B Captured

Here's my favorite headline of the week!

Fashion's Night Out to Be Repeated in 2010

If you've missed it and been living in a hole the last couple months. Fashion's Night Out was event organized by New York City and the CFDA that brought all retailers together for one night and celebrated shopping! Have you heard of a better reason to celebrate? On September 9th of this year more than 700 retailers stayed open past 11 pm. Designers were in their own stores joining in the madness, free give aways and makeovers were at different locations.  The Olsen twins were making drinks at Bergdorfs and Taylor Momsen played a small concert with her band. Thankfully the New York City mayor and CFDA have agreed to a repeat in 2010. For those of us who unfortunately don't live in the city that never sleeps, book your ticket now. I'll see you NYC for Fashion's Night Out.

To read more go to WWD

B Spooked

It's not a secret that Halloween is not my favorite holiday but if I would've seen this Tory Burch pumpkin earlier I would have definitely gotten in the spirit! After some last minute inspiration I searched the web to find 3 different costumes of 3 very worthy charachters to dress up as this halloween!

Queen B is set to rule another night on Hallow's eve. Blair Waldorf is a character that is dressed to tee and never has an accessory out of place. All of Blair's costume can be found on Forever21.com and just don't be scared to mix patterns while of course her signature headband can not be misplaced.

Who hasn't tried dressing up as Carrie Bradshaw since Sex and the City's debut in 1998? If you saw the recent glamour issue in the last year of Emma Stone dressing up as whoever Carrie then you too looked at it and wanted to be fashion icon. This skirt is iconic during the series and very hard to replicate though I got lucky on target.com with this is Issac Mizrahi skirt. With just a few alterations and killer shoes you are ready to be Carrie.

 

The first Halloween inspiration I had was from Regis & Kelly and their Rachel Zoe spoof! Kelly was as always hilarious and reenacted Rachel to a tee. A fur vest is essential to be bananas and any oversized accessories work all found on CharlotteRusee.com. Have a boy sidekick? Get him to throw on a bow tie and metallic dress shoes, Brad and Rachel will be to die for this Halloween!

B Cozy

I apologize for the small absence from my blog but just last month I was blogging about everything I'm lusting after for Fall and I have finally began to enjoy them! The leaves are changing (in Seattle), Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back and everything is soft and knitted. I have been on a hunt for a beret for quite some time but it wasn't till yesterday where I found the thick knitted beret from Gap that was love at first sight.

It's moments like these is why I love Fall. Fall requires everything to be warm and comfortable. Have you seen so much think cable knit any where else this season? Everywhere I turn there is an oversize sweater or knit ugg boots! Now I know how guys feel about ugg boots, they hate them and I think every women's response to this negative comment is "but they're comfortable!" And I totally agree ladies. Just don't take the uggs out for a night on the town. Though I'm tempted with these knit boots but that will just have to be a night in next to the fire.

Fall leaves the air crisp and fresh and fall fashion is leaving us cozy and warm. My newest obsession is driving with the convertible top down with the heat on high. Its the perfect way to enjoy this great weather and staying cozy! I am dying over everything I see that has the smallest influence of fall weather musts. I am almost getting ready for full on winter. Bring on the hats, gloves, scarves and boots!

B Accessible

Just this last week Barney's New York opened their first location in Scottsdale, AZ. Viewing the store you were captivated by the original visuals and unique layout of the legendary department store. Though much smaller than their Beverly Hills location, Barney's brought the high status to an American mall that is transforming to be a must travel item. And while Barney New York's vendors are not always accessible by the average shopper, the designers who created their name by the help of the department store are creating new fashions at a new price point.

