Packing for yourself and your family can be the most difficult part of a summer vacation, but with a few tips from lifestyle expert Jamie Krell, you’ll know exactly what to bring for stress-free travel.
Watch Jamie’s segment on the Today Show.
DesPlaines River Canoe & Kayak Marathon + Hat Review
Glenview, IL – The Coolibar Discovery Wide Brim Hat successfully completed the DesPlaines River Canoe & Kayak Marathon this past Sunday, May 20, 2012. The hat accomplished this feat while riding on the head of Jeremy Van Ek, amateur but fanatical paddler, and was accompanied on the journey by a Coolibar Short Sleeve Fitness Shirt and a generous slathering of All Terrain Aqua Sport sunscreen. The DesPlaines marathon is a 18.5 mile paddle down the DesPlaines river in the suburbs of Chicago for canoeists and kayakers. It’s the second longest running paddling race in the US, and typically sees 500-600 boats in the race.
“The conditions of the race this year demanded tough protection,” say’s participant Jeremy Van Ek. ” 90 degree heat with not a cloud in the sky, which is very unusual this time of year for the Chicago area. Add to that a stiff wind out of the south, which was the predominant direction we were paddling during the race. I can attest that the double chin strap on the Discovery Hat works very well…the hat was blown off my head twice during the race, but fortunately the chin strap saved it from being lost entirely and kept it hanging around my neck.”
Van Ek also had to say, “The Coolibar gear did well in the race. This early in the year in Chicago us northerners are still all very white from the winter, so risk of sunburn on an unusually sunny and hot day is high. I didn’t have a trace of pink anywhere, even on my face, after a solid 4 hours in the direct sun, in wet and windy conditions.”
The Coolibar/Van Ek pairing turned in a decent finish for their debut event: 10th out of 28 in the men’s long kayak division, and 51st overall of about 600 boats of all classes.
More race updates and product review from Van Ek to come!
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Style Expert Bridgette Raes on Summer Trends in UPF 50+
Since 2002, Style Expert Bridgette Raes has transformed the wardrobes and styles of hundreds of clients. She is the president of Bridgette Raes Style Group in New York and author of the book Style Rx: Dressing the Body You Have to Create the Body You Want. Her witty, down-to-earth and educational advice has made her a sought-after writer, spokesperson and style expert for many media outlets. Now, Bridgette brings her expertise to the Coolibar Blog to show us how to prepare our wardrobe for warmer weather in a trend setting way.
“The warm weather is here! It’s time to get out and enjoy the sun. Getting enough sunshine is important for your health and wellbeing, but too much sun can be very dangerous. With Skin Cancer Awareness month this May, I thought it was important to write a blog that showed you how you can safely enjoy the sun this summer….while still looking fabulous.
I decided to take some of Coolibar’s more popular pieces, all that have UPF 50+ and 98% UV Protection to show you just how easy it can be this summer to look good and care for your skin at the same time.
For this first look, I took Coolibar’s ZnO Harbor Hoodie in a classic navy and white stripe and paired it with some trendy red cropped pants. Colored pants are so popular for summer and the overall look, worn with a pair of metallic wedges and an easy tote offers a timeless nautical style that is perfect for summer, be it for boating, going to the beach, the park or attending a barbecue with friends.
Bright colored tunics and color blocking are two big trends right now. To address both, I took Coolibar’s ZnO Bayside Tunic and paired it with white Bermuda shorts and a pair of bright green sandals. For more protection, I added Coolibar’s very versatile Sun Hat. This is a great look that can be worn for just about anything you may be doing out and about this summer from a day out sightseeing to a casual dinner out with your mate.
For the beach, Coolibar’s Print Ruche Swim Shirt in this trendy zebra print is so exciting. Not only can the chlorine and salt-water resistant swim shirt be cinched up and worn in the water, but it can also be worn as a tunic-length cover-up. For additional sun protection (and style) can throw on Coolibar’s Packable Wide Brim Hat and a pair of their fabulous sunglasses. Yellow is one of the “it” colors for summer. I went with a trendier yellow for that extra punch. Lastly, a black straw bag and you can take from the beach to the street with this two-for-one piece.
In the summer, most of us get outside to exercise. Often when working out we don’t think about how the sun could be damaging our skin. There is a way to look stylish and be sun protected while getting your heart rate up. Coolibar’s Swim Bike Run Jacket that has stylish contrast piping gives you a high performance jacket that can also be worn in the water. Paired with their swim active capris and one of their fabulous hats, I threw in some additional pink accessories to inspire you to get out and get moving…while protecting yourself.
