Spring Must Haves/ Contest Winner

I've been craving new items for spring, and being addicted to fashion blogs is fueling my lust to purchase. So I'm going to be very chaste, empty my closet, do a bit of re-sale, and then figure out my budget for wardrobe updates. In the meantime, a few inspirations I'm mad about!

I'm loving these Zara Palazzo pants in seersucker! And nobody beats Asos for hip, street chic. Check out their open backed sweatshirts, bodysuits, and Aztec inspired accessories. And last but not least, this awesome Maxi dress from Paul and Joe that reminds me of Monet waterlilies and Klimt florals.
 

And the winner of our Chain Gang, beaded jacket giveaway is Jodi! Thanks so much for reading and commenting Jodi. We hope you have as much fun rocking it as we all did!

With Love,

Noa B

Arsenic and Old Lace: Tripod Challege

I never thought creating a blog without a second set of hands would present such a challenge. As such, I'm becoming best friends with my trusty tripod!

I wanted to showcase the juxtaposition of lace and chiffon, and how the different fabrics move with one another. But it's definitely something of a challenge when I'm the shooter. So here goes nothing...

Chunky jewelry--my fave. And dance-hall looking heels. Plus lots of gold.

 

 How'd I do?

Shirt: Love on a Hanger, Skirt:Nine 3 Two, Cuff and necklace: unknown boutique, Heels: Sigerson Morrison

With Love,

Noa B

Award dress

Last weekend I surprised my husband by joining him for the latter half of his annual, film studies conference in Boston. I was able to sneak into his panel and watch him present his work. And on a further, exciting note, I was present when he was honored Saturday night with a prestigious, alumni award!

With all the frantic meetings and panels and discussions, we forgot to breathe, (let alone snap photos). But here's a re-cap of what I wore Saturday night when he was presented with his plaque.

The Black Halo Jacket dress. (Have I mentioned how much I love the fit of this brand)? Everything is flattering, no matter your shape or size. And because the lines of the dress are so exquisite, it really doesn't require a lot of embellishment. As a former designer, I love to let the clothes speak for themselves. All this wanted was a vintage choker to maintain the retro feel. And I had a beautiful, onyx piece handed down from my mother that fit the bill.

 Dress: Black Halo, Choker: Vintage from Israel, Heels: BCBG

I love having a reason to get dressed up. And the best one is my husband who makes me so very proud.

Cheers Ross!

With Love,

Noa B

BB Cream Update!

Good morning fellow product junkies!

I've noticed that ever since I discovered and began blogging about BB creams, everyone keeps asking after them. And suddenly they're springing up everywhere, from Estee Lauder to Smashbox and Garnier. So I thought I'd bring you a little update for the BB cream craze. After much sorting and testing, I've narrowed it down to two winners:

Missha M brand BB Cream: I recommend colors 21, 23, and 27. I LOVE this brand. I've been able to source it in Little Osaka and Korea town, but you can order it right here, on sale now. I love the true coverage on this brand and the fact that there is a range of undertones to choose from. You can use this formula more like a traditional foundation because the coverage has a fleshy tone to it. It hides imperfections and gives a sunny, warm finish. This tier of M is also their highest grade sunscreen, with a 42 SPF.

If you're fair and golden/yellow, grab #23 as a good, pinkey/beige base. If you're pale, try #21 for a milky glow. And if you're tan, go for the gusto and try #27. I use it to "fake" a tan, but it's been my "go-to" color for my Filipino and Indian or light skinned, African American clients.

Dr Jart BB Cream: In the skincare section of Sephora, you can grab this favorite of mine. I'm still using it daily. There are several tiers of the Jart cream, ranging in price and based on the level of sunscreen content. My recommendation? Go for the highest grade and spare yourself the UVA. This product only comes in one color, so if you're not Asian or Caucasian, try the M cream above. However, if you're light to medium skinned, this puppy is still a rock star. Smooth, brightening, and highlighting, it's a one trick pony for those who really don't want "makeup" but want to look smooth and rested.

And those are my two picks for current BB Creams. So give them a shot and see if you're not convinced that this is the next wave of makeup!

With Love,

Noa B

All Saints on Sale!

There are few companies that make leather quite as cool as All Saints. This is their Damrey Jacket, a uniquely tailored piece with a frontal cowl neck that can, (and should) be worn open...

