There’s nothing that says ‘the South in the spring’ more than sweet tea. So when stylist and blogger Monica Lavin offered to show us how to serve up this quintessential drink in style, we clinked our glasses at the chance.
A resident of St. Simons Island, GA, where she currently resides with her husband and the two gorgeous pups who gamely modeled for this shoot, Monica showcases her pitch-perfect Southern style on her lifestyle blog Lavin Label and through her regular posts for Southern Living, where she’s a contributor to magazine’s The Daily South blog.
See her put her chic spin on sweet tea in the pics below.
Put sweet tea in the place of honor it deserves by serving it on a bar cart. “You can add mint and peaches (or even Bourbon) for a fresh twist on a truly Southern tradition,” says Monica, who wore our Austin Jacquard Dress for the occasion. (All photos by Kelli Boyd Photography.)
“If you’re from the South, then you know that when March rolls around, we love to spend time on our front porch and in our backyard,” says Monica, who dressed a sweet- tea-stocked gold bar cart in a breathtaking garden-themed display.
“My goal was for the cart to function both as a drink display and an accent for the patio,” explains Monica. “Rather than spreading the vases around the patio, I grouped them together to make a greater visual impact. Their varying heights add the perfect dimension and texture to the cart.”
“I like to include a drink menu for guests, so they can recreate the recipe if they love it. To play up the garden theme, I wrote the sweet tea recipe on a leaf from a fiddle leaf fig tree!” says Monica.
The Draper James Austin Jacquard Dress is the perfect piece to don while serving sweet tea to friends on the patio. “Since the dress has such a bold pattern, I paired it with neutral wedges and simple gold jewelry to match the detailing on the pockets of the dress,” says Monica.
Monica was drawn to the Draper James Croc Pinewood Envelope Clutch as the perfect piece to hold the essentials.
“Southerners are known for taking advantage of the wonderful weather by taking our dogs with us wherever we go!” says Monica, who is the proud owner of two totally camera-ready Springer Spaniels.
Special thanks to: Kelli Boyd Photography for photography; Emily McCarthy, Dwell Studio and Birch Lane for accessories; and The Vine Garden Market for floral design.
