Kiss the ground. Do a happy dance. Break out your white pants (if you haven’t already). The official kickoff to summer is finally here and I can’t pack my bags fast enough… mostly because I’m late for, well, everything, but also – the ferry/train/plane is calling me to the beach.

Truth be told, though, I’m a little rusty when it comes to filling my larger-than-needed suitcase appropriately for this weekend’s jam-packed warm-weather social calendar. That’s where this inspiration board comes in handy:

The Packing List: For Summer Weekend Getaways Boutique opens Saturday, May 25, at 11AM ET.

By Abigail Kuzia, Editor

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Our Restock & Re-Do: Sheet Sets Under $100, Restock & Re-Do: Duvet Sets Under $100, and Restock & Re-Do: Lighting Under $250 Boutiques open Friday, May 24, at 3PM ET.

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Ahh, the white dress shirt. Crisp. Clean. Classic. It’s the must-have office staple for every 9-to-5er. To make sure you’re buttoning up the right way Monday through Friday, check out these tips:

To button or not to button?
Leave only the collar button and the one below open. Three buttons and you run the risk of showing too much skin.

As Frankie would say, “Relax.”
For a more casual feel that still looks sharp, leave your cuffs undone. During the summer, roll those bad boys up.

Never let it all hang out.
No ifs, ands, or buts about it – you should always tuck in a traditional white dress shirt. It just looks sharper – period.

Keep it clean.
Brush a little Shout over sweat-prone areas (inside the collar, under the arms… you get the picture) before tossing it in the laundry.  No one – and we mean no one – wants to see yellow pit stains.

Our Robert Graham Boutique opens Friday, May 23, at 11AM ET.

By Keriann Coffey, Associate Blog Editor

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Guy style – a whole summer’s worth. Take laptop to patio. Crack beer. All set? Read on.

1. Style Girlfriend
A girlfriend’s perspective on a guy’s getup. Perk: she’ll never borrow your sweaters and dub them her own style statement.

2. The Dandy Project
Okay. So organza doesn’t exactly reek of masculinity. But Izzy makes it work. Writing + photography = irresistibly superb.

3. Unabashedly Prep
There’s nothing like hovering on the cusp of Memorial Day weekend to get us in the mood for prep.  So go ahead: pop your collar. Eat a lobster roll.

4. Kempt
UrbanDaddy’s style blog. Enough said. You’re welcome.

Now, break.

Who are we missing? Tell us on Twitter at @ruelala #bloggerswelove. 

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The thing I love most about a maxi dress? It always looks flattering. Unless, of course, it isn’t the right length. And seeing that so many of us are different heights, too-long dresses are a common problem. Luckily, these four tips help you get that hem to hit the just-right spot. (No scissors required.)

Our 10 Ways to Wear: The Maxi Dress Boutique opens Thursday, May 23, at 11AM ET.

By Keriann Coffey, Associate Blog Editor

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As summer approaches, the air changes – and our skin goes into its routine seasonal shock. Dark sun spots. Red pimples (curse the humidity). Freckles appearing as if from nowhere. And that natural, barely there look you were aiming for turns in to a cakey mess with the over-application of ivory concealers, nude foundations, and white powders.

Enter: The Color Correction Compact. The age-old theory is that the colors opposite each other on the color wheel cancel each other out. Here’s how it works.

1. Assess your face in the mirror and identify the areas that require coverage.

• Red spots: pimples or rosacea
• Brown spots: sun spots or scars
• Purple or blue spots: veiny eyelids or circles under eyes
• Orange spots: freckles

 
2. Use a color corrector liquid or powder compact (or both, depending on the severity of your spots) to dab away blemishes with their color opposites.

Hint: Less is more. The advantage of this technique, as opposed to using cover-up, is that these colors disguise the blemishes completely. Try not to paint it on.

3. Use an allover white face powder after you color correct and before applying bronzer or blush.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Questions? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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‪‪@allyinwondrland: These raw chocolate chip cookies are the best thing to happen to me. ‪http://pinterest.com/pin/151292868704732553/ …
Might as well throw out our ovens (assuming they’re not already full of shoes).

