Whatever Lola Wants

July 31, 2017

WEARING: ZAFUL BACKLESS HIGH CUT SWIMSUIT | YEAH BUNNY HEART DENIM SHORTS | 
WHO WHAT WEAR™ WOMEN'S LIGHT WASH DENIM JACKET 
IZIPIZI SUN WHITE WITH BLUE MIRROR LENSES | GUCCI BELT | PUMA SNEAKERS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ZAFUL, YEAH BUNNY & WHO WHAT WEAR™.

Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets... right? We live in a time where everything is immediate. Anything can be delivered to you within a drop of a hat. There's Seamless, Ubers, and more to service your everyday needs. And we also live in a time where women are supposed to be as powerful as ever, yet still to some, an overly confident woman can come across as too 'aggressive'. What da fuq? Since when did it become frowned upon for a gal to call it like it is and go after what she wants? Yes, there are boundaries when it comes to everything. Example? Sex. Other women more so than others, from lifestyle preference to insecurities, don't do relationships and definitely keep it casual. Nothing wrong in that so long as you're playing with protection and not losing your dignity over 'some guy (and/or girl).' If the rules are clear, don't try to manipulate either. Respect the boundaries. But in today's post, whether when it comes to sex, relationships, work, and other parts of our lives as women in this day and age, how should one behave when it comes to our self-assertive ways? Meeker and less confident, or steadfast assertive not giving a %&*^ what anyone thinks? Do you think there's something political in self-confidence nowadays?Continue on to read more about what is considered too confident and why perhaps, it's not the best way to shine in today's new digital world.

Even with limits and understanding the rules to the 'game', casual sex can still rub off the wrong way, men especially. I find that some men are intimidated by a strong, self-assured woman. Of course, no one wants a girl who's too cocky all the time either, so where do you draw the middle line? How can a woman have sex without being in a relationship and without being judged by others, men specifically? Why even now, after so much change, does society still consider a woman to be a slut if she enjoys sex, where if a man does and is older and successful, is considered to be an eligible bachelor? I say screw the rules and what society thinks! Just don't go running around boasting about the fact that you like sleeping around... there's a way to class that ish up!

So is there such a thing as silent confidence? You betcha. It's how you carry yourself, the way you walk, talk... everything that comes down to your energy is going to project itself. Even what you order in a restaurant. Be that femme fatale. You just don't have to go and 'show and tell' everyone everything. Regardless if it's enjoying sex or anything else. To me, it's always best to never lay all your cards out up front as well. Like a striptease, if you will... that way you'll leave them wanting more, whatever it may be. I guess what I'm trying to say is there's an understated kind of way to exude confidence. And you can totally do it without any kind of verbal communication. I find nothing sexier in a man, knowing what he's got and has the goods to back it up... without any bragging rights. Telling everyone how great you think you are or your work is, is just not a good look. So the next time you set your eyes on something, either that being a person or a job, always let your intentions be known, but keep it cool.

Have to give a few mentions to this cool look as well. These limited edition Izipizi sun white crystal blue mirror lenses are my new favorite summer shades! Polarized sunglasses are trending hard right now and these are right up that alley. My mustard yellow one piece is from Zaful and what I dig about one piece swimsuits is styling it with a pair of bottoms like these adorable heart-patched denim shorts by Yeah Bunny. And how chic is this Who What Wear™ denim jacket?! I love the ruffled trim and also the customized stitching of our blog, MaQ + Suz, that I had done at an event. Don't forget to shop directly down below, click the photo which will take you straight away to the piece you're looking at. And I'd love to hear your thoughts on this post so please feel free to comment down below as well! Wishing you guys a great week!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Who What Wear Women's Light Wash Denim Jacket

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Rhythm of the Night

July 26, 2017

WEARING: DEUXA BLACK BLOUSE | MKT STUDIO METALLIC SKIRT |
STEVE MADDEN BLACK ANKLE BOOTS | ROSEGAL SILVER BEAD HOOPS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY DEUXA & MKT STUDIO.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Hope you're having a great week so far, I've got a new post today featuring two new designers I styled a look together and the theme? Full on 90's vibes with a hint of grunge and disco! When it comes to styling, I love mixing trends from different eras which is so much fun! I believe in fashion one should never stay inside a particular box but rather take chances and explore their creative sides. After all, fashion is a constant form of expression and should never be a form of fear, doubt and/or other insecurities. If you dress well, you will feel well. And they make a lasting first impression when it comes to networking and business opportunities. In a city like the Big Apple, you never know who you're going to meet let alone run into! So in today's editorial shoot, I wanted to share a look that can go from a business dinner to a night out dancing with the girls. Check out the complete look that's sensual, playful and edgy at the same time!

