MATERIAL GIRL

Materialistic: Excessively concerned with physical comforts or the acquisition of material things rather than spiritual, intellectual, moral, or cultural values.

Well, that's a pretty heavy definition. Have you ever seen someone who was well dressed and deemed them as being "materialistic"? This is a common misconception I run into more often than not, simply based on my love for fashion. I find it both interesting and annoying that people can come to this conclusion just because a person likes to dress well. Caring about your appearance and finding joy in what you are wearing does not make you materialistic. It makes you an individual. Fashion is an art form of self expression. It reflects your personality and it represents the ideas and creativity of the people who designed what you are wearing. It's creative and it is emotional. How you are dressed can determine how you are going to feel. It can also determine how well you are going to succeed. Think about it, you don't show up to the gym in a suit. You don't show up to work in sweats. You don't show up to a wedding where you are going to see your ex in your worst outfit. You put thought into your outfit based on what emotion you are trying to evoke out of yourself and others. Therefore, fashion is emotional and more than just a silly garment we use to cover up our naked bodies.

I can't remember a day where I didn't love fashion. My Grandmother and all of her sisters were always dressed to impress. No matter what life challenges they were facing, they were always dressed sharp from head to toe. Accessories and shoes were always coordinated. My Grandma would tell me, "Mija, no matter what, you should always look your best because in the end that's all anyone will remember anyway." We definitely should not judge someone based off of their appearance alone. However, I will tell you, that I have commanded the respect of many based off of my appearance alone.

So, the question was posed to me once again today, "Are you materialistic?". According to the definition above, no, I am not. I value God, my family, health, and love, over everything hanging in my closet. I do, however, understand that I have found a way to express myself creatively and I refuse to view that as being "materialistic".  The next time you see someone who is dressed well maybe you should compliment them instead of judging them. Perhaps you could ask them what was the inspiration behind their outfit and learn something about the actual person. Judgements are made by people who are uneducated on the subject matter at hand. Educate yourselves and learn to love fashionistas!

Sorry for the rant...I owe you a lightweight post! xoB

PREVIEW TALENT PRODUCTIONS SHOWCASE

I am so excited to be a part of the biggest fashion event in San Diego! The Preview Talent Productions Showcase will be taking place on Sunday, March 9th, at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina! Join us for an evening filled with laughter, music, cocktails, and fashion! Hope to see you all there! xoB

                         

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

I GOT FIVE ON IT

February 14th can be a dreadful day for most, but for me it will always be celebrated as the birth of my baby biz,  BMC STYLE! This year we celebrated 5 years of a journey that came from me trying to make lemonade out of the lemons that were given to me in 2009. I have to say, it's been a sweet journey. I've been blessed to meet so many wonderful, passionate people here in San Diego. I am thankful to everyone who has ever reached out to help me and encourage me along the way. Being able to support one another as a community has been one of my greatest accomplishments thus far. I honestly thought I would just be able to shop and dress people up for fun. I never knew this business would help raise self esteem, boost confidence levels, and in essence give people the courage they needed to go out and get what they wanted in this world. I am truly grateful for all of my clients and hope that our work together will always be remembered as the experience that took you to the next level!

I look forward to the future with the partnerships I have made over the past five years. I never thought that fashion would take me this far...and I can't wait to see what's next! 

Thank you for your continued support here on this blog! Stay confident, stay loyal, and most importantly, stay stylin' on em! 

xoB 

RARE BIRD

Happy New Year Everyone! My first Saturday evening of 2014 was spent with a rare bird named, Iris Apfel. It's very rare that I find someone as fascinating as Iris. Let's face it, most humans annoy me. She is an American business woman, interior designer, and certified fashion icon. At 92 years old, Iris has quickly become my personal inspiration. I came across an article in the New York Times about Iris's definition of style. I watched her interview and I was instantly connected to her outlook on fashion and life in general. I began to look up and read every piece that was ever written about Iris. This woman is nothing short of SPECTACULAR! Her honest opinions about style, individuality, and life are what make her so genuine and intriguing.

Iris was born and raised in New York. She studied art history at NYU and later worked as an interior designer. Her resume includes the prestigious White House, working for nine presidents! Her fame and notoriety came in 2005 when she was approached by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for an exhibition featuring her personal wardrobe and line of accessories from HSN. The exhibition was titled "Rara Avis: The Irreverent Iris Apfel". Her accessory line is appropriately named "Rara Avis", which means rare bird in Spanish. 

I think we can all learn a thing or two from this rare bird. She is smart, creative, and has lived her life as an INDIVIDUAL. Not caring about other's opinions. Not trying to fit in or be accepted. Yet truly secure with her own style and creativity. I am truly inspired by this woman and can only hope to live as rare of a life! 

