Neon Skirt Outfit

October 7, 2019

WEARING: KNIT SWEATER | NEON SKIRT | SNAKEPRINT BOOTS | OLIVE GREEN SADDLE BAG

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY H&M, PUBLIC DESIRE, GIGI NEW YORK BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

One of the biggest trends to hit fashion in recent years is neon. But there are many ways to wear this vibrant color and in many different shades. A color I love during fall is yellow but how about wearing a shade of that in neon? I’d normally pair neon yellow with other bold colors like pink, orange, maybe a purple but what about a more muted tone such as grey or sepia? Can this give a fall/winter look? Continue reading to see how you can incorporate neon easily into your autumn wardrobe and where to directly find each piece from this look.

This calf-length skirt in soft, stretch velour has not only a wonderful color but the draping is also exceptional. I love velour as a material but it can oftentimes look inexpensive and somewhat tacky. This one definitely does quality justice. I paired the skirt with a chunky grey knit sweater that’s perfect for the fall and winter season. I wanted to see if this color palette could work: grey and neon. I think with the right accessories and colors together it can.

This green saddle bag works well with both the neon and grey. And I think with the sepia tones from the snakeskin boots, the color balance overall does work. Definitely not the norm, but I always like the experiment and see what can possibly work you wouldn’t see otherwise had you not tried to begin with. What do you guys think of this color scheme and look for the season?

LOVE & XX’S,

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Stars and Stripes

February 21, 2019

WEARING: STRIPED MAXI SWEATER DRESS | TRIANGLE CLUTCH | BLACK SOCK BOOTS | STARS HAIR CLIP

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY GEEGEEBAE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Thursday, everyone! I’ve been back from London a couple of days ago, and it’s been nonstop work straight off the plane again, with a little sickness (respiratory infection of sorts w/ a ‘fun’ raspy voice) and complete exhaustion. But still trudging through and getting it done because that’s the way it is around here! Today’s post is dedicated to the teasing springlike weather, and as many of you I’m sure, just like myself, are itching to take those heavy winter coats off! But with transitional weather right now, it’s still not quite time for that, so our wardrobe needs something in between. How about a gorgeous striped maxi sweater dress? Continue reading to learn more about how I styled this particular piece, where to shop and more of what’s to come on M + S!

Who says you can’t wear your stars and stripes before the Fourth of July? And it doesn’t have to be in red, white and blue either. I love mixing prints, in which case, this is more about mixing materials and textures, but still falls in the category lines of it. I’ve been growing my bangs out since I grew tired of the maintenance it took with them. So with the latest hair trend, everything clips, barrettes, etc; I took the liberty in styling my hair with a single hair piece, amongst them the stars. I wore the stars hair clip the opposite way to have the dangling star on my upper face, to give it a ‘Rainbow Brite’ kind of vibe with the candy-colored striped maxi sweater dress.

The striped maxi sweater dress features an off-the-shoulder long bishop sleeves with ribbed cuffs, ribbed fold-over neckline, and double patch pockets. It’s the perfect dress for pre-spring. On warmer days you can wear it by itself (with perhaps some thermo wear underneath) and on those chillier days, top it with a trench or warmer oversized coat and you’ll look stylish both ways! I think it would pair nice with a powder blue or a khaki color, what kind of coat would you wear with this dress?

To elongate my height with the long maxi dress, I opted for black sock boots with a high heel. Other accessories with this look is the green triangle clutch and pink lippie. I’m not much of a pink girl, but it’s the most frequent color I’ve been wearing on my lips the past six months! I’ve been using Lime Crime’s lip liners and they’re absolutely the best I’ve ever tried in the business. They’re even smudge-proof, which is always a plus for someone like me who’s running around town and doesn’t like to touch up my makeup that much during the day. Because with good makeup, you won’t need to do much touch-ups!

I hope you guys enjoyed this outfit today! Still to come on the blog later this week, my recap of NYFW shows, LFW shows and LFW outfits. Not the mention my February beauty favorites which there are a ton this month (alas, the life behind a beauty product junkie ha ha!) We are also stirring the pot for more interesting content for this year, but these will take a lot of time so please be patient! I will announce more news as it comes sooner into the limelight. If you’re an avid reader of M + S, we’d love to hear from you! What would you like to see more of this year? Anything we’re not covering that you think we should? Drop those suggestions/comments down in the section below! See you guys soon. :)

LOVE & XX’S,

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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,

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Parachute Jacket + Fanny Pack

November 18, 2017

WEARING: LIANA CAMBA PARACHUTE JACKET | 
SHOPFW RIB KNIT STRAPPY CROP TOP| ROSEGAL BLACK JEANS | MEDUSA GREEN FANNY PACK
NIKE REVOLUTION 3 RUNNING SHOES IN BLACK

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LIANA CAMBA.

Hey, everyone! How is your weekend going? I've been running around like a maniac the past couple of weeks attending events, meetings, appointments and then some. I've been also buried in my digital consulting work, and all of it rolled into one can take a toll after a while. I even had the opportunity to attend the Consumer Discovery Show this year with Foundermade and I met so many great brands and networked with so many wonderful people. It was a really wonderful experience and I can't wait to be back next year! I don't normally publish on the weekend but there's a ton of upcoming content coming your way before the holiday weekend so keep your eyes peeled. In today's post, I'm sharing two designers I find to be unique and one, in particular, will have a double-feature on the blog: One today, and another on Monday! Let's learn more about this designer first in today's sporty look.

