I’ve always favored fuller skirts with pockets, and I actually think it’s a bit criminal to leave them out—especially as it doesn’t disturb the silhouette. I’ve been gently teased over my enthusiasm for the appendages in dressing rooms: “And it has pockets!” Because it usually means I’m justifying an otherwise unnecessary purchase. But there was an interesting article in The Atlantic a little while back that fully supports my position on this matter.
Tanya Basu’s “The Gender Politics of Pockets” uses the latest (larger) iPhone size as the jump-off point to argue that a lack of pockets may actually be holding women back—forcing them to grab a purse if heading to lunch or a meeting with colleagues. Whether or not this is a factor in determining equality in the workplace is of course up for debate, but certainly women’s clothing should account for both form and function.
So, in light of that—and the possibility that you might be considering your closet for the upcoming holidays—here are some favorite items that mix (feminine) form and function: skirts with pockets.
Above: Zara Midi Skirt / Zara (detail) / JCrew Pleated Skirt / Madewell Satin Pleated Midi / Zara Midi Skirt (I have this one in pink; it’s the same one I wore in this post)
As the holidays approach and the kids’ wish-lists starts growing, I thought it would be nice to get some advice from an expert—a preschool teacher. In this post, the second of a three-part series on tips for preschoolers, Kayla Poole was kind enough to share her answer to “What are the best books for this age?”
As an early childhood educator, my personal picture book collection is enormous. We’re all aware of the inherent value in reading to little ones: if you want your child(ren) to love books, you need to start by reading your favorites to them. As a child, I vividly remember becoming lost for hours upon hours in the pages of books. Story books were everything to me, and that’s because my parents fundamentally believed in their importance. Cultivating imagination and creative thinking is so important at the preschool level, and storybooks are are the first resource I turn to in my classroom to instill these skills.
This is barely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to picture books, as there are literally hundreds I hold in high regard. But these? They are some of the most beloved by me and the hundreds of students I’ve taught over the years… Keep Reading >
I am such a sucker for studies about kids’ behaviors. The footage of a little girl trying to avoid eating a marshmallow? Empathy tests involving a room of toddlers? Aw, such charming little subjects. One such study that has stuck with me for years was watching preschoolers choose a sticker-festooned rock over a cupcake. (Say what?!)
What researchers set out to prove was that kids prefer foods bearing the likeness of characters, particularly familiar ones. I didn’t have children at the time, but I remember filing it away: “Stickers on carrots! Stickers on broccoli!”
With Thanksgiving approaching, I was thinking about how to get the visual-appeal-voodoo working on all of us for that post-holiday car ride home. After all, snacking in the back seat is the most sure-fire solution to keeping little ones entertained.
First step: sticker-festooning something. I went with lunchbox lids and got Hudson involved.
Next: work with what you have. I think we all love leftovers. (Turkey sandwiches with apples, cranberries, and cheese, anyone? Pumpkin pie for breakfast?) But there comes a time when you want to make some healthier choices—at least until the December holidays hit.
The raw ingredients for most Thanksgiving feasts are thankfully quite healthy, (think celery, apples, baked root vegetables, brussels sprouts, nuts… and turkey!), and you’re likely to have some yams left that didn’t get a marshmallow treatment. Hudson isn’t so sure about brussels sprouts, but the celery is a big hit because it’s so loud! (He thinks we can hear it crunching as loudly as he does in his ears, which amounts to lots of laughs when we make a game of pretending we can’t hear the radio.)
And finally: Make it pretty! Sure the stickers work on the preschooler in the back, but I’m also about ten times more excited about a snack tray that’s colorful and neatly arranged.
What healthy snacks do you like to bring along on road trips? What do you reach for after the Thanksgiving feast?
This content was created in partnership with Ford to help make creativity a part of every drive this holiday season.
