How to Style Rainbow Pom Pom Sandals

May 20, 2019

WEARING: WHITE MAXI DRESS | RAINBOW POM POM SANDALS | YELLOW O-RING BAG

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CHICWISH AND AVEC MODERATION BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Avec Modération is a Florence-based footwear brand that focuses on fusing fine Italian luxury with the utmost comfort. Each pair is entirely handmade from opulent fabrics and designed with the fashion-forward cosmopolitan woman in mind. The label’s aesthetic is elegant yet whimsical, presenting wearers with a unique take on the current season’s key footwear trends. The founders have a penchant for decadence, so you can expect a range of slides with bursts of bright colors and bouts of fur, tied together in an ultra-wearable silhouette. Case in point: These peony rainbow calf leather pom pom slippers. They are the ultimate pair of sandals for summer! Continue reading to see how to style these types of colorful, lively sandals and where to shop these beauties as well.

I wanted to style these bold rainbow slides in a simple, chic manner. Nothing too over the top, as it can easily turn from stylish to Bozo the clown. This beautiful sheer white maxi dress with 3D cotton embellished definitely complements with the pom-pom material from the sandals. With a self-tied string around the waist, it is a very flattering dress for many body types. Originally $100 it’s on sale with 40% off right now! I love the elegance of the dress - definitely has some character don’t you think? They also have a cream-colored dress as well here.

I think if you stuck to one solid color, such as yellow or red would also look great with these beautiful rainbow pom-pom sandals. Definitely beach appropriate so long as you don’t take a dip in the water with them. Definitely would look cute with jeans and a cami of some kind, or a beach wrap. There’s many ways to style these sandals for the warmer season. I found them for $235 on Far Fetch. Again, they’re luxury footwear so the price is right. I definitely wouldn’t recommend walking for miles in them around the city, for example. This is not the type of shoes for that.

To keep with the happy colors, I went with a yellow o-ring bag from Iridescence New York and a pair of purple leather covered hoop earrings from Shop Small Things. I think the two variated colors keep with the rest of the color scheme without having the palette become too noisy/busy. I always loved yellow and purple together as I’m a die hard Lakers fan, lol. Just a random tidbit for you guys :) I’ve also linked a couple other similar bags with different price points and locations.

If you’re still not convinced of these rainbow pom-pom sandals, Avec Modération also makes them in a variety of colors as well such as this pink one and also a white and cream one. I’ve listed them all down here for easy viewing. How would you have styled these fun rainbow pompom sandals? There’s so many ways, let’s hear from you guys! Thanks for stopping by and wishing everyone a wonderful start to a new week. Cheers, my loves. x

LOVE & XX’S,

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How to Wear the Rust Color Trend for Summer

May 16, 2019

WEARING: RUST COLORED PANTS | WHITE RIB KNIT TANK TOP | WHITE PATENT ALL OVER PERSPEX HEEL WITH GLASS BLOCK HEEL | NET BAG | WOVEN HOOP EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHEIN & LINZI BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

When it comes to a summer palette, you normally see vibrant bold colors of coral, hot pink, yellows and oranges, but rust? This summer’s hottest trending color is everywhere! And rightfully so. It can be paired with a variety of colors, textures and more. In today’s post, I’m getting down on how to wear the rust color trend for summer - easy peasy and oh, so chic! I’ve got some really stylish yet affordable accessory pieces too - get the entire look for under $87! And every single piece in my outfit can be worn than once, which is a definitely must in my wardrobe. Come check out the summery vibes - are you ready for the heat?

Would you believe it if I told you the white knit rib top and rust-colored pants are only $27?! I find whites complement well with the rust color. Other shades that would love marvelous with rust are blue, green, purple, red and black. These are more fall/winter-oriented colors, which is also why I went for a white top. This tank top is super comfy and quite airy for a knitted top. I love the pleated pants as well. It came with a belt, but I optioned it out for today’s look so the ruffles on the waist would be less stiff for a laidback, relaxed look.

I kept my accessories very neutral to let the pants shine in the spotlight, like this H&M net bag that has a salmon/coral/beige tone to it that’s perfect for summer. You can use it everywhere: For groceries/the farmer’s market, the beach, and so much more. I like that the material is a little heftier than usual net bags, so you can pack other more sturdy items like books without a problem. That’s kind of a pre-requisite when it comes to Suz, ha ha. I always have some sort of reading material on me, let it be newspapers, magazines, journals, and more - ya girl always has it on her ;)

I’m not going to lie. When I think of perspex material with shoes, I normally find them kind of tacky. Something a stripper would wear, especially if they’re sky-high. LOL! BUT - I definitely wanted to prove that they can also look sexy chic if styled the right way. Enter: These beauties from Linzi Shoes. These soft, white patent all over perspex heels with a glass block heel will sultrify any outfit, whether jeans, a dress or skirt - it’ll definitely raise some temperatures. They’re definitely not an everyday wear kind of heel or even walking material, but for a sexy date night, you can count on these to be your wing woman.

