Indigo Shirt Dress

May 6, 2019

WEARING: INDIGO SHIRT DRESS | BLACK BELT | WOVEN NET BAG | BLACK SANDALS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY JUST FASHION NOW BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

A shirtdress is a style of women's dress that borrows details from a man's shirt. These can include a collar, a button front, or cuffed sleeves. Often, these dresses are made up in crisp fabrics including cotton or silk, much like a men's dress shirt would be. As they are typically cut without a seam at the waist, these dresses often have a looser fit, usually relying on a belt to define the waist. Button fronts and a forgiving fit make this a flattering look for most body types. And a favorite during summer time. Easy, breezy and so comfortable it’s a great piece to have in a woman’s closet. Continue reading to see more of this gorgeous indigo shirt dress along with how I styled it with black, summery accessories.

One of my favorite bags to carry around during the warmer seasons are mesh market bags. Simple but oh-so-chic market bag inspired by the traditional French net grocery bag, these kind of bags can be filled with beautiful things and simple but elegant ingredients - flowers, beach essentials, leafy greens, wedges of fancy cheese, and loaves of bread. French market bags are not actually made in the round but rather in a large square that is then gathered quite closely on the two sides where the handles go and a little less on the other two sides to form the sack shape. This allows for optimum expansion of the bag. Don’t you think the granny smith apples complement with the deep blue indigo of the shirt dress? Plus, I think the mixture of blues is also nice for the spring/summer season.

I wanted a moodier color palette when I styled this dress which is why I went with black accessories. Funny… we did this shoot while MaQ was undergoing many tests and we had no idea what could potentially be wrong with him. I’ve had this black belt for years and the reason why I still wear it to this day is the elastic fabric that really shape a loosely-fitted dress like this one. To keep with the black, I chose a pair of black sandals. These pair in particular a very comfortable to walk in. They’re only $35 and come in tan and white colors aside from black.

This shirtdress comes in a variety of colors such as yellow, ivory, black, green, pink, orange and more. They’re currently on sale at $20 per pop. I love this one in today’s post so much, I’m considering getting more colors. I can style a shirtdress so many different ways, with sneakers, espadrilles, different types of belts, and even unbuttoned as a kimono/cardigan piece. How would you have styled this indigo shirtdress for the summer season?

You can get this complete look at a little over $60. I think all of these pieces are quite versatile and you can definitely wear them more than once, and in different seasons. Thanks for stopping by on the site today! We’re getting back to our regularly scheduled programming (after MaQ) so stay tuned for a lot of new content coming to the blog soon! Wishing you a great Monday and week!

LOVE & XX’S,

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How to Wear a White Blazer Casually

May 3, 2019

WEARING: WHITE BLAZER | BLUE JEANS | BEIGE HEELS | BEIGE BAG | GOLD WATCH

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY YUUL YIE & MAVI JEANS BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Friday, and we’re waiting on the results from MaQ’s ultrasound from yesterday. I’m not going to lie, I’m starting to freak out a bit. I’ve been waiting on the vet’s call since this morning and it’s been torturous waiting. We thank everyone who’s been so supportive, you guys are amazing. Of course, we will keep you posted once we know more. If he’s in the clear, we’re doing some partying tonight. Maybe a pizza party since my pup loves pizza crust lol. But today’s post is a cool and casual look for date night! I’m not one to ever dress up like crazy, it doesn’t feel comfortable for me, and I’m so much into laidback tomboyish looks. So keep on reading to see what this kind of Friday night look is for me and how you can get the look yourself!

This is my most favorite white blazer I’ve ever owned. Unfortunately it’s sold out and I can’t find it anywhere. So I’ve linked similar blazers to achieve the look! And different price points because I know you guys appreciate the range. How would you wear a white blazer for date night? I opted with a cool pair of jeans from Mavi, a soft and stretchy denim with indigo stripes racing down the outseams. I’ve loved this jean brand since I was in college, and are the best Turkish jeans on the planet! So fitting and comfy. You could easily wear this during the day with a pair of white sneakers before slipping into something more festive for dinner/drinks. These YUUL YIE heels are my new absolute fave and fit on my feet like a glove. I find slingback shoes to be very sexy and that pearl detail on the heel is so chic. Definitely will polish up all sort of outfits, from dresses, skirts, pants, jeans - all, really!

I don’t ever normally match my shoes with my bag in a look because it looks too contrived most of the time, but given I’m wearing a white blazer, I didn’t want too much contrast but also not too much white to wash out the look. So I went with a more neutral based color like the beige here in this post, because I felt the color nicely balanced with the jeans and the white blazer. What do you guys think? To bring a little sparkle to this look, I wore a silver statement earring and a bracelet with a gold watch for a layering effect. The watch belonged to my mother and was given as a gift by my father. I only wear it on special occasions but given this stressful week, I’ve honestly been wearing it for good luck. Do you guys have pieces of jewelry like this? I want to know what it is and its background.

