Baby Blue Spring Outfit

April 8, 2019

WEARING: BABY BLUE SET | WHITE TUNIC | BLUE BAG | BLUE SHOES

Happy Monday! Spring has sprung! The cherry blossoms are blossoming and the weather is finally sticking to warmer temps. Easter Sunday is right around the corner, in a couple of weeks to be exact, and for those that are celebrating, how do you like to wear your Sunday’s best? And even if you’re not celebrating, this is an outfit for spring! All about baby blue and a bit of princess/folk vibes (what can I say, I’m a bit too excited for GoT - Game of Thrones) continue reading to get more info on where to shop this springy look on top of seeing the complete shoot! Wishing you all a wonderful week!

The baby blue crop top and wide leg trouser is essential for your summer wardrobe. Featuring a blue crepe material, a bandeau neckline and a tie front detail. However, since I layered it for spring, I opted to tie the front detail in the back to create a stronger silhouette with the white. I love palazzo/wide leg pants for the spring/summer season as they can easily look like a dress depending on movement and how you’re positioned. It gives it a lovely flowing quality with the color alone, as it’s one of my favorite pastel colors of all time. Style this set with some sandals for a cute summer look!

The Aria Toe Strap Heel Mule In Light Blue Faux Leather is perfect for the season. I kept it monochrome and chose the same colored accessories in today’s post, such as the sandals as well as my handbag. Aside from the tunic not being in the same color family, my hair accessories were also not baby blue. I went with silver, as I found this to complement with the pastel well. Gold would may have been too much.

The white top is not even a top or a blouse! It’s actually a tunic dress from last summer, but the material is paper thin, so I was easily able to layer it together perfectly. Early spring weather tends to be tricky - one day it’s above temperature and the next freezing (even though it looks so beautiful outside), so I tend to layer a ton before it really starts to warm up. How do you like the layering technique? I’ve linked the most similar tunic from the same brand as the one I’m wearing is from last season and is no longer available online.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope your week is off to a great start and that you’ve been enjoying the spring season as much as I have! Stay tuned for more spring outfits, but I’ll be doing a couple of posts where I’ll be styling a piece in several different ways. Can’t wait to share! Feel free to drop me a line down in the comment section below. Direct links to the pieces from this look, as always in all of my outfit posts, are listed at the beginning and end of the post, with links within the text as well. :) Have a good one!

LOVE & XX’S,

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March Beauty Favorites

April 3, 2019

Happy Wednesday and the beginning of April, everyone! Today’s post is my monthly beauty favorites from the month of March! I’ve got the latest eyeshadow palette that literally looks like a tequila sunrise, a vegan gummy-supplement for glowing skin, enzyme peels, and a new collection that recently launched from one of my favorite K-Beauty brands. There’s also a new favorite fragrance, mascara, ultimate setting powder (trust me, you’ll never use anything else again) and more. Continue reading to learn more about my latest favorite beauty products!

COLOURPOP COSMETICS SWEET TALK PALETTE

This is my latest favorite eyeshadow palette for spring/summer. I wanted to create a sunset look but subtle for soft, everyday eyes. This Colourpop palette has 4 different shadow formulas: The star of the show is the brand new PRESSED GLITTERS! Self-adhering, insanely sparkly, these babies will bring on the glam. There are also pressed powder shadows in matte and metallic finishes. Here are the names/shades of each color. For this look I used ICYMI, Catch Me, Work It, Melody, Feel Free & Garden Date.

Catch Me: matte pastel peach
Side2Side: warm champagne with silver and pink glitter
Garden Date: metallic coral with a gold sheen
Work It: soft matte yellow orange
Prima Drama: pale rose gold glitter with a copper and gold duochrome shift
Meadow: matte true coral
Early Mornin’: marigold glitter
Dream Maker: matte soft coral
ICYMI: matte dirty terracotta
Melody: metallic rose with a gold flip
West Side: matte camel
Feel Free: rich matte bordeaux

LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT SETTING POWDER

This bestselling translucent powder sets your makeup for longer wear. Created in two shades for all skin tones, the soft-focus effect subtly blurs the look of fine lines and imperfections, and it doesn't settle into lines or pores. The result is natural-looking, never powdery or cakey. I’ve literally have tried probably over a hundred different setting powders and nothing compares to this one. Hands down, the best ever.

