Sunday Sporty Chic

WEARING: ASSEMBLY NEW YORK BLACK BELT COAT |
EXPRESS STRIPED ONE ELEVEN LONG SLEEVE RIBBED TEE | 
FOREVER 21 BLACK PENCIL SKIRT | LOUIS VUITTON BROWN MUSETTE TANGO BAG | 
AE CHAMBRAY WESTERN SHIRT | NIKE REVOLUTION 3 RUNNING SHOES IN BLACK

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The hills are alive with the sound(s) of black on black, a little chambray and some Louis! Isn't this scenic backdrop straight up from something Julie Andrews starred in?! I'm still daydreaming over the New York Botanical Garden's views - it was out of this world and the perfect day trip. After spending the day enjoying the 'Orchidelirium' exhibition (and simultaneously walking over 5 miles in the process), the hubby and I ended the day outside where the light was absolutely gorgeous and with one last stroll through the gardens, we opted for some photos.

I'm big on black and black. Tell me one New Yorker who isn't! Pairing up my new favorite coat from Assembly New York with a black mattelassé pencil skirt from Forever 21 gives length and slenderness. And I call this coat my "confidence" coat. Whenever I wear it, I feel like the ultimate girl boss! Every woman should have a piece like this in her closet. I like to think of them as your lucky charms because wherever you'll go, you'll exude self-confidence, and then, of course, embodying total and complete empowerment. Girls, we run this motha (yeah!)

I knew we'd be doing a lot of walking, so I went with my day-to-day Nike kicks. They're the ultimate comfort and pretty much go with everything I have. Adding to the sporty chic vibe and to give texture & contrast, I chose a striped ribbed tee from Express and layered that with a Western chambray shirt from American Eagle. Final touches include a classic Louis Vuitton bag, accessorized with my most recent and favorite jewelry thanks to Rockbox. The Mother of Pearl necklace in ivory is from Kendra Scott, the marble triangle stud earrings are from SLATE and the Lixa ring is from Moon & Lola. Sign-up with my code suzannespiegoskixoxo to get your first month free of unlimited designer jewelry from Rocksbox! You'll love it! I'm obsessed, it's like having your very own personal jewelry stylist! 😊❤️

Coming up in the next couple of days will be part 2 of my trip to the NYBG, focusing more on the desert section of the exhibition. STAY TUNED...

Photos by Gilles Decamps

Love & xx's,

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FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

The NYBG's Annual Orchid Show - Part 1

Front & center: The signature centerpiece through the center of the exhibition; an utter wonderment of whimsical vibrant orchids and tropical plants climbing a towering waterfall.

A rich palette of orchids in myriad shapes drizzling from the cascading waterfall.

Obligatory portrait among the thousands of orchids!

Pretty in pink. 💕

Detail of these tinier white, yellow & magenta orchids.

Purple orchids. 💜💜💜

Psychedelic orchids! Aren't these trippy? Spell-binding if you ask me. 

Taking a breather by one of the conservatory pools to say hello to some waterlilies! :)

Tiny miniature orchids. 

All the fuzzy feels...

While exploring the Haupt Conservatory's exhibition, look for a 19th-century orchid propagation display featuring a copy of Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala, a landmark work by Victorian horticulturist James Bateman.

Green cymbidiums. 💚

Close up of these beauties. The details are out of this world!

The Question of my Mother poem by Robin Ekiss, from The Mansion of Happiness.

Bye, NYBG! Can't wait to come back for a visit soon! 👋❤️✌️

Last Sunday, my husband and I took our first trip up to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Since we both have never been there and I was feeling extra sentimental during the month of February, I was quite adamant on having us trek out there to see one of the finest beauties in nature: Orchids. And then some. The entire show holds three different rooms. When you first enter into the conservatory you are immersed in a tropical rainforest where we both immediately started removing our wintry layers from the heat and humidity. 80 degrees can warm you right up! ;)

The second passageway brings you into the desert, with a variety of cacti and succulents. I always found plant life in the middle of nowhere, such as an environment like the desert, to be fascinating. To thrive and overcome at the bare minimal of maintenance and care is something us humans should be more mindful of. I feel the world of plants, flowers included, can teach you much about life and yourself. They're on the same journey as you, if you think about. We are born, we live, and then we wither and die. But what we do while we're here is what counts. And they live to make the Earth a better place all the while bringing smiles and warm, fuzzy hearts to us. 

Then halfway into the show, you'll come across a countless number of different colored orchids in all shapes and sizes climbing a cascading waterfall—an homage to the inspired glasshouse habitats of the Victorian era that replicated the flowers' natural environment. This, of course, was the highlight of the show, among the many, if not thousands, of displaying orchids. It felt like I was walking in a dream. With my mom! She would've really loved to see this show, but deep down in my heart I knew she was with me in spirit and smiling up above at the beauty of the world.

