Hello, all! Since so many of us are in the dog days of August wherein relentless heat and humidity threaten to overtake us, plus add to that the extra pressure of getting our littlest loved ones up and ready for school, I thought I would see if I could at least make the sartorial job just a bit easier by showcasing some yummy back to school outfits that I have pieced together from Boden's Autumn 2011 Mini Boden and Johnnie b lines.
But you know me, I can't just leave out the lovely moms who do quite a bit of the work in preparing the minis for school, so I have even added in a great back to school outfit for us, too.
AND to celebrate all that you lovely ladies do to keep the wheels running (usually) squeak free, I have a wonderful giveaway for three lucky Boden babes! There will be more on how to enter the giveaway at the end of the post, but here's a sneak peak of what you could win!
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| Sparkly scarves in lovely purples and blues? Yes, please! |
Since I have rugrats of my own, I thought I would feature outfits that I would like to dress them in on their first days of preschool this year. It was shockingly easy for me to figure it out, and regardless of the age of your own children, all of these pieces can transition well into the school year.
1) CW is starting her first year of preschool this year, and I know that she will want to be well-dressed on her first day, so I have picked the below outfit to make her feel both sassy and comfortable. All of the items are separates, so if it is hot the first day, I can change out the leggings and shirt and let her go bare-legged and bare-armed, but have an outfit idea floating for when the temps do dip!
Funky Print Dress
in Dove Songbird.
You all have already seen her in this, and I know, without a doubt, this will be her pick if I asked her. :)
Pointelle T-Shirt
in sage/cream striped (to layer under the dress).
2 Pack Sparkly Footless Tights
in Violet/Steel Pack (to layer under the dress). I like these for two reasons, 1) it allows me the comfort of knowing that if she does cartwheels, her bottom isn't showing, and 2) since they are sparkly, CW is gonna love them.
Leather Ballet Flats
in Silver Metallic/Silver Grey. If it is slightly shimmery, CW always exclaims, "I'm a princess!"
And who can forget the backpack? Not me!
Girls Rucksack in Pink Wallpaper. So pretty and girly and just the right size for even the littlest of backs.
2) Rex is almost an old man compared to CW having gone to preschool for two whole years already! I know he needs something super-durable (he is HARD on his clothes), so when I picked his outfit out, I thought of his predilection for destroying things first and then what he would think is cool. LOL.
Icon T-shirt in Forest/Taupe. This is a no-brainer. Rex has been talking about his "target" shirt since we received it in the mail. I knew that this shirt would be his first day back to school shirt for the longest time. It also is great for my own personal goal because the cotton is super-thick, the embellishment is well-sewn on, and the sleeves are long enough for any "elbow" incidents Rex may encounter with the ground.
Lined Knee Patch Trousers in Sand. You just read how I need for Rex to have long sleeves to keep his elbows protected, right? Well these pants do the same but for his knees. I also like that the waist is a drawstring and elastic, which means that it will fit for a long time...through a few growth spurts at least. Happy Momma!
Padded Gilet in Sunset. Rex hates coats, and will just *barely* tolerate them. However, a vest/gilet is right up his alley because it keeps his core warm but allows for his arms to be super-free. We do insist that he wear a real coat when it gets REALLY cold, but for the fall (and VA temps are usually in the mid-50s), this vest fits our needs perfectly.
Leather High Tops in Khaki Suede. Okay, how great is that Boden has made a pair of cool-looking tennis shoes for the boys that are also very mom-friendly with velcro straps. There are mornings where I am so harried that even doing up a shoelace tie is almost too much too handle. LOL. (I know I am not the only one. Right?)
Boys Rucksack in Blue. Rex loves his mini Boden items from summer that have the skulls, so this backpack is exactly what he would want!
I wanted to take this back-to-school post and make it about more than me and my minis, though, so I also decided to include an outfit for a teen girl and a teen boy because I know there are quite a few of you who read my blog who have older children and mini-Boden is too small for them. So for you wonderful parents (I taught middle school, I remember the kids at that age--woo, boy!).
