Holiday Gift Guide Post #7: The Significant Other

Well, it’s official – winter is on its way. With near freezing temperatures expected later in the week – and snow (yes, snow!) in the forecast for northern New England, here at Yak we’re about ready to break out our winter wardrobes. But before we get wrapped up in warm, fuzzy hats – we owe you one more Holiday Gift Guide post. So here you go holiday shoppers – the most important gift of all – the gift for your significant other.

It’s pretty tough to write a gift guide post for “the significant other” because every relationship has its own set of rules and expectations, so instead of specific products, today we’re going to outline three gift types that fall into different categories based on the length of the relationship: new relationship, serious relationship and married.

1)New Relationship: When you start dating someone just before a holiday it can be really stressful. Do you buy them a gift? A card? Anything at all? Here at Yak we love presents – so we think a gift is appropriate – but something small, and preferably handmade. If you’ve got a photograph of the two of you, put it in a cute frame, or make your boyfriend/girlfriend a “coupon book” of nice gestures they can cash in on like a kiss, a back massage, a homemade dinner, etc.

2)Serious Relationship: When you’ve been in a relationship with someone for a while, and you’re comfortable either living together or spending nights together, then a weekend getaway is a perfect holiday gift. Surprise your sweetie with a weekend in the mountains, or a trip to the beach – and top it all off with a romantic card or love letter.

3)Married: When you’re married it can be tempting to give each other practical gifts – a new vacuum cleaner, a bedroom set, cookware – but don’t fall into this trap too quickly. The holidays should be a special time to really celebrate each other – so sweeten the pot a little bit with something extravagant. When it comes to buying for your wife, never overlook a nice piece of jewelry. You might think that since you’ve already “put a ring on it” you don’t need to get her something sparkly – but women love jewelry that they can wear everyday and be reminded of your thoughtfulness. As far as the men go it’s pretty simple actually – a nice watch, piece of sports equipment or power tool usually goes over pretty well!

Still not sure what to get? Head on over to yakapparel.com to see some of our newest models strutting our favorite hats – and check back next week for more info on how you can become a Yak model too.

Holiday Gift Guide Post #6: The Outdoorsman (Or Woman)

Well, we’re almost through with our holiday gift guide and today we’ve got a great post for all of those city dwellers who don’t know what to get for their outdoorsy country cousins (or kids or parents or aunts and uncles…).

The outdoorsman (or woman) is actually really easy to buy for, because the thing they love the most is doing things! The perfect gift for the outdoorsy type is special trip or activity. Luckily, this year that’s even easier thanks to websites like Groupon and Living Social, which offer adventurous activity vouchers at prices from 50% to 90% off retail.

To find the perfect trip visit www.livingsocial.com/adventures (or other similar sites), and find the city nearest to the person you’re trying to buy for. On any given day there will be multiple options for adventures to purchase – and the vouchers are typically good for a year – voila!

Of course, if you’re not exactly sure what type of adventure to buy, you can always go with the gift that everyone loves – a Yak hat! There are tons of styles to choose from – from trapper hats to beanies and pom poms – and they come in men’s and women’s styles and plenty of colors. Yak hats are exceptionally warm and super stylish – the best of both worlds! Check ‘em out now at www.yakapparel.com and then come back soon to see our final Holiday Gift Guide post – your husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend.

Holiday Gift Guide Post #5: The Wine Connoisseur

Well our holiday gift guide is getting close to complete – just three posts left! So today we’re tackling one of the most difficult gifts of all – the wine lover’s gift. Wine lovers are typically REALLY picky and judgmental about wine – and since there are rarely any bottles that satisfy every taste (at least not within our gift guide budget), it can be an uphill battle trying to buy a bottle for a holiday (or housewarming) gift.

Now, while those of us here at Yak certainly love wine – we’re not exactly “wine connoisseurs.” So instead of trying to pick out the perfect bottle, we’ve got two great wine lover gifts that are alcohol-free and sure to suit every taste!

1. RSVP Endurance Stemless Wine Glasses

These super-modern stemless wine glasses are actually made of stainless steel. Sounds (and looks) bizarre but they are definitely trendy right now. Stainless steel “glasses” are also extremely durable and environmentally friendly, unlike some plastic alternatives which can leach chemicals into the water or wine – YUCK! Find them on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-Endurance-Stemless-Wine-Glass/dp/B004TGTYVM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1319062440&sr=8-3. You can also get them in traditional, goblet and mug style.

2. Wine Charms

For the wine lover that’s also a frequent host or hostess – wine charms are the perfect gift. These cute little charms hook onto the stem of a wine glass and help party-goers identify their drink. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and at www.wineglasscharms.com, you can actually create your own set. Wine charms are a great DIY gift as well – you can make them at home with a couple of trinket charms and stiff wire.

Happy crafting!

