Pastel Winter Outfit

December 4, 2018

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope your week is off to a good start! Winter days = lot of cold, dreary ones, much like the New York weather as of late. Which is why I’m kicking it off in today’s post with lots of pastels! One of my favorite trends for the upcoming winter season - this color palette is most suitable for spring, but hey, rules are boring and are made to be broken. So in today’s post I’m sharing a pastel winter look, with lots of cheer. And a lot of oversized accessories, because you know how your girl does it when it comes to styling! See it all go down now, continue to read and see more!

The LIE Collection blue grey double-breasted overcoat is a personal fav from their latest A/W collection. Want to know a teeny secret to a good quality coat? Sit on it for a while, and if it doesn’t wrinkle and the cut falls back to its original place: You found yourself a keeper. Such as this light blue wool coat, it’s the perfect grey undertone to mix with other brighter pastel colors such as green. The buttons and color-blocking belt also add a luxurious touch, even though I find this such a sophisticated winter coat. Let’s move along to the accessories of this look which are minty fresh!

This oversized green bucket bag is from Sometime by Asian Designers. This particular bag is very practical and great to carry around for your everyday essentials. They have a variety of designs and colors, are quite affordable, and the quality is pretty good too! What I love most about this bag, aside from its size is the personalization on it. They put my first name on the bag, which is always such a nice attention to detail. Who else is a fan of having your name or monogram on literally everything?

My sunglasses are vintage and were picked up at a flea market in SoHo from this past summer. I have no idea what brand or label they’re from. They were $20 bucks and the person who spotted them first was my husband! This kind of mint green shade or ‘aqua seafoam’ green is one of my favorite colors and even though it’s fitting for spring/summer, I think it’s also great for the winter season.

My t-shirt is vintage. I’ve had it since I was a teenager! No idea where I got it from, but it’s Fruit Gushers (strawberry flavored lol) and thought the colors fit with the coat and accessories well. Plus it’s quite cute, no? Lastly my boots are from Public Desire. Regarding most pieces from this post, I’ve linked similar styles and different prices points like the sunglasses, bag, boots and coat. How do you feel about this look? Leave your thoughts down in the comment section! Wishing you a great rest of the week.

LOVE & XX’S,

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Houndstooth & Charles Bukowski

October 16, 2017

WEARING: VINTAGE MACKINTOSH OVERSIZED HOUNDSTOOTH JACKET |
FOREVER 21 OVERSIZED CUTOUT SHIRT | LEVI'S 711 ALTERED SKINNY JEANS |
EGO NASH BACKLESS ANKLE BOOTS | CHARLES BUKOWSKI WOMEN

I WAS SENTIMENTAL ABOUT MANY THINGS: A WOMAN'S SHOES UNDER THE BED; ONE HAIRPIN LEFT BEHIND ON THE DRESSER; THE WAY THEY SAID, "I'M GOING TO PEE. . ."; HAIR RIBBONS, WALKING DOWN THE BOULEVARD WITH THEM AT 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, JUST TWO PEOPLE WALKING TOGETHER; THE LONG NIGHTS OF DRINKING AND SMOKING, TALKING; THE ARGUMENTS; THINKING OF SUICIDE; EATING TOGETHER AND FEELING GOOD; THE JOKES; THE LAUGHTER OUT OF NOWHERE; FEELING MIRACLES IN THE AIR; BEING IN A PARKED CAR TOGETHER; COMPARING PAST LOVERS AT 3AM; BEING TOLD YOU SNORE, HEARING HER SNORE; MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, SONS, CATS, DOGS; SOMETIMES DEATH AND SOMETIMES DIVORCE, BUT ALWAYS CARRYING ON, ALWAYS SEEING IT THROUGH; READING A NEWSPAPER ALONE IN A SANDWICH JOINT AND FEELING NAUSEA BECAUSE SHE'S NOW MARRIED TO A DENTIST WITH AN I.Q. OF 95; RACETRACKS, PARKS, PARK PICNICS; EVEN JAILS; HER DULL FRIENDS, YOUR DULL FRIENDS; YOUR DRINKING, HER DANCING; YOUR FLIRTING, HER FLIRTING; HER PILLS, YOUR FUCKING ON THE SIDE, AND HER DOING THE SAME; SLEEPING TOGETHER. . . .

One of the many passages from writer Charles Bukowski's novel, Women, I always found comfort in his writing. His style flairs in the rawest form of honesty, something that most writers today do not have. The older I become the more I realize how important it is to pull away from the idea of what perfection is supposed to be - straight to its core in every aspect. Bukowski wasn't exactly the nicest of people; a total misogynist, narcissist and straight up alcoholic. Many disliked him, but many like myself saw him as an influence not just in the realm of writing. So in today's post I'm sharing with you five things I've learned from one of my favorite American writers.

