An Alexander in London

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK BLUE BOMBER JACKET |  ODETTE &ODILE TWIGGY WHITE 
SUN SHADES | FOREVER 21 HOT PINK RIBBED SWEATER-KNIT CROP TOP |
EGO SKYE KITTEN HEEL SOCK BOOT | GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | GUCCI BELT | 
MEDUSA MINI BLUE CLUTCH/CROSSBODY

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY SAKU NEW YORK

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When it comes to working with photographers, I'm quite selective. There's really only been one person aside from myself that photographs street style for me, and that is my husband, but when I had to travel to London and he had to stay behind, I needed to find someone reliable and with quality (which my standards can be very high... eek!) but when a new friend of mine from this year recommended someone she had worked with, I took a look at her Instagram and was immediately open to her style and vibe. But like any first encounters, they can be a bit awkward, even nerve-wracking to some, but Elena and I had commonalities such as a passion for photography, both Eastern European, and same headstrong go-getting kind of attitude. We broke the ice quickly. 

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But when the time came to shoot, her camera suddenly was not turning on. At first, we (I know a thing or two about cameras) both thought it was just the battery/sensor that had a small dust or something on it and we tried to clean it. Nothing. We took out the memory card and restarted the camera again, and tried many other crazy things one photographer will try to get the camera to work (this is definitely part of the problem in the digital world, yeah?) again, but to our dismay, nothing was happening. We finally ended up at a camera repair shop about a five-minute walk in central London.

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 When we arrived, Elena saw a man with a Canon body similar to hers, and immediately wanted to test his battery on her body. He was happy to do so, but it still didn't solve the problem. Her camera was still not turning on. A technician in the shop finally assesses her body and battery and can confirm that there is something wrong with the body. She was disappointed as everything was fine that morning (as I know me, myself, a photographer will check to make sure everything is working before even leaving the house!) and on top of working with me, she had 3 more clients that day. She tapped away into her phone before the man with the Canon, named Alexander, popped in once more.

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Overhearing she had to work for fashion week that day, Alexander, 'Alex', straight up offers his camera to her, with no expectations. At first, Elena refuses, even at some point offering money herself to borrow his camera. He says no and then asks for one thing in return. If she ever needed an assistant and just had the time to give him a few tips, and he was not a professional photographer, that would be the next best thing. I honestly have to say that meeting Alex and his friend Amelia the way that I did was something you don't have happen to you every day. What are the odds we'd all be in the same camera repair store in the heart of London on some random weekday in the middle of the afternoon and for this to occur? It's as if as just when I start to think that the world is just crazy and that's that, an angel descends down to earth and I mean... wow. I am still so touched by one person's kindness. All thanks to an Alexander in London, my first shoot was a success! 

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Photos by: Elena Gola

LOVE & XX'S,

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Satin, Leather, Denim and Springbok

WEARING: SATIN ROSES SILK DRESS WITH DENIM SLEEVES & COLLAR | 
NA-KD FASHION WORN OUT LEATHER JACKET | GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | VVA 
CARLINA YELLOW CROSSBODY BAG | GUESS CARRIE BLACK SATIN PUMPS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SATIN ROSES CLOTHING

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Happy Tuesday and Happy Halloween, everyone! Today's post is dedicated to the art of layering. With fall in full swing, one of my favorite ways to continue wearing spring/summer pieces is by incorporating them into my autumn wardrobe. A great example is this featured piece on the blog today, a white satin dress with denim sleeves and collar. Normally this would be perfect to wear during the warmer seasons, but from the moment I laid eyes on this Satin Roses piece, I wanted to show you how you can style a dress like this from your closet and straight into your fall collection. It's easy as 1-2-3!

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Satin Roses was launched in 2016 by designer Amanda Kamhawy. After finishing her education in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Kamhawy began to focus on her own line that she had been envisioning since the age of seven.  Inspired by something that women of all sizes can wear and feel great in came Satin Roses. In her quest to always give back, 10% of proceeds benefit will go to charity. Based in New York City, I had met Amanda last month at her preview collection held at the W in Union Square. I was immediately struck by the materials and shapes being used in her designs. Mesh, lace, faux-leather, satin, and more, it's very trendy but also has a decadent, luxurious quality and timeless staple to the collection. 

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I love the details of the white denim from this mostly-satin white dress. The blush-pink buttons down the front complement with the feminine touch of overall satin. To stay with the material, I paired the dress with black satin heels from Guess. But instead of wearing the dress by itself or with tights, I love layering these type of slip dress with a pair of jeans. These bell-bottom crop jeans by Genuine People is perfect for someone like me who is petite and short. The jeans help elongate my legs and with the heels, it definitely gives me the height I need!

