Join BC Footwear on September 22nd to Support Homeless Pets!

Nothing. And we mean nothing, aside from shoes, makes us happier than our furry friends at home. BC Footwear is honored to walk alongside Best Friends Animal Society and No More Homeless Pets Network Partners to put an end to pet overpopulation on Saturday, September 22nd. Each and every one of you is invited to come and support our team. For more details on the day of, we encourage you to visit the BC Footwear website for more information. Thank you for supporting us and believing in the cause! 

(Special shout out to our illustrator extraordinaire, Alice Rutherford, for lending her talents to a cause dear to our hearts!) 

Looks We Love

Once upon a time, there was a genius marketer who said, "Hey, let's tell consumers they have to trash their closet and buy new things every season!". Well we're here to say, we're done trashing our entire wardrobe and shopping for entirely new ones. While we live to shop, we know that investing in timeless pieces is the wiser decision. 

Let's face it. You have enough in your closet to last you for years. All you need is a few updates here and there! Investment pieces like a great pair of booties, or a novelty elephant charm necklace, will help keep you feeling like your wardrobe is fresh without being slapped with withdrawal fees. Today, we hope to free you from that consumer spell and debut some of our fall looks we love that endure rain, snow or shine. 

BC Footwear, 'Tadpole' in Sand

J. Crew, Blue Elephant Pendant Necklace

H&M, White dress

Sheinside, Light Blue Contrast Pleated Chiffon Hem Denim Vest 

Debenhams, Bright Yellow Long Double Buckled Satchel

Romwe, Neon Rivets Bracelet

BUZZNET Exclusive: Keltie Colton Interviews BC Footwear at LAZR Tradeshow

BC Footwear's star designer, Leah Salimbene, talks about the line and what inspires her to churn out stellar designs time and time again. A huge shout out to LAZR and BUZZNET for capturing BC Footwear magic!

tuc + wes and BC Footwear Collaboration

"Don't let the Kardashians ruin it for you, it's a beautiful town." says Orly Shani on her blog about being a native Angeleno. If her infectious sense of humor doesn't capture your attention, it's her stunning looks and fiery attitude. 

A New York transplant and former contestant on NBC's reality TV show Fashion Star, Orly is the creative director and lead driver for her brand tuc + wes. The tuc +wes collection is a versatile and affordable clothing line with items ranging from tanks and tees, to trouser and blazers. We want one of everything we see on the site but some of our favorites are the Blondie Leopard Blazer and the Convertible Valentina Dress (on sale now for $20!). 

We had the pleasure of working with the creative dynamo on a shoot where she styled timeless BC items 'Crocodile Tears', 'Eager Beaver', 'Snake Eyes' and 'Swagger' with her collection. BC Footwear and tuc + wes are a natural compliment and we know that the friendship will continue to grow.  

All items are available now to purchase at: 

www.bcfootwear.com and www.tucandwes.com

Beauty: A Lipstick Story

At lunch the other day we couldn't help but notice the woman in the back of the room with a bold bright and enchanting pout. She was tres chic. wearing little to no makeup and dressed in a simple subdued outfit. Not knowing her at all, we felt like we maybe knew a little about who she was. Mysterious, demure, reads Proust in French but also loves denim and American bluegrass. 

Regardless of what and who she truly was, her bold lips made a statement. It wasn't her lipstick that appealed to us but rather her natural ability to be fiery and confident in her own skin. 

Image: Passione De La Mode

Summer Drink: Oat Milk Smoothie

Adult life kind of sucks (that's a mild exaggeration). The truth is the transition from being an irresponsible undergrad, to joining the ranks of the majority and plugging away at a 9-5, is tough. Sleeping in till 9AM becomes a point of celebration, eating Target frozen pizza is a surprise treat and speeding down the freeway on a Friday at 5PM brings you to tears. It's the small things. 

Not to be the bearer of doom and gloom, but get ready for two things in particular to suffer when it comes to quality: 1) food and 2) sleep (say goodbye to hibernating or pulling all-nighters!). To help you adjust a little to your new way of life on the go, we've suggested a delicious, healthy and quick meal option. This oat milk smoothie recipe by Golubka gives you everything you need in a cool and convenient glass. Try it out and let us know what you think! 

