Kid Style
Mommy & Me Style: 1 Sneaker, 3 Looks
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Abi Q
Oct 24, 2017
For some moms, twinning with their littles is a way of life. And now with the launch of Allbirds first-ever toddler shoe, dubbed Smallbirds, it’s become that much easier. Made out of the same super-comfy, temperature-regulating, odor-minimizing merino wool that’s made Allbirds such a runaway hit with adults, the Smallbirds rendition features the same sleek and minimal lace-up design as the original, now in mini-sizes ranging from 5T-10T.
Released just today, Smallbirds comes in three kid-pleasing colorways: Natural Gray, vivid NZ Blue, and a blazing Kea Red (featuring a matching sole!). To test them out, we asked stylish mommy-and-me duo Amanda Tyler Jacobsen and her 4-year-old daughter Lila (1-year-old baby bro Nova also makes a cute cameo), to take their pick of Allbirds and Smallbirds kicks and style them how they saw fit.
While shooting the Oakland-based family, we also played catch-up with Amanda on pre-children and post-children style, being a minimalist (with kids!), the joys and pains of going from 1 to 2, and much more.
This post comes courtesy of Mother + Allbirds
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- "Easy, simple, classic, and cozy." Lila wears Smallbirds Wool Runners in Natural Grey.
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- “After having kids, I find myself living a much simpler life, even in the way I dress. I used to have a little bit of a funkier style when I had time to search for cool vintage pieces and the energy to keep a fuller closet. I’ve really tried to minimize my wardrobe because less is more. I feel more put together when I’m in neutral colors without too many patterns and when I don’t have to worry about keeping a crazy closet in order." Amanda wears Allbirds Wool Runners in Natural Grey. Lila wears matching Smallbirds Wool Runners in Natural Grey. Natural Grey is Allbirds most popular colorway, and is offered year-round for both men and women. A host of Limited Edition colors—from Mint to Lavender—make their appearance throughout the year.
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- "On the weekdays my uniform consists of workout pants and sneakers. I work from home and sometimes putting on workout clothes inspires me to carve out at least 30 minutes to workout. A nice-looking, cozy, lightweight sneaker is priceless because I’ll live in it. I’ll purchase one pair, usually all black or all white, that I love and run them into the ground. Same for Lila, she’s a creature of habit and no matter how many different pairs of shoes I buy she’ll always end up wearing one pair of sneakers she loves for months. She has a cute little in-toe walk, so I buy lightweight sneakers for her so she has an easier time running." Both Allbirds and Smallbirds Wool Runners don't include extraneous logos or detailing, adding up to a lightweight and streamlined gem that's been dubbed "the world's most comfortable shoe."
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- "I’ve found that we are happiest when we are not surrounded by things we don’t need. It’s a really simple concept for me. The stuff just ends up causing clutter, which leaves me with the cleanup, which leaves less time for the important things. I’ve tried to instill this in my kids and I think I’m doing a pretty good job. I’m not an expert at it, and I have at least five junk drawers and my closet needs another donation session, but the important thing is, I make choices today that support my vision for a clutter-free life tomorrow. Lila is actually really good at it, I’ve somehow instilled this sense of abundance in her which I’m pretty proud of. Granted, she has her issues with sharing like any 4-year-old, but when I try to bribe her with a new toy or a lollipop she’ll say, 'I don’t need anymore toys. I have enough.' She never begs for a toy at the store or gets upset when the time comes to donate some toys. I think the struggle is on my end, trying to keep up with the consistency amidst the rat race of life. I’ve got a long way to go but I believe that everyone embraces minimalism differently, while each path leads to the same place: a life with more time, more money, and more freedom to live a more meaningful life. My advice is to donate anything you haven’t used in 3 months. If it doesn’t bring you immense joy or productivity then it is taking up space in your life."
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- "She loves dresses and patterns, pink and purple, she wears two different colored socks every day. One pink and one purple. It’s really tough to get her to wear anything other than a dress. I’ve given up, honestly. We’ve got a pair of light-up Elsa sneakers she doesn’t take off—they are nearly unwearable at this point. I'm hoping these new Smallbirds will take their place!" Amanda wears Allbirds Wool Runners in Natural White. Lila wears Smallbirds Wool Runners in Kea Red. Some benefits of the new Smallbirds Wool Runners include: a slightly stretchy design that is perfect for growing feet, an easy slip-on and slip-off quality (just tie 'em once!), an optimal softness which means socks aren't required (the breathable, moisture-wicking merino wool will minimize odor and regulate temperature), and a low carbon footprint. Oh, and did we mention they are machine washable?
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- "When she was little I had fun with it, but these days girlfriend does her own thing. I try to keep the crazy patterns and colors to a minimum in the things I buy. We’re all pretty Plain Jane most of the time. We don’t have crazy extensive closets, so we keep a handful of things in rotation. I used to dress her in neutrals, lots of white and black, but she’s coming into her own, so I let her choose a couple things when we’re shopping for new clothes and I don’t put up a fight when she wants to wear something. I love her sense of self and it makes me happier than any perfectly curated outfit ever could."
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- "I was nervous to have a girl. I grew up with 3 little brothers and have always been a tomboy. But, after I had Lila, I couldn’t imagine myself having a boy, I was just so enthralled by Lila and I even had friends say, 'You’re such a girl mom.' Well, then came Nova and it’s so strange, when you get one of each, people think you have this superpower. I haven’t attributed major differences based on their genders, but I’d lie if I said I don’t feel lucky to get to journey along the life of both a boy and a girl. Having a little boy has been so special and it’s so fun to get to share it all with Lila. He is much less serious than she is and is always smiling."
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- "Totally surrendering to parenthood, plus all the moments of unavoidable chaos. I’m 100% parenthood 200% of the time. While one is sleeping, the other one wants a snack. One time while Nova was screaming and grabbing at my pants and I was trying to finish brushing Lila’s hair, she asked 'Mommy, is being a mommy hard?' I didn't say yes, but man, in those moments, it really is hard. There is only one of me, which means someone always has to wait, making the chaotic moments unavoidable."
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- "The biggest joy of having two is getting to see them interact and love on each other, it is the best feeling in the world and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I’d endure 1 million unavoidable chaotic moments just to witness a spark of the love they have for each other. Also, I don’t worry about them, I know they’ll always have each other long after I’m gone." Amanda wears Allbirds Wool Runners in Natural Black. Lila wears Smallbirds Wool Runners in NZ Blue. For a limited time only, all purchases of Smallbirds Wool Runners will include a copy of the children's book Sadie Shaves The Day, a story about a courageous sheep who uses sustainable materials to save the farm from a blizzard and keep all the animals warm.
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- "Literally everything. The poop, the smiles, the kisses, even the tantrums. Getting to be their number one fan—I look forward to supporting them in whomever they choose to be, as long as they are loving themselves and treating others with respect. And having the opportunity to open up, creatively and emotionally as a mother."
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- "Honestly? That Lila turns out to be a mean girl and Nova ends up being an asshole bro-man. To not have raised loving and accepting kids is one of my worst fears."
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- To keep following along with Amanda's family and her journey, you can check out her Instagram feed, blog, the startup website. For more on the Allbirds and Smallbirds styles featured in this shoot (and many more!), head over here.
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