Favorite Outfits of 2012

Vested/ Red + Pink/ Cobalt + Hot Pink/ Preppy

Printed + Tropical/ Dashes of Neon/ Pink + Gray

Maxed Out Neon/ Navy + Green/ Denim + Snakeskin Print

Hi-Low Blue/ Stripes Cobalt + Tan

Happy Holidays!  So things have been pretty quiet on the blog for the past few weeks.  I started a new job and am in the process of moving back to my hometown.  I'll talk more about the move in another post, but I wanted to check and and share my favorite outfits of 2012.  After looking at my blog posts over the past 12 months I've come to the conclusion that:

My most versatile piece of the year? My tan vest I got in a clothing swap worn here and here.

My favorite hairstyle?  Bun

My favorite color to wear?  I can't choose one, so I'll go with pink, red, blue and green.

Thanks for reading!

Fashion Week: Duro Olowu Fall 2011 RTW

I know many of you fashion enthusiasts are following the coverage of New York Fashion Week, but I couldn't resist sharing some of the collection of one of my favorite designers, Duro Olowu.  All of his pieces both clash and yet fit together at the same time in a really organic way.  His collection makes me want to pack my bag and take a trip to Africa or Mexico (two places that inspire his work).  Who am I kidding, I don't need an excuse to take an international trip : )

In a description of the collection on Style.com, Olowu stated that, "My clothes are about joy."  Well definitely agree with his statement, I feel joyful just looking at his beautiful clothing.

Images via Style.com

Shen's Favorite Things: Graphic Printed Home Decor

I haven't spent much time or money decorating my apartment in the past year or so, but I think I'm due for a 'refresh' and I'd love to add the graphic pops of color to my apartment with AphroChic home decor items.

Wall paper: The Vibe, Haze

Throw pillows: The Vibe Saffron and Pink, Boerum Hill,

Fort Greene, The Vibe Cerulean and White

Shower curtains: The Beat, Brooklyn Life

I love the colors, prints and themes of AproChic's collections. Who says your surroundings can't be as colorful as your clothing?

Currently Loving...

1.) L.A.M.B. RTW Spring 2011 Collection

2.) Shea Moisture Shea Butter

3.) Rachel Stewart Jewelry

4.) Airtight's Revenge album, Bilal

I'll have some outfit photos for you tomorrow, but for now, here are a few things that I'm currently loving...

1. L.A.M.B. Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear Collection. I'm still wading through photos of New York Fashion Week coverage on Style.com, but so far, I really loving L.A.M.B's African print-inspired collection.
   
2. Shea Moisture Shea Butter. I love all lotions and potions but shea butter is by far the best skin moisturizer I've been able to find. I use it year-round, but it really comes in handy during the chilly winter months to keep dry skin at bay. The Shea Moisture brand I've been using lately is organic and does not use animal testing and many of the ingredients are fairly traded.
   
3. Rachel Stewart Jewelry. I discovered Rachel Stewart jewelry first on Fly, a regular read. I'm loving this distinctive jewelry that I would definitely invest in. I'm trying to make an effort to support artists in my jewelry purchases these days so I'll build up my collection of quality pieces that I'll have for years to come.
   
4. Album: Airtight's Revenge, by Bilal. I've been listening to Bilal since his first album came out while I was in high school. He also happens to be from my hometown, Philly. I've got to support hometown artists!
   

What products, music, style are you currently loving these days?

World Traveler Necessities: Weekend Bag

1. LeSportsac Patent Sydney Overnight Bag
2. Olive N Figs Brown Rexine Weekender/Duffle with leather trims and handles
3. J.W. Hulme Co.Hemingshore Traditional Carry On Weekender
4. Sonia Kashuk KL Duffle Bag Weekend Bag
5. Diane Von Furstenberg Betty 20" Wheeled City Bag
6. Zambos & Siega Mansfield Bag

I didn't do much traveling this summer, but I see a lot of long weekend trips to make up for that in my future, so I'll need a 'weekend bag' for the short travel jaunts I visualize myself taking in 2011. Short trips are going to be the only way my wallet and schedule will allow for mutiple travel destinations throughout the year.

These weekend bag options are more than aspirational (well some of them still are, when I actually purchase a bag, it will be $100 or under). I am still working on my efficient packing skills, I tend to carry everything with me except my kitchen sink when I travel somewhere for more than a day, but having the proper sized bag should help.

In 2011, I hope to make at least one trip to the west coast (California dreamin'), one brief international trip and I've never been to Chicago, so I think that really must be remedied as well.

Where are you dreaming of traveling in the future?

T-shirts for a book lover

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I am a self-described bibliophile. My love for books and fashion are pretty much tied, so imagine my delight when I discovered these T-shirts. I also like the mission of the company that makes them, Out of Print Clothing. For each shirt sold, one book is donated to a community in need though an organization called Books for Africa. Check them out.

Shen's Favorite Things: Stylish Sunglasses

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As a lover of all types of accessories, I've always gravitated toward sunglasses of varying sizes and styles. They are stylish and fairly practical during sunny weather year-round. Who wants to squint when outdoors?

In my dreams, I'd be able to purchase one of each of the sunglasses pictured above, but for now, I'll be happy with the pair the far less expensive versions I have from Marshall's and H&M. A girl can dream though...

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.

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.

Shen's Favorite Things: Beautiful Summer Dresses

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Discovered these lovely dresses by a designer who won "The Fashion Show" on the Bravo network on this blog. I am so purchasing one of these babies as a birthday present to myself : )

Shen's Favorite Things: Pretty Journals

Paris Journal

Tree Leaves Journal

Black with Peony Lined Journal

Gold Suede Elkskin Journal

I love my Mac laptop and it has been my repository for many of my thoughts over the past several months since I purchased it, but there is nothing like a pretty journal to write down quick thoughts when I don't have my laptop on me or don't feel like typing little notes into my phone. I want to write more in 2010, so a pretty journal is a great item for me to carry around in my bag to encourage me to do this.

Shen's Favorite Things: Fashionary

I found out about the Fashionary from reading from of my favorite blogs, What I Wore and decided that it would be a small gift to myself though I have very little drawing skills. The Fashionary is a book of figure templates for fashion designers (or wanna-be's like me) to draw anatomically correct designs with the help of the lightly drawn templates included on the pages. The book also has pages of useful clothing measurements, pictures of various types of clothing; it even has the time periods of the Fashion Weeks in 'fashion cities' around the world! I could amuse myself for hours with this book. Visit Fashionary.org to order your own copy through Etsy. As with all of my purchases from Etsy, the Fashionary came in a reasonable amount of time and a personalized thank you post-it note was included for patronizing the seller.

Images: Fashionary