Leopard Print for Date Night

June 28, 2019

Friday calls for date night! Summer is heating up and it is one of my favorite seasons for this. Days are long and nights are balmy, it’s the perfect time to spend that extra time with your boo. But what to wear on such a hot occasion? In today’s post, I’ve got a fun number for ya. Sultry, trendy yet super comfy, I’ve got the perfect summer date night look! Leopard print, strappy sandals, a bold red lip and some pearly accessories, this outfit cannot go wrong! Continue reading to see the complete look along with direct links to shop each item.

This leopard print matching set is the fountain of sexiness. The bodycon skirt and crop cami top is extremely flattering for many body types, as the material is stretchy. This screamed date night look to me, but as much as I styled it for a night on the town, you can easily wear this during the day as well with a pair of sneakers. I love two-piece outfits such as this one because you can mix and match for other looks. I’d wear that crop top with a nice black power suit or the skirt with a simple white tee - there’s a lot of different outfits that can be styled from this set.

Because it’s so hot out, I love to wear my hair back. Especially on those extra humid days in the city where anyone’s hair is a lost cause, it’s the perfect excuse to whip out those hair accessories! I wore this beautiful pearl hair clip by Atelier des Femmes with black drugstore hair clips to give my hairstyle a bit of variation. What do you guys think of the combination? When I think of leopard print for date night, this must include more black accessories and a bold lip.

These black strappy sandals I’m wearing in today’s post are pretty ancient. They are the first pair of heels I wore to a wedding, where it was also the first time a boyfriend had invited me to one. The experience was not so great, but these sandals lasted way longer than the boyfriend! Ha ha! They’re no longer in stock and NO I’m not going to tell you how long ago this was so you can start guestimating my age LOL - but I’ve linked similar pairs for you to choose from. Taking notes from '90s styles, this sandal is distinguished by skinny, elegant straps and a dainty squared kitten heel.

Even though it’s hot outside, it can get chilly inside. Which is why I stole this jacket from the hubby. A sleek tuxedo jacket by Calvin Klein goes well with the heels. To go with the bold lip (used a combination of lippies from Colourpop & LimeCrime) I went with a similar-colored red bag from Furla. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed with leopard-y look. Wishing you all a great weekend. x

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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5 Ways to Style A White Shirt Dress

June 24, 2019

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY STYLEWE AND THESIS CRISIS BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Monday, everyone! How was your weekend? Over a month ago I had styled an indigo shirt dress to which many of you went crazy over the dress. The blue color is a shade I wouldn’t wear everyday, but white I definitely can! So, today on the blog, I’m sharing 5 different ways to style a white shirt dress for the summer season. I’ve switched it up from casual to more dressy, but these looks can definitely be carried throughout the rest of the season. There is also a video I’ve posted on my Instagram channel showcasing the five looks. Check it out here. Continue reading to see full visual story and also to find direct links to each piece from every individual look.

WEARING: WHITE SHIRT DRESS | MELON BAG | BEIGE PEARL HEELS

The first way is to wear the white shirt dress by itself. No belts, no jackets, nada. Just solo. This type of dress would also work great as a beach cover-up aside from wearing it in the city during a hot summer day. Since wearing white alone keeps the look pretty plain, I thought it would be best to style the dress with bold, luxury statement pieces to bring the outfit to life. I paired it with my new favorite bag from Thesis Crisis and these luxurious slingbacks from YUUL YIE. I also wore a pair of resin hoop earrings, to balance with the accessories.

WEARING: WHITE SHIRT DRESS | RED BAG | WHITE LACE-UP SANDALS | BERMUDA SHORTS JEANS | PEARL HAIR CLIP

The second way I styled the white shirt dress is a variated criss-cross top. It’s a little sassy and a little business-y, which makes it a perfect look for an afternoon filled with meetings even through the evening should you have other events to attend to. I like that I feel like a boss even though it’s a more casual vibe. The bermuda short jean is super trendy this summer. If you want a more serious type of look, you can style this shirt dress and jeans with a sleek black blazer. Other accessories in this look are my favorite red Furla bag, white tie-up sandals from Linzi and pearl hair clips from Atelier des Femmes.

