SHIRTSHORTS

Well, my sweet Celtics couldn’t get ‘er done, and I fear after the heart break of losing Ray Allen last year (to the dreaded Miami Hate – I mean Heat – no less), it’ll only get worse.  Odds are, KG and Paul Pierce won’t be back next season either.  Sobs.  But I’ll power on, and move my cheers to the other team of great old men:  San Antonio.  Go Spurs Go!  Tonight!  There’s still a lot of basketball left until June 20. Yes, June 20.

And whether you are for the Spurs, or one of the other 7 remaining teams, or mourning for the Celtics, we got your NBA colors!  Stripe up now to support your favorite team:
Chicago v. Miami - red and black v. red and black

San Antonio v. Golden State – black and gray v. blue and yellow

Indiana v. New York - blue and yellow v. blue and orange

Oklahoma City v. Memphis – blue and orange v. blue and yellow

With all the focus on my beloved Boston the past 10 days, and a huge boost to spirits with a surprise visit last week from Neil Diamond himself, singing at Fenway, middle of the 8^th, I had to figure out, where, how, WHY did Sweet Caroline become part of the Red Sox legend and lore?

Turns out, it wasn’t so long ago.  A woman named Amy Tobey decided ballpark music from 1998 to 2004.  Knowing Sweet Caroline was played at other sporting events, she added it to the rotation, and over time it became a bit superstitious.  If the team was ahead, it would be played somewhere between the 7^th and 9^th innings, IF Amy thought the team was going to win.

When John Henry and co took over the team in 2002, they made it official, to be played middle of the 8^th, every home game.

Think what you will of the song and of Sox leadership, but did you know, Henry grew up a Cardinals fan, and put the Sox deal together after selling the Marlins? He and Werner, Harrington and Lucchino’s express goal was breaking the curse of the bambino.

Just 2 years later, that amazing 2004 World Series had the Sox beating who- the Cardinals, his childhood team – to bring home our first World Series in 86 years.  Last year, of course, marked 100 years for Fenway, and for the past 15 Sweet Caroline has been part of the amazing franchise so many of us love so dearly.

BTW, sales of Sweet Caroline (which came out in 1969 and was written about Caroline Kennedy) are up nearly 600% since the bombing.  Seriously.  Sweet Neil is giving proceeds from sales to bombing victims.

However you feel about the song, me thinks its not going anywhere, especially not after the past week!  And I think that’s SO GOOD, SO GOOD SO GOOD!

I was so sad to read today that Lilly Pulitzer died, at 81 years young, after a brief illness.

She – and her company – has been a favorite of mine for all my life, but also a stripedshirt inspiration for four reasons:

First, her preppy fashions are timeless. They are also bright and fun.  Life is too short to wear black!

Second, Lilly does “mommy and me” so well with adorable matching dresses, tops, bathing suits.  We are hopefully doing the same, giving Moms and kids a super cute way to dress alike.

Third, Lilly also started her brand from a focus group of one: herself.  Her signature shift was first designed in 1959 or 60 (she herself couldn’t recall) as a uniform for her work at a juice stand.  The bright colors and bold cotton patterns hid juice stains.

Finally, accidentally falling into fashion via a juice stand uniform gives me hope!  Lilly wasn’t fashion or runway trained, she wasn’t a designer.  She started something she personally liked, and that others liked too, and grew it into a hugely successful business and a timeless brand I love and aspire to for stripedshirt!

RIP Lilly.

This is re-run from a blog post I did a year ago today. What I didn’t share then, that I think is super cool, is my own birthday is the day after the birthday of the Breton stripe! I was destined to live a striped life!

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Today, March 27, marks the “birth” of the beautiful Breton stripe. Those smart Frenchies made the iconic navy and white striped knit shirt the official uniform for all navy seamen in Brittany. This became official in the March 27, 1858 Act of France.

And so, today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beloved navy and white Breton stripes!

