Empire State Sipper

I’m very excited to announce that I will soon be introducing fashion content to the blog. Today’s post is kind of dipping my toe in the water, a mix of fashion, some photos featuring moi, and a delicious cocktail recipe.

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I often share my #OOTD posts (outfit of the day) and want to start sharing that content in more polished setting and provide the product links so you can shop my closet too.

I always set out to have Taste & Tipple be a food AND lifestyle blog and the incorporation of fashion is the next phase in that evolution. I have always loved clothing and articulating my own unique sense of style with my wardrobe.

As a precocious only child, my parents let me pick out my own outfits from an early age. As a result you could often catch five-year-old me wearing a clashing kaleidoscope of colours and patterns with a fanny pack, knee-high socks and some kind of Disney hat/scrunchy combo.

SHOP YVONNE’S BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

When I got older, I started picking up all the fashion magazines and scouring them for the latest trends and styles. In my teenage years and early twenties, I followed a lot of trends that I look back on and cringe. Sketchers platform sandals – like the kind that had the exact same 4″ height from toe to heel, inspired by Baby Spice? Had those. Parasuco jeans, sheer tops, and patchwork sweaters? Rocked those. Baby cardis paired with Abercrombie spaghetti-strap tank tops and flared gauchos? Did that too.

Needless to say, there were some LOOKS. While hindsight is 2020 and look back on some of those sartorial moments and laugh, those were formative moments in my experimentation with fashion and helped me land on the well-defined personal style that I now have.

SHOP THE LOOK

I would call my style a modern take on 1950s classics. Curve-hugging sheath dresses, tailored, high-waisted pants, A-line skirts, structured handbags, silk scarves, and plenty of colour make up the foundation of my wardrobe. Paired with a bold lip colour and cat-eye – I strive for a timeless look reminiscent of Joan from Mad Men.

This debut look I’m sharing with you today is analogous to this updated take on one of the most classic of cocktails, the Manhattan. The Empire State Sipper is a refined and balanced update to the classic rye and vermouth drink.

Fun fact: I shot these photos myself but I couldn’t get my remote shutter working properly so I was setting up the shot and sprinting to get in front of the camera, pose without direction, and serve face.

All my headshots were getting pretty long in the tooth or I wasn’t overjoyed with some of my more recent options. I wanted to try my hand at taking my own portrait and see I could get a result I was happier with. I think the biggest thing with photos of yourself is that you want them to be a reflection of how you see yourself. In spite of the self-timer challenges, I’m really happy with how these portraits turned out and love having a well-crafted drink as an accessory.

Empire State Sipper