An American Girl in Paris

April 26, 2017

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK BLACK LAYERED BLOUSE |
 RHODA WONG BABY BLUE STRUCTURAL JACKET | BROWN HAT KOREA NAVY BLUE LACE HAT | 
GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | LINEA PELLE SUEDE BUCKET BAG BLUE | 
UO BLACK PATTI LOW HEEL MULE

Happy Wednesday! The weather has been rainy and awfully gloomy here in New York City, so I'm bringing you Paris today! Just kidding, this shoot did take place in New York, but I bet I'd have you fooled if I told you I was in the La Ville-Lumière. And even though we're not in Europe, today's post is definitely Parisian-chic inspired!

Brown Hat is a Seoul-based hat brand with handcrafted hats inspired from classic designs, yet with a finishing touch of wit. The collections are defined by founder and designer Ji Hyang Park’s signature design in creating flexible and sometimes experimental silhouettes, and her mixture of use of the finest fabrics. The navy blue lace hat from this look is so great because I could wear this at a resort but at the same time, I could also be wearing the heck out of it in Paris! Brown Hat aims to offer timeless hats for men and women. Some hats are also available at NYC boutique, Dreams On Air.

Another talented emerging Korean designer is Lissa Koo, for saku. The motif for saku is both the chic New York sense and the easy, breezy West Coast atmosphere. While being a unique, never-seen-before style, saku offers clothes that are ready-to-wear and easily approachable for anyone. Pursuing both sportiness and femininity simultaneously, saku showcases silhouette apparel that greatly emphasizes woman’s beauty along with comfortable fabrics that allow easy movement. The black layered with white lace blouse is by Lissa, and is only one of many more pieces I just can't wait to show you in the next coming weeks! You can find some of her designs at DOA as well.

Last but not least is this crazy gorgeous jacket by Rhoda Wong. What makes Rhoda special is not just her age (which is twenty(!)) but her deep understanding of structural pieces when it comes to fashion. Aesthetically-pleasing with good detail playing on a variety of textures and materials, Rhoda's talent is off the charts! The baby blue oversized jacket is perfect for spring, Paris and/or both, plus more. It's a wonderful color with beautiful metal buckling and subtle yellow stitching on only on side of the jacket.

Watch these women closely, guys. I guarantee you will be hearing a lot more about these emerging designers in the coming years. Lastly, while shopping the look, please note some pieces are not available online yet and need to be inquired within. Have a great rest of your Hump Day!

LOVE & XX'S,

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Off to the Races

April 24, 2017

WEARING: ECHTEGO LACE DRESS | GUESS CARRIE BLACK SATIN PUMPS | 
BOOHOO MOCK CROC CLUTCH BAG

Do you guys remember the 'elevator' shoot from a few weeks ago? (Post link here.) If not, let me jog your memory. It was an editorial shoot with a navy blue dress by a great Korean designer, Sungmin Shim, for Echtego. I discovered her from a new showroom, Dreams On Air (DoA) here in New York City and was immediately attracted toward her style and collection. I love her designs so much, today's post is focusing on another beautiful piece from her 'Sentimental Vengeance' collection. And I will be telling you why I had to style this statement dress, not only because of it's aesthetic-gorgeousness.

I love when an object, whether a piece of clothing, a photograph, or a musical instrument can bubble certain memories/feelings toward the surface. It might be nostalgia or melancholy, perhaps both, with a tinge of hope, joy or fear (eek), but what I find so wonderful is its (objects) power to evoke sentiments we wouldn't have otherwise. And when I saw this black and white lace dress, it immediately drew me to my passion for Classical music. (Check out this dedicated post solely on that here!) You guys know I live for opera, but my first love when it comes to music is the Classical stuff. It's been in my life since my figure skating days, but something about the way it made me feel as I listened to it brought my attention to study it and learn from it. Nowadays, it's one of my main choices in music to listen to while writing. It keeps me centered and relaxed. Plus I just really love it. I just find it so incredible how an instrument can make you feel things you wouldn't feel from anywhere else, or with anyone else. Do I have any Classical music lovers out there?!

