Sensual, timeless portrait featured in Elle's opening article (9)
I believe the answer is:
epicurean
'sensual' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'timeless portrait featured in elle's opening article' is the wordplay.
'timeless portrait' becomes 'picure' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'featured in' is an insertion indicator.
'opening' says to take the initial letters.
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
The initial letter of 'elles' is 'e'.
'e'+'an'='ean'
'picure' going into 'ean' is 'EPICUREAN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for epicurean that I've seen before include "pleasure-seeker" , "immoderate character" , "One appreciating food and drink" , "enjoyer of good food" , "follower of luxury" .)