In an effort to prolong the life of my favorite pair of dark-wash J Brand skinnies, I had to start thinking outside the box – or, in this case, the washing machine.

Cue freeze cleaning. When I first heard about the freeze-cleaning method, I’ll admit it took a while for me to warm up to the idea. But I’ll try anything to avoid doing my laundry (conventionally), and the benefits are completely worth it. The process helps protect dark washes by avoiding the wear and tear a normal spin cycle has on the fabric. By skipping the washer, you will also inadvertently conserve water (and save on the bill that comes with it).

But how exactly does it work? The frosty temp inside the icebox kills any bacteria living in your denim. This process won’t rid the jeans of cosmetic stains, but spot treating prior to freezing should do the trick.

Try it for yourself:

1. Fold your jeans twice lengthwise and smooth out any wrinkles in the fabric.

2. Slip the folded denim into a ziplock freezer bag and press out any excess air prior to sealing. I suggest using a bag with a one-gallon capacity or larger.

3. Place the bag in the freezer. For best results, freeze for a minimum of 24 hours.

By Jillian Hudon, Staff Writer 

Have you tried freeze cleaning before? Tell us how it went in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

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1. See Mo Go.
Mo, we’re in love with your curly hair.

2. Sadie Olive
A beautiful (and inspiring) collection of design and décor.

3. The Pumpkin Spot
Plenty of style inspiration + guest bloggers = us perusing our blogroll for hours.

4. Walk in Wonderland
We’re obsessed with Sheryl’s collection of big, baggy sweaters and leather attire.

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

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It may be a small detail, but the right neckline can make the difference between a top that flatters and one that falls flat. For a cut that balances your body and accentuates your favorite features, check out our guide below for a little neckline know-how.

Our Tart Boutique opens Thursday, January 10, at 11AM ET.

By Keriann Coffey, Associate Blog Editor

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We’re anxiously awaiting the Golden Globes this weekend – if only to see Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host – so to prep ourselves for all the red-carpet coverage (while looking like we should have been the hosts of E! Fashion Police), we’re following these Pinterest boards all week long.

1. Marie Claire has rounded up 2012′s best red-carpet looks in one inspiring board.

2. You can bet we’ll have our eyes glued to this Award Show Style pinboard from Glamour magazine.

3. The amount of Golden Globe glamour is seriously dreamy.

4. We can’t forget about the perfectly put-together hairstyles that grace every red carpet. Hello, new resolution for 2013.

5. Before we tune in, we’re making sure we’re on top of the celebrity gossip that every red-carpet reporter is sure to reference.

Can’t get enough Pinterest inspiration? Check out past boards that caught our eye.  

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Watch: Romeo Beckham’s full SS 2013 Burberry ad. Ten years from now, we’re betting he and Suri Cruise will become the newest fashion power couple. Posh and Becks who?

Guess: where J. Lo’s famous plunging green-and-blue Versace gown (you know the one she wore to the Grammys?) resides. On a mannequin in her at-home spa. #Jealous.

Think: most fashion celebs tower over you? Think again. This fashion height index proves most are of average height or shorter. But hey, that’s what heels are for – right ladies?

Know: word is Jay-Z will write the score for the much-anticipated movie, The Great Gatsby. Is there anything Hova can’t do? (We’re guessing no.)

Tell us what you’re buzzing about this week or tweet us at @ruelala.

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We may not be experts in astrology or the moon’s position, but we do know style alignment. And in forecasting the next month, here’s what’s in store for you.

Capricorn
Yes. Finally. The holiday scramble of entertaining, dressing up, buying gifts (and more gifts), and dealing with family drama is over. What to do with that high-strung energy that’s still lingering? Put it to good use and revamp your now tired-looking home base. Give your living room new life with some colorful drapes and a set of artful panel paintings or fall in love with your master bedroom all over again with a new geometric-design rug and too-cute-to-be-true throw pillows.

Aquarius
Here’s a shocker: Those days where you had a fallback plan (okay, also known as mom and dad) are long gone. But the next best thing is as simple as making a budget that’s realistic to stick to. For example, make sure to allot enough cash to cover the everyday bills, then put the rest toward a worthwhile investment. Like, say, a matching vintage Chanel tweed skirt suit. Smart spending never looked so good.

Pisces
Post-holiday time can be seriously depressing – as proved by your newly discovered need to eat every last gingerbread man within arm’s reach. But don’t worry, there’s a cure. Drop the cookie and write down all the things you want to accomplish with a fresh year ahead of you (think big and small), then close your eyes and pick one. If your hand gravitates toward the “revamp look with a whole new wardrobe,” so be it.

