Suno Fall 2010 Ready to Wear Collection

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I'm still wading through the fall rtw collections from fashion week, but the Suno collection from the design team of Max Osteweis and Erin Beatty really caught my eye. I love the mix of prints, florals and textures from this collection. Budget willing, I'd wear every single piece from this collection. A platform heel is also a must-have for a petite lady like me.

Hair Inspiration: Jill Scott

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Jill Scott has already been one of my favorite singers since high school and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses with her recent HBO No 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series and the 2007 film, Why Did I Get Married. I feel like we are kindred spirits because we are both from Philly : )

I'm taking this picture (from the recent 2010 NAACP Image Awards) to my hair stylist the next time I want to get a braided style. It looks chic and could easily work as a day look or an evening look like she is styled in the photo.

A Study in Black and White

Worn February 25, 2010, originally uploaded by ShenDove.

I was explaining to someone recently that it's not an exact science, but the brightness of the colors I am wearing has a direct correlation to my mood. When I am feeling pretty good, I tend to gravitate toward muted tones or neutrals, but when I am feeling down, I usually go for a pop of a bright color. So going by that theory, I'd say I was in a good mood when I wore this outfit. I love color, but there is a simplicity, and timeless-ness (is that a word?) to wearing black and white that will always make them go-to colors in my wardrobe.

I really believe that color affects your mood. That is probably why I'm itching to paint the walls of my apartment bright colors but the thought of investing money into a place I don't own always stop me short of heading to the paint store and putting down drop cloths....

Blazer: The Loft
Lace Top: H&M
Skirt: H&M
Boots: Go Jane
Belt: Nordstrom (Junior's Section)
Earrings: Mexico

Song currently on repeat: "Jump Up in the Air and Stay There" By Erykah Badu featuring Lil Wayne

Shen's Favorite Things: LOVE jewelry

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Love is one of those positive affirmative words that always cheer me up and I enjoy seeing it on jewelry. The word clearly shouldn't just be relegated to just Valentine's Day, although I would have appreciated receiving any of the pretty jewelry above as a gift, for Valentine's Day; or other special occasion for that matter. I've been attracted to jewelry with the word love for a while. Maybe it's something to do with past visits to one of my favorite statues in my hometown. It's the visual image that comes up when I think of the word love in the literal sense. It still cheers me up to this day when I pass it on visits home.

Easy Like Saturday Morning

2.20.2010, originally uploaded by ShenDove.

I will celebrate my birthday in early March. For some reason, for the last few years when my birthday gets close, I get a bit of 'quarter-life' anxiousness. You'd think I was turning 60-something instead of 20-something...oh well, I'll shake it. I'm sure I take myself way more seriously than I should. Can any other 20-somethings relate?

The weather was sunny when I went out to get coffee this morning which really lifted my spirits. I'm happy that the snow in my 'hood is finally starting to melt! Last week, the spot where I took this photo was buried under large mounds of snow. I went for a comfortable, but put-together look when picking out this outfit. I may also be doing a lot of walking later in the day, so I stuck to flats. I love this top, but it's entirely too chilly to think about wearing it by itself for a few weeks, yet; so a blazer was a reasonable compromise until the weather warms up.

Blazer: Macy's (boy's section)
Top: H&M
Jeans: Forever 21
Shoes: Steve Madden via Zappos
Earrings: Topshop
Sunnies: The Loft

Urban Prairie Girl

Worn February 19, 2010, originally uploaded by ShenDove.

I went in Target the other day to pick up a notebook and came out with this skirt too. That is the reason why I've been limiting my Target excursions lately, you always end up buying more than you originally intended in that store. It's really more of a warm weather skirt, but I decided that tights, boots and a blazer make it work appropriate. The lingering snow on the ground is now a bleak grey, so the thought of spring time which isn't really that far away looks more promising each day.

I've got a bunch of school work to catch up on this weekend, but hope to do something fun as well. Happy Friday!

Blazer: Tulle
Shirt: Gap
Skirt: Target
Tights: Target
Boots: Target
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Amber Earrings: Gift

Hobbies are for grown-ups too

I bought this tunic top recently and have been kind of stumped on how I should style it. I decided to make it work appropriate by adding a blazer and skirt, but thought my purple tights brought out the colors in the shirt, so I wore those instead of playing it safe with black tights as I usually do.

