My vintage shopping challenge for a wedding outfit: Part 3
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
We've Done Back-to-School Dozens of Times—Here Are the Only 4 Tips You Really Need
Right when you've perfected your s'mores recipe and gotten into a good groove with the daily sunscreen routine, that's when the first back-to-school email hits. It's true: Many parts of the country are trickling back this week and next, which got us thinking about the truly salient pieces of parenting advice that make the return to the classroom feel smooth vs. scary. (Hey, the logistics of packing a backpack for that first day back are not for the faint of heart.) So, without further ado, the four tips that actually delivered when it comes to making one of the biggest transitions of the year feel a heck of a lot easier—for kid and parent. Happy Kid Awards: Best for School Days 2025 1. Post an Out-the-Door Checklist for Each Kid Candace Davison, VP of Editorial Content for PureWow and a mom of two, swears by out-the-door checklists, hung by the door—but the trick is to have one for each kid and once for each day of the week. 'Beyond remembering the typical backpack, lunch box and water bottle, certain days have after-school activities—swim lessons, ballet, Girl Scouts—so I'll use a clothespin to stick that day's index card of 'need to bring' items on their backpack, then stick it by the door.' Come morning, before heading out—and together with her kids—she unclips the card for a quick review to be sure all the essentials are packed for the day ahead. 'I'm really trying to stop having to make trips back to school midday when things are forgotten this year,' she says. 2. Plan a 'Dry Pancake Run' It's not that you want school to start a day early, but giving your routine a test drive—something PureWow's executive editor and mom of three, Alexia Dellner, has dubbed the 'Dry Pancake Run'—can be worth it while still feeling fun. 'Summer means lazy mornings, sleeping in, a lack of routine, all those things,' she says. 'In order to get back into the swing of things, we do the following: The day before the first day of school, we do a dry run. We wake up at the right time, we pack our bags, we get dressed in school clothes and we walk to the bus stop to be sure we're there on time. But then, instead of putting our kid on the bus or managing preschool drop-off, we go out for a pancake breakfast as a family. It's a nice way to kick off the school year, but also a chance to get back into a routine and iron out any kinks.' 3. Schedule Blank Spaces the Same Way You Do Soccer Practice One of the most daunting parts of back-to-school is the return of feeling overscheduled. That's why PureWow's editor-in-chief and mom of two, Jillian Quint, believes in countering the craziness by intentionally scheduling down time. 'Our world gets so busy with all the kids' activities once back to school starts,' she says. 'Two sports, gymnastics, art classes, piano…kill me. We make a point to reserve two permanent nights a week that are clear for just our family. It helps us all to feel some calm as we jump into things.' 4. Rely on This 3-Word Ice Breaker to Get Your Kids to Open Up The overwhelm! The adrenaline! Back to school can feel like the parent Olympics—there's so much pressure on a singular day. But then, pick up happens and, as you eagerly await a full download, your kids are, well, less than verbose. That's why I, a mom of two, swear by this three-word question: 'How was recess?' According to experts, it's one of the best ways to get your kid to open up. After all, it's much more fun to discuss friend-related experiences and interactions than answering standard questions about routine activities and what they learned in school. That said, it can also serve as a conversation gateway to other topics. Save it for the dinner table. 24 Back-to-School Dinners That Are Family-Friendly and Low-Maintenance Solve the daily Crossword
Fast Company
7 hours ago
- Fast Company
Inside Rothy's quest to create recycled velvet shoes
This week, Rothy's launches a new collection unlike anything we've seen before from the shoe brand. There are burgundy kitten heels, stacked leopard-print booties, and comfy olive clogs—all made from velvet fabric. At first glance, you'd think the cozy-looking shoes were made of cotton or wool. But in fact, they're made from the same recycled water bottles that Rothy's uses for its classic flats. When the company launched in 2016, it quickly developed a cult following for its simple ballet flats made from a textured knit material. Over the past nine years, Rothy's has grown quickly, going beyond flats to create sneakers, loafers, heels, and even handbags that feature its distinct, easily recognizable recycled plastic fabric. Now the company has a fleet of 26 stores, is profitable, and generated $211 million in revenue last year, a 17% increase from the year before. Rothy's original material—the textured, woven knit—continues to be popular. But to keep growing, the company seeks to innovate. Its in-house team of material scientists and product designers have been tasked with developing new fabrics that meet the brand's sustainability and durability standards but that look distinct in a wide range of styles. This new material, which it's calling ReVelvet, does just that. 