Pink Panther

April 22, 2019

WEARING: PINK OVERALL CORDUROY DRESS | PINK BLOUSE | PINK PANTHER HEELS | BLACK BERET

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHEIN AND KAT MACONIE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

The Pink Panther first appeared on film in the 1963 Blake Edwards movie, The Pink Panther, starring Peter Sellers as the clumsy French detective, Inspector Clouseau. In the film, the term “Pink Panther” referred to a large diamond with a flaw at its center resembling a pink pouncing panther. This was the inspiration for the character of the same name. The Pink Panther starred in the animated opening and closing for the initial movie, set against jazzy music by Henry Mancini. The character is almost completely silent in the movie, preferring to rely on slinky pantomime-like moves. Audiences liked him so much that his animators, DePatie-Freleng, were asked to create a series of animated short films. In 1980, United Artists Television put together a new half-hour show using the theatrical shorts and new cartoons and syndicated it to TV stations. It was during the 80s when I discovered and fell in love with the cartoon character. So in honor of the beloved panther, I created a fun female version of the pink character. Video included! It’s basically me to a tee: Clumsy, yet catlike - mysterious yet playful. Take a look! It’s all going down on MaQ + Suz today, continue reading to see complete shoot and reel.

Kat Maconie x Pink Panther

The ultimate pink Kicker Heel with an embellished 80s illustration of Pink Panther, and a ruffle at the back for extra romance, these heels literally made my heart skip a beat when I first encountered them. Kat Maconie’s fresh aesthetic and strong, women-centered fashion ethos make this shoe brand a very popular name in the luxury footwear world. I really wanted to incorporate them into a kind of Ms. Inspector Clouseau, which of course, would naturally be a mostly-all pink outfit. :)

Would you believe me if I told you the pink blouse and overall corduroy dress was a total of $23?! Both pieces are from SHEIN, a really great affordable outlet to stay with all the trends. I do enjoy mixing high and low, one of my favorite ways to put a look together. To not be too washed up in only pink, there’s a slight black trim on the blouse that complements with the ever so, Parisian beret. I kept it retro cool with a pair of large round sunnies and some loosely-tied pigtails. It’s definitely not an everyday outfit for me, but I do think it’s a pretty cute tribute to one of my favorite panthers ever!

Amongst other accessories is my rock and roll pink bag. Unfortunately, it’s no longer in stock, and I can’t find much that really looks as similar as this one, so I opted out in listing similar items for this bag today. Sorry! Everything else has direct links, but since I’m on the subject, what do you prefer: Direct shopping links OR similar items? Would love to hear your thoughts on this! Lastly, we made a quick fun video of this look down below. It’s on my YouTube channel, so feel free to check it out and subscribe!

Stay tuned for this week’s upcoming blog posts! I’ll be sharing my April Beauty favorites along with a very 70s retro look on Wednesday & Friday, can’t wait to show you guys! Don’t forget to check out the Pink Panther video on YouTube before you go, and feel free to drop your comments down in the message section below. Hope you have a great Monday and a wonderful rest of the week, everyone!

Pink Panther Lady: Clumsy, yet catlike - mysterious yet playful. It's me and one of my favorite childhood cartoon characters. Styled by moi.

LOVE & XX’S,

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10 Ways to Be a Badass

March 25, 2019

Normally when one thinks of a badass, one doesn’t usually come across an image of myself but more so along the lines of ‘The Terminator’, ‘Rocky’… even Lara Croft. Or perhaps a pick-up artist or someone who is all about getting ‘ripped’. My physique is petite more than anything else. But it’s what you carry on the inside that truly resonates who you are. So after my birthday weekend, I had some reflections as to where I am in life and who I really am as well. And I can assure you, I’m one hell of a badass for many reasons. So continue reading to learn more on ten ways to be more of a baddie in your life as well!

