Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Lands' End new Ponte School Uniform items- knit skort and blouse, a Review #Sponsored

I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.
(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

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Girls' Button-front Ponté Skort - Classic Navy, 10
Girls' Button-front Ponté Skort
Loyal readers of this blog know that I'm a huge fan of skorts  for young ladies. I am also a huge fan of Lands' end ponté. So when I learned that they had a new ponté skort this fall, I was excited for my daughter to try the School Uniform Girls' Button-front Ponté Skort.
I love that the ponté knit is machine washable, and holds its color. It is made from 74% polyester/22% rayon/4% spandex. It is offered in classic navy or khaki and has hidden knit shorts for coverage underneath.  It has a simple elastic waistband and the length of the skirt hits "above the knee".  It comes in little girls sizes 4-7 and big girl sizes 7-16 and retails for $32.

If you prefer a pleated skirt, check out the other new ponté item, the School Uniform Girls' Pleated Ponté Skirt or the School Uniform Girls' Ponté Pleated Jumper.




(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

The skirt pairs nicely with a classic, crisp blouse. This Girls' Short Sleeve Peter Pan Broadcloth Blouse contains a bit of shaping so it's not boxy, and it has the more feminine peter pan style collar. This blouses can work alone or under a jumper. Layer a sweater over top to get the most use from a short sleeve blouse year round. Add a coordinating crisscross tie, even if it is not required as part of the uniform dress code.  It adds a finished look. 

The blouse is machine washable.  Because it resists wrinkles, you can get away without ironing if you grab it straight from the dryer, otherwise, it needs only a light touch up with the iron. The other feature important to uniform kids is that it is long enough in length to tuck in, and stay tucked in.

 
Girls' Short Sleeve Peter Pan Broadcloth Blouse - Light Sea Blue
Girls' Short Sleeve Peter Pan
Broadcloth Blouse


FEATURES

  • Broadcloth provides a smooth look all day.
  • Fabric wicks moisture, resists wrinkles.
  • 55% cotton/45% polyester blend
  • Pretty, rounded collar
  • Gentle shaping
  • Available in white or light sea blue (shown to the right).
  • Offered  in Little Girl (4-7), Big Girls (7-16) and Adult sizes.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.



These two school uniform wardrobe pieces make a great outfit together.  They also mix and match nicely with other uniform items. The quality of Lands' End brand is evident wash after wash.  It is more likely that your child will outgrow these items before they wear them out.  You can then pass them along to a younger child or the school's uniform exchange program.



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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Additional Picks from the 2014 Lands' End School Uniform Collection

Disclosure - I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. 

I just reviewed the 2014 Lands' End Back to School catalog.  They have many new items this year.

New for Girls:

  • Cotton broadcloth and stretch woven blouses that are easy care, easy wear – starting at $20.
  • Ponte knit jumpers, skirts and skorts that are comfortable, resist wrinkles and retain color.
  • A stylish, school-spirited double-knit blazer for dress up, $60.
  • Improved pant fit: slimmed legs, better rises and superior fitting chinos.

New for Boys and Girls:

  • Colorblock active polos and performance tees in the Phys-Ed Collection with smart features such as moisture wicking, UPF 50 and antimicrobial properties.
  • Year-round washable dress pants that look great, wash after wash.
  • A below-the-knee, active short for boys that take him from gym class to afterschool play.

Below are some of my the 2014 featured school uniform items for girls and boys at schools with a standard or uniform dress code.  These items are new to the 2014 Lands' End School Uniform Collection or they have been recently updated. A few of these items will be reviewed here at Uniform Mom in the next few weeks.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Do your Back to School Shopping during the Tax Free Holiday in your State

Mark you Calendars!

Shopping during the Tax Free Holiday weekend in your state is a smart way to create a sale for yourself and get an extra discount. Its a perfect time to stock up on back to school items such as clothing, shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes, and school supplies.  Stores will tend to be more crowded during these days, so go early for the best selection and pack you patience.



Below is a list of the states that have scheduled a tax free holiday during the fall back to school shopping season (Source):




State

Items Included

Dates

Information Links
Mississippi
clothing & footwear - $100
July 25-26
Georgia
school supplies
August 1-2
clothing - $100
supplies - $20
computers - $1,000
Iowa
clothing - $100
August 1-2
Louisiana
all TPP - $2,500
August 1-2
Alabama
clothing - $100
August 1-3
computers - $750
school supplies - $50
books - $30
Florida
school suppies
August 1-3
clothing - $100
supplies - $15
computers - $750
Missouri
clothing - $100
August 1-3
computers - $3,500
school supplies - $50
New Mexico
clothing - $100
August 1-3
computers - $1,000
computer equip. - $500
school supplies - $30
Oklahoma
clothing - $100
August 1-3
South Carolina
clothing
August 1-3
school supplies
computers
other
Tennessee
clothing - $100
August 1-3
school supplies - $100
computers - $1,500
Virginia
clothing - $100
August 1-3
school supplies - $20
Arkansas
clothing - $100
August 2-3
school supplies
Texas
clothing, backpacks and school supplies- $100
August 8-10
Maryland
clothing & footwear-$100
August 10-16
Connecticut
clothing and footwear - $300
August 17-23

(photo used with permission from Microsoft)

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Lands' End School Uniform Perfect Fit Pants and Interlock Polo, a Review

I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.


