If you’ve been an avid read of the Art of Accessories for the last 2 years you know that I love SHOES! One kind of shoe in particular that I love are Converse Chuck Taylors (low rise preferably over hi-top) and I decided to take a few pics of my collection and share them for my latest edition of Multiples = Love series.

Pictured above are the last pair of Chucks I purchased, the Chuck Taylor All Star Trompe L’oeil I talked about in March. I love them even more in person than I did when I saw them online. I wore them in NYC for the 4th because they are quite festive for the occasion and everyone thought they had laces in them until they got up close on them. These are my first pair of slip on Chucks and I think I am head over heels in love with them. Who knew a slip on sneaker would rock my summer wardrobe?
In my mind, I don’t own a ton of Chucks. I have 8 pairs (so my Mom would definitely say I own too many) but my love affair began when I was 15 (16 years ago) when I bought my very first pair.

I bought the plaid pair in the middle on a family vacation across country when we were stopped in El Paso, Texas. I was obsessed with green and navy blue plaid in high school (since green has been my favorite color forever) and I was dying for a pair of Chucks as we made our way to California. These shoes called out to me. I needed them, had to have them and bought them before anyone could change my mind.

I’ve never had the heart to get rid of them and after 16 years, they still look pretty good. The rubber is a little yellowed but the tread is still there and there isn’t a single hole on those shoes. I guess I love them and keep them and buy them still because they’re classics. Retro sneakers are always in fashion and with Chucks they just update the patterns, prints and embellishments (I know you see the magenta sequins and love them) to keep them current.

I have thrown away the black platform pair I bought that same year (thank goodness) and white pairs that I’ve bought in the summer and gotten filthy but these colors and patterns will stay with me for a long time. The only pair of hi top Chucks I own are the purple satin hand painted ones my husband bought me for my birthday. The flowers deserved a hi top to showcase the beautiful artwork and sometimes I think they’re just too pretty to wear! I went on the Converse website while writing this post and immediately fell in love with the new Dr. Seuss collection! I think there may be a Cat in the Hat being added to my collection very soon…

Chucks are my sneaker obsession, do you have a favorite style/brand that you buy over and over again?

For more images of my sneakers, head on over to my Flickr set on Shoes.

I’ve added a new category to the blog, Multiples = Love. I know that when I love something I buy it in as many shades, textures, prints, colors as I can get my hands on. One of the first that I should put in this category is my love of Lesportsacs, but from now on you’ll know if I have multiples of it, it’s a DWJ staple!

I’ve been asked a few times in the last 2 weeks, what blush I’m wearing. I will admit, I have about 5 different brands that I rotate through, but lately I’ve been obsessed with my Bobbi Brown Pot Rouges. I own Raspberry, Chocolate Cherry, Milk Chocolate and Calypso Coral (they no longer sell). I change my blush based on my mood, what I’m wearing and how it can compliment my makeup. For example:

• Raspberry: I wear this color the most because it’s a sheer bright pink that gives me a wonderful flush of color. It helps perk up my complexion in the winter and compliments my summer tan beautifully.
• Milk Chocolate: I wear this color when I’m doing a bold eye or bold lip and feel like I want a bronze cheek without the shimmer or shine to distract from the rest of my makeup. It’s a great neutral to help add a bit of depth to my look.
• Chocolate Cherry: I wear this when I’m going a bit bold or really want to show a strong flush of color.
• Calypso Coral: This is my summer/spring staple. I love the sheer peach shade and how it compliments my skin tone. It’s great with gloss and simple makeup.

I think I’ve been obsessed lately because in the winter I love a great creamy cheek color to combat any skin dryness or maybe it’s just because they make me happy. Do you have something your obsessed with?

A few months ago I went out to my friends house on a farm and took a few photos for a LeSportsac Contest. They wanted to know who had big collections of bags and how creatively could they show their collection. I won a prize pack for having the most creative setting. I submitted this one in the hammock and a second photo with my bags on a clothesline and a couple of cows roaming around in the back.

I thought I’d share with you the photo from that day because when I love something I buy it in multiples. I want it in every shape, size and color I can get my hands on. If I could, I’d own every shape LeSportsac they have. But why are LeSportsac bags at the top of my My100 list? I love that you can pick the shape you want and the print that you want, so not everyone has the same bag. I love that they’re washable. I noticed the other day my makeup bag was a bit on the dirty side. I popped it in the washer on delicate cycle and pulled it out to air dry and it was like it was brand new! I love it! I also love the shapes of the bags (have I mentioned that I totally want the Dana bag just because that’s my name?!). Great options and they fold flat so I can carry more than one on a trip and have lots of different sizes for all of my needs. To me, they’re everything I want.

I own about 15 LeSportsacs and my collection will continue to grow, I know that. I’d love to be able to work with them to design patterns or shapes for The Art of Accessories! How awesome would that be? Perhaps I need to add that to my list of goals for the future of the blog…hmmm….

So I’ve told you what I love and own multiples of, what are you obsessed with? Tell me!