Red Lips for a Vintage 4th!

Hey Everyone, next week we'll be celebrating the 4th of July, and I thought it would be fun to show you a classic, makeup look you can achieve in under ten minutes, utilizing some elements of red, white and blue. So I'm back once more with the Tai twins to show you an easy, 1-2-3 approach to holiday makeup, clothing, and festivities!

It's a little update on classic, 1940's & 1950's makeup. Enjoy!

Retro style makeup meets actual, retro clothing. Have fun playing while you find your own cool, vintage-y way to celebrate the holiday!

With Love,

Noa B

Working Gear

Yesterday as I headed out to my 6AM call I thought I'd snap a couple images of my "working togs" as they pertain to set. Basically, set work demands the wearing of closed toes shoes and no open underarms. Certain rules apply and you have to have mobility and functionality to work a 16 hour job on your feet.

My typical day can begin as early as 3AM, (and I always spend quality time with a certain, bewhiskered friend before leaving for work). Anytime between 4-6AM can find me out the door.

This is my easy fallback, even in summer, (since we can't be open-toed on set). Harem pants, blazer in a super lightweight fabric, cotton shell or tank, and a single piece of jewelry.

I'm getting so much use out of this Kate Young jacket. I don't have to worry about getting makeup stains on it because it's polyester, so I can throw it into the regular wash cycle, and it's very thin so it works in hotter weather. 

Jacket: Kate Young for Target, Tank: Thyme and Honey, Pants: ASOS, Boots: C&C, Lariat: Made by a friend

Just enough time to grab some blog pics as the sun was literally coming up behind me!

With Love,

Noa B

Selfie: Trip Togs in DC

Please excuse the Iphone pix but it's been a whirlwind, family getaway over the past week and I haven't had a lot of time to shoot or blog. (I guess that's what happens when you're having too much of a good time)! 

 

 

Skirt: H&M, Gladiators: Sam Edelmann, Blouse: Millau

 

Blouse: Zara, Pants: BCBG Generation, Heels: Dior, Choker: Israeli Designer, Bag: Hammitt

 

I was pleased to find that my newest method of packing everything according to pre-arranged "outfits" made getting ready extremely easy. I had brought enough options to get me through a day and a night change for 5 consecutive days. (Basically a walking outfit for sightseeing and then a dinner change of garb). These are some quick snaps of just a few).

 

 Dress: Winter Kate, Gladiators: Sam Edelmannm Bag: Hammitt, Sunnies: JewelMint

 

 

 

 Dress: Kate Young for Target, Booties: Sam Edelmann, Jacket: DVF

  

 

Boyfriend Jeans: GAP, Sandals: Vince Camuto, Jacket: Kate Young for Target

It's also a blessing that I managed to bring enough options for the hotter weather and enough jackets for the breezy evenings. It's possible that I finally didn't over or under pack but like Goldilocks got it "just right".


With Love,

Noa B

A little East Coast, and Family Boho Style

I landed in DC this week in preparation for my father's 70'th birthday party. One of the best parts of having flown back east is reuniting with my family. And when it comes to us gals, we all love summer mini and maxi dresses. It must run in the family.

How gorgeous is my little niece, (soon to be 8 years old)? Not only does she sketch clothing designs like her auntie, but she's getting so tall she can rock a maxi dress too.

We've been having such fun as a family, and it's so rare that we can all coordinate being together. I wish every birthday could be like this one.

Me: Free People, My Niece: Ralph Lauren c/o me.

And with a little luck, maybe they can...

With Love,

Noa B

Vintage Lamps: Rosebowl Scores

I've been somewhat obsessed over the last few months with getting my home in Santa Barbara in a state of readiness for summer, guests, and entertaining. Part of that challenge has been in furnishing the bedrooms on a very, very minimal budget and combining the old, (what we previously had) with the new. (What we're attempting to buy now).

Because our home is a mid-century modern vintage, we wanted to maintain some décor elements from that era. So we've been combing the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market once a month in search of 60's artifacts. Our latest find? These awesome Jo Wallis, ceramic lamps!

Having returned from a mid-century modern show in Palm Springs recently I pounced on these babies when I spotted the signature on the lamp base. So many amazing designers signed their pieces in the 60's, plus these were in great shape. I loved the "atomic era" star bursts best of all!

I had also snagged these semi-deco style lamps earlier, (which I jokingly call my "Brancusi" lamps as they bear a remarkable resemblance to that famous bird sculpture).

 

Modernizing them was a snap, with the aid of these bright, Target lampshades.

And there you have it. It's pretty easy to decorate with style and panache when you have unlimited funds, but when you're on a budget a little thriftiness can actually contribute to your aesthetic!

With Love,

Noa B

Buttoned-down Meets Boho

I've always heard that a crisp, white, button down blouse never goes out of style. I think that's nearly always true. It's hard to go wrong with a classic piece. Nonetheless pairing a button down top with a boho bag lends itself to something a little less preppy and a little more "loose".

I picked up this bag on a recent, production job in Albuquerque NM, and I loved the fringe-y, Native American feel that the seed beads and shells lent to it.

I thought it would be a fun item for summer dressing, when cross body bags are so useful as they seem unstructured and easy. Plus the off white color made it perfect for all my billowing, summery frocks.

I mixed the blue and white beading on the bag with these subtly striped and dotted pants, complete with scalloped hem.

