black & blue: layering

I don't know about you, but I was not built for winter weather. I'm always cold, never want to leave the comfort and warmth of my bed and my average sadness for the day is at a yearly high.

The only upside for me is the clothing.

Who doesn't love to layer their clothes? You look immediately more fashionable when you add a jacket, scarf, high socks, etc. to a basic outfit. This is a fact of life, people. However, don't forget that this can also go terribly wrong. Think: frumpy, added weight...pretty much a lot of bad things.

So, with that in mind, I put together this outfit (on a day when it was a bit warmer, mind you), and a few tips for making sure your layers keep you looking fashionable, not frumpy:

Photos by Ashley Parrish.

1. Thick & Thin: Mix layers of different weights to get that effortless, casual look when you're layering. I mixed a thicker knit tank top with a very thin chambray shirt. Try a thin tank with a medium weight cardigan and a leather jacket, a long-sleeved knit with a longer, thin tank underneath and a blazer, or a fisherman's sweater with a blazer.

2. Color Palette: This is my personal preference, but don't go insane with the colors. Stick to things within the same color family, go for bright tones only or muted tones only. A black dress with a black jacket and black tights looks sexy and understated. I mixed two blues, one darker and one lighter, adding both interest and depth to the outfit.

3. & The Accessories: The best thing about winter fashion is most definitely scarves. Add a scarf to your outfit, or an oversized beanie. Add fingerless gloves, or high socks underneath your boots. I, being the little jewelry fiend that I am, add lots of bracelets, a couple of necklaces, rings and earrings to add a little extra something to my outfit.

So there it is. Layering is really easy once you get the hang of it, but as you're trying to work it out the tips provided above will definitely be of help. 

And guys, this post applies to you, too! Layering looks ridiculously sexy on men (see every AllSaints men's lookbook ever), and ladies notice it. Spend some time in front of the mirror tonight and try to layer a few things; find out what looks good and what doesn't, and I promise you, it'll be worth the time and effort. You will thank me later.

warm winter soups (part 1)

Let's face it.

As the temperature drops, we all get a little more in the mood for soup. It's been moderately warm in DC over the past couple of days, but tonight the temperature is slowly moving down and I'm craving a big, steaming bowl of thick soup to keep me going.

I received a Jamie Oliver cookbook for my birthday from my dearest mom, who always knows what I love. It was the one titled "Jamie at Home". I love Jamie Oliver. His recipes are so simple, and highlight the flavors of each ingredient in the dish. Simple, British cooking at its finest. 

Jamie's recipe for Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter caught my eye last night, so I ran to the store and got the ingredients to make a big pot.

To make this lovely soup, you will need:

2 quarts of good vegetable or chicken stock (or if you're lazy, bullion works fine)

1 bunch of Savoy cabbage

A small bunch of kale

6 strips of bacon or pancetta

Olive oil

1 small tin of anchovies

4 sprigs of thyme

14-16 slices of rustic bread, all toasted but 4-5

1 clove of garlic, cut in half

A good hunk of Fontina val d'Aosta, or a nice Gruyere or aged cheddar

Grated parmigiano reggiano

A couple of tablespoons of butter

A couple of sage leaves

Freshly ground black pepper

To begin, heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Heat your stock on the stove until it boils. In the meantime, wash and dry your kale and cabbage and roughly chop. When the stock reaches boiling, add your greens and let them cook for a few minutes until they are soft. Remove the greens to a large bowl.

In a dutch oven or other stovetop/oven casserole dish, heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. Chop your bacon or pancetta into large chunks. Add the bacon and anchovies to the pan, and when the bacon gets nice and brown, turn off the heat and add the thyme. Cook for a minute more, and then add the cabbage. Toss to coat each piece of cabbage and put the whole lot back into the bowl.

Toast your bread slices in the toaster and, when they're hot, rub down one side with the garlic clove. This will give the bread a nice garlicky flavor without the pieces floating around the soup. Make sure to leave a few pieces untoasted as they will crisp up in the oven.

Lay down one layer of bread and then add some of your cabbage/bacon mixture on top, followed with some grated cheddar or Fontina and parmigiano. You can layer this as many times as you want. I only did two layers of the bread and cabbage. Put your untoasted bread on the top layer. Grate the rest of your cheese on the top, add some parmigiano, a bit of olive oil and some freshly ground black pepper.

Pop your dish into the oven for 30 minutes until the top is a lovely golden brown. Meanwhile, heat some butter on the stove and fry a couple of sage leaves in it until they are crispy to top your soup with.