You have been worn by so many, and inspired so many other stripes, including http://stripedshirt.com/. To celebrate the birthday, today only, March 27, 25% off any of our 15 color combination stripedshirts, including the navy and white Breton inspired stripedshirt. Just enter “Breton” at the code at check out.

Now is an ideal time to get your navy and white, or any colors, to stripe it up for Spring and Summer!

Merci, France, and Bon Anniversaire Breton Stripes!

As always, the tourney has had some surprises – a credit union??? (FGCU) – and lots of fun! After first 2 rounds, we are down to our sweet 16, a great group to STRIPE UP FOR!  I’m still cheering for my Buckeyes, go Ohio State!  But wow to that Iowa State match up, I wish the Cyclones could advance too.  4 Big 10 teams move forward – that’s huge!

My favorite player of the tourney?  No, not OSU’s Aaron Craft.  Rather the JOLLY GIANT of Miami, #42, Reggie Johnson.  Google him.  This football linebacker is downright adorable on the court.

Whoever your favorite of the sweet sixteen, get a stripedshirt to show their colors at http://stripedshirt.com/

Arizona – red and blue

Duke – royal and white

FGCU – royal and white

Florida – orange and blue

Indiana – red and white

Kansas – royal and white

LaSalle – blue and gold

Louisville – red and black

Marquette – blue and gold

Miami – green and white

Michigan – maize and blue

Michigan State – green and white

Ohio State – red and gray

Oregon – green and white

Syracuse – orange and blue

Wichita State – yellow and white

You know what’s complete madness?  Even more than Kentucky not making the cuts?

Not a single school from Texas in the tourney.

Not good, Tejas!  But makes me cheer for Ohio State even louder, I guess. And, whether the Buckeyes, or 64 other teams, odds are, stripedshirt has your team’s colors.  So get some stripes now so you can show your colors from now until April 8 for the NCAA college hoops championship in Atlanta. Enjoy the madness! Go Bucks!
Final AP Top 25 pre-Tourney:

1. Gonzaga – red and blue
2. Louisville – red and black
3. Kansas – royal and white
4. Indiana – red and white
5. Miami (FL) – green and orange, don’t have yet
6. Duke – royal and white
7. Ohio State – red and gray
8. Georgetown – navy and white
9. Michigan State – green and white
10. New Mexico – red and white
11. Michigan – maize and blue
12. Kansas St – purple and white
13. Saint Louis – royal and white
14. Florida – blue and orange
15. Marquette – blue and gold
16. Syracuse – blue and orange
17. Oklahoma State – orange and white
18. Wisconsin – red and white
19. Memphis – royal and white
20. Pittsburgh – blue and gold
21. Arizona – red and blue
22. Creighton – royal and white
23. Notre Dame – blue and gold
24. UCLA – light blue and yellow – don’t have yet
25. Oregon – green and white

Three years ago today, I took a huge leap and started stripedshirt. I consider it the first official day of business because it was the day I registered the URL of the brand I’d dreamt about for a decade prior.  I didn’t have first shirts for another 9 months so I mark the anniversary of stripedshirt around that time, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.  (and yes, as a mom of 2, the significance of starting a company and delivering first product 9 months later is not lost on me) Over these 3 years, I have learned so much, a PR gal trying to dig into the fashion, apparel, retail, ecommerce worlds.  Holy cow.

The adventure has been a blast, and getting this old dog to learn new tricks (after 18 years of public relations) has been such a boost of energy in my life.

I still deeply believe in the focus of stripedshirt:  giving women, kids and babies fun shirts to wear to support their favorite team, school, cause or holiday. I still believe stripedshirt is fan-wear for those of us who just want our colors to show our spirit, not a big logo or a guy’s name in a shirt build for a man.

But, along the way, I’ve had what I call Surprises in Stripes that I thought I’d share here at three years into the life of stripedshirt:

People just like stripes.  Especially the ladies.  So many of my purchases are just women looking for a cute stripedshirt.  It seems red and white stripes, in particular, are very hard to find, in a cute, affordable version. (this goes for several men too, complaining they cannot find a good red and white stripedshirt and why don’t I make a version for guys?)

