Holiday Gifting with Babbleboxx

November 21, 2017

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY BABBLEBOXX.COM

Happy Tuesday, guys! I hope you're all getting well prepped for Thanksgiving Day! With all the to-do lists, last minute running around and even traveling (for those that are), we all can relate to how crazy this week can get. So, let's take a breather and catch up with one amazing event I went to last week. I had the pleasure of attending Babbleboxx's "Holiday Preview" Event where multiple brands came together at the luxurious 404 NYC event space hosting pop-up shops filled with holiday inspiration and gift-giving ideas for the upcoming season. It was a lovely evening with tasty bites and bubbly, along with running into old friends and networking with new ones and in today's post, I'm sharing my top five favorites brands that I think would make for the coolest and trendiest gifts this year. Ranging from beauty products to tea and even DNA kits, and with Black Friday right around the corner, this list will certainly come in handy. Don't miss out, come check out these awesome gift ideas for everyone you know, and/or even for yourself!

What better gift you can give (or get!) than the chance to understand what makes someone who they are? With 23andMe, you can share your genetic information with your family members to get an even clearer picture of who you are and where you come from. How cool is that? They offer two Personal Genetic Services: 1) their Ancestry Service and 2) their Health + Ancestry Service. How do they work? Provide your saliva sample from home. Mail it back to their lab in the same kit it came in- the postage is even prepaid. In 6-8 weeks, they will send you an email to let you know your reports are ready in your online account. I'm even considering doing an entire blog post on this, as there is a huge debate that I may be part Ukrainian. I'm half-Korean and half-Polish, but from further travels and studies, it is possible this may be the case. I can't wait to share my results - so stay tuned!

Algenist, the first ever vegan, plant-based collagen formulation with the highest concentration of active collagen helps condition the skin to visibility improve resiliency and bounce. With 13,000 beads of Microalgae Oil in every bottle hydrates, nourishes and restores skin's radiance. Plant collagen is a new innovative technology created by binding together corn, soy and wheat protein fibers resulting in vegan amino acids that structurally mimic collagen that allows for a functional equivalent to animal-derived collagen. Even just sampling this collagen serum at the event showed significantly smoother and cleaner skin after one try! I'm so happy I was introduced to this skincare brand; I'll definitely be trying more of their products! If shopping at Algenist use promo code: LOVECOLLAGEN to receive a FREE Sample of GENIUS Liquid Collagen ($16 value) with orders $75+. Enter code at check out. Excludes gift cards. Valid 11/4-12/31/17.

Okay, one gift that can never go wrong if done the right way, and yes this isn't exactly some ground-breaking, creative present idea, but for both men and women, or a gift to yourself, perfume is always a win in my book! At the event, I went with La Vie est Belle by Lancôme, its floral accents of iris, orange blossom, and vanilla bean put me in such a delightful mood. To me, fragrance makes and is part of an entire look and represents you. And at Perfumania, they will help find your next fragrance obsession among the hundreds of designer brands! Indulge in a fragrant experience curated by fragrance experts at any of their 150+ retail locations. Or visit them online where you can get your fragrance fix at any time, day or night. Perfumania, it’s your one-stop shop for all of your fragrance essentials.

For many women, obtaining thicker-looking eyelashes and fuller, bolder-looking brows are definitely on their wish lists this holiday season. Let me introduce you to Grande Cosmetics: their GrandeLASH-MD Serum and GrandeBROW Serum are revolutionary lash and brow enhancing serums that promote these desired features. These are perfect stocking stuffers for any holiday beauty lover.

Tea Forte 2017 Limited Edition Holiday Collection – Warming Joy is a collection of festive teas beautifully presented and exciting to receive. Comforting holiday tea blends are festively donned to celebrate the spirit and joy of the season and are a great collection for the tea connoisseurs we know of. Holiday tea blends include Raspberry Ganache, Rum Raisin Biscotti, Spiced Ginger Plum, Winter Chai, and Ginger Snap (not available in the Petite Tea Tree.) The perfect holiday gift for any tea fanatic! And how adorable is the packaging?!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

La Vie Est Belle L'Eclat Lancome Perfume

Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH(TM) - MD Lash Enhancing Serum

Tea Forte Warming Joy Petite Presentation Box

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Contemporary Power Suit

November 20, 2017

WEARING: LIANA CAMBA POWER SUIT | ZAFUL ARMY GREEN WOOL BLEND 
MASCULINE COAT | GUNAS NEW YORK RIDLEY PE BAG | KOIO CAPRI BIANCO SNEAKERS | 
HICKIES LACING SYSTEM | DANIEL WELLINGTON GOLD MESH WATCH | MAD-STYLE NAYA EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LIANA CAMBA, KOIO & HICKIES.

