[ Masquerading ] In Burlesque

A few weeks ago, I visited the Mansion on O Street for a night of 

masquerading and fun. The mansion has over 30 hidden doors

although I will admit I only discovered two.

Through these doors, and the several adjoining staircases,

I uncovered the over-furnished suites. 

Quite literally a hoarder's high-end paradise.

The night ended in a dance competition-- obviously. As a judge

alongside my friend, I watched the moves of the men in suits 

and the women in corsets and heels. 

We even exercised our [self] bestowed duty to have a 

dance-off between two fair ladies to our song of choice.

Finally, I embodied my best Vanna, announced the winner,

and spent the rest of the evening twirling in my tulle and lace 

while the dj played my favorite songs...  

 Claire's Fascinator | Express Necklace | LOFT Earrings 

 Nordstrom 'As U Wish' Lace & Tulle Dress

BCBG Peep-toe Pumps | photographed by Lauren

xo | din

Sweet Mint

St. Patrick's Day may be behind us, but the green seen on that Irish day was only the beginning. Green is a major color trend this Spring/ Summer 2013. I personally cannot get enough of this sweet succulent mint!!

Top: H&M

                                                  

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

             

Watch: Charlotte Russe

                                 

Nail Polish: Essie "Mint Candy Apple"

For more inspiration of other shades of green, click here and here.

XOXO Dré

#enditmovement

Over the years, my heart has been drawn to this unfathomable entity known as modern day slavery. Today, we support the End It Movement's fight against human trafficking. 

Human trafficking must END!

www.enditmovement.com

Keep checking back for updates on Din's upcoming project to support awareness of human trafficking. For more information on the #enditmovement and how you can get involved, click here.

Show us your support in the comments below or on twitter!

xo | din

[ drédin supports fashion for a cause! All Saints meets Not For Sale, here. ]

Wedging Into Spring

Like most girls, I love shoes. And I don't love them like you would a favorite recipe.....I love them like they are a family member! When looking to adopt a new pair, I'm very picky and selective. Maximum height is generally an attribute I look for, along with some edge. So, when coming upon the realization that wedges were everywhere I looked, I felt a little unsettled.

In the past, I have not been a huge fan of wedges. I find a lot of them to be "ho-hum" and definitely lacking the edge I desire. But seeing them displayed in every store I step foot, they certainly seem to be "the shoe of Spring/Summer".

Just when I was about to give up hope that I would be able to climb aboard this wedgey trend without loosing my personal style, I found not 1, but 2 pairs calling my name!! Below I present to you ~ the newest members of my kin.

These hot pink babies are by Charlotte Russe. Available at Charlotte Russe.

These sky high beauties are by Mossimo. Available at Target.

XOXO Dré 

[ Power Walk ]

If you live in DC, you can't go five minutes without seeing someone in a bland and uninspiring suit. Most of the time I have to refrain myself from bursting out: "Stop being so granola!"

Suits have been seen all over the runway this spring, and it's time the DC Metro area (and beyond) take note. You can be chic and keep it simple. Here's how...


Saint Laurent [ deCODEd ]

H&M scarf

ASTR Faux Leather Collar Shirt, $23.50

H&M, $34.95

H&M, $5.95

Drew Sateen Ankle Pants, $39.90

Franca by Sofft, $109.95

And don't forget to top it off with a traffic stopping accessory. At least until you get into the office anyway.

Jami by Velvet, $159

If you really mean business:

BCBG - Jacket, $268 | Pant, $178.

It's hard to walk with a devil on your back so shake it off and step into fierce!

xo | din

photo courtesy: bcbg, h&m, monica feudi, nordstrom, the limited

Cover Story - { Apr13 }

Selena Gomez is [ In Bloom ]

I remember looking forward to the days when Disney was available on cable (we didn't subscribe to the channel). My sister and I would be glued-- it was only available for a week or so! Still, I never became so infatuated with a character that I wanted to follow their every move on and off screen. If I had, however, Selena would be the girl to follow.

One thing I love about this article is how authentic she is. Despite the fact that she name dropped my fav -- no, not Justin Beiber -- her authentic and down to earth responses were what kept me interested. Such a relief from many other young starlets (she's only 20) who are seemingly all about the number of their followers on Twitter.

Cover [ deCODEd ]

Harper's Bazaar - "Fashion In Bloom"

Selena wears a Calvin Klein Collection dress that looks like it was made for her! It's paired with a white bustier from same collection. Let's be honest, who doesn't want that parasol?!

Inside | Love this Dolce & Gabbana ensemble:

[ Wearing Dolce & Gabanna separates; Kenneth Jay Lane jewlery; Gianvito Rossi heels ]

Her film Spring Breakers opened on March 22 and surprisingly hit #6 at the box office. Selena's co-stars included Ashley Benson from Pretty Little Liars, Vanessa Hudgens from all of those High School Musical movies, and goofy but uber talented James Franco. It's a step away from her tween persona, but we all have to bloom at some point, don't we?

Happy Reading.

xo | din

 Harper's Bazaar - Newsstand - April 2013

Magazine article | Laura Brown
Fashion Editor | Beth Fenton
Photographer | Terry Richardson






[ Calendar ]

Masaya Kushino 2010

  










photo courtesy: Harper's Bazaar, Terry Richardson

Don A New To Greet The Son

Happy Easter everyone! It's such a beautiful time of year! Blossoms on the trees, Easter egg hunts for the little ones, spending time with family, and celebrating the resurrection of our Savior!

