Style Tips: Prepping for the “School Year” Ahead

Okay, gals. It’s almost October (where did the time go?!) and if you’re like me, you’re still in the midst of a summer vacation haze.

The weekends go by too fast, and it is (still) very, very difficult to get the kids to school on time. Even if they wake up before 6am. And getting to work on time? That may end up being a 2016 resolution.

Stop lashing yourself and read this guide to getting dressed in the morning. No matter how many little or big humans are trying to sabotage your “out the door” exit plan, this will save you at least ten minutes of precious time in the A.M.

Tip #1: Plan your outfit the night before. This is akin to laying out your kids’ clothes for school the next day. It works, if you have the time and wherewithal — and headspace — to style yourself in advance of the day ahead. Try to make this a priority.

Tip #2: Pick something dark. At HEUCY, we are big fans of black, gray and other dark shades that effectively camouflage wear, tear and stains. You dropped your latte all over your chest this morning? Just be happy you didn’t burn yourself, and move past it. Our organic jersey fabric is great for wiping off an unwanted mess. Choose bright accessories (tangerine kitten heels, an emerald green handbag or a bright red lip) to add a punch of color and personality.  Our HEUCY Gals Erika, Kate and Andy — all of whom have very busy work and social schedules — demonstrate how dark can work for Fall.

Tip #3: Layer! It’s that time of year. Cold one minute, but once the sun hits you and you’re locked between tall buildings, you’re sweating. Scarves, light jackets and cardigans are October necessities. Blogger Grace Atwood (thestripe.com) paired her HEUCY with a fabulous Burberry trench. A great choice when the temps start to fall below 70.

Tip #4: Invest in a comfortable jumpsuit. We love ours (natch) but there are lots of high and low options out there. HEUCY’s version is made of soft cotton and it works well in meetings with adults and children…so you’re covered, literally and figuratively, no matter what your job for the day may be.

Tip #5: Love thyself. This is the time of year when we are jarred into juggling work meetings, scheduling play dates, somehow making time for our partners…all things that should give us joy, but become sources of stress. So if you forgot about the coffee date with your best friend, don’t beat yourself up. Or you were late for a meeting with your boss? Again, it happens. You fed your child birthday cake for breakfast because you didn’t have anything else in the fridge? He’ll live. (For the record, I fed myself birthday cake this morning and it was delicious.  YOLO). We’re all human, and Fall is one of the best seasons ever. Enjoy it. And pair your enjoyment with some chic, sustainable and comfy clothes. Because you deserve to look and feel your best.

xx,
The HEUCY Team

Travel Guide: An American in Paris

If we asked you to name the most romantic getaway in the world, many of you would probably say it’s Paris.  Yes, it is quite romantic.  But, we’ve learned that it’s just as fun to jet over to the City of Lights with a group of old friends, and leave your man at home to take care of the kids and pets!  HEUCY Gal Veronica recently visited lovely Paris with some college friends, XX years after living there as a student.  What did she take with her?  A suitcase full of HEUCY and plenty of joie de vivre!  Here are Veronica’s recommendations for the perfect short jaunt across the pond, to one of the most beautiful and memorable cities in the world.

1. What to pack…

According to Veronica, “the French know effortless style.  HEUCY fits right in there.”

—HEUCY dresses and jumpsuits can easily get you through a 4 or 5 day trip.  Added (major) bonus: jersey doesn’t really wrinkle, so it looks good after a long flight.  And it’s perfect for an unpredictable climate, where lots of layering is involved.  In this photo, Veronica’s friend Saya is wearing the Weekender, and Veronica (right) is in the black Perfect Ten.

2. What to see…

Paris is a city where you can pack every minute of every hour with museum visits and sightseeing, but don’t overlook the simple treasures that line the streets.  We don’t know if it’s Veronica’s camera, or the fact that in Paris everything just looks better than it does here!  Regardless, walking around and looking (and eating and drinking, of course) can be your activity for the day…and the day after that.

3. Food…

—Septime was Veronica’s favorite restaurant.  Other fabulous places to eat include:

—Pirouette

—Buvette

—Caillebotte

4. Where to Stay…

–“We stayed in an adorable boutique hotel on the Rive Gauche called Le Signature”

5. When to go…

–Now! Or whenever you can fit it into your schedule.

Happy travels, HEUCY Gals.

xx,

The HEUCY Team

Spring Is Here…But, How Do I Dress For It?

The temps are rising in NYC and across the U.S.  Hurray!  It’s about time.  But now I have a quandary that you all may share: how do you dress when it’s still chilly enough for a jacket, but not cold enough for a puffy coat?  And, when you’re ready to show off a cute new outfit?

