Summer Leather

I have to admit, summer seems like the most inopportune time to wear leather.

 I mean dang--isn't our heat index creeping into the 100's...?

On the other hand all my leather pieces are currently in the form of shorts, minis, and cropped jackets, and since I'm a wuss about being cold in the winter, I guess it's now or never!

I threw on these favorite, Tart shorts with a "happy farm girl" sort of top and my most broken-in, uber soft booties. Simple and sweet.

 

Shorts: Tart, Shirt: Romeo and Juliet Couture, Booties: Jeffrey Campbell: Sunnies: Nicole Miller: Earrings: Jewelmint.

And took my leather clad self for a much needed car wash and burrito fresh off West LA's best truck! Yum!

With Love,

Noa B

P.S. A lovely series of comment have inspired me to continue with more makeup reviews and tips. Read on next week for my upcoming review of Koh Gen Do foundations. They're sure to leave you wanting to take the facial challenge, and stay tuned for a prime giveaway!

D&G Eyes: Quick trick for a night out!

I've been super jazzed to try this new palette from Dolce & Gabbana. Judging from their lipsticks, I know I'm gonna love the tone and velvety feel of their shadows. I was happily gifted a tester in color "Nude", but you can purchase the "full" quad which comes in Dolce's signature, gold packaging. Isn't it too pretty!?

Step one towards softly amped eyes: Outline lid to crease with a soft, highlighter shade in a peach, pearl, or champagne, like so:

Step 2: Create a wash of color with the middle tone from lid to crease, concentrating the bulk of the saturated color on the center of the eye lid. In this case, I chose the orangey tone shown above.

Step 3: Add the medium brown  tone from crease to beginning of brow-bone.

Step 4: With an angle brush followed by blending brush, add darkest tone in plum shade to outer edges of
the upper and lower lash line, and blend out creases to create a "winged" effect.

Step 5: Darken outer edges for further contour.

Step 6: Smooth all edges with a rounded, blending brush. No hard lines should be apparent!

Step 7: Finish with a swoosh of black line on the inner rim of the eye and Voila! Subtly smokey eyes for a night out.

Love those smouldering neutrals! And if you want to take a crack at them, you can find the Quad sets from D&G at these locations in the United States. And for you LA based readers, head straight to Sak's here.

With Love,

Noa B

Sunday Maxi Dress

I'm finally getting some use out of my lightweight, summer frocks as the temperature index continues to soar. This Sunday found me at brunch in Weho, sitting on the roof at Short Order in the intense, late morning sun.

Thank goodness for breathable fabrics and easy, maxi dresses. Like this latest acquisition from Zara. It kept me cool but still covered up.

 

I happen to love the collar details, (which are all about the bronze). There's something so cool about the darker metals, like antique gold, pewter, and titanium. I've been obsessed for years, and it's nice to be able to find these accents in less out-of-the way shopping haunts now that they're trending. 

However, if you want a transitional color and silhouette, here's a similar look you can find online. It's also a cute alternative if you prefer minis to maxis...

The Jovonna dress from Asos, available here on sale for $65!.

Dress: Zara, Bracelets: Vintage, Earrings: Jewelmint, Wedges: B Makovsky, Sunnies: Nicole Miller

Happy Monday!

With Love,

Noa B

Regenerist: The Drug Store Steal

Ladies, do you all get as excited as I do when I find a drug store deal that really seems worthwhile?

As a makeup artist in the entertainment industry, I get constant questions from clients and actors about what I recommend for skincare. And while I love splurging at my local department stores for that uber luxurious eye creme or fabulous face wash, there are times when a girl's gotta save a few pennies.

 

Which is why I'm excited about finally trying Oil of Olay's Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Facial Moisturizer. Honestly, I've done the Creme de la Mer route and believe me, it's great. But it's not every day that a gal can shell out nearly 300$ for a single ounce of creme!

 

Enter Regenerist. On my last CVS run I thought I'd give it a whirl. I've always liked the tried and true items that have stuck around over the years. Estee Lauder Youth Dew, Dove Soap, Jean Nate Bubble bath, and Oil of Olay are the staples your mother, or even grandmother used and loved.

But this newer incarnation of Olay is really fabulous. Rich, thick, creamy, and light in fragrance. I've been playing around with it this week and I really love the texture and tone I feel after a night sleeping with it. Shop at the link HERE and you can save 10% on all P&G products including the aforementioned, micro-sculpting creme, plus free shipping for all purchases over 25$ from now until the end of August! I've got my eye on a Regenerist Serum that's next on my list...

