Ice Cold Turquoise

January 6, 2020

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY J.ING AND H&M BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

New Year, New Me! (?) The last couple of months in 2019 have been very difficult. I’ve never felt more lost in my career, had major family problems that will remain undisclosed because I still think some things are meant to be kept private and respected, but I will say have been quite emotionally draining, and then I guess what felt like the last nail to the coffin: my beloved, MaQ, had suddenly died. Those that know me knew how much my German Shepherd meant to me. The loss has forever impacted my life. I am no longer the same person I once was.

So in today’s posts, I’m sharing my intentions for the future while also remembering the past. Now that my co-star is gone, the blog doesn’t feel the same without him. He was part of the reason why I had started this blog in the first place. And now I’m lost without him. I took the month of December off to mourn, reflect and sort out many unexpected circumstances resulting from what had occurred. Doing anything creative-wise was a no-go for me, as most holiday campaigns we’ve done in the past were with my boy. I still find it hard for me to be motivated or inspired right now. I’m deeply hurting but I know I’m not defeated. Time does heal wounds, and I know I will be needing it.

This month has brought so much insight for me. I’ve realized where I was heading into my career, unintentionally becoming an ‘influencer’, and all the while being relatively happy with collaborations/projects, what I became aware of was my dissatisfaction as well. I started to become more and more anxious as my following grew and I was more and more in the public eye. All I have ever wanted to do was create and in return, give people something to feel and think about. Even for only a fleeting second. My passions run deeper than just stylish outfits. However, I love expressing myself through fashion and beauty. But I’m first and foremost a writer and a photographer. And now that it really feels like an end to an era now that MaQ is gone, I cannot carry on as if nothing has happened. A part of my brand died too right along with him.

The legacy of MaQ will live on through my work. And in honor of my beautiful boy, MaQ + Suz will be transitioning from a blogging platform to a creative agency! It has been a big dream of mine for so long, and now the timing finally feels right. I am ready to embark on my new journey as a creative director. I will still share similar content as I have in the past, but going into 2020, the new goal is to create with brands but rather than having me be in front of the camera, I now will be more behind it! I also have a couple of very personal projects I’m working on and will not say much (would rather show you when it is ready) that will definitely be taking up a lot of my time. But a lot of my focus this year will be writing and photography. Now that the word is out, I’m excited for the next chapter in our story.

Last but not least, I incorporated this photoshoot for today’s post specifically because of the monochrome color. I’m feeling quite blue, as you can imagine, but also feel hopeful and at peace. The language of color is powerful and even though this outfit was photographed before MaQ’s passing, it’s ironically fitting for today’s message on the blog. Turquoise is a warmer hue of blue to me, and I found this color to be the best of both worlds when it comes to blue. Exactly like how I’m feeling: conflicted with mixed emotions, both good and bad. As always, you can shop the look down below or towards the end of this post. I want to thank everyone who has reached out the past month. This has been one of the hardest moments of my life and the friends who always have my back, your love, and support… there are no words. I’m just forever grateful.

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Black, Pink and Lavender Outfit

February 4, 2019

WEARING: FUR JACKET | WHITE BODYSUIT | FADED BLACK DENIM | LAVENDER BOOTS | SILVER EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY HEARTLOOM AND NIA DANA BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Monday! In light of my pretty packed week, I’m keeping it short and sweet on here with little bit of contrast in today’s look. It can look great on anyone as these colors are flattering on all skin types. We’re talking pink, lavender, and black. Plus it’s an outfit that I feel good in, on top of being fashionable. And I’m sharing two brands I’ve recently discovered that I wanted to share with you in what I styled today. One is outerwear and the other is jewelry. And these staple pieces can be worn in many other different looks. So continue reading to see more details from casual, feminine yet edgy look with direct links to shop.

How beautiful is this light pink fur coat? It is rex rabbit, with a relaxed fit and hook eye closure. Fits true to size, I love that this coat can be dressed up or down. I love the slate pink color mostly, as it’s a very unique pink shade. And let me tell you how warm this baby is! I literally only had a white bodysuit underneath (with a bra) and I was snug as a bug in a rug! This coat is valued at $370 which is a bit expensive, but it’s definitely an investment piece! Luxurious I might add as well :) Check out more clothing items by Heartloom!