Grace Atwood shows us how, today on thestripe.com, one of HEUCY’s favorite fashion/lifestyle blogs.  Here she models HEUCY’s feather print Alter Ego jumpsuit on the street, with a classic Burberry trench coat, a simple black clutch (with straps for later) and — we love this — emerald green heels!  Tres chic.  Practical and stylish with a pop of color.

Stay tuned for more Spring dressing tips from some of our favorite tastemakers.  Until then, enjoy the sunshine!

xx,

Team HEUCY

A Case of the Mondays…and Why We Should Play

It’s Monday, and some of us are getting back to work after a spring vacation. It’s amazing how refreshed you can feel in a Panama hat and a HEUCY Alter Ego jumpsuit…and then reality sets in as the week begins. My kids were so excited to get back to school and, full disclosure, I was pretty excited to get them back too!

As I watched my daughter spend several minutes picking out her outfit and accessories, and literally skip to school…it made me think. When did I become so un-excited about returning to my routine? Why was I not running to the mailbox to pay the bills that awaited me? Why was I not dancing through the front doors of my doctor’s office for my annual physical exam? I laughed at all of the #caseofthemondays posts on Instagram today…but it made me kind of pensive, too. When did we (or I, sorry to pull you into this) lose that sense of joy that children have?

Fortunately, some very qualified people have also looked into this topic – specifically, the idea of play and its importance during childhood and beyond. Sometimes we work too much – or we think too much about working. Or, worst of all, we worry too much about basically everything. This has repercussions beyond just being sort of unhappy – it can actually affect your health.

Which brings me to a TED talk you must listen to when you have a chance. According to Dr. Stuart Brown, we actually need to play as adults. For sharp minds and healthy hearts. And lucky for you, HEUCY’s eco-friendly jersey fabric is the perfect material for work and play. And everything in between.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

xx,

The HEUCY Team

Amanda Freeman, HEUCY Gal Du Jour, in Indigo…

As you probably know, HEUCY is sort of obsessed with our customers.  The HEUCY Gals who wear our clothes inspire us — and our designs — every single day.  So in addition to photographing some of these amazing gals, we wanted to share their “everyday” tips and thoughts.  Below are a few from successful entrepreneur Amanda Freeman, the owner of SLT NYC.  Beware, Amanda’s favorite vacation spot makes us want to rob a bank and get out West…fast!  Enjoy.

AMANDA’S FAVORITE VACATION SPOT:

Hmm…I love travel, so it’s hard to pick one favorite…guess it would have to be this amazing hotel in the middle of nowhere in Utah called Amangiri. I’m actually shocked I just picked that because it’s nowhere near the beach (which I love, love, love). However, it’s one of the most stunning settings I’ve ever seen in my life. The canyon vistas are so amazing, they look fake. You can hike, rock climb (so scary), take a boat ride on a nearby lake, lounge by the pool and indulge in spa treatments. If it wasn’t so difficult to get to, it would be crazy expensive and always booked.

FAVORITE FOOD:

Another tough one…I guess I’d have to say chocolate. Dark chocolate bars, molten chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies…pretty much anything with chocolate in it.

CURRENTLY READING…

It’s taking me forever, but I’m determined to finish it…The Goldfinch. It came very highly recommended, took me some time to get into, but I’m very curious how it ends. It’s a giant book and I am almost there.

FAVORITE HEUCY OUTFIT (HAD TO ASK):

That’s a tie between The Weekender and The Alter Ego…both so cute and comfy.

IF I HAD TWENTY FREE MINUTES RIGHT NOW, I WOULD…

It’s March Madness time and I’m a big college basketball fan (Go Duke!), so I’d have to say watch basketball or SportsCenter.

And how fitting, the Indigo Weekender is blue…perfect for watching the Duke Blue Devils.  Have a great weekend, friends! TGIF.

xx,

The HEUCY Team

Monday’s Musing…on a Tuesday

A few months back, we were obsessing over Carrie Mathison’s choice of accessories. A cross-body bag didn’t seem like the smartest choice for a CIA operative in Pakistan, especially when she’s being chased by bad guys. But we’ve let that go, as we’ve noticed how fabulous a cross-body bag would look with our Nordic Spring styles. Once again, Carrie, you were right.

Alas, we have to wait many months to see how Carrie’s wardrobe choices and love life evolves. Fortunately, House of Cards is now available on Netflix! We can throw down our books and binge watch five episodes at a time, as one is meant to do, regardless of wake-up time and other more serious obligations.

And as we watch House of Cards, we can’t help but analyze Claire Underwood’s wardrobe. If anyone has a uniform, it’s this first lady. Claire is much more high fashion than Carrie, natch (no pant suits in sight)…but her style also lacks a comfort that could benefit the busy days and nights of WOPOTUS. Maybe Claire wouldn’t be so darn mean and conniving if she weren’t packed into a tight, unforgiving pencil skirt?  Perhaps the scheming would stop, or lessen a bit, if Claire was wearing the Alter Ego jumpsuit and daydreaming about her more innocent days as a Harvard undergrad?