'We built our reputation on the original [recycled plastic] material,' says Heather Archibald, Rothy's chief product officer. 'But we don't want to be limited by it. We want to be able to create any shoe you could possibly imagine.' An Iconic Material In 2012, Stephen Hawthornthwaite and Roth Martin had the idea to create a sustainable footwear startup that would produce a more feminine shoe than the sneakers that were coming onto the market (think: Veja or Allbirds). They spent four years working with manufacturers to develop a fabric made from recycled plastic bottles. Then they built a factory in China that would knit the shoe uppers at scale using a zero-waste 3D knitting machine. It turned out that all of this groundwork was well worth the effort. When Rothy's launched in 2016, its $129 shoes were a hit. Women loved that they were comfortable, eco-friendly, and durable (the shoes are machine washable). As the shoes became a status symbol that telegraphed the wearer's values, the instantly recognizable upper became a key selling point. Rothy's designers used the recycled material to create everything from sneakers and clogs to heels for women, and driving shoes and loafers for men. Over the years, Rothy's has dipped its toes into other materials. Felice Gunawan, Rothy's lead material developer, says it is possible to create different textures by incorporating other materials into the recycled polyester. By weaving in hemp and organic cotton, Rothy's developed a linen-like texture for summer sandals and slides. By weaving in merino wool, it created a warmer texture for clogs and boots. But these were fairly subtle changes. 'We wanted to challenge ourselves to create something that looked even more distinct,' Gunawan says. A Two-Year Quest For two years, Gunawan scoured the market for textile manufacturers who were creating interesting sustainable materials. The good news is that there's an abundance of these companies in operation. 'There's a lot of innovation happening now when it comes to sustainable materials,' Gunawan says. 'It's happening both at small startups and in large companies.' For Gunawan, it was important to find a material that would meet Rothy's rigorous standards. It has a lab in its China factory that is devoted to durability testing. And it also needed to work with a company large enough to produce the material at scale. Eventually, Gunawan found the material that would become ReVelvet, and ensured that the fibers would work seamlessly in Rothy's 3D knitting machines in China. Archibald and her design team then set out to create silhouettes that would work well with the ReVelvet. Since velvet can have a more formal aesthetic, they created a pointed slingback that looks nice with an evening dress, and penny loafers that pair well with office wear. And since velvet can also look cozy and warm, they created a clog style. As it turned out, the company's timing was perfect: Velvet is having a moment. This fall, you'll find it in blazers, evening dresses, and even trousers. 'It was entirely luck,' Archibald says. 'We had no way of knowing these shoes would be so fashionable right now.' That little bit of luck has emboldened the team to innovate further. Gunawan is constantly keeping an eye out for new eco-friendly materials coming on the market that can be used in shoes. And Archibald is excited to transform these materials into new styles. 'For a while, Rothy's was associated with a very particular aesthetic,' Archibald says. 'But as we're evolving, we want to be known as a brand that creates sustainable, durable shoes that come in all kinds textures and silhouettes. One day, we could create our own version of a leather shoe or even a satin wedding shoe.' The early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, September 5, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Back-to-school clothes your kids will actually love: 11 best Old Navy deals on jeans, tops and more — starting at just $8
Old Navy's back-to-school mega sale is on now, and almost everything is marked down. Back-to-school season is sneaking up on us fast, and if your kids have suddenly outgrown everything (again), Old Navy's latest sale might be exactly what you need. Right now, the brand is having a massive back-to-school sale with 40 to 50 per cent off almost everything, including pants from $24 and tees from just $8. Whether you're after everyday basics, a few fun new pieces or just trying to avoid last-minute shopping chaos, this sale will make things a little easier (and more affordable) ahead of the school year. Keep scrolling to dive into some of the best picks and to stock up before the school year kicks off. Shop all Old Navy deals on girls' clothes Shop all Old Navy deals on boys' clothes Shop all deals