Remember this past weekend's feature with Athens designer, Liana Camba? I styled one of her jackets (check it out here) and in today's post, I'm sharing a different kind of take on one of this season's biggest trends: The power suit. In a time of political unrest, designers are having no trouble expressing their support for female power through design. And what's better than feeling feminine, fun and confident as a woman? And this suit is very unique. In this look, I'll also be sharing a few more interesting brands/designers that need to be recognized. If you're anything like a sneaker fanatic or handbag freak like myself, trust me and definitely check out Monday's post! To start, let's get more into detail about this power suit.

This neutral-colored structured power suit by Liana Camba immediately caught my eye with its intricate details and fit. I was also struck by its resort-like luxurious quality that can be worn in many different ways and isn't the typical power suit. The white hook buttons and pleated back of the jacket would look great with a pair of jeans or a sleek black pencil skirt. The hem of the pants is just amazing! And even though it is quite feminine and elegant, I wanted to keep with a more tomboyish look and wore it with my new white sneakers from Koio.

Original low-top sneakers in exquisite Vitello leather and camoscio suede it has an incredibly smooth feel and is very durable. I love the minimal style along with the comfort of these new shoes. And check out a new lacing system by Hickies: After a lifetime of traditional shoelaces that untie, wear out and never fit quite right, Hickies decided to redesign how to lace-up. Easy to install and totally customizable, HICKIES® are a one-and-done lacing system — just snap them into your shoes when you get them and you’ll be ready to slip-on with a perfect fit every time. With their signature adaptive technology and modular design, these laces were made for walking, and running, and jumping, and pedaling, and...you get the picture. And the ones I received were in sponsorship with Swarovski, which give the overall look an extra touch of glam.

America's first 100% vegan handbag brand since 2009, GUNAS New York was created by designer and animal lover, Sugandh G. Agrawal, GUNAS's heart and soul screams to be the voice of animals. With an award-winning design and business background, Sugandh quit her 7-year corporate career as an Industrial designer at KitchenAid to start her own brand of cruelty-free fashion in New York. Her mission is strong and clear. "Animals are NOT meant to be a part of fashion. We can look and feel good without harming other living beings. We need to connect our selves with what goes on behind the scenes and question our actions and their impacts." What initially began as an all MADE IN NYC label, has now gone global to source and manufacture bags and shoes using artisan and small-scale ethical manufacturers from countries such as India, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil and Hong Kong. With styles ranging from totes, satchels, cross-body bags, wallets and backpacks GUNAS has a bag to suit your every mood and lifestyle need.

To help balance out the blue and neutral colors, I kept warm in an army green masculine coat by Zaful. I've had this coat for over a year but it continues to be one of my fall/winter staple coats. I also styled with accents of gold in the accessories such as my Daniel Wellington watch (Use my code, 'SUZANNESPIEGOSKI' to receive 15% off your purchase.) and Mad-Style earrings. What do you guys think of this look? Stay tuned for more content coming this month. New drink recipes, styled looks and my November beauty favorites! Don't forget to leave your comments down below and to follow me on Instagram! Happy Monday, everyone.

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

ZAFUL ARMY GREEN WOOL BLEND MASCULINE COAT

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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,

SHOP THE LOOK

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Satin, Leather, Denim and Springbok

October 31, 2017

WEARING: SATIN ROSES SILK DRESS WITH DENIM SLEEVES & COLLAR | 
NA-KD FASHION WORN OUT LEATHER JACKET | GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | VVA 
CARLINA YELLOW CROSSBODY BAG | GUESS CARRIE BLACK SATIN PUMPS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SATIN ROSES CLOTHING.

Happy Tuesday and Happy Halloween, everyone! Today's post is dedicated to the art of layering. With fall in full swing, one of my favorite ways to continue wearing spring/summer pieces is by incorporating them into my autumn wardrobe. A great example is this featured piece on the blog today, a white satin dress with denim sleeves and collar. Normally this would be perfect to wear during the warmer seasons, but from the moment I laid eyes on this Satin Roses piece, I wanted to show you how you can style a dress like this from your closet and straight into your fall collection. It's easy as 1-2-3!