I remember being a little girl and being SO excited to pick out a new Easter dress each year. Now I'm not so little, but I still can't resist getting something pretty and new for the special holiday, that I can then wear the rest of Spring and Summer.

I hope you all have a blessed Easter, and catch a bit of this absolutely beautiful sunshine I'm experiencing in my part of the country! Here are some photos of my fun new dress and the beautiful weather I'm enjoying!

Dress- Cynthia Rowley
Shoes- Bakers
Bracelets- H&M
Earrings- Forever 21

XOXO Dré

[EGG]cited About Fashion

I was having an eventful evening of coloring Easter eggs with my 2 girls, and what can I say??!! Even the eggs brought out my fashionable side! Just wanted to share this with all of drédin's [CODE]keepers;)

XOXO Dré

| The Short Of It |

Last week I was on a mission styling for an event and just happened to pop into Express. Out of the corner of my eye, something tribal caught my attention. Behold, the go-to shorts for summer.

Express Ikat short, $54.90

Express cotton short, $54.90

In addition to the ikat prints, the bright solids and short-trouser denim options are swoon worthy as well. Seriously, I want them all.

Express short-trouser denim, $49.90

Express sailor short, $39.90

And, of course, the electric blue:

Express sateen short, $49.90

I am fortunate that, come Summer, I can wear these to work. Express does a great job pairing the shorts with bright, electric blouses [ you've seen my obsession here ]. Here are some pairings I will try:

xo | din

photo courtesy: Express, Topshop, ZARA


ICYMI: More Spring/Summer trends to covet, here and here. 

Spring Favs

I recently wrote a post called Kiss of Death, and as promised, I promptly ordered "No She Didn't" by Lime Crime. The moment my package arrived in the mail, I eagerly unwrapped the gloriously aquatic icy blue lip color and smeared it over my pout......UH-mazing!! It is definitely my favorite lipstick I own! I wore it to work the following weekend and it was a hit! Everyone I encountered, both co-workers and guests, loved it and wanted to know where I got it from.

So as not to leave anyone out, I had to model my new find for all of our followers! I'm also showcasing an ear cuff that I got a couple months ago, in the spirit of a recent post by din. It's the perfect accent to so many of my ensembles with the 3 feathers that dangle from it. For more ear cuff ideas click here.

Lipstick "No She Didn't"- limecrimemakeup.com
Feather ear cuff- Claire's

XOXO Dré

ear | cuff

From the runways of Rodarte and Repossi to the street style trendsetter, ear cuffs are a Spring fashion favorite. Below, Miranda Kerr wears a Ryan Storer cuff, and Cara D. and Alicia Keys compliment their perfectly coiffed updo's with statement pieces by Repossi. 

The Berbère Collection, Gaia Repossi

The Berbère Collection, Gaia Repossi

Trend [ deCODEd ]

Every fashionista likes a good trend. Here are a few ways you can jump on board without breaking the bank:

River Island cuffs | ASOS, $8.48

House of Harlow 1960, $59

If your ears are pierced, there are longer, draping versions available, too. Try these from ASOS and Urban Outfitters. Also, this Samii Ryan spiked ear cuff at Nordstrom doesn't require piercing, but it'll still hang with the best of 'em!


xo | din


photo courtesy: Stuart Wilson, Abaca, Colette, ASOS, moejackson

[ Palm Sunday ]

Rodarte | Spring 2013 RTW

If you're going to make a triumphant entrance, don't forget your armor.

Rodarte's Spring 2013 RTW collection is an eclectic blend of mosaic and medieval. The blocks, lace, and chains make this couture armor vision accessible and coveted. All in all, it's definitely a fun way to play dress up!

Here are some other looks from the collection:

On guard!

xo | din


photo courtesy: Gianni Pucci, Monica Feudi, Stefano Masse

A Little Lace

Can I see your hand in the air if you're excited that it's officially Spring? My hand may be the highest! And since Spring has sprung, then Summer is so close I can taste it!

To celebrate the warmth coming my way, I had an outing to see what might catch my eye. Lo and behold I stumbled upon these lacey bandeaus at Victoria's Secret! There are so many colors to choose from, and with a deal of 2/$30 who can go wrong?

Below are the 2 that I chose and I'm so excited to wear them throughout this new season of fashion! Pair them with some high-waisted shorts or pants, or wear one with a burnout tee or sheer tank for a little peekaboo effect. There are so many other ways to wear them! When you buy yours, tell us your ideas of how you will wear it or send us a photo of your outfit!

Lace Bandeau by Pink, similar at www.victoriassecret.com

XOXO Dré

[ Mail Call ]

I love receiving good ol' fashion snail mail. From the choice of paper card, handmade or store bought, to the message that could be as simple as: "I miss you." --everything about it makes me happy.

Trance by JustFab

My envelope clutch from JustFab makes me happy, too. It's electric like all of my other spring fashion favorites. [Remember my electric blue blazer?] Even more, the ability to pair it with outfits seems endless. I'd list all of the color combos, but I gather you are already familiar with the rainbow.

I encourage you to electrify both your wardrobe and your communication. Has someone been on your mind lately? Pop a note of love in the mail to them this weekend. It'll make their day. Promise.

xo | din