New York Fashion Week

September 21, 2016

Happy Hump Day, everyone! I'm excited to finally share with you my NYFW SS17 blog diary and all the experiences that came with it. I was delighted to receive invitations to more than a few shows and still relatively new to the blogging world, it was my first year to document my day-to-day life during New York Fashion Week. Let's take a recap of the shows I had the pleasure of attending, a few events, along with my outfits and trend-picks.

NYFW SHOWS

FASHION PALETTE

A Sydney and New York events production company, the Fashion Palette show consisted of 6 designers sharing the runway. All Australian Womenswear the designers included were Con Ilio, Cristahlea, Stephanie Chehade, Milanja, Homebodii, and Sui Generis. I truly loved each and every designer's collection but the dress that stole my heart was the pearl-beaded white dress from Con Ilio. It was heaven-sent. Any bride's dream gown! Take a look at the dress's back details here.

DAN LIU

An award-winning Chinese & Japanese Canadian fashion designer, Dan Liu presented color contrasts, embroidery details and tons of Parisian inspiration. Chic, elegant and with romantic flair, each seat came with a single red rose. Nice added touch to the overall concept! My favorite piece from his collection was the 'Purple Skyline'. A satin dress with short sleeves mixed with purple and green stripes, it is the perfect day-to-evening dress for fall. You can find it in the collection of pictures above.

LEANNE MARSHALL

My favorite show, Leanne Marshall is a whirlwind of a talent. Since her Project Runway win from Season 5, Leanne has captured an effortless grace and timeless elegance in her collection. I was completely blown away by all 41 looks of periwinkles, lavenders and orange colors. Let's not forget the pinks! Truly ethereal and refreshing, the fabrics from this collection have certainly put silk chiffon and organza back on trend! My favorite look was the final piece which was a tanzanite silk organza gown with long sleeves, chiffon bead and organza embellishment. This dress was killer!

KYBOE!

Bigger is better and Kyboe! had a massive show at the Skylight Moynihan Station. One of the largest shows I've ever seen in person, Kyboe! showcased their creative and stylish designed watches, which are inspired by the vibrant and colorful tulip fields of the Netherlands, as some of the most beautiful and fit models strutted down the runway! It was an innovative and fun show, the music had me gyrating in my seat! I loved the color-coordination scheme and overall playfulness of the show. I even received one of their watches as a gift! Check out the group watch shot above - mine is the black one. :)

ANNIESA HASIBUAN

What can I say about this show?! An Indonesian-inspired D'Jakarta collection, models wore hijabs for each look, clearly demonstrating uniqueness and the freedom in expressing other forms of style & beauty. Each detail is rich in culture. Brocade and pearls, sequin stones - all embodied glamour and elegance. Fitted for a Queen! I felt very honored to attend every show, especially this one as I grew up in a Muslim community where the familiarity was apparent and I was excited to see expansion in this creative world. A kind of cultural shift such as her designs will help break down stereotypes and demystify misconceptions of hijab in America. It was empowering and such a treat for my last show. Favorite hands-down was the final garment. Hints of gold and crystal, the model shimmered down the runway like a butterfly. Truly breathtaking!

EVENTS

HOT TO ADOPT FELINE FASHION LOUNGE AND ADOPTION EVENT

Hosted by Katie Cassidy and brought to you by Fresh Step, the cat-crazed event was a big hit! I love the idea of mixing a good cause such as adoption with the world of fashion. To check out more details about this event along with how you can help contribute to cat adoption, go to my latest post here.

SHOPSTYLE SOCIAL HOUSE

I really wanted to love everything about this event except there was one slightly BIG flaw. With only one person to help there were far too many people waiting in line just to rent clothes and accessories. Though there were a lot of brands and labels that I would have been happy to try, after waiting in line for over thirty minutes just to get past only about two feet, I had to leave due to another show I had to attend to. So sadly, I didn't get anything :( It felt like a loss of time, but the hors d'oeurves were smashing and the views from the Glasshouses were spectacular!

