Hello my fashion-forward lovies,

How was your July 4th weekend? I wish I could hear from everyone about where you went and what you wore. Tag me in your July 4th photos on Instagram, so I can like and leave comments. I went to a fabulous July 4th party in the Hamptons. I’ve been wanting to do a write-up about it, but all I have are iPhone pics so I’ve been hesitant.  I’m addicted to PRO photos now. They’re just so bright and puuurrrdddy!

So now,  let’s talk about this look!

We all know that I pride myself on being a Jamaican Belle living on the Upper East Side. However, which girl did not feel like she wanted to get in on her Hispanic heritage when she saw the Dolce  & Gabbana Spring 2015 collection?

I was obsessed with these shorts but was intimidated by the pricetag even after they went on sale from $6995 to $3260. (Click the photo below for links to the items)

 

  Tag @Rocksbox too

 Happy shopping, my lovies or should I say “swapping.”

xoxoSB

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HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, my lovies!

I hope everyone who is celebrating has a fun-filled day planned with Dad. If you’re not celebrating, it’s Sunday so you of course have an excuse to go out for a fun lunch or brunch with friends! Maybe combine the two and have a #SundayFunday #FathersDay !

So lets’s talk about this look.  I’m sure you guys have been seeing matching scuba sets everywhere, but has anyone actually tried it? They are especially popular at H&M. If you see a printed scuba skirt or midi skirt  you love, the matching top will be coming out in the upcoming weeks. I’ve always been afraid of a full-on matching, printed look. Remember that phrase matchy-matchy?  Lol!

 #MatchyMatchy !?!

Although I’m programmed to try to pair different textures and opposite separates together, like here ,  I decided to go for it with this H&M midi skirt and bodysuit. In my eyes, pairing the two made it look like a dress instead of two separates.  I absolutely fell in Iove with the print.

To break things up, I added this  black Moschino belt. I’m all for a chic belted look. These days Moschino has been serving all things, pink, pretty, printed and “Babrbie-licious,” so I think this printed set  goes with that theme. Except it’s from H&M #TheLookForLess.  I find that adding a logo belt to an otherwise uber affordable outfit gives the look that coveted edge it needs. It makes people go “where’d you get that outfit?” and, in return, gives you the pleasure of screaming “H&M!” Nothing better than looking great and feeling great without breaking the bank.

Adding a logo belt to an otherwise uber affordable outfit gives the look that coveted edge it needs.

Since there was so much going on with this set, I chose to accessorize with the deeper and more dominant colors in the print verses wearing a yellow shoe and pink bag. Although I love me some pink , today was not the day. This is one of those instances where the less you add to a look, the more you allow it to speak volumes on its own!

I couldn’t help myself with these pineapple earrings, though. Feeling like all I need is a basket on my head……lol!

But, like I always say…IT’S FASHION! So let loose and have fun with it. You can’t take yourself or your looks too seriously. Until next time, lovies. About to hop onto this tangerine scooter and ride off into the sunset ….. ok not really but how awesome is this as a prop in my shoot !

Signed, Little Miss Matchy Matchy!  xoxoSB

GET THE LOOK

H&M printed scuba circle skirt (sold out). Maybe if you hunt around you can still find it (similar here and here )

If you are feeling adventurous try the matching pants

H&M bodysuit

Moschino logo belt

Gucci ankle strap leather sandals

Zara blue and gold chain clutch (old)

H&M pineapple earrings (old)

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Spring has been teasing New York City. We’ve been going from heavy duty wool coats one day to light knits the next. So I interrupt my normally scheduled St. Bart’s shoot to get a little in touch with what’s happening in NYC. I have lots more fun stuff in store from St. Bart’s, but now I’m in New York city and it’s disappointingly cold.

This weather is depressing, so I try to keep engaged and occupied. No Thursdays spent at home watching Olivia Pope dress up. Instead I try to get together with friends and try out new bars and restaurants when I have free time. I love hanging out during the week. Dinner and drinks with a gal pal . . . MY FAVE!

So what do we wear when it’s cool but not too cold, and it’s the beginning of spring but sometimes feels like winter? For my girls’ night out, I opted for shorts and fur . . . or faux fur, rather.

This look was heavily inspired by the french fashion house Balmain. Which girl did not fall in love after seeing the way Olivier Rousteing captured so much beauty and detail PERFECTLY in the September 2014 issue of W magazine?

It was Parisian luxury, but from a very modern and intricate perspective. #ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS! 

Great to look at, but impossible to afford unless it goes on a super sale. This was my inspiration: Capturing a 10k look on a 1K budget.

This was my inspiration: Capturing a 10k look on a 1K budget.

Take away notes from the Balmain look is to use gold embellishments, leather, fur, rust tones, and sequins to create a very luxurious and glam yet cohesive look. This was my mission to join  this Balmain army.

