gift guide

If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you know that I’m all about wearing staple pieces multiple ways. And, you probably also know that I’m never without a watch. There’s something about having a classy, chic timepiece that really ties a whole look together.

A few years ago, I dropped a pretty penny on a fitness tracker that I used for maybe 6 months. It was big and bulky, not user friendly and just didn’t go with my style. Although it was advertised as a smart watch, it was so obviously not a watch. It had a huge square face, with a screen that looked like it was straight out of the 90’s. I could change out the bands but that did little to make it look more fashionable. And, let’s be honest, as a fashion blogger, having a stylish watch is somewhat of a selling point for me!

So when I came across the Garmin vívomove HR, I was intrigued. It’s a smart watch that keeps track of your daily fitness, keeps you updated on your notifications and looks like a normal watch. In fact, if you told me it was a smart watch I may not believe you right away. It looks identical to my regular watches I wear all the time and love. Or should I say, *wore* all the time and loved?

Since getting my Garmin a few weeks back, I’ve been reaching for my other watches less and less. Why settle for a regular watch when you can have one that does everything? You can use it at the gym and then immediately go about your day without having to change it. And, it keeps you updated on anything and everything.

As a blogger (and a millennial), it’s no secret that staying connected is very important. But, it’s not always possible to have my big phone on me at all times. Literally, it doesn’t fit in my pocket! With the vívomove HR, I’m notified the same way I would be on my phone – when anyone comments on my Instagram post, when someone texts me, when I get a call etc.

Okay, so you may be thinking, “I don’t want to be that connected”. But, it actually gives me more freedom. I can quickly glance at the watch to see if it’s something important that I need to address immediately or if it’s something I can address later. When I do that with my phone, I somehow black out and, ten minutes later, realize I’ve been scrolling through the ‘gram when really what I meant to do was just check a text from Kevin. I KNOW I’m not alone in this! Using my watch for notifications keeps me on track and more focused – something that I desperately need when my schedule is as busy as it is.

Besides notifications, this watch is packed full of other unique features, like the stress tracker. We talk a lot on Instagram stories about ways to manage stress and anxiety. I’ve also talked at length about what a factor stress can play into my migraines. Finding a watch that has tools built in to combat stress seems like a Godsend! The watch monitors your stress levels throughout the day so you know that if you get too high on the chart, it’s time to scale back. And, it may surprise you. When I know that I’m stressed, but think I can power through I’ll glance down and realize that I need a break. Sometimes, it takes that outside perspective (even if it’s just a watch) telling you to slow down and take it easy.

And, of course, it comes packed full of other features as well. It has your basic step counter and heart rate monitor. But also has a calorie counter, advanced sleep monitoring as well as current weather details and more! All of these features hook up to the Garmin Connect app on your phone so you can view all of your stats in one place. You can also completely customize the screen so that you see the time, weather etc when you look at it. I of course, have it set to see the weather so I know exactly what to wear throughout the day!

As long as we’re talking about appearance, I can’t not talk about the physical specs of the watch. I mean, this is a fashion blog, right?! The vívomove HR comes with a suede band (mine is grey) but has an additional silicone band if you want to change it out for workouts. It comes in 4 colors and I have the rose gold + grey color. I love this one because I feel that it’s very classic and goes with most everything. In addition, it’s fit to go with any 20 mm band. You can bet I’ve already hit up Garmin’s site for some additional ones to change out my look!

In case you’re wondering how well this watch transitions from a workout to work outfit, I’ve styled it two different ways for this post. The first is how I’d wear the watch for doing yoga (arguably my favorite workout, bye cardio!). The watch didn’t slide down my wrist at all, even in a downward dog position. Which is quite impressive given I’m pretty petite and have small wrists!

Next, I paired the watch with a typical business casual look. Worn with a sweater and jeans, it can easily be paired with a casual outfit. However, it’s nice enough that you could also wear it with dress pants or a sweater dress! You can even wear it with the most casual athleisure look like I did here. It’s so versatile and really goes with anything! Don’t be surprised if you see it permanently attached to my wrist in the coming months!

And, I know it’s not even the holiday season yet, but if you need a gift idea, this would make the perfect gift – for a loved one or yourself!

What do you think your favorite feature of the watch would be?

xoxo

**Thank you Garmin for sponsoring today’s post. As always, all opinions are my own. You can read more about my sponsored posts here**

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