Fun fact about the name of the show: Orchidelirium is the name given to the Victorian era of flower madness when collecting and discovering orchids reached extraordinarily high levels. Wealthy orchid fanatics of the 19th century sent explorers and collectors to almost every part of the world in search of new varieties of orchids. [1] In Detroit at the Belle Isle Conservatory, Anna Scripps Whitcomb, left her grand collection of 600 orchids back in 1953. I would love to see this conservatory's collection. As an original Michigander, it is a place I've never been to either. I also can't wait for the Cherry Blossoms at the BBG later this month either. Perhaps another blog post in the works? 😉

And lastly, coming up this weekend, I will be posting up my look of the week which include designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Assembly New York, & Nike. Think corporate sporty chic! Plus details of my new favorite jewelry accessories will be included as well. Stay tuned, I'm excited to share the photos with you! Have a lovely weekend and come back again soon!

PS - The NYBG Orchid Show is running until April 17th! Go check it out here now!

Love & xx's,

Fox & Jane Hair Salon

The upper floor to the gorgeous Fox & Jane Salon location in the UWS.

I'll Cut You! // Downstairs lounge and waiting area. Those pillows are the cutest! ✂️

Coffee table reading material: Portfolio, Dream Language and more! Beverages anyone?

My personal hair stylist, Lataye Studwood (left) hard at work on another client with hair-cutting sweetie, Richie Andrew (right). Nothing but good vibes in here!

Good Vibes | Products Galore. Featuring some R+Co products from their line.

Hair wash area in the back of the upper floor.

Final result! Sitting pretty in the big chair! :)

I had the best weekend! Hope yours was just as fun and pleasant! On Saturday I got to see one of my closest girlfriends who I haven't seen in over a year due to her West Coast move. We brunched it up and afterward checked out the new Barney's in Chelsea. All I have to say is it is a very, very dangerous place to visit! You've been warned and get ready to break the bank... ha ha! Sunday was spent with the hubby and I took us to the New York Botanical Garden to see the Orchid Delirium Exhibit. It was insanely beautiful! Can't wait to share all the photos with you! Stay tuned, I'll be posting them up later in the week with a 'look of the week' as a two-parter!

Last week, after not being able to stand my long hair any longer, (seriously, I get headaches if I tried a ponytail due to my hair weighing me down. Literally!) I made an appointment at the only hair salon I religiously go to, Fox & Jane. After meeting my now-hairstylist almost two years ago, Lataye is the only one who I allow to do my hair! Gotta stay loyal, you know what I'm saying?! Initially, she was down in the East Village location (where we first met) but due to wanting to be closer to home, she transferred to the Upper West Side salon. At first, I was a bit anxious because I like to do all my errands in my hood, but Lataye is far too good to lose! The ultimate hair magician, I trusted her with my long 'horse mane' locks and since then she's created some of the most incredible balayages with my hair! Before meeting her, I at some point in my life stopped coloring my hair for a number of years because for one, any hair stylist could not get any other color but a brassy one to work with my hair and two, I donated my hair to Locks of Love many times in honor of my mother who passed away from cancer. But Lataye never fails to transform my hair to a fun, fresh and hip new look - and something that's totally me! She's the sweetest girl and I recommend any New York gal to check her out should you need a new do! Seriously though, she is ridiculously talented, funny and so, so kind. You'll love her like I love her! ❤️

Also being so used to the East Village salon, I was wondering how the Upper West Side location would turn out. It's spacious, with a generous two-floors, plenty of natural light and just like the East Village location, which is what kept me coming back again and again, was the atmosphere. It's so down to earth with no pretentious attitude. There's a clear, fun family vibe to their 'tribe'. I LOVE positive energy and they are never without it! Every time I leave the salon my belly aches and my mouth feels like I left a coat hanger in it. And I always feel like a million bucks! The carefree environment makes every visit such an enjoyable and relaxing one, heck I feel like I'm part of their family! They are the best hair salon in New York City not just for their first class and high quality skills, but for their impeccable service, their super-friendly staff, and their super-chill ambiance that really reminded me of the West Coast. So, the next time you're in need for a hair cut & color, be sure to check out Fox & Jane and book your appointment with my girl, Lataye!

Love & xx's,

Hustle Hard

WEARING: LORD & TAYLOR BROWN SUEDE LEATHER JACKET | ZARA BLACK SWEATER
FOLEY & CORINNA CLASSIC MID CITY TOTE IN BLACK | AMERICAN EAGLE DENIM RIPPED JEANS
ALDO BUGIANO STUDDED ANKLE BOOTIES

HUSTLE HARD. Graffiti created by Queen Andrea with Critical Massive and Outlaw Arts.

Layers after layers. Necklaces from H & M, The Savvy Heart, and Forever 21.

