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| Photo: Stacy, Out 2 Lunch, LLC |
Although it has been over 90 degrees for the past few weeks,
and I would like nothing more than to spend my days at the beach and the pool,
we all must admit at some point that Back to School time is here. If you read
Christine’s last blog post , you know that Pantone has released their Fall 2016
color palette; stores are stocking up on school supplies and pumpkins; my fall
loving friends are dreaming of apples and pumpkin spice. As a native of Western New York, I fondly
look back on the cool crispness of fall mornings, the changing leaves, the
fresh pressed apple cider at Sanger Farms and peaches from Tom Tower’s Farm that
signaled it was time to go back to school. Here in the south, it is without a
doubt still summer when our children return to school. Some of our friends in NC attend year round
school, which means that they begin a new school year just after Independence Day,
other schools across the Southeast begin between mid August and just after
Labor Day. Regardless of start date,
southern children often transition directly from swimwear and sandals to school
clothes – with plenty of beach and pool trips on the weekends.
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| Hair Bows: Out 2 Lunch; Photo: Stacy, Out 2 Lunch |
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Whether Back to School means fall weather or an extension of
summer, everyone enjoys the chance to purchase back to school clothes and
school supplies. And as more schools (both public and private) have added
uniforms, accessorizing becomes a great way for children of all ages to express
their personalities. Both Christine and myself
have children that are full of personality and attend schools that require
uniforms. This makes our Out 2 Lunch accessories the perfect way for all of
their friends to express their styles.
Children, like our products, are truly one of a kind.
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| Choosing Fabrics.... | | | |
When I decided to blog about Back to School fashions, I must have felt like fall was further away
than it is was. I decided that moving,
finding new schools, and running a business wasn’t busy enough, and I added a
little extra challenge to this project.
I put a call out to my children and their friends (ranging from rising
Kindergarten to 5th grade) and asked them to participate in a Back
to School photo shoot – that part was easy enough, we had plenty of adorable
models step into the limelight. From there I upped the ante a bit – I told the
parents that I wanted each child’s clothing to reflect their personality, they
could wear uniforms or not, and I would create accessories to compliment both
the colors and their styles. My young models came through with flying colors –
their personalities shine through, and I had a great time creating for some of
my favorite people.
Below I will feature our products that are most commonly
used as school accessories. For those of
you that are new to Out 2 Lunch I will also be giving a brief description of
each item and its name. When we began
our business, we wanted to create accessories that would bring a modern twist
to any “out to lunch” wardrobe (hence the name….) ranging from a formal garden
party, to a casual picnic, to lunch out with friends. As we developed new products
we named them after some of our favorite southern luncheon staples – items
whose traits are reflected in the products.
I hope that you enjoy and can find some accessories that are useful and
bring personality to your childrens’ back to school wardrobe!
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Hair Pin, Hair Bow and Organizer: Out 2 Lunch, LLC |
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| Photo: Stacy, Out 2 Lunch, LLC |
Fried Pickle (Tie Wallet) – Like one of our favorite
appetizers, these little guys aren’t fancy or elaborate. They are functional with a twist of fun. There is some variation to the dimensions of
these tie wallets, as there is variation in neckties. Each wallet
comfortably fits several standard size credit/gift cards, and secures with a
snap closure. These little wallets are
perfect for holding earbuds, so that they do not tangle in backpacks and
purses. For older students, they are
also perfect for carrying flash drives and student ID cards.
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| Organizers and Bows: Out 2 Lunch |
Sweet Tea (Snap Pocket Organizer) - The most versatile
carry-anything soft pocket you'll find! This one will show up everywhere! With
its cute envelope styling, you can pack it full of sunglasses, make-up, art
supplies, or use it as a pencil case! Just throw it in your backpack and you are
ready for homework anywhere. It's even cute and stylish enough to just grab
and go!
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| Hair Pin and Purse: Out 2 Lunch |
Lemonade (Denim Purse) - Comfortable and easy as your
favorite old jeans - oh wait, they practically are! These denim
"jeans" bags are cute, fun, relaxed and in the smaller sizes they are
perfect for any age. Each has its dimensions listed on the website, has a
magnetic snap closure. They are perfect
for an afternoon at the mall, and hardy enough to be carried in your backpack
during the day.
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| Bow and Organizer: Out 2 Lunch, LLC |
Divinity (Hair Bow) - Delightful, fun, and a little
"nutty"; these hair clip bows bring a vintage twist to an
everyday classic. Bows vary in size. Each is created on a covered
alligator clip, and includes a piece of vintage jewelry as accent. There's
something for everyone- all ages and
hair-styles - to love! Simply
divine!
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| Hair Pin: Out 2 Lunch, LLC |
Praline (Hair Pin) - Fancy and everyday at the same time,
these hair pins can dress up your day to day and add sparkle to any formal
occasion as well. A perfect accent to short hair or a
dramatic updo!!
These products can be found for sale on our website (www.out2lunchdesigns.com) and are
also featured on out Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. If you are looking for
a specific color group or style, please email us at out2lunch@out2lunchdesigns.com. We can only feature a limited number of
products on our website, as each is one of a kind, but we have a back stock and
can help you find what you are looking for! In addition, the Fried Pickle and
Sweet Tea will be on sale – 20% off!! - through the end of August.
I'd like to close with a special thanks to all my models, and their parents, that braved 90 degree temps, and what felt like 90% humidity. I couldn't have done it without you, thanks for letting your personality shine through! You can see more of them on our website and instagram!
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| Sophia: Gr 1, Lily and Louisa: Gr 2 |
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| Evelyn: Kindergarten |
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| Ava and Clara: Gr 4, Makayla Gr 5 |
What to do with family heirlooms, particularly jewelry, always seems to be a tricky topic. So often grandma's jewelry gets passed down to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that truly want to have a memento to remember their loved one, but they just don't know what to do with it. Sometimes grandma had a very different build or style and the pieces just don't look right on the recipient, sometimes they are so dated they don't fit with anyone in the family, and sometimes there's a beautiful piece that has some damage that makes it unwearable.
Some pieces are an easy DIY project, you can alter them yourself in a non-permanent way. I received a set of blue ceramic beads, to which I added a vintage enamel brooch - it made the perfect July 4th accessory.
Christine has a collection of vintage milk glass and metal necklaces that she has knotted off and wears for a modern, casual look. Rather than buying "new" accessories, check out some local thrift and antique shops, or search around on e-bay, etsy, and poshmark for fun vintage finds. You never know what's out there just waiting to be found!
This can also be a popular wedding option. For a few years, the "brooch bouquets" we're popular. Though beautiful, they were often very heavy and not useful for anything but decor afterwards. We are now offering the chance to create a wedding keepsake you will use for years!
Incorporate family jewelry as the "something old" on a clutch for the bride, create a set for the bride and her mother, or create a bridesmaids set - using your jewelry or ours. Our design style and attention to detail will help you to create a keepsake that will be treasured for years.