1. STOP GIVING A FK ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OF YOU!**

As a trained figure skater, I was criticized on a daily basis (and then some) which became part of the norm in my childhood. Good and bad, the latter proved to toy with my insecurities for years. But what it has also taught me is discipline, perseverance and most importantly, the only competition that I’m up against is with myself. Do you really think, with the career I’m in now, that I’d have any real fighting chance if I spent my days trolling Instagram worrying about other people and what they think of me? I’d never leave the house! So throw caution to the wind in this case - once you really don’t care about what others think of you and are only worried about yourself, it is forever life changing. And yes, a complete badass in doing so!

2. TAKE ACTION IN SPITE OF FEAR

We are human after all, we all become afraid of many things throughout our life. But it’s how we manage that fear is what counts. To lead an exciting life, one must be open to new experiences. Jump with a leap of faith instead of waiting for something to happen. You just got to go for it, remember that you are uncomfortable because you are simply traveling out of your comfort zone, which is a good thing. Overcoming fears equals personal growth, and badasses are far more capable than what they ever imagined to be. Better to have tried than not try at all.

3. BE COOL TO EVERYONE

Not to say one should be a doormat, but it never hurts to be kind. We are all in this together, meaning we are all going to go down just in different ways so while we’re here we should at least try to be nice to one another. Don’t get me wrong, once a boundary has been stepped outside of its line, I won’t be as cool. But to me, a badass isn’t a ‘mean girl’ or a beyotch with an attitude, but more so someone who is diplomatic, cool, calm and collective throughout many different scenarios. Treat others how you’d like to be treated. The cooler you are to everyone else, the cooler they’re gonna be to you.

4. STAND UP

Whether it’s for yourself or someone else, do it for the right reasons. Not for an ego boost. When you see someone being taken advantage of, abused, or wronged who may not have the strength to stand up for themselves, do whatever you can to help. Don’t go getting yourself into situations you can’t handle, but if there’s any opportunity to fight some sort of injustice before you, stand up and do something about it. Rise up for yourself because if you can’t do that, you’re not going to be able to help others either. But you’ll never regret doing either or the other!

5. SAY NO

Of course, it’s important to learn when to say yes but I believe it is even more important to learn when to say no. And rather frequently. You can’t please everyone, and even if you tried (which I have in the past) you will never win over everybody. Quickly saying yes to everyone and everything will consequently have you lose your focus and dilute your power. Be selective, take time in your decisions, and definitely be down to say NO AF. Lol.

6. STOP TALKING, AND START DOING

If I have to endure one more conversation amongst ‘bloggers’ as to what I have in store for summer plans, future content ideas, etc; I’m going to die of exasperation. Less talk, more action. Like a writer, don’t tell me… but SHOW ME. One of the best ways to stay stuck in your life is to constantly talk about things and never take action. If you want to really change your life or achieve a big goal, then commit to being someone who takes big action and does something about it after rather than the other way around. It kind of coincides with #1 but it’s all about delivering what you plan on doing. GET IT DONE!

7. KEEP IT MOVING

Life will try to beat you down, others will try and take what you have, and your own mind will tell you that you’re not good enough, but… guess what? The world doesn’t revolve around you and you have to maintain at not relenting. Don’t give up. Keep plugging away at it and go after it single-mindedly. Don’t let anything get in your away. Remember why you are doing what you’re doing and don’t let go of that.

8. ADAPT

Stay on your path and trudge forward with big strides, but be flexible and adapt to the conditions of the road. If you want to make the universe laugh, just tell them your plans. Things will go awry. If you’re too rigid, life will feel like it’s against you, so sometimes you got to adapt a little and go with the flow. Be like water, not cement.

9. FOLLOW YOUR GUT

It’s there for a reason, and believe me when I say this, it knows much more than you do! ;) If someone or something feels wrong to you, or a project just doesn’t feel right…listen to what your intuition is telling you. There’s a good chance that it’s right and you should at least consider what is going on. Don’t have a knack for it, or so you think? Meditate, take long walks, do things that will open your inner compass and guide you to do what is best for you.

