Lifestyle

Three #ShopSmall Brands I Just Fell In Love With

Me and my kimono

I wrote this post right before my parents and I left for the Caymans – I forgot to post it back then, but still want to, because the four brands I discovered are great. It was just a little less than a month ago, and people were still doing things like being in rooms together. (You guys. That was less than a month ago. Read this article; it gave me whiplash.)

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My kids’ school held a shopping fundraiser this morning, and hi, that is the best kind of fundraiser. Shopping! Except it’s tax-deductible! (Mostly.) A whole bunch of locally owned and operated brands set up stands, and I swooned. And spent far too much money, but hey! Tax-deductible! (Mostly.)

jen's pirate booty kimono

First, Jen’s Pirate Booty: This is the ultimate in vacation-wear, with the absolute most gorgeous, lacy, flowy kaftans, dresses and kimonos. I picked up a wide-sleeve kimono with rainbow embroidery, and a beachy striped cover-up that I plan to wear all summer long with a pair of denim shorts underneath.

I’m obsessed. This is what I want to look like 100% of the time (except maybe with a shirt, too). …So now I guess I’ve gotten a head-start.

P.S. Omg the kids’ pieces.

kerri wilder jewelry

Next, Kerri Wilder Jewelry. These pieces stopped me in my tracks: Her crystal necklaces in particular – strung on long, delicate strands of rainbow beads – are spectacular (one is pictured in that top photo with the Jen’s Pirate Booty kimono). My favorite pieces, though, are her…I don’t even know how to describe them. …House beads? They’re massive, chunky crystals strung on massive, chunky wood strands – the one I picked up is pictured above – and they’re meant to layer onto your coffee table, hang on a doorknob…wherever you want them. Obsessed.

I don’t see the house beads on the site, but I know that you can contact her and she’ll tell you what’s in stock, or make you a custom piece depending on the type of crystal you’re looking for.

MGS is a locally-made swimsuit brand I’ve been writing about for awhile now – that’s me in Indonesia last year wearing one of their suits – and they continue to be my go-to. The bikinis are teeeeeny, to be sure – so be in the mood to get your Brazilian on, and maybe size up two or three (I wear an XL top and a L bottom in the bikinis) – but I need to show you this one-piece with cutouts: I just tried it on, and it’s so flattering. And for a basic black string bikini, it doesn’t get better than this (remember: size up!).

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