The hype of Jimmy Choo's accessory line for H&M has been a big topic of conversation for all fashion publications. The sleek advertisements are gracing the pages of Vogue and Elle and November 14th is marked on everyone's calendars. In a article from Women's Wear Daily, Tamara Mellon founder and president said "It was a challenge for us to create high-quality pieces at an H&M price point.” Wow am I glad that she decided to take on a challenge. The pieces were designed off the same woman who inspired Jimmy Choo's Fall line "She's rock 'n' roll, a little punk". I think some people may see the price points for the Jimmy Choo for H&M still out of their price range but it is for this reason they aren't completely cheap because Jimmy Choo still wanted to make a great product. The value of these products should be judged on more than just the label and really evaluation the quality and aesthetic. If the quality is well made compared to a disposable product and design is innovative and trending then I think this Jimmy Choo for H&M will be very successful with great products and not too mention the overwhelming publicity received over the collaboration.

Collaboration must be a trending item because everywhere I turn a designer is merging with a new idea. Just this last week the buzz about Christian Louboutin designing for Barbie continued. He has been granted the position of being Barbie's God Father for the year. Can you imagine the birthday presents? The designer designed 12 Christian Louboutin Barbie shoes that are being sold separately from the Louboutin jewel-thief themed barbie debuting in December. I was never a Barbie collector but I just may need this Barbie with red soles packaged in a Christian Louboutin shoe box.

Louboutin isn't the only designer creating new looks for a different customer. The newly awarded at the CFDA awards duo Rodarte are designing for Target! Their line will debut on December 22 of this year and I can't wait to get my hands on their tights and bow belt. I love how designers are challenging themselves with different markets and becoming more accessible to me and their beloved followers. The design world is showing an enormous amount of talent that has no end of expanding and no one is complaining at my end.

B Ringing

It's not time to ring in the new year yet but that doesn't mean you can't be showing that firework sparkle on your fingers. Everywhere I turn I see cocktail rings on every hand. What I am really loving right now is that you can wear more than just one and not look like a gypsy. I have worn a pair of rings on my right hand for the past 5 plus years. These rings were both given to me by my sister on special events. These Tiffany rings are very understaed with the smaller diamond and pink sapphire but carry a great dear of sentiment. So though they won't be leaving my hand anytime, I still have 9 fingers to dazzle!

Marc Jacobs is always the key to my heart so I am loving his Pave Heart Ring under his Marc by Marc Jacobs line. Some of this other jewelry is so unexpected and reinvented. Have you seen his zipper earrings yet? Everything is so innovative and most all his rings I want to pile on my fingers.

And if you're looking to spread your wings, look at CC Skyes Angel Wing ring. I first found this ring on another website in passing a week ago and saw it was already sold out. Then when I decided to write this blog I had to search the web to remember who it was by and I should have assumed it was CC Skye. The jewelry has a great way of molding metal to trendy accessories you'd want to put on every limb.

Shopping online always gets me into trouble. Its almost worse than walking into the mall because recommendations are made for you and end up appearing easily on the right side of your screen with a perfect connection to your next want. This is how I found the Goldmine ring. I apologize for the horrible line but how could you not want this ring? The dark stones contrast with the bright gold and I am definitely reserving a place on my finger for this one.

I think a big myth with wearing rings is that until you are wed you need to keep your ring finger on your left hand open. Well all my single ladies, this doesn't have to happen and if you need a little love then you'll fall for Erica Anenberg's Je' Taime twosome ring. This ring was made for two, two fingers. I admittedly couldn't help myself but purchase this ring and am anxious for its arrival. Nothing wrong with giving yourself a little love.

B Ambitious

Did every little girl grow up wishing to get paid to shop? Or was that just me? I have to admit that in the first grade I dressed up as a Gap sales associate. Yep, that's right. I wore my gap jeans, a pink sweater and made my own Gap blue square pin (the things you remember from your childhood). Growing up with two older sisters I got dressed from a young age in the cutest clothes and fell in love with fashion. And I always said I'd make alot of money shopping since I'm so good at it.

Now thanks to the Sundance channel I have gotten to watch my dream job happen. Its not a secret on my blog that I love shopping at Anthropologie. It is mainly because their pieces are so unique and now on the new show Man Shops Globe Anthropologie's buyer at large, Keith Johnson is followed around the world as she shops for these pieces.

