Belted Scarf Outfit

September 30, 2019

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY AMEDEE PARIS AND CHICWISH BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Monday & Happy Fall! One of my favorite seasons weather-related aside, it is one of my favorite seasons in fashion as well. Layers after layers, boots galore, and a personal obsession with outerwear, I’m all for it. One accessory for the season that I’ve been really into lately is scarves: All shapes and sizes. And with the colder weather approaching, I love a good scarf that can keep me warm! So in today’s post, I’m sharing one way to style your scarf to look extra chic! Easy peasy, on top. Come check out the full story and continue reading to find out where you can get this look for the fall season!

When it comes to any type of accessory there are two qualities I’m seeking. One, the level of craftsmanship; and two, and the environmental requirements that are necessary for this day and age. Amédée Paris’s Signature hand-roll finished square scarf completely embodies this. Screen printed by French artisans. these scarves are 100% ethically-made & sourced Merino wool from New Zealand. Dimensions: 135cm x 135cm and can be styled many different ways, but a recent favorite of mine is the one-shoulder belted scarf look. It looks strong with a structured blazer or wide-leg pant, but it is the cinch of the belt that seals the deal if you will.

This look has an emphasis on masculinity, but just like any outfit, I love putting a twist on things, and the juxtaposition of feminine vs. masculine is something I do quite often in terms of my style. To complement with the scarf as well as bring a feminine touch to this look, I went with red strappy sandals and a couple of hairpins to soften up the more boyish side to this outfit. I love burgundy/maroon mixed with navy blue for fall, so I opted a beautiful white crossbody bag from Unitude that had hints of blue suede on the handle that goes well with the belt. Would you wear this look to court? How about if you were some sort of “Boho Lawyer”? Thanks for stopping by, I’ve gathered links down below and at the end of the post for future reference. Wishing you a wonderful week! xx

LOVE & XX’S,

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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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Babushka Chic

March 27, 2019

The word, ‘babushka’, has its origins in Russian and means, ‘grandmother’. It also makes reference to the manner in which ladies in Russian, use this type of scarf, covering the head and knotting it under the chin. The last reference was taken to name the famous, ‘Lady Babushka’ who was suspect of recording the Kennedy assassination while wearing this garment. A trend that has come and gone, from Audrey Hepburn to the film, ‘Thelma & Louise’, to the Queen of England and even A.S.A.P Rocky, the rapper, has kept this style alive, even breaking boundaries which is something I definitely enjoy doing. And I really wanted to style this in a great setting instead of the usual street style photos we sometimes take. So continue reading to see the complete shoot along with where to shop the pieces in this look today!

I love a good rib-knit dress in a cotton blend. This one is great for spring. Small stand-up collar, short sleeves, and slits at sides, it’s movable and very comfortable. Since the the weather is not quite springlike here in New York yet, I layered the dress with a faux fur coat with contrasted cuffs to bring out a more Russian-feel to the look. I even wore sheer nude tights to also keep with the overall mood of this outfit. I also mixed with the stripe print with an animal one, as snake print anything is super hot in trends at the moment. Don’t worry, they’ll still be around this coming fall/winter as well.

These snake print booties are awfully comfortable too! Super sleek pointed ankle boots featuring exposed zip and sock style fit, you would think 4.5” in terms of heel height would be too much on the feet, but they’re so well-fitted, like a glove, makes it easy to walk around in. I wouldn’t say this if you’re on your feet all day, but for an afternoon or evening will do just fine. I like my shoes to be practical.

So I’ve mixed in animal print with stripes. You’d think I’d stop there, right? Nah. I love playing up on the beauty of print and patterns. There’s something about pushing boundaries like I mentioned earlier in today’s post, I find that when you do, in terms of fashion & style, you can really find out if these rule-breakers work or not. I wore a blue and white floral scarf around my head, a standard must in a babushka chic outfit. :) This scarf in the post is not intended to be a headscarf and is no longer in stock so I linked a very similar one that can definitely be intended for a headscarf/headwrap.

Other accessories featured in today’s look are a luxe burgundy crossbody bag and gold statement earrings. I hope you enjoyed this more stylized editorial shoot! I am working on doing more of this kind of content, but it takes more time, therefore, a longer waiting period. What did you like the most about this babushka chic look? The headscarf? Coat? Perhaps, you’re wanting to see a trend/concept on MaQ + Suz that you haven’t seen and would like to? Drop your messages down in the comment section below!

LOVE & XX’S,

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Must-Have: Snake Print Booties

November 5, 2018

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PUBLIC DESIRE & THACKER NYC BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Hi, everyone! How was your weekend? Hopefully it included a lot of fun and snuggles during this fall weather! And perhaps some pumpkin-spiced anything lolol. In today’s post, I’m sharing my latest favorite print - one that’s been around for ages, but is still such a versatile fall/winter print, and can you believe it… I’ve never had this in my closet?! It is definitely trending and comes in a variety of sorts, but I’m only styling accessories today, especially your girl’s ultimate fall staple, a classic bootie! Continue reading to see more photos along with a special appearance by my best friend and partner-in-crime, MaQ!