Mommy and me dressing alike extends way beyond Lilly Pulitzer.  Moms want to dress like their kiddos, and at least up to a certain age (8 years old and counting for me), kids like it too!  I’ve had many matchy striped days with my girls since this all began and it is cute and sweet.

Beyond just the Mom and kiddo combos, stripedshirts are great for keeping a group together! I found this out by chance, taking 4 little girls to Sea World one Christmas break right after I got my first shirts.  We all striped up and I never lost them and they always knew where I was too.  Fantastic!  I’ve since seen families going to Disney in stripes, Girl Scout troops in stripes, Family reunions or photos, girl’s weekends or bachelorette parties.  A group of stripes, even if several different color combos, is quite a fun – and recognizable – statement.

The lead up to Halloween is my biggest rush of the year.  Not back to school and start of football season, not March Madness, not Christmas.  Halloween. This bummed me out at first, people buying my shirts for their costumes.  But now, my hope is, they get a stripedshirt to be Waldo or Freddy Krueger or Olivia the Pig or Phineas (not Ferb) or Harry Potter or a French Sailor or whatever and they love the shirt way more than just 1 day of the year. (I hope!)

And finally, I had no idea what a fan-base Doc McStuffins has with the 2 to 6 year old set!  After red and white, my biggest seller by far is kids’ sizes of purple and white.    And I’ve tested the theory, most are for kids who want to dress like their favorite new Disney Character.  The Doc IS IN stripes!

One last Surprise in Stripes over these past 3 years – the sweet, amazing support I’ve gotten. I had hoped for it, but you never know how people will react to what you are up to.  People I know and people I don’t have been so supportive, sharing kind feedback and cheering me on.  There is still absolutely no more exciting moment for me than to see a “stripedshirt in the wild” – worn in public on someone I know, or better who I don’t, and that the wearer really, genuinely likes the shirt! YEAH!

Here’s to many more years of stripedshirt, and many more Surprises in Stripes!

I know this blog is supposed to be about stripes, but once and awhile, I use it as a pulpit to talk about other stuff on my mind – SXSW, Locks of Love, PR, even Lice.  Today its about food.  And while I am biased because it is my hood, holy cow North Central has some good eats!

Last night was my first time at Drink.Well on North Loop.  Awesome cute little bar/bistro I will go back to again and again. It made me think of all the other great eats in my hood these days that I must share:

• Foreign & Domestic, just down the street, awesome upscale date night vibe (gotta try their bakery next)
• Gusto on Burnet is really good Italian, a nice spot for lunch, grown up dinner or family dinner.  Don’t miss their meatballs
• Next door, Blue Star Cafeteria kind of kicked off the North Central yum-fest, and I still adore their coconut chicken tenders and childhood-memory style chicken & rice soup.  Brunch there rocks too
• But of course, old style good breakfast is at the Omelettry across the street, an Austin classic.
• Pinthouse Pizza across the street is loud, but a great place to grab beer and pizza, with or without your kiddos.
• If you want a quiet place for a grown up drink, Apothecary on Burnet is perfect.
• Just down Hancock was Jorges, and something new is coming, with equally good margaritas, we hope
• The granddaddy of the hood is Fonda San Miquel on N. Loop.  Amazing experience, everyone ATXer needs to do dinner there, brunch, but also just a night of drinks and chips.
• And I haven’t yet tried épicerie Café & Grocery, right across the street, but must because I’ve heard great things.
• We, of course, have Central Market on N. Lamar, and our own P Terry’s just down the street, as well as our own Taco Deli (mmmm queso) and Uchiko which I didn’t want to like but holy cow those brussel sprouts are out of this world, and everything else there is absolutely amazing too.  And don’t underestimate Taco Shack, which has the best breakfast tacos in the city, IMHO
• We Allandalers don’t complain about the new Walmart because with it, came some great food.  Yes, Hopdoddy across Anderson (if the line out the door ever stops), but I really mean Tarka for awesome fast serve Indian.
• For pizza in the hood, we now have two East Side Pies, with its great NY style pizza (one on Anderson and one off Airport at 53rd
• I know everyone talks about their cinnamon rolls, but at Upper Crust, I adore their cheese soup.  Yes cheese soup.  Try it, you’ll love it
• There aren’t a lot of great hot dog places in town anymore, and I still miss Dog Almighty, but for a great hot dog, Man Bites Dog on Burnet is delish
• The Triangle is nearby where we can never decide between Mandolas and Galaxy Café, our two family favorites.  Galaxy also has an awesome brunch.
• And you can’t forget family favorites like Hey Cupcake and Amy and Phil’s, both also on Burnet. And across from Atomic so you can pick up a tattoo and some hydroponics.  God love Allandale!
• The absolute best the hood – and possibly the city – has to offer though is at retro cool Little Deli off Woodrow in Crestview.  I can never decide between pizza, the Italian Wedge, the club, the roast beef.  It is THE lunch place of choice if you are REAL Austin, and dinner rocks too (esp with BYOB).  Tony is a lot nicer than Lecretia was, but he’s kept up her food quality and then some.  Don’t miss Little Deli!

