Urban Winter Wear for Frigid Weather

With most of the eastern half of the U.S. swathed in frigidness, there's more reason than ever to layer up with lightweight, but warm, fabrics. These (below) are some of my favorite items most from Smartwool that's noted for its Merino wool products -- many of which I've been wearing the past week when the temperatures in Manhattan hovered around 10 degrees at times.
Men reading this article can scroll through the Smartwool inventory as well as that of Stio, the other company I mention to find warm wear that looks good and performs well.


Smartwool Cascade Valley Asymmetric Tunic Sweater

What's especially great about this tunic is that the zipper on the neckline converts into a thick, cozy turtleneck. So it looks fashionable when paired with leggings but it also performs well in the cold.

I like to pair this dress with a fleece vest, like one sold by Toad & Company.

Smartwool Flip Mitt gloves

Smartwool neck gaitor

Smartwool Marble Ridge cap

Smartwool leggings or tights

And, because I get exceedingly cold, I pair these leggings with fleece tights that are sold by a number of manufacturers.

Smartwool underwear

As to all the additional outwear, I favor jackets made by Stio, a company many people are not familiar with.

This is their Sweetwater Fleece Jacket

I often double this jacket with the insulated Azure XT Hooded Jacket

And if I need even greater body coverage to protect me from the elements, instead of the insulated jacket I'll wear the Hometown Down Parka

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Insect Repellant Clothing for Madagascar Travels

For the last many weeks, I’ve been traveling in Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world but one with enormous beauty as well. (Most of us think lemurs when the country of Madagascar comes to mind.) It’s also a country that has a high risk of malaria, a reason why most of the clothing I packed was Insect Shield apparel. This meant my neck gaitor -- necessary because of the dusty, dirt roads -- hat, pants, t-shirts, long-sleeve tops and long-sleeve hoody had all been treated by the manufacturer with Permethrin, a chemical that repels not only mosquitoes, but also ticks, ants, and flies.

I’m all about clothing that looks good but also functions well. And these items (below) that I purchased online from ExOfficio as well as Insect Shield fit the bill. The ExOfficio clothing goes by the name Bugsaway. Their Kutula Tunic is a cotton shirt that’s breathable and dries quickly. Their Lumen hood is cool and airy, thanks to the mesh weave.  Insect Shield’s t-shirts -- I bought three in different bold colors -- are polyester but, again, very breathable and light. All Insect Shield items cannot be dry cleaned, a process that will remove the active ingredient. But they’re very washable, up to 70 times, which is considered the life of the product.

Most importantly, because all these items are so lightweight, I was able to travel for weeks with only a carry-on bag.

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What To Wear At A Protest March

The inauguration -- and the Women’s March on Washington -- is less than a week away. And I’ve been asked by many friends and colleagues who are attending the march what to wear and what to bring. They asked for my guidance because this is a travel question, after all. It’s estimated that some 200,000 women are flocking to DC from out of state for this all-day event. It will likely to be frigid. And then there are the security concerns, which means avoiding any large bags that warrant searches. And the security concerns go the other way also given that it’ll be hard to keep valuable safe from the masses surrounding you. Here is what I recommend wearing for this event as well as what personal items to bring. The vast majority are items I’ve reviewed over the years. You’ll see that most of the fabrics are merino wool or fleece which not only provide warmth but they both wick away sweat and remain comfortable when wet.

• Don’t bring a shoulder bag, hand bag, tote bag, messenger bag or backpack. It’s best to have something exceedingly small and flat (not bulky) that lies securely close to your body. And this bag should contain just your vitals, those items you can’t live without, such as your driver’s license, money, credit cards and other essentials. My atta-Bag fits the bill since it can be worn around your waist under your coat or jacket, or six other ways. 
• Everything else you carry, including snacks and personal items, can be placed in zippered pockets in your coat or jacket.
• Personal items should include flushable wet wipes, Bonine for possible motion sickness on the bus, lip balm, disinfecting wipes, throat lozenges, and sunscreen.  If you take medication, bring along enough for an extra day or so just in case.
• Healthy snack items: unsalted nuts, dark chocolate, low-fat string cheese, whole grain crackers, peanut butter in an individual squeeze pack (such as Justin’s).
• Bottled water that you can place in a lightweight water bottle sling holder that you drape cross body, such as those sold by Chico Bag. 
• A scarf made of merino wool, alpaca or Polar fleece

