Dusk & Rubies: style

Showing posts with label style. Show all posts

3/23/14

City Living: The Fashion 2.0 Awards

If you have been following Dusk & Rubies on Facebook then you probably know we write for Guest Of A Guest! They had sent me to cover the Fashion 2.0 Awards last Thursday and we had a blast! To see the article visit: HERE. What I didn't write about was what I wore, who I mingled with and what it was like for me a little blogger from New York.

The 5 Minute Mani

I tell you lovelies all the time how I feel like there is not enough hours in the day. And as I become older, I think time just passes by even faster! I honestly wonder if I really have more to do, or my time management skills are just not what they used to be. Whether it's because I seriously have more on my plate, or because my time management skills have escaped me I have, in the mean time, learned some amazing time saving tricks. Remember when I shared how to do your makeup in 5 minutes? Or, our how-to on looking pulled together when you're really not? Well here is another way I have learned to beat the clock, and this time it's a quickie for your digits!

Dare To Be Dashing

Dare To Be Dashing by duskandrubies featuring a striped sun hat

Nail Art We Absolutely Love!

[Photo via @nailartdiary]

What To Wear: Interview Style 101

What To Wear: On An Interview by duskandrubies featuring a black vest

Jil Sander Navy button up shirt
stylebop.com

Alexander McQueen black vest
farfetch.com

Dsquared2 black dress pants
farfetch.com

Isaac Mizrahi high heel shoes
lordandtaylor.com

Topshop black kitten heel pumps
topshop.com

Time s Arrow leather coin purse
shopbop.com

Lacoste watch
macys.com

Witchery crystal jewelry
$22 - witchery.com.au

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

1/17/14

Golden Globes Inspired Looks

We love watching the Golden Globes, and this year was a treat with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as the talented and witty hostesses. But besides for the sheer entertainment factor of seeing all of our favorite actors and actresses sitting at tables together, we absolutely love love love the fashion. But, how can we get these red carpet inspired looks? We got you covered! Check out our take on one of our favorite looks from the night, Lizzy Caplan in Emilio Pucci.

DIY: Bohemian Multi-Purpose Tapestry

You know the saying, "one man's junk is another man's treasure"? Well, I'm that man (er-woman) who can always envision the limitless possibilities behind the dejected, disregarded, and deeply discounted. See how three clearance fabric placemats are used to create this warm and funky multi-purpose bohemian tapestry!

What you will need:

-3 fabric placemats (exact: from Pier 1 Imports "Chindi")

- Needle and matching thread

- Scissors

- Jute Twine

- Card stock and scrapbooking supplies

- Buttons

- Hot glue gun

- Mod Podge (I used the Matte finish)

- Pictures of friends, family, vacation spots

- Pins

Approximate Time: Depending on your creation, and pace anywhere from 1-3 hours

Step 1: Line up your three placemats on your work space with the tags up. Cut off all three tags, and then thread your needle with a thread that matches the stitching of your placemats. (I used a white)

Step 2: Sew the placemats together, and try to stay within the stitching.

Step 3: Once you're finished sewing your placemats together, it is time to add the jute twine. Cut your desire length of jute. (I wanted mine to hang tight to the hook so my jute twine was cut on the shorter side) Sew the jute twine on to the back side of your tapestry. (This way the front will look clean)

Step 4: Now, if you're using this bohemian tapestry as a way to add a window treatment you might want to leave it blank, and then hang one on either side of your window. But, if you want yours to look just like mine you're going to use your scrapbooking skills to create small picture frames for your tapestry. Use cardstock, buttons, jute twine bows to really make each picture festive.

Step 5: Use Mod Podge (Matte) to paste the photographs onto the cardstock, and for the buttons. But, use hot glue to adhere the jute bows.

*Tip*: If you want to be able to change up your photographs or rearrange them, then sew the cardstock on instead of hot gluing them to the fabric placemats. All of my photographs are sewed on!

Step 6: Hang it!

*Tip*: For a third purpose, your bohemian tapestry can also be used as a way to display/organize your baubles and jewels. Simply hook your earrings into the fabric, and add pins from a pin cushion to secure necklaces and bracelets!

So many finds, so little time!