I love these long geometric statement earrings. Very lightweight as they are made from 0.3 mm silver sheet - I discovered this jewelry brand from Barcelona on Instagram!. Nia Dana Jewelry designs minimal chic pieces with quality metals and each piece is individually handmade. These earrings for example took about 10 days to produce, so you know the added details to everything will be perfect. In which case, they were! Check out more of her designs here www.nia-dana.com

These two-tone ankle boot beauties in lavender feature a pointed toe and stiletto heel. They’re 5” heels, so I wouldn’t recommend these if you’re not about the height. But I’m quite petite (only 5’3”) so anything that can add length especially to the bottom portion of my body is a good thing. One of the best ways to elongate your legs as a petite woman is to wear cropped pants with statement booties as such. Not only will it give you height, but the two together looks great while really showing off your new pair of shoes. And how much do you love the frayed hem on these faded black pair of denim jeans?!

Hope you enjoyed this more laidback casual look today on the blog! I think this outfit would also be perfect for Valentine’s Day, whether hanging out with the girls or with your date. A definitely day-to-night kind of look - easy peasy. What would you guys like to see more of? Styles like these or more polished up looks? I definitely have a few projects in mind when it comes to editorial work, but these will take a good second. Got an idea you’d like to see on M + S? Drop your thoughts in the comment section down below! Wishing you a great first week of February!

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

The Best Brown Teddy Coats

January 30, 2019

WEARING: CAMEL TEDDY COAT | FRAYED JEANS | PATENT LEATHER COMBAT BOOTS | STUDDED BAG

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PUBLIC DESIRE & EGO OFFICIAL BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Brrr! Happy Hump Day, guys! Temperatures are dropping again here in New York City and I’m not going to lie - I am already sick of winter! I may be from the Midwest, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy freezing my butt off! Ha ha! And, now there seems to be snow in the forecast during fashion week (hello, ruined shoes…) so what’s a girl to do? I’m rounding up the best brown teddy coats in today’s post, ranging from different price points but also the top brands. Teddy coats are my jam during the winter time - what is your number one form of outerwear during the colder months? Continue reading to see all the different options, along with details from my look of the day.

Step into the winter season in style. To go with a cozy coat, you’ll need a chic pair of boots during the winter. I always have a hard time finding winter boots that are chic and not too clunky. But these patent leather combat boots work with basically anything! Swag features lace up and buckle detailing, cleated sole and a chunky heel. I styled them with a camel teddy coat and jeans for an ultimate laid back vibe. These boots retail at $60 and I think the price is right! What do you think of these boots? Should they make an appearance during fashion week?

To go with the camel colored teddy coat I paired it with a similar color cross body bag. I love the edge the bag brings with the studded detail and chain - it goes with the boots and the cognac really complements well with the color of the coat. To give my face a little color I went with a red-orange coral lip color to give them an extra pop. Overall, I was going for a warm toned color scheme when it came down to this casual look. I also added some warm red tones into the eyes to go with the lips. Do you guys like this makeup look on top of the outfit?

Before I leave you with today’s post, stay tuned for Friday’s, January Beauty Favorites! It will go live in the morning, so keep your eyes peeled for that. In the meantime, hope you stay extra warm and cozy on these extra chillier days. I know these teddy coats will help! If you had to choose one from the list I shared today, which one is your favorite? As always, thanks so much for stopping by! Drop your comments down in the section below, we love to hear from you!

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Black & Yellow Winter Layering

January 16, 2019

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY W. CASHMERE, CHICWISH & DELAGE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Last week’s post focused on a winter outfit which included a pleated skirt. There is also a pleated skirt in today’s post, but completely styled differently and with a change in color palette. The first pleated skirt look (take a look at the post here) was with blue, white and black stripes where today’s skirt is black, mustard yellow and plaid. And a shift from feminine edge to a more masculine one. Plus, I’ve got the coziest cashmere hat I’ve been wearing all winter long and wanted to share the piece because I love it so much! Continue reading to see and learn more about this winter look, where the layering game is in full effect and I’m geared up for the extra colder days.