HONESTY

Writers have so many things they can’t write about: family, spouses, exes, children, jobs, bosses, colleagues, friends. That’s why they make stuff up. Fiction is their best friend. But Bukowski didn’t let himself get hampered by that so we see real brutal honesty, a real anthropological survey of being down and out for 60+ years without anything being held back. No other writer before or since has done that. For a particular example, see his novel, Women which detailed every sexual nuance of every woman who dared to sleep with him after he achieved some success. Most of these women were horrified after the book came out. It's actually one of my favorite books written by Bukowski and the beginning excerpt of this post is from Women. Sure he talks badly about most of the experiences he has had with women, but what I really love about it is the cold hard dose of reality that comes with any relationship: disappointment, pain, heartache... love... and the way he is so candor about some of the more intimate parts of life. Think about it, would you find it easy or rather difficult talking about your personal relationships through the written word?

DISCIPLINE

Imagine coming home from an awful day at work and arguing with a woman/man that was living with you, finishing off a six-pack of beer and then... writing. He did it every day. Most people want to write that novel, or finish that painting, or start that business, but have zero discipline to actually sit down and do it. I'm actually amazed he had any sort of discipline at all. With that kind of work ethic, it just goes to show that if you truly love what you're doing, it will supersede the rest. (Even through the potent powers of alcohol!) In order to be a writer, you must really love to write and you must write every single day. Easy to say, but so tough to do. I, myself, also write every day, but I'm not going to lie, there are some pretty bad days where I just want to throw my typewriter out the window. But you keep at it, because it's all you know, it's all you have and without the written word, you feel like you could die. That's how Bukowski felt too.

SHAMELESSNESS

Bukowski didn't give a rat's ass what people thought about him. And I praise him for that. I'm constantly looking over my shoulder and am always second-guessing myself. I sometimes wish I could throw caution to the wind and really have that mentality of 'no f*cks given' at all times. But when feeling extra down, my insecurities tend to get the best of me. Learning the art of not caring what people think takes time and experience, I think. But I've always admired those who really didn't worry about the opinions of others - because it's not as easy as it looks. It can be cleverly hidden in so many different ways.

POETRY

Bukowski was quite the poet. And it's all non-fiction, which to me, is the best part. It's not the puzzle-kind of poetry where you have to intellectually decode it to understand it. His work was straight to the point. Poetry was something that let writers to master making each word in a sentence effective and powerful. It was this training that allowed them to destroy the competition when they sat down to write their longer pieces. That's how I also got started in writing. In fact, the first two pieces I ever had published were actually poems I wrote as a young teenager. It was only after these publications that I really started to consider becoming a writer.

PERSISTENCE

The man wrote his first novel at age 49. And it took him over 25 years to become a successful writer. Everyone (mostly everyone) nowadays wants instant gratification. Less and less are understanding what it takes to become one of the greats. I find that when most figure out how long or how much dedication/work will be required to reach whatever goal you may have, most tend to give up before even reaching that halfway mark. And Bukowski was far from perfect and yet still managed to become what he wanted to become. So if he could stay persistent despite all the misfortunes and misgivings life can bring, he still kept plugging away and never gave up. And to me, that's what makes the heart of any champion...

LOVE & XX'S,

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How I Went from Criminal Justice to Fashion

September 6, 2017

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

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! :)

LOVE & XX'S,

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Avanzara–b House of Kimberly Teal Blouse Vintage

BRAHMIN ANDESITE GABRIELLA MELBOURNE BAG

Larna Pointed Toe Ankle Boot In Metallic Rose Gold Faux Leather

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How to Wear an Ankle Length Kimono Wrap

March 13, 2017

WEARING: ROSEGAL ANKLE LENGTH KIMONO WRAP | ZARA BLACK SWEATER
ROSEGAL BLACK JEANS | LITTLE E NYC KC BEAUTIFUL DAY BLUE BAG | 
UO BLACK PATTI LOW HEEL MULE | VINTAGE JADE HOOP EARRINGS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY ROSEGAL & LITTLE E NYC.

Happy Monday! New York City's spring has not sprung yet and we're about to embark in one last blizzard (hopefully) of the winter season. A blizzard in NYC means over a foot of snow, so I know a lot of my fellow Michiganders are scratching their heads over this ha, ha but it went from a foot to now two feet... and I had an early meeting at a showroom tomorrow that just got postponed! I bet I'm not the only one who is SICK of the cold and nasty-ass weather.

