NYFW AW19 Outfits

February 13, 2019

Wrapping up on Day 6 of New York Fashion Week this season, I’m starting off with a week of outfits! I wanted to share a range of my personal style for you guys! Staying true to my maximalist rebellious tendencies, I played print on print, bold vibrant color and different era contrasts, for example: The 40s with a modern vibe. And lots of different fabrics, such as sequin, tweed, velvet, cashmere and more. So stop for a few - take a peek and let me know what what your favorite look from the past week! Stay tuned for more fashion week content, my regular roundup of the shows I attended and this year I’ll be sharing a beauty trend report from what I saw backstage! Keep your eyes peeled, it’s all going down in the next couple of days before I head off to London Fashion Week! xx

WEARING: FLORAL PRINT DRESS | HOUNDSTOOTH JACKET | WESTERN BOOTS | TRI-COLOR BAG | MARBLE HOOP EARRINGS

LOVE & XX’S,

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Summertime Crop Topping with Tweety Bird

May 10, 2018

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK CROP TOP | DL1961 DENIM HEPBURN JEANS | EGO RAINA SANDALS | 
MOST WANTED USA TIFFANY SATCHEL | MONICA VINADER LINEAR BEAD FRIENDSHIP BRACELET | 
ODETTE + ODILE WHITE SUNNIES

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SAKU NEW YORK AND EGO SHOES.

It's almost the weekend and I've been cranking out posts today like a mad woman! Sorry for the delay yet again... I normally keep my blog very consistent but getting busier and busier means more problems and more things to do! Therefore, a little bit of irregularity up in here so I thank you guys for the patience and continued support, it means more to me than you'll ever know! (Yes, I know we bloggers will all say this, but I truly do mean this from the bottom of my heart!!!) This week has been jam-packed with more than the usual meetings and events so I haven't been able to get to my editing until today. Alas, I finally am releasing this outfit shoot and it's all about the crop top with details that are so extra - but oh so good. Continue reading to see more of the accessories from this look like the turquoise deets and this gorgeous personalized rose-gold bracelet that's perfect for Mother's Day!

If you're a new reader, (welcome btw) I style a lot for my wonderful dear friend's, designer label, s a k u New York. s a k u is both feminine and casual, with great attention in creating never-seen-before styles. What makes this off-white crop top unique is the neon peach trim in the front and the ribbon in the back. You can either leave it untied and loosely hanging on its own or bow tie it to make it even more feminine. It's a great versatile piece to wear with several summer staples like maxi skirts, denim shorts, and more. I love the playful tone to it and would totally wear it to a fair/carnival or festival of some kind. There's a zipper in the back center and it is also made out of polyester.

I accessorized with my favorite pair of wide-leg denim jeans from DL1961. The Hepburn style is so flattering and comfortable. I've been wearing them on heavy rotation and am a total jean gal - I styled with turquoise pieces such as this Western belt and Tiffany blue satchel bag. Both are from Most Wanted USA, a handcrafted leather handbag and accessory line based in NYC for everyday wear and I absolutely adore this brand. I styled a different look with these accessories here but it is more of a winter look. I think the color balances well with the peach neon trim, what do you think?

The kinda shoe that bloggers will love, the Raina studded slider is the must-have slider of the season with multi-strap upper, stud detail, and PU finish, it's perfect for those days on the beach. Throw these on with frayed denim and a crop top and you're good to go. They're not exactly a sandal you'll want to run around in, per se in the city, but it's a great relaxing, kicking it back, kind of summer shoe. It's definitely reminiscent of Alexander Wang, but hey, one can only afford so much high-end shoes. They come in at roughly $34 and are faux leather.

Lastly, I wanted to share this Monica Vinader sleek friendship bracelet that features five flat disks that line up perfectly on a double plaited adjustable cord. Each Linear bead is slidable to create your desired look and can be engraved with numbers, letters or symbols on both sides, introducing a playful new way of making your jewelry unique. It's a lovely sentiment for Mother's Day, and you can personalize it is many different ways. I had mine engraved with my blog name a while back at an event but never got a chance to share it on the blog. Link to the bracelet is here.

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Monica Vinader Linear Bead friendship bracelet

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Modern 50's Housewife

April 6, 2018

WEARING: CHICWISH DENIM PENCIL SKIRT | FOREVER 21 BLOUSE | NA-KD LEATHER JACKET | 
ODETTE & ODILE WHITE SUNNIES | NINE WEST LOAFERS | STEVE MADDEN TIGHTS | 
PAUL'S BOUTIQUE LONDON MIKA SHOULDER BAG | UO BLACK BANDANA

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY CHICWISH & PAUL'S BOUTIQUE LONDON.