What can I say… Autumn in New York is the look of love. It is my favorite season for a million reasons. Fall fashion is no exception when it comes to staples: Outwear, handbags, denim and yes, ankle booties. And I think one of the fall must-haves every girl should have in her closet are a great pair of snake print booties. The ones featured in today’s post are from Public Desire - a UK-based shoe brand that I absolutely adore, are super sleek pointed ankle boots featuring exposed zip and a sock style fit. Frayed hem denim and an oversized striped shirt or black sweater keep this look fresh. The heel height is 4.5”, which is a bit on the high side for some, but that extra half inch for petite women such as myself go a long way.

I couldn’t resist but style the snake print booties with a similar print when it came to my handbag, but the trick is that it’s not the exact same print. Undeniably feminine, strong, and chic, the Ladybird clutch has a roomy triple gusset construction and a large interior hidden zip pocket, with plenty of space for all of your fall necessities. Wear crossbody by the detachable leather and chain shoulder strap, or carry as a clutch. I’m a fan of contrast and I think the hints of green from the bag go well with the olive-green scarf and apricot coat. MaQ doesn’t hurt the photos haha - isn’t he such a handsome stud? Wishing you a great week. Drop a comment down below and let us know how you’d style these great snake print booties for fall!

LOVE & XX’S,

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Elementary, My Dear Watson

September 25, 2017

WEARING: ROSEGAL DOUBLE BREASTED BELTED PLAID TRENCH COAT | 
FOREVER 21 RIBBED KNIT SWEATER | VAGABOND HONEY JAKARTA DENIM PANTS | 
OLIVER BILOU ROXY CLUTCH/CROSSBODY | GUCCI BELT | LIE COLLECTION SCARF | 
PERIDOT BOUTIQUE LOAFER SLIDES

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROSEGAL & OLIVER BILOU.

After writing and publishing my first novel in 2015, many of you have recently been asking if and when I'll be writing my second one. Well... the answer is still a mystery! Why? A few reasons: To say my debut was on the New York Time's bestseller is definitely not the case. (No, this was not my expectation.) Not to mention I also have at least three other big projects I'm trying to do while simultaneously plotting a way to somehow cure a deep writer's block I've been having for the past year or so. While I have my blog to communicate my daily life with you, in terms of fashion, beauty, love & relationships, photography and more, my one true love has always been the written word and in doing so, telling stories. Favorite way? Definitely fiction. But with a new career path in the digital world, I find it more and more difficult to juggle everything that I do and have been asking myself a lot of questions lately in regards to my work and discipline, in that; can a person be successful in more than one field and when one is struggling in one area more than the other, how can it be managed and put back in order? Continue to read more on my reflections and thoughts on this part of my life, including where to shop my new favorite fall plaid trench from this post that I wore during NYFW!

Now going back to my novel... I never had any intention or high hopes for my book to be anything but legitimately published. Before I found my publisher, I had debated for quite some time whether or not to self-publish and I get asked this question rather frequently when talking amongst other writers. I say there are pro's and con's to both, as there are in everything. But as someone who wanted to establish herself as a writer, I really wanted to be traditionally published. And so I made that happen. And like everything else as well, you learn so much along the way. So long as you're paying attention. With that, I've also embarked on a new journey into the digital world, creating content on a daily basis through photos and text, I truly love what I do. However, finding the time to manage both have put on quite a lot of pressure for myself, balance has never exactly been my forte... I always like to bite off more than I can chew. So, what's a girl to do?

You do the best you can. I am also a photographer, freelancing here and there and everywhere. The hustle is endless, and I would love to reach a point in my life when I won't have to hustle as hard anymore... but does it ever really get easier? I sometimes think we get lost in our own thoughts and have a tendency to think too much about things. Sometimes it's important to just run with it and let what will happen, happen. Because how much can you really control anyway? And how many of you are where you thought you'd be when you were younger? I bet not that many. So the moral of the story is to try your best every day. That's my motto. If I can look at myself in the mirror at the end of each day knowing I gave it my all, in every aspect (which too, in turn, can be a daunting task, especially if one is trying to maintain a social life on top of everything else), then I'm okay with that. What you think about yourself is more important than what anyone else thinks about you.

Something I've also learned from the past year: actions really do speak louder than words and when you deliver, that's it. You're good. Don't get me wrong, guys. I LOVE sharing bits and pieces of my life with you, but there's also boundaries and limitations to that too. I am also very private and when it comes to my personal life, very few are aware of what's really going down. And I think when it comes to the work, let that speak for itself rather than running around telling people what you are going to be doing. I'm all about sharing and conversing with one another, but if it's all talk and nothing else, well... I rest my case. I guess at the end of the day, keep yourself involved in whatever it is that you're extremely passionate about, don't compare yourself to others, (easier said than done, I know.), try to be nice (hey, no one's perfect but try to be lol), and after a lot of hard work (we're talking blood, sweat, tears, and then some), the fruits of your labor will come into play. Don't talk, just do.

And while I started my second novel last summer followed by a nasty case of writer's block, I know the work will come. It took me nearly four years to write my first one while holding down two jobs, so it's a matter of the right timing, patience, and discipline. When it comes to writer's block, my best suggestion is to walk away from what you're trying to write and take a break or, like myself, write about other topics that are very distant from the one that you're focusing on. Or go off for a tiny shopping run, and score this ultra-chic double-breasted belted plaid trench coat from Rosegal like I did! I love to coffee and grey tones with the long silhouette - very Sherlock Holmes. All I need is Hyde Park and some tea with crumpets and I'll be all set! Perhaps I'll be in Europe in the near distant future? Don't forget to leave a comment down below and follow me on Instagram. Have a great week, friends!