NYFW DAY 1 – Nicholas K, Desigual & Erin Fetherston

February 14, 2017

NICHOLAS K

Their clothes are a style often referred to as "urban nomad" and clearly, reflect the brother/sister duo's viewpoint. Last year, I took notice of their collection which included white silk parachute fabric and I've been crazy in love with their designs since. But this past week, on the first day of fashion week here in New York, I had the pleasure to attend their show! And for their new collection to be the first show on my list?! I couldn't tell you how excited I was! The show was completely hip hop 90s inspired with much attention to the political militancy of that period... hello, berets! Velvet continues to make an appearance along with metallics and lots of wraps. Layering like a ninja, on point! Overall, the show had lots of attitude and power.

DESIGUAL

Spanish New Wave & the California rock scene resonated in their bold pieces like military jackets, animal prints, checkerboards, lots of buttons, transparent skirts, wide belts and punk-variated boots that would've been so dope to trudge through the snow in on that particular day! We got about a foot of snow in the city, and it can be too much for some people (I know a few girls who chose to skip out on the storm and stayed cozy at home) but I'm from the Midwest and I don't mind the winter at all. The floral runway was too adorable and complemented perfectly with the collection's fun and vibrant show. It definitely brightened my wet, cold snowy day! And how amazing is the eye makeup?! :)

ERIN FETHERSTON

Fresh, feminine and all about the empowerment of women. Think Romanticism and ethereality meet soft tailoring in rich hues of burgundy, indigo, olive, and blush pink. I love the added balance of the pantsuit to the collection along with more use of textures in her dresses. It's a nice touch for the more confident woman who isn't as girly. Fringe was used in almost everything from the hairstyle in bangs to the long thin scarves and dresses. The metallic gold slides were chic and very boho. I especially loved when Erin came out with the rest of the models, joined hand in hand with nothing but smiles and applause down the runway. A lovely show.

Photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

LOVE & XX'S,

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They Don't Call It The Big Apple For Nothing

February 13, 2017

WEARING: ASSEMBLY NEW YORK STANDARD BLACK BELT COAT | 
ZAFUL LACE PANEL CUT OUT KNITTING DRESS | AE DISTRESSED DENIM | 
DRESS LILY FRUIT SHAPED ZIP AROUND CROSSBODY BAG | 
STEVE MADDEN BLACK ANKLE BOOTS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY ZAFUL & DRESS LILY.

NYFW has taken the city by storm, literally. And I'm having way too much fun. It has by far, been the best season I've experienced, in more ways than you'll ever know and I cannot wait to share everything about it with you guys! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you may already have had a little sneak peek into my New York fashion week adventures. :)

On Day 1 of fashion week, I was photographed outside the shows by WWD & Getty Images. Not a shabby start, am I right? I also attended three back-to-back shows that day which will be coming up next on the blog! Last season, I compiled all my experiences into one post, but this time around and with my blog's focal point being toward fashion + style as of late, I definitely have a TON of NYFW content coming your way. And a lot of my experiences are first-time, so I'm really excited to get it up and ready for you!

About the look - been wearing my favorite black belt coat again by Assembly New York. The knitting dress by Zaful has a lace panel with cut-outs on the sleeves, which I styled with an old pair of AE distressed denim jeans and my latest pair of black boots by Steve Madden. But the apple to many eyes? This gorgeous fruit shaped zip around crossbody bag by Dress Lily. If you guys haven't checked Dress Lily out, you should. They really have great quality items at an affordable price.

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Assembly New York Standard Black Belt Coat

Dress Lily Fruit Shaped Zip Around Crossbody Bag

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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,

SHOP THE LOOK

Dress Lily Sleeveless Embroidered Sheer Bodysuit

Maumero New York Shoes Hannah Ankle Boots

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Carlina Springbok VVA Handbags

February 2, 2017

WEARING: VVA CARLINA YELLOW LEATHER HANDBAG

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY VVA HANDBAGS BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Functional versatility is the driving force behind VVA Handbags. Made in Britain, the collection evokes both versatility and elegance, and are individually produced and crafted by hand, using the finest British and Italian leathers. Each VVA bag can be carried and styled in several ways. The new arrivals, like this Carlina Yellow Leather Handbag, which I'm totally obsessed with its uniqueness and vibrant color!

