It’s a Family Tradition…

Posted on December 20, 2011 by admin

I’m stoked to take my kids Christmas caroling.

In my head, I have Rockwell-esque visions of my little family bundled in our holiday finery strolling around the neighborhood as the snow begins to fall lightly on our earmuffed heads. As we reach each stop on our musical journey, a cheerful resident throws open their door and greets us with hearty good tidings. I will lead us in song (and in harmony) and the amazed neighbors will applaud wildly before showering us with holiday treats.

My kids need some tradition in their lives. We will not be bringing the ipad to help with the lyrics, I will not text my family a series of coordinates for “flash-caroling”, we will not be singing any “new” carols (if my Grandparents don’t know the words, we’re not singing it- except maybe Run DMC’s Christmas in Hollis because that’s a classic) and there is no way that we will employ any non-acoustic audio enhancement (except for the aforementioned Run DMC tribute).

We will have a thermos of hot cocoa for the kids and a special thermos for the parents. We will have pockets full of peppermint bark to help us persevere in the toughest of conditions. We will wear our matching holiday scarves that my wife knitted in between making batches of cookies and sing joyfully into the night as we ride from house to house on our handcrafted holiday toboggan.

I’m positive that this is going to be the best night of my kid’s lives and will start a tradition that will span generations and is certain to catapult us into the same conversation as the Von Trapps.

Delusions aside, I really am excited to take my kids caroling, even though both of them are resisting it with everything they have. We need some family traditions that don’t involve soccer practice or the internet and it does children good to be embarrassed in front of the neighborhood. Assuming I can pry the kids away from their phones and trick my wife into wielding the pitch pipe, we will be the ones knocking on your door right in the middle of all the best shows.

Now where did I put those thermoses…

Happy Holidays !

Steve

Weekly Fave Find: Volcom Outerwear for Kids

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin

Who: Volcom Outerwear

What: An outerwear brand known for pushing the limits with bold prints, loud colors, and no intention of following the rules. Volcom embodies the marriage of creativity, fashion and functionality. Every piece in their snow line is a stylish look overlaid with pure athletic performance.

Features Worth Talking About: With athletic performance at their core, Volcom’s outerwear is crammed full of features to keep kids riding no matter what the conditions. Each of their jackets and pants come with their patented zip-tech jacket-to-pant interface that allows you to zip the powder skirt of any Volcom Jacket to any Volcom Pant eliminating the possibility of snow down the pants. In addition to keeping everything tight and locked together, this feature goes a long way toward keeping you warm and dry. The majority of the line also features Grow-Tech functionality which allows you to add additional length (1-2 inches) in both the jackets and pants making your Volcom outerwear grow with your child. Volcom’s Critical Taped Seams prevent water from penetrating through the seams, even in the wettest conditions. The Volcom Trace Insulated Jacket comes with Volcom’s Face-Tech, an integrated face mask that can easily be pulled overhead without unzipping the jacket. The fleece and mesh mask clips onto the hood of the jacket and offers protection and breathability, detach the mask and wash separately when needed.

How Much: Volcom’s outerwear jackets range from $120 to $200 this season, offering options for kids who need the most technical outerwear as well as kids looking for an affordable jacket without all of the bells and whistles. The Volcom Arrow Puff Jacket comes in as Volcom’s top of the line jacket this season. this baby is packed full of Volcom’s best features; 220 fill power down, 2-layer waterproof shell, breathable lining system, critically taped seams, adjustable powder skirt, zip-tech jacket-to-pant interface, and their youth safe cinch hood system. Volcom’s Merit Insulated Jacket sits in the middle of the pack at $160 with all the same features as the Arrow Puff minus the added warmth of down (120g Polyfill synthetic instead) this is a great jacket for kids who needs to stay dry and warm but don’t need the extra insulation of a down jacket. The Volcom Bandit Insulated Jacket is the lightest option of Volcom jackets this season but this piece still offers some key features; adjustable hood, adjustable drawcord hem & powder skirt, and zip-tech jacket-to-pant interface. The Bandit Insulated Jacket has 40g of Polyfill synthetic insulation offering a barrier from wind and snow but if you are going to be in a really cold climate, this one won’t provide the same amount of warmth as other jackets in the line.

