I Have a Thing for INEZ

When it comes to being a shoe gal, I’m always on the hunt for not just aesthetic and design, but most importantly, lasting comfort. Who wants to walk around in pain all day long?! The elevated designs, combined with technical expertise and a sensitivity to fit, give Inez a distinct point of view. The most comfortable barely-there sandal is what they’re known for, so you know I had to share my love for this shoe brand! Here are five of my favorite staple shoes in my closet that can be worn in everyday life and also at night. 15% OFF with code Suzanne15

naomi black suede

This platform shoe featuring a softly squared toe shape and flared block heel was inspired by 90s silhouettes. I love the sophisticated look and held-on feel of generous strap coverage. The custom designed insole cradles the foot and provides support for hours of wear. The Naomi in black suede is so beautiful, works great for any look, casual or non-casual.

ALTA DEEP RED SUEDE

The clean lines and classic silhouette of a pointy toe pump are further refined by a plush proprietary insole. The deep red shade and suede texture make the heel timeless yet contemporary. The Alta heel brings a great pop of color into an outfit, whether the occasion be date night, a day at the office, or even a family gathering, the comfort of these shoes will get you through. If red is not your color, these heels are also available in different colors.

SASHA SILVER METALLIC

Thin, parallel straps on this high heel sandal are proportionately placed to secure the foot while providing a nearly-nude look on top of a custom-designed insole. The Sasha in silver metallic brings the fun to an outfit, whether it is a holiday look, a night out dancing with the girls or everyday wear, these heels are completely painless and stable!

MILA BLACK CALF

A vintage inspired tube shaft boot that sits below the calf. Features a pointed toe and an elegant mid-heel for a uniquely sophisticated look. I love pairing the Alta boot with a maxi skirt or jeans, they look lovely with wide leg trousers too! The mid heel height of 2.8 inches is perfect for my level of comfort. Great for dressy or casual looks.

SOFIA BLACK PATENT

Asymmetrical straps and a slim ankle wrap give an airy look to this elegant mid-heel sandal. A custom-designed insole cradles your foot and provides unexpected agility. The Sofia in black patent is probably my most worn high-heeled sandal, especially in the warmer seasons. These heels go with everything, even a winter look with tights. And yes, I have literally run through traffic in these and no problem!

15% OFF with code Suzanne15!!

INEZ SHOE LINKS

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How I Went from Criminal Justice to Fashion

WEARING: AVANZARA-B HOUSE OF KIMBERLY TEAL BLOUSE | GENUINE PEOPLE JEANS | 
THE KOOPLES JACKET | GUCCI BELT | 
BRAHMIN ANDESITE GABRIELLA MELBOURNE BAG | EGO METALLIC BOOTS

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY EGO.

Happy NYFW! Let the fashion commence! Who is as excited as I am to see all of the SS18 collections for the upcoming season?! Since today is our first day of New York Fashion Week, I wanted to share with you guys a little more about my journey. What led me to here? Well, the title of this post sure must have caught your eye. Yes, you read correctly. I once almost became a cop instead of any of pursuit for a career. Instead of Detective Spiegoski, I'm Fashionista Spiegoski! So, how did I start from where I began and ended up here where I am today? Continue reading to find out more why I took such a leap of faith and why I am so, so, so grateful for my crazy (but intuitive) decisions. 

Once upon a time, I grew up in an environment that was rough, both in and outside the home. Because of my surroundings as well as life experiences, I initially chose a path in law enforcement, even receiving a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. I even traveled to distant lands to learn more about the cultural diversity as well as the different types of government and policing procedures. My '5-Year Plan' was to get my degree, move to NYC and join the New York City Police Department, and quickly climbing the ranks from Sargeant to Detective. Specifically? Homicide. But once I moved to the city of my dreams (I had wanted to live here basically my whole life), I didn't know a single soul. I came here with $300 bucks in my pocket, 3 full suitcases, with a place to share in Spanish Harlem. My first apartment in New York was literally a closet. Okay... walk-in closet: Enough to fit a full bed, dresser, mirror and a clothing rack. I didn't need much else. 

