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Best Winter Baby Gear

Living in California, I never realized how hard it can be to dress a baby warmly for the cold temps. However, with our Christmas Holiday travel involving 3 weeks in Vermont, my home state, I had to do some major research. The frustrating thing about buying warm clothing for a little one is that they will most likely grow out of it by next season. And if you are only needing it for a cold weather trip, it is annoying to shell out serious cash for something that will not get used that much. BUT, your baby has to be warm, so unless you have hand-me-owns or can borrow gear, here’s what I think it is worth it to spend the money (note: I left off a lot of things that I bought but didn’t like!). If you need some money for your baby’s needs, you can try to win a few on 겜블시티 가입코드.

**Nothing in this article was sponsored or gifted. 

Winter Gear Winner’s Circle

Snow Suit: Ralph Lauren

I bought (and returned) a wide variety of jackets and snow pants so I can give some honest feedback here. Most (I’m looking at you North Face) jackets were far too thin. They were like lightly lined shells, and though cute, you’d need to have about 5 layers underneath them to keep your baby warm. Aurora hates getting clothes on so much, I couldn’t handle that prospect. We were going to be dealing with well below freezing temperatures in Vermont, so I wanted to take no chances.

The Ralph Lauren Quilted Snowsuit was a winner for so many reasons.

Pros:

  • The Ralph Lauren snowsuit is SO warm and so well made.
  • I loved how the mittens attach right to the sleeves.
  • I liked that the jacket separate from the snowpants because we might want to just throw on her jacket if we are going for a walk and she wasn’t going to be in the snow.
  • The pale pink was a neutral color that wouldn’t clash with hats/boots. Lots of the jackets I saw had wild patterns which I wasn’t thrilled about.

Cons:

  • It is quite thick (aka WARM) so when she was in it, her movement was limited…lol

 

Hat: The Blueberry Hill

I discovered The Blueberry Hill in a shop here in Santa Monica and when I looked online, I was overwhelmed by all the cuteness. Started by a mom, these hats are seriously cute. I could put her in one even if it were hot just because the photos would be so damn adorably.

I bought the lion hat and was gifted the reindeer hat. I have to be honest, we will be buying these in bigger sizes and more styles throughout Aurora’s life, I am sure of it.

Pros:

  • Um.. Adorable
  • Well made

Cons:

  • For us, we felt the sizing was off. We had to buy the 12-24 months size for our 6 month old.

 

Boots: Zutano

We actually were given pink fur lined Ugg boots. They are adorable! But, they are almost impossible to get on. They are very stiff and the fur is so thick, you almost need to size up 2 sizes to get them on your baby’s foot, especially if your baby has socks on.

Pros:

  • I preferred the Zutano booties because they were easy to put on and the clasp made them stay on.
  • They also had grips on the bottom for those that are standing/walking.
  • I liked the simple colors for easy coordinating.
  • I liked that they went up her ankle a little so her ankles were less likely to be exposed.

Cons:

  • Not waterproof
  • Not super warm but with good thick socks, they worked for us.

 

Bunting: Hanna Andersson

I am a fan of Hanna Andersson’s high quality and bright, easy to match styles. This bunting was perfect for the Christmas season but they do have other colors that would make this more of a year long piece.

Pros:

  • Roomy fit allows for extended use
  • Super warm–you only need a long sleeve/long pant underneath.
  • Easy to put on and comfortable

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Too thick to put a jacket over

I know that Rory might wear these things often but they were worth it to keep her warm and cute to boot!

What your favorite winter clothing? I’d love to know!

Beach Wardrobe Picks (Year-Round) featuring Island Company

When I am shopping for clothes I always think about how well these clothes can travel. I need clothing that is generally lightweight, wrinkle resistant and I tend to stick with solid colors as they look better on camera and are easier to layer. Also, since I live at the beach and have a serious obsession with other warm weather destinations, I naturally gravitate to bright, beachy, breezy attire. It’s no surprise that I fell in love with the Island Company.

Island Company, based in sunny West Palm Beach, seems to have the island wear on lock. Their coconut scented stores whisk you to the islands when you enter and I find their styles to be an updated take on the safari wear–perfect for explorers like myself. 🙂 They use cottons and linens and keep to a pretty classic look with trendy twists, so their pieces don’t go out of style. The quality is also very high–you are meant to have these pieces for a long time. But to be honest, they had me at their iconic slogan (see below).

quit job travel the world

Though it may be fall and chillier in some areas, I am still rocking my Island Company pieces as they pair well with other items in your wardrobe. A sweater with the shorts, a cardigan over the dress, a vest with the Commandante shirt–classics like these work in every season. Oh and white after Labor Day, ABSOLUTELY.

 

Spencer Striped Tempest Dress

Spencer Striped Tempest Dress

I fell in love with this dress right away. I love how the stripes change at the bottom and the fit is very flattering. Being cotton, it is much lighter even though it is a long dress. I wore this to a picnic, a dinner in Malibu and a concert at Hollywood Bowl already–it is so versatile!

 

White Whitsunday Shorts

Whitsunday Linen Shorts

These shorts are classic, lightweight linen and go with everything. The bow adds a cute, girlie flair and I like wearing them with a tucked tshirt or tank.