I’m obsessed with this cozy chic longline coat boasting a snuggly black faux fur design. The coat is glam enough to layer over your dresses yet can bring extra edge to your casual looks. With a fluffy faux fur finish, side pockets, and a turn-down collar, it’s the ultimate go-to black coat in my closet at the moment. And can you blame me? You can get one for $80 HERE. I love this brand - I literally have so many pieces from them and yes, you can bet it, the pleated midi skirt is also from the same label as the coat is from.

Screen Shot 2019-01-15 at 8.02.11 PM.png

I love the trendy yet professional feel to the skirt. It is snug at the waist, but the material is of great quality and it did not arrive to me frumpy by any means. The pleats have stayed in their place. There’s literally only one more left online, so check out the site now before the skirt goes quick! This skirt is retailed at $45 which is a great deal for this type of skirt. I styled it this time with my favorite pair of winter boots this season, these black combat boots with yellow lacing but I think you can definitely style it more elegantly or even with sneakers depending on your style. In my case, I went for a grandma punk style ha ha!

To complete the touches of yellow from the shoe laces and skirt, I layered with a mustard yellow blazer which has ruched sleeves (can be seen here and here) and a heat tech shirt underneath from Uniqlo which are life savers during the winter time. Accessories include a designed with state-of-the-art seamless technology, this stylish hat is produced with a unique machine that all but eliminates seams for a beautifully finished appearance from every angle with no visible lines. 100% premium cashmere having a unique feeling of comfort, versatility, and flexibility all the while maintaining sustainability. Warm cashmere beanie hats are a must from W. Cashmere. My chic sunglasses are from ACCRUE and this gorgeous handbag is from Delage. A classic piece, the Freda Collection is a tribute to an ambassador of Delage, Joséphine Baker, who’s real given name was Freda. A silhouette with a timeless beauty for a demanding, determined and diverse woman. The Delage’s red (the brand’s famous color) which is present in the lining of the bag, discreetly expresses the strength of feelings and the attachment to life. I don’t know about you, but for me it’s all about these subtle details, in fashion and in life. What are your thoughts about this black & yellow winter layering outfit?

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Pastel Winter Outfit

December 4, 2018

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope your week is off to a good start! Winter days = lot of cold, dreary ones, much like the New York weather as of late. Which is why I’m kicking it off in today’s post with lots of pastels! One of my favorite trends for the upcoming winter season - this color palette is most suitable for spring, but hey, rules are boring and are made to be broken. So in today’s post I’m sharing a pastel winter look, with lots of cheer. And a lot of oversized accessories, because you know how your girl does it when it comes to styling! See it all go down now, continue to read and see more!

The LIE Collection blue grey double-breasted overcoat is a personal fav from their latest A/W collection. Want to know a teeny secret to a good quality coat? Sit on it for a while, and if it doesn’t wrinkle and the cut falls back to its original place: You found yourself a keeper. Such as this light blue wool coat, it’s the perfect grey undertone to mix with other brighter pastel colors such as green. The buttons and color-blocking belt also add a luxurious touch, even though I find this such a sophisticated winter coat. Let’s move along to the accessories of this look which are minty fresh!

This oversized green bucket bag is from Sometime by Asian Designers. This particular bag is very practical and great to carry around for your everyday essentials. They have a variety of designs and colors, are quite affordable, and the quality is pretty good too! What I love most about this bag, aside from its size is the personalization on it. They put my first name on the bag, which is always such a nice attention to detail. Who else is a fan of having your name or monogram on literally everything?

My sunglasses are vintage and were picked up at a flea market in SoHo from this past summer. I have no idea what brand or label they’re from. They were $20 bucks and the person who spotted them first was my husband! This kind of mint green shade or ‘aqua seafoam’ green is one of my favorite colors and even though it’s fitting for spring/summer, I think it’s also great for the winter season.

My t-shirt is vintage. I’ve had it since I was a teenager! No idea where I got it from, but it’s Fruit Gushers (strawberry flavored lol) and thought the colors fit with the coat and accessories well. Plus it’s quite cute, no? Lastly my boots are from Public Desire. Regarding most pieces from this post, I’ve linked similar styles and different prices points like the sunglasses, bag, boots and coat. How do you feel about this look? Leave your thoughts down in the comment section! Wishing you a great rest of the week.