• A cap, hat or beanie that covers your ears and is made from merino wool, alpaca or Polar fleece. 
• Gloves made of merino wool ORwear a thin glove liner made and atop that wear fingerless gloves. 
• Socks made of merino wool or alpaca.  
• A base layer thermal top made of merino wool

• A base layer thermal bottom made of the synthetic Capilene or merino wool.
• Atop your base layer top, wear a wool sweater with a hoodie just in case it gets colder than expected. 
• Atop the sweat, layer both with a thin jacket that protects you from the cold and wind, and a thicker fleece jacket. Both of these should have zippers so you can vent in case you are getting overheated. And the layering option gives you plenty of options no matter how the weather changes. 
• Atop your base layer bottom, wear a pair of Polar fleece leggings or pants.

• Footwear should provide insulation and good traction, especially if it snows or becomes icy. This is my recommendation. 

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New Video: My Innovative Vest For Women

Since I travel all the time, I would hate rifling through a cluttered, disorganized shoulder bag to find the one thing I needed. It made me anxious, stressed, and like I was constantly running behind schedule. I went looking for a better bag, or a better coat that would allow me to stay organized and de-cluttered. I was saddened to find that all the things that would help me also made me look like a tourist (making me a target for con artists, pickpockets, and potentially worse), or just plain weren’t flattering. So I took matters into my own hands, and I designed a vest for travel or everyday use with ten, hidden, non-bulging pockets. It looks great, feels great, and is made of the highest quality materials. That wasn’t enough, though. I’d only solved one problem. What about those days where even a vest is too hot? Well I made a travel bag as well. This sleek, minimal design allows you access to all of your important materials right when you need them, while allowing you to stay organized and safe. Check it out this new video (below) and where you can buy one of these innovative vests.

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Gear Review: Cool Weather Skirt

For someone who loves the outdoors year round, I’m easily chilled as soon as the mercury goes below 70 F. So when the first day of fall debuted last week, I retired my thin linen tops and dresses and gauzy skirts -- though I still don sandals until I can no longer tolerate the frigid temperatures -- and stepped into a comfortable, quilted-type Tonia DeBellis skirt. It’s mostly cotton with a little polyester and Spandex, making it warm on a breezy day and form fitting, comfortable whether I’m sitting on a boulder in Central Park or strolling all over the city. It’s short -- way above my knees -- and stylish when paired with black leggings and boots, especially in New York City where a black color palette is still de rigour. Though it doesn’t pack small for my never-check-luggage philosophy, I most likely will wear it on the plane next time I head for the ski slopes where it might be my go-to skirt for lounging around the resort and walking around town.

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My Stylish + Practical Vest and Bag Combo

Have you ever been to a networking event without a bag check and wondered where you were going to leave your voluminous handbag? Or do you like to stop in wine bars as I do but you worried about draping your bag behind your chair or wondered why there are no hooks under the bar? When your cell phone rings, do you rifle through your bag, making yourself a target as you stand on a crowded sidewalk? Or do you keep your phone in your back pocket, which is hardly a secure location?

If you answered yet to any of these questions, then maybe you should think about carrying your vitals -- the things you can't live without -- in a stylish micro bag and vest. When they're worn together, there's no rifling through anything, no looking for a bag check, no worries in the wine bar. Worn together, you have the use of 10 hidden pockets in the vest (6  outside and 4 inside) and 15 pockets and slots in the micro bag. That makes a grand total of 25 pockets/slots. Do you need to use all of these? No, of course not. But at least you have options. And you'll never worry about where you left your bag. And, you'll look fashionable because, after all, who wants to look like a fly fisherman with a multi-pocket vest at a chic wine bar; or a geeky tourist wearing a bulky fanny bag/fanny pack? Think of the bag as the fanny bag antidote.

Who else would wear both or either of these two products:
students on campus
moms about town
anyone tired of neck/backache from toting a heavy bag
people in the hospitality industry
actors going on auditions

The vest is Made in American. And 10% of profits from all sales goes to She's the First, a non-profit dedicated to educating women in 11 countries.

