December 2006 Contents

HOLIDAYGIFTGUIDE
THE SEASON'S HOTTEST ITEMS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR NICE LIST

FOREIGN AFFAIRS
JEFF STEIN ON THE CIA'S BOTCHED KIDNAPPING OF EGYPTIAN CLERIC ABU OMAR

2007 SOCIAL LIST
WHO'S WHO: WASHINGTON'S SOCIETY PLAYERS

COVER STORY
2006 SUBSTANCE & STYLE

FEATURES

• FAST COMPANY
  The New Year's Hottest Cars
• MEN OF SUBSTANCE & STYLE
  Philippe Cousteau, David Mercer, Barack Obama and Dr. E. Fuller Torrey.
• WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE & STYLE
  Isabel de la Cruz Ernst, Pilar O' Leary and Gabriela A. Smith
• VERBATIM
  NY Social Diarist David Patrick Columbia
• HIGH SOCIETY
  Royal Blood Loss
• POLLYWOOD
  C'est Chic French Film Festival
  HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC by Janet Donovan
• ELVIS IN '56
  Alfred Wertheimer's photos of the King.
• CONNOISSEUR
  Holiday Wine Guide
• PERFORMING ARTS
  Beneath the Veil
• WL SPOTLIGHT
  Conflict Diamonds with Ronnie Mervis

FASHION & BEAUTY

• MEDSPAS
  The latest evolution of beauty
• FASHION FIGHTS POVERTY
  Interview with Escada President Lawrence De Paris

COLUMNS

• ART AND AUCTION by Renee Harrison Drake
• DIPLOMATIC DANCE by Gail Scott
• MEDIA SPOTLIGHT by Janet Donovan
• AROUND TOWN by Donna Shor
• OVER THE MOON by Vicky Moon
• THIS TOWN by Michael Strange

DEPARTMENTS

• EDITOR'S LETTER
• CONTRIBUTORS
• CALENDAR OF EVENTS
• FYIDC
• WHO'S NEXT Alex Pareene.
• TRAVEL 20 days in Africa

WL SPONSORED EVENTS

• National Italian American Foundation.
• Spices and Rices Gala
• WL's Born to Shop.
• MaxMara Opening
• Kettle for a Cause

WL EXCLUSIVES

• Farwell Fetes for Karim and Luma Kawar
• Coco Bensahel's Birthday
• Paul Wharton's Birthday

LIFE OF THE PARTY

• Phillips Collection Black & White Ball
• Fall Gold Cup.
• Young Concert Artists
• American Task Force of Palestine Gala.
• Unmasking Mental Illness
• Baily, Banks & Biddle Opening.
• Best Buddies Ball
• Harvard's 02138 Launch Party

REAL ESTATE & DESIGN

• INSIDE HOMES
  Casa Franco Nuschese
• REAL ESTATE NEWS
  with Mary Mewborn
• OPEN HOUSE

ONTHECOVERPilar O' Leary, a woman of Substance & Style, wears a Maxmara purple wrap dress; $930, available at MaxMara, Chevy Chase, Md.; Pampillonia Lady heart 18 Kt white gold 5-drop Necklace, $10,210, and Lady Heart 18 kt 3-drop earrings, $15,225; available at Pampillonia, Chevy Chase, Md.