Hot Pink Parisian

October 2, 2017

WEARING: FOREVER 21 HOT PINK RIBBED SWEATER-KNIT CROP TOP | 
LEVI'S 711 ALTERED SKINNY JEANS | ASSEMBLY NEW YORK STANDARD BLACK BELT COAT | 
FOREVER 21 BURGUNDY FAUX LEATHER ANKLE BOOTS | LEVI'S WINTER WOOL BERET | 
BRAHMIN ANDESITE GABRIELLA MELBOURNE BAG | FOREVER 21 OVERSIZED ROUND GLASSES

Hot Pink Parisian Chic! Since Paris Fashion Week, I've been getting all the feels (and a MAJOR desire) to not just visit ole' Paree but to dress like one! One of my biggest inspirations when it comes to that effortless Parisian chic style is the iconic Caroline de Maigret. Her laid back but rock n roll look (not to mention she's basically married to a rock star, and how incredibly hot is that?!) always brings me inspiration when it comes to my own style. But fashion is not supposed to be one main thing. And so begins the story of this hot pink sweater-knit crop top from Forever 21. No, this is not a sponsored post. I just wanted to share with you a look that mixes different pieces together that can be affordable but still giving you that Parisian chic vibe including some 90s vibes up in here! Continue reading to hear about why I HAD to style this colorful top and how you can get this look too!

The other day I had run into a Forever 21 store just to look and de-stress from hours of burning holes into my eye sockets from the computer screen. To others like myself, this means editing your life away... am I right?! I had taken my usual lap around the store before going upstairs to see what other stuff they had. One of the first things that caught my eye was this hot pink sweater-knit crop top. It's velvet, soft to the touch and looked oh so cute. BUT. One, I'm not a pink-wearing type of gal and two, crop tops are not typically in my wardrobe. So initially, I walked away from it. But even after a whole day of not being able to stop thinking about that damn top, I was finally convinced to go back and get it!

I'm sure many of you ladies can relate. And it's a sure sign to go back and get whatever it is that you can't stop thinking about (so long as you don't break the bank hardcore with what you can afford, ha ha!) Got to trust that first gut instinct too. If you're in awe of a piece right away, it may be a good sign to at least try it on. Other pieces I had to have are these oversized round sunglasses that are so 90s retro and these comfy burgundy patent faux leather ankle boots. I think each accessory fits well with the beret (it's from Levi's of all places!) I love that it's wool material because that means I can wear it through the winter season as well! My jeans are also from Levi's, and more specifically are style 711 altered skinny jeans. I love the long-lined seams in the back along with how comfortable they are to move around in.

My staple fall coat is this black one from Assembly New York. I've had it for a couple of years now and I still wear it every fall/winter season. I love how classic it is, also made out of wool, and the beautiful cuts of the coat along with the long belt. I think it goes well with the ensemble, no? And you can still wear crop tops when it gets chillier, especially with a bad boy like this on you! ;) What are some of your favorite ways to mix in summer-like pieces into your fall wardrobe?

I really wanted to style this Forever 21 top not only for how much I love it but because it's something outside of what I normally wear. The most vibrant color I have the most in my closet is probably red (Hello, Aries.) but I think adding a few pieces here and there and trying stepping away from your comfort zone is always a good thing. It's how you will learn and grow, even if it's not always a hit. Because we're all going through hits & misses, what do you think? I'd love to hear how you try and elevate your styles! Whether it's adding more refined, high-end pieces, or trying something new, or both, what do you think works for you?

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Forever 21 Hot Pink Ribber Sweater-Knit Crop Top

Assembly New York Standard Black Belt Coat

Forever 21 Patent Faux Leather Boots Burgundy

Brahmin Andesite Gabriella Melbourne Bag

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Zaful Floral Pantsuit

September 27, 2017

WEARING: ZAFUL FLORAL BLAZER | ZAFUL FLORAL PANTS | ADORE ME BODYSUIT |
CLOSET ACCESS MINI ARIA SADDLE BAG | EGO TEGAN POINTED TOE ANKLE BOOTS | 
GUCCI BELT | GORJANA MIKA LARIAT NECKLACE

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ZAFUL.

Borrowed from the boys but geared for the girls, mansy tailoring is this season's key trend. It'll keep you looking like the business, while exaggerated 80s shoulders and pops of color are a strong style right now. Not to mention anything floral print for the fall season is all the rage right now. And this peach-colored pantsuit from Zaful is the perfect amount of feminine touch mixed in with one of my favorite trends right now, menswear for women. Normally I'm into oversized more structured pieces when it comes to a masculine look but when I saw this pantsuit and its gorgeous floral print, and the fact that there's nothing more I want right now than to be at Paris Fashion Week, I'll be living vicariously through the 'cool cats' and in turn, will dress up a getup as if I were in Paree!

How perfect would the City of Lights be as a backdrop for this photo shoot?! One of the perks of living somewhere like New York City when it comes to photo shoots are the endless amounts of locations to choose from. Can you believe I've lived here for over 11 years and I have yet to still make a visit out to Coney Island? We were going to shoot there before the summer ended but ran out of time due to crazy schedules. When I wanted to find a place in the city that could resemble Paris (okay, I know nothing can resemble Paris exactly but...) I always found the center of Union Square Park to be quite magical and reminiscent of Western Europe.

