From Rihanna and Dita Von Teese to the models at New York Fashion Week, the half-moon manicure is a favorite amongst the stars. And with endless (and eye-catching) color combos, it’s easy to see why. Create your own with these quick and easy steps, below.

What you’ll need:
• Two nail colors (I chose butter LONDON’s The Full Monty and essie’s Bahama Mama)
• Three-ring binder reinforcement stickers
• Scissors
• Clear top coat

The how-to:
1. Paint two coats on your nails with the color you want for the base. This will be the color of the half moon.
2. After your nails are completely dry, place the reinforcement stickers as far above your cuticles as you would like. (Tip: cut slits in the reinforcement stickers so they lie flat on your nails.)
3. With your second color, paint two coats on the top half of your nail.
4. Once the polish dries, peel off the reinforcement stickers from right to left. Doing this will keep the edges looking clean and prevent the nail polish from bleeding.
5. Finish with a clear top coat.

By Carolyn Schultz, Staff Writer

Did you attempt the half-moon mani? Give us your tips in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

With just under a week until Christmas, I’m still fighting the urge to go ballistic with a surge protector and a few dozen more strands of twinkle lights.

This season, however, I’m trying my hardest to prescribe to a “less is more” approach when it comes to decking my halls (please note: this does NOT apply to presents). So, I tried my hand at creating a simple (and season-friendly) twinkle light garland that you won’t have to stash in the attic with the waving Santa from your front yard come January.

What you’ll need:
•  String of lights
•  Fabric scraps (I suggest burlap, lace, or grosgrain ribbon)
•  Scissors

How to do it:
1. Cut your fabric or ribbon into pieces approximately 6 inches long (2 inches wide, max).
2. Tie each piece to the strand of lights in a single knot, allowing the two ends to hang down evenly.
3. Use about two pieces between each bulb, alternating in color or material for textured visual appeal.
4. When you’re done, the fabric should cover the majority of the green wire, so that just the lights poke through.
5. Use this to decorate a door archway, your tree, or even the posts of your bed.

By Grace Romanowsky of Valenki By ACE, Staff Writer

How did your road test fare? Share it in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now. 

If you’re getting a present from me, you better believe it’s homemade. Don’t return the gift you got me quite yet, though – I’m not talking the ornaments-made-of-popsicle-sticks kind of homemade. This year, all the good girls and boys on my list will get DIY, personalized drink coasters, because ringing in the New Year shouldn’t include unsightly cup rings on your new coffee table.

What you’ll need:
• 4″ x 4″ tiles
• Self-adhesive felt or cork pads (those circular felt pads for chair legs work perfectly)
• Photos
• Mod Podge®
• Gloss sealer finish

How to do it:
1. Flip each tile over and position one self-adhesive felt or cork pad in each corner so the tiles won’t scratch the table.
2. Cut your pictures to size using a ruler. Make sure no extra paper hangs over the sides when you lay the photo on top of the tile.
3. Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge over the tile, position your picture carefully over it, and smooth down firmly. Ensure there are no wrinkles or bubbles in the picture.
4. Next, paint over the picture with a coat of Mod Podge. Make sure to coat the sides of the tiles and that all of your brush strokes go in the same direction.
5. Once the tiles dry, spray each liberally with a layer of gloss sealer. This will make them waterproof.
6. After the sealant has dried, stack the finished products in groups of 4 to 6, tie with a ribbon, and let the gifting begin.

By Grace Romanowsky of Valenki By ACE, Staff Writer

How did your road test fare? Share it in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now. 

You know how, as a child, you never believed your parents when they told you that good things come in small packages? Well, here’s some evidence that could have been handy back when you were nine years old. Use these homemade holiday crackers to decorate each place setting at your next dinner party, and send each guest home with a little memento of the night.