"When you don't dress like everyone else, you don't have to think like everyone else." - Iris Apfel 

Find the Book Here

DEVIL IN A RED DRESS

Happy Holidays Everyone! I hope you all survived and enjoyed Christmas! It's time to put down the tamales and all the other carb infested left overs and get ready to fit into that NYE dress! I am pretty much a conservative dresser the majority of the time. Some call me boring, I call it style. I don't need have my a$$ out in order to gain attention. My confidence speaks loud enough to make the right amount of noise for me. There are two special occasions where I like to make exceptions to my style rules. My Birthday and NYE are those exceptions. Both are celebratory nights. You should be looking your best and feeling extremely confident on those nights. Especially for my ladies who hold down a 9-5, stick to a strict diet/fitness plan, and look out for your families more than yourselves throughout the year.  Your birthday and NYE should belong to you and only you! Be sure to surround yourself with people you love, lots of champagne or vodka, and of course show off your best assets!

Choosing the perfect party dress can be quite the challenge for most. However, just remember these simple rules and you will be fine.

1. FIT - Make sure the dress is not too short or too tight. If you can't bend or sit without worrying about your a$$ hanging out, there is a problem. Decide on what your best assets are and select a dress that accentuates them. Legs? Midriff? Arms? Decolletage? Back? Choose one and one only!

2. SPARKLE - Sequins can be a serious problem for most ladies. You tend to over do it. Make sure the sequins don't look cheap. Like the ones sewn onto your elementary school Christmas recital costume. And keep your accessories minimal if you do choose a sequin dress. There should only be one disco ball in the spot and it shouldn't be you!

3. SPANX - Your undergarments are KEY! Listen, we would all love to have Gisele's body, but the reality is we don't. And the sooner you and your man come to that realization, the better. The good news is there are these heavenly undergarments that smooth out everything! Be sure you are wearing the right bra. No one wants to see your straps hanging out. There is also magic fabric tape to help keep everything in place when going bra less. If you aren't sure, just ask one of the associates in the lingerie department/store to help you. Otherwise, your fabulous dress will be ruined by panty lines, bra straps, and other distracting elements.

Lastly, BE CONFIDENT! No matter where you are, who you are with, or what you are wearing, do it all with CONFIDENCE! That will be the only thing anyone will remember!

Thank you all for your continued support here on this little blog of mine and I wish you all nothing but Health, Happiness, and Style in 2014! xoB

NASTY GAL 

Always surround yourself with an HONEST TEAM! Otherwise, you will end up looking busted! Thanks ladies! xoB

BOW DOWN

It's a typical Thursday evening in the BMC household....Chargers just won their game against the "undefeated at home" Broncos and I'm celebrating with a glass, bottle of wine. I have my laptop up which basically means I'm cruising social media sites and catching up on all my favorite blogs, when out of the heavens above, the tweet of all tweets was tweeted - BREAKING - Beyonce drops surprise album on iTunes out now! Ummmm....yeaaaah....you can only imagine the mayhem that ensued next. Wine glass down, iTunes UP! Let the downloading begin! Not only are there 14 songs, she also blessed us with 17 music videos. SE.VEN.TEEN. That's a whole lotta routines for me to learn!

I started to watch the videos first and all I can say is....well....speechless. There really are no words to describe this new project of hers. I mean, it's artistic, beautiful, and BEYOND sexy. Trust me when I tell you, we have never seen Bey like this before. NEVER. Just when I thought she couldn't be any more perfect...this happens. I definitely have a love/hate/jealous/obsessed, yet normal relationship with her. The images are beautiful and the fact that she shot all of this while being on tour is nothing short of incredible. A mother, a wife, an unbelievably talented artist, who we have the privilege of calling ours during an era of Nicki Minaj's and Miley Cyrus's. Thank God for Beyonce!!!

Download NOW

2013 BMCSTYLE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Happy Holidays Everyone! It's that time of the year again where you drive yourself crazy searching for the "perfect" gifts. I always suggest that as you buy for one, you also buy for yourself. It will help you maintain your sanity, trust me! I think the most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for others is to make the gift personal. Damn near sentimental, if you will. Also, be sure to keep the gift practical. The gifts that we love the most are the ones that remind us of the person who gave them to us! Think about it, if you give someone a CD, a book, a candle, a bottle of wine, a watch, etc...They will think of you every time they listen to the CD, read the book, light the candle, drink the wine, and wear the freaking watch! So you see, gift giving can really be fun and easy, once you change the way you look at it. Good luck to all and here are a few of my favorite things to give and receive!

The Zara Cape 

Stuart Weitzman OTK's

Gucci Tote

Nashelle Custom Necklace

Nixon "The Camden" Watch

Jo Malone Gift Set

Francis Coppola Wine 

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 

The Purpose Driven Life 

The Spa at La Costa 

BOMB SQUAD

Continuing with our "90'S BACK" trends for fall, allow me to reintroduce you to the Bomber Jacket! This season's must have outerwear piece is here and ready to take flight. I feel myself leaning towards a more casual chic look for the fall/winter seasons, with touches of leather. I have also been doing more sneaker shopping lately...who am I??? In any case, the Bomber Jacket pairs well with denim and sneakers for a more casual look, or you can throw it on top of your skirt and booties look to dress it up a little. Either way, it is another 90's trend that has been resurrected! Get ready to drop a BOMB on em' ladies!