Aries
Now is not the time to be stubborn. So instead of sticking to your guns this month, open your mind up to the possibilities of the New Year. Collaborate with new groups at work. Step out of the skirt-and-blazer routine and don an animal print blouse (bonus points for bright colors). Not doing it for you? Stick to topics like celebrity gossip to avoid conflicts.

Taurus
There’s something about this time of year that makes people uptight (blame it on the sugar-cookie overload). But not you. You’re as cool and polished as ever – and you’ve got the always-pressed silky blouse, sleek patent pumps, and gleaming baubles to prove it. Use this situation to your advantage and make an impression on those people that normally intimidate you, like that intriguing stranger across the bar or your boss’s boss.

Gemini
You know those days when you feel just a bit more brilliant than usual? You’re about to have a whole month of it. And that means you’ll need a power wardrobe as bold as you are. Keep your skinnies for the weekends and rock a flattering flare leg (but don’t go too flared) with a tucked floral blouse, perfectly tailored blazer, and a tamed mane for just the right balance of timeless style and don’t-mess-with-me authority.

Continue reading “Rue Horoscopes: January” »

You know what they say – out with the old, in with the new – but what if the “old” is simply indispensable? Case in point: 2012′s top trends. This year saw a slew of irresistible looks, nine of which we fully intend on sporting straight on into 2013 (and – who are we kidding? – beyond).

Our Best of 2012: Nine Trends to Wear into 2013 Boutique opens Tuesday, January 1, at 11AM ET.

By Sarah Stanley, Staff Writer

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Take: A virtual tour of designer Tanya Taylor’s studio space. Yep, we’re officially obsessed with her style (as is just about every fashion insider).

Know: Gender-bending model Andrej Pejić has made fashion history by being the first-ever androgynous male to grace Elle’s cover – and trust us, it’s worth picking up.

Congratulate: Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll on their December nuptials. The best part? (Well, aside from the thought of Kate taking “Rocknroll” as her last name.) It’s rumored that Leonardo DiCaprio was the one to give her away. Looks like she finally let go, Jack.

Watch: Lady Gaga’s upcoming documentary by fashion photographer Terry Richardson. Now, this should be interesting… and probably weird.

Tell us what you’re buzzing about this week or tweet us at @ruelala.

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In her ongoing Fashion Icons series at New York’s 92Y, Fern Mallis interviewed the icon to end all icons: Polly Allen Mellen.

While most folks outside of the fashion world might not have heard of her, Polly Mellen is a legend in the industry. The stylist responsible for some of fashion’s most indelible 20th-century images – Twiggy’s flower-power Vogue covers, Nastassja Kinski and the snake, Lisa Taylor in The Story of Ohhh…., Deborah Turbeville’s bathhouse shots – Polly started her career as a salesgirl and display designer at Lord & Taylor before going on to work as a sittings editor at Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Allure.

She retired in 2001, after winning the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award, to spend time with her beloved family, but is enjoying a mini comeback thanks to her inclusion in the new book, In Vogue: The Editor’s Eye, and her appearance in the accompanying HBO documentary of the same name, in which she stars alongside Vogue fashion editors Babs Simpson, Tonne Goodman, and Grace Coddington.

On Wednesday night, the 88-year-old spitfire (who still skis, swims, hikes, gardens, and does Pilates every day) took to the stage in her trademark silver bob, black turtleneck, and sparkly Vera Wang trousers to talk about her days at Miss Porter’s School alongside classmates Gloria Vanderbilt and Jacqueline Bouvier, her reputation as a demanding boss (both Vera Wang and Joe Zee got their starts as Polly’s assistant), and her storied 60-year career working with Diana Vreeland and such legendary photographers as Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Arthur Elgort, and Bruce Weber. Here are the highlights.
Continue reading “Spotlight On: Polly Allen Mellen” »

Check out: Ann Curry’s 26 random acts of kindness, then pay it forward.

Salute: Lena Dunham, Time’s “Coolest Person of the Year.” Since we like to pretend she’s our best friend, that makes us cool by association, right? 

Read: Refinery29’s Fashion Yearbook. Picking just one favorite style moment from 2012? Impossible.

Know: Ben Affleck is rumored to be considering a run for Massachusetts Senate. Cue millions of women making a career change to politics (us included).

Tell us what you’re buzzing about this week or tweet us at @ruelala.

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