Beautiful Beasts and where to find them; spoiler alert, they are everywhere!

You can find them with basketballs and ballet shoes, coaching and running a business, working as scientists, film directors and everywhere in between. Beautiful Beasts are the girls and women who rise above and empower each other.

Hingham based Dianne Garrity & her 12-year-old daughter, Lexi, are on a mission to support girls in sports and beyond. When Lexi learned her brothers could grow up to be professional athletes and earn more than she could she was determined to bring awareness and change gender inequality. The beast inside Lexi was growing.

Lexi and her mom started designing the image and name that would excite girls and women to enable the change and find their confidence. What they created is a handmade athleisure brand that recognizes girls & women leading in their field and supports them through fundraising. Currently, they are supporting Girls on the Run‘s local Boston chapter and hope to support many more organizations locally and nationally.

Presently made to order, with 4 main designs there is something for everyone. Mother Beast-a large spotted lioness; Sister beast-a smaller puma great for children’s sizing; Signature Beast- Beautiful Beast text & Jane-a rainbow of animal print down arm/chest. Designs are available in tees, sweatshirts and some short sets. Production time is a week or less, and items are available in kids 4/5x to women’s/men’s XL.

DM @beautifulbeast_sport to order on Instagram.

There you have it, Beautiful Beasts unleashed. Join the pride.

This year, because so many of us have had so much QT with our spouses and significant others and so little time with our gals, it feels right to celebrate Galentines Day. Maybe we can’t toast each other at brunch, or over a glass of bubbly just yet but, we can leave little surprises on doorsteps and mailboxes. I visited some of my favorite local shops (all offering curbside pickup) and found some seriously cute gifts for all of your Galentines.

Whether you are suiting up in sweats, jeans, dresses or just making the morning school run in your jammies chances are you are reaching for your favorite pair of boots. The temperature has dropped and I’ve had the same two lace up boots on repeat all winter! Although they are not new, I am breathing new life into them with the help of a little winter scrub and fresh laces.

First up, the cleaning. Boots take a beating, from dirt, mud, rain, ice, snow and salt. It’s important to invest in a good pair that can handle different types of weather and terrain. If you can, try to keep them clean after each wear with the scrub of a soft, medium or stiff bristle brush (depending on the fabric/material of the boot)-this will keep a deep clean at bay. But if you’re like me and you can’t seem to find the time, twice a year is a good place to start. I clean my boots at the beginning of the season (to get them ready for wear) and again at the end of the season (before I pack them up).

After the cleaning, consider swapping out the laces for a fresh new pair. The fibers in your laces will break down from constant tying/untying and harsh weather. A quick run through the washing machine may be just the trick, or simply purchasing a new pair of laces. Stay classic and buy a replacement of the same color and width or spice it up with a different color/pattern and/or size or shape (flat, wide, waxed, round).

Shown below: Black combat boot with wide flat cotton multi colored laces on left and round braided nylon laces on the right. These boots were originally purchased with black round waxed laces. A great classic look that I love, but I am enjoying the updated look of either of the laces below.

Shown below: White hiker boot with wide flat cotton laces in solid color on left, and round braided nylon on the right. I purchased these boots with the white round braided nylon on the right but have switched to the wide flat cotton laces on the left. I love how the contrast of the wide camel colored laces against the white boot *pop*. The boot feels a little less sporty and a little more updated.

Trying to decide on a Thanksgiving outfit? No sweat. Just grab some sweats or loungewear. If you haven’t had enough of elasticized waists at this point, why give them up now? From a legit sweatsuit to sporty bottoms paired with a statement sweater, we’re dishing some fashionable (and very comfortable) options for whatever kind of feast you’re planning.

Sweats + Sweater
These 3/4 cropped sweatpants made from lightweight french terry are fitted yet still super-relaxed, giving them a leg up on traditional sweats. Try them with a sweet sweater and a gold necklace and you’ve mastered the elevated sweatpants look. Not psyched for sweats? Start the day in your favorite denim and switch to sweats later.

This year our tables may be limited to intimate family gatherings, but that doesn’t mean our menus or outfits need to be limited. Whether you feel like an all-out attire, or just punching up your favorite cozy essentials, I’ve got some great local “turkey dressing” to wear to your table.

Long hair, short hair, hide your roots or touch them up? The latter is a subject I never knew much about. I’ve never dyed my hair, except that one time I rebelled in high school and reached for the purple boxed hair dye in aisle 10. The worst part, after all that time spent hiding in the bathroom the dye only showed through my black hair as faint purple highlights in the sun. What I do know is a great cut. I usually alternate between long stretches of growing out my hair only to chop it off around pixie length and start the process over.

