Carolyn Williams
Editor’s note: We haven’t had any female influence here for a while — and we’ve neglected the kid stuff as well. To make amends and continue our holiday season gear festival, here is something from a backcountry mom about getting her kids in quality clothing.
My husband Greg and I live a backcountry lifestyle. It seems like we’re always chasing some skiing or climbing — now with two young ones in tow.
We don’t hesitate to take the kids almost anywhere, but I have to admit it isn’t easy getting them dressed for the cold, including the challenge of convincing them they even need to. (I’ve spent many mornings wrestling my daughter out of her princess dress and into something that’ll at least delay hypothermia.) Thankfully that’s changed.
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| My kids and high quality Polartec fleece — a warm and fun combo. |
I was over at WildSnow HQ the other day, and Lou suggested I check out local clothing maker Cyndy Love, who runs her eponymous fleece garment business. Turns out Cyndy makes some terrific stuff, and now my daughter actually chooses the warm fleece options!
These whimsical clothes are also as practical as they are adorable. Kids love them because their creativity and imagination doesn’t need to stop when the school day starts. Parents love them because they can relax knowing their kids aren’t going to freeze at recess.
The first item my daughter was drawn to was the Karina Hooded Fleece Pullover with faux Mongolian fur trim (in photo above). Cyndy uses high quality Polartec fleece for all her clothing, so this is no flimsy jacket. Kids can wear it as a shoulder season jacket, or layered during winter. (And yes, it is machine washable.)
Our other favorite item by Cyndy is her Berber Fleece Coat Dress with Leopard Trim (faux of course). This unique piece can serve either as a jacket in the fall and spring, or as a dress in the winter. Plus, the matching hat sends my daughter into song — as soon as she puts it on, she feels Russian and begins singing the lyrics to the Disney cartoon Anastasia! Whatever works, right?
Beyond her fleece outerwear, the rest of Cyndy’s line is worth a look. Cyndy’s Infant hooded jacket and pant set is about the softest most wonderful piece of clothing you could imagine putting on a baby. She utilizes ultra-soft “minky” fabric with raised dot pattern. It comes in lavender and has a cross-tie and Velcro jacket closure. All her adorable items would make great gifts this holiday season.
If you’re a mom or dad I’m sure you’ll see some potential, and she’s got a few adult items too. As the snow falls, dressing your kids up in these excellent clothes gives peace of mind. Plus, your kids might start singing and dancing around the room!
(Link removed 2015 due to inconsistency, just google Cyndy Love Designs to find her.)
Beyond our regular guest bloggers who have their own profiles, some of our one-timers end up being categorized under this generic profile. Once they do a few posts, we build a category. In any case, we sure appreciate ALL the WildSnow guest bloggers!