I used to go to the opera and the philharmonic like it was my religion, but I honestly haven't had the time to do so in a few years. Plus, I don't know many people (my age) that are as into it as I am. And that's perfectly fine, but damn I miss the hell out of it! And how lovely would this dress be for a night out for something like that? But I also think this dress also works well for the office or even attending a wedding! The tiny striped trim on the sides gives the lace dress a little bit more of a chill factor, as in easy and cool to wear. But I would really want to wear to this while doing something more on the fancier side. I feel confident and sexy in this number, so why not do something a bit more fun than just hitting the office in it? Have a great week, guys! :)

LOVE & XX'S,

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Mixing Prints

April 17, 2017

WEARING: RAILS ROCSI LIPSTICK PRINT SHIRT | REBECCA TAYLOR PHLOX FLORAL PANT | 
GUCCI BELT | CHLOÉ MEDIUM HUDSON BAG | EVALINE WHITE TIGHTS | 
MADDEN GIRL MORGHAN PEWTER

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY OLIVE & BETTE'S.

Happy Monday! How was everyone's Easter (to those who celebrate this holiday) weekend? We kept it pretty low key, and I even did some reading. The past week kicked my ass and I've been exhausted! I have to say it was the first weekend in a really long time, where I wasn't as active on social media. Sure I did a couple of Instagram posts like I usually do but I wasn't engaging as much as I do. It was kind of nice to just step away from constantly being on the phone and to do something else for a change. Yesterday, I laid in bed and read Keats for a few hours because I simply miss the beauty in reading poetry. Reading's hot, if you didn't know by now...

Aside from a relaxing past couple of days, today's post is about the wonderful play of mixing prints when it comes to fashion. Number one tip or Rule of thumb? Always try to mix two different prints together. I'm not a big fan of matching prints such as a pantsuit or even two-piece set of some kind. For example, I played with the ever 'groundbreaking' floral (Laughter cue in for The Devil Wears Prada reference ha ha ha!) print with a pair of pants from Rebecca Taylor. And instead of going with a matching top, I went for a more casual but flirty shirt from Rails, which has an adorable lipstick print! And the material is so soft, I could wear this shirt everyday with anything! Both pieces are from Olive & Bette's, an amazing boutique in Soho (there are other locations in the city) that carries other designers such as AG Jeans, Iro Paris, Yumi Kim, and more! I simply love their friendly staff too! If you're here in New York girls, you HAVE to check them out next time you're downtown.

Accessories from this look are definitely Asian inspired. I've been heavily embracing my Korean background as of late, and because of it I've also begun to dig deep into the cultures (and sub-cultures) of Asian fashion. This year I've been all about the socks and sandals trend. Many would never dare to go for this look (which is all good) but I love how much fun it brings to an outfit! If I wore only sandals or a higher heel with this look, it'd completely change the overall style of it. But with white tights, a few sprouting cherry blossoms in the background, and big Korean hair, I definitely think brings a more daring approach to an already 'busy' look. I'm not saying it'll work every time, but in some instances, it can really elevate or heighten an overall style. Also, my hair is a tad blonder... and I'm loving the slow but big transformation! Color done by the one and only David Adams from Fourteen Jay. I styled my own hair for this post and did it up a little differently, you guys like? Have a killer week! Catch with y'all soon. :)

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

STUART WEITZMAN METALLIC GLADIATOR SANDALS

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To Be Adored – 2 Looks for Date Night

April 9, 2017

LOOK 1
WEARING: DRESS LILY LEATHER BIKER JACKET | TO BE ADORED LILAC DRESS | 
STEVE MADDEN BLACK BOOTS 

LOOK 2 
WEARING: TO BE ADORED MESH/GRAPHIC BLOUSE | GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | 
CALVIN KLEIN RUBY PATENT SLINGBACKS | LINEA PELLE SUEDE BUCKET BAG BLUE

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY TO BE ADORED & LUV.IT.

With crazy work schedules finding the time for 'Date Night' can be rather difficult, especially in this day in age where everything is moving at full speed and we're constantly on the go, if I'm not running around to meetings/appointments and events I'm shooting, editing and designing. I guess you can say I like keeping busy, too much so... And now with MaQ + Suz growing bigger and better than ever, it's getting even more challenging to stop even. I love what I do to no end, and have some SERIOUS dreams, but being so driven can have its setbacks. For example, I don't know when to call it quits. Lately, I work 14-16hr+ days, and as exhausting as the workload can be all together, I still feel guilty when I'm not working. Even though I know everyone needs to recoup and rest, I still have trouble with the idea of just 'veggin' out'. I can't sit still for that long, I always feel the need to be doing something.