Now, what went with what in terms of this lovely pantsuit? I styled it with a really cute Adore Me black sheer bodysuit. I love this one especially because you can still wear it during the fall season before it gets too cold and how well it can go with a chic pair of jeans or something more detailed like this look. I feel like it gave the outfit a little sensuality/sexiness to the overall empowered look. To bring a little-added attention to the lace details of the bodysuit, I wore a long slinky necklace by Gorjana I received from one of the shows during NYFW.

Since I'm super petite (yes, I look taller in all my photos because it's all about the angles!) I wore my favorite sock boots at the moment. They completely look like the Balenciaga boots, but since my wallet can't shell out a grand+ for a pair, you got to opt for something more affordable for the time being! And these give me all the added height and confidence a pair of shoes should give a gal! What do you think of this fall look? See something that caught your eye? You can shop directly down below or in the beginning of this post. Don't forget to leave your comments down below too! See you guys soon!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Closet Access Aria Mini Saddle Bag Maroon

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The House of the Angel

September 11, 2017

THE HOUSE OF THE ANGEL

photographer SUZANNE SPIEGOSKI

stylist SUZANNE SPIEGOSKI

hair STACEY PALANCIA

makeup STACEY PALANCIA

model HANJING (ANGEL) ZHENG

Clothing credits

Look 1 Sarah Swann Two-Piece Track Suit

Look 2 deux A White Shirt Dress

Look 3 & 4 Layana Aguilar Black Dress // LELET NY Butterfly Necklace

Look 5 & 6 Floriane Fosso Winter Shearling Coat // LELET NY Silver Earrings & Bobbies

Look 7 Sarah Swann Detachable Green Fur Hood

Look 8 Sarah Swann Grey Marl Coat

Look 9 Forever 21 Burgundy Dress // LELET NY Poppies Wide Headband

Look 10 deux A White Shirt Dress (Styled differently from Look 2)

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

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,

SHOP THE LOOK

Avanzara–b House of Kimberly Teal Blouse Vintage

Larna Pointed Toe Ankle Boot In Metallic Rose Gold Faux Leather

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Fall Stripes with Red Panama Hat

August 21, 2017

WEARING: MAD-STYLE FLUTED SLEEVE CREWNECK TOP | MAD-STYLE RED PANANA FLANNEL HAT |
 GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | PERIDOT BOUTIQUE LOAFER SLIDES |
 MAD-STYLE PEARL MULTI RING CHOKER

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MAD-STYLE.

Happy Monday, guys! How was everyone's weekend? The past few days I've been struggling with the mundane everyday life responsibilities, just finding the time to do laundry has been challenging! Life happens when you're busy making other plans, am I right?! But I have no complaints, I'm so crazy about what I'm doing in terms of work that I literally forget about the other things in life I also need to be doing (until I'm on my last run of granny panties... then you know you've outdone yourself HA HA) But that's also the great thing about New York City, don't have time to do the laundry? Drop it off somewhere and have someone do it for you. (No, I don't do that but I could...) you can even have someone come and pick up your laundry for you! Aside from my hectic schedule that doesn't seem to be calming down anytime soon, my all-time favorite season is just around the corner and I couldn't wait to get started on my new fall wardrobe! Today's look is all about bold colors and patterns that will super trendy this season, and at the same time keeping the outfit somewhat casual yet super chic! Let's take a closer look at some of my new favorite items I picked up from Mad-Style.

Stripes are hot, hot hot right now and will definitely transition into the cooler season. This fluted sleeve crewneck from Mad-Style is my new favorite striped shirt! What I find so adorable about this top are its large bell sleeves! This oversized flounce sleeved top brings such a lovely detail to any casual look, it's perfect with your favorite pair of jeans or maxi skirt. I also love how thin the stripes are as they make it for a flattering fit for anyone!

One bold color I always wear when feeling fabulously confident is red. I'm an Aries and red is definitely a hue that has burned long and hard in my heart when it comes to my selective choices in color. When I first noticed this Panama hat, I was immediately drawn to its rich color along with a unique belt accent that adds another notch of luxury and style. This buckle adornment is very eye-catching along with the flannel material in this boho, fedora style hat!

My jeans are from Genuine People and my loafer slides are from Peridot Boutique. The last piece from this look and also from Mad-Style is this gorgeous pearl multi-ring choker necklace. The stunning multi-strand leather necklace with large conjoined rings and large pearl stone in the center I found to also be very unique. The rings come in different gold tone finishes: gold, rose gold, and silver. Are you guys loving the striped shirt, red hat and/or necklace? If you are adoring the Mad-Style pieces as much as I am, use my promo code, 'maqandsuz' to get 20% OFF your purchase from Mad-Style! They also carry a variety of accessories such as jewelry, clothes and even dog apparel! You can also shop this look down below. Don't forget to leave a comment on your thoughts from this post! Follow me on Instagram too! Have a great week, everyone! :)