While we already gush over the gourmet dining and to-die-for ports on Windstar cruises, our favorite part about sailing the high seas is simply getting people together. Whether it’s family or old friends, these luxury-loaded yachts house all our wants and needs right on-board, meaning the whole crew is kept (much more than) entertained.

And to up the ante, Windstar has released a new refurbishment plan that kicks the on-board lavishness up a notch. We’re talking floor to ceiling upgrades for staterooms and suites, a revamped restaurant, and renovated lounge and pool bar. The best part? All renovations will be finished for the Caribbean season – just in time for family trips to the islands.

Our Windstar Cruises: Barcelona, Rome, & More Boutique opens Wednesday, February 22 at 11AM ET.

When it comes to elegant entertaining, this designer makes tabletop magic happen. We caught up with the homeware guru to talk about hosting necessities and the inspiration for her artistic serveware.

Rue La La: Your designs are incredible. Tell us how you got started doing décor.
Julia: I want to be present at a party and not worn out from the preparation, which drove my desire to design entertaining table and serveware that would make everything I served absolutely stunning.

Rue La La: Where do you draw inspiration from?
Julia: My inspiration comes from the global tapestry of my travels: the flash of color from a sari, the sea off the coast of Saint-Tropez, the flesh from a ripe mango, an oyster’s shimmering shell.

Rue La La: Your color palettes are always so vibrant. What shades are you leaning towards this season?
Julia: One of my favorite colors is amethyst, which can be paired with kiwi and hydrangea for a gorgeous mix, or with platinum, toffee, and snow for a sophisticated look.

Rue La La: What’s the most important piece of hosting advice you can give?
Julia: The most important part of entertaining is making your guests feel comfortable and at home. I love to set a fancy table, then bring in a variety of textures and colors to break up a too-too formal feel.

Rue La La: What’s one piece of serveware no host should go without?
Julia: Right now, I’m in love with the new Peony 15’’ Shallow Bowl. It’s the perfect piece to serve in, and if you add a small bowl in the center it becomes an ideal chip-and-dip dish.

Our Julia Knight Boutique opens on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 3PM ET.

We want the home to be extra welcoming when friends stop by for casual nights in. These sweater pillows are such an easy update to the living room – cozy, comfortable, and straight from our closet’s old favorites.

1. Pick an old sweater (holes and pulls are fine).
2. Cut along the side seams.
3. Wrap the sweater around a pillow, sewing along three of the sides – the fourth side should be covered by a fold. Tip: A chunkier knit allows for less-precise sewing skills.

We love a few mismatched pillow covers in complementary knits. Set them out before your next movie night and prepare for some (much-deserved) praise.

On Friday, our SVP of Creative, Jen P., surprised us with a little end-of-the-week henna party. From our hands to our feet, the professional henna artist decked us out with temporary ink. Take a peek at our tats, then check out our chat with Nic.

Rue La La: This is such a fun treat for us! Can you tell us a little bit more about what you’ll be doing here today?
Nic: I’m doing henna, an ancient form of body art that utilizes the only plant on the planet with the ability to dye human skin for any length of time. It’s been used in India, Africa, and the Middle East for thousands of years.

Rue La La: You’ve been at this for quite some time – how did you get started as a henna artist?
Nic: I started when I was 11 years old. As a child, I was just grabbed by body art in every form and this was the one that was accessible to me, so I just kind of taught myself.

Rue La La: What’s your “typical” work in the henna world?
Nic: A lot of my work is bridal. Traditionally, Indian and Moroccan brides have a full application on their hands and feet before their wedding. And now, a lot of people are having pre-wedding parties so bridesmaids and guests can have a bit of work done.

Rue La La: Where do you draw inspiration from?
Nic: Mostly from traditional design motifs. I think they’re so beautiful – those really classic old-style designs. People have been using them for generations, and when artists work with a design idea for such a long time they streamline it and refine it.

Rue La La: We’ve seen you do everything from feathers to skulls today. What’s the design you get asked for most?
Nic: A lot of people come to me without an idea, so I’ll ask them whether they prefer floral or geometrical motifs because that will influence where I take the design. But as far as people coming to me with an idea, Khamsas, the hand of Fatima, are really popular. In the Middle East and North Africa, it’s a symbol of protection.

Check out more of Nic’s designs and download his patterns here. In Boston? He’s available for bookings, too.

It’s always interesting as a fashion editor to see which trends from the runway carry over to the mainstream scene four months later. From shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris, here are the top six trends that are actually wearable and accessible:

Florals & Pastels: It’s not surprising to see floral prints in spring collections, but this season saw a burst of vibrant, pop art-style prints worn head-to-toe on the runways. The palette of this spring is also saturated pastels seen in collections from Prada to Versace to Louis Vuitton.

