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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Gear Review: Lightweight + Organic Cotton Tunic

When I pack for a trip, I want clothes that are lightweight, perform well and look good. Anything to do with sustainability would be a bonus. So I’m happy to have just discovered Aventura Clothing

http://www.aventuraclothing.com/. Their ethic is revolves around using cotton that’s organically farmed and doing as much as possible to reduce their carbon footprint. I recently tried their Newberry shirt, a comfortable flannel fabric that’s actually a tunic, and one that pairs well with a pair of leggings. (It’s 100% organic cotton.) This works well as a practical outfit on the plane. If it gets too warm, you can roll up  the sleeves, fastening them with the buttoned tabs. And, though many women may wear their male partner’s flannel shirt around the house, this tunic has a feminine silhouette, complete with decorative buttons on the back.

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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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How To Travel For A Week With Only A Small Carry-On Bag

Iceland is one of my specialties: I travel there about once a year and have been since before the country suffered that infamous bankruptcy in 2008. I usually fly Icelandair but recently I traveled on WOW air, a budget airline flying from Newark Airport in New Jersey non-stop to Reykjavik. The downside of budget airlines is the carry-on allowance. Since I don’t ever check luggage, this meant I had to find a bag that was no bigger than 17” x 13” x 10” and weighed no more than 22 pounds. The small backpack you see below is what I used to pack everything I’d need for a week.

There are many tricks to packing this small and light:

• I wear clothes with lots of pockets, including the chic and practical Pocket-Change Vest that I designed -- it has 10 hidden pockets.
• In addition, I wear clothes in one or two color, usually black and some other neutral color, so there’s lots of mixing and matching.
• I wear my heaviest dress, sweat and jacket/coat on the plane
• I pack thin dresses, tops and skirts in Merino wool, such as those sold by SmartWool, Icebreaker and Title Nine.
• I don’t carry much in the way of toiletries and, those I do bring, include travel or sample-sizes, as well as small leaves/papers impregnated with shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Even the deodorant is tinier than you’d find in the travel size aisle of the drugstore.

• I only travel with two pair of shoes: I wear the heaviest on the plane and pack the other pair, usually a slim Mary Jane style.

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Gear Review: Convertible Hat

With carry-on luggage rules tightening on those who buy economy tickets, there are even more reasons to pack gear that serves dual or more functions. This item doubles as a hat and a neck warmer or buff, as I often call that. The drawstring allows for venting and the polyester fabric is wickable, useful when you’re engaged in vigorous activities like cross country skiing or hiking in the winter. This product is made by Chaos, a company I recently blogged about and one that carries a wide array of hats for all occasions and activities. 

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High Performance Socks For All Activities

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you probably have concluded that Merino wool is my go-to fabric, whether for underwear or dresses. Of course, I've long relied on Merino wool socks for all my adventures, including cycling, Nordic skiing and hiking. And this includes summer treks, because unlike what most people may believe, this fabric is great at keeping feet cool and comfortable, wicking away sweat effectively. But some Merino wool socks work better than others. I just found out about Feetures, a family-owned U.S.-based company that provides a lifetime guarantee. Their Elite brand combines the wool with rayon from bamboo, making for an ultra soft texture. The socks have no uncomfortable seams at the toe. I've been wearing several pair over the past few weeks for all sorts of activities, in the heat and cold, in dry weather where I've been working up a sweat, and in the rain. Through all of that, my feet were blister free, comfortable, and dry. (Normally my feet and socks are a sweaty mess, which encourages blister formation.) I also was pleased with the fit that hugged my foot and even exerted a little compression on the arch, which enhanced my comfort when walking and hiking. So, now Feetures will be my go-to sock. I'm packing several pair in my bag for my upcoming biking trip in South Africa.

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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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Gear Review: Foldable, Sun-Protective Cap

Often I find myself not packing a brimmed cap because it doesn’t fit in my ultra tiny carry-on bag. But that changed when I found out about the Summit Air Cap. Not only is this polyester cap light, but it folds into slightly bigger than palm-size. I brought the Summit Air along on my most recent trip to Antigua where I hiked mostly arid trails with little shade. The cap comes with a sunprotection factor (UPF) 50+, a soft, wickable sweatband and excellent breathability, thanks to the full mesh fabric on the crown. Despite the sun and heat (it was high in the 80s F), I felt cool and comfortable. (When the trail wove deep into the shade, I simply stashed the cap in my back pocket.) Even better, the fabric is manufactured from recycled coffee grounds (S. Cafe fabric) making it eco-friendly. The company, Chaos Hats, manufactures other foldable hats (even a fedora) as well as non-foldable but fashionable and sun-protective Panama, wide brim and straw hats. 

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My Upcoming Travel Product Launch Party in New York City

I'm so excited to be holding my product launch party on Saturday, May 14th at the best poké restaurant -- it's Hawaiian-style raw fish salad -- in New York City.

I'll be selling all six of my products: any-occasion photo greeting cards, Doc-in-a-Bag (unique first-aid kit organizer), AngryJ plush doll + t-shirts, and the first two items in my clothing and accessories collection for travelers: a stylish multi-pocket vest for women, and a unisex 7-in-1 micro travel bag.

And 10% of net profits from all my products, goes to She’s the First, a non-profit that sponsors girls’ education (on the primary and secondary school level) in 11 low-income countries all around the world, including Nepal, Guatemala and Sierra Leone.

If you're in NYC, I'd love to see you. Otherwise, you can purchase all my products online. 

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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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