GIVENCHY LIVE IRRESISTIBLE ROSY CRUSH

Live Irrésistible Rosy Crush is a confident explosion of pink freshness and bold vitality. A vibrant floral fragrance, bursting with rose and vivacious pink peppercorn. Goji berries, chypre and patchouli blend youthful vivacity with elegant sophistication. A bouquet of pink roses in many shades. A fragrance for women who live irresistibly in the moment and embrace the power of pink. Pink is more than a color; it's a positive state of mind.

LANCOME MONSIEUR BIG MASCARA

Meet Monsieur Big, volumizing mascara that delivers up to 12x more volume and 24 hour wear for your biggest, blackest, boldest lashes yet. It’s the only mascara I’ve been using for several months and have already gone through three of them!

SULWHASOO BLOOMSTAY VITALIZING WATER

Harmonizes the anti-oxidant energy of plum blossom with Yuzu components to rejuvenate skin, leaving your skin hydrated and smooth. The light and watery texture helps deliver moisture quickly into skin. With a subtle plum blossom scent.

SULWHASOO BLOOMSTAY VITALIZING SERUM

Harmonizes the anti-oxidant energy of plum blossom with five germinated fruits and seeds to rejuvenate skin, leaving your skin with a bright glow. This serum spreads evenly to give your skin a soft and smooth finish.

SULWHASOO BLOOMSTAY VITALIZING CREAM

Harmonizes the anti-oxidant energy of plum blossom with five germinated fruits and seeds to improve skin firmness, and the Yuzu and hardy orange components to leave your skin hydrated and resilient. The soft and elastic texture adheres well to your skin and leave a smooth finish. The best cream to prep with before applying makeup! You’ll look radiant every time!

AMORE PACIFIC TREATMENT ENZYME PEEL CLEANSING POWDER

Reformulated for daily use, this deep-cleansing exfoliator uses papaya- and green tea-derived enzymes to remove dulling residue without irritating healthy skin for a brighter glow. The water-activated, powder-to-foam formula leaves skin moisturized and primed to best receive ingredients to follow.

AMORE PACIFIC TREATMENT ENZYME PEELING MASQUE

This gel-to-cream mask dual exfoliates on the surface with papaya and green tea-derived enzymes. AHA and AHA salt help remove dead skin cells caused by aging. This transformative formula is made up of 60 percent green tea water to moisturize and soothe, immediately revealing brighter, smoother skin with a dewy glow.

HUM NUTRITION GLOW SWEET GLOW

A delicious orange-flavored vegan gummy supplement with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to help hydrate skin. Glow Sweet Glow features an easily absorbable, low-molecular hyaluronic acid that helps lock moisture into the skin to keep it plump, hydrated and glowing. As we age, we naturally lose vitamin C in both the epidermis and dermis. This contains vitamin E and C to give you an ultimate glow. I personally have been loving them, and I’ve never taken gummy supplements for skin before. Now I do every day!

LOVE & XX’S,

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Only in Dreams

April 1, 2019

WEARING: FLORAL MAXI DRESS

It’s that time of year where every woman should have certain staple pieces in their closet. For me, I think a lovely floral print dress suitable for many occasions but also not too pricey, is definitely up there on my spring wardrobe list. And I’ve found one that’s less than $70 and looks way more of high-quality than what the price tag says! You can wear it with sneakers, sandals, and for every day or to a wedding, it’s really a wonderful piece to have. Continue reading to find out where from and how you can get your hands on it, today!

The flower obsession continues with this dreamy fit-and-flare dress designed with a sultry yet demure V-neckline, lace trim and a soft floral print. The button down closure with bubble sleeves brings on an extra sense of elegance, making this dress quite appropriate to Sunday church, Easter, weddings, and more! It’s great alone, but also pairs well with a denim jacket or nicely colored pea coat or trench. I wore it alone so you guys can really see this gem of a dress and its details.

Aside from the beautiful, bright colors, excellent finishes, and buttons, there is also a sash that comes with the dress. You can tie it around the waist or even in your hair, making it a little more boho with the feminine piece. I styled the dress keeping it very simple with just a pair of earrings. But you can accessorize it with more dainty jewelry, like layered necklaces or multiple earrings/cuffs. How would you style this gorgeous floral maxi dress?

I would have loved to have styled this out in the country, in some open field, like a princess out roaming the prairie, but I chose to shoot it in the city with only two things: a white sheet and basket to give it a more peasant kind of vibe. Like a girl just airing out the fresh laundry, if you will. I’m always trying to come up with more creative shots, as of late and I hope you too are enjoying the process! We’ve got a few things in the works and cannot wait to get it online! Stay tuned.