Shop the looks at Revolve Clothing

BLACKED OUT

The oh so stylish/musical genius, Pharrell Williams, (a.k.a. Man of My Dreams), breaks down his work on Jay Z's The Black Album. I can't believe it's been 10 years! This album was the soundtrack to so many great memories! I can't wait to relive them again on December 7th!

90'S BACK

Bloggers have been blogging about it. Tweeters have been tweeting about it. Rappers have been rapping about it. And fashionistas have been wearing it. THE 90's! They are back and in full force! From a year filled with the most Hip Hop albums I can remember, to all of the FASHION on the streets. It is clear to me that the most influential decade has actually made a comeback. While we all know that history repeats itself, so do most fashion trends. I am happy to report that one of my favorite trends from the 90's is back - OVERALLS! They have a little more updated look this time around. They are a little more fitted, less baggy. They can be dressed up with heels, or dressed down with sneakers. Either way, they are back and here to stay! I recently fell in love with a pair and received many double takes as I wore them on "Not-so-casual-Friday". I guess Corp America wasn't ready! 

Shop these looks at ASOS

When they reminisce over you, my God.

ALL OF ME

"You have got to be kidding me"...was the tweet I sent to my cousin after watching the painfully beautiful "All of Me" video from John Legend's newest album, "Love In The Future". I meeeean, can these two be any more adorable??? Trust me, I am not one to idolize and swoon over other people's relationships, especially celebrities. But there is just something so genuine and real about John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's love that captivates me. Obsessed? Maybe just a little. I can't help it. He's hot. She's hot. They are freakin HOT. If you don't believe me just watch the video below and then tell me something different. Go ahead, I dare you! Oh, and if you are a single woman, have a glass or bottle of wine ready before watching. If you are in a relationship, be sure to get your man piano lessons for Christmas.

BALMAIN

I woke up last Saturday morning to thee most beautiful images on my timeline from Paris. Houndstooth cardigans, quilted bomber jackets, ruffled leather skirts, and denim done so well, I thought I had died and gone to high fashion heaven. But I wasn't dead, I was alive and I was in LOVE with the Balmain Spring 2014 RTW Collection! The details on these masterpieces are nothing short of perfection. Each look was styled impeccably. As each model appeared on my screen, I remembered why I fell in love with fashion in the first place. EMOTION. The feeling you get when you see a certain dress or shoe. In this case it was every look coming down the runway that had me feeling a certain way. I felt inspired, I felt excited, I felt like I needed to sell everything in my closet to be able to afford one piece from this AMAZING collection! This is where cheerleader and baseball player from the 80s meet. Sporty chic done oh-so-right!

The House of Balmain was founded by Pierre Balmain in 1945. His creations were worn by acclaimed actresses such as Ava Gardner and Brigitte Bardot. Oscar de la Renta also led the house from 1993-2002. And in 2011, a young designer named Olivier Rousteing, was appointed to head designer of the luxury house. I am a true fan of this creative genius and look forward to seeing more of his designs in the future. #BALMAINIAC            

KNOCKIN BOOTS

Misleading blog title? Kinda. But I like it!  So, how's everyone been? Let's see.... We endured our annual heat wave that arrives every September.  I was thinking of having a bikini car wash to raise money for my A/C bill, but settled for selling half of my closet instead. Football is back and we painfully watched our Chargers lose to the stupid Texans on MNF. Embarrassing to say the least. I don't like to cuss on here, (shocking I know), so we will leave it at that. Oh, and all Fall everything has officially taken over your favorite mags and racks!

I posted a little something something for the fellas a couple weeks ago, and I was waiting for the first Fall trend to hit me before I wrote something for the ladies. Then it happened...Nordstrom....Shoe Department...Ankle Boots....EVERYWHERE! They kind of remind me of the ones I used to rock back in the 9th grade. I clearly remember the Summer before entering high school, when I sat back and made a conscious decision to change my look. I was stuck in the wannabe chola/hiphop fly girl era and knew that if I wanted to be taken seriously at my new school I couldn't possibly show up in a bodysuit or anything with the words "Cross Colours" written on it. (And if you grew up in the 90s, please don't act like you didn't own one of the two items I just spoke of).  So, I looked through magazines and collected images of the style I wanted to try and replicate for myself. Little did I know this was called "Inspiration". I wanted to do something completely different and more grown up. After all, I was going to be a FRESHMAN in high school! I had to make a name for myself and I didn't want it to be "La Shorty". I settled for a classic school girl look. Cardigans, button ups, floral prints, skirts, dark denim and ANKLE BOOTS! 

I knew the 90s were making a comeback after spending this entire Summer watching clueless girls wear high waisted everything with nothing on top. Oh, and bodysuits have somehow snuck back into their closets too. Both of which I like the way I like my Hot Cheetos, in moderation. Needless to say, the 90s are back and I feel it is our obligation to take back our era and show these youngins how it's done! So, let's start Fall off with the right pair of Ankle Boots and let Cher and Dionne start taking notes! Get em' Ladies! 

ZARA