Emerald looks good on real women!

Well, I must admit, I have been much amiss in keeping the blog updated with posts. I really have no excuse, other than that I've had to move house a couple of times and had been pretty busy with getting our home ready for sale. Oops, that sounds a lot like an excuse.... ;-)

Anyway, I am back on the blog now, and thanks also to my dear friend and digital nomad Carou Llou (check out her blog http://www.caroullou.com), who is also in Bangkok at the moment, I've renewed my enthusiasm for blogging. 

I read over my past blogs post, and while I still enjoy reading them, I thought you all might enjoy a more personal take on fashion, rather than (or at least in addition to) what is disseminated from the various Fashion Weeks throughout the world. 

Because let's be honest, would you really wear this to your local Starbucks? 

This Alexander McQueen creation is certainly very elegant, but can you imagine yourself walking down the street with your latte in one hand, phone in the other, whilst trying not to trip over the dress' train? 

(image courtesy of deepseanews.com) 

So with that in mind, I thought I would see if I could take a few snapshots of a real person, who does not walk catwalks for a living, but a woman who works hard for the money (no, not the kind of work in Donna Summer's song!), sometimes working from home, sometimes having to commute by car, tram, train or metro. In other words, you and me. In this case, I'll be me, until I can find another willing fashion victim! :-)

Having tricked my friend Carou Llou into taking the picture of yours truly, check out this 'street style' fashion pic, incorporating Pantone's colour of the year 2013, Emerald.

 This was a great outfit for going out. The dress is extremely comfortable, yet flattering to any body shape. It is faux wrap, so there’s no adjusting needed and has a inner skirt below the wrap skirt. The sleeves are full length, but because this is Thailand (hot, even at night!), I pushed them up to be 3/4 length. 

The accessories (jewelry) are all from Senzu Style, from their Spirit Collection. They are brushed glass beads with dark polished metal beads in light and dark grey tones and go great with most colours. I am wearing the matching necklace and bracelet.   Complementing it are the large hoop earrings from their Elements line in brushed grey rhodium (brass base, plated with rhodium).   

The clutch is also a pretty grey, real leather with a bejeweled clasp. 

 My shoes this night were made by Wealthy in Thailand, black mix of gloss and matte, high heels with thin laces and I found them at a little kiosk in Siam Square market area. 

So, if you have a cool picture that you'd like to share with fashion trends for real women, or if there is a trend you'd like to see me try on, send me a comment, link or an email through the blog! 

As always, keep living in style, and see you at the next blog post! 

2011 Spring Spirit Collection launched

This blog post brings some great news: We have just launched our new line of Spring jewelry as part of our Senzu Spirit Collection!

SZFNL42:  http://bit.ly/goNvbl

When we developed this Spring range of jewelry, we put the emphasis on fun and lightness. Our aim was to create a line that is versatile yet elegant, so you can wear it with a suit or with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.  The jewelry will work great throughout the spring and into the summer, as weather warms up and clothing layers are shed. 

There are 11 new necklaces and 4 bracelets that all follow the Senzu mandate of good quality materials and a unique design that you'd only find at Senzu. Using aluminum and other light-weight metals and materials such as cotton, brass and glass, of course all lead-free, nickel-free and cadmium-free, the line is centered around the continuing trend of metallics and plays with textures, shapes and tones within the colour ranges. 

This year's Pantone colours, Silver Cloud as well as Russet and Silver Peony, are well represented in the collection, either on its own or in combination with gold and silver tones. As the quintessential neutral that consumers can rely on to coordinate with everything in their closet, Silver Cloud it is one of the most versatile colours in this year's range. 

SZFNL37: http://bit.ly/goSZc1

Senzu features it in the form of smokey, opaque glass beads that have been worked into both necklaces and bracelets. 

