We need to have a conversation about monochrome holidays. You know, the officially recognized holidays (like St. Patrick’s Day) or unofficial days of celebration (Marathon Monday, Bostonians?) that dictate your outfit’s color scheme. I have to be honest: I am not a fan – if only because it’s so easy to go overboard.

So this Sunday, I’m aiming to achieve the elusive fashion-and-function balance when it comes to my ensemble. After all, green beer has a pesky habit of spilling. Everywhere.

Put down the tacky graphic tees. Please. I’m actually begging you here. Step away from the “Kiss Me, I’m Irish!” tops. Don’t wear something that five hundred other people will be sporting within the same one-mile radius. Opt for a classic, appropriately hued scoop neck and stand out instead.

Switch up your skinnies. You better believe I am pulling out the least unsightly shade of green I have hanging in my closet. My go-to? Denim in dark hunter or mint.

Accentuate. If you’re not a green person, try rocking some trendy polish on your nails, or an emerald-toned necklace or clutch to infuse some of the requisite color into your outfit.

By Lauryn Paiva, Staff Writer

How will you be wearing green this St. Patrick’s Day? Share in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

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              Photo credit: Little Red Bowtalk    

It’s official – the holidays are over. And if you’re anything like me, there’s a sea of crinkled-up wrapping paper left on your living room floor. But this year, instead of throwing it all out, I’m taking a cue from craft guru Martha Stewart and putting all that leftover paper to good use.

1. For post-holiday dinner parties, serve cocktails on a drink tray lined with leftover metallic paper.
2. Resolving to get organized for the New Year? Make it that much easier with these decorative box labels made from recycled wrapping paper.
3. Keep your place in all those books you were gifted with a homemade bookmark made of wrapping paper.
4. The best way to say thanks for that oh-so-sweet gift? A card made from the wrapping paper it came in.

By Keriann Coffey, Associate Blog Editor

How are you reusing your wrapping paper post-holiday? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

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Meet Sam, a Manager of Partner Marketing here at Rue. She’s the point person for some of our very important partners, and she makes sure everyone is happy on both ends (and that our marketing looks awesome, of course). Check out the gifts she’s picked for those lucky enough to make her list.

For my husband: ”He’s been hinting around for a new watch and this could be the one. I also think that it will look great on my wrist as well!”

For my sister: ”She’s an avid reader and adores her Kindle. This cover will be perfect for her.”

For my son: ”He’s 14 months old, and reading stories with him before bed is the best time of my day. This was one of my favorite books growing up and I know that he would love it, too.”

Find all these gifts (and lots, lots more) in our Get Gifty: Our Holiday Gift Shop Boutique, open now.

By Anna Kuchinsky, Staff Writer

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Here at Rue, there’s no shortage of really, REALLY great staff traditions. Freshly popped popcorn every day at 3PM, the hallowed Bagel Fridays, Craft Beer Thursdays in IT… the list goes on. One that stands apart from all the rest, though? Our annual Toy Drive (or, as we affectionately call it, “Mitten Gifts”).

Partnering with the Boston Department of Child Services, we’re able to provide over 200 underprivileged kids with gifts they may not have received otherwise. It works like this: Rue employees pick a mitten (well, a piece of construction paper cut into the shape of a mitten) which lists the gift wishes of a specific child. The gifts are then purchased, wrapped, and placed in our café to be delivered accordingly. And while participation is totally optional, let’s just say – the pile of presents this year, as a whole, weighed in at 400 pounds.

While, for me, it’s so easy to obsess over what I think I absolutely need (my many Pinboards can attest to that), it’s times like these – when people come together to make Christmas just a bit brighter for others – that truly puts the meaning of the holidays into much-needed perspective.

Would you like to make a donation of your own? Click here to learn more.

By Sarah Stanley, Staff Writer

For more on stylish acts of charity, check our In Good Fashion column every Thursday.

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                                                                                         Photo courtesy of Member Carla Renee Blumenthal

One of our favorite things about the holidays? Getting creative with our wrapping. Whether it’s with fun paper, metallic bows, or some classic twine, personalizing your wrapping – or your Rue boxes – is one of the best parts of the gift-giving season.

In honor of holiday creativity (and those exceptionally skilled at wrapping presents), we want to see your best-dressed Rue gifts! Send us a photo of the wrapped gifts you’re giving with the hashtag #VeryRueGift – you can leave them here in the comments, tweet us at @RueLaLa, post them to our Facebook wall, or even tag us on Instagram. We’ll share an album of our favorite ones after December 25.

So go ahead – prove you know just as much about wrapping gifts as you do buying them.

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1. Since it’s not snowing here, we’re dreaming of spending a night in these cozy winter cabins.

