5 WAYS TO WEAR YOUR HERMÈS SCARF

April 12, 2019

Happy Friday! For my birthday this year, my husband gifted me an accessory I’ve been wanting for quite sometime: An Hermès carre scarf. Timeless, classic, utter perfection. The story behind the scarf: Artist Pierre Marie pays tribute to the "Les Amoureux de Paris" scarf, designed by Maurice Tranchant in the 1950s, on which several famous couples silhouette against a map of the City of Light. A marriage proposal on the Right Bank, a couple dancing on the Left Bank, love is alive on both sides of the Seine in Paris, the most romantic of cities. A jogging couple head for the Tuileries Garden, two cyclists embrace near the Madeleine church, a pair of skateboarders meet up in the Quai de la Gare quarter. The new interpretation is illustrated by contemporary lovers, straight out of everyday life. It holds such a beautiful message on top of such a beautiful piece. And what I love most about this scarf is its versatile abilities when it comes to styling. The possibilities are endless. Which is why in today’s post, I’m really excited to be sharing 5 different ways to wear your Hermès scarf! I could have worn it in so many other ways with this particular piece, but I chose to go with styles that I’d wear often, are practical and chic. Continue reading to see how you can achieve the looks along with where to get this beautiful scarf!

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THE CLASSIC HEADSCARF

Head scarves can be dressy and classic - think Princess Grace of Monaco or Audrey Hepburn - or sporty and casual... and an excellent solution to 'bad hair' days! I tied it in the front under my chin here but you can also try crossing the ends of the scarf under your chin, then take them round to the back (or side) of your neck and tie them. Pair it with some sunnies for the French Riviera look!

THE HEAD WRAP

A street smart update on the classic headscarf. I actually refer this the pirate/painter way as these are the types of people wearing the scarf as such, lol. Fold your scarf into a triangle and drape it over your head with the long edge of the triangle across your forehead. Take the two ends back across the sides of your head and tie at the back in a square knot.

THE BELT WRAP

Tie the silk scarf around your waist, swap ends to the opposite hand, then tie at the back to secure. It instantly adds a pop of color and pattern and is an unexpected detail that can totally make a basic outfit look so much more polished and stylish. Wrap it through your belt loops and knot it in front, or wrap it around your waist to carve out your shape in a billowy dress or top. So easy, so chic.

THE PONYTAIL WRAP

A glamorous way to accessorize a simple ponytail. A ponytail is not just a ponytail when accented with a beautiful scarf! This style can employ either an along-the-length folded oblong scarf or a square scarf in a bias-band fold.Fold your scarf on the bias, then wrap it twice around your ponytail, finishing with a square knot. For a very dressy look for evening, tie the ends in a big bow!

STANDARD SCARF WRAP

I could have shown the Lady Lavallière - silk ties for the butterfly effect. (Looks like a huge bow) but I could not see myself wearing it this way as every day use. So I went with the standard scarf wrap, except I kept the triangle end unfolded to create a little more flair to something that is quite traditional. What do you think? You can also styles scarves around handbags, wrists, tops and so much more.

LOVE & XX’S,

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NYFW AW19 Outfits

February 13, 2019

Wrapping up on Day 6 of New York Fashion Week this season, I’m starting off with a week of outfits! I wanted to share a range of my personal style for you guys! Staying true to my maximalist rebellious tendencies, I played print on print, bold vibrant color and different era contrasts, for example: The 40s with a modern vibe. And lots of different fabrics, such as sequin, tweed, velvet, cashmere and more. So stop for a few - take a peek and let me know what what your favorite look from the past week! Stay tuned for more fashion week content, my regular roundup of the shows I attended and this year I’ll be sharing a beauty trend report from what I saw backstage! Keep your eyes peeled, it’s all going down in the next couple of days before I head off to London Fashion Week! xx

WEARING: FLORAL PRINT DRESS | HOUNDSTOOTH JACKET | WESTERN BOOTS | TRI-COLOR BAG | MARBLE HOOP EARRINGS

LOVE & XX’S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

5 Reasons Why You Should Take a Social Media Break

January 14, 2019

WEARING: MINT GREEN CARDIGAN | WIDE LEG JEANS | WHITE ANKLE BOOTS | BLACK & WHITE BAG

When I first was building MaQ + Suz, which I still am, times have changed in the past three years. And even though I have remained consistent throughout this time, it has come to my realization now more than ever that as a creative person, it is vital to my well-being to un-plug from the social media world. I’m constantly on it for work, and lately the daily cycle of cranking out content has felt like it’s never-ending and yes, everyone can burn out! When everything is all about instant-gratification these days, I still think it’s completely acceptable to take a detox/break from something that isn’t always necessarily beneficial to you. As much as I love to share my life on social media, I also can really appreciate when to say no to certain things when it comes to what I do for a living. So in today’s post I’m sharing 5 reasons why you should take a social media break from time to time. Continue reading for more.

1. IT HELPS YOU SET BOUNDARIES

For many of us, social media can feel like an anxiety-fueled space, and it’s up to us to decide when to say enough is enough and not let any form of negativity into our personal space. Even on an everyday basis, I try and restrict myself to about 2 hours of social media postings and scrolling. But by setting a daily routine like a time limit of my time on my phone and taking mini-breaks even this way can be the healthiest boundary you set for yourself , which is the ultimate form of self-care. This weekend, I forbade myself from posting on social media, no matter how guilty I felt not doing so. I am exhausted, sick (migraine all day Sunday) and in need of recuperating from my job where there are literally no days off. And you know what? It led to learning other reasons why this is great to do every so often. (or as much as you like… you are your own boss, no?)