10. KNOW WHO YOU ARE

We all have different sides to ourselves, but more so of what we project to the outside world, and then who we are - as in… who we really are deep down inside. In my profession, it’s easy to just think I’m this or that, depending on what’s in a person’s ‘about me’ page, outfit, tweet, and then some. None of this makes a person. What’s in your heart and what actions you take definitely take hold over who you truly are as a person. And it’s all about being able to look at yourself in the mirror every morning and be very accepting with yourself. Because if you can’t even face yourself, how do you really know yourself? Be happy knowing your true self, a badass at heart all the way!

LOVE & XX’S,

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NYFW AW19 Outfits

February 13, 2019

Wrapping up on Day 6 of New York Fashion Week this season, I’m starting off with a week of outfits! I wanted to share a range of my personal style for you guys! Staying true to my maximalist rebellious tendencies, I played print on print, bold vibrant color and different era contrasts, for example: The 40s with a modern vibe. And lots of different fabrics, such as sequin, tweed, velvet, cashmere and more. So stop for a few - take a peek and let me know what what your favorite look from the past week! Stay tuned for more fashion week content, my regular roundup of the shows I attended and this year I’ll be sharing a beauty trend report from what I saw backstage! Keep your eyes peeled, it’s all going down in the next couple of days before I head off to London Fashion Week! xx

WEARING: FLORAL PRINT DRESS | HOUNDSTOOTH JACKET | WESTERN BOOTS | TRI-COLOR BAG | MARBLE HOOP EARRINGS

LOVE & XX’S,

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The Perfect Green Dress

January 18, 2019

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

Happy Friday, everyone! Being a fashion blogger, I am constantly on the lookout for up and coming designers, from all walks of life. One of my favorite things to do right before bed (or yes, while in bed) is to be on Instagram, scrolling through the explore feed discovering a brand I may want to potentially work with. Plus it literally feeds my hunger for creative inspiration! So when I came across a particular brand, I knew their pieces were of amazing quality… even before seeing it in person! You can imagine how thrilled I was when I learned they had recently opened a store here in New York! Continue reading to learn more about one of the fastest growing Japanese street fashion brands today.

Designed by Asami Kusugami, Snidel is one of the fastest growing Japanese street fashion brands today. Snidel opened its first store on Cat Street in Harajuku on April 2005. It has since opened stores in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Nagoya, Yokohama, and all of the major cities across Japan. Snidel can also be found in major Japanese department stores – including Marui, Lumine, and Isetan. The brand goes by the slogan “Street Formal”-meaning designing clothes that are casual but formal at the same time. Snidel is particularly popular among university students and young Japanese women. The brand mainly focuses on clothes, but carries handbags, accessories, and shoes as well. They recently opened a store here in New York City on the Lower East Side a few months ago, and when I went to go see the pieces in person, I was immediately in love with the style and team!

The first piece that caught my eye was this perfect green long-sleeved dress. Featuring a thick fabric with a matted texture that drapes elegantly, it’s a womanly one piece dress that is perfect to wear on its own. Designed with a tucked waist line for a contoured figure and fitted with covered buttons, this piece exudes a classical look. Perfect with a pair of feminine pumps or even these black and white mules, it will also look good with a pair of low cut boots for a trendy look. I went for a more Parisian style, as Paris couture week begins very soon, and even though this is the first season where I received invitations I’m unfortunately unable to attend. But stay tuned, I may be in good ole’ Paree sooner rather than later!!

Of course, whenever you see a beret you might think of Paris. Just as much as wine, baguette bread, striped shirts and a bold red lip. So I styled the dress with accessories to fit the Parisian theme, like this black wool beret. Jewelry included in this post are a hand of Fatima necklace by Play Hard Look Dope and these pearl/gold earrings from LeJ Jewelry. (these earrings are also featured here) Lastly this chic bag crafted in Italian Embossed Croc and Pebble Grain leather can also be worn as a shoulder bag and you can double the strap for a shorter length. This is a fabulous day or evening bag with the classical sophistication. Thanks for stopping by! Coming up on the blog, January Beauty Favorites and more winter outfits to inspire you! Wishing you a lovely weekend, xx.