The Carlina shoulder bag is a handbag with attitude - a showstopper, in your face statement handbag that will certainly catch the eyes of many! What makes this bag ultra-special to me is the leather is Springbok (South African antelope) which has beautiful markings and a rich "punk" effect on the front and is paired with Italian black leather on the back, along with the handles and interior trimming. It even has a signature pink interior!

Designed to be your go-to handbag the roomy interior provides space for your technology, magazines, work documents, and other daily essentials. There's an additional inner handbag in Springbok attached with press studs making it easy to remove and can be used as a separate shoulder or clutch bag. Hand finished with silver nickel details, VVA Handbags are standout investment pieces to your wardrobe. I definitely can say my new bag will come in handy during NYFW! I'm getting excited for next week, how about you guys?

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Crop Top and Trench with a Side of Maroon

January 27, 2017

WEARING: SHOPFW RIB KNIT STRAPPY CROP TOP | 
MICHAEL KORS BLACK TRENCH | BDG HIGH-WAISTED JEANS | 
JILL-E DESIGNS SMART TABLET PURSE BERRY | HUNTER LACE-UP RAIN BOOTS | 
ESPERE DIAMOND PAVE WAVE RING

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY SHOPFW, JILL-E DESIGNS & ESPERE JEWELRY.

First, I got to get something off my chest. I read a quote the other day. It said, "I have a bad habit of searching for beauty in beasts and forever in temporary people." Sure, nothing lasts forever. But dammit, I'm a die hard romanticist and just absolutely LOVE falling in love with people. Why can't it be forever always? Because most people you'll come across in your life aren't meant to be with you permanently. Meaning, the majority of people you know will not be there for you when you hit rock bottom and are at the end of your pitiful rope. Sadly but truly, from one human to the next, people are bound to disappoint you, and even worse, hurt you. (Grrrr face.)

Have you ever had such a connection with someone, one from the inner depths of your soul; one that was so strong, as if you knew them from a past life? Can be a lover or a friend. It's a rarity to come by these days and I've only experienced it a few times. But something always goes awry - you're just a passing distraction to one's amusement, or the timing isn't right, or somebody never follows through. Perhaps one grew easily tired of the other or it's just a fleeting moment/chance encounter. People drift apart and can change. I believe you meet everyone for a reason, though, and yes, it's all for the better because you LIVE and LEARN. My best relationships were all happy accidents.

Having a conversation over drinks with a new girlfriend this past week we discussed how important it was to us to have meaningful relationships in our lives. And no, not everything in life has to be deep and intense because you can't take life so seriously. It's true, you'll never get out of it alive. And not everyone you meet is going to shake you to your core (so to speak), but like many of you, I'm sure may feel, I miss my friends. Always. Old and new. What a fool to be bothered with such nonsense, right? Hardly. I'm a highly sensitive, emotional creature. And yeah, it does suck knowing that not everyone wants you to be happy. And yes, (yikes) many are there to either use you, abuse you... (Annie Lennox rolling through ha ha!) Most likely, though, 99% of the time it's because they're unhappy. I don't expect to be lifelong friends with everyone I meet, but to the special ones I've made especially this past year, I'm beyond grateful for you. Without you, I wouldn't have grown the way that I have, and this means more to me than you'll ever know. So, apologies for the semi-LONG rant (HEY, I'm first & foremost a writer so...) but thank you for continuing to inspire me and for always making me want more than 24 hours in a day.

Onward to what's going on in this look today! I'm showing you guys what I normally wear on a typical rainy day here in NYC, but given the mild temps and the fact that my abs got a serious workout at a boxing fitness studio the other day, (yes, I took my first boxing class!) I wasn't as shy to show some skin. :) This crop top from ShopFW is rib knit fabric and has a self-tie strappy midriff which gives an ultra-sexy feel to it. And it's really comfy! I styled the top with my usual rain boots from Hunter and Michael Kors black trench coat. Along with my most worn, and quite possibly, favorite pair of high-waisted skinny jeans to date, is the super cool and tech-savvy smart tablet purse by Jill-E Designs. It's great berry/maroon color is only the icing on the cake. Inside is a Joey Energy charger where you're able to charge your phone, tablet/laptop, etc. on-the-go! It even has a longer strap to make it a crossbody. I know this will come in handy come fashion week! And last but not least is the gorgeous ring by Espere Jewelry. It's such a statement piece and I love its shape and design. Perfect to sparkle up any gloomy, rainy day!