St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page F001

PAGE f01md1ev0818 SECTION HURSDAY A UGUST 18 2005 VERYDAY VERYDAY COMINGFRIDAY Check out reviews of 40-Year-Old and other movies. In Everyday INSIDE TODAY Who led the Solidarity Union in Poland? Check your trivia knowledge against that and other questions. F3 A A FRESHMANat Country Day School, Sterling K. Brown landed a role in a production of and for three nights in a row the audience responded to the show with standing ovations. On the last night, as the crowd once again rose to its feet and cheered, Brown turned to friend and classmate Michael Hogan, grinned and said, we need to keep doing Today, Brown is a working actor whose latest project is the new FX comedy In a profession notorious for the struggle it demands, been blessed that never had to do anything other than act to earn a Brown said last week from the living room of the split-level house in Olivette where he grew up.

For a long time, though, he resisted thinking of acting no matter how much fun it was as a profession. To get the full picture, we need to return to 1987, when young Sterling, who loved sports, especially soccer, was looking forward to attending middle school in Ladue, where his mother was teaching. Then Aralean Banks Brown prayed on the subject of her schooling and learned that wanted him to go to Country Sterling disagreed was 10 years old, and the idea of going to an all-boys school was the worst but he went. It was at Country Day (now MICDS) that he took a class in radio theater, with productions complete with sound effects and music, but more pivotally it was where he found a mentor in Milton Zoth, who cast him and three other freshmen in Before graduating in 1994, he went on to have a rich theater as part of the Troubadours group, performing in such plays as Arthur My Still, when he applied to and was accepted at Stanford University, it was intention to study economics. was my feeling that God had not afforded me the opportunity to attend this prestigious prep school just so I could go off and live the bohemian life of an he recalls wryly.

very good in mother interjects. tell you this, but he has a very high So, economics it was. But in his freshman year another future mentor professor Harry J. Elam, now director of Committee on Black Performing Arts came to his dorm looking for people to audition for a production of Come and Brown tried out and landed a lead role, plus advice from Elam to stick with acting, even if only as a minor. Aralean Brown went to Stanford to see his performance, and Elam told her, going to see him on the big she recalls now.

never heard that Sterling comments.) After his sophomore year, Brown dropped economics altogether in favor of acting. From Stanford, he went straight to New York University, where in three years of exhaustive immersion in every aspect of acting he earned his master of arts degree. His roommate? None other than former Country Day classmate Michael Hogan remember him from Since leaving NYU, Brown has done everything from in New Jersey to guest shots on and to recurring roles on (he was Dade in four episodes) and the short-lived ISA ONES OWNSEL Post-Dispatch Fashion Editor probably no surprise that the camisole has made its way out of the underwear drawer and into many closets. But a bit interesting is that this trend has fully saturated the plus-sized market. Refusing to simply hide their curves behind oversized tunics and formless jackets, plus-size woman wants stylish pieces that highlight her assets.

And many the cami, in its many incarnations, to be the piece of power. Once just a supersexy undergarment, the cami can now be paired with jeans, a skirt, gauchos or a great suit to a make a statement that is both chic and feminine. But there have been construction adjustments: Instead of spaghetti straps, many larger-size tops provide thicker ones for support. Hem line drapes are often more blousy to fall over larger hips. And many (though not all) include built-in bras.

Otherwise, fabrications, styles and patterns are just as luxurious and versatile as those made for women of smaller frames. better shaping. more body conscious and often made with beautiful embellishments, like explains Catherine Lippincott of the camisoles offered by Columbus, Ohio-based Lane Bryant stores. Lippincott says Lane Bryant, which carries sizes 14-16 to 28, began stocking dressy and casual camisoles months ago. But newer styles crowd the racks for fall.

Among the offerings: a V-neck camisole that is great for the woman with a large bust line. offers enough coverage around the bodice and has a bigger Lippincott says. just sort of hangs, so if trying to skim over a tummy, we have those as well. We also have another camisole top, which is more of a staple. made with Lycra and cotton and comes in a variety of colors and with a built-in While practicality draws some to the girly top, the reasons are more for others.

started about a year ago when we started seeing feminine details, embroidery and lace trim. It morphed into the camisole being the key items and seeing celebrities wearing Lippincott says. Now, plus-size women can nab a cami just about anywhere. Target carries them in larger sizes, as does Old Navy. According to the NPD Group, a marketing research in Port Washington, N.Y., the market continues to expand.

