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!

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

What to Wear on and off the Slopes

December 26, 2018

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season! How was everyone’s Christmas (to those who celebrate)? My hubby and I always keep it low key. We don’t have big families and the imminent pressures of engorged family gatherings and togetherness may not always bring happy feelings, but just the two of us, with of course our baby, MaQ, is always enough. Life has many twists and turns, and is very short, so I consider to be very lucky to have my boys with me. They are my life and without them, I’m not too sure how well I’d do. The spirit of this time period isn’t about presents, lights and pretty festive pictures (raise your hand if you’re a NYC blogger and shot at Lotte Palace, Rockerfeller Center, or another touristy-driven location site…) Sorry not sorry. I. JUST. CAN’T. So instead of the same ole’ content everyone is doing, I’m still doing it MY WAY. So in today’s post, we’re mixing Aspen with Chinatown - grunge with ski wear. Continue to see the details from this uber cool yet casual styled look for the winter, and how to get this ski-inspired outfit!

The touch of color on the sleeves and chest, gives a unique style to the coat to be worn in casual occasion, on and off the slopes. By the way, can you believe I have never tried skiing before in my entire life?! I’m a trained figure skater, so I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be completely terrible at it! Plus, being a Midwestern gal at heart, I’ve always loved winter and even more so, the snow. Normally with a ski jacket/coat, it is puffy and not exactly the easiest piece of outerwear to maneuver in. But this faux fur shearling-styled jacket is great in the cold, and quite fitting for next month… the month of love :) I love how this v-shaped jacket also looks like there’s a heart in the red, when angled to the side. Do you guys see what I see?

The red and white jacket is quite warm, but when the temperatures dramatically drop whether you’re skiing or not, it’s important to be properly insulated. Which is why I wore my favorite Uniqlo Heat Tech top. Black, sleek and goes with many many outfits. It is definitely a staple piece in my closet during the winter season. I love how lightweight it is, and that you can easily layer with other clothes to keep warm. The black pants are from Reebok. A classic jogger-silhouette, these comfy pants has a slim fit with a modern cut that hugs the body while still leaving room for movement. Very comfortable cotton fabrication. Other features include front hand pockets, tapered ankles for a bulk-free fit, elastic waistband with drawcord and detail at the outer left pocket.

To continue with the mostly black ensemble, I styled the look with my latest favorite pair of winter boots - these yellow-laced black combat boots. I thought the high-ankled boots would fit well with the jogger pants, keep an elongated frame. Sneakers wouldn’t made me look stumpy I think when it came to this look. They’re also great to tread in snow, completely durable and also easy to walk in. Literally can’t get enough of ‘em! Other accessories that I styled with this look is this cognac studded crossbody bag from Foley & Corinna and a very cool yellow pair of cateye sunglasses. I think the colors tied everything together when it came to the overall look.

What do you guys think of this look? Can it be worn both on and off the slopes? Are you an avid skier? Got any suggestions for a first-timer? Ha ha! Also, where’s a great place near New York? Vermont? Upstate? I’d love to hear from you guys as I continue to do my search for a possible trip with the boys! Also, I’ve listed each piece from this look with direct links in the beginning and end of this post. Wishing you guys a wonderful rest of Christmas break and an even Happier New Year! I have a feeling 2019 is going to be fun! Until next time… :)

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

How to Style a Pink Coat Sporty Chic

November 26, 2018

We’re back to another work week! I a lot of the times love starting the week dressed up in a pantsuit/powersuit to get things going, along with feeling pretty damn confident in them, but sometimes, especially with all the dreary, rainy weather we’ve been having here in New York, you just gotta brighten up your days with some color! I’m not one to ever normally wear pink, but stepping out of my comfort zone is better than always playing safe, both in life and in fashion! Continue reading to check out the sporty chic look, one where my hubby/photographer couldn’t stop affectionately referring me as, ‘Pinkie’, as well as direct shopping links.

Screen Shot 2018-11-25 at 6.16.52 PM.png

Even though there’s a bit of feminine references within this outfit, (i.e; the pink makeup, flower earrings, etc;) I still wanted to keep it sporty chic. But before we get into how I styled it this way, I want to share a little bit about the makeup first. The latest lipstick that I can’t get enough of is the PillowPout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder from Buxom. It’s a unique, instantly-plumping lip powder that delivers a blotted, semi-matte finish for an all-day, comfortable wear. Thanks to its innovative wet powder technology and mess-free sponge applicator, this weightless, pout-plumping pigment glides seamlessly across lips to deliver rich color that never feels dry or tight. The smudge-proof formula provides a soft and sexy stained effect that stays put for up to eight hours-no matter what you get up to during the day or night. Available in ten vivid shades designed to build to your perfect coverage, ranging from subtle nudes to bold berries. I’m wearing ‘Soft Whisper’ and it’s the perfect pinkie nude for a medium/olive skin tone. The Urban Decay Naked Cherry Palette I’ve shared in the past before (HERE and HERE) and I just can’t say enough amazing things about this eyeshadow palette. It’s berry berri-fic, and also has some fantastic browns and peachy/pinks - all super duper amazing to play around with.

The earrings are from a sweet shop call SMTH (Small Things) where these flower droplet earrings come in a variety of colors. I’m wearing the lavender/pink set and think they look so cute with this outfit. I kept the remaining accessories fun yet sporty, with metallic pink sneakers and a holographic crossbody bag. To add an extra pop, I wore a pair of pink cateye sunglasses which are such a statement. These light yet sparkly playful pieces work well with the biggest contrast of this look: the ombre purple denim jeans.

A purple-tinted wash gives staple stretch skinnies a fresh, unexpected twist. I’m completely obsessed with my new pair of jeans by STS Blue. I definitely think the key to not going overboard on the pink and looking like a fluffy marshmallow, was a strong contrast. Purple does look awfully good with pinks, and the unique ombre situation blends well with the holographic bag and metallic sneakers. But most of all, I’m crazy for this light pink faux fur pink coat! You can layer it up and do a lot of different looks with this statement piece, but I chose to keep it more casual than dressy because that’s how I do me most of the time! Wishing you a great week, friends!