PLYMOUTH GIN PARTY

Need I say more? This was the perfect end of the week party to unwind with blogger friends and catch up after all the chaos from New York Fashion Week. I'm not much of a gin drinker, but after this event I think we will be getting along just fine. My favorite drink during fashion week was the classic Martini, but a little dirty. ;)

OUTFITS & TRENDS

RUFFLES

On Day 5 I wore an off-the-shoulder dress from H&M with ruffles. The extra movement elevates feminine elegance, making it more modern and edgy. To complete the look, I paired it with a Dress Lily Cross Body bag in periwinkle and a black wrap around choker with gold rings as finishing touches.

DENIM

Day 3 was literally the hottest day during fashion week. With 90+ degree temps, I still opted for an amazing Dress Fo denim wrap trench to wear for the entire day! Call me crazy, but all in the name of fashion! I saw tons of different textures and cuts with denim this SS17 season. From coats to chokes, to boots to two-pieces, denim is still in!

METALLICS

Day 1 I wore a metallic silver pleated top from one of my favorite stores, Mango. It's fresh and fun, dazzling up a casual outfit in no time! I paired the top with BDG mom jeans, a black velvet crop jacket, and nude oxfords. Check out the metallic belt I snapped away from Anniesa Hasibuan's show above! It's been trending for some time but metallics are here to stay!

PERIWINKLES & TANGERINES

These colors are hot off the runway. I've seen these color tones in almost every show. I had to share a few of the orange palette's from Leanne Marshall's show. Aren't they gorgeous?! And with a white jacket? Perfection. These colors are also flattering on many skin tones, so don't be surprised to see a lot more of these colors on trend for the next season!

This post is brought to you by Shopping Links.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Monstera Deliciosa

August 31, 2016

MONSTERA DELICIOSA, SELF-PORTRAIT SERIES, AUGUST 30TH, 2016.

PHOTOS BY: © Suzanne Spiegoski

When it comes to my work in self-portraiture I rarely if ever photograph myself in the nude, let alone publicly show any of the photographs. Self-portraits are not easy to do, in fact, it's the most challenging subject I have ever had. Well, so far... we'll see if that'll ever change. ;) But the more involved I become in the torrid affair that is - one with the camera, the more open I am in the relationship. When I first started 'dating' the camera, I was always so anxious to start clicking away. Now, don't get me wrong. I still get that feeling to this day. But there's a more calm formality to it now. With time and effort, a shitload of patience, and experience, I've learned quite a bit. But that shouldn't stop there. Never stop learning.

This past year has been all about taking risks, good and bad, perhaps even downright ugly when I come to think of it. But the more chances I've taken, the more rewards I've been given. Does it have anything to do with money? No. Vanity purposes? Not at all. To me, self-portraiture is all about the relationship you have with yourself and with the camera. To know oneself is to know many, in my belief. What better way to know how to photograph anyone or anything? No, not every photographer does self-portraits, and they shouldn't have to nor need to be a good photographer, but it's a wonderful path to self-discovery and in my opinion, one of the best forms of self-expression. Being first and foremost a writer, there are sometimes feelings... stories... concepts that I cannot put down in words. With photography being my other medium, it aids me in releasing vulnerabilities I didn't even know were there. 'A picture is worth a thousand words', and sometimes the image of a subject can convey its meaning or essence more effectively than a description does. I get the best of both worlds as someone in the arts. I'm very fortunate to be able to do what I do. And I never forget it.

