Double-Breasted Jacket with Smocked Blouse

January 21, 2019

WEARING: DOUBLE BREASTED JACKET | SMOCKED BLOUSE | GREEN BAG | JEANS | SNAKE PRINT BOOTIES

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY H&M AND SIENNA JONES BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy MLK day and happy Monday! Today in New York, is the coldest day of the year with a high of 15. Fahrenheit. So you can imagine my escapism to spring, in my outfit! It’s actually every blogger’s nightmare, shooting outside this time of the year. It’s not as easy as it looks to be cheery while literally freezing your ass off. No one wants to see your runny, red nose/flushed RED face! There’s only so much photoshop can do. And no, I don’t want to spend my life editing away goosebumps from my legs/arms. So I’ve been taking advantage of shooting more indoors, in places that I love, places people recommend and/or both! Since my husband and I rarely have time for each other, it’s a great quick outing while on ‘set’ creating content for a brand. Especially when it involves food! Ha ha! Plus in terms of content, I think it mixes things up with the usual street style photos. Continue reading to hear more about the location of this shoot along with details of this mixed up look that may not sound like a great idea initially, but when done right can be done well.

My favorite neighborhood hangout for working lunches/meetings is here in today’s post. The location is at La Pecora Bianca. It is a stylish and bright all-day dining restaurant featuring market-driven Italian cuisine - I mean… how can you go wrong? ;) Kidding aside, I always get the spaghetti, but their oatmeal is quite delicious for breakfast. I love the ambience as much as the food and it’s five minutes walking distance from home. Don’t you just love it when you find a place as such? Now onto today’s outfit…

Running around town from lunch meetings, to shoots, to showroom appointments, and more, I need a cross body bag that’s big enough to hold all my essentials, but without it getting too hefty and ‘boxy’ for me. I’m a petite frame so that can happen pretty easily. But the new Sienna Jones City Bag, is just perfect for an everyday bag. Crafted in first grade leather, it features a spacious interior, with a pocket for your smartphone and two zip compartments. Pure casual elegance. They also come in grey, black, red and brown. Designed and created in Covent Garden, London.

I had no intention of putting together a double-breasted jacket with a smocked blouse. Like I had mentioned in the beginning of the post, it doesn’t really seem to sound right together, but voila! I think it can work! I either had the blouse tucked into my jeans or I had the jacket buttoned up. I also think it helps that the colors are in a very similar blue palette so it doesn’t clash with each other too much where it’s distracting. Just like the floral print in the blouse doesn’t clash with the snake print boots. The subtly of the floral is enough to be able to wear the two together… what do you think?

Other accessories included in this look are an Anne Klein diamond-accent green ceramic watch, silver hoop earrings, and an embossed Gucci belt. All in all, I’d say this outfit is definitely spring-ready! What about you? What are you looking forward to after winter? And how do you keep spring fever at bay during the colder season? Wishing you guys a warm and happy week! As always, direct links are at the beginning and end of the post, with more details in between. Have a question? Drop those comments down below! x.

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Zavo Restaurant & Lounge New York

December 8, 2018

Okay… today’s the first day where I’m really feeling the cold. I’m a Midwest girl at heart, so the winter season doesn’t bother me much, but in New York, with the humidity AND the cold? It feels much more cold than normal. So what to do on a freezing day like today? I’d say just stay inside, but if you get cabin fever like me and need to get out of the house, you should go and check out ZAVŌ. A luxurious new Mediterranean restaurant that engages all of your senses, it’s the perfect location too after marathoning through a shopping spree. Got your holiday errands all checked off yet? If not, it’s cool. Me neither. Why not sit down and take a break in between with a glass of wine at my new favorite spot in Lenox Hill?

A stylish and seductive multi-level celebration of Mediterranean cuisine and culture, ZAVŌ elevates the dining experience. Amidst tastefully appointed decor and lighting, the menu is just as scrumptious. Savor a cocktail at the sleek marble bar or unwind on the outdoor terrace. We sat in the dining room section with a pleasant ambience and excellent service. The staff was so sweet to give us a complete tour of their almost 1-year old restaurant in Lenox Hill (UES). ZAVŌ’s second floor is accessed via a private entrance on East 60th Street. Ascend the sweeping staircase to the intimate piano lounge, bar and refined private dining rooms, they offer unparalleled, five-star catering services cultivated from their deep expertise with corporate and special events. The Chef’s special selected menu changes daily to reflect their fascinating and unique live entertainment such as 50 Shades and Venetian/Masquerade Nights and others. It’s a great space for holiday parties right now, and even a wedding reception! The second floor can accommodate roughly over 200 people, and the decor alone will have you swooning.