We can see that Claire loves a very well-tailored garment, and that won’t change. But with all that back-stabbing, manipulation, running around the Capitol and – literally — running…we think Claire should incorporate some HEUCY sustainable jersey into her life. It would accommodate her active lifestyle much better than those stiff dresses and tight blazers. And we think the environmental lobbyists would go crazy over her eco-friendly fashion.

Here are our top 5 picks for Claire, just in time for Spring and the cherry trees abloom.

The Date Night in feather print. Lots of allusions to eggs and feathers in episode 2. Again, we won’t go there…but we do think the print would look FAB on Claire and could be perfect if she decides to escape D.C. again to visit an old amour. This dress is so easy to pack and it doesn’t wrinkle. (Remember, last time, she didn’t even change clothes. This could fit into her Celine bag).

The Alter Ego in gray bamboo microstripe. Gray is such a House of Cards color…and this jumpsuit is perfect for lounging on the White House couch, lobbying senators for that coveted UN appointment.

The Weekender in Indigo. We can’t wait to release this style very soon (stay tuned). Once campaigning starts, Claire will need this dress. She’s obviously very disciplined about what she eats…but chicken wings and donuts are part of the job when want red state votes. (I come from one, so I’m not judging). A little looser fabric around the middle can’t hurt when the photo-op snacking starts. Sorry, Claire. But it must be done for the sake of the country.

The Problem Solver. This dress is great for women like Claire, who love to run and who always have problems that need solving. She could throw this on after a jog around the Mall, and quickly pop into Hector Mendoza’s office to tell him what she really thinks.   A “hothead”, Mr. Mendoza, would not wear a cool dress like this.

The Burnout. We haven’t finished Season 3 yet (don’t tell us the ending!), so we’re still placing bets on what happens. I’m thinking Claire finally has a crisis of conscience and she decides to run off to the Greek Isles with her ex-amour, the cute photographer.  A Mediterranean diet and lots of sunshine could do her a world of good.

Which leads to a spin-off…the photog is actually a CIA Operative who has had a fling with Carrie Mathison. A Claire/Carrie face-off would be phenomenal, don’t you think?  In jersey, of course.

xx,

The HEUCY Team

Spotlight On: Butter…

We recently chatted with the lovely Chay Wike, founder of chayonline.com and one of our fave blogs (in addition to ours, of course), Chaybutter.com.

Chay curates very cool and organic types of items, including clothing, tea and fragrance, for sale on chayonline.com.  The assortment will make you wonder why you haven’t moved to LA yet.  Especially if you’re like us, and you’re braving the bitter cold right now and looking out your window to see snow…and more snow…and more gray sky.  And cursing that ground hog.  We’re also vibing on LA after seeing how hot Malin Akerman looked in the HEUCY Alter Ego jumpsuit.

Anyhoo, one of our favorite parts of Chay’s site is Butter, where Chay posts “Kitchen Visits” she has filmed with all sorts of people, known and unknown.  The premise behind the “Kitchen Visits” was Chay’s desire to show people in their own environments, cooking good, delicious food and sharing recipes that are easy to make.

I won’t lie.  We were disheartened at first to see that model Kirsty Hume uses butter…actually, more butter than you would ever imagine…to cook.  She’s one of those models who actually, really does eat whatever she wants.  But, alas, Kirsty’s recipe for butter roasted chicken and mixed greens with shallots, figs and goat cheese is simple to execute and it’s seriously delicious.  The perfect dish for a cold winter night.

Chay’s recipe box includes some killer cocktail recipes.  And to balance it all out, Chay recently posted a kitchen visit with Amanda Chantal Bacon, the owner of Moon Juice Shop and there’s a bone broth recipe, too.  (Okay, we don’t really do trends…but the broth “trend” is useful and good for you).

Our other favorite thing about Chay’s site: daily horoscopes from the AstroTwins.  Mine says that efficiency is the word of the day today, so I gotta run.  Until our next post, check out Chay’s site and imagine yourself somewhere in Cali, wearing HEUCY jersey, drinking a citrus tequila cocktail.  Or something like that.

xx,

The HEUCY Team

Our Super Bowl Top Five

Having worked in advertising in a past life, it’s difficult for me to think of the Super Bowl without imagining countless hours of writing and re-writing TV commercials for what ends up to be a very tough audience.  People watching the Super Bowl are usually slightly drunk, slightly tired and/or slightly annoyed (read: non-Patriots fans).  And some people watching may have very high expectations for the game and the 30-second spots in between plays.  I’m happy to say, I was pretty entertained by this year’s roster of spots.  Especially the following (which are still fun to watch, even post-game):