Lastly, a tank top and capri jeans. Who doesn’t have this look in their wardrobe for summer? It is important to point out that if you’re looking to protect yourself from the sun this summer it does not mean that you have to get rid of your entire wardrobe. Coolibar offers great ways to add protection to your existing style. Every woman owns at least one cardigan in her wardrobe. It’s a great piece to grab when you get chilly. I love Coolibar’s ZnO Sun Wrap, particularly in their olive fatigue, which works so well with the most popular color of the summer season, orange!!!! Worn with a pair of sandals, and one of Coolibar’s protective sun hats, you’ll be styling and saving your skin at the same time.”
Listen to Bridgette Raes on her radio talk show “Where Are You Going In That?” as she talks about Melanoma Month, the Melanoma Research Foundation and Coolibar.
Listen to internet radio with BridgetteRaes on Blog Talk Radio
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Hot Hats of the Season
Summer is nearing, and if you’re in the market for a new show-stopping wide brim hat we want to let you know what to look for this season. Coolibar trend seeker and buyer Amy Jo Henriksen has spent several months looking for hats that not only look great, but provide sun protection to keep your skin looking flawless!
Amy Jo, where do you look when deciding what hats to buy for upcoming seasons?
We review the current trend forecast for colors and shapes and travel to trade shows to see what is new and exciting for the coming year. We also watch what is out in the current market by spending time at other retailers.
What do you see being trendy this summer in hats?
We are seeing animal print accents. Wide brims continue to be popular and a nautical feeling has come to the foreground in color blocking and stripes.
Do you think we’ll see a lot bigger brims out this summer?
I believe there will be a great mix of brim sizes this summer. For those who want great sun protective coverage the wide brim hat is the best accessory in the market. For those who are active the 3”+ brim width allow for more function and versatility.
What would you recommend wearing to a summer wedding?
I love our Monaco Wide Brim Hat in toast or the Oceanside Sun Hat in black with white banding. Both are outstanding and would make a great accessory for day of dress-up.
What would you recommend sporting at the beach?
Our Chlorine Resistant Bucket Hat is a customer favorite. It’s easy to pack, easy to adjust and you can wear it in or out of the water without worrying about it fading or getting crushed. It’s a go to piece that coordinates great with our sun protective swimwear.
What Coolibar hat style are you most excited about?
Our Fedora Sun Hat for ladies is a great style that is on trend but offers a 3” brim which is difficult to find on most Fedora hats in the market today. Traditionally, the fedora has a small brim width which does not offer the optimal sun protection. We are excited to have an updated modern shape which can offer the level of protection our customers expect from Coolibar.
What is your favorite Coolibar hat of all time and why?
I love the Shapeable Travel Sun Hat. It’s constructed of ribbon which allows it to be packed flat or rolled for travel but always returns to its original shape without looking damaged. It’s lightweight and offers great coverage with its 3¾” brim. I think the size and shape look great on everyone and love the wonderful colors its available in.
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Coolibar in the Big Apple
Last week spring was in the air. With temperatures in the 70’s in New York City, it felt more like June than March. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and New Yorkers were out in masses soaking up the summer sun– grabbing their shades and leaving their jackets behind.
This was perfect weather to introduce Coolibar’s spring and summer line to fashion, health and beauty editors across the city. Carol Schuler (of Schuler Publicity) and I hit the Manhattan streets and hauled our oversized bag of Coolibar goodies to the “big books” at Hearst, Meredith and Conde Nast, in addition to meeting with some of our favorite bloggers.
The new line and fabrics were met with great enthusiasm. In fact, a new hat was called in immediately for consideration. We heard ooh’s and ah’s as editors felt the silk like texture of our aire SUNTECT® fabric and tried on fabulous hats with an 8” brim. “The big brims are glamorous and keep your shoulders protected too,” exclaimed on editor (she got to keep that hat). Look for Coolibar products in your favorite magazines this summer.
What does this all means for you, our dear customer? It means you are in for a real treat! Our new catalog hits homes next week and is bigger and better than ever with over 32 new styles to keep you cool and protected this summer. We’ve introduced new fabrics and fitness gear alongside our customer favorites.
So get out there and enjoy life in the sun, Coolibar will keep you safe!