I happened across this gem on my way back from Palm Springs. Did you fashionistas know that All Saints has a mark-down store off the 10 freeway, in the Premium Desert Outlets? And um, everything is 70% off!!
You can locate them here on the west coast, or here on the east coast.

I had to take the plunge as the cowl detail really got me. (But I admit I've been wearing this jacket open asymmetrically, like so).

 Just wrap...

...And clip.

 Jacket: All Saints, Riding pants: BCBG, Boots: Pour La Victoire, Vest: Trouve, Necklaces, Israel and vintage.

Or don't. Either way...

With Love,

Noa B

Beaded Jacket: Contest Closing

Hello Loves,

A happy Monday morning to you all, and a quick reminder that the Chain Gang, vintage jacket swap ends tonight at 10:00 PCT. So make sure you become a follower and enter to win the little gem today!

For a contest entry, go to our original, Chain Gang blog here, become a Sunset and 5th follower, leave a comment, and cross your fingers. You'll be entered to win. The more you comment, the more chances you'll have! And don't forget to check out each, individual blogger's site for their unique takes on the chain!

1) Tanya from November Grey

2) Jen from Belle de Couture

3) Devon from Devon Rachel

4) Sarah from Living Goldie

5) Jenn from The Suburb Experiment

6) Yola from Yola Thorp

Bonne Chance! The contest closes tonight!

With Love,

Noa B

Orangey goodness

It's a blisteringly bright day in LA. (The first truly spring-like day we've had). In celebration of the sun I threw on this chiffon number I picked up last season at H&M. It seemed so bold in the fall, but now tangerine is everywhere. To make it "Casual Friday", I threw it on with veteran 7's and a fuzzy vest.

Some wooden beads, peachy lip, cat eye, and studded heels.

There are so many easy ways to throw in a simple pop of color. If you're feeling too overwhelmed by this season's rainbow splashes, just pair with faded denim to keep it simple and understated.  

 Top: H&M, Vest: Ann Taylor Loft, Jeans: Seven for all Mankind, Beaded choker: Handmade by mother-in-law

And come check out my Etsy store today for a weekend deal. For Sunset and 5th readers, we've got a special promo code. Enter SUNSETAND5TH  to take 15% off your purchases all weekend!

With Love,

Noa B

 

Tangerine for spring

For months now, it's been spring's hot new trend: tangerine lips. You'll find it popping up in glosses, lipsticks, and stains. And there are so many ways to wear this insouciant, orange shade. Matte, shimmery, opaque, sheer. This list is endless. So here are five faves I've tested and found to be infinitely "wearable".

Becca Lip and Cheek Tint in Guava: For those who want a tinge of coral, but not the whole sha-bang. This soft, water-resistant stain has staying power, but looks like a flush of orange rather than the whole fruit.

Mac Sheen Supreme Lipglass in Mango Sheen: The perfect, semi-sheer gloss. Not too thick, just the right amount of color for those who really want glossy, tinged lips.

NARS Lipgloss in Babe: A gorgeous, semi-opaque gloss, this color glides between the shine of a gloss and the color density of a lipstick. No shimmer, just pure color. A stunner, with some kick!

Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion lipstick in Incognito: Okay, it's divine. Resting dramatically between an orangey-red lip, this color screams "Madmen". Gorgeous, rich, and opaque. If you want to achieve that center photo lip, this is the way to go. Not for the faint of heart, but o-so-flattering!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss Stick in Orange Poppy: A pretty, creamy, slightly frosty version of the tangerine lipstick. If D&G is the fruit, think of this color as the creamsicle.

So there you have it, corals and oranges with a texture or shade range for everyone. And if you're really feeling bold, try incorporating it into your wardrobe too. It's all the rage for this season, top to bottom. To see how I wore this snappy tone, check in tomorrow for my casual spin on the subject.

With Love,

Noa B

Just USA Jeans

I recently discovered a new brand of jeans called "Just USA". On set, a really cute girl was wearing a pair of the most intriguingly soft and incredibly flattering, black skinnies. When I asked her what they were, she replied that they were "Just USA" and that she had bought four pairs at a time because they were relatively challenging to come by, (but very well priced to purchase).

Naturally I had to get some, but when I checked online, I found that Just USA sells primarily to boutiques only, so you have to call around your local, trend stores to see where to find them. But on a recent, 2 day adventure in San Francisco, I came across this sign!

And Voila! There they were!! In deep, rich jewel tones as well as traditional, dark and medium washes!