Hey, everyone! I'm sorry I've been MIA on the blog this week. Sometimes life takes a toll and you just gotta deal with it. After a week from hell with both work and personal struggles, I have come to the notion that when it rains, it freaking pours. I decided to not over-do it and to take it a bit more easy this week, hence only posting twice on MaQ + Suz. Luckily it's been a rather slower week and I didn't have as many deadlines as I normally do, so I guess there's the silver lining in that. In today's post, I'm digging into more about the recent struggles I face as someone who is in the creative field, and why I'm a bit concerned about where it is all headed. It's like this outfit - everyone being modernized, 'updated', renovated, etc; and yet in terms of politics, sociological aspects and more, we're still living back in the damn 50's. Even in this digital world. Continue reading for more on what I'm talking about along with where to shop this 'Modern 50's Housewife' look.

A couple of weeks ago I filmed a campaign with Innisfree, the #1 beauty brand in Korea and now available in the U.S., talking about beauty care, our environment, this upcoming earth day and just a couple things #IGiveASheet about - click here to watch more. Reasons I bring this up, (aside from shameless promoting) is because I am grateful for all the opportunities that I've been given. I have never imagined I'd even get this far in my career. I work hard, am professional, and just want what everyone else wants: To be happy and to be able to do what I love, which is to create. But the constant changes in the digital world is making my head spin on top of other things going on in my life. I'm tired of hearing about how everything is changing for the better and that the new economy is the only way for this better change. I have friends moving along in life having babies, job promotions, glorious vacations, and I'm still slaving away day-and-night just to catch one little break. I'm willing to sacrifice life choices over my love for what I do. I don't need the money or fame - it's about the acknowledgment of someone's time and effort in their work along with their character. The reason I create is to inspire you - to make you think, feel, and change your mind and heart about many things.

Whenever I get into a creative rut, I always go back to the same question. "Why did you start in the first place?" The answer, which to my dismay from several other bloggers within the community answering as such: Money, power, and/or fame has never been mine. Would it be nice to live more comfortably and not stress out every day about finances and such? Absolutely. But it makes things more difficult when more and more brands/companies aren't willing to fairly compensate you for your time, energy and work. Even global brands (which yes, they have the budget) will come back and say they don't and the only compensation they can offer is in exchange for products. (The new exchange in commerce.) I even had one collab offer this week where the brand wanted me to travel and pay out of my own pocket (on top of the collab being non-paid.) We're talking over 3 hours of commuting, not a subway ride away. I graciously turned it down. Now don't get me wrong. I'm thankful for every opportunity I receive, but when it comes down to real-life... it certainly won't pay all the bills. I can only sell so much product and for a fraction of the original price. Or a brand will want a test-run to 'see how things go' before moving forward. This is understandable. You want to know what you're getting yourself into and if you're going to be a match. But it should be about working towards something and not instantly getting what you want and then bowing out.

Should brands/companies be paying for numbers of followers, likes, etc; or for the quality of the work? I'd say both, but I'm more of a believer in quality over quantity. For example, which is often the case, every concept creatively is refurbished, recycled, yadda yadda yadda, so nothing is ever really fresh and new anymore. (In the grand scheme of things.) A company may feel that because of this, it's more important to gravitate towards the numbers because that's where the consumers are at. Wrong. A micro-blogger can reach specific demographics other big names cannot. But... if it's content they've seen before (and they have half a brain and actually read a book once or twice in their life) you won't get a bite and they'll just keep scrolling. NOW, I'm certainly not saying I've never been inspired by past photo shoots, art and such, but I have never tried to replicate anyone's work. To me, it's downright insulting and really shows your lack of creativity. Be original. Think outside the box. We should be trying to break through barriers, not stay confined in them. And then when you fall into a creative funk, knowing that you're not satisfied with the quality of your work (yes, I'm extremely hard on myself and therefore nothing is ever good enough), it makes the struggle all the more challenging. Some days I think all of this is rubbish and then the next I think I'm actually doing something meaningful in the content that I work so tirelessly for.