How would you styled these gorgeous pair of rust-colored pleated pants? I would definitely wear these again for the fall/winter season with a good chunky sweater and boots. These pants would also rock with bodysuits and sheer blouses/camis. Ooooh, a cardigan as well. See how the possibilities are endless? The earrings are from Mulberry & Grand, but are no longer in stock. I’ve linked a similar pair that are only $6 bucks but look like they’re worth much more. Don’t forget to check out these pieces from this summer look! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed today’s outfit post. Have a great rest of your week!

LOVE & XX’S,

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Chic Rainy Day Outfit

May 13, 2019

WEARING: COTTON-BLEND TRENCH COAT | NAVY BLUE LACE TRIM DRESS | RED PATENT MEDIUM CROSSBODY BAG | BLACK CHELSEA RAIN BOOTS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ALLISON NEW YORK, ARCADIA BAGS & LEMON JELLY BOOTS BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

I thought the expression went, “April showers bring May flowers” but the month of May has been quite wet in terms of weather. Since it’s the last May showers before summer weather arrives, I wanted to share a rainy day outfit that’s not too casual - because even on the rainiest of days we’ve got places to be and people to meet! And given it’s wedding season, I’m also sharing a two-for-one look with a lace trim dress that’s perfect to wear as a guest to a wedding and other occasions such as bridal and baby showers, this dress is also great for everyday wear. I’ve also found the most gorgeous Italian red patent crossbody bag that won’t have you breaking the bank. So continue reading to see the complete look and also where to shop these specific items, for dry and/or rainy days.

This cute, A-line dress features covered front buttons, lovely crochet lace trim, and a ruffled, flared skirt for a charming feminine look. I think one shade of blue that works well all year round is in fact, navy blue. I think it’s a modest but regal color that’s perfect to wear while attending a wedding or shower of some kind. But I love to be able to wear items on more than one occasion. Which is why this dress is great for that. I styled it for everyday wear to show you its versatility. Fits true to size, it’s the ultimate romantic dress for this season. It runs at originally $185, but I found this dress on Nordstrom marked down half its price at $90! Check out this gorgeous navy blue dress here or down below.

An on trend white sole meets a classic Chelsea boot for an innovative, fresh appearance. The majority of rain boots I see are not very chic, but I really loved these black pair of rain boots. These ankle boot are in PVC, compliant with REACH European health and environmental standards against the effects of noxious substances. With a glossy finish and lemon-scented (literally not joking - I was pleasantly surprised when I first opened the package upon receiving it) these boots do run a little small so I recommend ordering a size up. If you’re a 1/2 size of any kind, I’d choose the next size up as well. These run for $150 but they’re also on sale at Nordstrom for only $80.

Arcadia Laila belongs to the famous “patent print” collection. It’s perfect for an elegant look, but at the same time it’s also fashionable thanks to the double adjustment gold chain. It’s made with a patent print calf skin and it has a customized lock on the front and a comfortable inner zip pocket. I love the bold pop of color from this bag when it comes to this rainy day look. But I’d also style it with an all white outfit or even a black pantsuit. Red always brings life to an outfit, in my opinion. If you shop on Arcadia, use my discount code, ‘suzanne10’ to receive 10% off!

I hope you enjoyed this chic rainy day outfit! Those rain boots can especially be worn during warmer weather, as the material is not as clunky/heavy. It is quite suitable for New York weather, as it’s going to be wet up until Wednesday. One day it is 70 and sunny and the following it’s rainy and 48 - seriously can’t seem to make up its mind, Mother Nature! Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a wonderful week and a dry Monday ;)

LOVE & XX’S,

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How I Feel About Blogging Lately

May 1, 2019

WEARING: OVERSIZED BLACK BLAZER | SKINNY JEANS | BLACK BAG | BLACK & GREEN WATCH | BLACK MARY JANES

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LOWER OFFICIAL BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