Holiday Gift Guide Post #4: The Sports Fan

Well the New England Patriots had a big win this weekend, and it’s got all of us here at Yak thinking about how important sports are to so many in New England, and across the country for that matter. But with all of the die hard sports fans we have here in Boston, we knew no holiday gift guide would be complete without a post about gifts for sports fans.

Sports gifts can be a little bit tricky to buy, because most sports fans – especially Boston sports fans – already have EVERYTHING they could ever want relating to their team. However, if you get creative enough (and are willing to buy something a little ridiculous) you can get even the most dedicated sports fan something that will make them smile. The following are a few of our favorites:

1. The NFL Team Toaster

Let your favorite sports fan start the morning in style with team-branded toast. It may be a little bit silly but the toaster is actually functional, and compact enough to fit in even the smallest kitchens. Find it at http://nfltoaster.com/.

2. The NFL Game Day Cookbook

Not really into all the corny sports memorabilia? Get your game day junkie something functional – and actually kind of classy (well, as classy as you can get when it comes to sports gifts). The NFL Game Day Cookbook is written by acclaimed author Ray (Dr. BBQ) Lampe and contains weeks worth of good game day grub including ribs, wings and other tasty animal appendages. Find it at http://www.drbbq.com/nflcookbook.php.

3. Looking for something a sports fan will enjoy – but not branded by a major league? Go for one of Yak’s cute beanie hats. They come in black, green, grey and pink and are perfect for keeping your head warm both on the field and in the stands.

Don’t forget – there’s still time left to get 25% off all Yak Apparel. Order by October 31^st and use discount code Yak1011 at checkout. Then check back later in the week for our 5^th Holiday Gift Guide post – the Wine Connoisseur.

wool hat with full faux-fur lining

wool hat with full faux-fur lining, a photo by YAK Apparel on Flickr.

Elegant handmade natural wool hat with full faxux-fur lining. This hat is perfect for winter outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snow camping, snow shoeing, hiking, and just stroll in the city. It is really warm because of natural wool and fuzzy faux-fur lining.
You can find these hats at http://YAKapparel.com

Holiday Gift Guide Post #1 – The Foodie

Hello Yak fans! This week we were inspired by the release of the new iPhone4S to start a holiday gift-giving guide that covers all of your weird and wonderful relatives. For each post we’ll choose a category of gift recipient, and recommend both the perfect hat and the perfect gadget for this year’s holiday gift list.
For our first post we’re tackling the foodie. The foodie is the man or woman in your life who not only loves to eat (who doesn’t love to eat?) but also loves to cook, experiment, and play with food and foodie gadgets. I have to admit, I’m kind of a foodie myself – but I have a real aversion to “foodie gadgets.” Ninety-nine percent of them are completely pointless. I mean really, a spiral vegetable cutter? How often do you need to cut your carrots into slinkies?
However, despite the clutter of useless kitchen tools masquerading as “foodie gifts,” I’ve managed to find two cool kitchen gadgets that are worthy of your favorite chef.

1. The Butter Cutter

I absolutely love this gadget. One of my biggest kitchen pet peeves is a melted, messy butter dish – and the Butter Cutter eliminates this problem by slicing individual pats of butter with one easy click. Any true foodie (or kitchen-cleaning mom) will treasure this clever contraption.

butter cutter

2. The Bruce Balcony Grill

The Bruce Balcony Grill is the perfect present for all of your apartment-dwelling foodie friends. It’s a great space saver and looks just like a flower box. You can hook it onto a terrace or railing and enjoy a nice summer BBQ without any of the itchy ants and other grass-dwelling creepy crawlies. Bon Appétit!

balcony grill

And last but not least, every foodie needs a piece of stylish headwear for all of those fall trips to the farmer’s market. We like the Earflap Wool Hat with Tassels for its casual, earthy look – perfect for apple picking and pie making! You can get a 25% discount on every purchase until October 31st, use the promotion code: YAK1011 at the check out.

Earflap wool hat

-Hannah Perlmutter
 http://YAKapparel.com

Thank you Steve Jobs for i-everything

Steve Jobs one of the greatest innovators (1955-2011)

#Apple co-founder Steve Jobs "died peacefully today, surrounded by his family," Jobs' relatives said #stevejobs http://t.co/XjQSc6l3" - @cnnbrk
"Steve Jobs is one of the great innovators in the history of modern capitalism," New York Times columnist Joe Nocera said in August.
President Obama: "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators" #stevejobs http://t.co/xtmwCrtN" - @cnnbrk
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates: "I will miss Steve immensely." #stevejobs http://t.co/xtmwCrtN" - @cnnbrk
Mark Zuckerberg Facebook Page: Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. #stevejobs http://t.co/xtmwCrtN" - @cnnbrk





