When you find that perfect gift, be sure to check on a few key pieces of information:

“Ships in” Window
When you find the dress for your holiday soiree or a great cashmere sweater for Mom, be sure to check when it’s expected to head out the door. Since we use different shipping methods on different pieces, some do take longer to send out than others. Checking this window will let you know if the dress won’t make it to you until after the party’s over.

Estimated Date of Delivery
After you order, the date that your package is expected to arrive will be in your order history. This is handy if you need to hide a gift from some (overly) curious eyes.

Guaranteed Christmas Delivery
This one’s for those last-minute shoppers. Until 2PM ET on Friday, December 21, every Boutique is guaranteed to be in your hands by Christmas Eve. Starting Wednesday, December 19, expedited shipping charges (2nd Day Air® or Next Day Air®) will apply – and be sure to select Guaranteed Christmas Delivery as your shipping option on the checkout page.

Return Policy
Each item on Rue has its return policy listed as the first bullet in the details. While we have extended returns until January 15, 2013, some pieces (like swimwear and lingerie) are always Final Sale. Anything that can’t be returned will have a yellow dot at the top of the page and will mention “Final Sale” in the details section.

Have any other questions about holiday deliveries? Share them in the comments section or tweet us at @ruelala_help.

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

We asked the youngsters of four Rue associates to dress their parents for a day at the office and teach us all that they could about style. Needless to say, it was quite an education.

Lesson #1: It’s okay to break out your party clothes on a Monday.
Maureen’s bright paisley dress doesn’t get as much wear as it deserves – at least according to Henry, age 6 3/4 – so the Rue stylist donned it for the normal workday. “It must have been infectious because I got tons of smiles,” she says. So why did Henry opt for more formal attire? “It has all my favorite colors,” he says. “I like that it has pink – because pink is for girls. I like that it has orange too. Orange is my favorite color.”

Lesson #2: Dress for an adventure.
When he learned he’d have to wear soccer shorts paired with dress shoes, Colin, our SVP of User Experience, was a bit skeptical (and we’re putting that lightly). What was son Jack (11) thinking? It’s simple. “If you’re going to play soccer after work, you don’t even have to change!” he explains. Whether you’re a sports aficionado or consider shopping your cardio, make sure to get on board by dressing for some spontaneous fun.

Lesson #3: You can never over-accessorize.
Here at Rue, we love a good statement necklace – but multiples? Our Copy Director, Rachel, thought she might be breaking some sartorial rules when Jack (8) layered on a beaded necklace and choker (not to mention a big woven gold bracelet and a few bangles for good measure). “The night before work he said ‘So will we finish tomorrow?,’” she laughs. “He wanted to add even more in the morning.” Jack, we say your choices would make Carrie Bradshaw oh-so-proud.

And don’t forget the waist. Jack explains, “Belts are my favorite item of clothing because they make my pants feel good.”

Lesson #4: Metallics are for daytime, too.
The world according to Sydney (3): “Girly, bedazzled and pink, of course,” says mom Robin, a User Experience Designer, so she was hardly surprised when Syd picked an outfit with a little bit of shine. “While I never would think to wear these shoes before because they were so in-your-face silver, Sydney gave me the confidence that I needed.”

We’ll be sure to study our notes and take all this into consideration when we get dressed in the morning. What’s the best style lesson your kids have taught you?

We’re ushering in more and more local style across the country, and this time we’re honing in on the Bay Area. Rue San Francisco has arrived, giving you insider access to all the best local spots in the city. To celebrate San Francisco’s debut, we sat down with Director of Brand Partnerships, Heather Hartle, to talk about the city’s stellar boutiques, navigating the hills, and what to do when the fog rolls out.

Rue La La: Every city has its own fashion personality. What defines San Francisco style?
Heather: People love to say that San Francisco doesn’t have a distinct fashion style. My take on that sentiment is that because San Francisco has always been home to and prides itself on its entrepreneurs, free thinkers, and independents, it fails to fall into a set style persona. And that is a good thing. We’ve got everything from the preppy Marina girls and Mission hipsters to the tech geeks and ladies who lunch. I think of San Francisco style much like I do the people who wear it: varied and independent, with a strong sense of self.

Rue La La: Living in San Francisco has its dressing challenges (hills, fog, cool weather) – what are the key style pieces in your closet that everyone in town should own?
Heather: Everyone has heard the famous line from Mark Twain, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Well, that explains my boot collection. It’s larger than when I lived in Michigan and I wear boots nearly all summer long. The second key to fashionably surviving the weather is layers, layers, and more layers. Finally, in order to gracefully navigate the hills in San Francisco, you have to have several heel heights in your closet. I was never a fan of flats until I moved here, and now my closet is stocked full of them, from Tory Burch to London Sole.

Rue La La: In 3 words, tell us how you’d describe your personal style.
Heather: Classic. American. Chic.

