How to create the New Boho Chic Look

With all the new exciting trends that came off the New York and Toronto runways recently, one of my favorites is the 'Boho Chic' look. It is a look that, if done right, can be worn for a weekend of lounging around and tripping around vintage fashion stores and markets, but you can also dress it up for at the office.

How can you put together the Boho Chic look without looking like a hobo? Here's Senzu's top tips of how to create this 2011 bohemian, city nomad look that is so trendy at the moment, with items you might already have in your closet:

10. The Shape. Boho chic does not necessarily mean baggy. But the emphasis is on soft, flowing materials that fit comfortably. Dresses, long shirts and embroidered accents are all good-to-go for this trend. To keep it chic, choose 1 item that's more hippie, but keep the overall look neat and trim. You don't want to overdo it and look like a 70's time traveller.

9. The Colors. Neutral with one accent color, like the blue embroidery in the shirt dress in our lookbook, or the bright orange top. Denim is a hot fabric for spring and summer this year, as is white. Bright colors like lime green, orange, fuchsia and yellow are perfect accent colors, but should be used sparingly in an outfit. Natural fabrics are always preferred. To recreate boho chic, go for the best quality pieces you can afford, and you'll be able to wear them with many trends to come.

8. Shoes. You'll want to keep the shoes trim and not too bulky. Great ideas are heeled sandals or wedges, sleek boots. Keep the emphasis on elegant and ladylike, not Birkenstock. Neutral leathers and soft tones are best.

7. Hair. Relaxed flowing tresses, or a sleep ponytail in the nape of your neck gives the perfect balance between boho and chic. Pixie haircuts also work great for the boho chic look. Accented with a small hairpin for the office or an artificial flower or feather for the more daring amongst us will rock the look.

6. Make-up. With your outfit creating most of the color splash, you'll want to keep make-up very natural looking. Think soft beiges and browns, soft pinks and greens. Play up your natural eye color with your shadow, soft pink blush and nude or pale lips keeps the look fresh and grounded. The key is to stay close to your natural skin tones, just enhancing it.

5. The Bag.  Soft and big for casual occasions, or more fitted for the office, you can go either natural tones or play with the accent colors mentioned earlier. There are no hard and fast rules here, except we recommend keeping the shapes soft. Leather, cotton, or woven are all fine, depending on whether you are going more 'boho' or more 'chic'.

4. Creativity & Individuality. Make your look YOU. If you're naturally a 'boho chic' dresser, try this updated 2011 look with the candy-color accents and go for bolder accessories. If you're usually a more conservative dresser, try adding small bohemian accents to your usual look to get used to the trend. You'll love it!

3. Basic Pieces. If you have any of these in your closet, you can recreate this look. Or you can use this as a perfect excuse to go shopping! Denim shorts, shirt or dress. Linen anything. Maxi dress, the peasant shirt and skirt, caftan or tunics, boots, wedges, wide relaxed belts, candy-coloured accent pieces, and of course lots of boho chic inspired jewelry.

2. Putting it all together. Make sure your outfit matches. You don't want to look like you tried too hard or are wearing everything in your closet. Keep the layers minimal, one or two is perfect. Think maxi dress with fitted jacket, or pantsuit with flowing embroidered blouse.  

1. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Accessorizing is vital to create a boho chic look. It makes or breaks it, so choose with care. Natural materials such as woods, stones, pearls and crystals are great. Go for long necklaces, layered or leather bracelets and chunky rings. Earrings should be the opposite of your outfit: if your outfit is flowing and long, go for smaller hoops. If your top half is more fitted, try larger earrings, like Senzu's large double hoop earrings, pearl or dangling leaf/feather inspired earrings. Experiment with mixing and matching your jewelry. Senzu has a collection of over 220 unique and beautiful jewelry pieces that will help you put this look together fabulously ;-)

Have fun with the Boho Chic look and style up your day,

Cristel
Your Senzu Style Insider.
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Fashion Week Look Book III- Giovanna Randall's Honor Inspired

Our third and final Fashion Week Designer Inspired installment features designer Giovanna Randall with her label Honor, which made a huge debut just a year ago. She's already opening her flagship store in the prestigious Meatpacking District in New York City, at which Fashion Week this elegant and classy design made its first appearance.

Backstage at the show, Randall explained to NBC the inspiration behind the collection: "I see my muse as having been in Paris and lived there and been inspired by her surroundings...". Marie Claire describes her fall collection as packed with '70s-inspired chiffon cocktail numbers and minimalist-chic coats, all cast in a palette of neutral grays and camels punched up with the occasional hit of emerald or marigold. Randall told Marie Claire she had been inspired by the concept of "bound movement" and of the uptown girl displaced — picture a Parisian femme stranded in the Wild West. "It's all about texture-blocking and protective layering," Randall noted. "This girl wants to be free, but she's limited by her surroundings."