Thank you Steve Jobs for ieverything.
-YAK Apparel family.
http://YAKapparel.com

Holiday Gift Guide Post #2 – The Fashionista

This week our holiday gift guide is all about the fashionista. Buying for fashion forward friends is always a little bit tricky. You don’t want to buy anything that comes in a size, because we all know what the holiday season can do to a waistline – but gift certificates on the other hand, can be cold and impersonal. So what’s a Yak fan to do? The answer is accessories.
Accessories are one of the hottest trends this season. A good pair of earrings or a stylish bag can turn even jeans and a classic tee into a standout outfit. Some of this season’s most popular accessories include hats, earrings, and handbags for women and ties, watches and hats for men.
Finding the perfect accessory gift is actually a lot easier than you might think, thanks to websites like shoedazzle.com, where a quick style quiz helps you determine your favorite fashionista’s “look” and then recommends accessories that match you style.
For the fashion forward guy in your life – skip back over to yakapparel.com. We’ve got tons of great hats for every guy – from metro to macho. Some of this season’s favorites include the Gray Trapper Hat with Tassels (perfect for a city slicker or stylish skier) and the classic Earflap Wool Hat (which looks good on just about every guy we’ve ever met).

Still a little scared to pick something out for someone so picky about what they wear? Make a gift card more personal by purchasing it from a particular store that you know suits their style – or buy them a fashion related activity like a session with a personal stylist or wardrobe consultant.


http://YAKapparel.com

Holiday Gift Guide Post #3: The Kiddos

We all know who loves holiday gift giving the most. That’s right, the kiddos.
Kids are always the center of holiday celebrations (well, at least the ones that happen before bedtime, and especially the ones that involve unwrapping.) The only problem? Gift giving for kids has gotten out of control. Seriously. Kids these days get more presents than they can count, and with kids toys that can literally drive, fly and crawl out of their boxes – the stakes are high. Really high.
So how do you make an impression without breaking the bank? We’ve got a list of hot holiday gifts (and of course hats) for kids in every age range, from toddler to teenager.
Toddler: For the littlest lovebugs in your life, pick the VTech 3-in-1 Learning Zebra Scooter. It converts from push walker to ride-on scooter so kids can keep using it as they grow, and it’s packed with plenty of fun gadgets in all kinds of colors, shapes and sizes. The best feature? It’s only $50 bucks.
Grade Schooler: Older kids are into interactive toys – so it’s important to find something they can mess around with. The Spy Net Video Watch is a great gift, and it’s only $45 dollars. The watch features a real video camera and microphone so the little munchkins can spy on you after they were supposed to be in bed.

Teenager: Teenagers are definitely old enough to be dressing themselves (at least we hope they are!) so fashion gifts are a no-brainer. Girls will love the cute and fuzzy pink and faux fur trapper from Yak Apparel – and the boys will look totally macho in the gray trapper with tassels – both under $50 bucks.

And don’t forget – if you scoop these hats before October 31^st you can get 25% off! Just enter promotion code YAK1011 at checkout.

http://Shop.YAKapparel.com

http://Shop.YAKapparel.com

New York Fashion Week’s Most Memorable Hats

Here at Yak we’re pretty obsessed with hats. We’re always on the look out for cool new trends and inspiration for our collections – and this week we found a real inspiration gem. Check out this YouTube video that captures the most outrageous hats from New York Fashion week. The pictures aren’t even of models – they’re guests at runway shows!

Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GKCKKcVQaE to check it out.

The hats in the video are pretty outrageous, but it’s kind of cool to see just how daring and expressive headwear can be. Even if you’re not ready for that level of fashion experimentation, there are plenty of “tamer” hat styles to play around with this season. According to fashion reporters who were on the scene at New York Fashion Week, many of the guests showed up in fedoras (the season’s most popular style), floppy hats and even turban style headwear.

The rise in popularity of hats could be due to fashion trends, but it could also be out of convenience. After all, hats are the easiest cure for a bad hair day. Fashion writer Bjorn Nasett summed it up perfectly when he said, “I don't believe in bad hair days, I believe in good hats.”

So true, Bjorn. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

-Hannah Perlmutter

http://YAKapparel.com

Make it With Wool Fashion Designer Contest

Here at Yak we’re always on the look out for cool fashion news, especially if it has to do with fabulous hats and warm winter wool. And today we’ve got a great little tidbit for all you aspiring designers out there! Check out the Wool Fashion Design Competition, sponsored by the American Wool Council.

The contest invites all college-level apparel design students (who are at least 17 years old) to create an original design using wool and submit a fabric swatch, a 5×7 photograph of the garment on a model, and a 1-3 minute video of the garment on a model to the National ‘Make It With Wool’ Coordinator.

The designs will be judged on creativity, fit, marketability and workmanship, among other criteria, and the winner of the contest will get a $1000 scholarship and a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona to participate in the national finals fashion show in January!

Sounds pretty good to us! The deadline for submissions is November 1^st, 2011 – so get sewing, and be sure to show us your cool wool designs – you never know, maybe we’ll be inspired to design a new hat!
For more information and submission guidelines for the contest, go to http://www.makeitwithwool.com/fashiondesigncontest.html.

-Hannah Perlmutter