I hope you enjoyed this casual date night look! If you have any questions or want to drop a comment - leave them down in the section below. We hope you have a great weekend, and will definitely keep you up to date with MaQ once we know more. Fingers crossed and much love to you all.

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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April Beauty Favorites

April 26, 2019

Hi, everyone! I am posting my beauty favorites this month a little bit earlier than normal. MaQ has not been feeling well the past few days and took him to the vet yesterday where they run numerous tests. He is in good spirits but his skin has been horrible. We’ve got him under antibiotics and has been resting comfortably, but am just really hoping it isn’t anything serious. I’ll know more in the next few days, but will definitely not be working as much this weekend to spend some time with my baby. But kick back and relax while you dive into my April beauty favorites featuring the latest in my skincare and makeup routine, such as an amazing rose-scented sleeping mask, foundation, the ultimate luxe lipstick, and tons more, you’ll definitely want to check out some of the latest trends in the beauty world. Continue reading to see and learn more! Have a lovely weekend, everyone.

FRESH ROSE DEEP HYDRATION SLEEPING MASK

This next-level sleeping mask is proven to give you the appearance of plumper, smoother skin after as little as one night of use. Start by replenishing moisture with a cooling gel essence powered by rosewater, damask rose extract, and hyaluronic acid. Then lock it in with a silky water-cream mask that uses time-release technology. What I love most about this mask is that it is long-lasting and super refreshing. Perfect for anyone who loves that dewy, glowing skin.

bAREMINERALS ENDLESS GLOW HIGHLIGHTER

The Endless Glow Highlighter from bareMinerals is a mineral-based powder highlighter that gives a naturally luminous, dew-kissed glow. Clean, mineral highlighting powder provides long-lasting, lit-from-within luminosity while blurring the appearance of pores and imperfections. Talc-free formula gives you a smooth, photo-ready finish that won't crease, cake or crack.

CLINIQUE EVEN BETTER FOUNDATION IN MERINGUE

Clinique’s Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 is a dermatologist-developed foundation that instantly perfects and actively improves with every wear. Hydrates and smoothes (hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid). The creamy formula gives skin a natural finish. Getting matched took less than 3 minutes (I'm the shade Meringue) and it's only $29! Comes in 60 shades!

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN LOUBIGRAFFITI NAIL POLISH IN JAZZY DOLL

Christian Louboutin Beauty presents LoubiGraffiti, the color-drenched limited-edition collection that celebrates spring in the city. Inspired by the extravagant graffiti looks of Maison Christian Louboutin's LoubiGraf collection, LoubiGraffiti will spice up your lips and nails with its audacious street style.
Graffiti spirit is about boundless creative freedom something which Christian Louboutin has always infused into his creations. LoubiGraffiti's four Velvet Matte lip colors and six nail colors are an open invitation to explore, create and express yourself through bold color-clashing.
Because above all else, LoubiGraffiti is about powerful colors: hues that clash and contrast with clever abandon. You can never have too much. The collection's lip and nail colors are ultra-pigmented, giving a vivid, high-impact effect playing with dramatic matte lips and ultra-glossy nails. This season is yours, live it how you want! Dare to paint your pout the luscious pink of Bengali Velvet Matte, then add a vibrant pop of blue to your nails with Baraboum. The nail color's finish is as glossy as the iconic Christian Louboutin red sole patent leather stiletto and the perfect contrast to your matte lips.
LoubiGraffiti's cheeky clashes and contrasts evoke the eclectic Maison's style. Because who else but Christian Louboutin would dare to bring together a devastatingly chic stiletto and a street style-inspired graffiti design? LoubiGraffiti's limited edition packaging is splashed with bright graffiti prints and presented in craft paper bags sealed with graffiti-inspired street art stickers. Playful and bright, chic and street, LoubiGraffiti is just the thing to spark your inspiration this spring.

DR. JART + FOCUSPOT DARK CIRCLE MICRO TIP PATCHES

The advanced Dr. Jart+ Focuspot™ Micro Tip Patches inspired by microneedling has micro tips that penetrate and melt deeply into the skin’s surface to deliver active ingredients such as 72% Hyaluronic Acid and nourishing Vitamin A that target & treat blemishes, dark spots, dark circle, and fine lines and wrinkles. Safe for sensitive skin - my fav is the dark circle patches. Available now at Sephora!