Volcom outerwear pants are available in three styles this season and range in price from $110 to $140 with the patented zip-tech jacket-to-pant interface in all styles. The Outpost Insulated Pant is the top of the line at $140. This pant has a modern, straight fit with 60gm of low-loft insulation, 2-layer waterproof shell and a breathable lining system, critical taped seams, grow-tech (hopefully allowing two years of wear), fleece lined seat and knees, zipper vents, and a boot gaitor with lace hook. The Hunter Insulated Pant offers the same insulation and features as the Outpost without the fleece lined seat and knees. Volcom’s Recruit Insulated Pant is the least expensive of the three at $110 with the same 60gm low-loft insulation but without the fleece lined seat and knees or grow-tech features.

Shopping Tips: Unfortunately, Volcom doesn’t yet offer outerwear for toddlers or little boys, so be sure you are shopping for a boy sized 7-14. Volcom outerwear runs true to size but with a slightly slim cut, keep this in mind when you are selecting sizes. The Zip-Tech feature is unique to Volcom, if you are looking to take advantage of this feature be sure to purchase both a Volcom jacket and pant.

The Great Grom Gift Guide Made Just for You!

Posted on December 6, 2011 by admin

As the days are getting shorter and the holiday cheer is settling in, up pops that inevitable question: “What should I get (insert family, friend, co-worker,& loved ones name here) this year?”. What gift will be loved enough to avoid the return pile or the re-gifting closet? Well, this year we’ve got you covered with our favorite pieces from the splurge worthy, to the budget conscious, to some uniquely novel items.

Best Bang for Your Buck:

The Columbia Bugaboo Parka offers a solution for any weather condition. This three-in-one jacket takes your child from cold, wet winters to warm spring conditions with it’s waterproof Omni-Tech shell, removable fleece liner, and adjustable/removable storm hood. The Bugaboo Parka truly eliminates the need for any other jacket. If you’re looking for warmth and versatility, this is the perfect gift for any kid on your list.

Marmot Guides Down Hoody Jacket comes in both boys and girls specific cuts and is hands-down one of the warmest kids jackets around. This 650-fill goose down jacket was built to keep kids toasty and on the go. Marmot’s unique Angel-Wing Movement allows a full range of motion in the arms to help prevent the jacket from riding up. Bottom line — the Guides Down Hoody is the answer for kids looking for superior warmth and active functionality.

Smartwool Socks. If you haven’t yet discovered the joys of merino wool it’s time you woke up and smelled the sheep. Smartwool’s passion for an active lifestyle combined with the superior wicking and insulating properties of merino wool, result in smarter, more comfortable, and capable products. Not only do Smartwools socks provide more comfort and temperature control for your feet they also offer support in both the arch and the ankle with the Smartwool Fit System. The icing on the cake…merino is fire and odor resistant, keeping your kid safe and stink free!

The North Face Vestamatic Triclimate Jacket is all about options. This jackets comes with a removable 550-fill insulated vest that can be worn inside or outside of the jacket and a breathable Hy Vent moisture blocking shell with fully taped seams, preventing any water penetration in even the wettest climates. Layer the pieces together to keep warm on cold days or wear them separately to create a variety of weather based options..

The Spyder Mini Throw Bib for ages 2 -7 offers a comfortable (no snow down the pants) solution this winter. The combination of Spyder’s Thermaweb insulation, dobby-weave fabric, and an attached stretch fleece vest provides warmth and durability from their legs to their core. These bibs are a staple for any young adventurer this winter.

Favorite Finds Under $25:

Some of most popular pieces this season won’t break the bank and are sure to be a hit with any lucky recipient ! We’ve included some of our favorite tees from brands such as Chaser, Gnome Enterprises and Out of Print as well as a few classics and some hard to resist baby items.

Splurge Worthy Items:

Take away the worry about your little one being cold this winter with the Canada Goose Baby Snowsuit . A brand favored by celebrities and mountaineers alike, Canada Goose knows the importance of creating technical pieces that can hold their own in the fashion world. With 625-fill power down insulation, a water-repellent exterior, elastic leg loops to prevent the hem from riding up, and a storm hood with removable fur trim, your little one will be toasty and stylish when the cold rolls in.