LOVE & XX’S,

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Pardon My Fucking French

May 23, 2018

WEARING: NASTY GAL GRAPHIC TEE | NA-KD FASHION LEATHER JACKET | 
 MAVI TESS JEANS | FOREVER 21 RETRO SUNNIES | 
TELEPORT SHOES BOLT BOOTS | LEVI'S BERET

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NASTY GAL, MAVI JEANS AND TELEPORT SHOES.

Parlez vous francais? Today's post is all on edgy Parisian style. This is totally me. As you guys know, my favorite part about styling is mixing it up and trying things outside the box, even pieces you might not even consider to be your ultimate 'look' but there's nothing more comforting than knowing your own unique take on fashion and then putting together an outfit that you'd not just wear once, but over and over again. So without further ado, pardon my fucking French and let's get down to what I'm wearing in this fierce look! Also, continue reading to learn more about some of the brands I've been wanting to partner with for the longest time and it's crazy to think that they're styled within this post! So... don't miss it, you definitely want to be checking this out!

I'm so excited to be working with Nasty Gal! They've been one of my favorite brands since forever, and to be able to style one of their pieces within my content is just surreal! They've created a collection of (p)unny uncensored graphic tees and of course being an Aries, I instantly gravitated to big, bold red font on a simple white T-shirt. My personality is quite unfiltered as well. I swear like a sailor and call it like it is. Not afraid of my voice let alone how opinionated I can be as well. So I found the 'Pardon my fucking French' tee to be fucking awesome! What do you guys think, would you wear something like this out in public? Obviously not to a job interview... ha ha!

When I was in college (and yes that was a while ago...) I discovered a jean brand with Turkish roots and had the most incredible and softest touch to their denim. Mavi Jeans is not just top quality (I had a pair that I wore for over ten years before I finally parted ways with them after literally splitting the seams with my big booty Judy!) but the comfort level is so legit, I never wanted to take them off! These pearl-studded skinny jeans are so fun and can go with so many different tops! This pair comes in at $128 (plus tax) but is so well worth the price. I find that once I got older, I was way more into investing in top quality staple pieces to my wardrobe because it's better for the environment and keeps your closet at a minimum when it comes to space - and us New Yorkers have so very little of it!

I can't say I've ever owned a pair of red boots before but these Bolt boots are just the right amount of lightning red for any Aries girl. If you remember from my last fashion post with the metallic silver boots, these red ones are also from the same brand, Teleport Shoes. Teleport has established its origins in the heart and soul of Los Angeles. They design for today by perfectly juxtaposing celebrated elements of the past and present. Feel electric in these new red leather Chelsea boots. The lightning bolt elastic gore detail will add a little edge to any outfit. They're amazing to walk in, even with a -inch heel.

I styled the look with some retro sunnies from Forever 21 and my favorite beret from Levi's. People are always so surprised to hear that the beret is from Levi's the brand, but I just consider it a lucky find and of course, why wouldn't it be fab? (Clearly, a lover of Levi's LOL) I recently attended a private event to the launch of Givenchy Beauty's Le Rouge Liquide lipstick collection and their new lippies are to die for! I actually combined two lipsticks into one to give it a berry ombre look, I went for colors N-107 Nude Velours and N-412 Grenat Alpaga - what's amazing about these lipsticks is the functionality. You can go bold or soft with just a twist! The soft matte liquid cream gives you a blur-effect yet a hydrating luminous set of velvet lips!

SHOP THE GIVENCHY LE ROUGE LIPSTICKS

I ate one of the props straight away after shooting. It was early on a weekend morning and we walked with the pup for a couple of miles before getting the shots. I could eat bread all day, every day. Who's with me on this? Of course, this isn't healthy but who said anything about that?! Just kidding, seriously though, why can't bread be our friend?My favorite part of this look though is MaQ, of course. I always have so much fun shooting with him and I think he does too. He is very trained to sit and hold a position, we've been doing this since he was a pup! I used to pose him unleashed in front of street art and people are still amazed at his ability to sit still and look so happy while doing so. He's the best model, I swear! He even knows when "it's in the box"... meaning we got the shot. He literally walks away like a diva, convinced we have it and that's why it's a wrap! Ha ha ha!