My Appointment at Dream Dry

When I learned that the talented illustrator behind The Simply Luxurious Life logo, Inslee, had shared her skills with Rachel Zoe for her new blow-out salon in New York City Dream Dry, my interest was piqued to see exactly what the experience might be at this glamorous beauty destination. So when I had the opportunity to travel to New York City last month, I made an appointment.

Just a few block from the iconic Flatiron building, Dream Dry is located on West 21st Street, tucked along a quiet through street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Booking an appointment is easy as you can do it all online. You can also purchase and send a gift certificate online if you have a certain someone who would love a surprise in her/his inbox from Rachel Zoe. With the standard blowout (wash, blow-out and style) priced at $40 (which is commensurate to The Dry Bar), in forty minutes you can walk out with the style you desire.

My style experience didn’t exceed my expectations; in fact, I could have done it at home, but part of the reason for scheduling a blow-out is to reduce the stress and sometimes struggle of doing your own hair. What did exceed my expectations however was the interior design and decor of the space.

Pristine white decor washed the entire business and was complemented with accents of black and chrome (if you book an appointment and are getting shampooed, look up and enjoy the large grouping of silver bubble pendants hanging from the ceiling to entertain your eyes as you begin to relax).

Last Wednesday on The Rachel Zoe Project, Robin Moraetes (co-founder of Dream Dry with Rachel Zoe) gave viewers a tour of the business as it opened its doors in February earlier this year. And it was the marble black and white chevron floor that I was most curious to see. I can attest that it is stunning as it runs throughout the entire establishment.

With a second location opening on 315 West 57th in NYC near Columbus Circle, one of the unique offerings that Dream Dry makes available is early bird appointments (beginning at 6:30 am) and late evening appointments (until 10pm on Thursdays and Friday and 9pm on Monday through Wednesday). Clients can also keep a dossier of the styles they received in order to remember what they might want again on a return visit. 

So if you’d like to be pampered (enjoy a perusing a pre-loaded iPad with all the top fashion magazines issues while your stylist works their magic), don’t want to fuss with your hair and want to gaze on exquisite modern, chic, fabulous decor, treat yourself to an appointment.

 ~Books on the shelves in the waiting room – shoes, fashion and accessories~

All images by The Simply Luxurious Life

Met Costume Gala – Red Carpet 2012

To many in the fashion world, as well as myself, the annual Met Costume Gala is the most fashionable and most anticipated red carpet of the year. Elsa Schiaparelli along with Miuccia Prada were honored at this year’s prestigious fashion event appropriately titled “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations.”

With pops of Schiaparelli’s most coveted color – pink – showing up in so many of the celebrities and muses (Coco Rocha’s hair and ensemble, Sarah Jessica Parker’s Valentino full-coverage dress, and Karlie Kloss’s Jason Wu gown), the evening was abuzz with energy on this sumptuous May evening in New York City.

Anna Wintour arrived first, donning an updated Prada design of Elsa Schiaparelli's famously known lobster dress (the first time Wintour hasn’t worn Chanel to the Met Gala in six years). With Wintour’s arrival, the flood gates were opened and the designers, accompanied by their muses, as well as musicians, actors, models and celebrities and all in total just over 800 invited guests made their way up the lengthy red staircase to view this year’s exhibit.

Below are my picks for best dressed and most fascinating designs of the evening:

Read more »

Rachel Zoe – Resort 2012

Rachel Zoe’s doppelganger appears in the collection of photos revealing her new Resort 2012 collection.  With Zoe’s signature style of wide leg jeans, long sleeve blouses and maxi dresses, the collection is full of items that are very wearable and of course uber-stylish.

Quoted as saying she was staying in her comfort zone with this collection, she certainly did, and I argue, she knocked it out of the park with her sophomore collection. Have a look, I have a feeling you will find at least one item you could add to your wardrobe, and more than likely, many more.

*View Rachel’s very first collection here – Fall 2011

Images via Style.com

Rachel Zoe’s Fall 2011 RTW

In early January, Rachel Zoe revealed her Fall 2011 RTW collection. Expecting her first child in March (revealing it is a boy!), she was able to pull off what most first time designers couldn’t, display a collection to buyers well before the prescribed time. Without batting an eye, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom & Saks Fifth Avenue drank up what she was pouring when it came to seventies style with vintage jewelry and accessories. Despite a bit of a fashion faux pas moment regarding the dress above (click here to read the story), her collection was received with great success. While I have pulled my favorite looks, click here to see the entire 33 piece collection.

All images courtesy of Style.com

Rules Of Style – Eva Mendes

The skin tone, the exotic eyes and infectious smile and laughter, Eva is mesmerizing to women and men alike. I remember first really enjoying her on screen when she starred along side Will Smith in Hitch. And with the help of stylist Rachel Zoe, she continues to look dazzling on the red carpet. Here is a look at a few of her consistent Rules of Style.

Jewel Tones 

Formal Belting

 

Let The Figure Show 

Trust Rachel Zoe

 

Work The White

 

Wide Leg Jeans

 

Nautical Top & Jeans 

A Colorful Neutral

And regardless of what life throws at her and what she deals with, she demonstrates beautifully why a smile and a good sense of humor are a great way to make an outfit look even better.

Here are a few more women of fabulous style, who look even more beautiful when they smile:

*Lauren Hutton

*Kelly Ripa

{A change in schedule: stylist Tiffani Rogers of Living Chic will be stopping by The Simply Luxurious Life next Thursday to share how we all can add simply luxury to our wardrobes. }

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