Warmth and style collide with the Volcom Arrow Puff Jacket. Coming in at $200 this boys jacket has all the bells, whistles, and flare that Volcom is known for. With technical features such as critically taped seams, water-resistant fabric, mesh-lined zipper vents, and an adjustable powder skirt, this jacket will perform wherever your little maniac may take it. It also features Volcom’s jacket-to-pant interface. This allows your pants and jacket to zip together to eliminate any chance of snow creeping in while keeping you as warm and dry as possible. Bottom Line: This 220-fill power down jacket is definitely splurge worthy.

The Patagonia Down Sweater Bunting at $129 is one of the most versatile and warm buntings around. This 600-fill power European goose down bunting provides serious insulation while the water-resistant DWR coating makes this bunting as durable and comfortable as Patagonia’s adult Down Sweater Jacket. Double chest zippers allow easy in and out access with an inseam zip that converts to allow their legs independent movement or the comfort and warmth of a sleeping bag.

The Canada Goose Aviator Hat might win the award for the most splurge worthy piece around. At $159 this aviator hat will shield your dome from winters harshest conditions and get you noticed at this years Sundance Film Festival. This baby boasts 625 fill-power duck down, coyote fur trim and a DWR coating and is arguably be the warmest hat on the market. Rock this aviator with the ear-flaps down and chin strap buckled for the coldest days or fold it up on your head when you need to listen a little closer.

Unique Gifts:

These items require no description, one glance and you’ll quickly see why these are our favorite one-of-a-kind items this holiday season.

Where was this stuff when I was a kid ?

Posted on November 29, 2011 by admin

Nowadays kids have all of the luck.

As I look back at my Mother’s pictures of my brother and I when we were kids, I am struck by the absolute lack of style in our clothing. Apparently, Toughskins, wide-striped shirts, bad-bad-really-bad sweaters and plain T’s were the only pieces of kids clothing available in the late 70’s.

We look like the before images in a “what not to wear” campaign, except maybe not as cool. I am convinced that my Mother was secretly pre-punishing us for the trouble she was sure that we would cause her later. Either that or she was laying down the long con to prep for when we had serious girlfriends and could be embarrassed into behaving by the mere mention of those old photos.

In contrast, I just got my son Axl the Carhartt jacket that I have wanted for a year. As I pull away from school drop-off in the morning I realize that both of my children have far cooler wardrobes than I have ever had. Ever.

I don’t necessarily feel like this is strictly my fault. The variety of brands and the size of the lines in hip kid’s apparel these days are far greater then when my generation was young.

At first it was just established adult brands like Patagonia, The North Face or Volcom, dropping their product lines down to youth sizes to accommodate the parents who were fans of their brands.

Now, there are cool youth-only brands popping up that push the latest trends into exclusive youth lines. Brands like Munster, Appaman and Knuckleheads have created uber-fashionable offerings without feeling the need to produce matching grown-up styles.

Even luxury brands are moving down into baby sizes. We just shot 2 month old Teo in some Canada Goose pieces that appear to be designed to let him spend a month at an arctic research facility. We just need to round out his kit with some Carhartt overalls, a Mini Shatsu onesie and some Patagonia booties and he would be ready for the trip.

Nowadays kids have all of the luck…

Cheer Worthy Pieces from Patagonia + Fresh Patagonia Steals!

Posted on November 22, 2011 by admin

With the snow starting to fall across the country it’s time to start thinking about what to bundle your kids in this winter. Whether snowman building, skiing, or extreme adventures are your kids thing Patagonia has you covered! We first fell in love with Patagonia’s adult line, their classic styles, their dedication to function and fit, and their timeless silhouettes. With the launch of their kids line our dedication and addiction to the brand grew even deeper. Each kids Patagonia piece meets the same standards in performance, fit, and comfort as the adult line but also includes features that are unique to kids such as, grow fit features, reversible jackets and pants, convertible buntings, and covered hand mitts to name a few. But enough with the talking take a look for yourself; below are products and videos on our 10 favorite pieces this season that we’re confident you’ll love as much as we do:

Regardless of what piece or pieces you’ve fallen in love with from the Patagonia line we’ve got what your looking for, so head on over to Axlscloset.com for the full kids collection! Be sure to drop us a line and let us know what your favorite pieces are this winter. As the moms and dads to such rad little kids, you have insider access to the latest and greatest products around and we love to hear what your digging this season!

