Get Inspired: New York Design Office Outfits

Our friends from the Aerie Design Team in our New York Design Office have been inspiring us with their fun Summer outfits styled with pieces by AE and Aerie. Check out some of our favorite looks below and tell us which is your favorite!

Katie V., Aerie Undie Designer, wears the Aerie Dancing T

Andrea A., Aerie Associate Designer, wears an Aerie Scarf

Ryan D., Senior CAD Designer, wears the Aerie Skinny Twill Pants

Jackie A., Aerie Design Coordinator, wears the AE Knit Maxi Skirt

Emily J., Accessories Designer, wears the AE Colored Denim Midi Shorts and the Aerie Dolman Sweater

Get Inspired: AE at Coachella

We spotted tons of festival attendees at Coachella rocking AE! See some of our favorites below and the rest of the photos on the AE Facebook.

Get Inspired: Summer Music Festivals

American Eagle's summer motto is "Live Loud." We are 'living loud' this summer by attending as many awesome summer music festivals and concerts as possible. Check out theses can't miss line-ups and let us know which ones you are attending!

Coachella - April 13-15 & 20-22. From coachella.com.

Bamboozle - May 18-20. From thebamboozle.com.

Sasquatch - May 25-28. From sasquatchfestival.com.

Bonaroo - June 7-10. From bonaroo.com.

Get Inspired: Grammy Red Carpet Looks

We were loving all the looks on the red carpet at last night's Grammy Awards. Some of our favorite artists and bands from our in-store playlists were dressed to impress and we wanted to share their looks.

Rihanna

Maroon 5

David Guetta

Kings of Leon

My Morning Jacket

Did you watch the Grammys last night? Who was on your best dressed list?

Get Inspired: Snow Motion

We've seen more sun than snow at the AEO Home Offices in Pittsburgh this winter... so today we are checking out pictures of snow everywhere else to get our wintertime fix.

This video shows snow falling and melting in time lapse - check it out!

Get Inspired: Our Favorite Quotes

Today, we felt like we needed a little extra motivation to start the week. Our friends at Aerie love their Wednesday Wisdom quotes and we wanted to share some of our favorite inspirational phrases with you.

 

Get Inspired: Give Experiences

Still trying to find the perfect present for somebody on your list? Give something they won't tire of by Valentine's Day and remember forever - an experience.


Take a trip by train.

Take a trip by train.

Most Americans don't travel by train very often, if ever. Traveling by train has definite advantages over flying - most train stations are in city centers, you don't have to deal with connecting flights or finding a parking spot and best of all - you can sit back and enjoy the trip. The travel time is a little longer but there is something romantic about taking a train trip. We recently priced a trip from Pittsburgh to New York for $140. 


Take a class.

Most people have something they would love to try or learn how to do. You can find classes for everything from wine tasting, surfing lessons, or even salsa dancing.


Tickets to a concert or show.

The tents at Cirque du Soleil.

Buy tickets to a national production of a play or musical someone on your list has been dying to see or tickets to a concert. Productions such as Cirque du Soleil have national tours, so you can find tickets in a city near you.


Have a great meal.

Everyone remembers a great meal. Take someone to a restaurant they've been meaning to try or wouldn't go to unless it was a special occasion. In Pittsburgh, we would suggest Sunday brunch at Grand Concourse. Another great option would be to go somewhere they would never pick themselves but might be interested in trying, such as fondue at The Melting Pot.


Pay an entrance fee for a race or competition.

Pay an entrance fee to a race or other event.

If you have someone on your list who is a big runner or enjoys other competitive sports, pay their entry fee as a gift. They have no excuse to not finally run the half-marathon or marathon they have been talking about!


Give a spa day.

Most people won't indulge in a spa day for themselves, but if you know someone who could use it, a spa gift certificate is a great idea.



Have you ever given an experience rather than a physical gift?

Get Inspired: Views From Airplane Windows

After a frightfully cold weekend in Pittsburgh, we have our sights set on warmer locations. Since that isn't an immediate option, we are settling by looking at Buzzfeed's 100 Incredible Views Out of Airplane Windows. Check out a few of our favorites below.

