sexier," says Oscar Blandi, the NYC stylist and salon owner who created the looks on these pages. And what's great about both these mane effects is that they don't require losing lots of length or making a dramatic change.

To Layer Your Locks

All-one-length strands may have looked good on Marcia Brady, but today's hottest stars are all about alluring, swinging hair that has tons of body. And the good news is, you don't have to be as tress-blessed as Courteney Cox Arquette to work this style. "Anyone can wear layers and incorporating some into your existing cut is the easiest way to give it a sexy, more modern look," says Blandi. But not all layers are created equal. "You have to match them to your natural hair texture," he says. Here, how to know which kind is right for your mane type.
If you have a curly coif, go for long, graduated layers all over your head to give your spirals definition so they are less frizz-prone.

If your strands are superfine, make some of your layers around ear-length to get volume at the roots.

If your mane is straight or kind of wavy and you want to make it look more shapely, add layers in the underneath section of your hair for a shaggy, bedhead look.

If your locks are ultrathick and you need to thin them out, ask your stylist to hold the scissors vertically while cutting the layers to take away the bulk.

To Bring on the Bangs

If you haven't worn fringe since you had training wheels on your bike, you'll be happy to hear that they've come a long way. The newest bangs range from long and blunt to side-swept and wispy, which means every girl can find a style that's perfect for her. "Bangs will look good on just about anyone. The key is determining the type that best complements your face shape," says Blandi. Here, his guide for figuring out which fringe is ideal for you:

If your face is round, the most flattering effect is long, feathery bangs that curve into your face to minimize your full cheeks and add contour to your features.

If your face is long, go for blunt brow-level bangs that cover your forehead and create the illusion of a more oval-shaped face. Also, ask your stylist to add longer layers at the sides.

If your face is square, check out long, side-swept bangs that taper into layers near your jaw. This style will help soften the angles of your face.

Snip tip: Make sure your stylist sees your locks when they're dry first, since hair is longer when it's wet. You don't want the stylist to screw up and snip off too much.

Flirty Summer Fashion

The best part of hanging solo is the freedom to do whatever, whenever the hell you want. That includes dressing irresistibly sexy just because of the way it makes you feel.

Should Speedos be banned?

This week, U.K. water park Alton Towers issued a mandate to male guests: No more Speedos. Reps for the park called the ban on tiny trunks an "extreme measure," but explained it was meant "to prevent embarrassment among fellow members of the public and to maintain the family-friendly atmosphere at the resort.

"And:"We feel this small brief style is not appropriate for a family venue so we are advising male bathers to wear more protective swimwear such as shorts."Such a tough issue! Sure, there's a bit of discrimnation going on. Alton park allows female guests to wear thong bathing suits, which seem, by this measure, as offensive as a man's banana hammock.

If it's a conservative family park, one would think it'd find bare butts as unseemly as the outline of a bulge.However, Speedos are kind of gross. They're cheesy-hilarious, sure, but they're also pretty much twig-and-berry X-ray machines, revealing a super-graphic silhouette of the wearer's junk. It's like having shiny seal skin stretched over the area--there's not a lot left to the imagination.

And watching that come down a steep, slippery slide? Awkward!Would we really be so sad to see this swimwear go forever? Not here, of course. But the Euros, they love to splash around in man panties. As Shine managing editor Annette mentioned yesterday, "Dude, do any of them even own a pair of trunks?"

Sexy Swimsuit CoverUps

Letting go is a breeze when you're wearing feather-light fabrics in shades so soft, they look faded by the sun. The only thing sexier? Your skin, just barely visible underneath.

Go natural without skimping on style

Go natural without skimping on style—mix exotic accessories with sexy staples for a chic answer to sustainable fashion

LADY LUXE

FLOWERPOWER

ROCKER


MODERN HIPPIE

Beauty Tip: Sweating It

Whether you’re experiencing makeup meltdown, underarm wetness, foot odor—or all three, overactive sweat glands can definitely cramp your summer style. The good news is there are ways to combat hyperhidrosis (i.e. excessive perspiration) and cope better with it.

