Easy Gift: Smartwool Diamond Hat & Scarf

Smartwool has so many wonderful holiday gift options for all ages.  Even a pair of their colorful socks would make an excellent gift or stocking stuffer, there are so many great things to choose from, and their products scream quality.  I love their stuff especially for outdoorsy types because wool is the ultimate choice for travel and outdoor activity, keeping you comfortable by regulating body temps.

Check out their Diamond Popcorn Scarf and matching Hat.  I am madly in love with the Polar Purple, which is a soothing periwinkle purple-blue.  I don't see it on their site at the moment, but a quick google search shows you where to find it.  It's two-toned and looks great and comes in other colors, even basic black. 

This would be a fabulous set for the person you're not quite sure what to give.  You can find Smartwool online or locally at shops like REI, and food co-ops (it doesn't get easier than picking up a gift while you're grabbing groceries).

Tweet

Two Must Have Tees

Want an eco friendly, cute, comfy tee that will take you seamlessly from Summer to Fall?   Smartwool and Ibex have some wonderful options.  I love the feminine details on this Flight tee from Smartwool.   It has ruching at the shoulder and a graphic on the side depicting flight.  The super flattering fit is comfortable and generous and it feels great on.  This would work great with jeans, skirts, or yoga pants. 

The Merino Logo T is a fun versatile tee.  This tee also has a feminine cut and looks cute dressed up or down.  The fit is true to size.

I'm very fond of Ibex's cool logo and this tee features the goat logo in the center of the shirt.   It's small and unassuming but adds a little spice and keeps things interesting.   

Both tops are perfect for travel and outdoor adventures because they don't hold odor, pack great, and help regulate your body temperature. 

  I'm an 8/10 and took mediums in both tees.  They are comfy and seem to get softer after each wash.  Both tops come in several fun colors and are a must have for the low maintenance adventure wardrobe.

Tweet

All Weather Must Have: Smart Wool V Neck

If you don't already have some Smartwool tees, you are missing out.  I love these for camping and travel specifically, but they are fabulous for everyday life.  They regulate body temperature, they don't get funky when you sweat--this is awesome for traveling when you are dealing with a limited wardrobe selection.  Even more if you are backpacking and every piece has to be uber practical.  And practical they are--but they are also super cute.

Check out the flattering lines on this v neck.  I love it for layering and just wearing by itself.  This under my down vest has been a staple for me, I want one in every color.  It's feminine and functional and perfect for more activities than I can name.  A definite staple and necessity.

Smartwool also recently came out with some patterned tops that give you more fashion options--they're fun.  Check out this stripey zip collar top.  I love the color and pattern, it's nice to see this energetic top.  Both tops would serve you well year round (this stuff is awesome on summer nights too).  I find that Smartwool tops can run a little small for me, normally I'd wear a medium and I tend to size up to large while on bottoms I remain a medium.  Find these cute tops and more HERE on the Smartwool website.

Tweet

Cute and Comfortable Riding Your Bike

Have you noticed a growing trend of just normal regular people out riding their bikes?  For a while it seemed like here in the US when you saw someone on a bike, they would be wearing spandex racing clothes.  In the last few years it seems like more and more people are riding bikes for reasons other than competition or getting exercise.

I love seeing people wearing their regular street clothes on their bikes, riding for transportation and dressing for the destination. Would you rather be wearing a cute little dress or spandex?  The cute dress immediately makes riding your bike more fun and also more accessible.  If you're dressed in normal clothes--cute clothes--you are open to all sorts of things.  It also takes the pressure off to just think of yourself as simply a person on a bike.

So how do you keep warm enough while looking so cute?  If you're living in a climate like mine, Summer seems like it will never get here.  The weather changes at the drop of a hat and you can leave the house looking great and feeling comfortable and come back freezing or soaking wet.  The solution?  Smartwool undergarments.  I can't believe it's taken me all these years to discover Smartwool's Cami Tops and Lightweight Leggings.

Wool is the perfect material for those of us who have allergies and don't do well with synthetics.  It breathes.  Wool keeps you warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot.  If you get caught in the rain, the wool will help to wick the moisture away and it dries quickly.  It's perfect to wear under that cute dress.  I like the footless leggings for bike riding because you can wear sandals and because they're cooler than tights.  You can easily slip off a pair of socks if you start to get too hot rather than taking off the whole legging.  They'll keep your legs warm under a dress or skirt and they look cute too.

The Cami is a wardrobe essential.  I want one in every color--this is the ideal cami top.  It's perfect for bike riding because it's nice and long, it's great for travel or outdoor activities like camping or hiking.  It's the ideal layering piece because it will help to regulate your body temperature.  It will keep you cooler and also warmer than a cotton cami.  You could also wear it more as a tank top, it would look great with jeans.  It's comfortable and it comes in my favorite wardrobe basic colors--black, gray and white.  The shoulder straps are adjustable to customize your fit and it's soft and comfy.  I wish Smartwool would make a slip-version of this, it's just wonderful.

Smartwool's stance on sheep is that they care about how their sheep are treated, stating, "We would never hurt sheep, we love our sheep."  They are involved in environmental initiatives and work to improve production of this sustainable material.  Their sheep live on small farms in New Zealand, and are free range.  The Smartwool Advocacy Program focuses on the environment, the sheep and economic stability for the farmers. 

Opening Image Credit: PortocalaMecanica

Tweet

Smartwool: It's time to bring out the wool

Synthetic materials just don't cut it with me.  When it comes to warmth and performance, no matter how many times I try other materials I always come back to wool.  Smartwool is a brand I trust for quality, eco mindedness,  and animal well being.  "We would never hurt sheep," says Smartwool, "we love our sheep."  They participate in active promotion of enviornemtal stewardship programs and utilize eco friendly practices.  Wool is a natural, sustainable material and offers the benefit of managing temperature, odor and moisture.  The comfort level is high and so is the durabilty.

High Isle Socks are perfect to wear under boots.  They come in several different color combinations.  I love the Autumn colors in the Sienna High Isle.  Perfect for the season!

The Lupine Scarf is thin and wonderful to wear as an accessory beyond keeping warm.  I love the Charcoal Heather for wardrobe versatility but there are brighter options as well.  It's soft and cozy and very well made.

And for the days when you want to keep warm and still wear a dress or skirt, there are Smartwool Galoon Tights.  I find they run true according to the sizing chart, they are soft and look great with boots.

Tweet