Because I didn't know anyone yet, I became lonely rather fast. With that, I began writing again, something that's been in my life since I was very little (my father taught me how to read and write at the age of 4) and I always found solitude in the power of my voice and the freedom to express my thoughts and feelings through words. And while doing so, my gut switched a flip. I no longer had the desire I once had in the career I chose. I felt lost. Confused. Young. Undiscovered. I gave it a good hard look before changing my mind, but I'm tellin' ya, even to this day, I can't tell you how thankful I am that I took that jump and decided to explore my options a bit further. From this, I've given back, teaching figure skating and working with kids for nearly a decade, wrote and published a novel, have had my photographs published around the world, and learned so much about myself in the process. 

I just surpassed my 2-year anniversary of my blog, MaQ + Suz. Since then, I've only attended 2 seasons of NYFW [this week being my 3rd season (!)] and am starting to receive invites to other fashion shows globally. Now, for those of you wondering... have I always been a die-hard fashionista? Not exactly... but it's always been with me, so to speak. When I was very young, I used to illustrate what campaigns I saw from the Korean fashion magazines my mother had. I'd flip through them, find inspiration and would recreate my own version, with even the prices of each piece of clothing! From there, I became more interested in the world of fashion while in college (where I started to read Vogue religiously) but that fizzled once I decided to do something else in my life. It's funny now looking back because even at the age of 6-7 I was already studying fashion when I was creating collages of them on my bedroom walls. 

I believe within a person's life, one will change many times over. Hopefully for the better. As you grow older and discover more about yourself, you will find out what you want, what you don't want, and who you really are. Part of the evolution of the path to self-discovery. And here I am now, a writer and photographer working full-time in the creative field and I couldn't be happier with my choice. Is it hard work? You bet your ass it is and I'm completely dedicated to it. Here's to making life's grand decisions and to fashion & style. Shoutout to this vintage teal blouse that belonged to my mother, the label says 'Avanzara–b House of Kimberly' but I can't find the brand on the internet. It's from the 80's back in Cali... and to these favorite new rose gold metallic boots from Ego, I feel like Wonder Woman strutting around in these. Hope to see all you other fabulous selves strutting around town as well this week! Happy Happy Fashion Week! :)

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Rhythm of the Night

WEARING: DEUXA BLACK BLOUSE | MKT STUDIO METALLIC SKIRT |
STEVE MADDEN BLACK ANKLE BOOTS | ROSEGAL SILVER BEAD HOOPS

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THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY DEUXA & MKT STUDIO.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Hope you're having a great week so far, I've got a new post today featuring two new designers I styled a look together and the theme? Full on 90's vibes with a hint of grunge and disco! When it comes to styling, I love mixing trends from different eras which is so much fun! I believe in fashion one should never stay inside a particular box but rather take chances and explore their creative sides. After all, fashion is a constant form of expression and should never be a form of fear, doubt and/or other insecurities. If you dress well, you will feel well. And they make a lasting first impression when it comes to networking and business opportunities. In a city like the Big Apple, you never know who you're going to meet let alone run into! So in today's editorial shoot, I wanted to share a look that can go from a business dinner to a night out dancing with the girls. Check out the complete look that's sensual, playful and edgy at the same time!

I recently discovered deuxA; reflects the designer's name by throwing emphasis on the first and last letter in 'AnnalizA'; metaphorically indicating there is always a beginning to every end. Unique and individual prints lay the cornerstones of AnnalizA's designs. Detailed attention towards diversity in textures and materials, such as this black ruffled-back blouse with pearl details on the sleeves and front. I'm completely obsessed with the back, it reminds me of a flamenco dancer yet with the detail from the pearls it transforms the blouse to something more contemporary. I'd totally wear this with some ripped skinny jeans and heels too for a more casual look but you can pretty much pair this blouse with some many other pieces, even a maxi skirt, overalls, leather pants and more! 

The metallic skirt with a lilac tint is from MKT Studio. This Parisian brand aims for ultra-feminine looks with a casual, authentic and grungy feel. They want to avoid superfluous details. MKT Studio offers modern women the chance to create a wardrobe with gorgeous clothing at an affordable price. I'm a huge fan of anything metallic, but the subtle purple-based color of the skirt blows my mind. It's eye-catching and unique and can sparkle up any outfit. It'd even be cute with a crisp white blouse or a different contrasted metallic material and/or color. 