Affiliate Links in Use
Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.
Today we'll take a look at two classic wardrobe staples: the Girls' Perfect Fit Pants from the Iron Knee collection and the Girls' Feminine Fit Interlock Polo Shirt from Lands' End.



I love the updated fit of the School Uniform Girls' Perfect Fit Plain Front Blend Chino Pants. They aren't a skinny pant, but the cut of the leg is just a bit narrower than a straight cut style. I think this will be a popular choice for fashion forward young ladies that wear uniforms to school. My daughter is used to wearing boot cut pants because she really doesn't like the feel of skinny jeans or pants.  After putting them on, she pulled at the pant leg once noticing the difference in the style, but not being able to vocalize the difference at how they fit her closer in the leg.  I then paid close attention to see if she continued to tug at them, but she quickly got used to them not giving it another thought.



As a Mom, I also love the features and quality of these pants.  Because she is just growing into a new size, we had to take advantage of the adjustable waist and make it smaller.  This is her first pair of reinforced knee pants.  Back in preschool, she quickly blew out the knees on all her jeans and I had to resort to using iron on patches.  So, I know she's going to put these Iron Knee Pants to the test this year.  But the best part is the hem. 



Lands' End does the hemming for you! Yeah, it seems so old school for a retailer to hem your pants, but it makes so much sense.  I've never understood why women's pants are made all the same length while men's are sized both by waist and inseam.  With these quickly growing kids, it seems the standard pant sizes are either too long or too short.  With a custom inseam sized just to fit, it makes things simple.  Because beyond a simple button repair, I'm no good at sewing and I don't even have a sewing machine or have access to one. This is so awesome for me because most standard pants in my daughter's new size are a good four or five or more inches too long for her.



When you place your online order, you enter your child's inseam.  Now here's what's really important to know, there is no need to size up.  They make the adjustment for us to allow some wiggle room for the fabric to shrink under recommended laundering instructions and to allow some growing room. I measured my daughter's inseam at 20 inches and, as advised, entered her actual measurements when ordering.  The pants that arrived measure almost 22 inches.  And as promised they will give her room to grow, but they don't look noticeably long and are totally wearable at this length.
Girls' Perfect Fit Plain Front Blend Chino Pants - Khaki
Girls' Perfect Fit
Plain Front Blend Chino Pants

Features

  • Improved fit for comfort and flexibility
  • Little Girl & Big Girl sizes: New! reinforce patched Iron Knees for longer lasting wear
  • Wrinkle-resistant 60% cotton/40% polyester blend
  • Front & rear pockets
  • Little Girl & Big Girl sizes: adjustable inner waistband to fine-tune her fit
  • Little Girl sizes: easy-on elastic back & snap button close
  • Big Girl sizes: no-gap contoured waistband & FREE hemming available!
  • Women’s sizes: Contoured waistband prevents gaping at back
These pants are available in classic navy, khaki and black.  They are available in sizes to fit everyone: Toddler 2T - 4T,  Little Girls 4-7 (regular and slim), Big Girls 7 - 16 (regular, slim and plus), Junior and Adult (regular and tall). The regular retail price is $40.00.





(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.
The pants pair well with the School Uniform Girls' Short Sleeve Feminine Fit Interlock Polo Shirt. Personally, I prefer the feel of the interlock polos to mesh polos.  And this polo is SO super soft, made from 100% cotton.  It is by far the nicest kids' polo I've seen.  If your child is fussy about the texture or feel of fabrics, you should definitely check this one out.



I always advocate that you look for brands and items with the word "resistant" in its product claims.  This polo is said to resist stains, resists shrinkage and resists piling. No boxy fit either; the fit is distinctly all girl and shaped to be flattering to a young girls figure. It is machine washable for easy care. The other feature worth noting for uniform kids is that this polo hits the top of the hip, allowing the right amount of fabric to properly tuck in your uniform polo. 




Girls' Short Sleeve Feminine Fit Interlock Polo Shirt - White, L
Girls' Short Sleeve Feminine Fit

Features

  • She-shaped, plush 100% cotton
  • Enhanced fabric keeps colors true
  • Resists stains and shrinkage
  • Top-of-hip length with side vents
  • Shaped: Not too slim or too loose
  • Sized to allow for shrinkage, please wash before wear

This polo is offered in a dozen different colors, so you're sure to find your school's colors.  It comes in sizes for Little Girls 4-7, Big Girls 7 - 16, Junior and Adult (regular and tall). The regular retail price is $18.00. And when required or desired, you can get your school logo added to this polo. 



I really love both of these school uniform items.  These are high quality wardrobe staples that will last through the school year.



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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

My Favorite School Uniform items from Lands' End

Disclosure - I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. 