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Why I've Partnered With This Non-Profit

When I decided to start my own company, designing innovative, creative and sometimes quirky products, I knew I wanted a percentage of my profits to go to a non-profit. I have long believed in giving back, whether it’s volunteering during a tragic event (like Hurricane Sandy) or teaching English as a second language. (In fact, I volunteered as an hospital aide all through high school.) Whatever organization I chose, it would have to be in keeping with my sensibilities. And then I stumbled upon She’s The First and immediately knew that this was the non-profit I wanted to partner up with. I’m a former educator, having taught biology on all grade levels, from fifth grade to graduate school. And I’m also all about working with women, including mentoring seniors at Barnard College, where I graduated. All of this made She’s the First perfect because tey sponsor girls’ education (on the primary and secondary school level) in 11 low-income countries all around the world, including Nepal, Guatemala and Sierra Leone. But the girls are not simply given a stipend and sent on their way. Instead, they are supported and mentored the entire way so that they can become leaders within their communities. After all, it’s well known that having girls and women that are well educated not only positively impacts the economy of the country but it slows the spread of disease, reduces maternal mortality rates, results in women delaying marriage and childbirth, allows women to better resist domestic violence, and overall breaks the cycle of poverty. Yes, an educated female populace means a world transformed for the better. Are these enough reasons to understand why I partnered with She’s The First? Yes!

Ten percent of yearly net profits from the sale of my innovative micro travel bag, multi-pocket vest, quirky plush Angry JCreature dolly, and all my other products goes to She’s The First. It’s hard to find a more worthy cause. And check out some of the enthusiastic scholars below. 

She's the First Scholars Mariama Y. K. and Afisatu pose near their homes in Sierra Leone.
(photo by Kate Lord)

She's the First Scholar Ramatulai poses at her mother's home in Sierra Leone.
(photo by Kate Lord)

She's the First Scholars Haja B., Theressa, Hawanatu, and Mafereh play on the beach in Sierra Leone. (photo by Kate Lord)

She's the First Scholar Jelikatu C. poses in her classroom in Sierra Leone.
(photo by Kate Lord)

She's the First Scholar Haja C. participates in a girls' group meeting.
(photo by Kate Lord)

Yeanoh, a She's the First Scholar in Sierra Leone, walks home from school
. (photo by Kate Lord)

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Video: Innovative Stylish + Savvy Vest for Women Travelers

I often travel the world alone, whether to far-flung lands or domestic destinations. Either way, I avoid being a target. I dress modestly, I don’t wear bling jewelry or anything gaudy and, most importantly, I don’t ever carry my vitals --  aka credit cards, passport, driver’s license, cash, cell phone, and so forth -- in a splashy designer bag. Nor do I opt for a fanny bag or other bag or pouch that labels me as a tourist. The idea is that I want something that has a minimalist silhouette and allows me to go from the boardroom to the wine bar.

That’s why I designed the Pocket Change Vest. It’s a stylish vest (it’s lined in satin) for the savvy woman. The 10 pockets -- 6 on the outside, 4 inside -- are so hidden, you’ll be the only one who knows where they are. This is a vest that’s both fashionable and practical, which is what I’m all about. No one will label you a geek when wearing the Pocket Change Vest. If you’re a financial analysis who has meetings all day in Madrid and then you want to get together with friends at night at a tapas bar, you can wear the Pocket Change Vest from day to night, whether with business attire or jeans.

In this three-minute YouTube video, awesome actor and writer India Choquette demonstrates how she uses the vest while waiting to meet a friend.

The Pocket Change Vest is Made in America. It sells for $175, and 10% of annual net profits go toward supporting the efforts of She's The First, a nonprofit that sponsors girls’ education in 11 low-income countries (including Nepal, Guatemala and Sierra Leone) with the goal of creating first-generation graduates and the next generation of global leaders. (After all, I’m a first-generation graduate of Barnard College, and a former educator.)

To find out how to get one of the few of the first-run of this limited edition Pocket Change Vest, contact me here. 

