Skirting the Not-so-Thin Issues

It seems you can't turn on a TV without hearing about America's devestating economic downturn, escalating prices at the pump and epidemic foreclosure rates from sea to shining sea. Doom, gloom and an upcoming election. No wonder I read my news. (Selectively.)

Fashion magazines, those perfumed, glossy pick-me-ups stuffing our mailboxes each month, have taken a different tack. Shimmering fur! Flecks of 14k gold in your lipgloss! Pure cashmere dresses! Four-figure boot prices!

There has to be a middle of the road approach, as even in the healthiest of economies I'll never wear a $2,000 dress to the grocery store.

Nevertheless, this is an interesting analysis of the wide range of in-touchness (yes, I just invented that word) these pubs span - and Anna Wintour is not the worst of them. C'mon, Elle.