Pick #1: Toyota’s “How Great I Am” shows Paralympian Amy Purdy doing things many of us still don’t know how to do (running, snowboarding, salsa dancing, looking hot in a snow suit)…and the Muhammed Ali narration is also pretty inspiring.  Does it make me want to buy a Camry?  Not sure.  Does it make me feel lazy?  Yes.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-commercials/0ap3000000466814/Toyota-How-Great-I-Am

Pick #2: Mindy Kaling “Invisible Mindy” for Nationwide Insurance.  We have all had moments when we feel like we’re invisible, and this ad makes it feel fun instead of completely demoralizing.  HEUCY loves a funny gal and Mindy is obviously no exception.  If only she had been wearing an Alter Ego jumpsuit…

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-commercials/0ap3000000466709/Nationwide-Insurance-JTN-Invisible-Mindy

Pick #3: Budweiser “Lost Dog”.  I hate to admit it, but the acoustic rendition of The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” juxtaposed next to the cutest labrador puppy EVER…brought tears to my eyes.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-commercials/0ap3000000466706/Budweiser-Lost-Dog

Pick #4: Esurance “Sorta Mom” featuring Lindsay Lohan.  We loved the witty take on demographic stats (wait…is Lindsay Lohan really around the same age as some moms out there?  Does that mean I’m really old?) and the punch line is funny.  If this is the last thing Lindsay does in her career, at least she’ll get some nice commercial residuals.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-commercials/0ap3000000466627/Esurance-Sorta-Mom

Pick #5: Always #LikeAGirl shows us how important it is to instill confidence and self-esteem among the young girls in our lives.  So “run like a girl” means “run as fast as you can.”  Word.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-commercials/0ap3000000466651/Procter-and-Gamble-Like-a-Girl

xx,

The HEUCY Team

A Party in a Box…Literally! You’ll Love This, We Promise.

Winter isn’t really a time you think of celebrating a lot…it’s cold, we’re dodging real and imaginary blizzards, we are wearing skull caps and amorphous, puffy outerwear. But, in fact, a lot of reasons to throw a party are coming up quite soon. Super Bowl Sunday! Valentine’s Day! St. Paddy’s Day! Derby Day! And then Summer…which is one big reason to party.

Well, fortunately we recently met two of our new favorite HEUCY Gals, Seri Kertzner and Michelle Bachman, who are the masterminds behind Little Miss Party Planner. Seri and Michelle became friends while working at J. Crew, and soon discovered they both had a passion – and a talent – for creating incredibly memorable and fun events that aren’t that difficult to pull off. After endless discussion regarding parties they had planned for themselves and for friends on the side, Seri and Michelle realized it was time to leave their corporate jobs to start their second act: Little Miss Party Planner.

We love these gals because they are fun, smart, creative and bold…and they look darn good in HEUCY! Seri is rocking the Problem Solver and Michelle is owning the Alter Ego jumpsuit in these great photos by Raquel Langworthy of Raquel Bianca Creative. 

We also love Seri and Michelle because they just launched the most wonderful thing ever for a person who likes to entertain, but who probably doesn’t have a lot of time to plan and prepare. Sound familiar?

The product is called “Little Miss Party in a Box” and it’s brilliant. The Valentine’s Day version (Little Miss Valentine’s Day Party) has everything you would need for a party of twelve…whether it consists of children, adults or a little of both. The box includes thoughtfully curated items such as birch wood forks with hand-printed gold hearts, bamboo cupcake toppers with red glittery lips, clear glass vases and pale pink honeycomb paper flowers. In addition to the right amount of super-cute cups, straws, napkins and plates. So whoever comes to your party will think, She’s got it all together. Even if you arrived just a few minutes before they did.

And the “Little Miss Birthday Party in a Box” includes similarly crafty and cool items, as well as the LMP Party Blueprint with suggested set up and styling tips. Finally, a pro’s list to help you cut through the chaos and just plan a party. Simply and successfully.

Cheers to Seri and Michelle! And thank goodness for the Party in a Box…which is just a click of a mouse away.

Xx,

The HEUCY Team

Kicking Off A Week of Giving Thanks…

We’re thankful for so much here at HEUCY.  Our families, friends, HEUCY Gals and Dudes like you all, a successful launch…and — now, more than ever — we are really thankful for partners like our factory owner Susan, without whom we wouldn’t be able to provide jumpsuits and dresses for waiting customers!

This week, in addition to rounding out #Movember, we’re going to highlight specific people and places and things that we’re thankful to have in our lives.  (Spoiler alert: this includes food delivery).  So for starters, here’s to Susan.  She’s a mom, a business owner and a pretty cool chick who can rock the #AlterEgo jumpsuit like the best of them.

xx,

The HEUCY Team