Late Summer Oat Milk Smoothie
Oat milk
1 cup oat groats - preferably raw
3 cups purified water, plus some water for soaking the groats

Cover oat groats with purified water and leave to soak overnight. Drain and rinse. In a high-speed blender, combine the groats with 3 cups of water until very smooth. You should end up with a drinkable yogurt kind of consistency. Keep refrigerated. Add to smoothies or top with fruit for breakfast.

Oat Milk Smoothie Layer
1 cup oat milk
1/2 cup ice cubes
1 tablespoon raw honey
dash of cinnamon

Combine all the ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth.

Fig and Grape Smoothie
1 cup oat milk
2 cups ice cubes
4 cups grapes - your favourite kind
1 cup ripe figs
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 vanilla bean - optional
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth. Pour to fill 2/3 of a glass. Top with the oat milk layer, pouring carefully. Enjoy! 

Hair DIY: Top Knot and Braid Bun

Not all of us were born with Rapunzel-esque hair. Even those who do suffer from the dreaded bad hair day. For everyone who wants a break from wearing your beautiful or lackluster locks down, we suggest the beloved top knot or braid bun. 

Both looks are easy to achieve when you're running late to work, slept through an alarm or pushing the deadline on washing your dirty hair (you should be ashamed of yourself if you said "ew" to that one! It's happened to all of us, including you). Because we understand that those days come around more often then you'd like, we trolled the internet to find you the best top knots and braid buns for the days when you just don't feel like leaving the mane down. If you try it at home be sure to share your shots with us on @BCShoes on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! 

Back to School: Tips and Trends

As summer winds down and Fall starts to make its way into our lives, we start our preparation to go back to school. Trading in bikinis and sandals for boring T-shirts and comfortable sneakers is not fun for most. But who said that your school uniform had to be a stale top or your shoes orthopedic? 

Glorious fashionable prospects await you just around the corner. Feel confident strutting down the hallway in your super cool outfit armed with color pencils, soft-spiked studs and a fierce wedge this year. You will undoubtedly be the talk of the town. 

BC Footwear, 'Salt of the Earth' in Black

TopShop, Heart Mesh Flippy Dress

TopShop, Pearl Look Spike Studs

Kimmel Kids, Garden Pencils

Kate Spade New York, Composition Notebook Resin Phone Case

Zara, Antik Messenger Bag

Shop the Look: After-Hours Ankle Boots

One of our dear friends at BC Footwear likes to start her weekend countdown every Monday. The Monday blues are a serious problem for her and without a doubt, when asked how she's doing her response is almost always, "Oh well, you know...it's Monday".   She  manages to keep her Eeyore-esque thoughts at bay by brainstorming what she has planned for the weekend. Most important of which, are thoughts of what she's looking forward to wearing. To help our friend, and sweet sulky coworker along, we put together an outfit post that will help her look forward to her long awaited weekend. 

BC Footwear, 'Snake Eyes' in Cognac/Southwest

Les Pommettes, Woo Madrid Tank

Max&Chloe, Blu Bijoux Protection Bracelet

Republic, Glamorous Denim Hotpants

Oasis, Leather Cross Body Bag

Image via Stuck in ze Queue

Get the Look: Western-Inspired Picks

With country music stars like Taylor Swift crossing over into the mainstream, we're a little scared to admit we're seduced by country.  Sure, you may not like country music, but that doesn't mean you can't like denim, flannel and cowgirl enhanced ankle boots dipped in glitter. That and the huge plus of being able to wear Western-inspired fashion year round without having to line dance! It's a perfect transitional look to take you from Summer into Fall, with plenty of fringe, glitter, horseshoes and denim to make you change your mind about country. 

BC Footwear, 'Eager Beaver' ankle boot in Sand

Matthew Williamson, Blue Suede Jacket

Alex and Ani, Texas Rangers Cap Logo Bangle

TOTEM, Ecru and Black Small Saddle Blanket Fringe Bag

Kimberly Baker, Tiny Horseshoe Necklace

Sheinside.com, Light Blue Crochet Collarless Sleeveless Denim Shirt  

DIY Party Idea: Raspberry Sorbet in Lemon Bowls

It's Friday and you're eagerly waiting for the bell to ring to start your weekend party! We stumbled on this delectable shot of raspberry sorbet sitting in bright yellow lemon bowls on Pinterest and had to share it. This is a really fabulous pot luck idea that is bound to trump anything else anyone could possibly bring to the table tonight. It's ridiculously cute, easy to assemble and affordable. And you even have bragging rights/excuse to strut around talking about that cool cat who brought awesome raspberry sorbet in lemon bowls. We can't wait to get off of work to try them out! 