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Packing for a Warm Weather Get Away
Economization is the keyword when planning for any vacation. Many of us go through exhausting efforts to spend less, carry less and worry less. Accomplishing these three objectives doesn’t have to be difficult as long as you know the pre-travel task to focus on – your packing list.
New York Style Expert Bridgette Raes agrees that packing less and focusing on bringing versatile items is important. In an interview with She Knows Beauty and Style on packing stylish for an international beach getaway, Raes says, “Remember very little of what you pack should only be worn once. Keep pieces simple so that they have more mix and match ability and don’t forget accessories either. They can easily take a look from day to evening, or change up an outfit when you wear it more than once. Plus they take up very little space.”
With this in mind, our designers at Coolibar devised some simple warm get-away travel solutions that will save you the packing space, checking that extra luggage and of course, keep you covered from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
1. A single Packable Wide Brim Hat is a must whether you’ll be spending time on the beach or sightseeing. Look for a hat that’s crushable, has a high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), and can be paired with beach, casual and even dress wear. Floppy brim hats tend to be the most versatile.
2. Pack one bottle of broad-spectrum sunscreen to apply to exposed skin, including your face. In order to prevent having to pack multiple bottles for multiple purposes, find a sunscreen such as Cotz that’s oil-free and won’t clog pores so you can wear it on your face as well. Also, make sure the sunscreen you bring is water resistant and blocks both UVB and UVA rays (or contains ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide).
3. UV Swimwear is a necessity in sunny climates. Bring your bikini, but look for a cover-up or a Swim Jacket that can slip right over your suit. Cover-ups also work for bumming around the local town. If you want more leg coverage, pack a pair of Swim Capris to match your cover-up.
4. A packable dress can be accessorized to look different and be worn more than once during your vacation. It should be made of a wrinkle resistant fabric that can easily hang in the bathroom while showering to release the wrinkles. Something like a Shirt Dress will fit right-in at the resort night and day.
5. Both sun protective and chic accessories including a colorful scarf and a variety of jewelry will help you make outfits look a little different each time you wear them. Having a scarf handy is also an easy way to get instant sun protection for your décolletage, which is often neglected and vulnerable to sun damage . And don’t forget a good pair of sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.
Now get ready for a great vacation!
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Providing Sun Protection to Sailors
Sun protection is important for everyone, but especially for sailors who spend most of their days in or by water. The FDA advises using extra caution near water and sand because these surfaces reflect damaging UV rays and increase your chance of sunburn, premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.
Brenda Scannell is a huge fan of sailing and recently took over the Q-Mart sailing apparel and gear store at the Quissett Yacht Club (QYC) located in Falmouth, MA on Cape Cod. She has also made it a priority to provide all of the 2011 QYC summer sailing instructors, the role models within the club, with Coolibar sun protective swim shirts and sun hats.
So why provide these instructors with sun protective clothing? Turns out Brenda knows a thing or two about sailing and why it’s a brilliant idea to forgo a bikini for a UPF 50+ swim shirt.
Brenda lived the first ten summers of her life on a wooden boat and then came to Quissett in 1978. For ten years, she raced Herreshoffs, a historically significant type of sailboat. Then, Brenda was forced to take a break from sailing when she was diagnosed with skin cancer. “I’ve had 18 Squamous Cell Cancer surgeries below my knees. My regular dermatologist at Mass General Hospital said, ‘Be sure to tell your group that any one of them could have killed you!'”
After this life altering experience, Brenda, her sons, and her husband decided to ‘pay it forward’ as they know sun protection is key in preventing skin cancer. “In my name, and as a gesture to me, my sons and husband decided to fund Sun Protective Clothing for the 2011 sailing instructors,” says Brenda. Both of her sons Matt, the lead singer, writer and guitarist of the band Vertical Horizon, and Ryan, a Reconstructive Surgeon in Otolaryngology, Ear, Nose, and Throat, went through the QYC sailing program. Brenda says, “Ryan deals with so much skin cancer. He has seen terrible things! Regarding the sailing instructors and sun protection he said, ‘Mom, whatever it takes, make it happen!'”
Brenda asked each QYC sailing instructor go to the Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing website, which was recommended to Brenda by her Mohs Surgeon, to choose a UPF 50+ Swim Shirt and Hat to have red QYC Logos embroidered on so they could wear protective swim shirts during their sailing classes. Brenda also told the instructors that she is now bringing Sun Protective Clothing to the Q-Mart for the sailing class students to purchase. “You [the instructors] are the role models. If the students see you wearing these clothes, they will follow suit as YOU ARE THEIR HEROES!”