But I also think it's healthy to take the time to spend it with the ones you love. We don't do a constant ritual of any kind unlike some of my girlfriends who do a weekly date night of some kind, but we like to mix it up. Some nights we'll just run to some restaurant in our neighborhood for a quick bite, and then some nights like in today's post, we'll play dress up and go somewhere like Indochine (my ALL-TIME FAVORITE restaurant) or somewhere a little fancier. How insanely gorgeous are both of these statement pieces from To Be Adored?!

I wanted to show you guys two different ways to dress up for date night. Like myself, sometimes you want a more chill laidback look and then sometimes something a bit dressier for a different occasion. The first look is a gorgeous lilac dress with black accessories like ankles boots and a leather jacket for those chillier nights. I kept it a little spunky as I love to bring an edge to a girly dress, but you could also wear this dress with a polished hair bun and nude heels... even to a wedding! The dress is that incredible with a great range of ways to style, it's a great addition to any gal's wardrobe. Notice the matching material on the sleeves of the second look's shirt? I was so in love with how well each statement piece complemented each other and how versatile each one was too. Each garment is by London designer, To Be Adored and from their new SS17 collection. I styled the graphic (German cartoon) shirt with a pair of bell bottom crop jeans, patent slingbacks with added flower hair clips to bring a playful side to the look, and a vertically striped blue and gray suede bucket bag. I like to bring out the pop of colors from graphics within an outfit, which is why I chose different blue hues. What's your ideal date for date night, ladies? Are you more inconsistent like we are, where you just try to fit it in when you can, or are you more dedicated to keeping some kind of ritual? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Thanks for stopping by, hope you guys enjoyed these two different 'Date Night' looks! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, catch you Tuesday with a brand new post about MaQ's new diet! Stay tuned! :)

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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Fiercely Feminine

April 6, 2017

WEARING: MEDEA MARIS ORGANZA TRENCH | LUX. DUSTY PINK DRESS | 
LOUISE & ELEANOR RUNYON CLUTCH | MANOLO BLAHNIK PATENT NUDE PUMP | 
KENDRA SCOTT ALEX EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MEDEA MARIS AND LOUISE & ELEANOR.

What makes a lady? As you know by now, my style doesn't reflect prim and posh (not that I don't love it but it's just not me) but rather more of an edgier kind of look. I may be physically petite and carry a delicate body frame, but my attitude and energy have been described the opposite of my tiny self. I'm known to be intense, bold, and even intimidating, but it's always confessed after getting to know me. I can understand - my facial features are strong thanks to those Korean and Eastern European roots. But it's also a Detroit thing (where I'm originally from), we don't back down and we're not afraid to speak out. Call it fearlessness - to me, it's more of an adversity kind of thing. I've been through a lot and perhaps that tends to bleed out, no matter how I might try to conceal it.

Those who do personally know me can attest to my warmth and silliness as well. I don't think anyone would say, "Awe, Suz is such a lady," as in extremely Bourgeoisie, but I've never been one to not carry class. Am I always going to walk away from whatever situation and have this mentality of, 'it's best to leave it alone/not my business/etc;? Nope. I'm not afraid to use my voice, and to me, in this day and generation, what makes a lady is a woman who is fiercely strong, independent, and uses her mind to make an impact on anything she sets out to. And all the while maintaining her femininity, hard and soft together... refined.

Today's ladylike outfit is one I would wear to a girlfriend's baby shower or Sunday church. Which in this case, is a rare occasion. Ha ha! What I love about this Medea Maris white organza trench (many of you on Instagram mistook it as a dress in yesterday's post, which could be worn as one anyhow) is its versatility. You can style it more casually with an awesome pair of distressed denim jeans or leather leggings. But its genteel-like quality can also be styled very feminine chic. For example, I wore a dusty pink dress which is a hot-hot-hot spring trend color and with a pair of Manolo Blahnik patent nude pumps. To polish up the entire look, I accessorized with an embroided clutch by Louise & Eleanor and Kendra Scott Alex earrings. I hope you enjoyed today's post! Regardless how your style is, a lady carries it with her always. Same goes for the gents, am I right, ladies? :)