Keith's job is too find those one of a kind pieces you find in the Anthropologie stores. They don't find their cash wraps for new stores at a store in LA but instead Keith shops the globe for those pieces that he can re create to work in the stores. In the first episode he traveled to Paris (jealous) to find some pieces for the new store opening in London. He has been doing this for quite a few years so he has some great places he already knows of. That painting hanging in Anthropologies you saw while shopping for a new necklace (plug to B Accented) could have been an original painting by an artist in Avignon, France!

In the most recent episode Keith took a trip to South Africa. He found the most brilliant artists in that country, it was so inspiring. One towns artists named Magpie was making chandeliers from all recycled products, milk bottle caps and barbie legs included! At the end of his trip Keith showed all his findings at a gallery. The chandelier he ordered from the artists, Magpie, was then bought my President Obama and is now hanging in the children's room.  At the end of each episodes it will tell you how Anthropologie has ordered as many chairs another artist can make in one year for their stores.

It is inspiring to watch the show of a man who does buy for a living. He is paid for his unique eye for things he knows the Anthropologie customer will love and appreciate. Each week he will travel to a new country and discover more findings that we probably browsed over yesterday in the store. If you knew the story behind the products would it encourage you to purchase? I encourage you to spend the money on itunes to subscribe to this show. I honestly wish we saw more ambition and creativity from all retailers.

B Rewarded

Wow so it does not feel like it was just yesterday I was posting, B Jaded, about Chanel's new jade nail color. It feels like a month rather than a couple weeks when I pre-ordered the nail polish. When October 1st arrived, I raced to Chanel.com to find my beloved Jade nail polish was already out of stock. I quickly called my nearest Nordstom and found that the nail polish will only be sold in Chanel boutiques and online. Well what do I do now? I realized that Nordstom number 1 store in downtown Seattle has a boutique inside of their Nordstrom. Quickly I call, and success! I am am allowed to pre order my delicious nail polish. So finally the wait was over and I am allowed to grace my nails with the presence of Jade.

8 months ago Jade was debuted on the Chanel Fall 2009 RTW runway
1 months ago Who What Wear featured the Jade nail polish as a hot commodity
3 weeks I blogged about my newest obsession
4 hours ago I came home to a little cardboard box on my doorstep
1 hour ago FINALLY it is on my nails

Now I am on to waiting for my next obsession.

B Accented

Just the other day I went into Bank of America to simply deposit my hard working pay check that now is in the form of a fabulous new shoes but anyways the fabulous tellers at B of A were full of  compliments for me. The teller helping me asked where I had found my necklace and I proudly said "target!". She seemed amazed and then puzzled telling me she doesn't think she can pull off long necklaces. The teller in the next cubicle agreed with her saying she can't either. I was appalled and told them they both could of course pull it off. They continued to examine my outfit further and said well maybe we can with something like she's wearing a t shirt and a vest? Where's the vest from? "Anthropologie" I replied. "Where/what's that?" I gasped! And proceeded to give these ladies approximately the best directions to all 3 anthropologies in the area. No one should live without anthropologie in their life. So soon I had made my deposit and left the bank.  There is not one thing a women can not wear or pull off. There are things that are better for your body type to accent your best features but don't you say you can't pull it off!

Jewelry is the topping on the cake. You can't give a cake without frosting, you need to decorate, hence accessories! Now some of you may have other ways of wearing a long necklaces but this is how I decide to wear them. Necklaces are the best way to dress up a simple outfit of t-shirt and jeans. Long necklaces are my favorite of the moment. Long meaning just passed your chest, no longer than your bellybutton. I honestly have some of my favorite jewelry pieces that I wear every day at Target or Forever 21. This is a great way to buy a few different necklaces for cheap! These are great retailers for when you want to layer necklaces. To layer necklaces use a few delicate ones that have different pendants or detailing around the neck. Alot of my blog readers have told me they wished they had the money to buy what I have featured before so I all the necklaces featured above are all from Forever 21 and under $10! All looks are achievable by everyone. But beware, you are paying for what you get so don't be surprised if it only lasts for a couple of looks.