Sun protective clothing has been worn at the club over the past few years, but now, sailors are taking sun protection more seriously. “Our lives at Quissett are spent outdoors all of the time on the boats and the beach,” says Brenda. “All are truly positive about the sun protective clothing that is being provided. I feel that the sailing instructors might have some resistance to the protective clothing in very hot weather, but the answer to that is to wet the shirt and the sailor is immediately cooled down. I know we’ll continue to promote sun safety at the QYC in the future.”
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Packing for a Day at the Beach (Video)
Hi, this is Dr. Davis for Coolibar Sun Protective Clothing.
I wanted to give you some pointes on getting ready for a day at the beach or pool. You know you are going to be outside, you’ve got the kids in tow, and you’re wondering – What do I put in my beach bag?
Sunscreen
The basics to keep you Sun Safe the whole day include sunscreen, what you choose depends on your preference, but a nice high SPF sunscreen, such as Vanicream 60, or the kid’s love the Blue Lizard sunscreen which is a combination of chemical and physical, plus the bottle will also tell you when to put it on, it turns blue in ultraviolet light.
Sunglasses and Sun Hat
The other thing – sunglasses. Even for the kids, eye protection is important. For the kids, Coolibar makes an excellent UV protective lens, but also this nice strap so that it stays on in the water. And I do recommend leaving the sunglasses on in the water as well as the hat, which might be a surprise. But Coolibar makes some chlorine and salt water resistant fabrics that the kids put on and just leave on all day. They can be simply washed, but they are resistant to those chemicals that otherwise might harm fabrics.
Sun Protective Clothing
Last but not least, the sun protective clothing. There are some absolutely adorable outfits for kids you put on and you don’t have to worry about re-applying the sunscreen except for those little parts that are showing, like the tops of their feet, tops of their hands.
Hat
Sunscreen
Sun Protective Clothing
Sunglasses
…keep your family sun safe for the whole day.
So teach your family to be SunAWARE and you’ll keep them safe!
Disclaimer: The information provided by Coolibar and its contributors is general skin care information and should not be a substitute for obtaining medical advice from your physician and is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific medical problem.
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Spreading Shade in Joplin after Tornado
Two months after the devastating tornado touch-down in Joplin, MO the relief efforts continue. Over 8,000 homes were destroyed and more than 150 lives were lost. Relief workers and Joplin residents alike are working together to rebuild the city, spending countless hours in the summer sun.
The recent heat-wave has been taking its toll on everyone including volunteers, residents and those living outdoors all day, every day, since losing their homes. The people in Joplin have enough to worry about already, let alone the dangerous heat and UV they’re now facing. In an effort to protect those putting Joplin back together from the sun’s harmful rays and heat, Coolibar, in partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology and AmeriCorps, was able to provide some UPF 50+ hats to the relief efforts.
Wide-brim hats not only protect the scalp, face and neck from sunburn, they also help keep the body cooler as skin is not directly exposed to the sun. Coolibar is proud to help, even in the smallest way, with the relief efforts in Joplin, MO. Our thoughts and hearts at Coolibar go out to everyone in Joplin.
If you’re looking for a way to contribute to Joplin relief efforts, visit the American Red Cross website.
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Beat the Heat Wave
With temperatures indexing over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in at least 20 states across the country, the ongoing heat wave has been making more than headlines. The extreme heat and humidity have caused serious health problems for many individuals, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and fatal heat stroke for those who haven’t taken the proper precautions. Most heat disorders occur from being overexposed to heat or over-exercising. Older adults, young children, and those who are sick or overweight should take extra precautions.
Beat the heat over the following week by taking simple steps to stay cool.
– Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
– Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
– Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings with circulating air.
– Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals. Avoid salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
– Drink plenty of water. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
– Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
If you must work or go outside:
– Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Despite conventional wisdom that we put on long-sleeves and pants to warm up when cold, we can do the same to cool off when the sun causes us to overheat.
– Protect face and head from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Choose a hat with a 3” brim or greater.
– Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.
Visit FEMA to learn more about signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke and see all of their suggestions on how to prepare for extreme heat.
‘Leave a Reply’ below or post a comment on Facebook to ask Coolibar experts how to choose the best UPF 50+ apparel and hats to stay cool outdoors.
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