Cadieux – Say Yes To This Dress

March 6, 2017

WEARING: CADIEUX PARIS DRESS | VVA IVY CALF GREEN POUCH HANDBAG

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY CADIEUX PARIS & VVA HANDBAGS.

Happy Monday loves! I've come down with a cold. I felt it coming on this weekend and I tried to fight it but unfortunately, the lil' bugger has gotten comfy and wants to stay a while longer. Nothing major but it has me sluggish, don't you hate that feeling when everything seems to take forever - as if you're moving in slow motion all day? My sinuses are killing me, but I continue to work because there's no other way to get it done. As many of you know I am the creative director, stylist, hair and makeup artist, and editor when it comes to all our fashion shoots here on MaQ + Suz. Every outfit post is carefully thought through and in the recent months, I've become extremely passionate again with fashion & style.

FUN FACT: When I was a little girl, around the age of 6 or 7 years old, I was completely obsessed with my mother's Korean fashion magazines. She didn't read the U.S. versions as Korean was her first language and anyone that knew my mother can attest to her eclectic style. She had very good taste and knew the difference between high quality and the rest of the bullshit that's put out there. I even used to be amazed at her estimation skills when we used to watch 'The Price is Right' together. She was peculiarly accurate and knew what everything cost. I really miss shopping with her where strangers used to constantly hit on her, even asking if we were sisters (which she LOVED since that meant she still looked like a teenager... thanks to those Korean genes, though, really! Ha ha!) We'd always make a pit stop to Mrs. Fields for their soft chocolate chip cookies afterward. It was one of our shopping rituals like all of us girls share with each other...

I looked up to my mom's personal style. So much so, and with the help of all those Korean fashion magazines, I started my own fashion magazine where I'd draw the models in a notebook and then label everything that they were wearing including the price on the side. I was just a kid when I did this but my parents found it to be so neat they had kept it through the years, but I lost it in a fire from my childhood home later on in my late teens. (Sounds brutal I know but it's not like the house completely burnt down or something worse like losing someone I love) But long story, I'm so happy to be where I am right now, here doing what I'm doing.. it just feels right.

When I saw this dress by Cadieux at the Manhattan Edité showroom, it immediately reminded me first, of course, Parisian flair, but secondly, my mother. I'm not sure why since it wasn't something either of us would wear on the regular, perhaps to a special occasion, yes, but for whatever reason ever since I spotted this beauty I've been thinking a lot about my mother. It's tough, even as a grown-ass woman, to not have your mother with you. (She passed away in 2005.) I can never describe how much I miss both of my parents, but my 'umma' has been on my mind. Instantly I wanted to style this dress just for her.

I do a lot of things in honor of my parents. Maybe it's because I'm still trying to prove something. Maybe I'm still trying to make them proud of me. But I don't care what the reason is. They drive me to be the crazy bad ass girl I know that I am (and not bad as in bad but bad as in good) and are a huge inspiration in my life. I inherited my mother's fiery passion and would be damned to burn that one out. I'm even starting to consider learning Korean because it's something my mother really wanted me to learn but as a youngster, I refused. I wish she didn't give me that decision but it's never too late, am I right?!

PHOTOS BY: GILLES DECAMPS

LOVE & XX'S,

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Simplicity with Chopin

June 10, 2016

WEARING: FOREVER 21 HIGH-SLIT MAXI SKIRT |

FOREVER 21 CREAM OFF-THE-SHOULDER PEASANT TOP |

MICHAEL KORS SANDALS

Happy Friday! Today's post is focusing on a new outfit look, (think Chanel meets affordability 🙊) but with attention also on my deep love for Classical music. Lately, I've been feeling inspired to do a black and white film 'look', but I wanted to evoke feelings of playfulness, intensity and the art of simplicity, which to me, is the key to sophistication, and remaining effortlessly chic.

I've been listening to Classical music since I was a young teenager. The reason being was because of my training as a competitive figure skater, where a lot of time was spent on researching and choosing the perfect piece of music to go with the perfect skating dress and choreography. I was immediately drawn to Vivaldi, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven. But my interest really peaked while in college, where I spent many of those first lonely freshman nights studying while listening to 'my men'. That is, until I actually made some friends! The only person I knew was my cousin and she was on the other side of campus. (And Michigan State's campus is one of the hugest in the country.) Freshmen stuck out like sore thumbs with their stationary parked bikes in the middle of the sidewalk with their faces immersed in the map of the campus. Trust me, I was definitely one of them, ha ha!

When I wrote my first novel, most, well to it's near entirety, music was filled in the background with Classical music. If not that, lots of original soundtracks. Dark. Soundtracks. Why do I love Classical music? It transports me to places I've never been. Eras, even. It sometimes uplifts me, fills me with intense anticipation of the unknown, melancholy, nostalgia, and even sometimes great sadness. But each time, regardless of the mood or set tone, I am never left without feeling fulfilled in some way. It gives me life! How many times has music saved your life?

I styled my hair in three knotted ponytails, bringing them together in a sort of french-braid kind of way. My makeup is inspired by the new Chanel campaign with Kristen Stewart shot by Mario Testino. What I love is the variation to the smokey eye, with different vibes like a tomboy, being mischievous or playful, to even feeling like a glamorous star. Eyes are, after all, the window's to our soul. We are whoever we want to be. #EyeCanBe

My off-the-shoulder peasant top has subtle floral embroidery in the bell sleeves, and my high-slit black maxi skirt, are both from Forever 21. I've had these Michael Kors's gladiator sandals for a few years and love them during the summer season. Just because you're on a budget when it comes to fashion doesn't mean you can't look like like one of the runway girls! Make it your own, in reflection to your personal style and taste. There's no price to chicness! Take a look at my editorial video created for this look of the week. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE for new videos every week. Please scroll down to directly shop the look. Have a lovely weekend, everyone! :)

photos + videography by Gilles Decamps | director, editing, styling, hair + makeup by Suzanne Spiegoski

Classical music with black and white film, two of my faves put together. Here is my latest editorial video, inspired by simple chicness, knotted ponytails, and Chanel's most recently updated smokey eye makeup. To me less is always and will always be more.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Metropolitan Museum of Art - Part 1

January 19, 2016

This past Sunday I spent the entire afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of my most favorite places on Earth! A trip to the Met always leaves me inspired and immediately wanting to go back for more, a must-see pit stop if you're in New York City! One of the many endless reasons why I love this museum is it's size and capacity. It is ENORMOUS and even after being there countless of times, I still, of course, haven't even seen half of it! (Or so it seems.) There's so much to look at, I get a little overwhelmed each time. I just want to see everything and soak it all in. I do have a minor in Art History after all. :)

Ranging from Quattrocento to Baroque art, to Impressionism and even Expressionism, (shocker!) here are only some of my many all-time favorite works of art at the Met. Trust me, I could write a book just on my selections from today's post! Scroll down to see art of extraordinary quality, or perhaps to see a painting you haven't seen before, or for a pick-me-up from the long weekend. What are some of your favorite art movements and/or artists? We love hearing from our readers!

Lastly, coming soon this week on the blog, a whole post on the Met's most recent exhibition: Jacqueline de Ribes: The Art of Style, focusing on the internationally renowned style icon Countess Jacqueline de Ribes, whose originality and elegance established her as one of the most celebrated fashion personas of the 20th century. AND FYI: you have to also check out Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom, an exhibition closing soon through January 24th. It was so spectacular I barely took any photos because I was so immersed in the artifacts. Really terrific, go see it now before it ends! Have a great day! Enjoy the pics below. :)