This Senzu Style Insider loves the cut, pale colors and soft fabrics used, which flatter every woman's shape. A perfect base to show off elegant jewelry! Her designs are suitable for all ages, and even her runway show was attended by everyone from celebrities, business women to fashion-conscious moms with kids in tow.

In this look-book image, we've combined a design from Giovanna Randall's signature label Honor of this year's New York Fashion Week with some of Senzu's jewelry collection pieces as well as other accessories such as footwear, purse and cosmetics that will allow you to recreate this on-trend runway look.

Watch this space for all the latest from Toronto's Fashion Week Runways, happening right now! Our own Sumitra Mahakanok is on the scene to report and represent Senzu.
Styling it up,

Cristel, Your Senzu Style Insider.
Featured in this article are the following Senzu jewelry:

Fashion Week Look Book II - Rachel Comey Inspired

Continuing with our Fashion Week Designer Inspired series, following our look book post that was inspired by Chris Benz, this article is dedicated to another up-and-coming Designer that was much heralded for her current fashion designs: Rachel Comey.

Her self-professed momentary style obsession with copper hues and tones really speaks volumes in this particular design, which was highlighted on Style.com and could be described as 'preppy with a modern edge'. Her full collection slideshow is available here. 

Rachel Comey, 37, harks from Manchester, Connecticut, and loves New York for The Garment Center and advises anyone considering New York City for a place to live to give it at least a year and a half before making any final decision. 

Marie Claire recently asked the designer about the modest silhouettes and somewhat androgynous cuts she showed. "The collection has lots of visible slips and slits… It's about feminine underlayers with a menswear element," she said. This Senzu Style Insider opines that the collection is based on sleek yet comfortably fitting shapes, with lots of texture and pattern play. Plenty of femininity in the use of soft fabrics and accessories. 

Inspired by Rachel Comey's copper-infused outfit on this year's New York Fashion Week runway, we have combined some of Senzu's jewelry collection pieces as well as other accessories such as shoes, purse and scarves that will allow you to recreate this on-trend runway look. 

Senzu Style Insider's next blog post will feature the Designer Label Honor, so watch this space!

Styling it up,

Cristel, Your Senzu Style Insider. 

Featured in this article are the following Senzu jewelry: 

SZ9BR10 - Scratched Rose Gold Layering Bangle

SZ9BR4 - Scratched Rose Gold & Hematite Curved Circle Bracelet

SZ9EA36 - Scratched Rose Gold & Hematite Curved Circle Earrings

SZ9BR5 - Scratched Gold & Rhodium Cuff Bangle

SZ9EA40 - Scratched Rose Gold XL Hoops

SZFBR9 - Golden Layering Bracelets

SZFBR10 - Silvery Layering Bracelets

SZ9EA32 - Scratched 18k Gold Huggie Hoops

SZFNL41 - Play on Shapes Necklace

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

 

Thinking of Japan

Of course we are all just glued to the television at every spare moment of our day, and Japan is I am sure in the forefront of everyone's mind, so in this blog post I won't be talking about Senzu jewelry or designs. I'd like to tell you about my visit to Japan and the impression of the people and country that it left on Brad and me. 

We have only been to Japan once, not counting the times we came just through Narita International Airport on transit.  We had the pleasure to visit Japan in the spring of 2005, during the time of the famed flowering of the Cherry trees. There were cherry trees everywhere, branches heavily loaded with pretty pink cherry blossoms. The Japanese people love taking pictures with the flowers, have a picnic below the flowered canopy and all in all it was a very jovial atmosphere. 

Via a semi-professional marathon-running friend I had been invited to run the Nagano Marathon as an invited athlete, which was an enormous honor, considering it was my very first marathon. Before we proceeded to Nagano, we had the chance to explore some of Tokyo, see the famed temples and in Kyoto the famed geisha areas, which were just gorgeous. Beautiful wooden structures, elegant ladies in traditional geisha attire and the whole artistic and graceful culture that went along with that. The Japanese temples were as historic oases in the midst of modern Tokyo, with the Zen gardens and uncluttered, calming grounds. 

The Japanese people we had the pleasure to meet were as diverse as you would find anywhere; hip, trendy and funky (especially in the cool Roppongi area), the all-work business people on their cellphones, elderly people playing games in the parks. Everyone treated each other with respect and consideration (something that even an earthquake and a tsunami does not shake, as the TV is showing us), and there was a genuine interest in getting to know you. We had a fun afternoon when I was asked to speak at an all-girls school, and rather than ask me about the upcoming marathon, the training or preparation, the girls were just like high school girls anywhere; they wanted to know about boys and life back home! 