2. GET YOUR CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING

Whenever I really start to feel burnt out, I will go off the grid for a couple of days. I also have a tendency to do this when I’m suffering from writer’s block. This doesn’t bring forth my creativity per se, but you’d be amazed how great you’d feel after a full weekend of rest and just doing things you love to do, like read a book, go to the museum, have a phone call with a friend, taking a long walk with my dog, these mini-breaks not only take my mind off and recharge my batteries, it is then when these types of activities help influence my creativity. Sometimes freeing the mind and not trying to think so hard about the next amazing photo shoot actually will bring the next amazing photo shoot. Trust in the retreat your mind and body absolutely need to take every now and then.

3. RECLAIM YOUR TIME

You know you can’t buy back time, but you can reclaim it. With Apple iOS 12's “Screen Time” feature, you can track your social media usage. I'm currently using this tool and discovered that I could have likely read Murakami’s new novel in the time I spent scrolling Instagram last week. YIKES. Which in turn gives you more time for other things in your life aside from social media. Because I guarantee this is not the most important part of life by any means... it doesn’t define you as a person. Life is short. Spend it wisely.

4. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

Others’ comments or who has viewed your Insta-stories, or what’s currently trending… Yet another distraction when it comes to social media. It all leads to nowhere. I always remind myself why I started the blog in the first place. And I think the immense desire to someone’s “15 minutes of fame” is more and more outweighing the desire to create quality content and/or visual story-telling. So when whatever I see online all starts to become white noise and very little is inspiring me, it’s time to take a breather from the overly saturated social media world. When I de-tach myself from it temporarily, it always brings me back to where I started and why. Which is really important if you want to continue visualizing the big picture, too. Remember why you started.

5. RECONNECT AND COME BACK STRONGER

This kind of coincides with number 2 in this post. But this is more about our inner work. As I just said, social media is not the definition to life, nevertheless, it doesn’t define you. It’s a brand, a label, a front to what really is reality. Because in the world of advertising, not everything is ever the complete truth. And the same goes with what I do. Every photo is staged. Choreographed with makeup, hair, clothes, location, a lens, etc to end the final result with a quality image and a story behind it. It’s simply never just a snap. So when it comes to comparing yourself to others, for example, be clear about your goals and do the self-work IRL to come out confident; it will help curb the anxiety that the Instagram comparison game creates. Focusing on other parts of your life aside from social media/work isn’t just a simple “distraction” from the other not so glamorous side to what I do, it’s always a resetter. It helps me regroup and reconnect with loved ones and yes, myself. Sometimes a little self-care goes a long way, and if you’re feeling a bit unsure about what you’re doing online, it’s time to take a step back and regroup, reset and reconnect. And in the long run, you will always come back stronger. Remember this too… social media isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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Black and White Tweed Blazer for Fall

September 3, 2018

WEARING: BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY BLAZER | ZARA TOP | JOE'S JEANS | EGO PEEP TOE MULE | PAUL'S BOUTIQUE LONDON BAG

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY & EGO SHOES.

Hi! How is everyone doing? Ready for fall? Ready to go back to school? Are you just... ready? You've heard it here on the blog first, the next few weeks will be filled with Fashion Month content. I'm still working on my August beauty favorites, but being that last month was kind of major in terms of reviewing beauty products, my post is delayed due to this but I promise it's coming soon on top of other favorites! Let's just say in terms of content, it'll be just as thick as the Vogue September issue! LOL. In today's post, I'm sharing with you my fall staple favorites: Cozy, fitted jeans, a kick-ass blazer, and a good pair of mules. A very minimal, chic look. Continue reading to see the complete photo shoot and also where to shop these amazing finds!

I attended the opening of a new Banana Republic flagship store in Herald Square (17 W 34th Street) where it is the biggest store in NYC for BR! It has two floors along with two temporary pop-ups, one with 100% Pure Cosmetics and American Designs Club, a platform for creative brands to show, share and sell their work. Definitely worth a stop next time you're in the neighborhood. I found this texture academy blazer on sale for $60! Semi-fitted and tweed-like, the black and white blazer is 50% off and so stylish. I love blazers because you can mix and match it with so many pieces, the versatility is key.

I love the classic casual jeans and a blazer-look. It's like the effortlessly chic Parisian woman who just rolled out of bed, hair disheveled, shirt tucked out of place and yet, she looks lovely in the most imperfect way. I paired the blazer with these Joe's jeans that are not only super comfy but very much in trend with the distressed hem and fitting of the pants. How many of you ladies are also a fan of high-rise pants?

I know technically no white after Labor Day, but how could I resist with these awesome white mules from Ego?! One of my favorite shoe brands from the UK, I knew this pair would outlast the summer and well into fall. How cute would these be with an animal print dress or with leather cropped pants?! Or even a pair of sheer socks, the possibilities are endless! What do you guys think of this rule? In or Out? Yay or Nay? Scroll down to leave your thoughts in our comment box - and to also directly shop the pieces from this post! Have a lovely first week of September, everyone!