Stay Cool on the Go
While it’s commonly believed that sweating helps detoxify your body, the truth is that sweat contains few toxins. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, the liver and kidneys—not the sweat glands—are what filter toxins from the blood; sweat simply serves to cool you down when you overheat. With this in mind, be prepared the next time you’re invited to an outdoor fete: Pack your purse with gentle facial cleansing wipes (the compact ones by Simple are easy to tuck away), cool-to-the-touch cream (Lumene’s miniature Time Freeze Instant Cooling Eye Stick is ultrarefreshing), and travel sized Evian Brumisateur Mineral Water Spray (bonus: It makes your makeup stay on longer). Another tip: Before popping open your ice-cold can of soda, hold it to the back of your neck for a quick cool-down.

Sweatproof Your Makeup
While supermatte ’90s-inspired skin is in for fall, during summer a little shine is actually chic. (So don’t blot away with oil-absorbing sheets the second you feel moisture poking through!) That said, Boscia Lavender Blotting Linens are a godsend. You should also never underestimate the power of a good makeup base. To keep brow sweat at bay, use makeup that allows your skin to breathe while keeping it shine-free: Start by using a water-based oil-absorbing primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Light and follow with a similarly absorbent powder foundation such as Make Up For Ever Duo Mat. And when it comes to your eyes, opt for powder shadow and waterproof mascara and liner. Plan on being outside during prime sweat time (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)? Nothing beats liquid liner.

Watch Your Diet
Caffeine and nicotine have both been linked to excessive sweating so instead of reaching for coffee or cigarettes, your best bet is to grab a glass of water and carrot sticks. While water helps hydrate and regulate body temperature, fruits and veggies are healthier alternatives to processed foods (particularly those with lots of sugar) which, incidentally, have also been shown to stimulate sweat glands.

Amp Up Your Antiperspirant
Many drugstore brands—Dove, Secret, Degree—have released “clinical strength” antiperspirant formulas, but if these don’t work for you, consider talking to your doctor about a prescription version. Over-the-counter options like Drysol, Saldrize, and Certain Dry may help and can be used on the soles of feet as well if products such as Avon Footworks Deodorizing Foot Powder don’t do the trick. Prescription oral medications such as oxybutynin and glycopyrrolate are another option but are typically considered a last resort, as they can be accompanied by serious side effects that include drowsiness, visual impairment, and dryness of the mouth.

Try Red Carpet Treatment
If you’ve exhausted over-the-counter antiperspirants to no avail, you may consider doing what many Hollywood starlets are rumored to do: Get Botox injections in your underarms and/or feet. In July 2004, the FDA approved Botox for hyperhidrosis that can’t be resolved with topical treatments; by blocking the release of a chemical in the nervous system responsible for triggering the sweat glands, Botox can temporarily reduce perspiration in the area that's been injected. Results usually last for up to six months.

Skin Care Dos and Don’ts : Hands On, Hands Off

Don’t overmassage the skin or touch your face too much. A facial massage can help relieve stress, improve elasticity, and provide a healthy glow, but stimulating the skin too much can also irritate sensitive skin and worsen acne, psoriasis, or eczema. Also, try not to touch your skin during the day when your fingers might not be clean (enough said).

Do use the “zipper” technique when applying antiaging creams and serums to fine lines and wrinkles—this will create a crevice-free surface so that the cream/serum can effectively penetrate. Here’s how to do it: Using your index finger and middle finger, gently push the skin on either side of the line outward. Keeping fingers spread, use a finger from your other hand to “zip up” the smoothed-out area in between with product.

Who's Haute Stuff? Slinky Bikini !!!

The stars are staying cool this summer in teeny-weeny bathing suits. Which celeb rocks the cutest bikini?
Kendra Wilkinson
Kim Kardashian
Lindsay Lohan
Cameron Diaz