A good life
A Montana couple trades snowcapped mountains for pink beaches – and Bermuda shorts.As the sun rises over Tuckers Town, Bermuda, Kirsten Wardman follows 3-year-old son Finn down a trail connecting their home to the beach. Her younger son, Somers, happily rides her hip as Finn races toward the waves."We never take the water for granted," she says, brushing a blond curl from her face. Twice a day Kirsten, her two boys, and their Labrador, Winston, can be found trailing the foamy sea.
For years she and her native Bermudian husband, Geordie, lived in Montana, jumping out of airplanes as forest-fire fighters, But when Kirsten became pregnant, their daring lifestyle seemed less fitting.
"Because Geordie is from Bermuda, we knew it would be a great place to raise our family," she says. Trading mountains for surf may seem ideal, but Kirsten admits she had her doubts. "It's not quite like moving to another city," she says. Bermuda, an island one-third the size of Washington D.C., lies 640 miles off the coast of North Carolina in the western Atlantic. "I was nervous it would be too small," Kirsten says. "But we go out on our sailboat and escape into the ocean."
Deciding to move was easier than finding jobs. Geordie and Kirsten wanted to work together and for something they belived in. When local options fell short of their expectations, they started Bermuda Styles. "The idea had been simmering for ages," says Geordie. "I've always worn Bermuda shorts they're the best. But they take hours to dry." The shorts traditionally are made of linen or stiff cotton. Geordie's version blends classic Bermuda above-the-knee fashion with bathing-suit freedom, thanks to a soft hybrid material that dries quickly.
"We wanted to create a unique product," he says, "durable from water to the workplace." Kirsten's spiny lobster, marlin, blue crab, and sailboat designs show-case the island lifestyle. Each pair of shorts (around $60) comes with a tag explaining the history behind the print.
The line also has expanded to include skirts for women. The combination of unconventional fabric and nautical prints is a hit. With helps from business partners Dave Hoidal and Travis Holland, the company has grown worldwide. "We know our shorts are like non other," Kirsten says, " and that uniqueness is part of our success."
Nearing their fifth year on the island, the Wardmans' lives now revolve around biking, boating, and family. As Kirsten takes her second beach stroll of the day, she says, "This is a very exciting adventure. We will stay here as long as we can do something we really love."