A Midwestern Victorian

WEARING: SHEIN EYELET EMBROIDERED RUFFLE BLOUSE | DL1961 HEPBURN JEANS |
EGO BOOTS | GUCCI BELT | ANA LUISA EARRINGS

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHEIN, DL1961 & URBAN DECAY COSMETICS. 

My Midwest DNA has been infected with a Victorian flair. Today's post focuses on fusing the two together and where the inspiration is behind the look. A lot of you ask me what's my take on my personal style and here's my answer: Midwestern Rock n Roll mixed with European Chic. Since my visit to London, there has definitely been more of a British style within my looks. I've also included my new favorite makeup pieces from Urban Decay Cosmetics, incorporating an overall coral tone for an updated, fresh spring look. Continue reading to learn more about the products along with where you can get this white eyelet embroidered ruffle top for only $20!

SHOP THE FLAT LAY

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in 'Demolition' 
80s purple fala round framed sunglasses 
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in 'Alkaline'
Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat 
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 'Backtalk' 
Louis Vuitton Poche Toilette 15 Monogram Pouch 

SHOP THE TOP

The Eyelet Embroidered Ruffle And Bell Cuff Blouse is from SHEIN and is only $20! It's the perfect addition to your spring closet. Its crisp details will turn many heads! And what makes this blouse so fantastic along with it being purely chic? Comfort level 100. It's very wearable and makes me feel uber fashionable with it on. I also tucked it inside my jeans to give the blouse a more fitted, clean look. Hurry now and shop here before it is sold out! 

SHOP THE JEANS

The blouse would also go well with a maxi skirt/dress but I styled it with a pair of wide leg jeans by DL1961, a New York City-based premium denim brand specializing in high-performance, sustainably manufactured denim that always offers a perfect fit. Katharine Hepburn's brazen style is reinterpreted with these aptly named wide legs. Its ultra high rise is fitted through the waist and butt, widening onwards from the thigh. Soft yet sturdy in 100% cotton, Slate is an old-school indigo wash with a heavily ravaged hem. 

Accessories included in this look are Ana Luisa earrings (limited edition only, which makes them all the more special and unique), my favorite Gucci belt, and a pair of rose gold metallic boots from Ego. I also pulled my hair back into a ponytail because of the statement top. A little styling tip from me, to keep a 'busier' piece like this blouse well-balanced and not over the top, slick the hair back to focus attention on the shirt rather than the face. Earrings can sometimes be too much, especially with the hair down in a look as such. 

What do you guys think of this mixed styled look? To clarify (for some), I grew up in the Midwest, in that it's something in my blood, not just a taste in a style I tend to gravitate towards to naturally... and as to what city? Motown baby! Fun fact: The Oldies is probably one of my favorite genres of music, on top of Rock and the Blues. I've always like to hear about where others are from because you can then have a better grasp to their personal style and taste. It's in all of us, and I think it's such a wonderfully cultural thing. 

As to what I did this weekend? Aside from the usual brunch and my birthday (please no, I love you all but I'm really not into mine... hence the quietness about it.) I actually did a fun video shoot with a pretty well-known K Beauty brand on Saturday and am excited to share it with you soon! Stay tuned, lots of spring content coming your way including my monthly roundup of beauty favorites and other current trends in fashion & style. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! :)

LOVE & XX'S, 

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Please Add Me to Your Linkedin Network

WEARING: THACKER NYC BOYFRIEND BLAZER | CINON GRAPHIC TEE | H&M TURTLENECK |
BDG JEANS | EGO METALLIC BOOTS | CLOSET ACCESS MINI ARIA SADDLE BAG | GUCCI BELT | 
ACCRUE BONNIE SUNGLASSES

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CINON, THACKER NYC & ACCRUE.

NYFW officially kicks off on Thursday, but it really started for me yesterday as I went to presentations and some events already! It's going to be a crazy week, and even crazier month as I will be heading to London for LFW straight after NYFW! Gahh! I'm super excited, but I know there's a lot of work to do. I'm extremely humbled to be traveling for work. And even after only 4 seasons in the fashion week-game, I'm starting to explore more of the European industry! Perhaps, Milan and/or Paris will be in the near future? Well, instead of hoping and wishing for your dreams to come true, go out and GET IT! Something that's crucial in the fashion world. So in today's post, I'm sharing my tips on how to make it and also survive fashion week. It's short and sweet and non-lecture-y so keep on reading to hear my experiences and stories of the past couple of years on top of my suggestions. :)

RULE #1

Anyone that has played it safe their entire life and followed the rules accordingly won't get too far to exceeding something absolutely amazing. And even though I was brought up well and know the difference between right and wrong, I am definitely the kind of woman to break a few rules. Okay... maybe more than a few. It's not for any vindictive or manipulative scheme - but I am willing to go the extra mile and reach out when maybe others say you shouldn't. Guys, just do you. Not to say you can crash any party or show because that's not how it exactly works but don't be afraid to take risks and challenge yourself. Each season I strive for better in terms of my building networks, photography/editing skills, and more. It's all work and no (okay, maybe a little...) play for me.