I’ve been wanting to write this post all week but alas I’ve been quite the mess. My dog, MaQ, even though seems to be his good cherry self, has had some kind of skin infection (or so it seemed) but after a vet visit and the blood work came back, his albumin levels were lower than they should be. So tomorrow we will be going in to have an abdominal ultrasound to further investigate the problem. I PRAY that there’s nothing serious, but given the fact this is the first time my baby is not well (internally) I want to be safe rather than sorry. And in doing so, I’ve been super anxious all week, to the point where I canceled all my meetings, events… everything. I know a lot will disagree, that the world keeps on ticking, but he’s more than just a dog to me. He’s my child and without him I’m not sure what’s left of me. Most have been incredibly supportive (and THANK you for the uplifting msgs/comments/etc;) but what’s been going on with MaQ lately has me thinking a lot about the future, and what that entails of in the blogging world and which direction I would like to take. Continue reading for more on my thoughts on this rather difficult subject and my fears for what lies ahead.

On a daily basis I receive approximately 10-15 invitations to press previews, launch events, and then some where in the start to my career in blogging, I accepted almost every invitation to network and expand my business. But now coming up on four years in August, I am highly selective with my time. Many of these events are to fill the room, as in to make it look like the event is lively and engaging, I get that, and in turn we, as bloggers show up for support and networking abilities but how many times do we really connect with others (business-wise) at an event where nearly everyone is drinking alcohol, bringing their +1’s because they need a hand to hold and gossip with, only to never really be as proactive as one can be during such a place and time. I rarely see strangers starting up conversations, and more so the cliquey groups I detested in high school. Don’t get me wrong, you can connect while boozing, I’m sure, but in all likelihood, it’s not going to happen. Especially when there’s hundreds of people in the room. I’m more about intimate gatherings, or one-on-one meetings where you have a better chance in what I’m talking about. I’m not the type of person who likes to see and be seen. Frankly, I don’t give a shit and would rather be in the comfort of my own home in my pj’s snuggled up with my dog.

It’s also the experience that comes with. I actually hate being called an influencer, because I don’t consider to be one. When you see others talking in selfie form on stories and load after load of unboxings, gifts, press trips, and always THE SAME OLE’ THING, it’s gets old relatively fast. I don’t even like to tell others I’m a blogger because of first impressions. Many have given the blogging label a bad rep, and I hate to have fallen in to that category because I’m far from it. I’m first and foremost a writer. I tend to forget at times due to the very difficult career path and yes, it’s not easy at all. But after being a writer, I consider myself a creative director and stylist who wants to further concentrate my energy into creation - such as fashion editorials, photo essays and more. It’s been a while since I wrote my last body of work, and to be quite honest, I haven’t jumped back on the wagon quite yet because of fear and the pressures of what comes next after writing your first book. It’s terrifying. I do have a number of ideas, but in recent years have lost a lot of confidence, therefore feeling very uncertain about the future. All I know is I definitely don’t see myself posting OOTD’S for the rest of my life, lol. So where do I go from here?

But after the past week with what’s going on with MaQ, it has put many things in perspective. My family comes first, because without them I’m nothing. They mean everything to me, and if anyone doesn’t seem to quite understand that, they can stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. I’m serious. “When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.” My favorite Game of Thrones quote, it’s the epitome of what family means to me. We are better together rather than alone. I would love to add to our family, but that’s a long story and a whole other blog post alone. And even though it’s my '“job” to share a lot of my life to you all, I couldn’t disagree more. I’m like the Keanu Reeves of blogging. I relish in my privacy. And will keep it that way. Never hurts to leave a little mystery behind.

I’m sure you have heard by now but if you haven’t, Instagram is considering hiding the amount of likes on everyone’s account. And I think this is wonderful. Talk about healthy engagement. Because it never should be about the numbers, but the CONTENT. Is it good quality? Does it tell a story? Does it transport me to somewhere? And I think this idea would be greatly beneficial to the younger generation, where studies have shown the toxicity within social media and how validation plays such a terrible role. I mean, how many times have you felt bad when a post bombed? I know I have. I would like to focus on slow-creation as I term it, where back in the Avedon/Penn days, photographs/content would take a lot of time. Nothing was digital and the appreciation after waiting for the final product was always worth it. Nowadays, we can’t seem to go fast enough. And it’s exhausting, fully saturated with so many doing the exact same concept (YAWN) or even worse, just ripping off one another’s ideas. And yes, everything comes from somewhere but the way we interpret it is key. So I’m focusing on advancing in videography (something I’m good at but hate doing lol) where we can start to evolve our content into something fresh and new again. I will also be taking more focus on my writing,

I used to have trepidations of not staying consistent on the gram. Meaning, if I didn’t post everyday, I was in serious trouble! OMG, how ridiculous does that sound?! I would rather have my audience wait and appreciate the work rather than nonstop photos of outfits, events, etc; where it just gets to be too much and no one can really concentrate on the work, which is most important to me. That’s another reason I don’t post as much on stories either anymore because I find it creepy sharing your every move. And who really cares what you’re having for dinner? Unless you’re a major public figure like Angelina Jolie, you got me. I will keep my presence online, but will definitely not be posting everyday of the week anymore, which I have been doing for several months now.