I recently discovered deuxA; reflects the designer's name by throwing emphasis on the first and last letter in 'AnnalizA'; metaphorically indicating there is always a beginning to every end. Unique and individual prints lay the cornerstones of AnnalizA's designs. Detailed attention towards diversity in textures and materials, such as this black ruffled-back blouse with pearl details on the sleeves and front. I'm completely obsessed with the back, it reminds me of a flamenco dancer yet with the detail from the pearls it transforms the blouse to something more contemporary. I'd totally wear this with some ripped skinny jeans and heels too for a more casual look but you can pretty much pair this blouse with some many other pieces, even a maxi skirt, overalls, leather pants and more!

The metallic skirt with a lilac tint is from MKT Studio. This Parisian brand aims for ultra-feminine looks with a casual, authentic and grungy feel. They want to avoid superfluous details. MKT Studio offers modern women the chance to create a wardrobe with gorgeous clothing at an affordable price. I'm a huge fan of anything metallic, but the subtle purple-based color of the skirt blows my mind. It's eye-catching and unique and can sparkle up any outfit. It'd even be cute with a crisp white blouse or a different contrasted metallic material and/or color.

Silver hoop earrings are from Rosegal and my favorite ankle boots are from Steve Madden. (I also styled a completely different look with the same boots in my last post here.) The headphones and CD/cassette/radio player are vintage (almost ha ha ha!) and Sony. I styled this look in a more rundown location to keep up with the grungy vibes, what do you guys think of this editorial shoot? Would you like to see more style posts like these? I have to say that I really love coming up with visual stories such as this one... I do love hearing back from my readers though! Don't forget to comment down below and to stay in touch on my day-to-day life follow me on Instagram!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Rent the Runway: Tibi x Derek Lam

July 24, 2017

WEARING: TIBI STRIPED TIE SLEEVE SHIRT | DEREK LAM 10 CROSBY ASSYMETRICAL SKIRT |
GUCCI BELT | MICHAEL KORS MERCER LEATHER CROSSBODY | STEVE MADDEN BLACK ANKLE BOOTS

HAIR STYLE DONE BY PAPRIKA FROM O&M.nyc

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY RENT THE RUNWAY & ORIGINAL MINERAL.

Happy Monday, everyone! How was your weekend? I stayed in the city to catch up on work since I've been away the past week. I've got some exciting new content coming your way, from pet brands to even a newly discovered liquor brand, I'm always looking forward to the next project. And though I am a fashion & style blogger and have a closet full of clothes to wear, sometimes I'm looking for something new and fresh without the hassle of long lines at the store and that damaging retail price, especially when it comes to high-end designers. On top of my crazy schedule, finding the time can be rather daunting, nearly impossible at times. Which is why I'm so grateful to have discovered, Rent the Runway (RTR). Labeled as, "the Netflix model four haute couture" by the New York Times, RTR is an in-store and online site, with over 300 coveted designers and 100 options to choose from, where you have access to runway looks, exclusive designs and beyond to rent from. Come take a look at my outfit choice when it came to my first experience with RTR!

Starting the week off with a business-savvy look always sets the tone and brings me the extra boost in confidence to jumpstart any meeting. But I'm not the corporate type and do enjoy bringing an edge to more simple everyday looks while still maintaining a professional vibe. Because why should one ever dress to play it safe? I also really like to incorporate different styles with other ones, like these two amazing pieces I rented from RTR. The Tibi striped tie sleeve shirt looks like something one would wear if they'd ran off and joined the circus. Lace-up anything right now is super trending, and the different ways to tie these up brings out the fun from this style. It brings out the striped shirt from being another typical striped shirt. I'm completely obsessed with Tibi and this shirt did not disappoint!

When it came to the bottom part of the outfit, I wanted some kind of flared skirt to minimize the sharpness from the stripes. And when I laid my eyes on the Derek Lam 10 Crosby midnight blue asymmetrical skirt, I knew it's military/schoolish vibe would go perfectly with the Tibi shirt. The skirt brings an extra funk to the outfit while still maintaining a strong polished look. Of course, I paired it with my favorite belt that I wear too often (but can you blame me?), which went pretty well with the skirt's stitching and color. To finish off the look I kept my accessories the color black, like the Michael Kors crossbody bag and Steve Madden ankle boots which go well with everything.