Lastly, today I had the immense pleasure and honor of interviewing the wonderful Henry Leutwyler at his studio in downtown Manhattan. He is a wonderful photographer with a new book coming out this Fall that'll I'll be writing about on the blog! I can't wait to share my experience with Henry and his amazingly talented work. You are going to be blown away! Just utterly spectacular. I'm so excited about this story! Stay tuned... in the meantime I'm doing another recipe this week and step-by-step video! It's got a ton of avocados by the way..... :)

LOVE & XX'S,

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Océane Chiaroni Interview — A Parisienne in New York

August 16, 2016

A commonality of interests we share: She's known my husband just as long as I have, however, she's known him longer, and yet she is only twenty-four years old. We've both lost a loved one to suicide. We too, are both very much involved in the artist's world. And if we were to be deserted on an island, where we had to choose only one kind of food to survive off of for the rest of our lives, it'd be mashed potatoes. She's not only my goddaughter, but a close personal friend: a part of my chosen family. Her sun sign of the lioness, Océane (Ocean) has a zest for life and a warm spirit, despite enduring hardships most 20-something year olds never have to face.

Born and raised in Paris, Océane grew up rather quickly and in a creative environment. Her mother, a journalist, and her father, an actor; the path to her own discovery of who she wanted to be was an easy one. Very early on in life, she had her heart set on becoming an actress. Her father, who, after she was born, owned a bar in Le Marais - a district in Paris where many famous French humorists of stand up started out, was friends with many of them and were in her childhood home often. Seeing her father act had a great influence on her. At five years old, she was the primary acting coach to her teddy bears and Barbie's while playing with them in her bedroom. She'd help direct them, giving stern but detailed corrections. But even then, she strongly believed in herself. When she performed at her first theater show at eight years old, the feeling beforehand was something she cannot explain. She was not queasy, but the butterflies in her stomach were palpable. The anticipation of performing was more of an exciting, adrenaline-pumping sensation, not a worrisome one. Nothing else in life has given her such hair-raising goosebumps.

And so with her dream, her parents strongly encouraged her to pursue them, adamant in working hard toward your goals. Océane is following her passion. Now a student, for nearly a year, at the Susan Batson Studio in New York City, she is currently working on a number of projects, including a web series, but one piece of her is missing. One of her biggest dreams was to always be able to clown around with her father, forever thick as thieves, and furthermore, maybe even performing in a play or movie together in the future. This hope was shattered when he took his own life over three years ago. Her world suddenly stopped, grieved to the core of her heart. At first, Océane was naturally angry (one of the many stages of grief), with feelings of abandonment and unfairness; a harsh lesson in the cruelties of life at such a tender age. She took time to take it all in, wanting to understand the why's and how's of it, trying to sort through complexities one should never have to sort through. But she refuses to let this stop her from living her life, something I myself find very commendable. Courageous. A freedom message.

Bright beyond her years, she's taken this painful experience and is subsequently making the world more interesting; a better one. I recently had the privilege of watching her perform at the Susan Batson Studio on her current subject: Jean Seberg. And Océane's deep understanding for life and death is clear. A little inside scoop: Jean was a very talented American actress who also happened to commit suicide. The correlations between her different worlds was remarkable. Disturbing at times, where even I was uncomfortable, I was also completely taken aback by her raw talent - pulling emotions out of me I haven't even tried to unravel. And she was capable of doing that from her 5-minute act.

My cousin took his life in 2013. She shared her experience & beliefs with me on such a difficult subject. Ever hear of an old saying as such, "You can drag the horse to the pond, but you can't make him drink the water."? If one is in denial of a problem, no one can help them, not even themselves. No matter what you try. Regardless of what the problem may be, the first step is to admit to the problem and be willing to seek help. Océane did have a friend who confided in her earlier this year with suicidal thoughts. It is with a keen pair of ears and an open heart that will aid in being acknowledged and understood. Spend every chance you can with that person. If you can't be with them, make sure other friends or family members are there. Find a solution. See what they need to get better. If they want to see a doctor, offer your hand and go with them. Be a nurturer, but not an enabler. I admire Océane's strength and openness, especially after everything. The easy way is through denial and self-loathing, falling into the abyss one so easily can fall into, but the hardest is to never give up. To be aware and never stop believing in hope, to live and carry on, no matter what life throws your way. This is passion. This is living. This is love.