We tried the crab cakes and grilled octopus for our appetizers which were cooked to perfection. Literally soft as butter, with wonderful taste concoctions to go with the seafood such as hummus, yellow pepper, and more. For our main course, we tried the branzino fish with grilled squash and zucchini, and the braised short beef with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. The fish was excellent as well as the beef. The beef and asparagus were a tad dry and could have used more sauce, but the flavors were all there. Their sancerre wine was also quite good. But we were so full, we opted out on dessert. Gotta keep that holiday figure, somehow! ;) Overall, a wonderful dining experience. On the super plus side? It’s right across the street from Bloomingdale’s - the perfect spot to hang your hat and grab a bite after your holiday shopping!

LOVE & XX’S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

L'ADRESSE NYC

January 20, 2018

This post is brought to you by L'ADRESSE NYC, but all opinions are my own.

At L’ADRESSE they serve innovative breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menus, as well as pâtisserie created on site in the classic French tradition. Their diverse beverage program includes artisanal cocktails, fruit and vegetable blends, spritzers and one-of-a-kind coffee drinks prepared by an award-winning barista team. We're talking over 40 national and international awards for coffee excellence and hospitality! And well-deserved. Whether you want to enjoy a single cup of espresso or a complete dining experience, come take a read about my experience in this convivial atmosphere and laid-back attitude that made me feel so welcome and full at the same time. :)

L’ADRESSE utilizes the latest trends in restaurant design resulting in a warm and welcoming walk-in atmosphere where guests can enjoy the highest quality of service, hospitality, and accessible pricing. Located right across the street from Bryant Park, it's perfect for both tourists and New Yorkers - it is one of a handful of restaurants in the U.S. to use the Josper grill, popular throughout Europe, to highlight the flavor of their meats, fish, and vegetables.

We tried the Wagyu carpaccio with Bayley Hazen blue cheese, bloomed mustard seeds, spring onions, and fig compote which was insanely delicious. And because it's #NationalSoupMonth, and the fact that I'm soup-obsessed, I tried both the classic borscht, a traditional beet soup with beef and crème Fraiche, and one of my favorite dishes we tried, their cauliflower soup with poached egg and garlic chili. A truly mind-blowing soup, I could eat it every day! We also had the seared sea scallops with truffle cauliflower purée, hazelnut brown butter, vincotto and a side of Brussel sprouts with Chinese sausage, sesame cilantro pesto, and chili lime vinaigrette. I loved the combination of flavors together, the scallops were perfectly cooked and service was top-notch.

L’ADRESSE’s dessert repertoire includes fine patisserie created on site in the classic French tradition in collaboration with world-renowned pastry chefs. From the Chocolate Envy, a decadent chocolate mousse cake with hazelnuts to Smetannyk, a traditional sour cream layer cake to Tiramisu to Cheesecake and more, their menu is inspired by sweet flavors from around the world. They also offer whole cakes available to order in advance for pick up to celebrate those special occasions including birthdays and anniversaries.

We weren't planning on dessert but once I saw their patisserie in the back, it was really hard to say no! We tried onyx, a Russian tea cake with white chocolate mousse with a bitter aloe twist in marble glaze. Never had this, even after having been to Ukraine - it was something new and fun to try. You can see it on my Highlights on Instagram for more, video and pics. We also had cheesecake with strawberry jam (out of this world) and Kimura, a French pistachio cake, refreshing lime, and passion fruit purée, that was superb. Really decadent and full of a variety of flavors, whether you just want a cup of coffee or a full meal, L'ADRESSE is definitely a place to check out in New York!

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Le Coq Rico – The Bistro of Beautiful Birds

December 13, 2017

This post is brought to you by Le Coq Rico, but all opinions are my own.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Yesterday I had the pleasure of experiencing the wonderful downtown restaurant, Le Coq Rico. The original Le Coq Rico (The Bistro of Beautiful Birds) is located on Monmartre's Rue Lepic in Paris. Each Le Coq Rico pays tribute to responsibly raised whole-animal poultry. This restaurant is Chef Antoine Westermann's ode to the local terroir, expressed through the flavors of wild and noble birds. Westermann spent more than a year traveling across the Northeast, particularly through the Hudson Valley and Pennsylvania, to meet farmers and learn their poultry raising philosophies. "Fowl is a world unto itself," noted Westermann. "The flavor and texture change depending on the region, breeder, age, and style of farming." The result of this exchange stands today as Le Coq Rico, NYC. Continue reading to learn more about my time at this attractive, chic bistro.

Renowned French chef, Antoine Westermann was just 23 years old when he became the Chef and Owner of his first restaurant. In the twenty-five years that followed, he earned three Michelin stars. Then in 2006, he made the exceedingly rare decision to ask Michelin to remove his stars so his creativity would no longer be confined by the rules and regulations of the guide. Specializing in sophisticated poultry dishes, I was more than excited to try their Tuesday's plat du jour, coq au vin. One of my favorite French dishes of all time, they certainly did the bird justice. It was the best I have ever had!

