Inside Peek at Rue Magazine Cofounder and Editor-in-Chief Crystal Gentilello
With its bright, cheery interiors and sophisticated, saliva-inducing styling, nothing gets our design gears going quite like the online lifestyle publication Rue. In celebration of its fifth issue, we caught up with Cofounder and Editor-in-Chief Crystal Gentilello. Not only did she dish on the makings of the magazine, she also shared her style mantra and revealed a few trends she’d just *never *do.
How did you decide to start Rue magazine?
My cofounder, Anne, and I saw a gap between the world of publishing and technology so we decided to launch a digital publication about something we love – design and style – to hopefully help bring those two together.
Could you tell us a little about what you do?
I wear many hats at Rue…and I wouldn’t have it any other way! From being on location at a photo shoot to brainstorming our marketing strategy with Anne, from pouring over gorgeous images for the mag to managing a growing team of interns and contributors, from attending industry conferences and events to answering what feels like a bazillion emails each day, I seem to dabble in just about everything.
What do you love most about working at Rue?
Oh dear, it’s so hard to pick just one! But one thing I definitely love most about working at Rue is our team. They’re a fabulous and fun bunch of believers and I couldn’t, nor would I want to, do it without them.
You’re now on your 5th issue. How has the magazine evolved since you first started?
I think we’ve really honed in on the Rue look and feel: glamorous, sophisticated, fresh, and inspiring. We like to push the envelope at the mag and really think outside the box. And at times, even surprises our readers.
Do you have any style muses?
Kate Middleton, hands down! That perfect balance of class and sex appeal she achieves so effortlessly endlessly fascinates me. She’s a real modern day style icon, in my opinion.
What’s your style philosophy?
“Less is more.” “Elegance is refusal.” “Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.” Three famous quotes that say the same thing and I couldn’t agree more!
One item or trend you can’t get on board with?
In fashion, wide legged pants. Not because I don’t love the look, but because I could never pull it off. This petite gal would get lost in all that fabric! In home décor, zebra rugs! Sorry, just can’t do it.
Any tips/tricks for finding great style that’s affordable?
See what’s trending in fashion shows and magazines, and then recreate the look with more affordable pieces from places like H&M, TopShop, and Zara’s. Or if you’re really savvy, you’ll just let the people at Shop It To Me do all the hard work for you!
All images courtesy of Rue.