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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Proceed to the Sign

December 11, 2017

WEARING: NEW VIBE INC. VERSATILE PLISSE DRESS/TUNIC/SHAWL/SCARF | KLASSE 14 MISS VOLARE CORAL 36MM WATCH | ROSEGAL BLACK JEANS | DRESS LILY POINTED TOE HEEL BOOTS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY NEW VIBE INC. & KLASSE 14.

Last month at Foundermade here in New York City I had met a unique startup brand, one I instantly connected with. NEW ViBE offers a collection of high-quality versatile items that are perfectly tailored to a modern lifestyle. The foundation of the label is to bring new functionalities to the contemporary wardrobe that provide the most comfort and sophistication. The major influences come from textile and technological innovations, visual and performing arts, architecture, music, and travel. NEW ViBE is a line of smart wearables that transform and adapt to 21-st century human addiction - multitasking. And this black plisse dress/tunic/shawl/scarf is one of the many designs I fell in love with! Come see how I styled this as a dress layered up for winter and also as a tunic with some jeans.

One of the first things that stood out to me about NEW ViBE was definitely the material. this dress is made of pleated satin black crepe and imported from France. The details of the dress, too, was an eyecatcher. The side lacing detail comes in two colors: Red and black. I mixed and matched, keeping the bottom with black lace and the top red. Criss-cross lace-anything is definitely trending and also brings a little bit of edge to a more minimal look. I kept things edgy with these black, red-soled boots, tousled hair and vampy dramatic makeup.

Not only is the material top-quality, it is also extremely sustainable and versatile. The dress can also be worn as a tunic, shawl, and scarf. NEW ViBE offers wearable hybrids, multi-category items, called TACTSTyLES that by simple closure manipulation can transform into a different performance item, depending on the occasion. Their pieces can be worn inside out, upside down and back to front. In the second look, scroll down to the last three photos to see more of a casual look, I wore black jeans and changed the dress into a tunic. This gorgeous Volare red watch is from Klasse14. I love the unique color and indentation of the face. Use my promo code, 'suzannespiegoski' to get 12% OFF your purchase from Klasse14!

New Vibe Inc. Versatile plisse dress / tunic / shawl / scarf - NV1046

I love discovering new and innovative brands such as NEW ViBE and what they stand for. The modern day woman is not just one thing anymore; she's many. And with garments designed to function on a number of levels to meet the demands of the new world, it's not just making changes but it's the sign of the times. So if you haven't checked this new startup yet, now's the time to proceed to it. :) Thoughts/comments always welcome at the end of each post! Wishing you all a great new week.

LOVE & XX'S,

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The Red Scooterist

October 23, 2017

WEARING: WET SEAL RED TRENCH W/ BELT | MAD-STYLE CHARLIE BLOUSE | 
MAD-STYLE CAPRI PANTS | MAD-STYLE COLOR BLOCK LARGE TOTE | EGO NASH BACKLESS ANKLE BOOTS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY MAD-STYLE.

When it comes to shooting street style in New York City, there are a thousand and one locations to choose from. What can make it fun even after living here for almost twelve years (this coming January), are the random serendipitous moments that still occur while out and about looking for something different than the norm. Initially, with this red, black and white outfit, I wanted to shoot it in contrast to a very minimal backdrop, but when we started to work the photos didn't look right. When I don't feel something when immediately looking at the image, I move on to something else. It's a strange creative vision, and I always can put together what the final image will look like, even before post-production. After walking around I stumbled upon this beautiful red Vespa and thought it would go well with the red light trench in this look. Plus, I knew it was a setting that didn't look like the typical NYC street style background with taxis and skyscrapers, it really reminded of Italy and just knew it was going to be a great location to shoot in in tune with the outfit. So in today's post, I'm sharing my tricks of the trade on how to find amazing locations, no matter where you are in the world and how you can make it look like any setting you'd like.

1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK

No matter where you're located, be sure to do a little scouting beforehand. It's not only going to help you get inspiration from that within itself, but it'll also get you familiarized with your setting and how you want to shoot. Of course, you're not going to learn everything in one sitting so take it in stride and at least pick a few places you're interested in as the location for your photo shoot. Also, in terms of street style, be sure to also do your homework! Don't schlep together an outfit and call it style. Learn the different eras of fashion, the latest trends, and more to get a deeper knowledge of what you're working with and this will help expand your range of locations/settings as well.

2. STAY CLOSE TO HOME

Helmut Newton never really did shoots far from walking distance wherever he was. And he proved that you don't have to travel far and wide to create incredible photographs. I completely agree. Yes, it's amazing to go to places you've always dreamed about and documenting them with your own eyes, but to me, if you can create strong images near wherever you are, that says a lot over those that need exotic and far travel destinations to create "amazing" images. Because let's face it, nowadays with the quality of the iPhone, anyone that travels to somewhere like this will more than likely be able to create a decent picture. So, I feel in order to be good at location scouting, you should be able to shoot wherever, and more especially very close by.

3. DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET LOST

No matter how much content I've created, I will occasionally run out of steam and won't feel as confident about my direction in terms of street style shoots. In which case, I just don't have as much of a detailed plan and will literally take whichever direction the wind takes me. In this outfit, when I happened to run into this cute red Vespa, it was as if it were meant to happen that way. I don't mean to sound cheesy, but you'll feel the magic in the air while creating something more than just a 'snapshot'. I have to say some of my most memorable shoots ended in serendipity so seriously, don't be scared to wander off the grid.

4. CREATE A STORY

And not just any story, a real authentic one. As cute as outfit posts can be, being a writer and someone who is hungrily willing and able to read anything, I crave more than a 100-word post about some fashion blogger's look. Bring a feeling to the table. It can be any emotion you want, but to me, fashion & style has a lot to do with expression and I think it's quite important to exert how you feel, either in words, photos, outfits, whatever you're trying to evoke, it should have the person who's looking at your work feel SOMETHING. Don't be shy to talk more about how you feel about anything! You can incorporate that with looks and locations and make it of more substance this way. I mean, who doesn't love a good story, right?

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! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram & YouTube for more daily content. Wishing you all a great week!

LOVE & XX'S,

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To Market to Market

October 11, 2017

WEARING: ROSEGAL MESH PANEL HIGH WAIST BLUE JUMPSUIT | GUESS SATIN PUMPS | 
ZAFUL TASSEL LAYERED DROP EARRINGS | THE LUXELLE SILVER PLATED CLUTCH

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROSEGAL & ZAFUL.

When one runs to the grocery store, I think the last thing we're thinking about is the way we are dressed. Now who's to say what can one wear to and from the market? It should be fair game, no? But in reality, most of us are running in and out in our everyday getups - maybe even slipping in with our pjs every now and then, especially on a late night run. This is why I love fashion styling. You don't have to work with the rules of only reality. You can set greater expectations and create stories you wouldn't be able to otherwise without the garments, accessories and everything else in between when gathering a look into a concept. And with my new passion in video (as much as I piss and moan about the process of editing - because yes, it really is a pain) lately, I'm really into creating these teeny tidbits of short film all wrapped up within a minute and incorporating the video with photographs. Come check out this decadent late night run to the market, something I'd totally be doing after show at the Met Opera + dinner... I like having dessert at home.

How crazy luxurious-looking is this blue jumpsuit?! And the more insane part is that it's from Rosegal and it's less than $23! Sadly it's currently sold out! I just checked this morning as I was getting ready for publish this post. But there's other colors like black and red which are also perfect for the fall season! I love a good jumpsuit for date night - like I mentioned earlier this is something I'd wear to the opera or ballet, maybe even a special event of some kind, but it's definitely more on the dressy side for me and I love how confident I feel in it! My silver plated clutch is from The Luxelle, and I love how the bag fancies up the look.

I wore my favorite black pumps. They are from Guess and made of satin with a real sense of comfort. I've had them for years and I still wear them to this day. They can be worn with a pair of jeans or on the dressier side, like in this outfit. To keep the look playful and fun, I chose these multi-colored, layered tassel drop earrings from Zaful. The blues work well with the jumpsuit I feel. Lastly, I also wanted to show some of my favorite upcoming trends in hair & makeup that I saw during Fashion Month and two trends I've really loved are bright, colorful makeup and sleek hair. I did these looks myself - what's funny is these two things are quite familiar to me from back to my skating days. We did big, in your face, makeup, and perfect hair buns without a strand of hair out of place. I'm all for blue eyeshadow and light pink lips lately, it just gives your face that extra pop. What do you guys think of this whole look?

I'm always trying to elevate my creative work - it's not about competing with others. I never have and never will. I'm only in competition with myself and if I don't feel like I'm learning something everyday and getting better with my work, I feel really lost and frustrated. So creating these 'short films' as I call them at the moment, do mean a lot to me and I wouldn't do them if they didn't because a lot of time and energy goes into them. That's how I am with people too, but that's for another time over coffee. Ha ha! Anyhow, would you like to see more conceptualized stories such as this on the blog? I'd love to hear your thoughts so don't forget to drop a comment before you go! Thanks for stopping - follow me on Instagram and YouTube for the latest! See you guys soon. :)

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To market to market, it's never about competing with others but only with yourself. So I'm trying to bring you guys a new editorial every week, with a different concept in tune with fashion, style, and short film. And all in less than a minute.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Rosegal Mesh Panel High Waist Blue Jumpsuit

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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!