What will you use this DIY for? Let us know in the comments below.

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

12/30/13

Get The Look: Modern 90's Grunge

Ah the 90s- what a clever decade. Made most famous by sitcoms like Seinfeld, Friends, Full House, Boy Meets World, Family Matters, Fresh Prince, and one of my favorites Frasier. Yes, I'm completely serious. Speaking of entertainment, when I think back on my youth, I remember having tons of fake pets to keep me constantly busy. There was my furbie, my multiple tamagotchies, pound puppies, and giga pets. Imagine if they made stickers to place on the back window of your mini van (if you owned a mini van) for all of those lessons in virtual responsibility!

I remember jamming and doing the running man to music blaring through my boombox. It wasn't a party unless TLC, Alanis Morisette, Color Me Badd, En Vogue, Barenaked Ladies, Kris Kros, 2pac, and Red Hot Chili Peppers were invited! While I agree this is a very eclectic mix of music, I want to remind you this was the 90s man. So as another year comes to a close, and our fashion trends come and go let us get a taste of what is to come...or repeat. The 90's grunge look is back, and here is how we styled it with a modern twist.

Get The Look: Modern 90s Grunge by duskandrubies featuring green sunglasses

Lipsy sleeveless top
$26 - lipsy.co.uk

Forever 21 top
forever21.com

The Row leather trousers
net-a-porter.com

Yeswalker black booties
yesstyle.com

MCM leather strap backpack
$875 - monnierfreres.co.uk

Ray-Ban green sunglasses
$280 - superette.co.nz

Slouch hat
$100 - black.co.uk

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

11/19/13

Inside A Private Shopping Event With Cynthia Rowley

Do you remember that moment in The Devil Wears Prada where Miranda, Meryl Streep's character, starts creating a look by pulling pieces off the rack? She puts the pieces together all willy-nilly, and yet the look she creates is flawless. Well that moment happened in my reality, except Miranda was replaced by fashion designer Cynthia Rowley.

Last Thursday I attended a private shopping event hosted by the playful and vivacious Cynthia Rowley. The private event was held at Cynthia's grand and whimsical 4-story Madison Avenue townhouse which houses the Cynthia Rowley Flagship Store, and CuRious Candy! Halfway through the night Cynthia began playing, and I say play because she really is like a child at play around clothes. She began pulling jackets, and dresses, and necklaces together to create a new look. I recreated what she pieced together below. While the exact necklace she used is no where to be found- I hunted the Internet for it, any statement piece will do!

Take a look at some other fun looks below:

(Exact leggings: here, Exact vest: here)

Cynthia Rowley all smiles as Farah cuts her decadent cake!

The night continued with awesome accessories. Here are a few of my favorites below:

Get your flask bangle: here They come in both silver and gold, and hold up to 3 oz.

Inside Scoop: Apparently Gwyneth Paltrow loves the flask bangle! I love how its design isn't compromised by its function.

Trend Spotting: I saw a lot of gold jewelry for this season, and a lot of charm bracelets. Her charm bracelets were extremely playful, with one charm being her signature rabbit. (The theme of CuRious Candy pays tribute to the darker side of Alice In Wonderland.)

Probably my favorite accessory of the night were these camel colored, leather studded shoes- which are not available online. They are only in stores!

Not only were all the guests afforded an amazing discount, champagne while we shopped, and free giveaways, but we were also allowed to try the candy upstairs! You can't imagine all the edible goodies she curates!

Everything from the glitter to the rhinestones is edible!

Edible silverware, dishes, and tea cups!

Cynthia does have a flare for the whimsical and absurd, but that is why we love her!

2nd floor: CuRious Candy

Love the playful side of Cynthia Rowley? Watch the following videos for more inspired fun!

Cant see video? Click: here

Can't see video? Click: here

If you're visiting NYC, then I recommend checking out Cynthia Rowley's store at 43 East 78th Street (at Madison Avenue), New York, NY (map).