Hope you enjoyed today’s outfit post! It’s much more simplified than usual, where I normally link 5-6 different items, but this floral dress speaks for itself. Coming up on the blog this week, more spring looks as well as my March beauty favorites! From my new favorite perfume to the latest in skincare and makeup, it’s all coming on the blog this week! Wishing you a wonderful Monday, friends! Don’t forget to shop this dress in the links from this post. xx

LOVE & XX’S,

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My 10 Favorite Elton John Songs

March 28, 2019

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SNIDEL & BEATRICE B ITALIA, BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Last month as a very late Valentine’s Day present (since I was away in London for Fashion Week), my husband fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams: to see Elton John live in concert playing some of my all-time favorite songs. Needless to say, he played everyone of my favorites except for one, but something tells me that I’ll be able to gone on without it like that ;) It really was everything and more, nothing really compares to his magnetism on stage. Why do I love this artist so much? Well, what’s central to the brilliance of Elton John’s art are the contradictions within the man. (We also almost have the same birthday, mine’s the 24th of March and his the day after.) He can kill you with the beauty of a tender ballad, then switch over with an intense blast of filthy rock and roll. He can dedicate decades of work to defeating AIDS, then engage in a public catfights with other celebrities through the gossip columns. So without further ado, here are (in no particular order) my top 10 favorite Elton John songs!

1. THE BITCH IS BACK!

One of Elton John's best hard rock cuts, this song was banned on several radio stations, in the United States and elsewhere, due to the use of the word "bitch". “The Bitch Is Back” is a rousing rocker from John that doesn’t pull any punches with its feisty lyrics. The high-energy horns, female backup vocals and the clanging guitars are some of the best parts of the song. “The Bitch Is Back” (also from Caribou) was banned by some U.S. radio stations, but that didn’t stop the song from becoming a No. 4 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

2. CROCODILE ROCK

Sometimes it’s an artist’s slightest work that maintains the greatest staying power. Which is not to say "Crocodile Rock" isn’t a terrific tune; just that its aspirations are small. It’s a song from the '70s that’s a pastiche and homage to all the '50s rock, pop, and doo wop that Elton John and his peers grew up on. From that perspective, it’s a rung or two above Sha Na Na. Here the devil’s in the details, like the whirligig organ that floats above Elton’s central piano riff, or the ascending guitar lines that underpin the chorus. Roger Ebert said that great parody becomes that which it parodies, which is a high-falutin’ way of saying that on 'Crocodile Rock,' Elton didn’t just imitate his idols; he equaled them.

3. I’M STILL STANDING

Although it’s not quite fair, the eighties seem to be regarded as a “lost decade” for Elton John, at least when it comes to critical appreciation. Outside of his 1989 Sleeping With The Past album (the first produced after his recovery from drug addiction) and 1983’s Too Low For Zero, the decade yielded plenty of hits for Elton, but few of them memorable. (The less said about "Wrap Her Up," his campy duet with George Michael, the better.) Too Low, yielded our No. 9 Elton John song selection and this propulsive rocker, a staple of Elton’s live shows and another iconic song that has come to define the singer’s public persona. Weaving effortlessly between genres, "I’m Still Standing" is somehow both a full-out rocker and completely danceable, the wailing electric guitar and searing synth meshing with a bouncing bass line that’s almost disco-esque.

4. TINY DANCER

It may have been immortalized by writer/director Cameron Crowe in Almost Famous, but for Elton John fans, "Tiny Dancer" has always been an undisputed classic. It starts with that simple, beautiful opening piano riff, like the tinkling tune of a music box, and builds effortlessly into a full, warm sound – a chorus of voices, a relaxed acoustic guitar, Elton’s piano weaving its way around every note. Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics for his girlfriend at the time, and surely her face is lost to the mists of history; it’s the unforgettable images in his words, her dancing in the sand and those Jesus freaks "handing tickets out for God" that will endure.

5. GOODBYE, YELLOW BRICK ROAD

You could write an entire separate piece ranking Elton John’s '70s albums, but one looms large above the others, if only by size and the weight of its many iconic songs: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." If Elton John and Bernie Taupin have created a magnum opus, this may very well be it. While Elton and his band hopscotch through the entire history of American popular music, Bernie crafts evocative words that look ever backward with nostalgia, wit, and occasional anger. This title cut captures those themes perfectly with the tale of a green young farmboy who finds himself trapped in the orbit of a world weary, powerful figure. There’s something almost Spector-esque about the sound Elton and his band achieve on this track, adding an extra halo of wistful yearning to the song.