If you are in crisis or considering suicide, please go to hopeline.com to chat online now or call 1-800-SUICIDE to talk with someone. Open 24/7. #IMAlive

FUN FACTS

Biggest fear: Being like my Dad.
Biggest pet peeve: People who are judgmental.
Greatest regret: Je ne regrette rien.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?: My kindness because sometimes people take advantage of this.
Favorite movie: Pulp Fiction.
Favorite actor(s): John Travolta & Jean Seberg
Favorite place in NYC: The Highline
Favorite place in Paris: Le Marais
Favorite Restaurants: Balzem in New York & L'Arpège in Paris

LOVE & XX'S,

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Rhapsody in Blue - Happy 1 Year Blogiversary

August 9, 2016

WEARING: FOREVER 21 BLUE DRESS | H&M SCARF | ADIDAS ORIGINALS STAN SMITH

photos by Gilles Decamps / videography by Gilles Decamps & Suzanne Spiegoski / edit by Suzanne Spiegoski

Happy 1 Year Blogiversary to MaQ + Suz! What an incredible year it's been, I had to celebrate! Check out my 'Rhapsody in Blue' video for the occasion! Thank you so much for your constant love & support, I couldn't have done this without you guys! Cheers!

Exactly one year ago today, I created and launched my lifestyle blog, MaQ + Suz! I've come a long way throughout this crazy embarkment of a journey. To learn is to grow and I'm so lucky to be able to do what I love in the process. Never did I imagine I could roll all my passions into one whole and have that actually be plausible. It's kind of like New York in that way. It doesn't make any sense as to how it works, but it does. In every way possible.

There were some highs and lows; challenging at times, yes - but I've always enjoyed biting off more than I can chew. I'm a true believer in the power of intention. If you set your mind to something, you can make anything happen. You just really have to believe in it, more importantly, you must believe in yourself. I've worked very hard to get to where I am today and I couldn't have kept on going without you guys! Your daily words of encouragement remind me why I do what I do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your constant love and support. I'm left completely inspired and incredibly humbled by all the experiences, friendships, and lessons from this year. I've truly made some wonderful, empowering connections - both new and old.

And it's all because I decided to take a leap of faith. I never wanted an ordinary life or even a glamorous one, and I most certainly have never played it safe. I'm living the life I've always imagined, open and free. This year was also highlighted on stepping out of comfort zones. Without MaQ + Suz, I would not be where I am right now, both professionally and personally, and for that, I'm eternally grateful. It's been one wild ride and I can't wait to see what year two will bring!

In light of this occasion, I'll be doing a 1-Year Blogiversary Giveaway on my Instagram! Keep your eyes peeled in the next coming days! I can't wait to share! Lastly, I've got some upcoming stories I'm so excited to share with you! MaQ + Suz will be posting another interview feature with a New York actress and dear friend [photos too (by moi) ;)] and an overdue recipe I'm dying to show you! Coming soon, so stay tuned! Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and watch our Blogiversary - celebration video! :)

LOVE & XX'S,

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Up North Michigan Travel Diary

August 3, 2016

My Up North Michigan Travel Vlog is now live! Come read my personal story about this travel adventure down below! Don't forget to subscribe to our MaQ + Suz channel! xoxo.

Hi everyone! Apologies for my absence around my blog. I have been working tirelessly on this travel post on top of other upcoming projects and getting what seemed to be a nasty head cold at first, only to backfire (no matter how hard I tried to fight it) and is now a full-blown respiratory infection. Alas, for my serious case of MIA at events this week. I've coughed up a lung and have been expelling excessive amounts of that icky sticky mucus. GROSS. Regardless of how I've been feeling, I just couldn't wait to share this story with you guys!

