Preppy, But Rugged Style for a Boy's Thanksgiving Outfit!

This post was written as part of a zulily affiliate campaign. All opinions expressed are my own.

 I always blog about girls' fashions.  This week, I thought it would be a fun change of pace to share my picks for a stylish outfit for boys.  My son's have been into bright colors lately, including orange.  What better holiday to wear orange than on Thanksgiving?  I found some great deals on some boys' fashions on zulily.  Check these pieces out! . . .

The perfect boy's zulily Thanksgiving Outfit:

1.  Timberland Black & Gray Quarter Socks Set - $9.49 (Originally $14)

2.  Hawke & Co. Brown Faux Leather Hooded Bomber Jacket - Boys - $39.99 (Originally $90)

3.  Green Plaid Button-Up & Jeans - Boys - $18.99 (Originally $44)

4.  Orange Argyle V-Neck Sweater Vest - Infant & Boys - $8.99 (Originally $44)

5.  Air Balance Brown & Orange All-Terrain Sneaker - $12.99 (Originally $23)


If you haven't already, be sure to checkout my post "6 Tips for Shopping on zulily"!

Back-to-School Must-Haves: Eddie Bauer First Ascent Boys' MicroTherm™ Down Hoodie

One of the hardest things about last winter for our now 5-1/2 year old son was struggling with his winter coat.  I had bought him one of those bulky coats with numerous removable layers.  When he was wearing it, he could not even put his arms down completely by his sides.  I wanted him to be warm, but it ended up being at the expense of his comfort.  He also struggled terribly with the zipper.  Not only was it difficult to zip, but it was confusing for him because there were multiple zippers for all the removable layers.

For the upcoming winter season, I am excited to have our son try out the Boys' MicroTherm Down Hoodie from Eddie Bauer's First Ascent outerwear line.  This jacket appears to be lightweight, but it is filled with 800 fill Premium Goose Down.  Of course, we have not been able to test it out in cold temperatures yet, but I can certainly attest to the quality of the workmanship and the design, as well as the fit.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Both my son and I are very pleased with the general style and colors of this coat, which he chose himself.  I think he made a great choice.  We have the perfect red and blue for New England Patriots fans, not to mention that Superman, Spiderman, and Captain America also wear those colors.

Our son is in a size XS, which is the equivalent to a size 5/6.  The jacket fits him well and has enough room for us to add another layer underneath for those days when the temperatures drop to the 20's or lower.  The sleeves are a little long, but I would much rather have that than their being too short.  Our son always wants to pull his sleeves over his hands anyways.

The zipper on this jacket is beefy, but not too hard for him to zip on his own, although he did need to practice a few times.  Some other great features are a place for emergency information on the inner lining, a small zippered pocket on the chest for money, keys, or a phone, plus one hand-warming zippered pocket on each side.

There are also stretchy panels behind and under the shoulders for added freedom of movement, plus sleeves and a hood that hug the body around the edges.  I love how deep the hood is, so our son's ears and head are protected from the cold and the wind.

I rarely wash my children's winter coats unless they have managed to soil them somehow because they outgrow their coats every year.  However, I am happy to know that this down jacket is machine washable if I ever do need to launder it.

The Eddie Bauer Boys' MicroTherm Down Hoodie retails for $89.95 on EddieBauer.com and comes in four colors with contrasting linings . . . Carrot (orange), Coast (blue), Indigo (navy blue), and Limeade (neon yellow).


Thank you to Eddie Bauer for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Holiday 2011: Eddie Bauer Boys' Classic Down Jacket

Our nearly 8 year son is growing more fashion-conscious as he gets older.  It use to be that he would approve of outerwear as long as it kept him warm and dry and cared little about style.  Now the scale is slowly tipping in the other direction.  Luckily, this Boy's Classic Down Jacket from Eddie Bauer is both warm, water-resistant, and stylish.

My son chose this jacket himself out of all the ones offered by Eddie Bauer Kids, so I know that he loves the look of it.  Temperatures around here have not dropped enough to warrant a goose down jacket, so it was hard to gauge how much insulation this coat offers.  Our son says that this jacket feels warmer than the parka he wore last winter.