WEARING: MUSTARD YELLOW BLAZER | WHITE SHIRT DRESS | YELLOW BAG | WIDE LEG JEANS | RUBY PATENT SLINGBACKS

The third look is all about my favorite summer color at the moment: Yellow! Inspiration from this look? Lakers girl! I’m a die-hard fan and also kept my California roots to this outfit. Casual, slightly boho, chic and fun. Very L.A. kind of gal. The yellow blazer is from Akira and the bag is from Forzieri, the brand: Le Parmentier Paris. You can get your Peyote bag from Forzieri. Use the code name: SUZANNE15 for 15% OFF on Le Parmentier bags collection at forzieri.com valid until July 4th. The white shirt dress is styled in a very similar way like look 2 except instead of the tie being criss-crossed to the back, I took it to the front and did a simple tie around. I also unbuttoned a few more buttons located in the back which opened the dress a bit more to show off the wide leg jeans. Other accessories include bold statement hoop earrings and vintage Calvin Klein ruby patent slingbacks.

Another great way to style a white shirt dress is by making it into a cardigan/kimono/beach wrap. In look #4, I went with an all-white look. Perfect for a beach day, picnic, or an all-white party (just hold the marinara sauce away from me LOL) this casual look is a recent fave and will definitely be a repeat offender this summer. The trick to an all-white look is wearing different shades of white. This will help to not have you look washed-up and creates more dimension to a simple look. That and play on textures and materials, such as this headband scarf from Atelier des Femmes and these chunky sole buckle detail sandals in white from Ego Shoes.

WEARING: WHITE SHIRT DRESS | POLKA DOT HAIR SCRUNCHIE SCARF | BLACK MERMAID SKIRT | BLACK MARY JANES | GOLD STATEMENT EARRINGS

Last but not least is the most dressy of looks. I got the inspiration from sonatas in classical music as they are one of my favorites in this genre. Chopin, specifically. So I wanted to style the white shirt dress in a more refined, polished up look. First thoughts that came to mind was black and white, gold accents, and a bold vampy lip. I chose to tuck in the front of the dress shirt - you’ll need a skirt that has breathing room like this black mermaid one I’m wearing that’s perfect for date night. The back of the shirt dress has a simple but chic bow tie that I feel works wonderfully with the polka dot hair scrunchie scarf and gold statement earrings. The black mary janes seal the look with its gold accents and sleek fit. Another favorite look. What were some of your favorite outfits from this post? I’d love to hear from you - leave your thoughts in the comment section down below!

LOVE & XX’S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

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

How to Wear a Maxi Skirt If You Are a Petite or a Short Woman

December 17, 2018

WEARING: MOOD SWEATER | PINK MAXI SKIRT | RED CROSSBODY | BLACK COMBAT BOOTS

Stepping up my game in the styling department this Monday! You know, us, petite girls, need a little more recognition in the fashion world because it’s not easy styling when it comes to being short. Especially when it comes to bottoms: Pants, skirts - you name it, normally anything will need some adjustments. But what if you can’t take it in to the tailor every time? Pinching a few pennies? Why not, “Make it work” as Tim Gunn says? And if you’re a true stylist, you can adapt to anything and yes, indeed, make it work! You know I’m not much of a pink girl, but many of my readers really like it when I wear this color. So on one count, I’m challenging myself to style one skirt in two completely different ways, and two, for the love of my followers. Here you go! Continue reading to see the complete shoot!

When I thought about how to style this skirt, given the fact that the pink maxi skirt (as cute as it may be), it was far too long for me. So what’s a petite gal to do? HIDE THAT ISH. And since it’s winter, I paired it with a loosely fitted black cashmere sweater with #MOOD written on it in a plush red. To accentuate with the top, I accessorized with my new favorite bag that’s got a gorgeous oxblood color with an adjustable gold chain. You can see how I wore it both ways. Even my lipstick and nails are similar to the shades or red, but not exact. And this was intentional. I think it brings more of the pink out in terms of its statement, and it’s quite a ruffly skirt! I may not be a girly girl, but I sure do feel quite the lady when wearing it.

My new favorite black winter boots have yellow laces and a rough edgy feel to them. I’d say they’re combat boots and the platform always makes me feel like I can kick ass when wearing them. Ha ha! I’d say this look has a definite punk feminine chic vibe to it. You know me for my edginess & rebelliousness when it comes to my personal style, I really had fun putting together this first look. But wait… there’s the other look. How did I style the pink maxi skirt this time? Definitely has an overall different vibe to it as well!