From Our Closet to Yours: Staff Picks

Posted on November 15, 2011 by admin

The season for gift giving is upon us and luckily for you we’ve stocked our closet full of great gift ideas for the babies, tots, and kids in your life. We know it can be a little overwhelming when it comes to picking out that perfect gift, so we’ve enlisted the help of a few of our Axl’s insiders to navigate you through our store to some of their favorite pieces this season!

Sarai, Buyer: The Perfect Tee!

“I always find myself looking for the perfect t shirt. I prefer something that is super soft-almost vintage-like to the touch. On my personal quest I’ve found something for the kiddos as well! Don’t waste any more time rewashing the same shirt over and over again- instead, stock up on these home run hitters. Whether it’s Music, Books, or just funky animal prints your kids are into Chaser, Out-of-Print, and Gnome Enterprises have the best tees I’ve seen this season.”

Ryann, Marketing Director: Buntings!

“Everything is cuter when it’s small! I’m currently sharing the same obsession as our customers for one of our hottest categories this season, the bunting. Every time a new style arrives in our warehouse I rack my brain for what baby in my life I haven’t gifted one of these to yet! My favorite piece for this fall is a tie between the Columbia Snuggly Down Bunting and the Patagonia Down Sweater Bunting, one of my favorite adult pieces transformed into a bunting, but then how can you possibly resist Columbia’s Little D Bunting! All three of these will be making into my gift wrapping pile this season!”

Steve, Owner: Volcom Full Zip Hoodies!

“It’s rare that you see a brand invent a new category of clothing that instantly takes off and leaves everyone else (including us) thinking “why didn’t we do that?”. Volcom has performed this miracle with their boys full zip hoodies that zip all the way up. They have managed to create something that every boy under the age of 13 absolutely has to have, even if they know nothing about Volcom. These hoodies/costumes/imagination-enhancers have sold so well that we now have to order them in triple digits to keep them in stock. Well played, Volcom, well played.”

Brand Crush: Native Shoes for Kids

Posted on November 8, 2011 by admin

Our love for Native Shoes at Axl’s Closet borders on obsession. From the minute our buyers laid eyes on this brand in L.A.,we longed to fill our warehouse with the bright, fun-loving silhouettes that Native has become known for. Our excitement for the brand ran so deep we went as far as expanding outside our current product offering and determined that it was time for the category shoes to be born.

The Native Shoes kids collection hit our pages earlier this fall with great anticipation and a great reception from our in-the-know fashion forward customers. Was it the Jefferson with it’s nod to the classic Chuck Taylor that reminds us of our childhood? Was it the poppy pinks, bright turquoise, or bold purples that said we don’t take ourselves to seriously? Was it the Fitzsimmons with it’s cool street style combined with a neoprene liner and pull-cord closure eliminating that pesky shoe tying? Or was is possibly the lightweight, waterproof , washable, and most importantly odor resistant technology Native is known for? Whatever it was, our customers were as eager and excited as we were for this kids collection and the possibilities that lay ahead for this brand as they continue to expand their offering season after season.

Celebrity kids from Pax and Maddox Jolie-Pitt to Halle Berry’s daughter Nahla have treated their feet to Natives Shoes easy to wear styles and with the brand’s recent adult collaboration with Marc Jacobs it has us longing for a potential youth collaboration. A possible Appaman or Harajuku Lovers collab…..we can always dream but until then we’re sure we won’t be disappointed by whatever Native throws at us next!

Now our talented buying team faces the challenge of filling our shoe category with equally as interesting and style focused designs as Native has offered. The brand has set the bar high but as always we’re up for the challenge.

Music We Love: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Josh Ritter

Posted on July 22, 2011 by admin

Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings

This week the Wasatch was filled with the New Funk/Soul sounds of the lovely Sharon Jones and her band the Dap-Kings as part of the Red Butte Garden Summer Concert Series. This revivalist movement marks a return to the height of lates 1960′s/mid 1970′s era Funk and Soul. Other recent returns to this genre include; Mayer Hawthrone, Raphael Saadiq, and Lee Fields.