This isn't only a travel diary, but more than anything else, a deep and personal journey. One I've been meaning to take for over four years, but never conjured the strength to face my demons. To release the ghosts. When my father passed away in 2012, it had severed family ties for reasons I won't mention. (Not for my sake but for theirs.) #StayGracious. I hadn't spoken with my brother, BJ (Benjamin James), since our Dad's death. I tried everything to reach him. Phone calls, Facebook messages, texts, gifts, even written letters - but nothing seemed to affect him. I was heartbroken. Throughout these years, I never stopped thinking about him. I never gave up on him, even when our own family had. And time really does heal all wounds. Not completely. There'll always remain a scar. But with that time, I began to, more and more, miss home. Michigan is not a safe haven for me. Never was. But its pure beauty is what I missed most. Its clear blue skies, dirt country roads, the sweet smell from the fruit orchards in the summer; friends. I finally was compelled to do something about this, even though it scared the living daylights out of me. Why? Fear of the unknown. All the coulda, shoulda, woulda's raced through my mind. 'Will BJ be happy to see me?' 'What if I don't feel like I am home?' 'Would my friends even care if I was in town?' The perks of being an anxious one.

And so, like a total crazy person, I took a leap of faith and booked a flight out. Boy, was I nervous. I didn't know what to expect, but what I did know was the very few people and places I had to visit. I flew into Detroit, where I spent most of my childhood, and right from there after picking up the car rental, I drove straight to my parents' gravesite. I HAD TO SEE THEM. Far, far, far overdue. I refused to cry because I wanted to stay strong for the following days to come, as I was taking a 4-hr drive the next day to 'maybe' see my brother, BJ. What do I mean by maybe? I'll get to that soon. After spending time with my mother and father, I ventured to my next stop: My childhood home. I hadn't visited that area in nearly ten years, and really wanted to go back and see my roots, where I came from and how far I've come. I knocked on the door and a kind Arabic man agreed to let me see the inside of the house, including the backyard. If felt the same, this haunting, lingering aura lurked in the air. You can see in the beginning of the pictures (from above), a large pink rose bush that's dead center in front of the house. I bought that rose bush when I was just a little girl, maybe 9 or 10 years of age, and the rose bush was the size of my fist! I couldn't believe that it kept coming back up every season, after so many years. And how big it's gotten! My mother's green thumb didn't just stop there either. Her flowers still bud up every year in the backyard, so much so, that some of the bulbs even shifted under the earth to her next door neighbor's, her best friend! Afterward I had to stop by and surprise her as well, where we sat and talked for hours about family and life. I am thankful for her love and support through the years.

I was also able to see two of my closest girlfriends. A lifelong childhood friend which whom I stayed with during my first night in D-Town and my college best friend, who I met halfway up in St. Clair Shores for an early dinner right off the marina at Mike's On the Water Grill. Opening in 2011, its 1960s/70s burger joint, Key West decor will have you immediately feeling cool, cozy and comfortable. With an outside deck overlooking the water, you can sit down and enjoy lobster rolls and fish tacos with a mighty fine frozen cocktail. You can ever ride your boat in for dinner, as they have their own deck staff to assist you with tying up your boat. It was so great to catch up. I hadn't seen my college best friend since she's gotten married! I just love it when you can pick up right where you left off and it's like nothing has changed, even though it has. Loyalty is hard to come by these days, and I'm lucky my longtime friends are just that. Love you girls!

The following morning I got an early start on the road to embark my continuing journey of trying to reconnect with my brother. All I had was his last known address and phone number, and a couple of his buddies contact info. I could have asked my estranged family for his most recent info, but what for? Not once have they called either of us since both of our parents have gone. My only focus was on my brother. Because he's all the family I got left. My heart started to race when I walked up to his last known address. I knocked on the door twice only to take a quick peek around back. Nothing. Then I see the next door neighbors leaving their house. I run up to a Hispanic man and start asking questions about my brother. First he tells me he's moved to another apartment. Then he tells me he has no idea where. I become discouraged only to once again become excited when I overhear his wife say she knows where he's located. They start talking in Spanish, too fast for me to translate. Then the woman says her husband will take me to my brother! We get in the car, only then I start to think, 'Wow, nutso. You're letting this strange man into your car and you're out here in the middle of nowhere all by yourself.' NO. I tell my 'bully-voice (as I call it), to piss off. I had faith in this man for some peculiar reason. It felt right.

