Valentine's Day Rebel

February 6, 2017

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY MAUMERO NEW YORK SHOES, DRESS LILY & CLOSET ACCESS.

I may not be the biggest fan of Valentine's Day. There are many reasons; one – my mother's birthday is the day before and I always feel a tad guilty celebrating love with her not around (for those who don't know, both of my parents are unfortunately deceased) and two, I've always found it to be such a bologna-Hallmark holiday. It's overrated and you shouldn't need a day to show someone you love them. What will I be doing this year? Strutting around with my girlfriends and hopping from one fashion show to the next. Let's not forget the events and after parties... it's going to be a killer week here in New York! Let's link up while you're in town for NYFW!

Also, what's a girl to wear rebelling against Cupid's favorite day of the year? How about saucy mixed with a laid-back rocker chic vibe? Not going to lie... my nips froze to all hell while shooting this in 32-degree weather (Fahrenheit y'all) but with my trusty and most worn Assembly New York coat, it actually wasn't that bad. (I may or may not have done a bunch of jumping jacks in hopes of staying warm ha ha!) Even though I got cold fast I love how the embroidered bodysuit has a built-in choker. Don't you think it polishes the look all together? To keep it semi-casual, I styled this look with my favorite J Brand skinny black jeans and Urban Outfitters's Maribel Western belt. I know a lot of you girls have a similar one in black but a pop of brown, especially if your brown hair is on the lighter side, can complement well with each other.

And lastly, let's not forget about the details! Firstly, my fringe bangs are in need of a trim (yay hair cut & color on Tuesday) so I did a half-up-half-down top knot/messy bun hairstyle to be able to pull the bangs back. And with a darker lip, I could totally get away with being Eric Northman's girl, no? ;) The maroon mini saddle bag from Closet Access is not only chic but definitely affordable. Aren't the stitching and sides of the purse so well-designed?! I've really been into the color maroon. Normally I'd say it's a fall color, but I feel like darker colors are transitioning from the winter into the spring period this year. Like these gorgeous suede and leather bound laced-up ankle boots from Maumero Shoes in New York. Sometimes, depending on the light, the boots will appear more blue-grey than gray. I love its versatility as you can pair these with leather leggings or a dress, from day to night I know I'll be wearing these 3" boots often. ❤︎

LOVE & XX'S,

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Dress Lily Sleeveless Embroidered Sheer Bodysuit

Assembly New York Standard Black Belt Coat

Maumero New York Shoes Hannah Ankle Boots

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Neutrals with Black Satin, Velvet and Blues

November 3, 2016

WEARING: H&M TURTLENECK SWEATER | THEORY SATIN DRESS | 
OLIVER BILOU AMY BAG | EGO OFFICIAL VELVET BOOTS | 
ARGENTO VIVO GOLD HOOP EARRINGS | H&M WOODEN BANGLES

This post is sponsored by Oliver Bilou & Ego Official. All opinions are my own.

Fall staples this season in my wardrobe are definitely neutrals, black satin, velvet and blue tones! I'm not one of those girls that wears one piece once and that's the end of it. I like to economize. I like to get creative. AND I love to take risks and give fashion a play on its seriousness. Such as the ultra-trending 90s comeback. I even went to an pop-up event last night in the city that solely had collector items from this time period! The 90s Forever store was filled with vintage items from the 1990s bringing a nostalgic set of rare goodies ranging from all sorts of clothes to toys. I found a dope-ass burgundy velvet slip dress (you can get a sneak peek of it on my Snapchat/InstaStories) that I can't wait to style!

Velvet is really in right now and for all the right reasons. It's plush, fun and versatile. My newfound obsession is these rich purple velvet ankle boots from Ego Official. Aren't they bomb?! I love the luxurious feel without them being too over the top or gimmicky. It can elevate any simple outfit with its pop of color and chic look. I literally can't stop wearing them, on top of how great they look the ankle boots are extremely comfortable to wear while running around town all day. On average, I walk about 4-5 miles everyday so I'm not a frequent 5+ inch high-heel wearer. I gotta get that cardio in somehow... thanks MaQ! ;)

Blue complements with purple well. And this Oliver Bilou Amy bag goes perfectly with my purple velvet ankle boots. I love the vibrant royal blue hue as well as the quality of the bag. Only $100 bucks! When I received it in the mail, the packaging was flawless. It even came with a purse dust cover which is always a plus for me. Keeps the bags in top shape. The tassels and zips of the bag bring a playful twist on its classic structure, and I love the side pocket that can easily fit a cell phone or small wallet. Oliver Bilou also has other differently styled handbags such as a hot pink one and a sleek black with rose gold bag. Check out the purses at their site and use my coupon code, 'suzannespiegoski' to get 10% off your purchase.