And you're done! Look at you, you little chef. Salty, rich and hearty, this dish hits the spot on a cold night, and is fairly easy to make. My man Jamie is definitely all he's hyped up to be.

a day in the city

I'm back! After a short (long) hiatus, I finally have some free time and have decided to devote it to my little blog which has suffered these past few months!

Moving to a new (cool) place has the benefit of having everyone you know want to come to visit you. I've had lots of friends come to town over the past couple of months. Things I would most likely never go see myself  become a fun afternoon out with friends. It's a welcome break from the hectic atmosphere that DC can often host.

Last week, my good friend Drake came to visit for a couple of days. We explored the city, discovering an amazing contemporary Louisiana fish house, Acadiana. The comfortably elegant atmosphere was a welcome escape from the chilly weather.

We started with soup (gumbo and sweet corn crab chowder) and moved onto the most delicious fried green tomatoes I've ever had. Topped with a take on cocktail sauce and chilled shrimp, it was an amazing combination. Props to you, Acadiana.

Followed by thin fried catfish with tartar sauce and blue cheese coleslaw (also the best I've had):

Followed by beignets with a chicory creme anglaise:

Almost too full to move, we walked down the street to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. This famous museum houses artifacts and fossils from throughout the Earth's history. The primate/human exhibit was particularly interesting.

However, hardly swayed by the enticement of the geology exhibit, we headed out to check out more of DC.

One of my favorite things about this area of DC is the architecture. It's all very classic and elegant. It makes for a beautiful fall day to roam around and enjoy the aesthetic pleasures of the architecture, art and, of course, lovely food.

We wandered around a bit more and headed to PAUL to indulge in some cappuccinos and pastries.

We settled on the tarts: I with the rhubarb, he got the fruit rouge. Full and tired, we headed back for a nap before a night out at one of my favorite DC bars, Jack Rose. Housing over 1,000 types of whiskey, you're in a whiskey-lover's paradise. The bar itself is cool and casual with lots of bar seating and tables throughout. Apparently they have a roof deck as well, but I have yet to check it out (roof deck=SOLD). The whiskey list is unending and undoubtedly daunting, but once you begin chatting up the very knowledgeable bartenders, they'll give you a recommendation that will sort you out. I love old fashioneds (as I may have mentioned once or twice before...), and ordered an 'old' old fashioned made with Rittenhouse Rye.

*'Old' means it is made with whiskey, sugar and lemon peel, while 'new' denotes a drink made with whiskey, sugar, orange peel and a maraschino cherry. I've had both, and most definitely recommend the old.*

If you're in the area, I highly recommend Acadiana (reservations here) for lunch or dinner, and Jack Rose for drinks. They're both great places, and have perfected their respective styles of cuisine/drink. 

Hope you're all having a great week!

my fall playlist

Fall tends to make me particularly nostalgic.

I don't know what it is--the change from sun to gloom, the chill in the air, people heading back from vacations and the look toward work and home... Autumn a time of great change and excitement, but also a time I tend to reflect on past years. I think about where I was at this time one year ago, two years ago, five years ago; the progress I and everyone I know has made and how far we've come...

Regardless, fall is my favorite time of year by far. We are finally able to layer on the scarves and cardigans and bring out the boots. We can carve pumpkins and drink ginger peach tea and eat hot apple cider donuts. We can enjoy the glorious weather on the sunny days and curl up in bed on the not-so-glorious ones. I turn to acoustic indie tracks to set the mood as I partake in these activities. A particularly nice walk from the metro is even better with great music.

Here are a few of the tracks I've been listening to at the moment, as well as a few from the autumns of past years that I can't seem to rid myself of.

The Tallest Man on Earth -  1904

The New Pornographers - Challengers

Harlowe and the Great North Woods - Roses

Quarter Inch Collective - Cars, and Other Observations

Kurt Vile - Runner Ups

Codaagency - Pictures

Real Estate - Municipality

Iron & Wine - Jezebel

Shelby Sivo - Are You Devo

The Tallest Man on Earth - Love is All

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

Family of the Year - Chugjug

Wye Oak - Civilian

Sufjan Stevens - For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti

Say Hi to Your Mom - Dots on Maps

I've made almost all of these tracks are available through the Hype Machine. This is my favorite music-sharing websites. They compile blogged music from around the internet in an easy-to-use format; you just set up an account and can "love" any songs you come across and set up your own playlist. I've gotten almost all of my music from this website over the past couple of years. There's not only good indie music, but a lot of great electronic music as well. Feel free to follow/friend me on Hypem at aylwardg.

Hope you are all enjoying the lovely fall weather we've had recently.