I took some time to think about what I wanted to write today because I was self-conscious at first. I thought, what if a brand or company reads this and then thinks of me differently? I need to stop caring about what other people think because quite frankly they don't! And second, why would I want to work with someone who after reading this post, and because of it judging me in a bad light? Same goes for colleagues, friends, and then some. I don't want to be working with anyone like that, let alone be associated with them. We all deserve to be collaborating with those that not only appreciate your efforts but also wants to build something together because you both believe in something, whether it's a concept or personal growth or both, it should be with love and positivity and support. Not ways of jumping through hoops in hopes of climbing up that ladder a bit faster than others. Why can't we remember that it's not the destination in life, but the journey? Name a legend or icon that became instantly famous and remained that way. NONE. They worked for years before a big break. And the blogging world is incredibly tough. It's competitive, cut-throat and downright stressful with all the job 'descriptions' of what we do that comes with. I write, produce, edit, shoot, film, meet and greet, brand, travel, forget to eat, sleep, and take care of myself, all the while trying to maintain some sort of balance in my personal life as well. It's easy to say you want to grow authentically, but with the surmounting pressures in the industry, the difficulty to act is not the same.

I'd rather authentically grow at a slower pace instead of sneakily participating in what are now, 'hidden giveaways', where bloggers are doing these giveaways under the radar where no one can see them (in secret groups and such) where they used to blatantly put loop giveaways into their feeds to instantly gain more followers because of the contest of winning free items (you know, a MacBook, an iPhone, etc; my eyes are rolling and are in pain at the same time just typing this) -what a crock of SH*T. (Don't even get me started on buying followers, likes and comments {and more}) That's why you see 'influencers' going from 20k to 40-50k overnight. It has nothing to do with the content they produce. It's all about the free goodies they're presenting to the world. And what's sadder? They lose nearly all of them once the giveaway is over. Oh, did I mention that in order to participate in the giveaway you have to BUY your way in? And I'm talking two to five hundred dollars, all for a few thousand instant followers. See my point here? And this is only one of the many scary examples as to why I'm frustrated with the business I'm in. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for giving back and have conducted some giveaways here and there, but then I remember what my main goal is for MaQ + Suz and it's certainly not giving away free crap just to gain a bigger audience. Also... if you call yourself an 'influencer', you're probably not an influencer at all. #sorrynotsorry

My message is simple. I only work with those that believe and appreciate my work. Otherwise, I walk. Life's too short and if it's a gig that you think will compromise with your brand, just don't do it. I consider my blog my first-born child (aside from the furbaby MaQ), so whatever I feed/nourish it, that'll be the outcome as well. So take care of your baby. Take care of it every with all your might. And hold value into what you present to the world, whether it's yourself or your work, what you project will also be what the universe throws back to you. I hope you found some insight from this post and can relate to my struggles. We all go through it and even though it is my job to make everything look aesthetically beautiful, life is not this way and I believe interjecting real thoughts & reflections keeps my work honest and true. Leave your thoughts on this post down in the comment section below! I always love hearing from you guys! Thanks for the extra love lately, too. You're all too kind! Have a wonderful weekend. Catch up again soon.

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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An Alexander in London

February 27, 2018

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK BLUE BOMBER JACKET |  ODETTE &ODILE TWIGGY WHITE 
SUN SHADES | FOREVER 21 HOT PINK RIBBED SWEATER-KNIT CROP TOP |
EGO SKYE KITTEN HEEL SOCK BOOT | GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | GUCCI BELT | 
MEDUSA MINI BLUE CLUTCH/CROSSBODY

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY SAKU NEW YORK.

When it comes to working with photographers, I'm quite selective. There's really only been one person aside from myself that photographs street style for me, and that is my husband, but when I had to travel to London and he had to stay behind, I needed to find someone reliable and with quality (which my standards can be very high... eek!) but when a new friend of mine from this year recommended someone she had worked with, I took a look at her Instagram and was immediately open to her style and vibe. But like any first encounters, they can be a bit awkward, even nerve-wracking to some, but Elena and I had commonalities such as a passion for photography, both Eastern European, and same headstrong go-getting kind of attitude. We broke the ice quickly.

But when the time came to shoot, her camera suddenly was not turning on. At first, we (I know a thing or two about cameras) both thought it was just the battery/sensor that had a small dust or something on it and we tried to clean it. Nothing. We took out the memory card and restarted the camera again, and tried many other crazy things one photographer will try to get the camera to work (this is definitely part of the problem in the digital world, yeah?) again, but to our dismay, nothing was happening. We finally ended up at a camera repair shop about a five-minute walk in central London.