I styled chunky wooden bangles with a camel turtleneck sweater both from H&M. The drawstring of the black satin dress from Theory is supposed to be tied around the neck as it has short sleeves, but I improvised and wrapped it around to give it a sleeveless look. The result also gave me pockets and the added detail from the drawstring finessed the entire outfit. Lastly, my gold hoop earrings are from Argento Vivo. You can shop similar products down below. What do you guys think? Fashion yay or nay?

LOVE & XX'S,

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Henry Leutwyler Interview — Document

November 1, 2016

Document Book Cover: The .38 caliber revolver used to assassinate John Lennon. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler) — *Document* Book Cover: The .38 caliber revolver used to assassinate John Lennon. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler)

When I think of my favorite genres in photography: portraiture, still life, crime-scene - I never imagined it could be all be done by one single photographer. That's until I discovered Henry Leutwyler. He is best known for his celebrity portraits and his work have been published in the likes of Vanity Fair, National Geographic, and Vogue. In his new book, Document Henry encompasses a vast range of objects from iconic moments owned by fascinating people throughout history, pop culture, the arts and sports. These fields include his very own heroes (and villains because "not everything in life is cute"), as Henry carefully archives the good, the bad, and the even the ugly, or rather tragic.

Such as the captivating cover of Document, which displays the .38 caliber revolver that killed John Lennon, each photograph offers a humanizing chronicle of society: Where we've been and where we're going.

Audrey Hepburn's Valentine portable typewriter. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler)

The objects are completely separated from their contexts and owners (excerpts are cleverly hidden in the back of the book) and what remains and what's been left behind, are traces both in a historical artifact-like nature and one where dreams are made of. A masterfully crafted book of an unconventional collection of 124 images such as Mahatma Ghandi's sandal, Julia Child's madeleine baking tray, Jimi Hendrix's red Fender, Gene Kelly's beaten up Converses, the mechanical prop hand from the original 1933 King Kong movie, and more, it has taken over a decade to complete.

So when I had the pleasure to sit down and talk with Leutwyler, I had lots of questions. The biggest question? What 'pulled the trigger' to get going on such a demanding (and expensive) series. The initial idea of conveying stories through people's possessions in Document really came together after working on two specific but isolated projects. It first started when Leutwyler was commissioned by the Elvis Presley Estate roughly ten years ago where he spent nearly a month photographing Elvis’ personal effects, including his comb, eyeglasses, prescription bottles, toy cars and gold-plated microphone. Even down to Lisa Marie's birth certificate.

He then went on to do an assignment for Mother Jones on gun control. Leutwyler by chance came across the .38 caliber revolver used to assassinate John Lennon. While he ended up taking a photograph of that gun, the start of something bigger began to brew. And this is what helped jumpstart Document.

John Lennon's blue-tinted sunglasses. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler) — John Lennon's blue-tinted sunglasses. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler)

Andy Warhol's paintbrush. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler)

"Photography is not open heart surgery on newborns. We don't save lives. While I believe we're not performing heart surgery, I do believe photographs have the power to change the world." -Henry Leutwyler

This is precisely answered my next question – what's the 'big picture'? The consistency of the book is rather subtle but profound. Leutwyler's minimal style strongly express the right to think and feel. Nothing is instant. When you look at the photographed objects you want to stare for a while, you want to touch them; smell them; perhaps even reminisce in with feelings of nostalgia, melancholy, triumph, rage, sadness, joy. All very raw human emotions. But what underlies in Document is not its sheer beauty of mementos/sentiments and the way it can be carried through your own memories, but the power it has to compel you to learn something.

And to make an impact on the world, Leutwyler decided to use the first photograph that started it all, the photograph of the gun that assassinated John Lennon and donate all proceeds of the sale of the print to Everytown, a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities. Something's gotta give and Leutwyler is doing just that.

Of course, I had to mention a few of my own favorite heroes, and yes, perhaps villains. My father would have loved to see Muhammad Ali's glove. In fact, he met him once in person at a hotel in Indiana. We both loved watching boxing films together, a tradition going all the way back to the original 1979 film, The Champ. I still cry to this day watching that movie. And I'm still madly in love with the art of boxing. See how much can be grabbed from a single image? And all precisely from an object of the rich & famous.