As Chrissy Lorenzo mentioned in her article on this year's Pantone chosen colours and their effect on mood: "Why does silver cloud seem to go with everything? This hue is multi-faceted and has many undertones. When paired with a deep purple, for example, blue-ish undertones in this color will come out for a seamless match. When paired with white, it will have a cooler, lighter look. For this reason, it's a great color to play off what's already existing in your wardrobe! Why you should wear it: gray-blue colors have a calming effect and inspire relaxation and creativity. A perfect color for a wall in your office, or a blazer for work. It will center you and leave you focused."

SZFNL38: http://bit.ly/ecfIbk

The warm chocolatey tones of Russet come back also in one of their wood and glass beaded necklaces. 

I've given you a sneak peek at some of the pieces in this blog, now go check all of them out on www.senzustyle.com! 

It is also posted it on Senzu's Facebook Page photo album, a great opportunity to 'like' our page and stay up to date on events, promos and special offers for our Facebook fans ;-) 

For daily updates and more 'insider' info, follow us on Twitter @senzustyle and @cristelmd. 

Styling it up!

Cristel, 

Your Senzu Style Insider. 

Senzu Interview for Biz Opportunities - Part 2

Good morning everyone,

A few weeks ago we at Senzu had the honor to be asked for an e-Interview with Biz-Opportunities.biz, and were contacted by Ms. Angela Shupe with 11 questions. The Business Opportunities Weblog is a moderated list of legitimate business opportunities for entrepreneurs. It will be posted on their website on the 21st of December 2010, but you get to see the questions and my answers here first, in this 2-part blog post. Part 1 was published on this blog last week, here's the conclusion!  It was my pleasure to do the interview and I hope you enjoy reading it here and on biz-opportunities.biz from 21 December onwards!

6. What separates your business and opportunity from the competition?

- Senzu is very young, and therefore the market for Senzu Stylists is still wide open. Other companies may have been around longer, but people are ready for something new and fresh, which is reflected in our designs as well as our business model. 

- Senzu Stylists are not bound by any territories; all of Canada is wide open, so lots of room to expand their sales!

New Bracelet in Senzu's
Stainless Steel Collection

- Senzu Stylists can track their commissions and orders online.

- The Senzu website sets us apart from much of our competition. It allows our Stylists to sell direct from the website and also track their sales and commissions right there. It is very mobile-device friendly, so Stylists can have the Senzu e-Boutique at their fingertips wherever they are. In today’s world of smartphones and iPad-type mobile devices, we believe that it is important to offer our Stylists the best advantage in direct market sales.  The website supports our Stylists and our Stylists support the web site, it is a symbiotic relationship. 

- Our jewellery ranges in price from $8 to $154, with the average piece being about $40, so it is very affordable for every budget.

- Senzu carries a Stainless Steel Collection, all made from 316L stainless steel, which is 100% hypoallergenic. A great advantage, as some people have allergies to silver, gold or other metals. 

- Senzu also has a Naturals Collection, made from all natural products such as silk, cotton, semi-precious stones and wood.

7. When was it launched, and how has it grown since then?

We first formed Senzu in early 2010 and we had our Soft Launch Party on the 29th of September. About three weeks later, in late October 2010, the e-Boutique went ‘live’ and online ordering has begun. We’ve had quite a few Soirées since then, both hosted by us as well as by hostesses for our Stylists. We’ve been using this first Christmas season mainly as a vehicle to get the word out in Oakville about the Senzu company, the Senzu jewellery and we are already registering new Stylists in and around the Greater Toronto Area.  

8. Do you have any goals you'd like to accomplish in the next year or so?

Our main goal is to grow our network of Stylists and our sales of course, throughout Ontario and Canada. We will continue to create beautiful, affordable jewellery and by doing so, our Stylists will find that it sells itself. Our focus is on supporting our Stylists in their Senzu business and encourage their sales by continuing to enhance the website, the Stylist webportal, an easy to understand commission and downline structure and great customer service and Stylist support. 