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Innovative Stylish + Savvy Travel Vest for Women

As a veteran travel writer, I have long been a fan of hands-free touring, with no bag whatsoever. What that usually means is wearing a multi-pocket vest that makes me feel like a fly fishermen, or a geeky tourist. Either way, I hardly feel ready for the runway.

That’s why I designed the Pocket Change Vest, a stylish, practical and handy garment that can take you from day to night, from the boardroom to the wine bar. With 10 hidden pockets -- 6 outside and 4 inside -- you don’t need to worry about toting along a bag of any sort, and you’ll look great too.

My inspiration for the Pocket Change Vest (and another product of mine, the atta-Bag) came from being robbed of my valuables in broad daylight in a capital city a few years ago. The thieves were able to unzip my tiny backpack, removing my credit cards, passport, cash, plane ticket and much more, leave the non-vitals behind, and re-zip it without me noticing anything.

The Pocket Change Vest fits in with my minimalism design aesthetic. It’s for the woman who wants to be safe and savvy when she’s traveling -- whether at home or in far flung lands -- without having to sacrifice stylishness.

The Pocket Change Vest is Made in America.
It sells for $175, and 10% of annual net profits go toward supporting the efforts of She's The First, a non-profit that sponsors girls’ education in 11 low-income countries (including Nepal, Guatemala and Sierra Leone) with the goal of creating first-generation graduates and the next generation of global leaders. (After all, I’m a first-generation graduate of Barnard College, and a former educator.) I couldn't be happier to partner with this inspiring organization that has made it their mission to increase the number of female graduates around the world.

This is a sneak peak of the vest. (That's awesome actor and writer India Choquette.) If you'd like to be one of the first to order the Pocket Change Vest or you'd like to find out how to get your hands on one of the few of this limited supply item, contact me here. 

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Stylish Cold Weather Jacket

I own at least a dozen fleece vests and jackets and they hardly make a fashion statement. In frigid weather, I ordinarily wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing any of ‘em to a networking meeting in New York City. But in Manhattan, where the temperatures have plummeted,  I’ve been wearing a stylish plum-hued fleece jacket when attending a variety of networking events in the film and entertainment industry. I paired my Sweetwater Fleece Jacket manufactured by Stio -- a Jackson Hole, Wyoming company that I’ve blogged about recently  -- with a variety of different Merino wool sweater dresses. Not only was I toasty warm when I stepped outside, but once I was inside, numerous women approached me to comment on my jacket: they loved the vibrant color and the feminine silhouette. As we chatted about indie films, female protagonists and directors, and getting comedy scripts produced, at least half a dozen people wanted to know who produced this stylish but functional piece of clothing. And, once I told them it was Made in America, they seriously intended to check out Stio’s website. 

Fashion aside, this jacket performed perfectly when I went cross country skiing, keeping me warm without overheating. And the high collar kept out brisk winds when I zipped downhill. 

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Gear Review: Fashionable + Functional Winter Wear

It seems like every year when the first colorful blossoms appear on the trees in New York City -- and I don’t mean this winter when unseasonably warm weather tricked many plants to unexpectedly and inappropriately bloom -- in the spring, someone in my neighborhood will ask  if I lost a ton of weight. The answer is always “no,” (I’m as tiny as I’ve always been.) But the question arises because all winter long I’m wearing bulky clothing that keeps me toasty but makes my 104-pound frame look about 50 pounds heavier, until I shed the clothes at the first sign of a warm breeze. Those days are now over, thanks to some very cool clothing manufactured by Stio, a Jackson Hole, Wyoming company.  

As a cross country skier, snowshoer, and winter hiker and walker, whether on a trail or on city streets, I want outerwear that performs well when I’m active, giving me the warmth I crave but without sacrificing style. In fact, it’s not unusual for people to come up to me when I’m waiting on line or sitting in a cafe or coffee shop to ask me where I got the (Stio) sweater, jacket or vest. Some even ask to feel it because each item -- especially the jacket and vest -- looks (and feels) oh-so-soft.

