Black Halo Dress Debut

I bought this Black Halo dress last year and had planned to wear it on my 5 year wedding anniversary. However, as our plans ended up changing it wasn't the right venue for a snug, LBD.

Cut to my cousin's black tie wedding in New York last weekend and suddenly I had the perfect opportunity to take it out for a spin. It was incredibly fun to get dressed up with my family and see our entire clan decked out in style. Mom in black lace, my sister in BCBG Runway, and me in a form fitting, architectural dress and Edelman heels,

I had spent the morning helping my sissy shop for a new dress, heels and jewels, and man, did she look smashing! Here she is with my brother in law in his custom tux. (Yours truly learned how to tie a bowtie the previous morning to help him complete the look).

There's never a moment when you can't turn to a Little Black Dress, no matter what the occasion. It's the ubiquitous item that will always come to the fashion rescue!


With Love,

Noa B
 

An Evening at the Met

Over the weekend I made a brief stopover in Manhattan on the way home to LA. One of the great things about NYC in the summer is all the free, cultural activities. My personal fave? Opera at Lincoln center projected on screen in the center of the square.

 

I was wearing my requisite black, (partially because it's NY, and partially because most of my gear had already flown home to LA with the hubs). But black is the east coast uniform, be it winter or summer. 

Top: Boutique, Wax coated jeans: LF, Gladiators: Zara, Bag: Hammitt

The Met, Anna Netrebko, and a little family time. What could be better?

With Love,

Noa B

Doors and Legacies; Amsterdam

Back in the States after a whirlwind trip, I've been reminiscing about Old Amsterdam's amazingly preserved architecture. Aside from walking in the Jordaan and seeing the houses literally leaning over the canals, I'm was taken at the mere sight of fabulous doors, windows and walkways.

But of all the walkways and doors I passed, this one was the most significant. This is the door to the Anne Frank Haus, the front entrance that led to the warehouse above which she and her family hid for over two years before being discovered and taken away by the Nazis. Going into this incredibly preserved piece of history and seeing her original diaries and notebooks I was so moved and shaken that it was all I could do not to cry. But what moved me further still was watching the 2.5 hour queue form behind me down three city blocks to visit her room. Her legacy will never be forgotten...



On a lighter note, as I walked through the old Jewish Quarter I happened to pass this other door. It's the very first, (and only) European Out of the Closet and it just opened it's doors in Holland. Of course we had to go in and check it out, and we found an amazing, vintage Art Deco tin just waiting to be snatched up.

Jacket: Boutique, Bag: Brandy Melville, Gladiators, Leggings and Blouse: Zara

 

 

So many doors, so little time...

With Love,

Noa B

Paris, Au Revoir

Last night I touched down in Kennedy after a whirlwind, European vacation, (my first in a decade)!

Reconnecting with Paris was long overdue. On our last day out I stopped inside this lovely arcade across from the Richelieu Paris Library. I was drawn to the fabulous, Karl Lagerfeld window displays but my heart belongs to Victor Hugo. (His bust perched atop the bookshelves completed my literary romance with France).

During my five days I took in 6 museums, (several fondly remembered from childhood trips) and a few new ones to boot. The museum of contemporary art was partially closed, (as was the Fashion Museum, the Picasso, the Yves St Laurent, and a number of others) but fortunately one could still walk the ground floor and explore the Fauvists and Expressionists.

Moving through cobblestoned streets and small paved alleys is the best kind of city exploration. These older arcade venues house everything from patisseries and boulangeries, to the most expensive bits of fashion.

 

Dress: Winter Kate, Bag: Brandy Melville, Flats: Vince Camuto, Sunnies: JewelMint

 

There's no better place to walk until you're lost than Paris.

With Love,

Noa B

 

Winners, Winners!

A hearty congrats to Karin and Allie, who entered and won the LBD and the vintage jacket featured on my giveaway! Ladies, your new-found goodies are on their way.

Soon to be announced, the winner of the silver ring, (and there's only about a week left to enter to win the blue, spike heels seen below)...

So keep reading. It may be your lucky day. Mine's coming up this Monday when my flight for Europe departs!

With Love!

Noa B

The Single Life: My Web Series

Hey Friends,

This little webisodic series I created the makeup and hair for was purchased by Glamour.com. I think it's a charming, fun set of stories, all about the perils of modern dating. Follow my gals as they traverse "The Single Life" one, flirtatious text message at a time!

 Enjoy!

With Love,

Noa B

From Sundress to Styled for Less

Wake up; Make up...

This James Perse sundress I inherited from my sister is probably the priciest thing on my body today. Everything else has been a fabulous find or sale score. But this morning when I threw this oh-so-soft, PJ like dress on to run errands, I was able to dash it up a little with a few key items:

1: Moto Jacket

2: Skinny Scarf

3: Lariat

4: Trendy Ankle Boots

5: Cuff

6: Bowling Bag

It takes so little to make a cotton, racerback dress seem more pulled together. I notice whenever I study my celebrity tear sheets, they all seem to have a similar layering technique using these basics.

Dress: James Perse, Jacket: ANGL, Scarf: Black Halo, Lariat: JewelMint, Cuff: Ross, Boots: Zara, Bag: L.A.M.B.

With Love,

Noa B

Hair Tricks For The "In-Between" Times: Batiste

We've all been "between" color more than a time or two, and sometimes the "between time" can last a little longer than we'd like. But I stumbled across a great, trickster item to help us gals in the war against roots.

 Meet Batiste Dry Shampoo spray with a little extra color to boot!

My roots have been needing some love for at least 6 weeks. When I kept my hair naturally brunette a touch up was easy. Black-brown mascara and the roots were saved for the day. But blondes, reds and honey tones present a bit of a challenge. I've been spraying in a little Batiste daily between brushings to keep the offending color at bay until my salon appointment. Here's what you do:

Spritz into your roots liberally. I made my coverage a little extreme to better show you, but you can certainly use less. The idea is to hit the root as you would with any dry shampoo.

Throw your hair back over your head upside down and scrunch, run your fingers through, and lift and sift the product into the root. Get a little bed-head going. It will help move the product around.

 Voila. It's not a colorist, but it'll get the job done until you can see yours.

You can find Batiste everywhere, from Drugstore.com and Urban Outfitters, to Naimies and Amazon, who listed it here in multiple colors for as little as $8.99. It comes in blond, medium and dark brunette, as well as cherry and its original, colorless formula.

Happy hair shopping!

With Love,

Noa B

Stacked Heel Giveaway: Rock The Navy For Fall

Hey ladies, Who's a fan of big, sexy pumps? 

You've seen me wearing these adorable, stacked heels from Chinese Laundry over and over, but now it's time to make someone else's gams look good!

Today's giveaway? An identical, gifted pair from Chinese Laundry, (US size 38) for the lucky gal who claims them. If you like how I rocked them above, snag them for yourselves and wow me with your choice of styling. Here's how you can enter for your chance!

Official entry rules:

1: You must become a follower of Sunsetand5th via Google friend connect, (found on the upper, right hand corner of my blog).

2: Once you have, (or if you already are) comment back here about how you would style these heels. Remember to leave your name and email in case you win!

3: For an additional entry, tweet this giveaway and let me know about it in your comment line. Make sure to include your email address.

4: For a third entry, follow me on Twitter.

5: For a fourth entry, follow me on Instagram.

This blog is featured on BloggiveawayDirectory.com

Entries are open worldwide.

Deadline is Wednesday, 8/18/2013, 11PM PCT.