But this won't stop me from showing you my new favorite spring piece for the upcoming season! Prints are still on-trend but those unique finds that aren't only suiting your personal taste but complement with your already-diverse wardrobe are what gets me excited to style it. I've been searching for a kimono that not only flattered my petite frame but was also not a cliché type one (sorry folks, I've seen far too many that make my eyes cringe.) But when I stumbled upon this one from Rosegal, it wasn't just the print that caught my eye. The details such as the length and the velvet straps on the sleeves and waistline made my heart skip a beat.

I styled the ankle length kimono wrap with a pair of Rosegal black jeans that have such a fun fringe on the ends. To give the rough edges a soft subtlety at the same time, I wore mules with a low heel. The black suede also make them super comfy to walk around in, I just wish it was a little warmer so I can actually start wearing them! My favorite black sweater from Zara is also a great transitional piece from winter to spring, especially on those chillier days. This blue bag by Little E NYC is made from genuine full grain leather with a beautiful faux ostrich skin texture. I love the size of the bag as it can easily fit my iPad and other work essentials while running around the city. And how chic is it for spring?! Lastly, I've linked a similar pair of my vintage jasmine hoop earrings down below.

LOVE & XX'S,

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The Crème de la Crème

July 18, 2016

WEARING: F21 GRAPHIC TEE | HOLLISTER CO. RIPPED DENIM MINI-SKIRT |

VINTAGE BLACK SATIN RIBBON | THE SAVVY HEART NECKLACE | BLACK BANDANA PAISLEY

My intentions today were to delight you in a wonderful new gastronomy recipe, but it was one of those Monday's where some things just didn't work in my favor. Especially this morning. After mistakingly thinking Windfall Farms (where I get edible flowers) was stationed at the Union Square Farmer's market on Monday's, I quickly came to realize they were only there on Wednesdays and Saturdays. So I went with plan B, looking for other gourmet-type of grocery stores (I mean, you can't find anything on the island of Manhattan, right?!) that had available edible flowers. I've been wanting to incorporate them into my dishes not just for taste, but also for styling/plating. I searched through several Whole Foods where at my last one, and my FIFTH store, I called before heading over because of the heat. I thought it was my lucky day! They had a few left and they were going to hold them for me! Win! No. When I arrived to customer service where they had told me to pick up my reserved flowers, the poor woman's face immediately changed when I told her what I was there for. She informed me that the second the guy got off the phone with me and went to go get the flowers to hold them for me, someone had already grabbed them in the store! WHAAAAAAA! I walked over 20 blocks to get them. So I may not have a new recipe for you, but I'm tanner and not getting fatter so there is truth to always staying positive! Ha ha ha!

Since I had such an awesome response from my 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' story, I wanted to share a little more on the subject, like this crème de la crème graphics tee I've had over the years from Forever 21. When it comes to a lot of pieces from my closet, they've been around. Ha! Of course, I love updating staple pieces but I'm a little bit of a secret hoarder! I just can't throw any of my clothes out! I can't even give them away, which I've been doing a lot of this year, in terms of cleaning out my closet (sorry for the Eminem phrase). But I'm like Carrie in the episode where Aidan has moved in and she has to make room for his stuff, which proves to be rather challenging for her. This is exactly me! I just can't bear to part from any of my clothes. Why? I think it's because I get my clothes from all sorts of places and they carry memories and special meanings within them. Like the Hollister Co. ripped denim mini-skirt? I fell hard in 'em with my first love while in college. And while I still wear them because not only do they still fit, but because more importantly, they're a reminder of who I was and who I still am today.

Like most other girls, I've really been into the 90s comeback vibes lately, especially in the last year. I'm all for chokers, platform shoes and gothic emo looks. When I collaborated with The Savvy Heart almost a year ago, I was immediately drawn to their flair & style. They were one of the first brands I worked with when embarking my journey into the world of blogging. The black satin ribbon I'm wearing around my waist as a belt? This is the exact same 'belt' I wore when I married my husband! I love wearing satin, and when I wear this one in particular, I can't help but feel closer to my boo. Wearing it makes me all mushy, but I don't care, I love how I feel wearing it! And that's what really matters when it comes to what you put on.

Coming up this week? Definitely my gastronomy post, recipe included, you know I'm all on it! Wish I could give you a clue, but for this one I'm keeping it a surprise. I also have another anniversary coming up, my very first 'blogversary'! I will be doing a special giveaway, along with a post reflecting from the past year, so keep your eye peeled! Lastly, I'd love to hear some of your shared memories with pieces of clothing in your closets! Comment down below. Thanks for stopping by! We hope everyone has a wonderful, 'cool' week! :)

Photos by: Suzanne Spiegoski (Self-Portrait)