How to wear Safari without going Zookeeper

On the runways at the fashion shows in Paris, New York and Toronto, the safari trend made a strong comeback this year. Have you been scared to try this trend? Worried about looking like a zookeeper or actual safari guide? No more, because here’s Senzu’s easy how-to for this awesome trend!

Senzu’s Top 10 Tips on looking Safari Inspired:

10. Wear the trend, don’t let it wear you. As with many trends, the key to getting it right is not to overdo it. Cargo capris in safari green are fine, but then don’t add more pockets on the top too.

9. Keep the silhouette clean. Use the ever-present contrasting shapes rule: if you’re going flared or wide on your lower half (think wide pants, maxi skirt or dress), then make sure your upper half is more fitted. And vice versa. You don’t want to get lost in your outfit. 

8. Go green! This is the perfect trend to go with earth-friendly fabrics. Organic cottons, the new (soft) hemp, linens and soft eco-cotton knits usually come in great designs that work the safari look fabulously.

7. Go green, again! Really! Khaki, kiwi, moss, wheatgrass, army green, beige, brown, emerald, taupe and grays are all great color options within this trend. 

6. Monotone is exciting! The safari look is one look that works really well from head to toe in one color, or one colour range. It will pull your look together.

5. Off-set your safari. Using khaki and army green for your main item and then offsetting it with a contrasting colour such as canary yellow, bright white or black will give your safari look a modern twist. This works especially well at the office!

4. Belts to Boot! Strappy sandals and wedges work extremely well with this trend. 

3. Safari looks best during the day, as it is usually a more casual look. To bring safari out at night, keep your silhouette very clean and minimalist, and accessorize!

2. Bring out the Animal in you! Yes, you can add animal print! Your most elegant option is to use it in accessories such as shoes and purse. For the daring ladies out there, try a animal print shirt, dress or skirt. It’s best to only use animal print in your outfit once, or it will look ‘tried too hard’.  

1. Go bold on accessories! Think big leather purses; wide naturally toned belts that flatter your figure, and go for statement necklaces, hoop earrings, bracelets and African-inspired pieces. Senzu has lots of hoop earrings that were just added to their Elements Collection, and also check out the fabulous natural necklaces and woven leather bracelets in the Senzu Naturals Collection.

We’ve included a great Safari lookbook here to inspire you to try this summery trend. what do you think, are you game to try the Safari trend this year? 

Your Senzu Style Insider,

Cristel


Accessories featured in this blog: Senzu Jewelry. Fashion and cosmetics by Elie Tahari, Ralph Lauren, Erin Fetherson, Revlon, Afterglow, Tod's and more.  

How To Work this Summer's all-white Trend!

This spring and summer a lot of awesome trends are hot (hopefully the weather will follow!). Today we’ll focus how to make the white-on-white trend work for you. It is easy to look fabulous in white! Here’s our Top 10 Tips on how to rock the white fashion trend this summer:


10. White is not boring! White looks great on all skin tones, and any outfit that’s all one colour will make you look leaner. 
9. Silhouettes on the shade. The white trend follows this year’s silhouette guidelines; soft fabrics, feminine shapes and flowing lines. A-line skirts, maxi dresses, flare pants, peasant shirts, linens and ultra-soft cottons are all joining the party. Layering is done without adding bulk; if you go wide on the bottom, then keep the top more fitted, and vice versa.

8. It’s not all white! Whites and soft creams or off-whites can go together. Just try to keep it to one or two tones max, or it will look mismatched. 
7. Casual of Dressy? Either one goes; a white Jackie-O style sundress with white scarf or jacket, white pantsuit, white cargo capris with a white peasant shirt or t-shirt, the trend works both for the office and weekend relaxed. 
6. Nights in white satin? The white trend will carry you from daytime into the evening hours seamlessly. To dress white up more in the evenings, minimalistic lines work well at night and try wearing it with more jewelry or sparkling accessories, or change up footwear from ballerinas to wedges.  
5. White hair? The white fashion trend looks awesome with any hair color, just as it goes nicely with any skin color. Wear hair up or down, short of long, up to you. A small hair accessory like a hair slide or clip always dresses up any outfit. 
4. Keep an eye out! You don’t want to create too much of a contrast by distracting from with your all-white outfit with heavily made up eyes. The trend emphasizes natural colors and tones, so soft pinks, beiges and complimenting tones will make you look radiant in white. Soft tones in lipstick or a glossy lip balm are both great options for lips.
3. Show your heels. This summer the trend is heavy on ballarinas, strappy sandals, wedges and natural leather tones. To lengthen your silhouette, go with matching colours (whites) or skin tone neutrals on your tootsies. If your shoes are open, consider a French Pedicure for pretty, match-the-trend nails. 
2. Belt it out! For a more dressy look, go with a thinner fitted belt that either blends with your all-white  outfit or for a bolder look, pick a very bright orange, pink, green or navy colour. The casual, all-white look is best done with a loosely worn, wider, natural toned belt that is slung low on the hips. Great with cargo pants and a peasant shirt or longer t-shirt. 
1. Accessorize white on white too! Senzu has a great range of natural jewelry, necklaces with white pendants, pearls, white Swarovski crystals, silver jewelry that will compliment your all-white outfit. 


Check out these all-white lookbooks we’ve put together to give you inspiration. The angelic models and all-white fashion courtesy of Victoria’s Secret (all rights reserved), all jewelry by Senzu. 


Let us know what you think of this trend? 
Your Senzu Style Insider,


Cristel

Fashion Week Look Book - Chris Benz Inspired

With Toronto Fashion Week kicking off this week, Senzu's Style Insider decided to get everyone warmed up with a taste of where the up-and-coming Designers of the recently held New York Fashion Week find their inspiration. 

As reported by Marie Claire's fashionista bloggers and others, among of the bright new Designers stealing the show in New York this year was Chris Benz. Chris grew up in Seattle in the 90's, attended Parsons School of Design in New York City, interned with Marc Jacob and presented his first ready-to-wear collection in 2007 to high acclaim at that year's New York Fashion Week. 

"I was inspired by Savannah, Georgia," Benz told MC during his audience-packed presentation. "I've been working so much with SCAD (the Savannah College of Art & Design, where Benz is a mentor), and the city has this haunted beauty about it… It's very old-fashioned. I was thinking about the influx of edgy art-school students into a historic place." 

This Senzu Style Insider has visited the beautiful city of Savannah many times and it is certainly a place infused with history, quirky style and old-fashioned elegance. One visit and you're sure to fall in love with it. 

Benz mentions Savannah's "gorgeous graveyards" as inspiration for this specific look. He also expresses a nostalgia for the past and his designs reflect a certain carefree, relaxed spirit and a 'don't take yourself too seriously' attitude with a decided vintage touch. 

In this look-book image, we've combined Chris Benz' signature design of this year's New York Fashion Week with some of Senzu's jewelry collection pieces as well as other accessories such as boots, purse and hat that will allow you to recreate this on-trend runway look. 

Senzu Style Insider's next blog post will feature Designer Rachel Comey, so watch this space!

Styling it up,

Cristel, Your Senzu Style Insider. 

Featured in this article are the following Senzu jewelry:

SZ9EA20 - Fuchsia Oval Cut CZ Silver Earrings

SZ9PE12 - Fuchsia Oval Cut CZ Silver Pendant

SZ9EA12 - Swarovski© Magnificent Magenta Hearts

SZ9PE5 -  Swarovski© Magnificent Magenta Heart Pendant

SZFBR5 - Black Beaded Charm Bracelet

SZFNL43 - Circles Necklace