The pandemic may have forced many of us into my hair ritual, or shopping down pharmacy aisles in search of the perfect shade only your stylist can create. But in speaking with our favorite local professionals, they shared some tips to keep your locks luscious and custom color at your fingertips.

Best tip: Low Maintenance. The stylist at Texture and Gloss have great tips to lengthen your color: think root touch ups, melts and balayage to name a few. Embrace the time between cuts and ask for a blunt chop with long layers to keep your hair healthy. Another pro tip: Schedule Now. Our schedules have never been busier, but you’ll thank yourself every time you catch a glimpse of your perfectly coiffed hair as you are running to hybrid pickup. Take advantage of AZ Studio’s 3,500 sq ft salon with room to spare. Request days when less stylists are on the schedule and you can enjoy a quiet salon, early risers and night owls welcome.

And now, everyone’s favorite add-on products. Speaking of busy schedules, who has time to shower anymore? The stylists at AZ Salon have an excellent variety of dry shampoos to educate you about. I popped in to inquire about one brand and left armed with my favorite post workout, sleepy weekend root booster. Hint, try the R + Co Spiritualized dry shampoo. The label says dry, but it’s a light mist that when it dries post sweat/spritz cleanses your scalp with it’s micellar magic. Remember that custom color you can’t live without? Don’t be shy ask the stylists at Texture and Gloss for a root touch up kit, they were wildly successful during quarantine and as temperatures drop they would make a lovely addition to your medicine cabinet/closet.

*Thanks to Texture and Gloss (109 Ripley Road, Cohasset) and AZ Studio (29 Main Street, Hingham) for helping with this post.

I don’t know about you, but I feel slightly like a mathmetician after 3 months of homeschooling kids. Or maybe the exact opposite since I had to relearn the new methods of arithmetic. Either way, I may have found an easy equation we can all get behind 1+1=6 (don’t worry I’ll explain)…

Separate sets are making a big comeback this season and I’m excited for all the options these sold separately pieces add to your wardrobe.

Lets start with separate sets that are sold separately (mostly), say that 5 times fast. Matching separates are seemingly everywhere…lingerie, lounge wear, ready to wear and they are available in printed and solid sets. And while you can certainly purchase your favorite piece separately, I’m making the case that it’s a bigger bang for your buck, CPW, full value, to buy the set, here’s why.

When you like a clothing piece enough to purchase it you are, usually, already planning how and/or when to wear it. Hopefully you have at least 2 great ideas on how, when or where to don this new stunner. For example, for arguments sake, lets pair a great top (your 1 piece) back to jeans then style them from day to night. For day time think sneakers/flats and an oversized light/heavy jacket depending on the weather and/or season. For night, swap your footwear for sandals/heels and a sleek handbag or blazer. So for one piece you get 2 looks, still with me?

Now, lets get back to all those matching sets you’ll see online, in your favorite local stores, and social media feeds. If you find a piece you like enough to purchase it, and it comes in a set, buy both! When you purchase both pieces, you can style the top: day to night; the bottom: day to night; and both pieces together: day to night. Voila…6 different style options born from 2 great pieces.

Here are a few of my favorite sets sold in some of my favorite stores:

This Mother’s Day, shower mom with all the love and attention and maybe a little space (wink, wink). She’s not only deserving (how many additional titles can we now add to our ever growing resume) but now, more than ever, we’re thankful for our families and are working/or overworking to keep them safe, healthy and educated. So lets keep her safe, sane, pampered, hydrated, well fed, sweet, covered up, tucked in and relaxed with this special “local edition” of fabulous gifts, specially curated for CK by our style editor, Jessica Sandifer.

Have you have noticed a transition from large shoulder bags to small clutches, and top handle bags for daytime? At first I thought – no way could this momma of four fit all the necessities of life into such a small package…boy, was I wrong!

Maybe it is because my kids are older now, youngest is 5. And they can (whether they chose to or not) carry their own sports equipment, books, water, snacks and totally necessary tchotchkes. Really, I realized (and applied) the mantra less is more to my everyday handbag and saved my back and my handbags from toting so much on a everyday basis. This is not to say I don’t enjoy a great oversized shoulder bag, or carry all tote but mini bags are earning a place in my everyday wardrobe too.

What I really love about a smaller handbag, is that they favor BIG but polished statement designs. Even if you shy away from a “loud” handbag, and prefer a simple sleek design, the smaller size tempers the volume.

Lucky for us one of my favorites, is locally based George & Dino. I can’t get enough of her Feather clutch. Made of durable leather, with a bold zipper closure and lightened up with soft feather detailing. I reach for this clutch every day date, date night and girls brunch/night.

I have also enjoyed utilizing Rent the Runway (RTR) to try out additional styles. If you are interested in trying, enjoy $100 off 1 month of unlimited membership: RTRBOSTON1B87F