white out

Top and skirt: Jonathan Simkhai (on loan); Shoes: Henri Lepore Dezert; Clutch: Charlotte Olympia; Sunglasses: Celine

As much as I harped on making sure to visit the monuments in D.C. at night, there's something special to be said about roaming around a new city early in the morning. Before the commuters start filling the streets, before your email notifications start to buzz, heck, maybe even before your coffee has kicked in. It's quiet, serene and you're left alone with your thoughts in a city you can truly see with fresh eyes. 

Lately, I've been getting in the habit of going for early morning runs on my travels. I've found it's a great way to experience a city just as it's starting to wake up and stretch for the day. And for 30 minutes or so, you instantly belong, no questions asked, with a handful of locals (strangers to you really) running alongside you, all of them preparing for the day ahead. It then makes you wonder, if I lived here, what would my go-to route be? Where would I stop and stretch each morning? What coffee shop would be my ritual stop afterward? Who would be the guy I would secretly look forward to "bumping" into around mile 3?

It's like a sister life that you'll never really visit aside from little daydreams here and there. So...you keep running.  

Photos by Laura Metzler