Silver hoop earrings are from Rosegal and my favorite ankle boots are from Steve Madden. (I also styled a completely different look with the same boots in my last post here.) The headphones and CD/cassette/radio player are vintage (almost ha ha ha!) and Sony. I styled this look in a more rundown location to keep up with the grungy vibes, what do you guys think of this editorial shoot? Would you like to see more style posts like these? I have to say that I really love coming up with visual stories such as this one... I do love hearing back from my readers though! Don't forget to comment down below and to stay in touch on my day-to-day life follow me on Instagram!

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Sweet Williams on Memorial Day

WEARING: & OTHER STORIES DENIM JACKET | TOBI LOVE GAME WHITE SHIFT DRESS | 
MAD-STYLE TALL METALLIC GEO TOTE BAG | PUMA VIKKY GREY PLATFORM SNEAKER 
MAD-STYLE TRANSLUCENT CATEYES SUNGLASSES | CLAIRE'S SATIN BOW CHOKER | 
VIP ME DENIM & CHAIN FRINGE CHOKER NECKLACE 

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOBI. 

 

SWEET WILLIAMS FLOWERS ARE AT THE CENTER OF MANY ROMANTIC LEGENDS.

One such legend is steeped in the poetry of the English writer John Gay, who wrote, “Sweet William’s Farewell to Black-ey’d Susan: A Ballad.” In this piece of poetry, both the sweet William and the black-eyed Susan were depicted as real people – Sweet William as a sailor and the black-eyed Susan as his beloved, who must part from him. The story tells of the two meeting, then having to separate again – sweet William assuring his love and fidelity all the while. Sweet Williams flowers are one of the few blossoms that have symbols that most people associate with masculinity – their predominant symbol being that of gallantry. However, they also represent finesse and perfection and are frequently presented to the recipient as a way to tell him or her that the giver feels they are either quite smooth or simply as good as it gets. They also express the sentiment, “grant me a single smile,” and are sometimes given as gifts solely to make the recipient’s day. Sweet Williams flowers (yes, the flowers from this shoot are in fact, Sweet Williams!) have always reminded me of my grandparents. And the way they came together is not only over-the-top romantic, but fitting on a day like today... Memorial Day. 

For those who do not know, I am half-Polish... given my dominant Eastern European last name (father's side). I feel like I need to inject this in now before I get going, you'll understand in a bit. My grandparents met like any typical teenagers do – amongst mutual friends. You see, my grandmother was dating a good friend of my grandfather's, but this quickly changed after they met. But wait, it doesn't end there. Before they could even begin courting each other, my grandfather was deployed to Paris during WWII. He served in the US Army Air Forces as a corporal lieutenant. Back then there was no texting, Facetime or social media. Even a long-distance phone call was pretty scarce. So, to remain in touch with my grandmother, my grandfather wrote her hand-written letters almost every day. Their correspondence to one another is what made them fall madly in love with each other. 

At some point, the distance between them became too great. My grandmother could hardly stand it any longer and made her way to Paris to be with him. When they came back to the states not too long after that, they married. They had five children and were together for nearly 45 years. Sure they fought just like any couple, but they sure were crazy about each other. I feel like you don't hear that many legendary love stories anymore. Actually, the whole idea of dating in this day and age is rather frightening to me. While at an event this past week I struck a conversation with a woman who just moved to New York City a few months ago, and after a heart-wrenching breakup with her ex, she opted for Tinder, one of those dating apps, even though now there's so many of them for many different types of relationships, to sexual encounters, FWB, and yes, even 'real' relationships. And though Tinder is known for casual hookups, she ended up being in a relationship with the guy and is quite happy, it seems.

Is it like that for everyone? Definitely not. I was watching a documentary series late one night due to insomnia (over-working, stress & anxiety will do that to you) about the digital world and relationships. 1 out of 4 people who are in dating apps have trouble finding meaningful relationships due to 'too many options' out there. You have more and more women (and men) who are not willing to settle down and getting married. Younger women are more driven and independent than they've ever been. You have men who are literally sleeping with anything that has a pulse because they were the geek back in high school and now that they're all grown up with a successful job, it's payback time. For example, on the documentary series, there's a Las Vegas event planner who's basically in his forties and organizes pool parties for a living. He is single and thoroughly enjoys it being this way. 