A little more info on RTR... you can rent pieces from 4-8 days and with a third of the cost of the actual retail price. It's great for those who are not yet ready to make bigger fashion purchases yet and want to try wearing a new brand before picking investment, staple pieces, which in my opinion, every woman should have a couple of things like that in her closet. Because in the end, it is always quality over quantity, am I right girls? Examples of such pieces? A crisp white shirt/blouse, a little black dress, and/or a great pair of heels/boots that make you feel like Wonder Woman along with walking around comfortably. I am ready to kill it this week and my Monday is off to a great start with this killer outfit! What do you guys think and what are you getting ready for this week? Whatever it may be, hope it's a fantastic one! Be back soon... in the meantime shop the look directly down below!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Midnight Blue Assymetrical Skirt

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Sunning in the Hamptons

July 21, 2017

WEARING: GWEN SALAKAIA DRESS | ARTESANO HAT | GUCCI BELT | 
TEDDY ONDO ELLA BAG | PUMA SNEAKERS | LELET NY BUTTERFLY NECKLACE

PHOTOS BY: LAYERS OF CHIC // STYLED BY: SUZANNE SPIEGOSKI

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY GWEN SALAKAIA, ARTESANO & LELET NY.

Happy Friday, everyone! I'll be cranking out major content this upcoming week as I've been away the past week traveling for work and trying to find the time to post can be tough! I sure do miss the Hamptons after last weekend's soirée, especially the people, good weather, food and all-around positive vibes! Not to mention that glorious pool! I figure if I'm going to reminisce down memory lane, it better be fitting to the Hamps. When I spotted this Gwen Salakaia yellow floral print sundress, I knew it had to be styled out there! And what better sunny day to shoot this gorgeous dress in? Come check out how I brought this look together, keeping it posh yet me, a little spunky and sporty at the same time. Today's post will show you why the feminine dress and sneaker combo is so effective and trendy chic!

I love how airy and light the Gwen Salakaia dress feels. It's the perfect summer dress for so many different occasions. I don't feel like it's just a sundress because I'd be comfortable wearing this to a wedding with cute heels (obviously to a less fancy one) or even to an event, brunch or some kind of bridal and/or baby shower. Its vibrant yellow color puts such a smile on my face and has been my favorite summer color trend, so much so, I think I'll be carrying this color into fall. Can you tell I'm a fan of transition and versatility on top of being currently infatuated with yellow? ;)

A couple of weeks ago during New York Men's Fashion Week, I had the pleasure of attending the debut show of talent Gabonese fashion designer, Teddy Ondo Ella, whose contemporary lines fused with proud African heritage were all the rage. They gifted the attendees with such a chic summer crossbody bag made of straw that I had to feature it in a look! How cute is the seashell button detail? I'm utterly obsessed with this designer and am looking forward to seeing more of his future work. To complement with the straw material, I wore an Artesano Porto Panama hat, the detail on the trim was very similar to the bag and looked pretty fantastic together. Artesano hats are handmade in Ecuador but the brand is based in Miami. If you're at Miami Swim Week be sure to check these high-quality hats!

To finish off the look, I paired the look with these chic Puma 'Clyde' 4th of July sneakers. I just love the crisp red and blue stripes on the side, it gives any outfit a cool laid back but stylish look. I also mixed in this great headband from New York-based jewelry designer, LELET NY, but instead of using it as a headband, I styled it as a necklace. I thought it looked so sweet against the floral print of the dress, what do you guys think? I love this jewelry line, so check them out too! Lastly, I cinched my waist with my favorite Gucci belt, I think I wear this accessory the most among the hundreds of accessory pieces in my closet! What can you do when Gucci knows what's good? Ha ha! Hope you're all enjoying the summer, have a lovely weekend!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Gwen Salakaia Yellow Floral Print Sundress

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Weekend in the Hamptons with Romio App

July 20, 2017

Hi, guys! Sorry for my absence on the blog! I've been traveling since Friday and just came back into town yesterday. I spent this past weekend in the Hamptons with Romio, a start up that's created an app where you can find local service recommendations from your personal network without the hassle of weeding through online reviews from strangers. As you know, we haven't launched to the public yet, so we want people to understand that the version we have on the app store is only for preview. After the Hamps, I went straight up to Connecticut to shoot my very first fashion editorial shoot! Being the creative director as well as the photographer was incredible on so many levels, I cannot WAIT to show you my latest work! But back to Romio, several other influencers/bloggers and I stayed in a gorgeous $20 million mansion in Bridgehampton where we partook in a variety of activities ranging from a killer pool party all-day Saturday, a yoga class, and circuit training class, flower-crown making, cocktail creating to even a pajama party! We even had our own personal chef each night for dinner! You can definitely say we had quite the decadent weekend, come take a look at more photos and read more about our amazing trip!