Jewelry rarely goes out of style. Think about your grandmother's pearls, she bought them years ago and jewelry designers are still capitalizing on their classic look. For something away from classic  Anthropologie has very unique jewelry that can be the focus of the outfit. They themselves categorize this jewelry as "Statement" on their website. Anthropologie jewelry can be on the pricier side so be sure it is something you know that you will wear over and over and over again.

Remember a few tips though when adding some jewelry and accessories. If your top already has embellishments on it then you don't need a long bold necklace. You can get a long way with a little bling. If your top has an intricate neckline or something like ruffles where a long necklace may not lay right, try a shorter very delicate necklace. Or opp for no necklace at all and try just some decor for your ears. There are so many options for jewelry that I could write a whole other blog on but really its just the frosting on the cake that accents  and makes the look, which you know is everyone's favorite part!

B Sold

There are those rare moments for when you see something and you say you must have! For those of us who are obsessed with fashion, this moment comes above average. There a few tricks to knowing though that this is something you really want.

1) you look it up online everyday (twice-every hour)
2) you add it to your shopping cart and go to checkout but your rational mind in charge of finance holds you back (until you work your way around the small mishap)
3) you stay home on a Friday night and pick out new outfits to work with it (it being your new Sam Edelman black saddle boots)

So I experienced this first hand. I went from finding to obsessing to wanting to needing! This was a fashion must. Thankfully Nordstom had them in stock so I politely turned down a happy hour invitation because clearly picking up my new shoes was vital. I am glad that you don't have to go to a polo match any longer to see someone in saddle shoes. I really have been lusting over this item for a couple years since they made a comeback into the fashion industry. Really, saddle shoes have been a dignified classic for years. Now that they're a trend you see everyone ready to ride a horse. Though I'm sorry you won't be seeing me get anywhere near a stable in my new boots but everywhere else I can possibly wear them to.

This is what I love about new shoes, you are so excited about them you really want to wear them everyday and eventually you look at them and realized they have gotten quite the workout. Its humorous that my last shoe obsession was also a pair of Sam Edelman's. I found them in LA at Kitson which is a shopping must when visiting the hills. And they really were the tip of the iceberg when it came to my gold addiction. Though I am not saying I will be putting away these gorgeous flats anytime soon but definitely just finding some new footwear to feed my appetite for gorgeous shoes.

Nordstrom started as a shoe store so it is only fitting that I always end up there. Today's exposure into the sea of heels, flats, boots and wedges was a little unexpected and purchases made were really unmeditiated (I swear). I had one pair of shoes to return that I had not been feeling the rules of 1,2,3 listed above. I first told myself to find some new casual heels. But really you can't pull yourself away from things you know you'll wear everyday. The Jeffrey Campbell flats were like butter on my toes, not that I've had butter on my toes but you get the point. Literally slippers, I even took a peek back to where they were to confirm they were not with the slippers. The details of the shoes summed up a few of my fall obsessions I have already explained, girly details with gold studs, it was an easy sell.

I personally think the sales lady to an extra long time in the back because she labeled me the second she saw me and knew I was to find something else to try on while she was gone. Well you should know how this goes by now, she was right. I had never seen flats by Ruby and Bloom before but there were many different pairs all in different shades and fabrics. The one that stood out to me was the snake skin gray 'grace' flat. I don't know what triggered it but snake skin flats have been on my mind recently and well as you guessed it, it fit snug and so comfortable. And another peek to make sure I wasn't in the slipper section. Phew, in the clear.