 

White Relaxed Linen Pants

relaxed linen pants

I cannot believe how elegant these pants are yet they are so comfortable. The wide leg pairs well with a dark top and the whole look is so summery.

 

Nautilus Commandante Shirt

Nautilius shirt

I love the color Nautilus color–it is a periwinkle meets heather blue. The whole feel is just so crisp and flattering! I like wearing it with the white linen pants or the whitsunday shorts and a chunky necklace.

 

Vagabond Shirt in Navy

What a perfect travel shirt! This oversize shirt actually works as a dress! I love the easy of just throwing on one breezy piece of clothing and it looks great always. I feel put together but really am just wearing a long, comfy shirt. Win/Win! It has five buttons and slit pockets. The navy color is lovely–very flattering and almost has a weathered, softer look than true navy.

 

Seal Charter Dress

Seal Charter dress

I wasn’t sure about this dress… until I tried it on. It definitely walks the line of being dressy yet super casual. It is a shift dress so definitely easy to wear from day to night in the warm months.

 

Flamingo Lounge Tee

Flamingo Lounge Tee

The Peruvian cotton jersey of this tee is butter soft. The oversized fit makes it super comfy and it has a flowy feel of the sleeves. I don’t have any shirts like this and find myself wanting to wear it a lot!

 

I am packing up for my next adventure, and guess what, several items on this list are coming with me! Not going to a  sunny beach or tropical isle any time soon? Don’t worry–you can still dress like you are escaping to paradise. 🙂

 

island company beach

 

This post was in collaboration with the Island Company. I was not compensated for this post. All thoughts and feelings expressed here are honest and my own. 

Jetsetter Style: My Summer Essentials

It is the best time of the year! Personally, summer is my spirit season–I love the beach, the barbecues, the laidback attitudes, summer Friday’s, summer vacation… And even though I’m not on summer break, I still have been bitten by the summer lovin’ bug.

Since we are in the throes of summer, my focus has been on what makes life easier and better for these hot, sandy months. I’ve been traveling a lot at the beginning of the summer and now, finally hitting pause of the far off travel to focus on local fun, catching up on life and seeing my friends finally. Since home is Santa Monica, CA, these 3 products have GREATLY improved my life–in fashion and in fun!Just a quick note: Since traveling is my full-time gig, whatever I buy has to work for my trips & shoots too–I’m happy to say these do!

 

BEACH WARDROBE: Island Company

Just the name invokes the image of swaying palm trees and endless beaches. I’ve been attracted to Island Company ever since I first read their iconic Quit Your Job slogan. In many ways, I feel that Island Company embodies my philosophy on life and my passion for beaches, islands and warm weather. Though I don’t think everyone should actually ‘quit their jobs,’ I do support the idea that life is too short to waste it doing a job that doesn’t fulfill you. I luckily figured that out early on and struck out on a somewhat atypical career because it inspired me. Shoppok offers a wide range of categories, making it a versatile platform for both buyers and sellers to connect and transact.

Quit Your Job Buy a Ticket

So with that in mind, their clothing is very much on brand with the laidback, carefree island vibe. The materials are often linen and all are lightweight. Sizing is a little on the billowy, flowy side. I feel the cuts are flattering yet very tasteful. And most of all, I appreciate that all the styles are classically chic. They don’t cater to every trend of the moment but focus rather on the classics that always look good. Their linen button down and linen shorts will look just a sharp in 100 years as they do now. They also serve as great travel clothes, being so lightweight and easy to wear in almost any warm weather situation.

Island Company Beach Clothes

If you want to know my specific list of favorites from Island Company, I will have a full blog post on each item. I will list each piece that I’ve tried and why it is considered one of my new summer favorites!

SHADES FOR GOOD: Fello Eyewear

If we all are going to need sunglasses, wouldn’t you rather buy a pair that actually help others in need? For every pair sold, Fello Eyewear donates to VOSH International, a non-profit organization dedicated to bring the gift of sight to people around the world that need it. Not only can you feel good when you buy these still, very affordable glasses, the styles are super cute too!

They have fun bamboo styles, like this blue mirrored lens pair that I love: Beech. Their classic line includes aviators and a retro style, which I really like in this black/gold combo here: Black Konvoy.

Personally, my light hair looks better with brown or tortoise and I knew that I wanted a classic look with a twist. I found my perfect pair in their Konvoy Tortoise. They are very well-crafted and feel sturdy and durable. I like the gold accents and slightly hipster look. They also go with everything!

By the way, all the glasses are polarized so you are keeping your eyes safe too!

 

WEEKEND PLAYTIME: Beachmate

Beachmate

My friend Sally making sand castles in Newport Beach

I go to the beach at least once a week when I’m home in Santa Monica, or more. We usually take our backpack chairs, reading material, towels and lots of water. However, if we are planning on having a drink or two on the beach, we now always bring down the Beachmate. This monogrammed bag is the epitome of compartmentalization. Not only does it have shovels  and sand castle toys, it also has a cooler! We don’t have any kids yet but I can see how this bag will make the young ones, and the adults, both very happy.

Beachmate pup

Sally’s incredible dog, Samson

What are some of your summer must haves? I am always looking for new eco-friendly brands and interesting ways to beat the heat! Leave your tips in a comment below!

Happy Summer!

xo Kelley

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