WEARING: PINK MAXI SKIRT | BLACK BELT | BLACK HEELS | STAR BAG

One of my favorite ways to style a maxi skirt is to wear it as a dress! As a petite and short woman (I’m only 5’3’’) who is always looking for ways to save a few bucks, and also doesn’t always have time to wait in between alterations at the tailor’s, it never hurts to find creative ways to style yourself! And this second look is more for an evening affair. Playful, elegant and still with a little bit of edge, this pink maxi skirt, now dress, is a showstopper. I styled the piece with the darkest color known to man to give contrast to the feminine shade I don’t normally wear, if not ever. I love pink and black together!

The look was definitely inspired by Carrie Bradshaw’s Oscar de la Renta dress from the show, Sex & the City, where her Russian boyfriend gifts it to her right before whisking her away to the ballet. I wanted the same type of feeling when it came to the second look. More whimsical. A touch of elegance. And a look you’ve never seen me do. And just like Carrie, I have a thing for accessories. This unique 100% leather based ball bag with Swarovski crystal stones, silver studs, glow in the dark stars and hand painted detailing is pretty insane when it comes to its details and I thought it was quite the bag to carry with this look!

I wore black strappy heels to give more of an elongated look as well as keeping with the color scheme. And when it came to styling this pink maxi skirt into a dress, I knew I need to cinch the waist with a belt, to give some shape to the long dress. I just used black satin ribbon, the same one I wore on my wedding day, and snugly tied it in the back. A statement belt, like the one I’ve linked would be just as great, but to style this as a dress it definitely need something to hold the waist in. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my duo-styled post! I truly enjoyed doing this, so let me know if you’d like to see more styling challenges like this one! Until next time… :)

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LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Holiday Shopping with QuadPay

December 15, 2018

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY QUADPAY BUT ALL THOUGHTS & OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

The countdown to finishing up all your holiday shopping is on! Have you completed everyone’s wish lists yet? Perhaps, even one for yourself? But with all the retail purchases this month, I bet a lot are anxious about going broke! Especially when making those extra big, luxurious purchases. Well, what if I told you I found a way to budget - where you can buy what you love with zero interest?! You can split the purchase amount into 4 interest-free payments, spread over 6 weeks. There are no fees if you pay on time. So what is it? Continue reading to find out and also to learn more about my experience with the app along with what I purchased!

QuadPay empowers consumers with the option to pay for their purchases in four equal and interest-free installments over six weeks; the customer gets the product upfront while QuadPay’s brand partners are paid immediately. As the millennial population enters their prime spending years with less than 50% having access to credit, QuadPay is disrupting the field of payment solutions as the most innovative provider of affordable purchase in North America — buy now, pay later.

QuadPay is fully integrated with the store’s online checkout. All you need to do is choose QuadPay as your payment option when you’re ready to buy. If you are shopping with a participating store, Quadpay will be listed as a payment option during checkout. QuadPay splits your payments over four equal installments due every two weeks. Nominate the card you want to use and automatic payments are scheduled for you. It’s that easy!

There are several brands partnering with this app, such as Koio, Naadam, For Love & Lemons, UGG®, Staud, and more. I recently stopped by at the beautiful popup in SoHo, La Boutique, where one of my favorite Parisian labels, Offtrack, who makes the best luxurious lambskin leather leggings out in the market, is one of the curated women brands in the store. Extremely fitting and versatile, it’s the perfect staple piece to have in your closet for the fall/winter. Coming in two various lengths, butt boosting seamlines and hip framing sides, it was kind of hard to choose only one pair! I went with the caramel suede pair, but they have also have black and reds.

Instead of paying the full amount of $550, I am making 4 easy payments of$137.50. Definitely helpful in terms of budget and finance! That way I can balance and still have extra money that I would have spend if I hadn’t used QuadPay. How cool is this new featured app?! Once you're approved by QuadPay, you can begin shopping with their partners immediately. Approval is quick, easy and requires only a few personal details. Never pay interest again.

I’m telling you, this is going to be the difference between making or delaying a purchase. So if you have an extra pricey item you’re wanting to buy for your loved one/family, or yes… even for yourself, why not check out QuadPay the next time you’ll be making a bigger purchase? There’s zero-risk involved, and the easy-peasy process will have you grinning from ear to ear. That… and your brand new purchase :)

So tell me, what would you guys go shopping with using QuadPay? New pair of Nikes? Need that NorthFace winter coat to hit the slopes? Whatever your heart desires this season, rest assured that QuadPay has got your back and will make the holiday shopping extravaganza less stressful this year and every time you shop now! For more info go to www.quadpay.com and if you’d like to stop by the La Boutique popup, they are in SoHo at 250 Elizabeth Street until 12/23!