RULE #2

Be nice! Leave your personal sh*t behind once you leave that front door in the morning. The scene around NYFW can be intense and downright overwhelming if don't really know what to expect. But like anything else, if you bring forth a positive attitude and the wonderful act of kindness, I guarantee you that will go a long way. And YES, don't forget to say thank you, please, etc; because people will remember you for it. I always try to make an effort to thank each agency and/or designer that invites me to their shows for example and send my photos/video of my coverage along with the thank you note. It's just an added touch to detail that people appreciate (I know I do!) and being good to others means others being good to you. Don't be entitled, rude and/or obnoxious. Which brings me to rule #3 

RULE #3

My biggest pet peeve during fashion week: blocking everyone's view with their arm literally stretched out to the middle of the runway attempting to get the 'shot'. HEY. We're all here for the same reason, d$c*head! Try to refrain yourself from ruining the show for everyone else. We all can get along and keep our knees and elbows in place, yes guys, NO MANSPREADING either! Ha ha ha! What's your biggest pet peeve during this chaotic hectic week? Or for fashion month in general?

Okay, last little tidbits before I run off to meetings: If you are not feeling well (as in you're physically sick) or may feel like you're burning out - it's a long week for us. We don't just attend shows. There are meetings with agencies, showrooms, designers and then some, on top of photo shoots, events, and yes, editing content, answering emails/phone calls, and more. If you need to skip a day to get some rest and catch up on work, then do it. But only if you really can afford to. It's different for everyone. But... just pace yourself, try to enjoy rather than only take photos, and yeah, have some fun! 

Finally, this look is definitely fun and not at all serious but still boss. I discovered this graphic t-shirt brand based out in Paris called Cinon where they make amazing and comical limited edition t-shirts, like this one that says, "Please add me to your Linkedin" which pretty much sums up this week's MO. Ha ha ha! Is it just me, or isn't Heather Locklear one of the hottest women to ever exist? I mean that face! I layered it up with a winter camel turtleneck and a tobacco boyfriend blazer. Shop the details below. Hope to see old & new friends this coming week. Wishing you all a wonderful time during New York Fashion Week! Catch up with you guys soon. 

LOVE & XX'S, 

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New Year Vibe

WEARING: NEW VIBE JERSEY DRESS | VENDULA LONDON ROUND FILM BOX CROSSBODY BAG | EGO METALLIC BOOTS

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NEW VIBE & VENDULA LONDON.

Happy Monday, everyone! Are you ready for the Holidays yet? I can't believe Christmas is in a week! This year has completely flown by... I'm still not done with my holiday shopping yet! But I must confess, I've always been a last minute shopper. I'm also not the biggest fan of this season for a number of reasons, so in today's post, I'm sharing a holiday look that's not your usual glittery gold, silver, red or green colors, but a color more outside the box: Navy Blue! I've been completely obsessed with this color all year, and I just can't get enough of it! I even have some gorgeous navy blue satin sock boots coming in and I'm so geeked up on styling them. Last week's fashion post featured sustainable wear by NEW ViBE, you can check that outfit here, where there are hints of reds to inspire you for a more 'passionate' look for the holidays. The jersey dress in today's post is also made by the same brand. Come take a look at how I styled this dress for a more holiday-inspired look!

You can wear the navy blue jersey dress in a number of ways just like the dress with the red lace, I think it would look adorable with some sparkly tights, should you want to layer it up a little more for those colder temps. Since we chose to shoot indoors, I opted out with the pantyhose and went bare :) I brought in accents of gold from the Gucci belt, rose gold metallic boots, and hoop earrings. The final touch is this amazing yet unusual bag from Vendula London. They make some really unique bag, like this round film box crossbody bag with gold chain. The love the subtle added detail of the negative strip on the strap as well. Very cute and super chic. Go check out more of their bags here!

I'd definitely say this look is not suitable for a black-tie event, but you could definitely wing this for many different kinds of holiday parties, from a friends' get-together to an office party, it's a really great dress to wear for these occasions as well as after. I'd totally layer this with a good pair of jeans and boots with a touch of street style flair with a Vetements belt or a chunky statement earring, well into the winter months. To see more by NEW ViBE, be sure to follow them on Instagram to get on the waitlist for their newest collection. Have a wonderful week! I'll be back soon. xoxo

LOVE & XX'S,

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How I Went from Criminal Justice to Fashion

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

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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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