If you’ve stepped foot in a baby store recently, then you know the overwhelming feeling that comes with endless choices between strollers, car seats, and cribs. Deciding which to register for can be a daunting task, but it shouldn’t be!  A baby registry is a great way to share with family and friends what you need and to let them help out.  But before you go registry crazy, be realistic about what you want – items that seem cool in the store might end up in their packaging forever or your baby will quickly outgrow. You want to think bigger picture and longer term than the first few months. Let’s face it, babies are expensive and most of the important baby needs are too.
Register For What You Really Need:
A Deposit a Gift registry lets you register for what you actually will use long term: money. But it’s not just money for money’s sake; it’s money to be used for exactly what you need, when you need it. You can register for things that you never could with traditional store, and you have the flexibility to buy as needed instead of everything at once, such as:
What are the Benefits of an Alternative Baby Registry?
Given that a lot of the baby gear decisions are based on lifestyle preferences, it’s important to give yourself the time and space to figure out your parenting style and what works for you. Therefore, a traditional registry can often be inefficient. An alternative baby registry is perfect for:
Registries are a fantastic way to make it easy for friends and family to know what you need, but you shouldn’t feel pressured to go the traditional route if that doesn’t fit your style. A Deposit a Gift registry can help you manage and customize what you buy for your new baby to give you the most flexibility with this new phase of life.
There’s so much advice teaching new moms how to keep it together fashion-wise after a little one arrives on the scene. As a men’s Image and Style Consultant perhaps Julie Rath of Rath & Co. is biased, but sometimes new dads have just as much trouble maintaining a fresh sense of style. The keys are to keep it straightforward and functional, and we’re so excited for Julie to share her six tips for new dads to do just that.
Masculine Baby Accessories
The heading may sound like an oxymoron, but there’s a whole industry catering to hip dads who don’t want to carry around flowered diaper bags. Companies like Diaper Dude and Storksak design bags with these dads in mind: they come in solid dark colors like carbon grey and army green, not to mention in brown and black leather.
Stylish Functionality
It’s no secret that you need to tote a lot of gear when you have kids. Luckily for the fashion-conscious dad, slim cargo pants are currently on-trend, so these guys can stow some of what they’ll need in those pockets for easy access. I like this khaki pair from Lands’ End Canvas, the black camo’s from Rogue or J Brand’s vintage trooper cargo.
Dark Matter
The first thing I usually hear from clients who are parents is how easy it is for clothes to get ruined from drips, drools and worse. With this in mind, new dads should look for machine washable clothes in forgiving dark colors.
Know Your Fabrics
Style-savvy dads can further protect their clothes by wearing stain-resistant fabrics. A company called Nano-Tex has engineered an incredible fabric called Nano-Care Stressfree that literally repels stains; brands like Gap, Levi’s and Eddie Bauer sell clothing made with this technology. New dads can also protect themselves from looking worn out by wearing fabrics that look better when a little wrinkled. Think chambray, linen or flannel shirts and washed cotton chinos from inexpensive stores like Uniqlo.
Basic Grooming
It can be easy to get lax about haircuts, hair trimming and shaving once the little one shows up, but part of looking good is maintaining these elements of style. Many hair stylists make house calls, making it easy to fit cuts into your busy schedule.
Stay Organized
When you’re sleep-deprived, you won’t want to contend with a messy, confusing closet. Clean and organize your closet regularly so you can get dressed quickly. And if you need help, call in a professional.
Most importantly for new dads: Have a clear game plan at the outset. There’s no need to descend to a dad jeans + hoodie combo when you can just as easily put on a casual sport coat and well-fitted jeans – even if you’re just heading to the park. I hope the above tips help, and I welcome your questions and comments!
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As seen on CBS’s The Early Show, in Men’s Health magazine and in The Wall Street Journal, Julie Rath runs Rath & Co., an Image and Style Consulting service that gives men an extra edge. Julie specializes in image and style strategy, color analysis, closet edits, wardrobe planning, and personal shopping. She hangs out mostly in stores and other peoples’ closets, but otherwise you can reach her at julie@rathandco.com or 646.434.7842.
If you haven’t heard the exciting news yet, it’s engagement season! Last month we got you started with some tips on the registry, and now, we just want to remember all those fun things that make any engagement so amazing!
From Emmaline Bride seller Harvest Gold Gallery
There’s so much more to the engagement than just the proposal, ring, and shower. It really is a magical time – what’s your favorite part?
There are so many beautiful gifts available for bridesmaids, but it can seem like a struggle to find something personal for the groomsmen. They can’t be forgotten though, because their participation is so important and they really deserve something special. Handmade gifts make some of the best shows of appreciation and Emmaline Bride and Etsy have got you covered with some amazing options. Here are some of our favorites!
The Crimson King has got dozens of pop culture cufflinks to choose from that reflect your groomsmen’s style.
Who says soap is just for women? This handmade shaving soap from LifeSoapSimple is perfect for guys.
Love these mustache mugs from LennyMud. Â For the guy who likes a laugh with his morning coffee.
Kazzki makes amazing cases for laptops, phones, iPods, and much more.
For the groomsman who likes to drink! Â These personalized, wheel thrown pottery beer steins from mudpie2 are perfect.
Don’t be intimidated by what seems to be a small selection! Â There are so many great options for groomsmen by talented handmade artists.
Last week we shared some gift ideas that work double time – great for the receiver, and great for the environment! We’ve got some more ideas for you, but this time, the gifts give back to the underprivileged. Take a look!
For each book you purchase from Better World Books, they’ll give a book to someone in need. Even better, part of each sale goes towards organizations that support literacy.
You’ve probably given this gift before, and if you’re a man, you’ve probably received it – a tie! The next time you give a tie, give from FIGS Ties. For every tie you purchase, they’ll donate a school uniform to an underprivileged child.
Glasses a great gift – and if you purchase yours from Warby Parker, you’ll also be giving a pair to someone in need.
Chances are you’ve already heard about TOMS Shoes. Their One-for-One Movement gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you buy.
FEED Projects has got a lot of great gift options – bags, bears, t-shirts, and other accessories. But the best part is that built into the price of each, is a donation to provide meals to those who can’t afford them.
If you’re short on ideas for holiday gift-giving, these are some great options! Friends and family will be thrilled to know that their gifts are helping someone in need.