Brad and I both came away from Japan with very pleasant memories, and with the intention to return to Japan for future visits to see more of this amazing country. 


So we join the rest of the world in praying and hoping for Japan's recovery and think of the Japanese people in this time of hardship. For links on how you can help, I recommend visiting the 'How you can help' page of CNN, for reputable aid agencies and other organizations. 
With warm thoughts,


Cristel
Your Senzu Style Insider.

Culturally Inspired, Fashionably Colorful

Wow, here we are in March already, and Spring is only 6 more weeks away! Time to lighten up the outfits along with the weather and channel a bit of Spring in your look too.  

The 2011 Naturals Collection was launched with the addition of 3 very unique necklaces, each inspired by different places and peoples of the multi-cultural, colorful and sensual continent of Africa. 

Madagascar Midnight was inspired by the innumerable stars that sparkle bright in a dark nightsky above the warmth of a wood fire, and those are the colours that come back in the necklace. It looks great on a solid-color outfit or simple dress, adding a touch of tropical and sensual élan with the depth and sparkle of the warm tones of the necklace. A true statement piece.  

The city of Zanzibar, in all its spice trade glory (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pepper), quintessential lanterns, pearlescent sandy beaches and its beautiful people was the inspiration for the Zanzibar Spice Necklace. This necklace is so versatile, it looks great on a LBD for evening events or on any daytime outfit, ranging from jeans and white t-shirt to natural tones and everything solid-colored in between.  

Finally, African Dreams was inspired by a trip Brad and I did in the beginning of 2010, when we visited Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Namibia, and had the immense pleasure of meeting different tribal peoples in all these countries. Their colourful dress, jewelry, headdresses and the simplicity of the beaded jewelry is reflected in this Senzu homage to their beautiful sense of style. I personally love the fact that there are 4 different ways to wear this necklace, and they all create a different look, with just 1 necklace. The colors are bright and really pop, yet they complement one another. 


For those who’d like to see some pictures of our trip and the people we met there, please visit Brad’s photography site, www.bradmol.com. 


I find inspiration for jewelry designs all around me, in my everyday life in Asia, traveling around the region or on trips like the one to Africa last year, and from the colors, textures, shapes and the feelings those images impress upon me. Where do you get your creative inspiration?


Styling it up,


Cristel, your Senzu Style Insider. 

'It's Elemental, my dear Watson' -behind the scenes at Senzu's Elements Spring Collection

With Valentine’s Day come and gone, and New York Fashion Week in full swing, today’s blog post we are going to take you behind the scenes of how our 2011 Spring Elements Collection was designed. 

Overlooking Hong Kong Harbour

When we sat down to determine what the look for Spring 2011 was going to be, we knew we wanted to make sure that whatever the look, the jewelry had to be light and versatile. For our Elements line we really wanted to go back to the basics; using clean, natural lines, shapes that look great on any facial shape and body type and play with texture. 

For our Naturals Collection, 2011 would be the year of warm tones, inspired by Africa and tribal jewelry. More on this collection and the trip that inspired it in the next post!

When we went to Hong Kong in early Fall 2010, our goal was to work with out manufacturers to create these looks exclusively for Senzu, and the results are now online at Senzu.  

Rose Gold & Black Hematite
plated Senzu Jewelry. 

The 2011 Elements Collection has already become a great addition to the Senzu jewelry lines. The simplicity of the shapes, being mostly round and oval shapes, flatter all facial structures and soften those with more angular jawlines (like myself!). Hoops are the most popular type of earring for most women because it is so versatile and timeless, that we included a variety of sizes and twists on the hoop theme. 

The continuing theme throughout the Elements Collection though is the unique ‘scratched’ finish on each and every piece. This finish adds interest and depth to each jewel, and gives it almost a matte look. As always, we looked for a strong and allergy-safe base material (brass) and added luxury premium materials such as 925 sterling silver, rose gold and 18 karat gold plating, as well as rhodium and black hematite. This gives the Elements Collection a great variety of colours and looks, in necklaces, earrings, bracelets and bangles. 

I’ve been wearing the new Elements pieces a lot, and both in Canada and here in Thailand there has been a great response to the collection. Which brings me to the second bit of news: Senzu jewelry is now also available in Thailand through our sister company, Senzu (Thailand) Limited! Visit our senzustyle.com contact page for all the details. 

Tomorrow night Senzu will be participating in The Wine Ladies Dinner in Support of The Heart and Stroke Foundation. In this month of love and Valentine’s Day, it is a great opportunity to support this very important organisation. Enjoy a great wine-paired dinner at Cucci, swag bags with Senzu jewelry in it, and bid on the Inori© for Senzu Stainless Steel & Crystal jewelry set in the silent auction, all for this amazing cause. 

We hope to see you there! 

Cristel,

Your Senzu Style Insider