2. So many shades of winter white - we’re overwhelmed, in the best way possible.

3. Sorry, but we had to. This Pinboard of furry friends is just too darn cute.

4. Holiday gift-wrap ideas? There’s plenty to inspire here.

5. Nothing improves a day quite like some holiday sparkle.

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

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Any chances of getting holiday shopping done early this year are long gone – but, fear not. With this artful collection of jewelry on hand (from a necklace for Mom to a sparkly cocktail ring for your sister) every woman on your list is covered.

Choose from conversation-starting bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces, and pendants, and you’ll see why last-minute shopping is not only well worth it, but much appreciated (their smiles will say it all). Plus, shipping is guaranteed before Christmas, so you can say goodbye to gift stress altogether.

Our Barbara Bixby Boutique opens Sunday, December 16, at 11AM ET.

By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer

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You’ve got your dress ready to go, your favorite shade of lipstick applied, and visions of festive frivolity dancing in your head.

The only thing left between you and the perfect holiday ensemble? A new look for your locks. So we deferred to our in-house stylist, Rachael, for the best way to update one of this year’s most-utilized styles: the top knot. Here’s how to make it holiday-ready.

Step #1: Section off a significant amount of hair in front and clip to secure.

Step #2: With a brush (Rachael recommends a Mason Pearson boar bristle brush), fasten the rest of your hair into a high ponytail.

Step #3: Use a curing iron with a 1-inch barrel to curl the front section of hair to create a pouf for added height.

Step #4: After you’ve finished curling, tease the front section forward and gauge the volume of the pouf. Using bobby pins that match your hair shade, pin into place.

Step #5: Tease out individual layers of your ponytail to create additional volume. Use hairspray after you’ve finished teasing to smooth the top layer and any flyaway strands.

Step #6: Use pins to secure the wrapped layers around the base of your ponytail.

By Lauryn Paiva, Staff Writer

What holiday hairstyles will you be rocking this season? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

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It’s better to give than to receive – sage advice we should all be following, especially during the holiday season. This nugget is doubly important to bear in mind when shopping for your next Yankee Swap soiree.

I know I can’t be the only one who suffers from severe shopping anxiety when it comes to finding the perfect communal gift. Your purchase is bound to change hands multiple times throughout the night, so it needs appeal to everyone.

Whether you’re shopping for family or friends, men or women, or a mixed bag of the aforementioned, show up with any of the following and your gift will be the envy of the evening.

Wine. You really can’t go wrong when it comes to gifting a bottle of vino. Stick to classics like Malbec, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Riesling to accommodate even the most discerning of taste buds. Dress it up by pairing your bottle of choice with a set of new wine glasses or wine charms to adorn the neck. Voilà! Instagift.

Gift cards. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone at a party who won’t appreciate saving a few bucks on their everyday staples. Coffee, music, and book purchases all fall under this umbrella, but feel free to get creative – try filling a decorative coffee mug with eye-catching tissue paper and resting the gift cards on top.

Think cozy. Pair winter-friendly items together to create an irresistibly comfy gift set. A fleece throw and a lightly scented candle will make the weather outside seem not-so-frightful.

Gourmet touches. The holiday shelves are stocked with plenty of tasty, pre-packaged gift packs. From hot cocoa to pastry mixes, there are more than enough appetizing options out there for aspiring chefs (or anyone with a sweet tooth). Find a unique bowl or platter to jazz up your presentation.

By Lauryn Paiva, Staff Writer

What are you bringing to your next Yankee Swap? Share in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

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Even if you feel prepped and ready for the most wonderful time of the year, there’s always room for a little extra holiday merriment. As the weeks of winter progress, here are some creative decorating ideas to add some cheer to your home (before the relatives arrive).

Tree-mium Seating
Working with less-than-ideal square footage? (Or just have lots of gifts to give?) Host a smaller tree on a sideboard, coffee table, or – if it’s a tiny tree – mantel. Feel free to choose an unexpected color palette, like Eddie Ross’s blues and greens (or golds), then coordinate your wrapping paper and ornaments for pleasing décor the whole season through.

Card Collection
For years, my family hung holiday cards from friends and family around the kitchen door – with tape. Now that my mother has a mantel, she decided to rescue the paint on the walls by creating a mitten-themed cardholder with string and colorful clothespins – kind of like this one. Or, welcome guests in style with a wrought-iron or modern metal trellis decked in ribbon-tied cards and displayed with a wreath hanger.

Sweet Tooth
There are oldies-but-goodies – loading one coffee-table dish with edibles and a corresponding bowl with bright, round ornaments, for example – but for a change of (decorative) pace, try filling attractive glassware with white sugar, mini marshmallows, and old-fashioned candy sticks, or crafting candy topiaries with mints, gummies, foam, and quick-dry glue (substitute double-sided tape to make future snacking easier).

Festive Lighting
You can’t go wrong with candles. Create some ice vases, fill them with tea lights or votives, and pair them with a burning yule log – be it in your fireplace, or on your TV or computer screen.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

What are some of your favorite, tried-and-true decorating ideas? Share them in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

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