We started with lovely appetizers of deviled eggs in a bed of octopus, cabbage, and cumin salad along with a creamy mushroom soup with a confit of gizzards (YUM). For our main entrees, along with the coq au vin with egg tagliatelle, we also tried the succulent roasted chicken that is aged 120 days and is served with a side of seasonal salad. Delicious pairings of pinot grigio and pinot noir, we topped it off with dessert, their famous l'ile flotttante (Floating Island) which consists of soft meingue & crême anglaise and three selections of ice cream: coconut lime sorbet, ginger, and vanilla ice cream. Even the espressos are spot on! A truly magnificent, fulfilling lunch!

The service was great, very friendly staff and super helpful when it came to making a selection. I'd recommend Le Coq Rico to anyone! But if you want to avoid the holiday crowds and nightlife scene, lunch is the way to go! And sit at the chef's counter, where you are able to watch the chefs cook for you up close and personal! The only problem with that is it might have your tummy rumbling as you wait! How many of you have experience Le Coq Rico? If you haven't yet, what are you waiting for?! ;)

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

A Sunday at Reynard

June 15, 2016

This past Sunday, I ventured off to Williamsburg to meet up with some other New York City bloggers. About ten of us went for brunch at Reynard, in the lovely Wythe Hotel, where it was once a factory but now converted into a sleek industrial-feel 70-room haven. I love this area in Brooklyn for it's bohemian and trendy vibe, with constant brush strokes of street art and graffiti, it is a place for artists to be seen and to live. And Williamsburg does have some pretty dope food, especially if you're a mad foodie like me, it's a great location to venture off to and find a hidden gem.

From L to R: Chelsea as of Late, Liz Avenue, Pretty Proper Quaint, & Maria on Point.

We devoured sunny side up eggs with lentils, pureed peas with sesame and cheesy omelettes with crispy fries, on top of some sweet pastries. To wash it down, we had a few bottles of rosé from Provence. Afterward, we opted for a photo shoot outside in their cute garden patio.

I'm all about empowering other women and cannot STAND 'mean girls'. I know I've discussed this before in a past pose (click here) but for me, especially now that I've taken on an additional career path in the blogging world, it is so refreshing to meet other like-minded women who can not only relate with me as to what it takes to do what we do, but to also share in our tastes and style in everything from food to clothes, music and just plain having fun together, I truly enjoy connecting with other talented bloggers! We're not each other's competition, because we're all freaking awesome and being you is YOUR POWER. EMBRACE that shit. So with that in mind, I wanted to showcase a couple of bloggers and share with my readers a little bit more about them. Continue reading further to check out some featured bloggers from this fabulous group! (Of course, I had to get a group picture of us!) Keep scrolling! :)

Featured Bloggers

Albanian beauty, Selma Air, is the creator of LASELMASTYLE, a New York City personal style blog focusing on the many variations of fashion, in particular, dressing for an occasion or on a feeling/emotion. Recently dabbling in fashion on a budget, Selma's created Project Re-Design, a monthly collaboration with another blogger, where each woman purchases the same piece of clothing/accessory re-designs them to their own individual taste. To see more of Selma's great style, check out her blog here!

Ecuadorian NYC fashion blogger, Maria Jose Abad runs Maria on Point, a personal style and fashion blog that provides styling ideas and shopping information for petite women. Maria on Point also shares recommendations and answers for those who are seeking to look stylish on any budget. Maria understands the peculiarities behind finding the right size and fit for petite women and shares details about these key elements on her blog. She is also an on-air style advisor on Univision and Telemundo, and works full-time in public relations. To see more of Maria's cute, petite looks, check out her blog here!

From L to R: MaQ + Suz, ElleD., Maria on Point, Pretty Proper Quaint, Adrianna Naomi, Selma Ali, Areta Style Secrets, Chelsea as of Late, Runway in LA.

I love all of our different sense of styles, even for a Sunday brunch like this! I'm not much of a girly girl, so I put on my Stan Smith's with a comfy black slit maxi skirt and a Lakers tank top. In case you don't already know, I'm a die hard fan and STILL am even though Kobe's out. Ha ha! I was born in Cali, so I definitely got some of that West Coast vibe in my style.

There's so many exciting posts coming up on the blog, I can hardly contain myself! I will be featuring an interview with a close, personal friend who is also a highly-respected chef. We're from the same city, so I'm very thrilled to be sharing a story on her! I'll also be doing my first travel diary at the end of this month. My hubby and I are getting away to celebrate our 10-year dating anniversary! Whoa! And, I also am working on an upcoming partnered sponsorship with an amazing pet brand, and MaQ will definitely be our star of the story! Stay tuned, all coming soon - and more! You didn't think I'd forget to stop cooking, did ya? ;) Have a wonderful Hump Day! You got this, we're halfway to the weekend!