On another note, I decided that I needed a hobby that took me away from my computer, so I signed up for a beginners drawing class at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. I work full-time and am actually a part-time grad student so it's not like I have an abundance of free time, but I felt like I needed a creative outlet. The first class was last night and I think it will be really fun! The class was fairly small about 9 people and the instructor played some jazzy music while we did our first assignment, just drawing a still-life to see where our skills were. I haven't tried to draw a still life since middle school, so I have a ways to go before I'd actually show a drawing to anyone, but it was still fun. The class seems like it will be a nice way to unwind from work and all of the numerous thoughts I always have going on in my head. Hope everyone is having a fantastic week!

Blazer: H&M
Shirt (tunic): Modcloth
Skirt: H&M
Tights: Kohls
Shoes: Payless
Earrings: Gift

Soldier of Love

When I can't think of a title for a post, it's easy to just revert to whatever song I've been listening to lately which happens to be Sade's song, Soldier of Love. I guess the song is appropriate since this photo was taken on Valentine's Day. I grew up listening to Sade and look forward to seeing her in concert sometime soon when she tours for her latest album. I love how her music is timeless and she's ageless; she looks the same as I remember her in the nineties when my parents were listening to her albums! I hope I age as gracefully as her. Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day; whether you spent it with your special someone, family or friends.

Shirt: H&M
Skirt: Mod Cloth
Glasses: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Go Jane

Cloudy Saturday Morning

Cloudy Saturday Morning, originally uploaded by ShenDove.

Comfort was paramount when picking out this Saturday outfit. I would have preferred to wear footwear besides Ugg boots today, but it’s simply still too treacherous and icy out for regular footwear yet; after effects of the Blizzard of 2010. Plans for the day include getting my hair done, seeing that Valentine’s Day movie, and at some point working on a 5 page assignment that I have to turn in tomorrow…I don’t really have an excuse for it not being done, but I do work well under pressure, so I’ll meet my deadline.

Sweater: Forever 21
Tunic: H&M
Jeans: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Uggs via Zappos

Girly Television to Curb Cabin Fever

I never saw the show when it was actually on the air, but put the entire first (and only) season of Cashmere Mafia in my instant Netflix queue while being snowed in this week and watched a few episodes and I loved the clothes of the leading characters! I especially liked the usage of color and prints in Lucy Liu's character. The plot was so-so, but I liked the fact that the show was set in my favorite city (New York) and that all of the ladies were stylish though all of their clothing was way beyond my price-point, but it was a nice dose of escapism to curb cabin fever.

Back-to-back snow blizzards threw my whole schedule off this week. Regular outfit posts will be back next week!

Dear spring time, please come soon...

This time of year is tough for me because though I was technically born in the winter, I really love spring time. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm tired of snow and having to wear boots! I was browsing though photos on my laptop and found this one. This outfit photo was taken during the warmer months of 2009. I have the feeling that there are good things yet to come for winter 2010, but I'm looking forward to the spring time (and opportunities to take pictures outside without a coat!).

Hair Inspiration: Corinne Bailey Rae

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I really liked Corinne Bailey Rae's first album and am starting to like her new album though it has a very different feel to it. I'm not sure how she achieved this look or if this is the natural texture of her hair, but I'd like to recreate it on my own hair one of these days. Maybe a twist-out set on flexy rods would do it? I'm not really adept at doing my own hair but I'm so bored with the way I usually wear it (in a bun or pulled back in a clip). I think this is a reasonable look to try to recreate.

Cruise Style

IMG_0248, originally uploaded by ShenDove.

This outfit photo was from a few days ago when I went on a cruise to Mexico with my family. I appreciated the brief respite from cold winter temperatures but wish I hadn't come back to the most snow DC has seen in decades. This outfit will now go back into storage for the next few months...

I didn't take outfit photos this weekend because it's way too much snow outside to take proper photos, and I really do prefer to take photos outside on the weekends because I end up having to take indoor photos during the week because it's pitch black outside by the time I make it home. Yet another reason to look forward to spring, more daylight! But in the meantime, I'll just be happy that the sun is shining brightly today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Tank: Banana Republic
Skirt: Target
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Sandals: Target (kids section)
Earrings: Top Shop

Spring Time Looks

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Photos via Style.com

The recent blizzard has me wishing for warmer weather. Here are some of my favorite Spring time looks from designer Tracy Reese.

Shen's Favorite Things: Pretty Necklaces

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I'm a sucker for pretty jewelry, especially necklaces. These necklaces are made by jewelry designer and blogger Jessica of Make Under My Life. I'm so impressed by her positive attitude on her blog and her classy jewelry.