50 Shades Darker Archives - Detroit Duchess

Celebrating Four Years of Blogging

Four years ago I took a leap of faith and hit publish on this little blog of mine. Since then, I’ve learned so much about blogging, writing and social media and had a lot of fun in the process. I’ve had some amazing opportunities with partners and sponsors and am always honored when amazing companies want to work with me. I mentioned in my Miracle Morning post at the beginning of the year, that this last year was personally very difficult for me. My posts have been fewer and further between, but I’m glad I pushed through and didn’t give this up. For those of you that have kept reading, I LOVE having you here. My sincerest wish for this site is for you to imagine we are enjoying some girl talk over a glass of wine.

As I tried to take some photos, Sport kept trying to eat my candle – this little boy brings me tons of joy! I thought Sport and I would announce my annual blogiversary giveaway with a month of giveaways. Enter the giveaway below and each week I will choose another winner.

Week 1 – August 8

I started The Miracle Morning this year and it has changed everything! I want to help someone else change their life so I’m giving away a copy of Hal Elrod’s The Miracle Morning as my first prize.

Week 2 – August 15

This year, I was able to attend a screening of Beauty and the Beast and this was one of my favorite movies. Of all the Disney princesses I most identified with Belle. As a child I always had my nose in a book. I loved the live action movie so much and want to give away a little piece of the story to my readers. My second prize is this Beauty and the Beast stained glass rose compact. It is so beautiful!

Week 3 – August 22

Speaking of movie screenings, I covered 50 Shades Darker this year and had SO much fun at the screening and pulling together Anastasia’s looks from the movie. I’m a huge romance novel fan (my guilty pleasure) and 50 Shades is one of my favorites. I recently re-read the books and wanted to give one reader her very own masquerade mask. This is the authentic Samantha Peach mask that Anastasia wore in the movie.

Week 4 – August 29

Last but not least, is this adorable little pineapple planter from my Summer Favorites list. I am obsessed with pineapples right now and I thought this would look perfect in someone’s home.

You can enter the giveaway here, and I will announce a new winner each week. Thank you for all of your support over the past four years!

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On Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend an advance screening of 50 Shades Darker with a few friends. The screening was a lot of fun; we all received masks similar to the one Anastasia wears to the Masquerade Ball and I made sure to get a big cup of wine because you definitely need it to watch this movie with a theater full of strangers.

If you haven’t read the books, I highly recommend that you read them before seeing this movie. They had to cram a lot into the run time and they left out a lot of the backstory. So if you didn’t already know Christian Grey’s story you might think he was crazy and possessive. One of the main things they left out was Christian’s therapist Dr. Flynn. Anastasia even gets to meet him and talk to him and he explains why Christian has a need to control everything. It does sound like he makes a cameo in the third movie, but he was definitely referenced multiple times in the second book.

Here are a few ways you can get your 50 Shades fix in case you want more:

1.Masquerade Mask ($15.90)

You can get the exact mask that Ana wears to the masquerade party and it’s affordable!

2. Ana’s Lipsticks

According to @evelynenoraz, the 50 Shades Darker makeup artist, “They were a liquid lipstick from Mac Cosmetics for the red ( plus Mac lip liner ) and from Anastasia for the deep berry color ( liquid lipstick as well ) or Glossier lipstain.”

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A post shared by Evelyne Noraz (@evelynenoraz)

Based on that statement here are my guesses for the exact shades:

MAC Cherry Lip Liner ($17.50)

MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolor in Feels So Grand ($21)

ILIA Lipstick Arabian Nights ($26)

MAC Burgundy Lip Liner ($17.50)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Heathers ($20)

Glossier Generation G in Jam ($18)

3. Ana’s Eyes from the Masquerade

According to Evelyn, she used Dior’s Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in Lune and Millenium ($31/each).

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A post shared by Evelyne Noraz (@evelynenoraz)

4. Jimmy Choo Lang Patent Strappy Sandal ($795)

During that steamy dinner/elevator scene, Anastasia was wearing the Jimmy Choo Lang sandals.

If these are out of your price range, you can try the Pleaser brand shoes that are an exact match for only $52.95:

5. Anastasia’s Masquerade Dress

The dress Ana wore to the masquerade party was stunning. Custom designed by Monique Lhuillier and the 50 Shades Costume Designer, Shay Cunliffe, it is one of a kind! Women’s Wear Daily shared more details here on how this dress came about.

I found a few options for the dress and the beautiful feathered cape she wears. For the dress, Forever 21 has two different options with a Satin Maxi Dress ($34.90) and this Selfie Leslie Halter Neck Dress ($44.99):

I also found two options for the cape/jacket, the first is the Jayley Luxurious Stripe Faux Fur Jacket ($234) and the second is the SB Tipped Fur Jacket ($107.50):