It has been quite awhile since my son has owned a winter jacket without a built-in hood.  Even though this jacket will keep him warm, I may still have him layer a hoodie under it on days with heavy snow.  I always worry that snow will sneak in at the back of his neck without a hood on.  I could also see if he is ready for the responsibility of using a scarf.

(Click any image to enlarge)

Some great features about this coat are that all 3 pockets have a zip closure, the cuffs of the sleeve are elasticized for a snug fit, and there is a label inside on which you can write your child's name and an emergency phone number.  The neck and the pockets are lined with a super-soft fabric.  I think the main thing my son likes about this coat, aside from the warmth and the style, is that it is not bulky and extra long like some of the coats he has worn during past winters.  Even when it is cold out, he still goes outside for recess during school, so this jacket will be much easier for him to run around and be active at those times.

The Eddie Bauer Boys' Classic Down Jacket is available in 3 colors . . .  Redwood, which is what our son chose, Deep Olive, and Midnight Navy.  This coat normally retails for $59.95, but is currently on sale during the Eddie Bauer 75th Annual Down Event.  For a limited time, you can also receive Free Shipping on most orders containing outerwear when you check out with Code: OUTERWEAR.


Thank you to Eddie Bauer for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Review: Lands' End Boy's Sport Squall Parka

My son does have a short walk between our house and the school bus stop. For this reason, he does need to bundle up to the extreme this winter. Even if it were snowing, I think that he would be able to get home without becoming too wet. My main concern is blistering winds that can be accompanied by near or below freezing temperatures.

Since the coldest weather does not arrive until January where we live, I will just have to show you what features of the Lands' End Boys Sport Squall Parka make me trust that it will keep my son warm on the coldest winter days. I will also point out some secondary features that are not as important to me, but may be to other parents.


What I thought about this boy's winter coat from Lands' End:

1) There are 6 colors to choose from. All the colors, except for the black, are very highly visible colors. I'm glad my son chose yellow all on his own because I would say that color would be the most visible of the bunch. That combined with the reflective trim will ensure that my son is seen should it begin to get dark outside.

2) The most important feature to me is that this coat's shell is made of 3 layers of nylon which makes it wind-resistant. Also, the top layer has a "DriOff" finish, which makes the coat water-resistant. Of course, I would love for it to be waterproof as well, but that is not as important to me for what this coat will be used for. This combined with the fleece lining and the PolarThin insulation, will really protect my son from the cold.

3) I like that the hood is attached, especially for a kindergartner. There were so many parts that came off the coat I had purchased for him last year that it is just too much for a child his age to manage.

4) Another practical feature are the large deep pockets. I think it is much easier for a kindergartner to retrieve his gloves or mittens from pockets rather than having them clipped to the jacket.

5) The ability to cinch this coat inside at the waist is yet another feature that will keep the cold air and wind away from my son.

6) Even though the item description advises against it, I ended up requesting one size up for my son because I wanted this coat to last two seasons rather than just one. Even though this coat is slightly large for my son, the adjustable Velcro cuffs keep the sleeves from falling over my son's hands. The Velcro on the back of the hood allows us to adjust the size as needed. Also, the high neckline is elasticized from ear to ear, giving the hood a snug fit around my son's face, eliminating the need for a scarf. For these reasons, I think it would be okay to order one size up after you've checked the sizing chart, if you would like to use this coat next year.

7) A feature older children will love is that the chest pocket leads to an MP3 pocket complete with an interior cord port.

If you are looking for a warm winter coat that is not too bulky, Lands' End carries this Sport Squall Parka for both boys and girls. Both come in toddler sizes all the way up to big kids. Visit LandsEnd.com for outerwear and other gifts for the whole family. For a limited time, you can receive Free Shipping on your order of $50 or more when you use Code: FS50MIN and Pin: 1958 at checkout.

Thank you to Lands' End for providing us with a review product free of charge.