These jeans fit like a dream! They're paper thin, hand washed, and extremely soft. In fact they feel very much like my cherished, Rag and Bone jeans. But at roughly 40$ a pop rather than the department store $200, I'd say the price tag alone makes them a "feel good" buy! (A word to the wise, they run in Junior sizes--1,3,5,7,9 so you may want to buy a size larger than normal).

Naturally, I couldn't stop at just one color. But I'll be back, checking in for more "Just USA" denim and bringing you the best places to find them. In the meantime, you can order them directly from Clobba, the darling boutique I visited in The Haight.

Clobba: 1604 Haight St (between Clayton St & Belvedere St)  San Francisco, CA 94117. (415) 864-4701

Give them a go, and you won't be sorry!

With Love,

Noa B

Conceal/Reveal

I love concealer, I really do. Both as a makeup artist and a dark, under-eye, circle girl, I live and die by it. (It's my favorite product outside of mascara).

Today there are so many concealers on the market and it can be quite the challenge to choose one. So I've selected a few old time faves and newly acquired gems to share with you. Here are my best-of-the-bunch to test drive.

1: Makeup Forever HD Concealer Pen: This mid/medium weight liquid travels easily and utilizes a squeeze-through tip so that the product never becomes contaminated. A pretty, semi-matte, medium weight coverage good for a broad range of skin tones. This concealer is especially useful for the under-eye area as it's quite viscous and bends and reflects light subtly away from fine lines. It's available at most department stores, as well as Sephora, here.

2: Chanel Eclat Lumiere Concealer: Similar to YSL's famous, Touche Eclat, this wand/stylus comes in limited shades but does a great job re-highlighting and brightening existing concealer. For example, if you find your makeup has faded throughout the day, you can touch up with a dot from the wand and brighten without caking your existing product. More apt to be used as a re-touch item or overall highlighter, this is a great tool to throw in your purse for a late night out. (Or a morning after)...You can find it online here.

3: Clio Kamoflage concealer: German made, but Korean marketed. This item comes in limited shades but doubles as a creamy, pot concealer or blend-able base. It's malleable and moist. A good, all-over-the-face tool, it's easily found in Korean beauty suppliers, but you can also purchase it at Amazon.com here. And best of all, it builds from medium weight to full coverage. If you're having discoloration, ruddiness, or just want an all-over base that's compact, this is a pretty one to try. Color shades tend towards the warm yellows, so it's also great if you want to look a little tan.

4: Becca Compact Concealer: My go-to, all time favorite spot treatment concealer. This baby has both creamy and drier sides to cover any depth of blemish. And at 36 shades and counting, it's a skin matching rock star. Available at Becca Cosmetics, it's a one stop shop for zits, blemishes, dark circles and capillaries.

5: Ellis Faas Concealer Pen: Another great touch up or highlighter, this item comes in a slightly wider range of shades than Chanel and is best for lightweight, under-eye brightening. Another plus, in addition to the pretty and sheer consistency, is the bullet style pen which is truly chic and modern. You can find it at Sephora, here.

Well, those are my critics picks for concealer miracles.

With Love,

Noa B

Rebecca Taylor dress

I'm really, really lucky. I have a big sister who's not only amazingly chic, but also incredibly generous, (especially with her hand-me-downs).

Knowing that I love animal prints, my sister kindly bequeathed me her Rebecca Taylor, leopard print, silk-ruffle dress. Isn't she sweet? Major score!

I paired it with a vintage, Wilson's jacket and my favorite, silver, enamel and leather choker from Israel.

By noon it was freezing, so I added my snood and a bundled up for the chilly day ahead.

Dress: Rebecca Taylor, Shoes: NYLA, Bag: Donald Pliner, Jacket: Wilson's, Snood: ASOS

Even though it's been a cloudy, drizzly, and rather cold Cali weekend, there's something about the crisp, cool air and unusual greyness that's rather beautiful. Plus, it forces me to layer creatively.

With Love,

Noa B

Snakeskin on the move

Animal prints never seem to go out of style. They cycle in and out every couple of seasons. This spring, snakeskin patterns have returned. I found a fabulous, denim printed snake pant during my trip to San Fran and had to take it for a spin.

 Statement necklace and bracelet balance out the strong print.

 

Pants: Uniq, (boutique brand), Sweater: Zara, Shoes: B Makovsky, clutch, wooden cuff and choker: boutique brands

This pair from Moto is available at Topshop here, and is a great alternative to my little, boutique brand! Happy hunting!

With Love,

Noa B