So if you're looking for a great creme at a great price, take a shot at Regenerist. At under 30$ for 1.7 Oz, you won't be sorry! And if you shop at the link above, you can find other, fun items all at discounted prices til the end of the month! I know I'll be taking advantage of that to try Olay's new Professional Pro-X system and so many other goodies too. To send friends and family to the discounted site, simply refer them to the above link, again, HERE  and go do a little drug store pampering of your own.

With Love,

Noa B

Makeup Tests and Mumu Comfort

Today is my makeup prep day: in this case, a quick test for some aging effects before my gig begins. I'll be painting, stippling and airbrushing. So I'm attempting comfort as well as camouflage--(I get makeup EVERYWHERE when I work)...

It's really hot, and I'm going for loose comfort. This vintage caftan is just the thing!

I'm enamored with this clutch sent to me by one of my TV clients. An incredibly sweet and generous gesture that overwhelmed me. I will be putting it to very good use!

 I've the perfect wedges to pair it with too. Sable colored suede...

 Vintage stones and cherry dangles for a pop of color.

And it's off to my production meeting. Au Revoir!

Caftan: Vintage, Bag: Gifted, Heels: Makovsky, Bling: Vintage and Jewelmint

With Love,

Noa B

Rehearsal Dinner Swap-er-oo

I returned Monday from my sojourn in Ojai at a three day, wedding weekend. Ojai weather is tricky enough to make even the most prepped packer groan. 98 degrees in the late morning, positively chilly by 7-8 pm. My wardrobe heaved a sigh of distress!

Thank goodness my husband and I rode in separately for different, pre-wedding events. After placing a quick call home, I was able to switch out my LBD Black Halo dress to my Zara, wool mini with the Gaga-esque, shoulder pads. (Yes, I needed wool in the middle of summer in Ojai)!

Oh, and I must mention that I've become positively HOOKED on Jewelmint. This rad ring is one of a number of recent goodies they sent me in a grab bag full of extra items for my monthly purchase!

Having worn demure jewelry to the shower events as well as the wedding, it was nice to have something a little rougher around the edges for my evening out "in town". These "steampunk" hoops with hardware also came in my grab bag. I'm in love! And if you like these picks, check out more options at www.Jewelmint.com and sign on to get your first, discounted purchase!

LBD: Zara, Wedges: Sam Edelmann, Earrings and ring: Jewelmint.

With Love,

Noa B

Pre-Wedding Planning

It's been a completely nutty week, and I've never had to take a hiatus from blogging before. But with work, big, life changes and much, much more, I've had to step aside until today.

On a happy, happy note, one of my dearest friends will be walking down the aisle in a countdown to this weekend. And in getting ready for her destination wedding and accompanying festivities, I've been going through my closet to get geared up!

First up: Bachelorette night dress. I've been waiting for a reason to pull out this Black Halo Caitlyn, Cutaway number. For a girl's night out I may take it for a spin!

Next on the list? A pretty and girlish dress to wear for the bridal luncheon. The idea of pastels was floated about, and I'm going to try this maxi dress with pleather bustier from EgoCloset. It's had one outing and I want to get some mileage out of it before summer is gone for good.

The wedding itself will be a day filled with beauty and excitement, and as a bridesmaid I'm Uber excited to get to wear white! (Off white, that is). This Creme Fraiche dress from BHLDN was a choice picked out by the bride back in the spring and with it's lightweight, silk, chiffon it will compliment the Ojai heat perfectly!

Last but not least, the Monday morning brunch. Something elegant yet loose and comfortable after a night of revelry. I'm thinking, this Winter Kate, Kimono style dress will be just the thing.

 With Love,

Noa B

Moroccan Pants for an English Olympics

I'm all about clothes that remind me of my childhood summers in Israel. And I'm also a huge fan of 70's era style, (the Hubs always jokes that I was born into the wrong decade). That, combined with searching for comfy, pub crawl clothes resulted in this combo over the weekend.

 

Friday night we made plans to meet with a handful of good friends at a Hollywood, watering hole. These loose palazzos and khaki, fatigue style jacket were just the thing for an English, pub night. And who knew the the Olympic, opening ceremonies would be on every flat screen telly in the joint? The place was packed. Comfort was definitely key.

 Pants: Zara, Jacket: Charlotte Russe, Top: Vintage, Heels: Blowfish

I'm such a rare bar fly that even with all that Olympic cheer I was content to sip my coke with cherry syrup quite happily. It's really all about the company.

With Love,

Noa B