Musical Spotlight: Sea Wolf

Sea Wolf, the LA-based hit indie-folk band, has taken our office by storm this week. Led by Alex Brown Church, the band has you rocking to the rhythm and humming to their tunes the instant the sweet melody hits your ears.  Our favorite song is "You're A Wolf" from their album Leaves in the River, but the entire record is stellar.  September 11th 2013 can't come soon enough so we can hear the newest album release titled Old September Romance! 

Shop the Look: Red Story

Red is the new black and if you don't have it fully stocked in your closet right now, then you have to go out there and start using that plastic wisely. BC Footwear's  'In the Winner's Circle' just arrived in stores in a rich burgundy and soft suede and would look amazing with almost anything. We suggest playing dress up this weekend and pairing it with red matte lips, heart shaped hair pins and a saucy red dress. You can now cue the non-80's music!  

1 BC Footwear, ‘In the Winner’s Circle’ in Burgundy

2 Diesel, Silicone strap round watch

3 Topshop, Mesh insert skater dress

4 Hannak Zakari, Tiny heartlette sparkler hair pins

5 NARS, Velvet matte lip pencil in 'Dragon Girl'

(L-R Images) Karlee Hill, Lori Gustafson, Michael Madalinski, Refinery29.com 

Recipe Idea: Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Some days we need more chocolate than other days. Today, we need a lot of chocolate with a side of peanut butter! We were sucked in by this delectable, melt-in-your mouth, "come to mama" shot of these brownie bites on Baked Perfection and had to share the recipe with the fellow choco lovers of the world. Try it out and let us know how your sweet escape goes! x 

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Recipe adapted from Nestle’s Very Best Baking

Makes 40 brownies as adapted

1 box of your favorite brownie mix
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or grease 40 mini-muffin cups.

Prepare boxed brownie mix as directed. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups (about 1 heaping teaspoon). Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into center comes out slightly wet. After brownies are out of the oven, wait for centers to fall. This will happen upon cooling. If not then tap the centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole for the peanut butter.

Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds then stir. While brownies are still warm spoon about half a teaspoon of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Cool completely in pan.

Music Spotlight: The Lumineers

If you like hand clapping, foot stomping and rustic then you'll love the folksy sound of the Colorado based band, The Lumineers. The indie crew has a low-key vibe which give us something unique to dance around and chant to. The entire album is filled with songs about heartache, hope and cheer. Our personal favorite is the robust and popular song, "Hey Ho", which you're bound to listen to on repeat. We're excited to see what else these lyrical and musical geniuses produce in the future. x 

Get the Look: Outdoor Picnic

Some of our fondest childhood memories were spent doing somersaults ad nauseam followed by hours of rolling around in the grass. It was great fun and all until it came down to the grass and the crazy amount of itching you'd be doing almost immediately after. We'd spend almost entire afternoons scratching ourselves, happily like the old flea bitten dog you may or may not have owned. We're older now, and think we're slightly wiser when making decisions. Things may have changed a bit but we still love to rock polka dot dresses (and ones with bunnies on them), lipstick red flats and heart shaped earrings. This outfit post is for all of you who enjoy galavanting in the sun, rolling around the grass and outdoor picnics  with friends and family. 

ONE: BC Footwear, Limousine in 'Lipstick Red'; TWO: AX Paris,  Polka Dot Skater Dress; THREE: boohoo.com, Gemma Geek Chic Glasses; FOUR: FarFetch.com, Blank, heart earrings; FIVE: FarFetch.com, Freitag Reference, 'Macclaren Shoulder Bag'; SIX: MAC Lipstick, MAC Red 

DIY: Fourth of July Inspired Nail Art

Fourth of July is the holiday for BBQ fiends and pool party fanatics, for family recipe cook-offs and debuting your brand-new bikini (and slimmed-down bikini bod). Given that most of us will only be wearing probably one or two articles of clothing max this Wednesday, your nails can play as your standout accoutrement. Our friends at Teen Vogue shared some of their patriotic-inspired tips to show off our red, white and blue.

{the finished look}

{step one: apply your base}

{step two: add stripes}

{step three: add glitter}

{step four: draw a star}

{step five: use a top coat}

***All photos: courtesy of Mars the Salon

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 

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! 

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