Phuket, Thailand

London, United Kingdom

Cuyama Valley, California

Dahn-e Darreh Chasht, Afganistan

Lagos, Nigeria

Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Get Inspired: Winter Must Do List

Every year, it seems like December comes and goes in a flurry of shopping, cooking, traveling, and parties. By the end of the month, it is easy to feel like you missed out on all the fun activities this time of year has to offer. Take a step back and enjoy winter with our 'must do' list this year.

1) Go ice skating

Ice skating is quintessentially a winter activity. There is nothing like bundling up, getting some exercise skating around, and warming up with hot chocolate afterwards.


2) Start a new tradition

This year, I want to start making gifts for at least a few people on my holiday shopping list. Hopefully I can even make this a new tradition. This doesn't have to be limited to crafting for the people on your list, it could be adding a new movie every year to your holiday movie marathon, making a new dish for a holiday dinner, or even starting Secret Santa with your friends, family or co-workers.


3) Get dressed up

With the chilly temps, it is tempting to eschew cute clothes for comfy, warm sweatpants and sweatshirts, but this is the season to bring out the sparkle and shine in your wardrobe. Girls, pick out a new dress for your holiday parties, dinners, and especially New Years. Guys, check out our party shop to be the most dapper guy at any event.


4) Do something for someone else

Most people put a lot of emphasis on buying gifts and donating money for the less fortunate, but there are other ways to make somebody's holidays brighter. Help your mom with the shopping, take your grandparents to a holiday concert or play, or volunteer at a local food bank. Time and talent is sometimes in short supply during the holidays and you will help someone else while feeling great about yourself.


5) Do something for yourself

It's easy to get stressed out during this time of year and run yourself into the ground. Girls, go get a mani-pedi or buy something on your wishlist for yourself. Guys, go to a game with your friends. Make sure you treat yourself during the holidays, too.


6) Have a cookie party


Get your friends and family together and have a holiday cookie party. Every family has different staples in their holiday baking repertoire so you can try something besides chocolate chip and the holiday break-and-bake sugar varieties. Who doesn't love cookies?


7) Get outside
Although it is tempting to hide from the cold and sit inside on Facebook all day, bundle up and get outside. Check out the holiday lights, go sledding, or just walk around. Plus, our techsessories making going outside a little more bearable, too.


8) Plan something to look forward to

Of course, most everyone looks forward to the holidays, but what about that slump you feel in January? Plan a long weekend, a ski trip, or even buy tickets to a concert or sporting event for the beginning of 2012. When January feels like it will never end, you will have something to get you through the winter doldrums.



9) Have a staycation

Don't feel guilty about not going outside in this mess.

When the weather finally forces you indoors, enjoy not feeling guilty about not being outside. Catch up on your favorite TV shows on DVR, build a fort inside, or finally make all those things you've been pinning on Pinterest.


10) Try something new

Winter is full of opportunities to try something new. Never been into winter sports? Try skiing or snowboarding. Go to a new restaurant or part of your city you don't frequent often. You might find several things that will become part of your new winter routine.

Get Inspired: Penguin Sweaters

Our theme for Holiday is 'Live to Give, Love to Get' so we thought this story about humans helping penguins in New Zealand fit into our theme perfectly.

Last month, there was an oil spill in New Zealand, a country with one of the largest populations of little penguins. Little penguins are the smallest of all penguins and only grow to be 12-13 inches tall. Over 300 penguins were covered in oil and had to be cleaned.



Penguins love preening themselves (licking at their feathers) and the veterinarians at the Wildlife Centre in Tauranga had to come up with a way to prevent the penguins from ingesting oil so they designed knitted sweaters for the penguins.



The sweaters did double duty, preventing them from ingesting oil and keeping them from freezing after they were cleaned.



We love this story because people in the community knit hundreds of sweaters in a day to save their feathered neighbors. This inspires us to think of how we can use our talents to help others this holiday season.

Update 12/9:

The first 49 penguins were released back into the wild last month after being cleaned and going through a six hour swim test to make sure they were ready for life back in the wild. Check out the video of the penguins being released below:

Get Inspired: What We're Thankful For

It's almost Thanksgiving and we've been thinking about what we are thankful for here at AEO. Everyone is thankful for their friends and family, a roof over their head, and food on the table... but what about the little things that just make life fun? We asked some of our friends around the office what they were thankful for this year.