Photo Credit: Mauricio Jorquera — Photo Credit: **Mauricio Jorquera**

We got in on Friday night after a four-hour bumper-to-bumper bus ride to the house from the city. Located in the heart of Bridgehampton, we unwinded with the perfect aperitif: an Aperol Spritz! We learned how to make our own while Chef William Lawrence, who runs the Meatball Shop in Chelsea, cooked up a storm of roasted chicken with a fresh quinoa salad and sauteed bok choy. Everything was super fresh and delicious, and I had the best company to share my meal with! We then capped the night off with our very own pajama party and a late night pool sesh where I better got to know the people in the house and overall, just enjoyed the vibes and setting on top of making new memories :)

Photo credit: Layers of Chic Hat by: Artesano // Dress by: Gwen Salakaia — Photo credit: **Layers of Chic** Hat by: **Artesano** // Dress by: **Gwen Salakaia**

On Saturday, we took an amazing yoga class held by Layne Averill, a West Village-based yoga instructor, who not only helped me appreciate yoga more but also brought back so much balance into my life. The session helped reset my perspective and better understand my way of life and what I needed to do in order to maintain that healthy balance throughout the non-stop chaos. The yoga class was followed by circuit training with personal trainer J.R Allen, who literally turned my core and legs into Jello! After an intense morning workout, I was more than ready for the all-day pool party at the house. I loved the fact that the pool party wasn't too crazy or too chill, with just the right amount of fun and energy blending in. The crowd was lit and I had a really great time meeting and networking with other like-minded creative types. I met other influencers, bloggers, writers, photographers, (I do have a thing for them... ha ha ha!) stylists, creative directors and more.

Photo Credit: Angel Zheng Hat by: Artesano // Bikini by: Triangl // Sarong by: Rujuta Sheth — Photo Credit: **Angel Zheng** Hat by: **Artesano** // Bikini by: **Triangl** // Sarong by: **Rujuta Sheth**

After the pool party died down, we had a late dinner cooked by Chef Nick Lagalante with a concoction of jumbo shrimp, charred corn on the cob (my fave), Caprese salad, grilled asparagus, mixed bean salad, chicken kabobs, and a radicchio salad. It was such a scrumptious summer meal! I loved the corn so much I had two! After dinner, we kept the party going, dancing the night away with Latin music and whiskey nightcaps. I'm not one to stay up too late anymore with my super early mornings, but each night in the Hamptons I didn't go to bed until around 3 so I definitely didn't get enough sleep! But oh the fun we had!

Photo credit: Angel Zheng Bikini by: Victoria's Secret // Kimono by: Rosegal — Photo credit: **Angel Zheng** Bikini by: **Victoria's Secret** // Kimono by: **Rosegal**

Sunday we all slept in before brunch followed by makeup done by the talented Kornelija Slunjski and flower crown making thanks to Urban Stems, an amazing flower delivery service based in New York City. With an assortment of roses, succulents, calla lilies and more, the girls and I had a great time creating their very own unique crowns! While the boys played tennis, we had fun sipping on rosé and playing with beautiful flowers while shooting content. We then had another cocktail class learning how to make the classic French 75: gin, champagne, lemon juice and sugar. I know it sounds strange but it's actually quite refreshing! Sometimes the gin is substituted with cognac.

Photo Credit & Flower Crown by: Sarah Stannard — Photo Credit & Flower Crown by: **Sarah Stannard**

After all the festivities, I took one final dip in the pool. How cute is this striped one piece by Mei L'Ange? I'm thinking of doing a couple of style posts from some of these Hamptons outfits, what do you guys think? I know a lot of you on Instagram have asked mostly about the sundress and one piece, perhaps you'll see these and more of its details on the blog very soon?

Lastly, I want to give you a little insight from what I learned from this trip as I believe every time you travel, either near or far from home, you learn something about yourself. And I've discovered how imperative my "alone time" is for me. Even on the first morning in the Hamptons, I took a nice long stroll around the property not only to scout for good locations to shoot in but to also spend time with my thoughts and reflect. I don't get to do that often and it's nice to do it from time to time. I feel like it keeps me grounded while at the same time never forgetting where I come from as well. I've come far from where I started, and since starting MaQ + Suz in early August of 2015, I'm extremely humbled by all the experiences I've had on top of my personal growth. I can't wait to see what the future holds, but it's looking pretty bright. Stay tuned for more upcoming posts this week! I have so much to catch up on. Catch Y'all soon!