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To keep warm, I wore a long-sleeved bodysuit inside the satin dress and wore a leather jacket as outerwear. And then, to give a final balance and finished look, I wore this springbok bag tightly as a crossbody. It's a definite trend, which you will see much more in the next year. What do you guys think of this edgy, feminine fall look? Want to see more of Satin Roses Clothing and the collections? Go here to check it out! 

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Cali Boho Retro Vibes

WEARING: ALICE & TRIXIE KYRA TOP | PARIS BLUES SOULMATE JEANS | 
MOST WANTED USA TIFFANY SATCHEL | ZARA CORK & LEATHER WEDGES |
VINTAGE BLACK SATIN RIBBON

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY ALICE & TRIXIE

Β 

I'M GOING, GOING, BACK, BACK, TO CALI, CALI

(GOIN' BACK TO CALI) 

Happy Thursday! Today's post is a complete head-to-toe West Coast retro outfit! I'm always trying to show a variety of different looks because tell me a girl who doesn't like to play dress up but also remaining true to my style while doing so. As mentioned before, I love to mix and match old and new pieces, like these bell bottom jeans from Paris Blues date back to my college days! (and YES I still can fit into my skinny jeans while eating whatever my heart desires.) When I re-discovered these jeans while moving, I knew I had to style them very bohemian chic with a little Cali flair, given the fact that I was born there! How perfect do they go with my new 'Kyra' top from Alice & Trixie. Let me tell you more about this amazing designing team that's based here in New York City! 

Founded in 1997 by Angela Taylor George, Alice & Trixie is a collection of dresses, tops, and bottoms featuring exclusive and proprietary prints, all designed and produced in New York City. Alice & Trixie is feminine, classically hip and most importantly, unforgettable. Alice & Trixie is a celebration of Angela’s obsession for exploring vintage stores and global marketplaces, her appreciation for style icons of the past, and her passion for art. Angela believes that when a woman is wearing something that she loves, she radiates. She designs for the woman that is feminine, chic, sexy, and most of all, confident. 

I think the 'Kyra' top really resonates with the designer's collection and interests when it comes to fashion and style. If you guys are looking for something a little different, but still bohemian, fun and cool, you have to check out Alice & Trixie! Use my discount code, 'SUZANNE20' to receive 20% off your purchase! There's something for everyone and I don't advocate designers I do not believe in. I'm in love with their entire collection, it's making me miss my roots so much. What do you guys think, is a Cali trip in order for Suz? Should I venture out to Hawaii while on the West Coast? I do have family friends on the Big Island... (I know, I know, you're probably asking me wth am I waiting for?!)

Well... I got summoned for jury duty. I already postponed once during last NYFW (trust me, we had a moment of panic in terms of work and then some but it all worked out lol) so I can't postpone again to take a vacation. And I'm shooting my first cover for a new fashion magazine next week so it's a matter of getting my ducks in a row and organizing and finding the time to put it all in my already insane schedule. Can there be more than 24 hours in a day, please? I'm off to finish some more work before attending 4 events for work tonight (eeeek!) Wish me luck and catch ya'll soon. 

LOVE & XX'S,

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An American Girl in Paris

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK BLACK LAYERED BLOUSE |
 RHODA WONG BABY BLUE STRUCTURAL JACKET | BROWN HAT KOREA NAVY BLUE LACE HAT | 
GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | LINEA PELLE SUEDE BUCKET BAG BLUE | 
UO BLACK PATTI LOW HEEL MULE

Happy Wednesday! The weather has been rainy and awfully gloomy here in New York City, so I'm bringing you Paris today! Just kidding, this shoot did take place in New York, but I bet I'd have you fooled if I told you I was in the La Ville-Lumière. And even though we're not in Europe, today's post is definitely Parisian-chic inspired!

Brown Hat is a Seoul-based hat brand with handcrafted hats inspired from classic designs, yet with a finishing touch of wit. The collections are defined by founder and designer Ji Hyang Park’s signature design in creating flexible and sometimes experimental silhouettes, and her mixture of use of the finest fabrics. The navy blue lace hat from this look is so great because I could wear this at a resort but at the same time, I could also be wearing the heck out of it in Paris! Brown Hat aims to offer timeless hats for men and women. Some hats are also available at NYC boutique, Dreams On Air. 