Jamie, Associate Marketing Manager – Social Media:

• My dog Morgan. She always puts a smile on my face.

• Holiday cookies. I have a serious sweet tooth.
• My family. They are amazingly supportive and loving.

Jamie (in the yellow dress) and her family

• Boots! I have a small obsession with shoes overall but Fall is my favorite time of year because I can buy new boots and wear some of my old favorites.
• My 'Cop Wives' - Alicia, Kelli, Chrissy and Kristin. They keep me sane and I am truly thankful for them every day.

Ellen, Social Media Coordinator:

• I absolutely adore my family, especially my big brother who is currently serving our country in Afghanistan.

Ellen & her brother Craig

• I am extra thankful for living in Pittsburgh and having an amazing football team to cheer for - Here We Go!
• The winter would be a lot more brutal without my warm and cozy scarves to keep me warm.
• I am super thankful for my amazing friends .. the best a girl could ask for!

Ellen (far left) and friends

• I am always thankful for the barista who serves up my morning lattes!

Janie, Associate Buyer – Footwear and Accessories:

• Colorful skinny sharpies, I can color code everything and have fun staying organized

• My newly paved driveway- I won’t get stuck in the snow this year!
• My boyfriend’s super cheesy pumpkin ziti
• I’m thankful that leggings and messy hair are in style – I can get ready for work in 5 minutes and be super comfy all day
• The invention of loop scarves – I don’t have to worry about tying it correctly or it coming undone. And it keeps me warmer!
• AEO Striped Texting gloves – all my fingers can stay warm while I text and listen to music. The tiny magnetic strips in the thumb and pointer finger really work

Cassie, Social Media Coordinator:

• Chocolate. I'm a total choco-holic. I'm always eating almond M&Ms.
• High heels: I'm really short and need the extra couple of inches!
• Going to Pittsburgh Penguins games. I usually go with my dad so it is something fun we do together.

My friend Abby and I at a Pens game - best of both worlds

• My friends. I don't get to see enough of them because we all work so much and have crazy schedules, but they are always there when I need them!
• Having a little bit of free time. I never seem to have much to myself so whenever I can lay in bed and do nothing I'm extremely happy.

Jess, Social Media Manager:

• DVR – I love chilling out on the weekends and being able to watch the reality shows I’ve missed over the past week. They are definitely my guilty pleasure.
• Warm Sweaters –Since I used to live in Las Vegas I’m still not used to the Pittsburgh cold but cozy sweaters definitely help with the chill.

• Twitter – I love Twitter and all of the people I have been able to meet via the Twitterverse. The power of 140 characters is incredible.
• BFFs – I am so lucky to have the most wonderful group of girlfriends that are there for anything.

Robby, Visual Flagship Area Manager:

• Little Sisters—I can’t imagine my life without mine. We laugh, we cry, we travel. And we’re also really good at devouring entire bags of chocolate when we get together.

Robby and his little sister

• Direct flights from NYC to Salt Lake City—Trust me. This has changed my life. I used to live in Pittsburgh and getting home to Salt Lake for the holidays was always tricky. Flying from NYC without connections has become a luxury that I’m always thankful for.
• My Urban Family---Torrey, Amie, Robert, Graham, Rebecca, Eliza and many more. I have some of the best friends in the world. They make me a better person.
• iPhones, iPads, iMacs—Every boy needs an Apple product or two to keep them connected to the world. Thanks to these amazing gadgets I stay up-to-date on news, music and the twitterverse.

Torrey, Director of Copy:

• Grilled Cheese... For real. Simple things like cooking at home (alone or with family & friends) makes me very happy.

• Travel... I love to learn and experience new things. Whether it’s near or far, for work or pleasure, travel keeps me feeling fresh and creatively inspired.
• Bicycles...My new bike gets me around the city faster and easier than I ever thought possible. It’s like a magic a carpet and way better than a cab. I call mine the Black Stallion. I’m pretty thankful for the helmet, too. For obvious reasons.
• Family... Every day is Thanksgiving with my partner Steven & “dog-der”Maebel Jones. I may not have turkey & stuffing for dinner every night but with those two in my life I have everything I need and more.

Torrey's dog, Maebel Jones