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies Blog

11/16/13

Coloring Outside The Lines Of Beauty With Farah Zulaikha

Farah Zulaikha Private Shopping Event W/ Cynthia Rowley

So often we, especially women, are bombarded with definitions of beauty. We are constantly told who we should look like by magazines, television, and the web. Even science has decided to join this discussion on beauty by dedicating itself to figuring out the exact formula behind sex appeal. With both media and science constantly chattering in my ear trying to tell me what makes someone aesthetically pleasing, meeting Farah Zulaikha was like hitting the reset button- she was exactly what I needed to help me better figure out my own beauty, and what it truly means to be beautiful.

Walking the wintry streets of the Upper East Side, before hailing a cab to CuRious Candy (Cynthia Rowley's flagship building), I kept myself warm with my own excitement- and nerves. I was about to meet the inspiring Farah or, as her admiring followers know her as, Fafa. After my picture was snapped in front of the artful yet playful walkway, I headed into Cynthia's boutique where I was instantaneously made comfortable. Cynthia's people are like the fairy god-mothers of a good time. Within seconds I was gracefully removed from my coat, and my well-manicured fingers were occupied by the stem of a champagne flute. Even more remarkable, was when Farah glided over matching my excitement perfectly by greeting me like a longtime girlfriend.

"You must be Danielle! My publicist told me so much about you! We both love your blog, and she said you were the sweetest thing. I am so happy you're here!"

I was floored to say the least, and extremely humbled by how personable Farah was. She took my hand and pulled me through a crowd of her guests, and we talked about her cause, her dreams, and why she pursued her path in a special interview.

On Being A Fashion Ambassador...
I've always been a girls' girl. When I was younger I would look at magazines and think 'how come no one looks like me?'. I want girls to know that beauty isn't defined by just being one thing. You don't have to just have blond hair and blue eyes to be considered beautiful.

On Her Inspiration And The Launch of Her New Website...
Girls would always e-mail me asking me how I got my hair to be so shiny, or what I do for my skin, and I would tell them 'oh, my mom mixes these home-made remedies in our kitchen and we use it on our hair'. I would make some- I have a background in biochemistry- and send out samples. My followers were like Fafa is this really you e-mailing me? I would think of course it's really me!

Farah holds up the tinted lip balm in the shade Pink Champagne that everyone invited to the event went home with, and she is all smiles. I told her that I had recently met Maureen Kelly the founder of Tarte cosmetics, whose cosmetics I happened to be wearing, and is also known for her natural cosmetic line.

On Creating Natural Cosmetics...
Yes, I know Tarte! My lip tint, like Tarte cosmetics, is completely natural and I am really excited about it. From constantly using home remedies, it just felt natural to start to create an all-natural cosmetics. I am really excited about the lip tint because it was a shade designed to look great on every girl, and every skin tone.

As the night continued, Farah personally greeted each guest as they arrived, and we continued our conversation throughout the evening. One of the personality traits that Farah possesses, which I firmly believe is what draws people to her, is her compassion. At one point in the evening I had expressed that it was her philanthropy that I found so profound and beautiful. She replied by grabbing my hand and with a genuine seriousness stated, Yes, I strongly believe that charity is spreading love and beauty.

Farah is involved in so much, and is bettering the world in so many different ways. I love that Farah is well known not only for her ads and editorials as a model, but also as the face behind her humanitarian efforts. See some of her outstanding photographs below.

http://fafazforme.com/fashion-portfolio/ads-editorials/

By the end of the night, I felt as if I had known Farah for years. Every guest was touched by her enthusiasm, and her ability to put into action the good she wants to see it the world. Beauty grows and spreads like wild fire through women like Farah, and that is the kind of beauty I wish we saw more of. She is humble, philanthropic, kind, intelligent, and friendly. It is because of all of this that Farah radiates beauty, a beauty that is not just visible to the naked eye, or measured by science, but a beauty that can be felt.

I cannot wait to see what Fafa has in store for her #fafanistas!

For more info, and to stay up to date with everything Farah check out her website!

Follow her on

instagram: @Farahzofficial

facebook: Official Facebook Page

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies Blog

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Part of the WSWP: Women Support Women Project

Know someone who is starting a small business and is looking for press? E-mail us your story, and your business may be chosen to have an article written about it [duskandrubies@gmail.com]

Written by: Danielle A. Rufrano
NYS Teacher Certification in English Language Arts
Freelance writer for: yourzenlife.com and getfesty.com
BA in English, 2010