In general, it’s hard to pull off a high end look on a small budget. The key is creating a look for yourself, without falling victim to bad knock offs. Yes, I know we all love it on Kim K, but even if we can’t afford to dress like her, it doesn’t mean we can’t look as good as her . . . or better yet AS GOOD AS YOU!

I’m sure these Balmain looks got trickled down into the “insta-market place.” And there’s nothing wrong with buying it if that’s the look that works for you. I personally like to draw inspiration from high-end looks and try to create an outfit with a similar feel. That is, of course, if I can’t find it in my budget on The Outnet or other great online designer discount shops. This is a New York City It Girl Blog . . . Not INSTA-GLAM 101!

I started this look from the waist up. It all started with the shoes. I purchased these DVF calf-hair ankle boots about two years ago. The strappy leather and gold hardware made them my go-to item for creating my own Balmain look.

The basic look is just loose leather shorts with a rust or even jeweled tone silk shirt would work. These Zara shorts aren’t even real leather . . . can you tell?  This Zara shirt with the sequin embellished sleeves had Mr. Rousteing written all over it. 

Silk is a very luxurious fabric all on its, own so combined with leather, it has a very glam appeal. From there I just piled on the gold accessories. C Wonder is one of my favorite places to shop for gold bracelets. They have a wide variety and are perfect for stacking together or combining with another fave piece like a watch or leather band. Add a broad leather belt for that cinched waist look, some midi rings and earrings, and you’re well on your way. These Zara earrings are also a fave. I love the one long earring look.

Last thing you need is a black coat, and voilà! You’re ready to take on the town. Remember this little Altuzarra for Target faux number. Chic and warm all at the same time.

Remember this little Altuzarra for Target faux number. 

Only thing missing from this look is a smile, because you are looking fantastic without spending gigantic! Plenty of room in your wallet to treat your friends to a round of martinis and cosmos on you. Have fun, girls!  xoxoSB

GET THE LOOK

Zara silk embellished blouse – similar here

Zara faux leather shorts – similar here

Diane Von Furstenburg calf hair ankle boots  – shop similar here or for a high end options try this or this

H&M wide leather belt – shop similar here and here if you feel like splurging go for this or for a mega splurge  this

Zara gold clutch

Photos by : Alena Soboleva

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Valentine’s Day—where to go, what to wear, and how to celebrate? For most girls, this is the challenge that  Cupid has set out for us. If you walk into  Duane Reade, you’re bombarded with heart-shaped chocolate boxes and stuffed animals, wondering which one you’ll receive as a treat. As ladies, we tend to gravitate to all things pink, sweet, and fuzzy…and oh yes, LOVE—we love LOVE!

It’s only worth having a Valentine if your someone special understands that “the most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the YOU that you love…well, that’s just fabulous.” – Carrie Bradshaw

“The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the YOU that you love…well, that’s just fabulous.”

– Carrie Bradshaw

Now let’s get down to the important stuff: how to dress. Everyone usually thinks red and sometimes pink when they think of the Vday Date. I think it’s great if you can incorporate hints of red or pink in your outfit versus going for the full-on red dress, but you don’t have to. Wear whatever makes you feel pretty. Have fun with it. Don’t restrict yourself! Wear clothes that you love on Valentine’s Day. People will love you all the more in it if you feel confident while wearing it.

I fell in love with this h&m skirt the first time I saw it. The dress version was really my first love, but the skirt loved me back more when I tried it on. I’m actually wearing the front of the skirt on the sides. I liked having the two big pleats on my side instead of in the front and back.

The seam now goes down the front of the skirt, but it’s not noticeable and actually looks as though it were made this way.  Having the big pleats on the outside gave the skirt a more elegant and fancy look.  So instead of looking like h&m, I could be wearing Oscar De La Renta (in my mind, at least!).

Having the big pleats on the outside gave the skirt a more elegant and fancy look.

I added a belt to the skirt to cinch my waistline more. I wanted to really show off my big floral pleats and the shape of the skirt. The belt added texture and detail to the outfit and sealed the look right up.

During the shoot, Le Photographerinsisted that I did a shot smelling my roses. However I’m not so much of a smelling-the-roses kind of girl. I’m more the put-them-in-a-nice-vase-with-some-water-and-plant-food type. I tried really hard, and  after about thirty frames, finally got a shot where I didn’t look like  a goat approaching some rose petals! #NomNom  What do you think? How did I do?

Maybe this was a good lesson for me. I need to take the time out to “smell the roses”—literally. Living in NYC, we are always on the go. We seldom find the time to appreciate a lot of things, so we take them for granted. Whether you do some shopping, smell the roses, attend some fashion shows for fashion week, or have a romantic dinner for two at Per Se, be sure to enjoy yourself doing what you love and have a   very happy Valentine’s Day! xoxoSB

 American Apparel turtleneck

H&M skirt

Walford stockings

BCBG belt

Christian Louboutin Shoes – pigalle

 Photos By: Tovah-Marie Bembridge

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