The tunes are recorded old-school style with analog equipement and her live performances sound just as gritty. She hit the stage in full motion and did not stop moving for 2+ hours. I was shocked at one point during her show when she mentioned she was over 50. Over 50! She can give any twenty something a run for their money. At times during the performance Ms. Jones invited members of the audience on stage to dance and she’d remove her high heels so she could dance harder. Check out her moves! It was a fine evening for funk and soul fans young, old and in between.

Josh Ritter

Next up at Red Butte Garden this week was folk legend-in-the-making, Mr. Josh Ritter of Moscow Idaho. Josh Ritter is a very talented singer-songwriter (and now novelist) who loves to come play Utah. Every time he hits the stage in the Wasatch Front he blows it out of the water. He may do this everywhere but since I have only seen him here, I think it’s just for us. One of my favorite bands, Blind Pilot, opened for Josh and may have been my highlight of the evening as they announced a new album due in September. Josh Ritter played all of my favorites including Girl in the War, Lantern, Good Man, and The Temptation of Adam. The garden crowd with wine and/or beer in hand greeted each tune enthusiastically. His tunes went perfectly with the summer rain storm that graced the gardens.

Weekly Fave Find: Gnome Enterprise T- Shirts

Posted on July 19, 2011 by admin

Who: Gnome Enterprises

What: Not just your standard t-shirt company Gnome Enterprises, born in Brooklyn, silk-screens each tee by hand with specialty inks that won’t wash off or fade. Their combination of durable inks with creative graphics make these the perfect tees for any parent that doesn’t want their kid looking like a member of the “big-box” retail army but also knows they need a tee that can weather the mud and grass stains of an active lifestyle.

How Much: Printed on sweat free American Apparel t-shirts, the youth collection retail for $20.00. Sizing ranges from 2-12, offering an assortment of t-shirts for both girls and boys.

When to Use: Whenever you find your kid reaching for that boring old white t-shirt, or that logo driven brand billboard grab a Gnome t-shirt instead. You’ll never be disappointed that you did.

Shopping Tips: All of Gnome’s t-shirts are printed on American Apparel blanks which tend to run at least 1 size small so be sure to size up. A few of our favorite tees from this seasons collection include the girls PB&J, the Fox, and the boys Polaroid Monkey. Another huge plus of this creative Brooklyn brand is they also offer a large assortment of adult tees, so if you love them as much as we do head on over to their site and pick up a tee for yourself!

Axl’s Fans! As the moms and dads to such rad little kids, you have insider access to the latest and greatest products around, which is why we want to hear about your Fave Finds! Please email us at info@axlscloset.com with a picture of your favorite item of the moment and answer the following (who, what, how much, when to use it, and shopping tips).

Music We Love: The Avett Brothers

Posted on July 13, 2011 by admin

One of my favorite activities is the classic outdoor summer concert. Tis the season and Sunday night found the boys and I having a picnic in the rain waiting for the Avett Brothers to take the stage in downtown Salt Lake City. My boys are big fans and they couldn’t wait to get to the show.

The Avett Brothers, a solid line up out of Concord, North Carolina, are enjoying the resurgence in popularity of Americana music, Alt-Country, new bluegrass etc. They are having fun and it shows in their live performances.

All week long my boys would ask how much longer till The Avett Brothers, Mom? Once the day finally arrived, it rained and rained and rained. Our spirits were not dampened by the foul weather though. Hey, peanut butter and jelly tastes just as good wet as dry!

Jessica Lea Mayfield opened up with a short but very sweet set. This 20 year old singer-songwriter’s skills are mature beyond her years. She opened with her recent hit Jessica Lea Mayfield — Our Hearts Are Wrong and continued through her brief but lovely setlist.

: Happy Fans!

Finally the big moment arrived and Cam (age 11) and Rory (age 8 ) immediately started dancing, jumping up and down and singing all the words. Cam remarked that he couldn’t believe his friends didn’t know the Avett Brothers. As a mom, I have to pat myself on the back and feel proud that these boys are into music beyond just what their friends are listening to. At least for a while anyhow.