6. YOUR SONG

“Your Song” (from John’s 1970 self-titled second album) was his first breakthrough hit around the world, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Your Song” is a simple, beautiful ballad that can apply to all kinds of love. It’s no wonder that it’s still one of the most-covered Elton John songs of all-time. And yes, I get teary-eyed every time I listen to it! A true gem.

7. ROCKETMAN

Harry Nilsson did it with "Spaceman," David Bowie did it with "Space Oddity," and Elton John did it with "Rocket Man." Each song as about the new-at-the-time phenomenon of men actually climbing aboard giant machines and soaring upward beyond the veil. But while the other songs zero in on the strangeness of space travel, only Elton John and Bernie Taupin manage to capture the underlying sadness of drifting alone above Earth, so far from family and friends, looking back at a massive turquoise orb that just grows smaller as you float away. It’s that emotional undercurrent, that human element, that Elton and Bernie so often discover, and that makes their greatest songs so great.

8. DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME

It's mushy and a little maudlin -- but it's great, too, a dynamic gem that unfolds and builds to epic, horn-drenched proportions over its five and a half minutes. And it's hard to beat a backing vocal choir that includes Beach Boys Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston, Toni Tennille and Billy Hinsche.

9. I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES

Featuring guest harmonica from Stevie Wonder, "I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues" finds Elton John delivering a warm slice of '80s mid-tempo pop, aided and abetted by his own down and dirty piano skills. The man’s one of music’s greatest balladeers, but this is something different; this may be the closest he’s ever come to the straightforward soul music that’s one of his many influences.

10. I DON’T WANNA GO ON WITH YOU LIKE THAT

The lead single from 1988's Reg Strikes Back is taut, spare and propulsive, with some of the most inspired piano playing we'd heard from John in quite some time. The song describes someone ending a relationship due to not feeling exclusive and important to their partner. The song was regularly played by John in concert during the 1990s, before he retired it in 2000… which is why this is the only song I did not hear play at his concert! A great break-up song, all about remaining strong!

LOVE & XX’S,

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Babushka Chic

March 27, 2019

The word, ‘babushka’, has its origins in Russian and means, ‘grandmother’. It also makes reference to the manner in which ladies in Russian, use this type of scarf, covering the head and knotting it under the chin. The last reference was taken to name the famous, ‘Lady Babushka’ who was suspect of recording the Kennedy assassination while wearing this garment. A trend that has come and gone, from Audrey Hepburn to the film, ‘Thelma & Louise’, to the Queen of England and even A.S.A.P Rocky, the rapper, has kept this style alive, even breaking boundaries which is something I definitely enjoy doing. And I really wanted to style this in a great setting instead of the usual street style photos we sometimes take. So continue reading to see the complete shoot along with where to shop the pieces in this look today!

I love a good rib-knit dress in a cotton blend. This one is great for spring. Small stand-up collar, short sleeves, and slits at sides, it’s movable and very comfortable. Since the the weather is not quite springlike here in New York yet, I layered the dress with a faux fur coat with contrasted cuffs to bring out a more Russian-feel to the look. I even wore sheer nude tights to also keep with the overall mood of this outfit. I also mixed with the stripe print with an animal one, as snake print anything is super hot in trends at the moment. Don’t worry, they’ll still be around this coming fall/winter as well.

These snake print booties are awfully comfortable too! Super sleek pointed ankle boots featuring exposed zip and sock style fit, you would think 4.5” in terms of heel height would be too much on the feet, but they’re so well-fitted, like a glove, makes it easy to walk around in. I wouldn’t say this if you’re on your feet all day, but for an afternoon or evening will do just fine. I like my shoes to be practical.

So I’ve mixed in animal print with stripes. You’d think I’d stop there, right? Nah. I love playing up on the beauty of print and patterns. There’s something about pushing boundaries like I mentioned earlier in today’s post, I find that when you do, in terms of fashion & style, you can really find out if these rule-breakers work or not. I wore a blue and white floral scarf around my head, a standard must in a babushka chic outfit. :) This scarf in the post is not intended to be a headscarf and is no longer in stock so I linked a very similar one that can definitely be intended for a headscarf/headwrap.

Other accessories featured in today’s look are a luxe burgundy crossbody bag and gold statement earrings. I hope you enjoyed this more stylized editorial shoot! I am working on doing more of this kind of content, but it takes more time, therefore, a longer waiting period. What did you like the most about this babushka chic look? The headscarf? Coat? Perhaps, you’re wanting to see a trend/concept on MaQ + Suz that you haven’t seen and would like to? Drop your messages down in the comment section below!