Blouse: H&M, Pants: BCBG Generation, Heels: Nine West, Necklace: Boutique, Bag: New Mexico Trip

This is my kind of dressing. Clean and classic, with a small twist. Now it's off to work!

With Love,

Noa B

Romantic Evening Makeup Tutorial

Happy Wednesday Everyone,

I've been swamped with shooting and haven't had a chance to blog much about style this past week, but I've been able to sneak in some time with two of my favorite, YouTube beauty consultants, Ava and Arlene Tai. This week we wanted to bring you a fun tutorial on makeup for a romantic, dinner out.

Romantic Makeup: Koh Gen Do and some seriously pretty color!
 



I hope you enjoy it! And if you do, find more videos coming to you all summer from Fancei, and the beautiful Tai twins, here at http://www.youtube.com/user/beautyconsultants?feature=watch.

 

With Love,

 

Noa B

Tears and their Reality

On set shooting all weekend, I sat idly pulling tears from a stack of my personal magazines that had been piling up by the dozen. I'm a big believer in tears. In fashion design school we made books and books of them. In New York City at every design studio I worked in, the walls were tattooed with them. Pulling tears was like breathing.

Thus the habit has died hard with me. But I was tickled this morning when I realized in packing for an overnight trip, I unconsciously packed yesterday's tear sheet!

Shirt: Millau, from Leif, Scarf: Gap, Sandals: Sam Edelmann, Shorts: Traded from friend, Nail Polish: Gift

Please excuse the bad picture, (I'm literally running out the door) but I thought it was funny and ironic. Those of us who love style, fashion and beauty imbibe so much from printed media. Sometimes it's there in our brains before we even know it. These simple items were all culled at different times and none terribly recently. Yet here they are, ready to wear and right on trend. Who knew?

With Love,

Noa B

Summer Night Look with The Tai Twins!

Hi Everyone,

I'm back again with the beautiful Ava and Arlene Tai, (otherwise known as Fancei). These two gorgeous actresses host a youtube channel devoted to fashion and beauty. Last week I brought you a guest collaboration as we demonstrated makeup for an evening out on the beach. This week, we're bringing you a summer, night time look from head to toe. I hope you enjoy it, and if you like what you see, subscribe to their You Tube Channel for fresh fashion and beauty, coming to you all summer long!

Makeup:

Palette featuring blush, highlighter and lip gloss: Becca Fallen Angel

Pencils: MAC Powerpoints in Engraved and Navy Stain

Shadows: Urban Decay The Palette #2

Foundation: Ellis Faas

Concealer: NARS Honey

Setting Powder: Nars Translucent

With Love,

Noa B

How to dress for the Airport

Often when I thumb through a style-watch magazine, there's an insert about how celebs look coming in and out of airport terminals. I'm always impressed at how they manage to look really breezy with virtually no effort.

Since I'm heading to LAX for a work trip, I thought I'd add my own, personal insight into successful, dress habits for travel:

 

1: Start with an ultra soft T-shirt. I like Old Navy and Zara for thin, semi-opaque cotton. A good tee is worth it's weight in fashion gold.

2: Choose jeans that have stretch, (a little lycra is always best). Rather than defaulting to boyfriend blues, mix it up with color or a pattern. I LOVE these leaf patterned babies I found at Polka Dots and Moonbeams.

3: Add a loose blazer. I usually take a longer one that is roomy enough to pull all the way around me like a light blanket on the plane. This one comes from Kate Young. Long and loose is comfy, travels well, and still looks current.

4: Make sure to take semi-flat shoes. I like a one inch heel to give my arch some support when I'm standing on long lines. Choose something you can slip in and out of easily. These Kelsi Dagger flats zip in the back of the shoe, making them easy to slide on and off.

5: Finally, nix all jewelry, (and/or hats and scarves) since you'll have to remove them for the scanner, opting instead for a crossbody bag to add color. Pick something you can throw a necklace, a phone and possibly a slender novel or Ipod into, and still keep on your person, rather than a heavy shoulder bag.

 

Tee: Old Navy, Flats: Kelsi Dagger, Jeans: Level 99, Blazer: Kate Young for Target

Provided you're checking luggage, you can sail through the terminal quickly and comfortably. Wish me luck!

With Love,

 Noa B

Sunday Girl's Day

This past Sunday I got to spend a true "girls day out" with a buddy doing something I haven't been able to do in ages. Relax, get a massage, eat, shop, and generally just enjoy time together. It was such an amazing treat, and while I wanted to feel pulled together what I wanted most to wear something really soft and easy.

This cotton tricot dress is still one of my favorite re-sale items of last year. I found it at a Crossroads Trading Co and was able to swap out some unworn garments for this little number. It feels like pajamas, and sometimes on a Sunday that's all you want to wear.

These kicks from ShoeMint arrived a few weeks ago but I hadn't had a chance to break them in yet. I LOVE this style and am considering purchasing their twin in black. ShoeMint styles fit fairly true to size, so I actually bought these in my "real" size, (not a half size up as I normally would) because I've found them to be pretty exact. You can still nab them here in nude and black suede. Next, I'll match them with boyfriend jeans but for now, they definitely heat up a basic.

Dress: Jerome, Heels: ShoeMint, Choker & Earrings: JewelMint

Some days the best thing to do is not fuss, but just throw on a simple, cozy dress and exit the door. Wearing a single piece can allow you that freedom.


With Love,

Noa B