Gold plates, studs and black leather; my favorite Aldo ankle booties paired with ripped jeans from American Eagle.

White on gold. Nail polish from Essie | color: blanc | Ring from H & M.

Ahh rip it, rip it real good! Foley & Corrina mid city tote in black with American Eagle denim.

Matching hair -n- jacket, thanks to Fox & Jane Hair Salon and Lord & Taylor.

Long hair don't care, but long hair no more. Check out my new do here!

Everyday I'm Hustlin'! 💯💯💯

Happy Hump Day! Today's look is from this past weekend. On Sunday, my husband and I ventured down to the Lower East Side to check out the Lowline, the world's first underground park and to partake in our favorite pass time on the weekends: BRUNCH. We tried Spitzer's Corner, a very chill, laid back American gastropub where I had their fresh avocado omelet and the hubby went with their country breakfast. Can I just say that their cheddar grits is a must-try?! Everything was fantastically delicious, right down to the very last bite! 

Afterwards, we strolled through the city's streets to walk off what we ate. I did some shopping and found the most gorgeous coat from Assembly New York. And yesterday I got my hair redid! I'm excited to show you a whole new look on the blog, coming soon! You can see a preview of my hair here on my Instagram. Stay tuned!

And now more about today's look (and the last time you'll see me with long hair for a while) - I'm wearing a brown 100% leather and suede jacket from Lord & Taylor. Since the weather warmed up this past weekend (thank goodness), I had to whip out this suede leather beauty pronto! I've had it for years and I'm obsessed with the distress and age of it — gives it a little history and edge to the look. My jeans are from American Eagle but I ripped them myself a while back. My style has never been 100% feminine - perhaps a lil' more tomboyish/rough around the edges than dainty and delicate so whenever a pair of older jeans get a tiny tear, I improvise and make it into something else! Case in point: Ripped denim. YEAH! I actually turn a lot of my jeans into shorts for summer time each year as I like to customize a lot of my pieces. My Aldo ankle booties too I've had for a while but they're my go-to booties from the past year. They're super comfy and I always feel like a total rockin' bad-ass while strutting around town in them. To complement the black details, I paired the shoes up with my Foley & Corinna mid city tote bag and my favorite Zara sweatshirt. Lastly to accessorize I added some layered necklaces with a statement necklace. The necklaces are from H & M, The Savvy Heart and Forever 21. My rule to layering is, if it seems like the layering is a tad-off add one more piece into the mix and you'll be good to go!

Love & xx's,

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Silver Fox

WEARING: H&M GREY SWEATER | MODERN VINTAGE ZAMARA BLACK ANKLE BOOTS |
GUCCI VINTAGE MONOGRAM PURSE | SAGA FOX SILVER FOX FUR COAT |
J BRAND JEANS MID-RISE SKINNY BLACK

Rock -n- roll chic. 🤘🎸

Lioness on the prowl. All photos by © Gilles Decamps, 2016.

You're so bootie-ful! 👢👢

Silver Fox. 🐺🐺🐺

Details: Silver fox fur & Gucci.

💋💋💋

Yes, honey? 😆😎

Do the Hustle! 🎶

Happy Friday Eve! Today's outfit is inspired by fur and vintage mixtures! I love having rare unique accessories in my wardrobe. I don't know a girl who doesn't dig this either. One-of-a-kind pieces are such great finds; treasure hunts if you will. My vintage Gucci bag I'm toting around today has been in my collection since 2007! I found this gem at Zachary's Smile, which has been closed since 2013 [insert sad face].

I know a lot of you are going to fur shame me, and you have every right to. But before you do, know that fur coats hold a special place in my heart because it relates with my mother and I's taste in style. When she passed, I was received several of her jackets. One in particular, a gorgeous rabbit fur bomber jacket that didn't make it after 2006 since it was not in the best of shape - and the fact that my ma used to party her arse off in it back in the 70's!

For the longest time, I had trouble with the idea of wearing any of her belongings. It just didn't feel right. Only until recently I've been starting to mix in her accessories with my own. While dating my husband, he gifted me a beautiful silver fox fur coat we had discovered while window shopping in Williamsburg during a casual Sunday stroll after brunch. I absolutely love it and that it's something I only wear on extreme frigid days. Can you believe this coat is almost ten years old?! The only real fur piece I own, I'm all about faux fur these days and since that day in Brooklyn, I no longer purchase real stuff. But I love the fact that my husband bought me a real fur coat in light of my Ma. All kinds of too much sweetness, there.

Oh, and those earrings were also my mother's. And also from the 70's! Feeling groovy.. 😉 How big are you with vintage pieces? Are you not a fan because the word antique comes to mind? Or you just don't like anything 'used'? I'd love to see what vintage accessories are hanging up in your closet, ladies! Let's go! Have a great Thursday. ❤️

Love & xx's,

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