Stiles styles short for Elle

'Raving' will star Deschanel, Irwin

By MICHAEL LEARMONTH

Stiles

Julia Stiles will write and direct "Raving," a short film based on a story in Elle magazine's October "Personal Style" issue, "The Dress That Changed My Life."

Short, starring thesps Zooey Deschanel and Bill Irwin, is sponsored by Elle and will be produced by Plum Pictures.

Film explores the connection between a young woman and a lonely, disassociated older man after a chance encounter on a New York street corner.

"I wanted to focus on characters not involved in the fashion world to illustrate how the seemingly simple act of getting dressed shapes one's identity," Stiles said.

Pic is part of a push into branded entertainment for Elle, which is also developing TV and online initiatives.