DRUNK ELEPHANT T.L.C. FRAMBOOS™ GLYCOLIC NIGHT SERUM

This high-tech gel resurfaces dull skin, lifting dead skin cells away by gently dissolving the glue that holds them to the surface. The results are greater clarity and a smoother, more even-looking complexion. Formulated with a dream-team AHA/BHA blend including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric, and salicylic acids, and blended with raspberry extract, T.L.C. Framboos™ sinks in easily and delivers an effective level of chemical exfoliation without the harsh side effects like dryness or sensitization. Fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration, along with excess oiliness and the appearance of pores, appear dramatically diminished over time. Horse chestnut, bearberry, and white tea help to calm and soothe, while improving the appearance of broken capillaries. Go from a drab complexion to an absolutely luminous one—practically overnight.

PAT MCGRATH LABS MATTETRANCE™ LIPSTICK IN OBSESSED!

MatteTrance™ is a richly pigmented lipstick with a sensually creamy, powerful pigment that evokes screen siren glamour with every application. Each shade is presented like a jewel in a black-lacquered couture case fashioned with a sensually surrealist golden lip that’s destined to be a cult-status collectable.
Get entrancing color that satisfies with supreme hydration and opulent matte opacity. Flaunt this richly pigmented formulation, cloaking lips in a lightweight veil of rich color. It’s infused with optical diffusers that blur the appearance of imperfections, combined with a blend of polymers to provide flexibility and adherence. An advanced formulation of spherical particles ensure a creamy soft texture for the smoothest film of color. Each shade is enmeshed in a powder film combined with saturated pigment for lightweight opaque coverage. This lipstick lays down a high impact with a strong finish. My favorite shade is ‘Obsessed!’ 211, the perfect orange-red shade.

COLOURPOP COSMETICS ENTENDRE EYESHADOW PALETTE

ColourPop's Double Entendre Pressed Powder Shadow Palette is the perfect palette for everyone! Your new go-to, your ride or die, your partner in crime - this palette holds the ultimate everyday, nude neutrals. With 12 shades, ranging from cool to warm, matte to metallic, you and this palette will be inseparable. You can never have too many nudes...

Shades:

Locked & Loaded (matte pale yellow)
Uninhibited (metallic deep gold)
Hot Bod (matte chocolate brown with gold flecks)
Flasher (satin soft ivory)
Nekkid (matte pastel orange)
Extra Curricular (matte burnt orange)
Hard (matte deep terracotta)
Draft (metallic rich rose gold)
Keep it PG (metallic champagne gold)
Nip Slip (matte warm saddle brown)
Send Noodles (matte soft tan)
Teddy Bare (matte deep chocolate brown)

LOVE & XX’S,

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Was It gu_de For You?

April 24, 2019

WEARING: GREEN DRESS | NEON BLAZER | IVORY BAG | SNAKE PRINT SANDALS | VEDA SLATE HOOPS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY VIONIC SHOES & GU_DE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Korean fashion caters to a woman's needs for versatile styles, from romantic and girly to urban and cute-tomboyish. Thanks to the refined materials, sophisticated workmanship and fashion-forward designs, Korean fashion is on heavy rotation in my wardrobe as of late and I couldn’t be happier about it. (For those who are new to our site, I’m 50% Korean) One brand in particular, focusing on handbags, is the new wave in purse talent and I’ve been madly in love with their pieces for several years. I can now say I’m a proud owner to one of their handbags, and in today’s post, the beautiful ivory bag is the star feature! Continue reading to learn more about one of my favorite accessory brands and to see more photos!

Pronounced ‘good’, this ’70s-inspired label creates understated bags in timeless, minimal shapes. Produced in South Korea, founder Ji Hye Koo has cited her customers’ thirst for newness as the inspiration for her intriguing designs. It takes about two months to design a bag from scratch - making sure every detail is just right requires time and patience. This croc-effect leather 'Milky' tote is inspired by structured styles from the '70s and has internal card slots, so you can go without a wallet. When you're not carrying it by the top handle, attach either the leather or chain strap. Their eternal philosophy of timeless beauty brings the best quality at a reasonable price. gu_de is the "new classic” to those who love signature luxury items. Along with interesting variations in their product line for every season, gu_de is definitely a brand to watch in the coming years.

I love finding comfortable shoes that don’t look comfortable. These snake print sandals from Vionic shoes have just the right look to bring that extra edge to an outfit! They are not clunky at all, with a little over of a 3” heel, it fits true to size and also come in an all black color. But I just love the snake print - definitely can see myself wearing it into fall with a sock and sandal look too! They retail at around $140 on Zappos, but they’re a great investment piece to have in you shoe closet as I think they’re wearable for more than just one season.

Hope you guys enjoyed this neon retro look with some of my latest favorite accessories - was it gu_de for you? ;) Stay tuned at the end of the week for my monthly roundup of beauty favorites, where I’ll be sharing everything I’ve been trying out the past month and reviewing roughly ten items that are my ultimate faves. Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you a fab hump day :)