9. What are some lessons your business has taught you?

New Earrings in Senzu's
Stainless Steel Collection

Together with my husband Brad, both Sumitra and I have run (and still run) many businesses, but this is our first business supported by an online store. I love browsing through our own e-Boutique! I have learned that for as many people there are in the world, that’s how many tastes and styles there are. I am inspired by working with the designers and manufacturers to develop great looking, high quality jewellery for Senzu. For Sumitra, this is the first time running a business in Canada. I think for her it is a breeze, compared to the challenges of doing business in other countries. Of course we all love being active in an industry that deals with such an exciting product as well as giving people the opportunity to change their lives and offer them a chance at financial freedom. 

10. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

A Senzu Stylist’s earnings are only limited by their imagination and efforts. Based on our records, our Stylists typically do around $1200 in sales per Soirée (our home party), which means about $300 in commissions for them, for just about 3-4 hours work. In addition, anyone can be a hostess (those who host a Soireé) and potentially receive hundreds of dollars in free jewellery, compliments of Senzu.  Our Stylists have no minimum sales requirements, but no maximums either! Anyone can become a Senzu customer, hostess or a Senzu Stylist. Our Senzu jewellery is high quality and attractively designed and priced, so it practically sells itself.  

11. Any advice you'd like to offer fellow entrepreneurs that are just getting started?

Immerse yourself in the industry, read up on your peers, their experiences and be open to advice from people who’ve been there. Don’t give up on your own concept but be prepared to adapt it to what the market will support.

Read the complete interview at www.biz-opportunities.biz from 21 December 2010 onwards.
In the meanwhile, a quick reminder to all our readers that Senzu has express shipping and can still deliver your shipments (within Canada) to arrive in time for Christmas, which is only 5 more days away!

Styling it up!

Cristel

Senzu Interview for Biz-Opportunities: Part 1

Good morning everyone,

This past week we at Senzu had the honor to be asked for an e-Interview with Biz-Opportunities.biz, and were contacted by Ms. Angela Shupe with 11 questions. The Business Opportunities Weblog is a moderated list of legitimate business opportunities for entrepreneurs. It will be posted on their website on the 21st of December 2010, but you get to see the questions and my answers here first, in this 2-part blog post. It was my pleasure to do the interview and I hope you enjoy reading it here and on biz-opportunities.biz! 

1. Tell us a little about Senzu Style.

Senzu is Canada’s newest direct sales company that focuses on fashionable jewellery and emphasises stainless steel, sterling silver and other high quality materials that are accented with freshwater pearls, Swarovski© crystals, cubic zirconias and other top quality features. It is based right here in Oakville, Ontario. 

SZSN5, Stainless Steel, Pearl & Onyx

2. What inspired it?

The name Senzu was inspired by the Japanese word for Style. I have lived in many countries in Asia for many years and still spend a lot of time there now.  Sumitra, my business partner, moved from Thailand to Canada just about 18 months ago, so our inspiration is found in the East. We have tried to translate the elegance, grace, beauty and modern advances we encounter there into beautiful, very wearable jewellery here in Canada.  

3. What are some of the more popular products that you offer?

Our most popular line is the Stainless Steel Collection. One of the first jewellery we started with are our stainless steel and freshwater pearl necklaces and matching earrings, set in dual tone stainless steel and cubic zirconias. It is available with white, pink or black pearls and looks great on everyone. It is a contemporary, modern woman’s take on a classic look. But we have already expanded into 5 unique Collections: Stainless Steel, Prestige, Elements, Spirit and Naturals.   

4. Tell us a little about your Stylist opportunity.

Senzu’s Stylist opportunity is a chance to get into a direct sales organisation while it is still young, with an opportunity to grow your network of customers and sponsored Stylists along with the company. By joining now, you get in on the ground floor and have a chance to help shape this organisation and have a say in how it develops and expands.  

