A Favorite Pairing: Masculine Against Feminine

I love stealing my husband's clothes. He has this grey cashmere v-neck sweater that I wear with the sleeves rolled up and it still looks enormous on me but in a deliberate, effortless sort of way. I pull it on over my head when I'm in need of some serious coziness and comfort.

Ironically, I think there's something so feminine about wearing men's clothing or clothing inspired by menswear. I'm really not a tomboy at all (although I do know how to handle myself at the shooting range) and of course, wearing clothes meant for the guys requires careful balance. Skinny jeans under the slouchy sweater, gold studs in your ears, some delicate shoes. Something feminine to offset the masculine and provide that delicious and confident contrast. (Because getting mistaken for a boy is not the goal here!)

I would compare this to my love for old against new. Contrast is everything when it comes to style. Aged wooden furniture paired with the most dainty, white porcelain china. Boxy, masculine oxfords with a flouncy dress. Bright white walls and a worn, cognac leather chair. A loose white tee tucked into fitted black pants. It's the layering, the mixing, the balancing act--you could even say the contradiction--that makes these pairings so chic.

Do you or would you wear men's clothing? Do you agree that menswear can be (counterintuitively) quite feminine? I'd love to hear!

Image Source

A Favorite Pairing: Black Tea and Cream

As much as I love coffee, black tea is my morning drink of choice. I think tea is a bit healthier than coffee and I appreciate that it has much less caffeine in it. Plus it never gives me an upset stomach like coffee sometimes does (I think because it's so acidic? Does this happen to anyone else?). 

But any old cup of tea just won't do! I've mentioned before that I'm a bit of a tea snob and I rarely drink anything but loose tea. You just cannot beat the freshness and depth of flavor that a pot of freshly brewed loose tea will give you. (In case you're in the market for tea, I suggest ordering from Harney & Sons or Culinary Teas. Their tea blends are interesting, fresh, and delicious.)

But the real secret in making the most delectable cup 'o tea, in my opinion anyway, is the addition of cream. A few years ago I would have said cream and sugar, which is the Irish way, the way my parents taught me to drink it (my Dad picked this up in college when he was studying in Ireland). I still love it like this but when I got married, I started making tea for two and my husband doesn't like adding sugar to his. I tried skipping the sugar myself and at first found it to be pretty bitter, but I kept trying it and gradually my tastes changed. Now I really prefer tea with just the simple addition of cream. My husband says that when the tea is really good you don't need sugar, and I think he's right (although it took some getting used to!). 

It's amazing how much comfort and goodness I find in these two simple things that, together, make for the best of mornings. It really is the only way to start the day! A favorite pairing indeed.

And just in case you missed some of my other Favorite Pairings....

Grilled Cheese and Mustard

Olive and Blush

A Favorite Pairing: Grilled Cheese and Dijon Mustard

Growing up, my mom made us the most delicious grilled cheese sandwiches using extra sharp white cheddar and good bread, along with a healthy slather of butter on the outsides. When she had it with us, she would always dip her grilled cheese sandwich in Dijon mustard and I thought it was the strangest thing. Until I tried it.

Now, I can't eat a grilled cheese without mustard. It's the perfect, tangy complement to the creamy, melty cheese and crusty bread. And I'm convinced the mustard takes this simple, classic sandwich up a few notches. Served with Dijon, I believe they're elegant enough for guests--add a fresh green salad and a glass of chilled white wine, and they just might believe they've landed in Paris for lunch.

The ingredients are truly so important for a sandwich this simple. Try to use fresh bakery bread if possible. Use high quality sharp cheddar, or gruyére, and don't use too much or it will overwhelm the bread and become too rich (I grate the cheese instead of slicing it because I find it melts more evenly this way). Coat the bread with butter and let it really crisp in your pan. And Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard can't be beat.

Bon appétit!

A Favorite Pairing: Olive and Blush

I'm a big fan of complements. No, I don't mean flattery (although that's nice too), but rather duos, sets, pairings that work oh so well together. Things that complement each other.

I think balance is really important. In your home, your decor, your personal style, your wardrobe, in how you cook and prepare foods. So I thought it would be fun to start a series in which I share combinations that I especially love. My favorite pairings.

Today I'm starting with a beloved color combination--olive and blush. I've always really liked how these two colors play off of each other. Olive green, or army green, is a masculine color, rich and bold and strong. When it's on the sage-y side, it's earthy and rustic. Blush, which is sweet and feminine, makes for an ideal contrast. I'm not really much of a "pink" gal but blush I do love (as you can see from my blog design!). Whether it's a dusty rose or an almost-ivory with just a hint of color, it's a beautiful and versatile color.

First up are some gorgeous note cards and envelopes from my favorite paperie. I think solid-colored cards and envelopes are great because you can dress them up however you'd like. Mismatching the colors keeps things fun.

Note cards / Envelopes

I have a pair of olive green linen capris from Banana Republic that I got ages ago. I still love them, and I don't think they'll ever go out of style. A dusty blush-colored v-neck is the top I always reach for when I wear them. Paired with a little gold jewelry, and I'm feeling chic and stylish.

            

Blush tee / Army green pants


Blush and olive work well in home decor too! I like how this throw pillow isn't too feminine, and I think it would look perfect on this manly, midcentury-style chair.

      








Arm chair / Throw pillow


I have to say, I don't think there's anything more lovely than light pink flowers. I carried blush garden roses down the aisle and they made me feel like a queen. I often see roses like the ones below in the supermarket, and I think this deep olive vase is just begging for them.

            





Vase / Flower photo source


Dark, bold nails, with a soft and subtle lip color? Yes please! This grey-green nail polish is moody and a nice color for fall, don't you think? And I can vouch for the beauty of this lipstick. I wore it on my wedding day and it's not only a perfect shade of pale pink, it's also really moisturizing (it almost feels like you're wearing lip balm, not lipstick). The best kind of balancing act.

                  

Clinique "Pink-a-Boo" lipstick / Essie "Power Clutch" polish


What do you think of olive and blush? If you weren't convinced before, are you now? I'd love to hear!