Rue La La: Everyone has that treasured piece (with a gotta-share story) in their closet – what’s yours?
Heather: On a trip to Amsterdam a few years back, I found a silk scarf that had to be at least 20 feet long. The yards of brightly-colored and insanely bold patterns (and general over-the-top statement of it) reminded me of something Elton John might wear on stage. As my friend and I were leaving with our purchases, the salesperson casually mentioned that David Bowie had been in just the day before and had purchased the only other matching scarf. Needless to say, I channel my inner rockstar when I wear it. Come to think of it, I don’t wear it enough!

Rue La La: Ah, you bring up one of our favorite pastimes: shopping. What are your must-stops on an all-out shopping trip through the city?
Heather: So many places! I love Jeremy’s in South Park for finding great designers at even greater prices (I once got a Chloe bag for a quarter of retail). There are plenty of great finds there – from ball gowns to bathing suits. Maiden Lane is perfect when you want to do some serious splurging – Marc Jacobs, Prada, Hermès, Gump’s – and that’s just to name a few. Valencia Street in the Mission has tons of great boutiques filled with independent designers and one-of-a-kind items, from fashion to home accessories. Grant Street in North Beach has several little gems … fantastic boutiques with the most amazing finds, like the latest denim styles, vintage clothing, fine stationery, chocolates, and even pet gear.

Rue La La: And then there’s shopping at the Alameda Flea Market/Antiques Faire, which can be very tricky. What are your secrets for nabbing a great find?
Heather: Get there early (VERY early) to be sure you don’t miss out on that great treasure you didn’t know you needed. And, if you can, stay late to bargain on that piece you just have to have… once everyone else has given up and gone home, amazing deals can be had!

Rue La La: Two words: Napa Valley. What are your favorite stops?
Heather: Wine country offers a great day trip or weekend getaway. I have two favorite destinations: Carneros Inn and Meadowood Resort – both offer completely different experiences, both world-class.

Rue La La: The fog leaves the city for a while – what do you do?
Heather: Whenever possible, I escape to Stinson Beach. It’s only 30 minutes north via Highway 1, and it feels like it’s a world away. The drive alone is worth it, the views along the way are breathtaking, and despite the sometimes treacherous curves, it’s one of my favorite drives around.

Rue La La: Tell us about the most wild thing you’ve ever seen in San Francisco.
Heather: Oh, there are so many to choose from! San Francisco is known for its street fairs and festivals. The Folsom Street Fair never disappoints for shock value – it’s the largest leather/fetish fair in the world. Need I say more? The Bay to Breakers, a 100-year-old San Francisco tradition boasts serious running along with thousands of spectators in costumes, ranging from Elvis to chicken suits and everything in between, including (until this year) nudists.

Rue La La: What would you miss most if you left San Francisco?
Heather: The people. The neighborhoods. The views. The beach. The bay. The fog horns. Everything.

Now how exactly does it work? Say there’s an item you love, but it sells out. With Still Want It, you’ll be able to tell us just what you’re looking for, and if we can get it for you, we’ll charge your credit card and send it.

Being able to give our Members more of what they want is always first on our list. So look for our new feature on most of our product pages. And don’t forget to take advantage of all the other ways we’ve made getting what you want even easier:

Quick! Buy It.
First, make sure you have a preferred credit card and shipping and billing addresses saved in My Account. Then all you have to do is select Quick! Buy It. on the product page to get your must-haves with fewer clicks (which ensures you don’t lose the finds you love).

Reminders
See an upcoming Boutique you really like? Sign up for the Reminder — just click the “Send Me a Reminder” button on the Boutique page next to that brand, and you’ll have an email (or text message, whichever you prefer) the morning the Boutique opens. All Members get an 11AM ET mailing letting them know a Boutique is open, but Reminders allow you extra notice so you’ll never miss out on a favorite Boutique again.

Returns Your Way
Buy worry-free. As long as it’s not marked Final Sale, you can choose to receive either a merchandise credit and free return shipping, or a refund to your original form of payment minus return shipping costs (just visit My Returns and follow the steps for Returns Your Way).

Our Members inspire our best ideas. So be sure and tell us how we can make your Rue La La experience even better. And let me know how you like Still Want It!

RUE STYLIST EVAN TAKES THIS TANK TO NEW LEVELS (x3)

Rue stylist Lindsay couldn’t resist shopping our It’s a Guy Thing Boutique for herself, and showed us how some easy styling can redefine this tomato red scott james summer sweater entirely.

With Diane Keaton à la Annie Hall as your muse, broaden your horizons and look towards menswear as an option for women. When done right, there’s something cheeky – and just a little bit daring – about girls borrowing from the boys.

Our It’s A Guy Thing Boutique opened Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 11AM ET.

A LOOK BEHIND THE LENS AT OUR MADISON AVENUE COUTURE PHOTO SHOOT

Three words: Coveted. Chanel. Confections. Everyone at Rue has been drooling over these designer treasures. Take a glimpse. And start writing your wish list.

Our Madison Avenue Couture – Chanel Boutique opens Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 at 11AM ET.

A LOOK BEHIND THE LENS AT OUR BIRKENSTOCK COLLECTIONS PHOTO SHOOT

These comfy classics make walking the walk a whole lot easier. Take a peek into our delightfully dirt-packed photo shoot.

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