BB Dakota

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  BB Dakota The Barbara Lace Tunic in Black
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  BB Dakota The Burton Trench in Forest
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  BB Dakota The Lola Zip Back Dress in Black
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  BB Dakota The Jocelyn Shirt in Arona
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  Jack BB Dakota The Frederica Coat
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  BB Dakota The Shelby Lacey Blouse in Dirty White
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  BB Dakota The Sara Hooded Vest
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  BB Dakota The Rogan Cadet Jacket in Black
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  BB Dakota The Lola Zip Back Dress in Gray
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  BB Dakota The Rogan Cadet Jacket in Royal

Be as vibrant as the Spring in BBD's colorful "Game Night" halter dress.

BB Dakota, or BBD, first started out in 1986. The line, created by founder and chief designer Gloria Brandes, exudes her French sensibility and youthful vibe in every stylish piece she creates.

The company, now stationed in a spacious office in Costa Mesa, California, started out as a small boutique – a mission style 1930’s era post office – in Laguna Beach. Brandes’ humble beginnings began with a workforce of three. The then-quaint shop saw multitudes of patrons lining up outside the store for a piece or two of BBD. By then, only savvy fashion editors and Orange County Locals knew of the store’s fashionable and unique yet inexpensive clothes.

But because of its stylish mod and retro-inspired clothes – which stood out in the area’s surf and skate-style fashion philosophy, BB Dakota managed to capture the attention of many. The brand, aimed at fashionable femmes ages 18 to 25, went mainstream in 2005 after  fashion editors headlined the quaint shop’s apparel in many editorial campaigns. That same year, BB Dakota was licensed by nZania LLC, who took over the brand’s sales, production, and administration. From a three people work staff, BB Dakota’s work force increased to 100. The company also set their advertising into overdrive by attending more trade shows and running more ads in magazines.

BB Dakota is inspired by the fashion sense of glamorous icons. These stylish icons’ clothes are translated to BB Dakota’s youthful and modern-classic looks. BB Dakota takes pride in creating clothes with right amount of sexy without being overtly provocative. The line creates perfect cuts which makes the wearer sexy in an elegant way. True enough, the BB Dakota girl is exuding with confidence, attitude, and style.

BB Dakota’s fashionable clothes come at a reasonable price. “Big fashion at small prices” is the mission of the company, according to Brandes. “We try to make great fashion more accessible,” she added.

Channel your inner Audrey Hepburn in this stylish, neutral tone coat by BBD.

The brand’s Spring 2009’s collection include colorful and flirty frocks which accentuate the feminine shape. On the other hand, BBD’s Holiday Collection remained more subdued with a black and white palette and showcased fashionable semi-formal wear.

Apart from the main line, BB Dakota also has the XBBD and Jack lines, which are all about reasonably-priced fun, feminine apparel. Jack’s Spring 2009 collection channels the Amy Winehouse feel – minus all the drama. The colorful and chic clothes can surely tickle the palate of fashionable femmes. Like BBD’s Holiday 2008 collection, the Jack collection ended the year with a bang with its neutral palettes and semi-formal wear perfect for day and night.

After focusing on women’s wear for almost 20 years, BB Dakota has expanded its horizons by coming up with men’s shorts and coats. The unstoppable brand also sees itself creating women’s handbags and expanding their men’s collection months from now.

Its merchandise has landed on the pages of major fashion glossies such as Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Seventeen, Shapes, Glamour, Marie Claire, People Style Watch, Luky, and In Touch Weekly. Celebrities that are known to wear BB Dakota include popstar Britney Spears, and E 10’s Debbie Matenopolous.

Despite its high-profile national status, BB Dakota aims to remain under the radar by selling the clothes through small boutiques and retailers. BB Dakota finds are now available in select department stores and boutiques across the nation. Canadian patrons can also purchase them at select stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territories.

Online purchases can also be made through Milk and Honey Shop NY, Catwalk Co., Karmaloop, Blender Clothing, South Moon Under, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Mod Cloth, Fred Flare, Pink Saloon, Alloy, Lulu’s, Shop Miss Behavin, Planet Funk, Polka Dots and Moonbeams, Shop Private Gallery, Style Violet, Swell, Tobi, Francesca’s Collections, Becker Surf, Bivouac Ann Arbor, Here on the Corner, La Celeb, Lily Grace Online, JB and Me, Metro Park USA, Viktor Viktoria Shop, Von maur, Zumiez, Adrenaline Surf and Skate, Gigi’s of Andover, Kiss and Chase, Shop JNKS, and Shop ECBC.