Athens-based fashion designer Liana Camba has designed versatile yet sophisticated womenswear since 1987. The epitome of the Liana Camba woman is a combination of intelligence elegance and glamor. Inspired by the multiplicity of a contemporary woman’s roles, Liana Camba’s designs focus on flattering a female body and adapt a woman’s personal style to her demanding everyday life. All fabrics are sourced with care and all garments are created on her premises under her personal supervision. Take a look at this amazing parachute jacket designed by her. What I love in particular is the material and double layer of thinner fabrics like the inner mesh. This particular piece gave me all sorts of urban street style vibes, and I knew exactly what would go perfectly with this jacket: the famous fanny pack!

Run by two talented Israeli designers, they are bringing innovative textiles into the mix. Look at the detail on the green pouch/fanny bag. The concept of MeDusa came to life in 2009, when Israeli designers Gili Rozin Tamam and Adi Gal searched for a way to bring innovative textiles into the fashion and accessories industry. They were driven by the desire to create something completely new in the fashion accessory market, to take a relatively well-known material and use it in a groundbreaking and innovative way. Immediately drawn to the unique look that resulted from sculpting a compound of industrial plastic in vibrant hues, the designers found the basis to their signature style of bags, purses, and clutches. MeDusa seamlessly blends vintage shapes with modern textures, designing contemporary urban styles with a knack for the edgy details. Beyond style, MeDusa takes pride in the fact that all its designs are cruelty-free, eco-friendly, and incredibly durable. Named after the infamous Greek deity, and the Hebrew word for “jellyfish”, MeDusa is dominantly influenced by the all the beautiful colors and patterns found in sea life.

I love that the fanny pack can also be worn as a cross body bag, but I styled it where it's worn in front of the chest. Trust me, all that running around in the city; this comes in handy! What are your thoughts on the comeback of fanny packs? Yay or nay? I've always loved them! Catch y'all back here on Monday, with another feature with Liana Camba, and more this week here at MaQ + Suz! Kisses.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Oranges and Gingham

May 26, 2017

WEARING: ZAFUL GINGHAM ROMPER | YOINS GREEN BATCHEL BAG W/ CONTRAST TRIMS | 
ZARA CORK & LEATHER WEDGES | VINTAGE JADE HOOP EARRINGS | H&M WOODEN BANGLES

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ZAFUL & YOINS.

IT'S LIKE APPLES TO ORANGES, PEACHES TO PLUMS, YEAH, I'M BANANAS!

My last editorial was a bit somber and because it's also Friday, I wanted to share some more upbeat content. 'Cause life's also too damn short to sit around and feel sad all the time too, am I right? One thing I'm not too keen on expressing is my insecurities ['cause we all have 'em too (from time to time)] since most don't understand why I would be this way or that I'm just full of crap. To be brutally honest, I've had low self-esteem my whole life and though it does have a lot to do with my upbringing, I only have myself to blame. How did I get here? I was raised to believe that nothing I'd do would be ever good enough, that even "my best would never do", according to my father. Of course, that's stuck with me since he's said that to my face, and even though he's no longer with me, I'm still trying to prove him and the world wrong. That I am enough. That I matter. That I'm worth more than just a pretty face.

What's upbeat about this you might be thinking? Well... the more time and energy I'm investing in what I'm doing when it comes to digital content, the more proud and courageous I'm becoming in sharing with you more about me, and also perhaps breaking the rules here and there while you follow me along the way. Because since taking creative content as seriously as I do, I've simultaneously have been healing from all the things from the past that do make us insecure and not feeling like we belong anywhere. No, I didn't need validation from social media. Did I perhaps in my past seek that kind of approval from a man? Perhaps... because no one's perfect – at least I have the balls to admit to my flaws. I create for myself because I HAVE to. Without it, I'd probably go insane, bananas, if you will... and hearing from you guys every day is what helps keep me going. Your support has been tremendous and just knowing I have some affect in your lives means everything to me. It has been so inspiring and I couldn't have felt this good about myself without you!

Be sure though that feeling good about yourself starts within. When I first started doing more editorial like shoots for MaQ + Suz, I was trying to elevate my skills & strengths to a higher level. Because of course, this, in turn, would make me feel productive and then really great. But the more involved I became in my research with fashion & photography, the more I craved to produce visual stories and to try and mix things up by taking risks and continuing to challenge myself. And the more story-telling I do, the more confident I am in my capabilities. That perhaps what I am doing is sort of right, that readers actually dig my work. It is true what they say, keep your head held up high and don't let 'em knock you down. The way you carry yourself and the way you let others treat you says a lot about you, so start from within and know that doing you without any compromise will not only get you far, but being an unapologetic badass and sticking up for what you want will reward you with all the self-love in return.

With my upbeat take on myself, I wanted to do a shoot with fruit but very much in street style mode. And because of the warm colors, I wanted to do a little spin on some good ole' 70s vibes. Mixing in my California roots with my saucy attitude, this gingham romper by Zaful is so freaking cute and comfortable! I love how breathable it is for hotter days and the girly cut on the bottom of this romper is too adorable. I knew I had to style it with chunky bangles and big hoop earrings. To keep it kind of pin-up girl-ish, I stuck with my favorites cork wedges by Zara and did my hair in a high ponytail (because let's face it ladies, when it's that hot out, you just got to put your mane up). Lastly can we talk about how amazing this green bag is from Yoins?! Stylish, iconic and versatile — a clever hybrid of the Satchel and the Briefcase, the 'Batchel' is the newest addition to my bag fam! And one of many of the summer gang... What do you guys think of this look? And when it comes to the insecurities we all face from time to time, how do you cope with them? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Comment and shop the look down below – wishing you all a lovely weekend!