Satin Roses was launched in 2016 by designer Amanda Kamhawy. After finishing her education in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Kamhawy began to focus on her own line that she had been envisioning since the age of seven. Inspired by something that women of all sizes can wear and feel great in came Satin Roses. In her quest to always give back, 10% of proceeds benefit will go to charity. Based in New York City, I had met Amanda last month at her preview collection held at the W in Union Square. I was immediately struck by the materials and shapes being used in her designs. Mesh, lace, faux-leather, satin, and more, it's very trendy but also has a decadent, luxurious quality and timeless staple to the collection.

I love the details of the white denim from this mostly-satin white dress. The blush-pink buttons down the front complement with the feminine touch of overall satin. To stay with the material, I paired the dress with black satin heels from Guess. But instead of wearing the dress by itself or with tights, I love layering these type of slip dress with a pair of jeans. These bell-bottom crop jeans by Genuine People is perfect for someone like me who is petite and short. The jeans help elongate my legs and with the heels, it definitely gives me the height I need!

To keep warm, I wore a long-sleeved bodysuit inside the satin dress and wore a leather jacket as outerwear. And then, to give a final balance and finished look, I wore this springbok bag tightly as a crossbody. It's a definite trend, which you will see much more in the next year. What do you guys think of this edgy, feminine fall look? Want to see more of Satin Roses Clothing and the collections? Go here to check it out!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Satin Roses Clothing Silk Dress with Denim Sleeves & Collar

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Green Oasis in a Concrete Jungle

October 27, 2017

WEARING: s a k u NEW YORK FLOREAL EMBROIDERED SLIP DRESS |
UNIQLO HEAT TECH TURTLENECK | MAD-STYLE ROCK & ROLL CROSS BODY BAG | 
MAUMERO HANNAH ANKLE BOOTS | LAST CALL PEACOCK EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY s a k u New York.

The motif behind Korean designer, Lissa Koo's work is both the chic New York sense and the easy, breezy West Coast atmosphere. While being a unique, never-seen-before style, saku New York offers clothes that are ready-to-wear and easily approachable for anyone. Pursuing both sportiness and femininity simultaneously, saku New York showcases silhouette apparel that greatly emphasizes women’s beauty along with comfortable fabrics that allow easy movement. The last of the three features with s a k u New York from the past week, a garden feel in the concrete jungle, this floral embroidered dress on the blog today is just that: there's a lot going on with lots to attend to but I still feel beautiful and yes, feminine. (Shocker in my "style vocabulary" ha ha ha!) Continue reading to see how I deal with feeling and looking positively radiant even if what's going on around me is completely chaotic and never-ending (or so it seems...)

Like a garden, what doesn't grow will die. And like in a garden, there will be setbacks: stubborn plants/flowers that will require higher maintenance, furry rodents trying to steal and ruin your crop, and yes, even those dry spells and perhaps even worse, when it rains... it really pours time period(s). Time and effort are an automatic given, and just in self-care, no matter how crazy your life can get, it is so important to give that time and effort to yourself. Sure, I love to see my friends and colleagues but I love my alone time just as much. In fact, I need it. Otherwise, I'd probably lose my mind. I got to have that in order to sort things out in my head and trust me, there's a lot going on up there at the moment. And I've always believed in that if you really want to grow, you've got to figure it out on your own and really, and I mean, really know what you want. Don't be compromising of that.

You also have to keep your eye on the prize. But just like that garden, that will get messy and hard to upkeep from time to time, you have to be able to see the bigger picture. Because like everything else in life, and yep, even when it comes to taking care of yourself, it's never an easy ride. It's more like an upside down topsy-turvy rollercoaster if you ask me. But, no matter how awful or how hopeless the ride seems to get, remember you can get off that ride at any time. But if you're not a quitter like myself, just hold on to that "Holy, shit!" handle and brace yourself until the ride ends. Because it eventually will. I can whatever metaphor all day long, but you know after any storm comes the rainbow right? I know, but it's true. Hang in there, my friend!

Lastly, aside from 'me' time and seeing the bigger picture, don't forget to embrace your beauty amidst the chaos. Yes, you're probably tired, frustrated, stressed, maybe all three: but it's all about the energy you carry. Believe in the best of yourself and the other not-so-great reminders we have daily will slowly start to melt away. Every day I wake up and when I see myself in the mirror I try to reflect on the positive parts of myself rather than the negative. Instead of thinking, "My god, I look awful, I hate my nose, I wish it were smaller, instead start looking at the parts you, in fact, love about yourself. Maybe, "Wow, I never noticed how long and lush my eyelashes are," or, "That scar may be permanent, but it doesn't define who I am nor does it make me any less beautiful." In fact, I think these chaotic imperfect attributes are what makes some of the most beautiful people in the world. Think about it, you ever deeply love someone who was perfect? Yeah... my thoughts exactly.