Flapper Style: The drop-waist style of the Roaring Twenties was alive and kicking on the runways. Glitzy dresses were seen at Gucci and Marchesa, while deco accents like fringe bags and graphic earrings were shown at Givenchy and Dries Van Noten.

Athletic Elements: Designers like Alexander Wang and Rag & Bone utilized sportwear fabrics and trim like mesh, nylon, spandex, and elastic cord for their runway collections. Even Marc Jacobs showed an extreme version of a crewneck gym sweatshirt amongst plastic-covered dresses.

‘50s-Inspired: It was all about peplums and the suburban housewife at shows from Jason Wu to Prada and Rochas. The look is chic femininity with pinched waists, retro-print spring coats, and, of course, the pump.

Geometric Prints: Models donned swaths of solid color and geometric shapes for the season. From Proenza Schouler’s clean, modern lines to the angular couture of Hermès, the art world’s twentieth-century geometric abstraction movement made its way to the runways.

Global Influences: It’s also no surprise to find styles inspired by faraway places – from Polynesian prints to African raffia. Designers like Burberry and Missoni showed vibrant prints that hit all the right notes for spring and summer dressing.

Our ELLE Editor Selections: Spring Trends Boutique opens Friday, February 17, 2012 at 11AM ET.

From brunch with the girls to last-minute dates, our wardrobe calls for versatility. But since we don’t always have time to run home and change, we need a piece that goes from day to night with the switch of a stiletto. Enter: the LBD. Here, Rue stylist Lindsay pulls together two incredibly tailored looks using the essential never-fail little black dress from French Connection.

From day…
“Give the dress colorblock appeal by layering a cozy sweater and colorful scarf during the day. Keep the shoes comfortable (and cute, of course) for walking – and a carry-all tote is a must.”

…to night
“Swap out the sweater for a structured blazer, and lengthen legs with a pair of killer pumps. An envelope clutch and chunky jewelry lend an edgy finishing touch to this after-hours look. The wardrobe change will be our little secret.”

Our Standout LBDs: For Every Invitation Boutique opens Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 11AM ET.

There’s just something about Sunday brunch, isn’t there? Camille Styles here, and as much as I love to hit up my neighborhood café on the weekends, my absolute favorite way to brunch is to invite friends over to my place for a simple buffet of breakfast favorites… and my always-popular make-your-own mimosa bar!

A clean white palette with pops of saturated color is almost as energizing as the cappuccinos that flow throughout the meal. The key to keeping it simple is to choose menu items that can be prepped the night before, allowing you to get your beauty sleep and be ready for guests in the morning!
Continue reading “Let’s Do Brunch” »

Beauty means different things to different people — and it changes with the times. Think of the Christie Brinkley/Cheryl Tiegs blue-eyed blond ideal of the Seventies, the Cindy Crawford/Naomi Campbell curvy supes of the Eighties, the Kate Moss/Shalom Harlow Nineties’ waif era and the anything-goes period that we currently find ourselves in.

So it seems only fitting that when invited by W magazine and P&G Prestige to direct a film on The Ever Changing Face of Beauty, photographer Sølve Sundsbø created a visual paean to a constantly morphing ideal, as realized via a quartet of vertical panels — head, torso, legs, feet — that segue from male to female, and from human to animal to vegetable (as in plants and flowers, not peas and carrots).

The result, starring models Lara Stone and David Agbodji, was unveiled at the Park Avenue Armory during New York Fashion Week at a star-studded party that drew more than 600 guests, including Cate Blanchett, Sienna Miller, Evan Rachel Wood and Chris Evans, all of whom stood gaping in awe at the two 50’ video screens that displayed towering images of these otherworldly creatures.
Continue reading “W Magazine Celebrates The Changing Face Of Beauty” »

You may not know Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor by name, but you’ve definitely heard of the fashion brand they founded back in the 90s: a little label called Juicy Couture.

The duo sold Juicy a few years back and just emerged after an 18-month “non-compete” hiatus with a brand-new collection called Skaist-Taylor and a debut presentation during New York Fashion Week.

The longtime BFFs opted to eschew the tents at Lincoln Center in favor of the parking garage beneath Lincoln Center, and guests were greeted by the words “Because the Sky is Blue” as they entered the subterranean lair – The Beatles song the lyric comes from also played on the soundtrack – followed by a maze-like corridor featuring backlit photos of California redwoods. This opened onto a concrete runway and more backlit photo cubes, several of which featured a dreamy film of the Skaist-Taylor collection worn by Theodora Richards (aka, Patti Hansen and Keith Richards’ daughter).
Continue reading “Skaist-Taylor Unveils Their New Collection” »