When we arrived, Elena saw a man with a Canon body similar to hers, and immediately wanted to test his battery on her body. He was happy to do so, but it still didn't solve the problem. Her camera was still not turning on. A technician in the shop finally assesses her body and battery and can confirm that there is something wrong with the body. She was disappointed as everything was fine that morning (as I know me, myself, a photographer will check to make sure everything is working before even leaving the house!) and on top of working with me, she had 3 more clients that day. She tapped away into her phone before the man with the Canon, named Alexander, popped in once more.

Overhearing she had to work for fashion week that day, Alexander, 'Alex', straight up offers his camera to her, with no expectations. At first, Elena refuses, even at some point offering money herself to borrow his camera. He says no and then asks for one thing in return. If she ever needed an assistant and just had the time to give him a few tips, and he was not a professional photographer, that would be the next best thing. I honestly have to say that meeting Alex and his friend Amelia the way that I did was something you don't have happen to you every day. What are the odds we'd all be in the same camera repair store in the heart of London on some random weekday in the middle of the afternoon and for this to occur? It's as if as just when I start to think that the world is just crazy and that's that, an angel descends down to earth and I mean... wow. I am still so touched by one person's kindness. All thanks to an Alexander in London, my first shoot was a success!

Photos by: Elena Gola

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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Color Block Me in Ivory, Please!

February 2, 2018

WEARING: SAKU New York HIGH NECK WOVEN IVORY DRESS | 
SAKU New York COLOR BLOCK LONG WOOL IVORY COAT | ODETTE &ODILE TWIGGY WHITE 
SUN SHADES | NINE WEST YEMETRA POINTY TOE PUMPS | DRESS LILY CROSSBODY BAG

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SAKU New York, ODETTE & ODILE & SALON ICON NYC.

Happy Friday! Today's post is the last feature with SAKU New York. If you haven't been on MaQ + Suz in a minute, check back on two other coats I've styled from the same designer. The first one was a long brown wool vest and the second was a green wool coat. I'm very happy to share the third look which is a color block ivory coat! And I think it's my favorite out of the three, but it's hard to choose as all coats are top-quality and excellent tailoring. But today's outfit is probably my fav because it is a little "extra". I'm also featuring an ivory dress by SAKU New York too, which is super sexy and comfy to wear. Continue reading to see how I put this look together and how you can style a color block look in ivory too!

SAKU New York - High Neck Woven Dress Ivory

SAKU New York Color Block Long Wool Ivory Coat

I've never been too big on wearing white during the winter. It comes from my figure skating days as we never wore white because of how washed out we'd look performing on the ice. White on white doesn't work in this case. And, also in Korean culture, when someone dies you wear white to their funeral instead of black. It's to celebrate a person's life rather than mourn for one. But this year is all about change, taking risks and doing things I otherwise don't normally do, or would never do! So I threw everything out the window and started wearing a lot more white during the winter. In this case, I paired a color block ivory coat with an ivory dress. Even white heels and white shades. I love the brown and blue in the coat as it really helps balance with all the ivory. The details on this wool coat are spectacular. And the dress is snug, but it really hugs in all the right places and I feel super sensual wearing it. I love the high neck to keep warm and also the hem of the dress.

Can we talk about how chic these white sunnies are?! Definitely, glams up the look, don't you think? They're from an online accessories boutique based out of NYC, catering to multifaceted women. Providing chic and affordable handbags, sunglasses, and jewelry, you can see more at www.odette-odile.com/ I even have a cute clutch/crossbody Banksy bag, you can check it out in this post here. But ladies, if you're looking for new super-chic, affordable accessories, Odette & Odile is an e-boutique you'll be sure you'll want to check out!

Remember these white heels? From this black and white monochrome look, I'm bringing these beauties back again to show that they can be worn in many styles. From casual to more dressy, I truly love these Nine West pumps! They have a very modern shape and the chunky heels make it comfortable to wear. I think it helps polish up this look, with the browns from the coat and heel to the whites of the coat, dress, and heels, I definitely felt a bit, "Hollywood" in this ensemble.

Finally, to complete the look, I have this light blue crossbody bag from Dress Lily. Not all my bags are high-end, but this Chloé-inspired bag is not only affordable but super cute and I don't have to constantly worry about spilling something on it as I am so accident prone. Ha ha ha! And the peach nude-colored nail polish is from my January Beauty Favorites blog post! It's my all-time favorite shade, I think I will be wearing this much more often. Lastly, my hairstyle from this look is all thanks to Salon Icon NYC. They've been around for ten years and I experienced their salon for the first time this past week and WOW! Super-professional and friendly, my blowout was done by Marina (ask for her!) using products by Moroccan Oil, Oribe, & Kerastase.