‪@dkny: I really hope I’ll be invited to Yahoo & Tumblr’s wedding.
Can we be your +1? Pretty please?

‏‪@bobsaget: Had to cut my workout short today. Spotted an ab and ran out to celebrate.
And here we were, thinking we were the only ones. Must be all that imaginary exercise.

@tarzansgrrl: Drink like your fave fictional character! The Cocktail Chart of Film & Literature ‪http://ow.ly/lfi8O 
We’ll take Carrie Bradshaw’s Cosmo. Or maybe Jay Gatsby’s Gin Rickey, depending on how we’re feeling at happy hour.

‪@EllenPage: Let me retweet a tweet from a while ago:
Sarcasm is super easy to read on twitter
Oh, really – you don’t say?

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Surely we missed something, so leave your favorite tweets of the week in the comments below, or tweet us, of course: @ruelala.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And we here at Rue want to do our part.

This month, the Child Mind Institute (in collaboration with our favorite wellie maker, Hunter Boot) launched its third annual Speak Up for Kids initiative – aimed at helping children with psychiatric disorders get on the path to a healthy, happy, productive life. As part of their campaign, they’ve put together this quick, educational quiz, making it easier than ever to inform the public about their cause while simultaneously raising funds to help children get the care they need.

Are there more taxidermists or child psychiatrists in the U.S.? You’re about to find out. For every person who clicks on this link and completes the quiz, Hunter Boot will donate $1 to the Child Mind Institute. So, click, click, click away – and share with your friends, too. Seriously, making a difference in a child’s life is as easy as spreading the word.

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You’ve noticed mother-of-pearl accents on everything from watch faces to buttons. If you’re like me, though, you probably haven’t given such details much thought beyond admiring their luster. So let’s pause for a second: what exactly is mother-of-pearl? In an effort to avoid a fashion faux pas, I did some digging and found out.

For all intents and purposes, a seashell is actually the “mother” of a pearl. Mother-of-pearl – also known as “nacre” – is the shiny interior of a shell. The outer layer of pearls and inner layer of shells are both made up of nacre, giving them the same wondrous appeal and disparity of color. Natural iridescent shades of ivory, gold, grey, and black make the perfect accents for all those luxe little extras.

By Jillian Hudon, Staff Writer

Want the lowdown on fabrics and more? Follow our What Are You (Really) Wearing? column every Tuesday.

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Meet the only city on earth that straddles two continents: Istanbul. I’m sure you’ve met it before. In guide books. On rogue episodes of Anthony Bourdain. Thick photo spreads in National Geographic. The world’s abuzz with this suddenly-trending place. But don’t jet off quite yet. First, read up on all you need to know about the city, told by the very best source out there – a local. Here, Istanbul native and Northeastern University Master’s graduate, Gökçe Dündar, fills us in on everything to know about the city she loves most.

Must-see sites: Don’t miss European Side – especially hanging out under the Galata Bridge. The bridge itself forms a link between the two sides of European Istanbul, while its lower deck is home to restaurants, bars, and teahouses with ringside waterfront seating for boat watching. Before you leave, visit Topkapı Palace, too – the oldest and largest palace in the world since 1465. At least half a day is needed to explore it. It’s giant. During 400 hundred years of reign, each sultan added a different section or hall to the palace, depending on his taste or on the needs of the time.

Quick eat: In a rush? Go to Ali Baba’nin boat at Rumelihisari and get grilled fish sandwich or, as we call it, balık ekmek. Unforgettable. 

Street food: Want authentic? Try kumpir – a baked-potato dish and one of the city’s most beloved street foods. The baked potato gets married with fresh butter and kashar (traditional Turkish cheese), and then you point out your choice of toppings to be added next: hotdog slices, corn, pickles, olives, and kisir (a Bulgur dish). Last touch is a spicy red-pepper sauce. It is known by everyone that the best baked potato of Istanbul can be found in Ortaköy.

Continue reading “An Insider’s Guide to Istanbul: City Musts from a Local” »