From July 2004 to June 2005, the plus-size industry generated $17.4 billion up 4.1 percent from the year before. Still, a lot of larger women often shop online where they have to worry about three-way mirrored and snooty sales people judging them. Avon recently launched its Avon Style Plus line of intimate wear and casual wear pieces for women who wear sizes 16 through 30. Women can gather at homes or check out web site, avon.com, to look at the lingerie, dress and lounge wear options. Wider straps and more support put camis in plus-size closets At Country Day, Brown exited stage right When: 9 p.m.

Thursdays Where: FX See Fashion, F3 See Pennnimgton, F8 ENDY ONAHUE Chicago Tribune Fellow photographers laughed when Spencer Weiner, 39, rolled up to the Michael Jackson trial with trolley wheels like a sneakers. got a lot of grief about the blinking said Weiner, who works for the Los Angeles Times. once everyone got through giving me a hard time, they asked, you get that Between using the Zuca rolling backpack as a stepstool to get better shots, Weiner, 39, enlightened other journalists in the Jackson encampment to all of its higher powers: A lightweight but sturdy aluminum crash cage can bear more than 300 pounds. The platform on top doubles as a chair when you need to take a load off and as a shock absorber for expensive equipment within. (The San Jose, maker does not endorse standing on the Zuca the wheels make that dangerous.

Nonetheless, had the biggest, roundest photographer get up and stand on Weiner said. was like, wow, this really An interchangeable, washable endoskeleton attaches with heavy- duty Velcro. Mesh side pockets and a full-frontal zip pocket make for easy retrieval of ungainly goods. Urethane wheels with LEDs add night visibility when fumbling with cargo in dark parking lots. Each side has two inline wheels for easy rolling over stairs and curbs.

In short, the smartest roller bag Weiner said and not just for photographers. In fact, Laura Udall and her husband launched the Zuca in 2004 as a mobile locker for children, to get heavy packs off their backs. At the close of trial, by the way, 10 more journalists, including one for the London Times, rolled Zuca bags home with them. And teasing at least about this aspect of the trial had ceased. The Zuca costs $119.99 at zuca.com and ebags.com.

They carry the weight Under realistic conditions of oppressive heat, we asked visitors at Taste of Chicago this summer to perform a live test of several carrying devices, loaded with summer cargo. ALL-AROUND VALUE: L.L. the Big Easy Pack morphs from backpack to messenger bag to briefcase, with a built- in strap and padding to protect a laptop computer. A bottom compartment keeps skunky workout gear from polluting books and papers. An extra-large organizer panel holds pens and discs, a mesh pocket stashes water bottle, and a padded back panel makes all of it more comfortable to carry.

Plus, 3M Scotchlite material increases visibility to motorists at night. Could you ask for anything more? Our testers said no, heartily approving of its price too. $59 at llbean.com. ULTRA-LIGHT TRAVELING A study in minimalism, Walker mesh wrist pouch, with elastic band to slip over the hand, holds the keys plus a Baggie (if walking the dog) or a credit card and cash. Our testers said they would use it for everything from running to carrying lunch money to accompanying the pooch on cial business.

A 2-by-4 one holds $11 at walkerbags.com A 3-by-4 one holds credit cards and IDs too. $15 at walkerbags.com. YOGA- OR BEACH-BOUND: Like a Superman of bags, the Crescent Moon bag hides zippers at its base, which open to reveal black straps that can wrap around a yoga mat after work or beach towel on the weekend or umbrella on a rainy day. In canvas with green leather trim, this bag earned high marks for style from our testers, even from those who be using the strap function and have never done a yoga posture in their lives. $129 at kolobags.com.

Bagging it: Backpack on wheels success TEAK PHILLIPS POST-DISPATCH) The camisole has become the versatile must-have piece in every wardrobe. Here, a high-waisted bandeau-topped cami with straps ($39.50) adds dazzle to this eggplant pant suit (pants, blazer, $59.50) and wood pendant necklace ($39.50, all from Lane Bryant). St. Louis actor Sterling K. Brown portrays Adam on an NYPD cop who is trying to recover from bulimia.

Dress up a pair of jeans with this tiered camisole ($39.50, Lane Bryant). Photos taken at City Hall in downtown St. Louis Camisoles fit full figures.