3) For a teen girl, I imagined this outfit would be a hit on the first day back:
T-shirt Dress in Grey Marl/Storm Heart Stamp. This fits the bill for those girls who are fussy about their clothing...it looks cool but also fits well and comfortably, so that even if the moody comes out one morning, she should be able to handle whatever comes her way with ease. The print is especially fun and current...what teenage girl doesn't enjoy little bitty pink hearts?
Leather Jacket. Umm, bonjour. I owned a leather jacket in high school and without fail, it matched everything in my wardrobe, it kept me warm, AND it made me feel cool. Boden's delicious offering has sweet edgy detailing with the zippers and buttons, but is all girl with the contrast pink lining. (I must admit, a teeny part of me is yearning for that for myself. YUM!)
Ballet Flats in Metallic. This silver version will look great with so many clothing items, from dresses to shorts to skinny jeans.
2 Pack Cable Tights in Dark Grey Marl/Midnight. When the temps dip, bring out the tights. Not only do they allow girls to find extra life for their adorable dresses, it also adds a bit of coverage for us nervous moms. (My dad was very protective. Guess who ALWAYS wore tights? LOL.)
Favourite Satchel in Navy. A lot of teen girls have outgrown backpacks, but still need a place for their books and school supplies. I dipped into Boden's womenswear to find the perfect bag for the coolest teen girl.
4) For a teen boy, I imagined an outfit that would be neutral enough to not make them self-conscious, but also very comfortable:
Brushed Check Shirt in Storm. Plaid shirts will always be a staple for the teen boy. A bit dressier than a tee, yet still easy to wear. It is like the perfect shirt for mom and teen boy.
Slim Jeans in Dark Denim. Boys will always want jeans, and to set your guy apart a bit (but in a good way), try a pair of skinnies on him. They are very current and modern and will offset the casual-ness of the plaid shirt nicely.
Waxed Jacket in Bracken. I could see the dirt on guys' coats back in high school from a hallway or two away because they NEVER washed their coats. This jacket, because of its waxed exterior, will ward off the dust and dirt much better than traditional coats, so even if you can't get to the wash this week, at least your guy's coat won't look like it. :)
Leather High Tops in Steel. The boys can wear this, again, and again, and again, and they won't look older, they will just look better.
5) Oh, I haven't forgotten us ladies. We need something for our school runs, don't we? After all, what is more fab than a Mom who regardless of how she feels (crazy busy, anyone?) can look amazing.
Perfect Jersey Dress in Limestone Crochet. This is the sort of fabric every mom needs in her life. There is literally nothing more comfortable than a well-made jersey dress. (Even sweatpants...I think these dresses are way easier to wear and have the extra bonus of making you look fab, too!) This pretty, yet soft, print can easily be accessorized up for a party, but on the first day of school, can be paired with casual pieces for a more easy air.
Club House Blazer in Slate Melange. This has the bonus of keeping you warm when the temps dip, but in this "go with everything" neutral, it not only works with the jersey dresses of the world, but can easily pair with yummy colored denim and beautifully tailored pencil skirts. This jacket will be in it for the long run.
Bon Bon Necklace in Fig. This fun little bit of embellishment for you neck not only looks fab with the jacket and dress, it also has a bit of brightness with the yellow to really make it pop!
Favourite Satchel in Scarlet. Why be shy? Show off your love of color in this mom-friendly tote. The pockets and extra details you need, the color is what this outfit wants.
Wedge Loafers in Black. These will literally match everything in your wardrobe, but I have decided to elevate us moms by insisting that we only wear our Ballet flats four days a week, and wear leg-lengthening wedges and heels the other days. Of course since you are on a school run, comfort is king, so the wedge it is. :)
I hope you all enjoyed my foray into Back-to-School styling with Boden.
Now it is your turn.
I know every single one of you wants to win the scarf (yum, yum) and there are going to be three lucky ladies who win one, but to enter please do three things for me!
In the comments, please:
1) State your name (or nickname).
2) Go to Boden (use box below these sentences) and tell us what ONE item you think would be most essential for you or your mini/teen on the first day back to school. You can list more than one item, but one is all you need to enter the giveaway.
3) Leave an e-mail in the comment so I can get back to you if you win!
THANKS, all! This giveaway ends on September 1, 2011, exactly one week from today. Good luck to you! And good luck to all of our favorite boys and girls!