Below are some of my favorite school uniform items for girls and boys at schools with a standard or uniform dress code. These are classic wardrobe items that always make a popular choice for Back to School.  A few of these items will be reviewed here at Uniform Mom in the next few weeks.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Lands' End Phys Ed Performance T-shirt and Yoga Pants, Reviews

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.
I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.
Affiliate Links in Use
Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

My daughter is a Daddy's girl. So she loved the new School Uniform Girls' Performance V-neck T-shirt from Lands End, because it is just like Daddy's shirts. She was referring to the feel of the polyester moisture wicking fabric. She tends to sweat just like a Daddy when running around in PE class or just playing on the playground at recess, so this shirt will serve her well on PE days for school. This v-neck style is a nice change of pace from the run of the mill crew neck t-shirt. The fit has a feminine shape, and the v-neck is sporty with the lower point of the V hitting higher on the chest.


(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.
At my daughter's school, the kids do not change clothes for Phys Ed class; instead they wear a PE uniform all day. So the antimicrobial feature to fight odor will be especially appreciated during the second half of the school day. The shirt is machine-washable making it easy to get it clean and refreshed for the next PE day.  It is available in white, classic navy and evergreen in little girl sizes 4-7, big girl sizes 7-16, and adult sizes S-XL. 


The shirt pairs well with active bottoms. And since my daughter is not a fan of typical sweatpants, she mainly wears yoga style pants to school on PE days. She was happy to try the School Uniform Girls' Yoga Pants. The pant legs are made with a simple elastic waist and a slight flare at the bottom of the leg which is flattering for both little girls and big girls. After trying them on, my daughter liked the way they fit her and, more importantly, how comfortable they felt to wear. I love the quality of the bottoms. They are thick enough that you can't see through them when she bends to touch her toes. I also like that they wash up easily in the laundry and that they will hold their shape due to the 7% Lycra blend. Uniform kids colors include black, navy, khaki, and gray heather.  For non-uniform kids or to add to your weekend wardrobe, they also come light fuchsia and purple. They are available in little girl sizes 4-7 and big girl sizes 7-16. 


This outfit is perfect for PE days. It's comfortable for my daughter to wear and easy for me to launder. I will likely get my daughter a second set because she has PE two days a week and for some reason they always fall on back to back days. And although our school's uniform policy only allows navy and white, both the pants and tops are offered in additional color options.


School Uniform Girls' Performance V-neck T-shirt - White
School Uniform Girls'

Features of the School Uniform Girls' Performance V-neck T-shirt:

  • Antimicrobial to fight odor
  • 100% polyester fabric wicks moisture away
  • Slightly shorter sleeves and a shaped waist for a feminine fit
  • Fast-drying so she stays comfortable


 

Features of the School Uniform Girls' Yoga Pant :

  • Super stretchy 93% cotton/7% Lycra® spandex blend
  • Stays true to size wash after wash
  • Wider elastic waistband goes easy on her middle
  • Shaped at sides for a boxy-free fit


The Lands’ End School Uniform Phys Ed Collection sets them apart from other retailers by offering one-stop shopping convenience to fulfill all the clothing requirements of the entire school uniform wardrobe. And also check out their great selection on footwear, backpacks, lunch bags, and accessories like neck ties and headbands.
 
 
 

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    Adventures of Ai, a new e-book and app

    Adventures of Ai  is an children's eBook written by New York Times bestselling author, Craig Bouchard. The story is a part non-fiction and part fiction fantasy targeted at girls and boys ages 9-12 for the pressures they will encounter as they grow up, and incorporates subjects like art, history, poetry, music and mathematics.


    There is also an Ai game available on Google Play or in iTunes store.  Here is a brief description:
    "Downloading and playing Ai’s Adventure places you in the driver’s seat of an addictive fast paced game to run, fly, duck and jump with Ai through a cool maze of challenging obstacles. Her journey across an incredible 3D Japanese landscape is mind-bending. Ai rides her stallion (who slides under obstacles even better than she does!), flies on her crane and runs farther and faster than the monsters that chase her. Collect points and coins along the way to her and your ultimate goal: the treasure chest her father has protected. Ai will never give up – will you?"
    Scoring in this game is different in that you have the option to play for your country.  Your score is contributed to the country’s total in the World Charity Cup. The charities in country with the highest average player scores at the end of the competition will receive a cash contribution from the worldwide earnings of the game!  Check out the trailer below:

     The Adventures of AI Book and Game Trailer


    Download the eBook

    The Adventures of Ai is available in ebook on iTunes, Google Books, Google Play, and Amazon platforms and has been translated from the original English version to Japanese, Mandarin (Chinese and Taiwanese), Spanish, and Arabic.

    Enter to Win the eBook

    2 winners, each will receive a copy of the eBook.


    The event is open from 7/16/14 through 8/1/14 12:00 AM ET. OpenWorldwide. The winner will be chosen at random and will be notified via the email they used to enter the contest. If after 48 hours, there is no response, another winner will be chosen. Uniform Mom is not responsible for fulfillment of the prize. Open to US residents, 18+ only.


    Disclosure: Uniform Mom, the giveaway host, was provided a complementary copy of the e-book to evaluate and review. No other compensation was received for the review or for coordinating this giveaway. Uniform Mom is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact navyplaid@comcast.net with questions or to see your business or product featured on the next event! This giveaway is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.