The three items you see pictured below can be paired up, all worn together or separately. And each provides warmth without bulk. The Idyll Hooded Sweater is made of 100% Merino wool in a fashionable tunic style, making it work well whether I’m cross country skiing or lounging beside a roaring fire with a glass of wine at mountain lodge. (It looks good with jeans, leggings, polar fleece tights, sweater dresses or merino wool skirts.)

The grey-hued Lofted Sky Insulated Jacket is stuffed with PrimaLoft, a synthetic insulator that’s light, breathable and packs small -- something I value because I never check luggage. I’ve worn it in a freezing rain and found it to be water resistant and quick drying. You can put glove liners, for example, in an inside stash pocket. (The interior teal color is quite striking.)

The Marsten Down Vest is packed with HyperDry Water Resistant Down so that even though I was stuck in a freezing rainstorm, I was dry and warm. (The vest’s down hoodie and deep pockets protected my head, neck and hands from the elements.) And, the vest was quick drying once I found shelter. For Nordic skiing, depending on the temperatures, I like pairing the vest with a Smart Wool or Icebreaker Merino wool long-sleeve sweater. Like with the Ofted Sky Insulated Jacket, this article of clothing is very compressible. In fact, when flying recently, I brought along a small pillowcase that I stuffed the vest into, making a very comfy pillow. These three pieces of clothing are now my go-to winter wear items.

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What Not To Wear On The Plane

When you're trapped in a plane for anywhere from a few hours to having to cross multiple time zones, you're a captive, in a sense. And the clothes you chose for the flight had better keep you warm and comfortable and, sometimes more importantly, not attract unwanted attention.

That means no beach wear: no low-cut revealing tops, no shorts (it's often cold in the cabin and don't assume the flight attendants will provide a blanket). No shirts with offensive words or phrases that could stimulate an air rage incident. No sky-high heels that are uncomfortable and impractical in the cabin. (And no shoes that require untying/unbuckling anything.) No tight pants. Not only is this uncomfortable as you try to curl up in your seat over the next many hours, but even young people wearing tight pants could be at an increased risk of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis).

This is an example of what I'll be wearing on my next flight -- I'm heading to Paris: 

 Notice, my slip-on shoes are cute but flat. These are Chaco Mary Janes.

My socks are made of Merino wool by SmartWool. (No chance of getting blisters once I land and hit the road. And, on the plane, the socks are breathable, wickable and comfortable.)

The loose-fitting pants are made of a synthetic that's light, breathable and doesn't wrinkle. When I'm not wearing this sort of pants, I opt for black leggings and a comfortable, simple black dress, made, of course, of Merino wool by SmartWool.

The long-sleeve shirt is Merino wool by SmartWool, so it adapts to different temperatures, wicks away sweat, and is ultra comfortable.

Under my shirt I wear a stretchy tank top that's also breathable.

I'm wearing a part synthetic/part light cotton infinity scarf that can do double or triple duty also as a head or shoulder covering. (It works in lieu of a hoody, so I can pull it over my head when I go to sleep on the plane.)

The long cardigan is by ExOfficio and is made of a comfy polar fleece-type synthetic that, like with the shirt, keeps me warm in frigid cabin. As a worst case scenario, I can take it off and roll it up as a neck or back rest. (It doesn't wrinkle either.)

Since, as you probably already know, I never check luggage, these items of clothing allow me to dress up or down once I've reached my destination. I can wear the tank top at the beach or under a sundress that needs some extra coverage. The black long-sleeve Merino wool shirt pairs well with a skirt or a sleeveless dress (if it's chilly). The scarf is especially useful if I'll be visiting religious sites but also if it's breezy.

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My New Product Line: JCreatures® - T-Shirts With Attitude

Anyone you follows me on Twitter or Instagram knows that my handle is JCreature Travel. But the JCreature is not just part of my social media presence. I'm very excited and happy to have found such as awesome actor,India Choquette for my photo shoot featuring my new product line: JCreatures® - T-Shirts With Attitude. These American Apparel silkscreened shirts are oh-so-soft (100% fine Jersey cotton), featuring different colors on each short-sleeve as well as a different colored pocket. Perfect as a Pajama-Tee or Beach Cover-up for kids or adults who are kids at heart. They are available in two color tones: pastel or vibrant + bold. (Notice that little pink creature? She will be go sale later in the year.)

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