What you’ll need:
- Decorative wrapping paper
- A cardboard paper towel roll
- A surprise to hide inside
- Tape
- Curling ribbon
- Scissors

Directions:
1. Cut wrapping paper into 7″ x 14″ strips.
2. Split cardboard paper towel roll evenly in half (this will make two crackers).
3. Fill the tube with a small trinket like nail polish, a piece of costume jewelry, a lottery ticket, or a few chocolates.
4. Roll the wrapping paper around the tube and secure it with a piece of tape in the middle.
5. Gather the excess wrapping paper on both ends of the tube, pinch, and tie a double knot with curling ribbon.
6. Curl the ribbon ends using a pair of scissors.

To open, pull one end while a friend pulls the other until the tube bursts and reveals the surprise inside!

By Grace Romanowsky of Valenki By ACE, Staff Writer

How did your road test fare? Share it in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

Easy, trendy, and cheap – I’m so on board. Cue some music, get your creative DIY juices flowing, and follow these step-by-step instructions to make this of-the-moment look all yours.

Necessities:

10 standard silver cone-shaped studs (I bought a 50-pack of these little beauties at studsandspikes.com for less then $3 before tax. What? That’s right.)

1 collared shirt (ideally one with a bit of sturdiness to it – that way the collar will keep its shape under the added weight of the studs)

Instructions:

1. Prepare a flat working space.
2. Place a pincushion or washcloth (or anything plush you don’t mind poking holes in – in my case, an oven mitt) underneath the collar.
3. Position the first stud on the corner of the collar and push it through the fabric, pressing the stud arms into the cushion. The difficulty here will depend on the thickness of the fabric – but those little arms are pretty sharp, so you’ll get the hang of it either way.
4. Now, take the blunt end of a kitchen knife (or pliers if you want to get fancy) and push the stud arms down, locking the stud into place like a staple. And voilà, your first stud is in.
5. Repeat this process as desired. Use a measuring tape in between studs for precision.

Studs vary in size, shape, and color. So, depending on how much of that angsty youth you’re interested in channeling – from flat gold studs on black smoking flats to severe spikes on the shoulders of a leather jacket – you can make up for lost time for under three bucks. Just know, there’s no going back.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Have a great DIY idea? Share it in the comments below, or tweet us @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

Crashing someone else’s Thanksgiving dinner this year? Instead of cooking up a yawn-inducing side dish, show thanks to your hosts by bringing a homemade, metallic-leaf carafe and a bottle or two of their favorite vino. (Nobody will miss the yams or green bean casserole.)

What you’ll need:

- Several small, freshly fallen leaves (just make sure they’re not too crisp)
- Piece of cardboard
- Metallic spray paint
- Sponge paintbrush
- Mod Podge (or make your own using equal parts white glue and water – shake well)
- Clear glass wine carafe (and/or wine glasses)
- Mod Podge clear acrylic sealer spray

Continue reading “Rue Road Test: Metallic Leaf Carafe” »

One thing that I’m never lacking around the holiday season is ribbon. From my winter-weather accessories to my apartment décor, this year I’m tying much more than just presents up with a bow:

1. Fur
Odds and ends of fur and faux fur are easy to come by online or at thrift stores and flea markets. I picked a scrap that was about 30″ long and sewed two 15″ pieces of ribbon to the underside, and – voilà! – a stole to wear over my peacoat was born. The Aztec print on the ribbon and bold splash of purple made it right on trend for this season.

2. Frames
Forget wire hangers – give a picture frame a whole new dimension by hanging it on the wall with a pretty piece of ribbon. The ribbon I chose was too thick to tie in a bow, so I opted for a neatly tied knot and burned the ends so that it wouldn’t fray or come undone. Change the ribbon as often as you like and play around with different colors and patterns.

3. Lamps
A plain lampshade gets an entirely new look with just a few inches of decorative ribbon (and the help of a hot glue gun). I covered the seam with a piece of ribbon, but it also looks great around the top or bottom. I can’t wait to try this with some lace ribbon and an ivory-colored shade.

4. Outerwear
I’m guaranteed to lose one of pretty much anything that comes in a set. That’s why this year I’m keeping my mittens on a tight leash. Measure a piece of ribbon the length of your wingspan, and sew the ends into the cuffs of your mittens. Pull them through the armholes of your coat so that they’re always by your side.