So, while I have some projects I am really going to concentrate on for the remainder of the year, I would love to know from my readers on what you’d like to see me cover more on my social media platforms. Don’t worry - I will still post, go to (some) events and live my life, but what would you want to see more of? Fashion? Writing on more serious topics? Beauty? Travel? Pet lifestyle? Maybe some crime? Or still maybe a little bit of everything? I would love to have some feedback from you guys to better assess our future content. Thanks for stopping by and reading! Don’t forget to drop your comments down below and chime in on what you’d like to see more of on MaQ + Suz! Until next time, wish us luck tomorrow at MaQ’s sonogram and keep sending those positive vibes! Nothing but Love & Light to you all. xx

LOVE & XX’S,

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How to Style A Yellow Neon Snake Print Skirt

April 19, 2019

WEARING: MEN’S BLAZER | SNAKE PRINT SKIRT | BEIGE SUEDE AND LEATHER SHOULDER BAG | WHITE STRAPPY SANDALS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LE PARMENTIER PARIS, NOBODY’S CHILD, & LINZI BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

It’s Friday! I don’t know about you folks, but it’s been one hell of a week. Everything went wrong, and no matter how hard I tried to persevere, more and more continued to fall downward. It was a disaster. First I had the eye situation (see in last post), then tried to get back to work shooting content that was delayed because of that (of course, everything I need to photograph was beauty shots! UGH) and then came the unpredictable weather. If the meteorologist said it was sunny, we’d go out to shoot and voila, out came the rain. And vice-versa! I had to skip all my events this week just to try and catch up on my workload, which is something I really hate doing. If I say I’m going to be somewhere, I’m going to be there. And no matter what I tried to style this week, whatever I did it just didn’t seem to work. I am extremely hard on myself, and never feel my best is even close to good enough. Any suggestions on how to be easier on myself without having the guilt of ‘slacking’ or not doing my ultimate best? Meanwhile, check out the latest outfit post where I style a yellow neon snake print skirt with some very fashionable accessories, including a favorite: stealing from my husband’s wardrobe! Continue reading to see complete shoot along with where you can find these pieces online!

I ‘borrowed’ this men’s jacket from my husband’s closet. By the French designer, Pierre Cardin, he prefers geometric shapes and motifs, often ignoring the female form. He advanced into unisex fashions, sometimes experimental, and not always practical. When I saw the silhouette of this jacket, I knew it’d look great as an oversized blazer on me. I think it helps create more masculinity into this look, which is also quite feminine from the waist down. I kept it simple with a black t-shirt to not overshadow this amazing blazer. What do you think of oversized pieces in women’s clothing? Yay or nay?

The Yucca Shoulder Bag crafted in smooth genuine Italian calf leather and velvety suede, pulls out all the stops with its updated take on the classic saddle silhouette that keeps you discreetly organized all day and stylist on casual fun nights. Featuring a flap top magnetic snap closure with bold hardware detail, adjustable wide shoulder strap and gold tone hardware detail, you can get your Yucca bag from Forzieri. You can use the code code name: SUZANNE15 for 15% OFF on Le Parmentier bags collection at forzieri.com valid April 19th - May 17th.

I’ve been eyeing the strappy sandals from The Row, but even someone like myself can’t always afford the splurge into higher-end goods. Which is why I love to dupe, from time to time, especially when they look and feel amazing such as these white spring/summer sandals I’m wearing by Linzi Shoes. Made with soft faux leather, with a toe post and a strappy lace up that has almost a 4” heel, but it doesn’t feel that way. They’re actually quite comfy! This particular heel also comes in black and snake skin print, so be sure to check ‘em out! Also, each pair are under $40, a great deal!

Last but not least, the snake print skirt. It’s yellow neon, has an elastic waist (my favorite) with a pleat and midi-length. I’d easily wear this skirt with a white t-shirt and some sneakers, but I wanted to vamp it up with a mixture of my usual style of juxtaposed feminine and masculine pieces. I hope you guys enjoyed this outfit post, stay tuned for a video and different look on Monday! It’s going to be a really fun post, so can’t wait to share with you guys! Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend, for those that celebrate. Much love, always. x