Other favorable mentions: Bob Marley's hat and guitar, along with Bob Dylan's harmonica, Jimi Hendrix's red Fender, and Michael Jackson's glove. Some of my all-time favorite musicians, they all had something special and I think that's what, maybe partially, set their destinies and certainly helped change the world as well. I am still mesmerized by their music to this day and that, at least to me, is significant. Even just looking at the objects, I can hear the tunes and feel the beat in my heart. It makes me want to dance and shout all at once. But only if I can jump into James Gandolfini's Cadillac while doing so (and yeah, tagging along a few of Avedon's 'tools' for a shoot of my own.)

James Gandolfini's Cadillac. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler)

Richard Avedon's studio A-clamp. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler) — Richard Avedon's studio A-clamp. (Photograph by Henry Leutwyler)

Portrait by © Suzanne Spiegoski — Portrait by © Suzanne Spiegoski

FUN FACTS

FIRST LOVE: STILL LIFE
BIGGEST FEAR: DEATH
BIGGEST PET PEEVE: I DESPISE ENTITLEMENT & ENTITLED PEOPLE.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: BEING ABLE TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH.
GREATEST REGRET: CAN NEVER BUY BACK TIME.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?: NOTHING.
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHER: MR. PENN. UNRIVALED TO THIS DAY.
FAVORITE FOOD: JAPANESE
FAVORITE PLACE IN NYC: THE NOGUCHI MUSEUM
FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD: VENICE, ITALY

Leutwyler will be exhibiting photographs from Document at the Foley Gallery in New York City beginning November 3. I'll be attending the opening reception, so stay tuned for a recap of the event through my Insta Stories & SnapChat!

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Cami Over Shirt Trend

October 21, 2016

WEARING: DRESS LILY LEATHER BIKER JACKET | REFUGE GREEN SILK LACE CAMI TOP | 
FOREVER 21 WHITE T-SHIRT | BDG JEANS | PAPERCHASE BLACK SATIN CHOKER | 
MADORA BLACK CROSSBAG W/ GREY POM POM | RAY BAN EYEGLASSES | MADORA METALLIC PUMPS

This post is sponsored by Madora & Dress Lily. All opinions are my own.

Madora is a really great iPhone shopping app where you can easily shop for shoes, bags, and accessories with amazing discounts. Once I downloaded the app, I was immediately drawn to the favorites list. By taking pictures of an item you want and uploading them to the app, Madora will suggest similar items from its stock of more than 30,000 products at an affordable price. This will help the app recognize your style and will suggest other items you might like. How groovy is that?!

The app is easily accessible and fun to navigate through. I did, however, have a bit of a delay when it came to delivery, even though they offer free shipping and free returns. Not too much of a wait so I can't say it was for too long. About a week more than expected, and well worth it! I got a beautiful black cross body bag with a grey pom-pom and a stunning pair of metallic silver snakeskin pumps. I loved my pieces so much, I've partnered with Madora to do a giveaway for you guys!

GIVEAWAY

Madora has generously offered to give one of my followers a $50 gift card to shop their amazing collection. All you have to do is follow Suzanne Spiegoski on Instagram (like the corresponding picture for this post) and follow Madora. This contest will end on Sunday, October 23rd, at midnight EST. I will announce the winner sometime on Monday on my Instagram account, so be sure to keep an eye out for a direct message from me if you enter this contest. Good luck, everyone!

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my experience with Madora. You definitely should give them a try and down the app! It's easy as 1-2-3, and a whole lot of fun while shopping online. :) A couple of extra side notes: insert newly obsessed perfecto jacket by Miranda & Mocha: You can get it from here and yes, I sometimes wear eyeglasses. I'm actually required by law to wear 'em while driving. To get a similar pair of Ray-Ban's like the ones I have, go here.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Gameday Kimchi Sweet Potato Guacamole Bites with Bacon

October 19, 2016

This post is sponsored by GOODFOODS, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

PHOTOS + VIDEOGRAPHY BY: SUZANNE SPIEGOSKI

{NEW VIDEO PRESS PLAY} The latest on our YouTube channel - How to Make Gameday Kimchi Sweet Potato Guacamole Bites with Bacon! Mmmmm... Catch the RECIPE at www.suzannespiegoski.com Be sure to #Subscribe for new videos every week to see more of my style, food & cooking, beauty tutorials and more!