By Grace Romanowsky of Valenki By ACE, Staff Writer

How else are you using ribbon to decorate? Share it in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

I love dressing up the outdoors and indoors to make a warm, festive welcoming, and there is no better time to do this in New England than the fall. So before the leaves blow off the trees, take some time this weekend to carry that breathtaking backdrop of autumn straight into your fall décor. Here are some quick tips:

Frame the front door with cornstalks. Find them at your local nursery or craft store, and then place them upright next to the door. (Bonus points for one on each side.)

Fill your flower boxes with gourds. So simple, and you don’t have to worry about wilting at the first sign of frost.

Autumn-ize the mantel. A leaf-sprawled mantel with a touch of golden wheat? I can’t think of a better way to cozy up the home.

By Emily Gibbons of www.LuckyLittleLove.com, Staff Writer

Brought touches of the harvest into your home décor? Tell us how in the comments below or tweet us a pic at @ruelala. 

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

There’s a reason we continually pack up our favorite seasonal items to take into the next year – we love them. But, truth be told, even our favorite pieces can lose their appeal after a while. Instead of trashing them and splurging on a new wooly number (although this may be a tempting option), give your cozy sweaters and perfectly worn-in jackets (not to mention your long-sleeve tees) new life with elbow patches.

The best part about this little update? You can use practically anything for your patches, from leather and suede to fun cotton prints and corduroy – or, like me, you can buy a cheap pair of socks with a print you like. If you’re looking to also up the sweet factor, cut your patches into shapes like hearts or stars instead of ovals. Okay – enough with the options, here’s how you do it:

Materials:

Any top of your choice. Be wary about it pairing well with your patch material. For instance, thick leather patches wouldn’t be comfortable on a thin cotton shirt.

A 6″ x 5″ piece of material for patches

Thread that matches the color of your patch material (or contrasting thread for an edgy look)

Sewing needle

Straight pins

Flour

Scissors

Directions:

1. Cut your patch material to size. The 6″ x 5″ piece makes two approximately 4″ patches – for bigger patches start with a 9″ x 8″ piece.
2. Fold in half, and then in half again and use the scissors to cut and round the edges. Open fabric up and cut down the middle to separate the two pieces, and clean up the edges of each individually.
3. Put on your top and mark where elbow bends with flour. Simply dip your finger into flour and mark the spot – chalk will also work.
4. Remove your top and secure each patch with straight pins over the marked elbow spots. Be sure to position the patch with the marked spot in the middle. Note that the straight needles should only poke through one layer of the sleeve – you don’t want to sew them closed.
5. Measure a full arm’s length of thread and string through the needle, securing the two ends together. Put your free hand up the sleeve (to ensure you don’t attach the sleeves together) and start sewing. (Don’t know how to sew? Start here.) I recommend a top-sewing stitch, but a simple straight stitch would also work.
6. Once sewn all around, tie off the thread and snip any loose ends. Repeat on other sleeve.

That’s it! The whole process takes no more than an hour and the result is a practically brand new piece of clothing. I went with a festive ski-lodge look – and plan to wear it with leggings and cozy boots all winter long.

By Abigail Kuzia, Editor

Have a great DIY idea? Share it in the comments below, or tweet us @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

To those who know someone participating in “Movember“: this post’s for you. The ever-dropping temperatures and mustache-clad male population can take their toll on your face and lips, no matter how many layers of ChapStick® and moisturizer you apply. This lip exfoliate is the perfect way to combat Movember and achieve more kissable lips by the time mistletoe season rolls around.

Gingerbread Lip Exfoliate

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon coconut oil

½ teaspoon honey

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Warm up the coconut oil by running the sealed container under warm water.

2. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir to mix well.

3. Transfer to a small resealable container (I used a makeup sample jar).

4. Apply by using your forefinger in a small circular motion. Fully cover lips, but be sure not to scrub too hard or lips become raw.

5. Dab off with a warm washcloth.

By Grace Romanowsky of Valenki By ACE, Staff Writer

How did your road test fare? Share it in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.