Another talented emerging Korean designer is Lissa Koo, for saku. The motif for saku is both the chic New York sense and the easy, breezy West Coast atmosphere. While being a unique, never-seen-before style, saku offers clothes that are ready-to-wear and easily approachable for anyone. Pursuing both sportiness and femininity simultaneously, saku showcases silhouette apparel that greatly emphasizes woman’s beauty along with comfortable fabrics that allow easy movement. The black layered with white lace blouse is by Lissa, and is only one of many more pieces I just can't wait to show you in the next coming weeks! You can find some of her designs at DOA as well.

Last but not least is this crazy gorgeous jacket by Rhoda Wong. What makes Rhoda special is not just her age (which is twenty(!)) but her deep understanding of structural pieces when it comes to fashion. Aesthetically-pleasing with good detail playing on a variety of textures and materials, Rhoda's talent is off the charts! The baby blue oversized jacket is perfect for spring, Paris and/or both, plus more. It's a wonderful color with beautiful metal buckling and subtle yellow stitching on only on side of the jacket. 

Watch these women closely, guys. I guarantee you will be hearing a lot more about these emerging designers in the coming years. Lastly, while shopping the look, please note some pieces are not available online yet and need to be inquired within. Have a great rest of your Hump Day! 

LOVE & XX'S,

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3 Ways to Wear a Bomber Jacket

LOOK 1

WEARING: UO SILENCE + NOISE ON TOUR SATIN BOMBER | 
PROUD FEMINIST T-SHIRT | VAGABOND HONEY JAKARTA JEANS | 
FRANCO SARTO ILIA PATENT OXFORDS

LOOK 2

WEARING: FOREVER 21 KOREA EMBROIDERED SATIN BOMBER | 
FOREVER 21 LAKERS GRAPHIC TEE | MOST WANTED USA TURQUOISE BELT | 
FOREVER 21 HIGH SLIT MAXI SKIRT | VVA CLUTCH BAG | ADIDAS ORIGINALS STAN SMITH

LOOK 3

WEARING: JOCELYN THE MORRISON JACKET | ADORE ME ADDELINE TOP | 
GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | BANDOLINO KITTEN HEELS | H&M COIN PURSE

It is bomber jacket season (okay well, to me, it's always bomber jacket season due to my obsession with 'em) and in today's post, I'm showing you three ways to wear them! What's great about bomber jackets is their versatility - clothing that is easily adaptable is one staple in my closet, amongst other factors such as durability and comfort. And these kinds of jackets are made in all sorts of ways from satin to embroidery and even leather. They are a hot-hot spring trend to have this season and I'm showing you three different jackets that offer a stylish twist on a classic item.

For look one, I went all for empowerment. Girl Power. Case in Point: Proud Feminist. I've had this UO satin bomber since last spring but its quilted comfiness and killer floral embroidery has kept me continuing to wear it throughout several seasons. To maintain a downtown cool and casual chic vibe, I wore my favorite distressed jeans by Vagabond Honey and a sassy blush pair of Franco Sarto oxfords. Wearing a bomber jacket in any casual look can bring a slight edge without going too overboard.

In look two, fierceness is the word! And Korean pride, y'all! I've been looking for a killer Korean-styled bomber jacket for years, but never had one pull at my heart strings like this one from Forever 21! The second I laid eyes on this vision in red, I knew it had to be mine! I kept it true to my roots and wore my favorite basketball team's shirt, the one, and only Los Angeles Lakers! Fun fact: I have this ridic fantasy that if I ever make it big I'm going to sit courtside right next to Jack Nicholson and be at every home game just like him! Ha ha ha! As for my roots, I was born in California. To keep the outfit on the edgy side, I wore a high slit skirt, a western-styled turquoise belt, and old school Stan's. I wanted to keep it pretty LA street style, maintaining my background within this look. You guys, like? :)

Last but not least, look three is all about that sexy vibe us girls feel from time to time. Some more than others because I'm not one to dress up in racy outfits every day, but in some instances, I feel like showing a little more skin or wearing heels. My most recent and latest bomber obsession is this evil eye varsity jacket from Jocelyn. You can find this jacket at Olive & Bette's here in New York or online. The last evil eye I had in my wardrobe was a necklace and because it was so delicate and I'm accident-prone, it eventually broke (enter sad face). I've been looking for a piece for some time just like the Korean bomber jacket, but I never add anything to my collection anymore unless I'm completely and absolutely in love with it. Otherwise, what's the point? (In my opinion.) To keep this look fresh yet cute, I accessorized with a pair of bell bottom crop jeans, a teeny-tiny coin purse, and kitten heels

LOVE & XX'S,

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