Mara in Burberry

Spring is right around the corner, and in my opinion, it can’t come fast enough.  Last night I was suffering from a bit of the Sunday Night Blues, so I did what any girl in my situation would do: I went shopping. 

I drove down to the 3rd Street Promenade, hoping to cheer myself up with a healty dose of window shopping and style inspiration.  As much as I love shopping online, I still have to check out my favorite stores and talk to the darling shopgirls to find out the inside scoop on my favorite brands and their new inventory.  Consider it my version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

After a few hours, I went home with two conclusions:  First, in the fashion world, spring is here.  Florals are everywhere and I love the new peep-toe booties that keep popping up!  Second, you can’t find any better deals on Tory Burch skirts than on beso.  Trust me, I’m a professional.

How do you beso lucky?  With beso.com!

Happy shopping,

Mara

Last night I had the privilege of attending the 2010 Grammy Awards in downtown Los Angeles.  This was my first awards show, and it was such a treat!  Aside from amazing performances by Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Elton John, Pink, and Bon Jovi, there was also a special tribute to Michael Jackson.  Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson all took the stage to honor the late pop star, and the power of their voices was simply overwhelming.  The Michael Jackson tribute included snippets from the film This is It!, and it was all in 3D!

Music aside, the fashion was out of this world!  And I’m not talking about the celebrities.  Since I’m not A-list (yet), our seats were up in the risers with all of the other guests looking down at the stage.  Seated around me were some of the most beautiful and daring outfits I’ve ever seen.  And I’m not talking about this.  I’m talking about fabulous tuxedos accompanied by lacy floor-length gowns, glittery mini dresses, and lots and lots of red lipstick.  Unfortunately, there was a strict no-camera policy, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Sneaking a photo from my phone during the 3D Michael Jackson Tribute

I decided to go with the purple one-shoulder dress (thanks, facebook fans, for helping me decide!) with black opaque tights and five-inch platform gladiator heels and my black Chanel 2.55.  But what I think really made my outfit was the pair of jade and gold earrings that were generously loaned to me.  I loved the contrast between of the royal purple and jade green jewel tones.  My dashing date looked smoking hot in a Cesare Attolini velvet bow tie and Gianluca Isaia tux.

After being surrounded by so many unique and beautiful people, I’m definitely feeling inspired this month to be a bit more daring with my own style.  Next up on my list: updating my wardrobe with lace tights (up until last night I just didn’t see how they would play out in the real world), and perhaps a new tube of Hollywood-worthy red lipstick.

How do you beso lucky?  With beso.com!

Happy shopping,

Mara

Can you believe it?  Not only is it the start of a new year, but also the start of a new decade.  Now, I’ve never been one to reminisce or make resolutions every January 1.  In fact, I’ve often been known to quote my grandmother, a well-known social columnist in the 1960s, saying that “New Year’s is for amateurs.”  I’ve never needed a reason to pamper myself or start working out or try something new.  However, I’m feeling a little sentimental this year for some reason, and the idea of setting a few resolutions seems quite appealing.

Chatting with some friends around the beso office, a lot of us seem to be on the same page.  In our personal lives, we’re all looking to start eating better and work out more.  I will personally be picking up a few nutritional cookbooks and will be seeking inspiration in some new lululemon athletica gear.  We all want to embrace life with a new passion and not be afraid to push our own limitations. 

Professionally, we’ll still be pushing ahead with our own collective mission of delivering all of the brands and stores you love on beso (with the best prices, of course).  We recently added the favorites feature to the site, and the feedback has been excellent.  I hope you’ll take the time to check it out.  Now tell me, what are some of your resolutions?

How do you beso lucky?  With beso.com!

Happy shopping,

Mara

Let the holiday shopping season begin!  This December, I know all of you are planning to beso giving — and to beso getting!  That’s why we’ve drawn up our Holiday Gift Guides for all of you shopaholics out there.  Check out our Stocking Stuffers, Gifts under $50, Gifts under $100, and Luxury Gift Guides.  We’ve compiled our top picks for 2009 and you won’t be left disappointed.

On my personal shopping list so far are Tory Burch cosmetic bags and rosette headbands for my two sisters, a Love Quotes scarf and the Laura Mercier Honey Bath for my mom, a new pair of men’s leather gloves for my dad, and plenty of tubes of Kiehl’s Hand Salve for stocking stuffers (it truly is the best hand cream).

Coming off of a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, I’ve also been thinking a lot about the importance of not only giving gifts to loved ones, but also to those less fortunate.  I recently had the opportunity to volunteer at a local animal shelter with a few coworkers.  We showed up at the shelter not knowing what to expect, but soon found ourselves surrounded by the sweetest dogs just begging for attention and a nice long walk outside.  During this time we exercised not just our bodies, but our minds and hearts as well.  I can’t wait to go back and play with all of my newfound furry friends, and plan on bringing in some inexpensive towels and holiday dog toys next time. 

This December, I hope all of you feel as inspired as I do to make a difference in someone else’s life.  Even the smallest gift can show you care.

How do you beso lucky?  With beso.com!

Happy shopping,

Mara

I received word this morning that Loveland, Colorado, had its first snow last night.  The depth measured 14″, and there were talks of cancelling school if it didn’t stop soon.  Looking out my own window, it was a cool but sunny 64° in Los Angeles — and it was only 7:30 a.m.  Work was definitely not getting cancelled.  I slid on my flip flops (against my East Cost upbringing) and hurried out the door.

Remember when you were a kid and your mom took you shopping and told you that you could buy whatever you wanted?  What you wanted was a hypercolor t-shirt, but none of the stores had any because it was November on the East Coast.  I wish I could transport back in time to when I was 7 and tell my mom that it didn’t matter if the store didn’t have any hypercolor t-shirts.  What she needed to do was go on beso.com to order one online. 

Now, beso doesn’t have any hypercolor t-shirts because the original manufacturer has long since filed for bankruptcy.  But what we do have is a goldmine of the best  prices for brands and stores, in order to prevent you from going bankrupt, too.  This month, our experts will be sharing with you all of the greatest deals on clothing, shoes, accessories, bags, and more.  New to the blog is our Nesting Spot section, where we will be commenting on home-related furniture and decor.  We will also be debuting our much-awaited Get Cooking feature, where everything kitchen-related will be tried, tested, and reviewed to the core.  This November you can expect tips for the perfect Harvest Table and other Thanksgiving-themed posts.

Be sure to check back daily for our other regular features.  Every Monday, we will be deconstructing some of the hottest outfits in Get This Look, and our editors will have scoured the web for their Editor’s Picks.  Finally, in the next few days, we will be announcing the winner of our beso Lucky Sweepstakes, where one lucky facebook fan will win a fabulous designer bag! 

How do you beso lucky?  With beso.com!

Happy shopping,

Mara