PHEW, I’m full just writing about all these, and I’m sure I missed a lot of goodies that my neighbors will point out.  My message to you in Austin is Get You to North Central for Great Eats!

OK, that was a pretty intense Superbowl game, eh?  I wasn’t really rooting for anyone, a bit against the Ravens b/c they took out my Patriots.  It was a snore-ville 1^st half, then the lights went out and everything changed.  Awesome game.  And Beyonce – whether lip syncing or live – was pretty awesome too.

And now that football is really over, and we have just one week before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training (Red Sox, Tues, Feb 12!!!), and just 3 weeks til our first MLB Spring Training games (Feb 22), let’s focus for a minute on COLLEGE HOOPS! YEAH!

As we head toward March Madness, and the fun of Selection Sunday on St. Patricks Day, Sunday, March 17, here’s who’s looking good with just over 4 weeks left in the regular season.

We have colors for most so get your stripedshirt now to cheer on your favorite team from now right through to the championship game April 8 in the Georgia Dome.

AP Poll as of Feb 4

Indiana – red and white (btw, they were ranked #1 pre-season too – GO HOOSIERS!)

Florida – blue and orange

Michigan – maize and blue

Duke – royal and white

Kansas – royal and white

Gonzaga – red and blue

Arizona – red and blue

Miami (FL) – (green and orange, we don’t have yet)

Syracuse – blue and orange

Ohio State – red and gray

Louisville – red and black

Michigan State – green and white

Kansas St – purple and white

Butler – royal and white

New Mexico – red and white

Creighton – royal and white

Cincinnati – red and black

Minnesota – maroon and gold

Oregon – green and white

Georgetown – navy and white

Missouri – not yet

Oklahoma State – orange and white

Pittsburgh – blue and gold

Marquette – blue and gold

Notre Dame – blue and gold

Go to stripedshirt.com now and get colors to cheer on your favorite NCAA basketball team all season long!

What an amazing weekend of NFL football, eh?  Three were among the best games I can recall, and the last, well, though it was lopsided, that was in the favor of my Patriots.  So no complaints.  And now we are down to 4, and of course, we have stripes for all!

Next Sunday, Jan 20, the 49ers , ironically wearing his old college colors, will face BC’s favorite son, Matt Ryan, and the Atlanta Falcons, at 3 pm eastern. Maroon & gold versus Red & black

And then, the Ravens will go down to the Patriots, at 6:30 pm. Purple & white versus Red and blue

Regardless of my preferences, we have stripes for all 4 teams and can get you your colors in time for Sunday, and definitely for the Feb 3 Super Bowl.  Go to http://stripedshirt.com/ and get your team colors now!

Oh, and it didn’t stink that Ohio State ruined Michigan’s undefeated basketball record, and chance to b ranked #1, this weekend too!  Go Bucks!