We drive a couple of minutes only to be misled to the wrong house. Refusing to give up, I approach two homeboys chilling around the house I just knocked on. 'You know BJ? Asian? Really hard to miss? Ha ha?' They respond, 'Oh, yeah! You JUSSSSSST missed him. By like one minute.' I ask if they knew where he had gone. They point and tell me right down the road. So me and the Hispanic man (I unfortunately never got his name amidst the chaos) hop back into the car and race down the street to try and catch my brother. We spot him and I pull over and start honking like a madwoman. He nonchalantly takes a halfway glimpse only to keep walking further. I honk once more, only this time shouting, 'HEYYYYY!' Now he does a 180. His squinty eyes are trying to compute what's happening, then immediately he drops his jaw to the floor. I rushed out of the car and hugged him with all I had. It was by far the most perfect reunion ever. Like it was meant to be. He never hugged me so tight either.

We spent the next two days talking, swimming, hiking and exploring Up North, Muskegon/Ludington area right off of Lake Michigan. We even got to watch the sunset over Lake Michigan our first night together. I was fortunate to have a such a wonderful stay at the Dunes Express Inn & Suites, where their newly renovated hotel had all the right amenities. The Hart-Montage Trail State Park is adjacent to the hotel (so much fun biking in Michigan during summertime) and is only seven miles from the wondrous Silver Lake Sand Dunes. My favorite amenity? The indoor pool/hot tub. Ultimate relaxation. And to see my bro cannonball into the pool had both of us feeling like little kids again. Wish I had more time to spend in Michigan. We would've biked the trail along with going four-wheeling in the sand dunes. It's a must-see in Michigan, absolutely breathtaking!

Despite having the reconnection with my brother going so amazingly, the traveling on the way back to New York was a nightmare. After dropping off my car rental in Detroit, I decided to check into the airport earlier so I could get some work done. I came in around noon, when my flight was departing almost around 5pm. I didn't mind. I didn't even mind when it got delayed twice. That always happens. So, about an hour and a half late, they finally start boarding the plane. I'm thinking I'm home-free! Nope. The pilot gets on the intercom and notifies that everyone must deplane due to air traffic control issues. WTH?! You should have heard the melodious-like exasperated sighs from everyone when we got the news! So after we get off the plane, we waited for nearly another hour only to have the workers at the kiosk station inform us our flight had been canceled. They immediately tell us to go down to rebooking. When I got down there, nearly 250 people were already waiting in line, disgruntled, tired, and just annoyed. When I finally get to customer service (which had only 1 representative!), they didn't even vouch for me to stay at the airport hotel or anything. All they offered me was a refund to my connected flight or to wait until the next flight out by their airline, which was in two days! Normally I never even bother speaking badly of people, brands, or companies, but after the experience I had, I felt like I had no other choice than to tell you! DO NOT FLY WITH SPIRIT AIRLINES. Their customer service was the worst, both in person and on the phone. They are rude, unhelpful and completely ridiculous. I will never fly with them again. If I were you, I wouldn't either. Just don't. They even charge you to print out your boarding pass at the airport ($10 bucks) and for your carry-on!! RIP OFF.

Thank goodness for my childhood friend who came to the rescue and let me stay with her again. She's so dope, the minute we got back to her place she helped me look at flights to get back home the following morning (THANK YOU DELTA!). I owe her big time! Now I jokingly am telling everyone that of course the trip had to end horribly for the rest of it to be the way that it was, which was good for the soul. I feel transformed and renewed, stronger than ever before. I got my brother back and that's all that's ever really mattered to me. I think too, that because of my new career in blogging, I never would have been as brave as I was if it weren't for all the stepping out of my comfort zone-feels this year. And shit, it's been crazy real, but crazy unbelievable. I'm truly blessed and eternally grateful for this trip. I can't wait to visit again soon. Until then, my lesson of the year: FACE YOUR FEARS. Just run with it and keep pushing forward. You might surprise yourself. :)