I can’t even fully put into words how excited I am today to be launching my collection of Lemon Stripes x Dudley Stephens fleece turtlenecks. To be a part of a collaboration with one of my favorite brands ran by one of my good friends is a dream come true. I’m truly thrilled to be able to help create something that Amalia and I will wear for years to come (you better believe we have one for her in every size!) was so special. If you’ve been following me on Instagram for a while, you know that I wear my Dudley fleeces almost daily in the fall and winter, so to have one with my name on it is such an honor!

It all started last year when my friend Lauren (one of the founders of Dudley Stephens) and I went out for a glass of wine for the first time after having our baby girls within a few weeks of each other. We were talking shop and I asked her if she would ever make one of her classic fleece turtlenecks in light blue. The color has quickly become my favorite since Amalia was born with the most striking shade of blue eyes I’ve ever seen.

We discussed a potential collaboration to make this happen, and a year later I can’t believe it actually came to fruition! I have to give Lauren and her sister Kaki most of the credit because they put in the grunt work and they’re two badass mompreneurs who happen to be two of the kindest women I’ve ever met. Being a part of their design meetings and seeing the whole process was so eye opening. Running a fashion company is no joke!

Not only are they creating incredible product that has become a cult favorite (at least in my neck of the woods), but they’re doing it sustainably. Their fleeces are made partially from recycled plastic bottles and as of this month they’ve hit 500,000 reused bottles.That’s 500,000 less bottles in a landfill, which is a pretty incredible achievement if you ask me!

Everything you need to know about the Lemon Stripes x Dudley Stephens fleeces

Park Slope Turtleneck: The Park Slope is the shorter of the two options, styled with a striped skirt in these photos. I love my Park Slopes with jeans and skirts (as seen here) because I think they’re a chic and a warmer alternative to a sweater.

Cobble Hill Turtleneck: I also have a major love for Cobble Hill which is more of a sweatshirt alternative. I usually wear mine with leggings for daycare drop off, after a workout, or for working at home. I will throw it on over PJ pants on Saturday mornings for a cozy

Kids Turtleneck: Lauren used her daughter as a fit model for the kids turtlenecks and created the perfect fit. I watched her perfecting it for months! The neck is a little looser so it’s easy to pull over their heads and it’s not as slim of a fit as the adult version.

The photo shoot: This shoot was one of the most fun shoots I’ve been on in all my years in blogging. To have my daughter there as a little model, wearing something that I helped create was a pinch me moment! Plus the hair and make up was on point. It was also fun to be styled by a stylist and have a whole camera crew. Amalia discovered dried pineapple at the craft services table and wouldn’t put it down for most of the shots, so if you see something weird and brown in her hand, that’s what it is.

Sizing: I get asked about DS sizing constantly. They fit TTS for me but I’ve heard other people say to size up. The arms can be a little tight but I like a more fitted look because I think it’s more flattering. In these photos I’m wearing a small in the Park Slope and and an XS in the Cobble Hill. Amalia is wearing a 2T which is why it’s so big on her. She is currently in 12-18 months so it should fit a lot better next year! When I was pregnant, I sized up and wore a M.

Washing: I personally like the fleece as it washes more. The lived in look is my thing so I put mine in the dryer. If you want them to stay fresh and fluffy, don’t dry them!

Limited run: My ice blue fleeces are limited edition and will only be around this season. Their classic colors are here to stay but if you want an LS x DS fleece, now is the time to snap one up.

Photos by Ryan Scherb
Hair & Makeup by Karla
Styling by Kristin Gellatly
Cuteness overload by Amalia Louise