Swimwear and Sandals: The Pool

Swimwear is great when you look like a Victoria Secret model. 

Not. (Who even started that anyway?!) 

Regardless of what kind of body type you have, you're going to look amazing. You don't have to be paid to walk the runway or model sans clothes to feel confident this summer.  All you need is a cool swimsuit matched with a great pair of sandals and you're good to own that pool. You're sexy and you should know it (two thumbs up to LMFAO for this one). 

1 Mara Hoffman, Techno Animal Printed Swimsuit
2 BC Footwear, 'Spinning Plates' in Black
3 Deben Hams, Twist Front Bikini Top
4 Fat Face, Bold Stripe Tie Bikini Bottoms
5 BC Footwear, 'Spinning Plates' in Vachetta 

Animal Lovers: [Wo]man's Best Friend

How ridiculously funny/cute is this poodle! We found this on Etsy and couldn't help but share it. Nothing brightens up our day faster than the pictures of [wo]man's best friend. 

Artist Spotlight: Electric Guest

Looking for some new beats to play at your dinner party this weekend? We have the perfect suggestion.

 LA-based band Electric Guest has been hitting it out of the park since their debut album Mondo which is a smooth mix of synth pop and R&B. The band which regularly rubs elbows with Danger Mouse and the Lonely Island, is gaining buzz after its stellar performance at South by Southwest this year. We can't wait to see where they take us in their next album! 

Birth Dates and What They Mean

   Woah. Consider our mind officially blown.  

All thanks to Dianna Agron and her    ridiculously cute tumblr for this gem! 

Fashion Under $100: Summer Style

Do you dream of one day having a flat that overlooks the French Riviera? Do you find yourself daydreaming endlessly over meeting the Fabio of your dreams on a secluded cove? Do you take cat naps in the sun while reading romance novels that talk about bronzed skin, a blazing sun and clear blue sky? 

Okay so maybe that's just us. But for those of you who don't want to snap out of  your day dreaming bliss, we've put together a down-to-earth outfit to match your fleeting fantasies. This entire look is achieved in under $100. Now that's something to dream about it. 

1 H&M, Maxi Dress in Cerise

2 Stella & Dot, Bracelet in Gray Silk Ombre

3 BC Footwear, Climbing Up The Walls in Coral

BC Footwear Summer 2012: Lookbook Video

Are you anticipating summer as much as we are? The city really seems to come alive with the celebration of bare legs, sunscreen, concerts and sandals. Because we simply can’t hold back our excitement for the warmer months, we decided to debut our newest and hottest summer styles in our video lookbook right in the brink of time. 

Want more? Check out the full collection here. 

Get the Look: Dinner Meeting

The weather is starting to warm up and so is our taste for bright basics. This day-to-evening look is easy to pull off with some items you can find right inside your closet. To get the look we suggest stocking up on a few 3/4 boatneck tees, cosmic-hued skinny jeans and fun and comfortable wedges in hushed pigments. Throw on a funky statement necklace and you'll be ready to wow the crowd!

Featured Items:
1. BC Footwear, Lifeboat in Vachetta
2. J Crew, Sailor Boatneck Tee in Dazzling Sun
3. Stella & Dot, Festival 'til Dawn
4. J Brand, 811 Mid-Rise Skinny Leg in Juniper

Artist Spotlight: Isabella Kelly Ramirez

My freshmen year of undergrad at UCLA, I had the privilege of living a few dorm rooms down from one of the most brilliant artists I’ve ever met.  She was almost a mirror image of her work, a strange and wonderful mix of fantasy, beauty and delicacy. 

She had the gift of creating things that were like herself—unique and one of a kind. And so I did my best to sneak a peek at Izzy’s riveting and fabulous work whenever I got a free moment (which was coincidentally all the time since procrastination was my second favorite hobby in undergrad). It would be selfish of me to keep her a secret and so I hope you enjoy the quick glimpse of an expert artisan at her craft.

           p.s. I encourage you to visit her full portfolio here. 

Primary Disguise, 2012 Mixed media 6.5" X 5.5"

Sketchbook, 2006

Dispatch, 2009. Oil on canvas, 40" X 24"

DIY: Strawberry Cocktail Popsicles

My immediate urge is to be terribly retro and attempt at using Nelly's, "Hot in Here" as my blind lead. So without shame and with pride for my early musical nostalgia, I say it is indeed hot in here, and what better way to welcome the season than with a refreshing popsicle. 


I have a love hate relationship with the sun and I'm confident those feelings are mutual. One thing we agree on is celebrating the season of tasty popsicles. The kind you think about for a good ten minutes after you're left staring at the stick. 


Thanks to our friend Emma Chapman, who is a contributing writer at A Beautiful Mess, for her recipe inspiration. We owe you a few mouth-watering popsicles for this gem. 

Strawberry Cocktail Popsicles, makes 4-5

Needed: 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 water, 2 1/2 cups strawberries, juice from half a lemon, 1 tablespoon Angostura bitters. *note: bitters do contain alcohol, but only a small amount. 

In a small pot combine the sugar and water. Simmer over medium heat and stir until sugar fully dissolves. Remove from heat and allow this to cool as you finely chop up the strawberries. Stir in strawberries, lemon juice and bitters. Pour into Popsicle containers and freeze overnight. 

Summer Concert Series Must-Haves: Part Deux

I kicked off my summer concert series last week with an awesome show by Greg Laswell, featuring guest spots by Ingrid Michaelson and Elizabeth and the Catapult. El Rey was a small enough venue to be intimate but big enough for you to feel like you’re amongst, many musical friends. 

Being a petite woman, I still had to do my usual maneuver of weaving through and beneath some strangers' limbs so my view wasn't obstructed by said strangers head. I know it's a successful execution when I am able to not only soak up stage magic, but eye ball all of the eclectic outfits that were brought out to play.

For the second part of the summer concert outfit series, I introduce to you the below, inspired by last week's music and shoe lovers. 

Summer DIY: Galaxy print tee

We've got a new addition to our DIY blog roll. Amanda of One of Each writes about fashion, interior design, art, and pretty much everything else interesting and visual, but what we really love are her DIY ideas. Case in point, this galaxy print crop top inspired by Christopher Kane. All you need is a plain tee, some bleach and a blow dryer. We can't wait to try this one out. See the whole step by step process right here.

(images from One of Each)

(original inspiration from Christopher Kane)

A Day in the Life: Jessica Gary, BC Footwear Creative Director

Jessica Gary is the cutest pixie you'll ever meet in your entire life. Guaranteed. 

Intrigued? Thought so. Read the full piece to get your Jess fix.

Summer Style at Piperlime.

Our new PEEK sandals are the perfect shoe for any type of Summer ensemble and what better place to mix and match looks together then from Piperlime!! 

What do you think? Everything you see above is available now on their website, so hurry up and get shopping.