"Best Day Ever"

There's something magical that happens when two people exchange vows. And for the wedding I attended on Saturday, it was so magical that it set off fireworks.

My friend Becky and her hubs, Heath, celebrated their union aboard the Miss Christin in front of family and friends on July 4. It was quite the holiday to be sailing on the Potomac in our patriotic attire––red, white, and blue themed––simultaneously toasting our beloved country and newly hitched friends.

Becky is so clever for how she made this space work. Her creativity surely did shine! Fortunately, everyone was able to have a great time without getting "Ship Faced" as they drank their red, white, and brews.

One of my best friends, Cindy, was in the wedding party. The bridesmaid dresses were navy (although it looks black in the photo above) and the shoes were silver with bows. It was quite lovely complimenting Becky who was flawless and absolutely stunning in her beaded floor length gown.

Congratulations to Becky and Heath on their best day ever!

xo | din

dress | A.L.C.
jewelry | Tiffany Atlas Collection here and here
bag | Chanel (similar here)
heels | BCBGeneration

Cover Story | January 2014

Happy New Year, Everybody!! What better way to bring in the new year than to shout out the world's top model, Joan Smalls?!

Joan's elegance and striking beauty grace the cover of Elle Magazine this month. I had my mail forwarded to WA and hadn't received my subscriber copy yet, so when I saw this cover in Safeway, I just HAD to pick it up. (Hey, I'm a part of the "now" generation-- I couldn't wait!)

Can you blame me? The number one model in the world. Overall stunning photo. AND a person of color! This doesn't happen often. Even the 25 year old mentions the lack of diversity in the fashion industry as, campaign after campaign, designers choose the monochromatic "aesthetic" to send down the runway. But thanks to several multi-cultural visionaries, including the genius that is Riccardo Tisci, Smalls went from the low-end to the high-end almost overnight. A night, however, that wasn't necessarily storm-free.

Joan had to use her book smarts and her street smarts to navigate her way through the trenches of the model world. Early on she was told that she needed to fix her teeth otherwise it'd be difficult to get gigs because "you're a black model. And it's already a challenge." So, she accepted the advice graciously, went back home to Puerto Rico, and visited an orthodontist. All while earning a degree-- magna cum laude. And, yes, she's only 25.

She's got the look and talent, the number one spot, and a gracious spirit to not only knock down the doors to the most sought after runways, but open and close the show. That right there is star power, folks.

Here are a few shots from Joan's Elle spread. For the full spread, be sure to pick up your January copy of Elle on newsstands now. [Isn't she stunning?!]

xo | din

PxSx 2013 was a great year for code name: drédin, and we're so grateful to all of our readers! Looking forward to sharing our 2014 fashion adventures with you! Cheers!

Newsstand cover - Elle January 2014

joan wears:

top | Jacquard jumpsuit
bottom | Chanel
cover | (newsstand) Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, (subscriber) Céline
stylist | Joe Zee
original article | Molly Young
photos | elle.com, Michael Thompson

Subscriber cover - Elle January 2014

Cover Story | September 2013

All hail SJP! Fashion maven. Drama queen. And cover girl many times over.

It's interesting to find that SJP's previous endeavors were as unsuccessful as they were. As in: you mean to tell me everything Sarah Jessica Parker touches doesn't necessarily turn to gold?

What is this world we're living in?!

Not too fret, she has a new endeavor that's coming early 2014 that's sure to send every fashionista and every Sex and the City aficionado into a frenzy. Excited to find out what it is?

You should be.

George Malkemus, President of Manolo Blahnik, has been working with the fashion maven on a shoe line exclusively for Nordstrom. The shoes will range from $250 to $450.

"I'm dying and I haven't even seen them yet!" - dré

Is it just me, or do you see gold in the near future? Like I told dré: Save yo cash! Because come February, we're goin' shoppin' y'all!

xo | din

Harper's Bazaar - September 2013 - Newsstand Cover

[ deCODEd : SJP Wardrobe ]
head piece | Ellen Christine Couture
dress | Chanel
earrings | Sydney Evan
photos | Terry Richardson
fashion editor | Andrew Richardson
author | Cathy Horyn





Pick up your copy of this gloriously ginormous September issue to read the full story and see SJP in all her splendor! Article can also be found here.