B Changing

I told you that it is always smart to keep friends who know things around. Thank you (again) to Matt Michalowski for transforming 'Just B' for the better! It is sort of my thing that when I get bored I move my furniture around so this is my version of switching it up. As I write more blogs I create different visions for the blog and get new ideas for its look. We all know how important a cover is, though we are told "not to judge a book by its cover" you know we do. That's the first thing you look at!  And now Just B has a new look that I absolutely love! Change is something that is always constant. Change is bound to happen, you can't prevent it and transforming your blog, painting your room, buying new shoes is a few ways to express that change. Let me know what you think of the new look and enjoy the newest shoes!

B Spotted

When I went shopping last week (surprised?) I couldn't help but grab everything purple, plaid, or leopard print! There is no shortage of these three trends in the stores right now. And we have all seen them before but I am glad to see that leopard is back in color and more abstract than ever.

Every designer is putting their own spin on this animal print that has been reinvented in different ways over the years. One of my favorite blogs in my long list is The Satorialist this legendary photographer typically shoots people just off the street to highlight how they interrupted fashion that day of. The picture above above is one from a shoot he did for Italian Vogue Pelle and featured all different ways of wearing leopard. One of my favorite quotes from the spread was

"Leopard like a style password for the Big Apple"

Other designers are following Italian Vogue Pelle's suit and of course the man in fashion who always has the most incredible prints Marc Jacobs is created blown up hot pink blouses. He truly makes the leopard an abstract print rather then the traditonal boring browns. The top I myself purchased last weekend was Ella Moss's 'Marlo' Leopard Print tank. I of course found it in purple but any color in this top gives it an edge but flirtatious with the back ruffles.

And I mean how could I write a post without mentioning this fabulous clutch from Jimmy Choo. Jimmy Choo keeps giving more and more to love this Fall and some may think its a little too bright for this season but brights are what keeps us from being depressed. Don't be scared to add color and some leopard in your wardrobe. Leopard is everywhere this fall and you can find it at any price that is more appealing to you and it's just the thing to get you spotted.

B Strong

Admit it, you have snuck into your significant other's closet and taken an old t shirt, his button down or maybe even his blazer. Why is it always more comfortable when its theirs and not yours? Well now you don't have to worry about sneaking in and out of their closet. Menswear inspired pieces are everywhere and exactly what I'm wanting right now. 


Just this last weekend I was on a mission to find a fitted boyfriend jacket. To be honest, it wasn't that hard to find because everyone has their own version of the boyfriend jacket at the moment. I preferred a shorter fitted version but the boxy baggier version is also shown everywhere. One I particularly like is from Aqua for Bloomingdales. Aqua is Bloomingdales' own brand that makes trendy pieces at a cheaper price point. I have found many cute dresses in this department for half the cost you would typically find them at. 


I'm not one to lake dainty jewelry which is probably why I am ecstatic over the explosion of menswear watches. I love the big faces but simplicity. We have moved pass just your boyfriend's closet and now are wearing your grandfathers leather watch. Just this month Lucky magazine had a a feature on menswear watches. The feature showed a lot of options of menswear watches from gucci to other less known brands with smaller price tags. I found a new favorite, Grandpa's Woven Leather Watch, for only $38 at urbanoutfitters.com. 


The Olsen twins have also been grabbing my attention lately with their Elizabeth & James line. A handful of blogs ago I featured their peep toe booties and now I'm in love with their mens shirts. I frustratedly fell in love with their woven Cohen top that had delicate detail int he back with a few buttons flattering the women's body. Though women have also embraced the tailored white shirt in the workplace my other obsession of theirs is their Oversized shirt. Now I know that basically does look like they did steal it out of their father's closet and thats the greatness in it. Just be sure not to take the shirt labeled 'Valentino' or he may notice it missing. These shirts can work great over anything and anything can work over it. Try putting a metallic skinny belt to accentuate your waist or layer a fitted menswear vest and keep the bottom skinny! With a looser top you'll need to stay proportioned and show some of your body so try leggings or a dark skinny pant.


There's no question women have been strong like men for sometime but now our fashion is reflecting that inner strength accenting the masculine details that have classified menswear as simple, traditional, and classic. It is of course us ladies who have the real strength to put a spin on this and make it a fashion.