Was he the geek back in high school? No, but he was the 'nice guy', you know, the guy who wasn't necessarily a stud, but was nice enough to be your friend? Yeah, that guy. And then he went on to appear on a big reality show. After that, the nice guy was history. Women started throwing themselves at him all because he had been on TV (that and being mildly attractive probably didn't hurt) and a dickhead bachelor was born. But what makes this guy not the nice guy anymore is the way he treats the women he 'dates'. He will take a girl out a couple of times, sleep with her and then disappear. It is one thing to set clear intentions/boundaries, but what he did was misleading. He'd get them to believe they were something more than just a few dates, by taking the time to say and do all the right things men are supposed to do while courting a woman. And once he had them hooked, with a potential feeling of a 'maybe', he'd ghost them. 

He even went as far as pretending like he didn't know a girl he was sleeping with for a few months. When she had tried to make contact with him after he ghosted her (meaning never responds to any messages) he replied with a, "who is this?" Luckily, the girl laid it on to him thick and told him how cowardly and hurtful his actions have been, going even as far as refusing to leave him alone until she met him face to face (this I would not make the time for), to express herself... and rightfully so! I find that the more options that are being provided within the digital world have caused people to act more selfishly than ever before. And romance? Forget about it, I feel like most of it is all for show. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of wonderful, good, decent men (yes, I've met some of them!) but in the new times we live in, and with endless choices when it comes to sex and relationships, I'm definitely missing the simplicity of authentic love amongst one another. Can't we write more hand-written notes anymore? If you're not feeling someone, can't you just be honest with them and give them that respect, especially when you know they'd do that for you? Since when did hurting others become a trend? 

Now if you're not looking for anything serious and just want to have fun, that's completely okay. Just don't take advantage of people, being a jerk is never cool. How can someone like that guy look at himself in the mirror every morning? Thankfully after that girl confronted him, it made him think and change his ways. (Hopefully, because whatever is said on camera isn't necessarily done off-camera) With intention, this post will potentially give those some hope, that the real thing still does exists because I do continue to see it every day among others and through myself. And knowing you have a conscious – that you could never stoop to that kind of slimy low-level like that Vegas guy says something about you already, that you're better than that and because of it, you will go on to find better too. Never stop believing in love, my friends. Happy Memorial Day. xo.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Compartmentalization

WEARING: THE KOOPLES BLAZER | HONEY COAST USA T-SHIRT | 
ADIDAS NEO CLOUDFOAM DAILY QT HIGH-TOP SNEAKER | GUCCI BELT | BDG JEANS | 
MAD-STYLE TALL METALLIC GEO TOTE BAG | MAD-STYLE TRANSLUCENT CATEYES SUNGLASSES

HAIR DONE BY OMALIA FROM MB45 STUDIO

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MB45 STUDIO, MAD-STYLE & HONEY COAST USA. 

"Compartmentalization is a form of emotional intelligence," according to Jeremy Yip, a lecturer and research scholar at Wharton. Psychology defines compartmentalization as a defense mechanism, or a coping strategy, which doesn’t exactly sound all that great (at first). But, it’s how our minds deal with conflicting internal points of view at the same time. Isolating and focusing on difficult issues separately is something I’ve used my entire life to get through trauma as a result of my upbringing; so one could say this skill was acquired through the years, however, I never really noticed its implications in business until recently.

When I was younger, I once heard from J-Lo (of all people) say that when it comes to one's personal life and professional one, it's crucial to be able to put one or the other aside as soon as you 'leave the door'. And she's absolutely right. You can't let either mix with the other, no matter what's going on. I know it sounds easier said than done, but I truly believe this is part of the key to success; refusing to compromise and not letting anyone get in the way of your dreams and ambitions. The way that I see it, and Eleanor Roosevelt too, "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." So keep it together, don't give up and as my dad always used to say, "keep on keeping on." And having a couple of girlfriends to help you get through it all doesn't hurt one bit either. :)

A few mentions about this outfit since I got a ton of feedback from the Instagram post from the other day. Both my Cateye sunglasses and metallic tote bag are from Mad-Style, use my code, 'maqandsuz' to get 20% OFF your purchase. Lastly, my blazer is from The Kooples, skinny jeans are BDG and my high-tops are from Adidas, definite faves in the causal chic everyday wear department! What are your casual staple pieces in your closet and your thoughts on compartmentalization? 

Photos by: Layers of Chic 

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