SZEA8, Stainless Steel
Freshwater Pearl & CZ

5. What is included, and how much does it cost?

Right now it only costs $75 to register as a Senzu Stylist. For that you get 50% off all of your first sample order of jewellery, then 30% off all your subsequent orders. Usually the beginning Stylist’s sample order saves them so much, it covers the cost of their registration fee. Apart from the discount, the starter kit also includes personalized Senzu business cards, promo cards, hostess invitation cards and other marketing materials that will help them get their Independent Senzu Stylist Business started successfully. Stylists make 30% profit on anything they sell from their own inventory, but there is no obligation to purchase stock. Of course wearing Senzu jewellery yourself does make selling it even easier! We encourage Stylists to refer their customers to the senzustyle.com website as well. When their customers buy online, the Stylist also makes 30% commission on any of their online sales, and Senzu handles everything from payment, gift wrapping and shipping directly to the customer.    

Next blogpost will answer her questions about what sets Senzu apart from the competition, our goals and what the business has taught me, so come back and read Part 2 in the next few days! 

Styling it up!

Cristel

PS: Don't forget to vote in our Christmas Shopping Poll on the right! ->

Read About Us here!

How to look Glam Rock Chic this Winter

Good morning fellow Stylistas,

Have you ever thought about a particular fashion trend and thought; ‘Ah, I wish I could pull that off...’? Well, mine is Glam Rock Chic!

How to create the look end up looking either like a member of KISS or a grungy biker chick, especially since the metallics and black/grey tones are such hot hues this winter. 

This week I decided to research how to look Glam Rock Chic without channelling ZZ-Top or Gene Simmons.

Check out these celebrities’ chic and glamorous rock style:

 

Gwen Stefani, Debbi Harrie, Ashlee Simpson, and Madonna show how Glam Rock Chic can be timeless and ageless!

In my reseach I was helped by my friend Tasmalee, the very talented graphic designer over at Innovasia Graphics (who does a lot of our design work), who naturally masters the look regularly. I also drew inspiration from InStyle Magazine and CTV's Fashion Television Jeanne Beker.  

Here’s Senzu's Top 10 Tips to looking Glam Rock Chic:

10. Keep colours basic & the lines simple: blacks, gunmetal greys and other metallics are very on trend right now. A clean silhouette flatters your shape, too many layers add bulk and frumpiness. Think leggings, straight or skinny jeans, pencil skirts. 

9. Go graphic! A graphic T, printed dress or shirt is great to use as your base color palette.

8. Keep the feet feminine; with slinky boots, strappy sandals and boldly colored heels.

7. Add leather, but just 1 piece: Biker, military-style and bomber jackets are all hot right now, or go for the leather pencil skirt. However, too many leather pieces = biker, so use sparingly. 

6. Big hair is Glam! Wear it up in a high, messy ponytail, devil-may-care down or short and spikey. 

5. Smokey Eye. Go for metallic golds, silvers, black, white and purples. Add sparkles at night! Keep lips neutral to draw attention to the eyes; the windows to your inner Glam Rocker.

4. Continue to look by adding a leather studded clutch or satchel bag.

3. Belt it out. Chunky buckle belts help define your shape and glamorize your overall look. Great way to add some rock chic to soft sweaters! 

2. Exhude confidence and smile! Believe you’ll totally rock the glam chic look and you will! 

1. Accessorize with Senzu Jewellery! Senzu's Stainless Steel and Spirit collections lend itself perfectly for many looks, including Glam Rock Chic! 

We put together a Stylebook with products readily available at Danier Leather, Victoria’s Secret, Sketchers, Miss Sixty, Lucky Magazine, The GAP,  of course Senzu Jewellery to inspire you to create your unique Glam Rock Chic:

Boots during the day or heels at night, this Glam Rock look is chic anytime!

Pair up your Glam Rock with worn jeans for a more casually chic look!

Let me know how you style it up? I'd love to see your personal take on the Glam Rock Chic trend!

Your Senzu partner-in-style,

Cristel