Archive for October 2010
My daughter had this little dress when she was a year old. It was a tan corduroy shirtdress that had a little tie belt. My husband used to call it her “going to work” dress. Like she needed a briefcase and a cell phone in her hand to complete the outfit.
For some reason, there are certain pieces of clothing that when kids wear them, they just look like miniature grownups. Like us, only smaller. Jeans are one for me, too. Whenever she dons the denim, my little daughter turns into a big girl. Jeans age her for some reason, and she becomes a mini-me.
Estella’s Embroidered Elbow Patch Sweater is a fine example of these time-travel treasures. Imported from Nepal and made in 100% wool, this sweater has a “big dude meets little dude” feel to it. The relaxed cut and extreme softness really looks like it belongs on your buddy. He’s the guy who comes over to hang out, watch the game, and maybe stay for dinner.
But what throw me into a gigglefest are the mismatched, embroidered elbow patches. They bring you back down to reality with the most playful contrasting colors and little “x” patterns. No big dude you would invite over to watch the game would ever wear that…unless he was a little dude. And the game was Candyland.
They say that foxes are this year’s owls. You can see fuzzy nosed little red foxes prancing around in everything and everywhere from purses to socks to cookie jars but who are they, anyway and what do they know? Owls are a hoot! Barn owl, elf owl, snowy owl, screech owl – you don’t care. You love them “owl.” O.K., that last pun was pretty bad. The point is you have never seen an owl you didn’t like. And apparently, the love of all things owls runs in the genes. Just the other day, after discovering her big brother’s copy of “Owl Babies” your little gal asked you to read it and read it again, and again, and once more…
Celebrate all things owl with Shirin‘s gorgeously simple and striking Girl’s Striped Owl Print Dress. Talk about making a statement! This fabulous dress features subtle stripping, roomy short sleeves and a white barn owl perfectly nestled against a rich brown background. Made with a terrific blend of fabrics which create a silky soft feeling, your little can practically feel and hear feathers rustling against her skin. A lovely addition to any fall wardrobe — just add a cardigan, some leggings or tights and your baby girl is ready to go.
Whooo do you love? Well, it’s pretty obvious isn’t it?
It was so windy the other day, I swear to you if I had seen the Wicked Witch on a broom or a cow floating by the window, I wouldn’t have been surprised. It just so happened that my friend was visiting for the weekend with her one-year-old. The climate she left to come see us…well, let’s just say, she’s the one who lost in that transaction.
In between gale force winds, she told me that she would have to see a pig fly (probably chasing the cow) before she brought her boy out to the park we were planning on visiting. I completely understood.
Enter this Striped Baby Hoodie. Created by Italian designer Album di Famiglia, it’s 34% cotton, 14% angora, and 100% warm and cuddly. The deep hood keeps baby’s ears and neck warm against autumn winds, and the loose design means extra room for him to move around in comfort. The light gray stripes are a little bit of casual cool that fits perfectly with the chillier weather, sometimes even mimicking the skies during the stormy season.
The next time we see my friend, it’s our turn to visit her. Let’s just say this, we won’t be traveling to her in the dead of summer. Not even if pigs fly.
Something about the Sixties has always fascinated you. You’ve always felt you should have been some sort of 60s Mod Hippie Psychedelic prototype hybrid. In high school when your friends were listening to the Cure and Depeche Mode, you gladly tuned in to the Golden Oldies station. (One of your favorites was Tommy James and the Shonells’ “Crimson and Clover.”) The fashion, the music, the glamour – you loved it all. Sadly, those times for you were never meant to be. That doesn’t mean you have to give up the love. You still adore a great 60s song; black, white and red is your favorite color combination; you can rock an A-line dress like nobody’s business and you still maintain that paisley is terribly underrated.
Why not get your little chic in on the fun with this super fab Baby Girls Cotton Mushroom Print Set by Clover. This set has you completely head over heels! Made with super soft 100% cotton (easy to care for is always such a plus) and features a matching dress and bottoms. A fun and funky pattern showcases a myriad of mushrooms coming together to create a vivid and whimsical look. The bright crimson trim ties the entire look together and gives it just the right amount of pop.
While the 60s are still something you will always pine for, you take one look at your baby girl in her Clover outfit and it suddenly occurs to you that the here and now is pretty terrific, too.
Apparently I like to run. I must enjoy this activity, because why else would I be doing it all the time? And I do it all the time. But I’m not running in the true sense. Instead I seem to spend most of my day in a frantic race that usually takes place in a car. I run my daughter to school. We run to tumble class. I run to the grocery store. I run to the gym, where I actually do run.
With all of this zipping around at a high rate of speed, choosing what my daughter should wear during each activity isn’t always my top priority. In fact, I want putting together an outfit to be a split second decision I can make (and act on) before we start moving out the door.
Which is why I just adore these grils Pointelle shirts from Estella. Having 10 colors to choose from means an outfit is only seconds away. Even busy patterned pants or crazy fun skirts mix and match perfectly by just grabbing and going. And these shirts are ridiculously comfortable in 100% cotton, so she’ll never grab it out of my hand and throw it on the ground. Yes, she had done this before. Yes, we were late to whatever we had to go to that day.
On these rush-rush days, I do still want her to look sweet, pretty and smiling. But no, her outfits aren’t my top priority. What is, you ask? Avoiding speeding tickets.
Perhaps it was all of those stories that you read as a child? Maybe it was the countless mouse tales of all those princesses who were looking for help who needed to either escape painful drudgery or to find some preconceived notion of happiness – some sort of prince or often times a knight. It wasn’t until years later that you discovered yourself and thought, “Hey dummy! That knight in shining armor is you.” After you had children, you realized while you are your own source for true happiness, you still want others around you and their love for sheer bliss.
Enter your little boy, all love and warmth and happiness. It’s no wonder you want to him surrounded by beauty and fun; he’s your hero and you are his! Why not dress up your hero in some of the warmest, softest and stylish fleece around. Opus Armored V-Neck Baby Top is perfect for those upcoming fall days when it’s warm, yet crisp enough for some stylish fleecy wares. This unusual and modern top, from New York-based designer Opus, features contrasting shoulder patches which are visually striking yet completely whimsical. Made with organic cotton, this machine-washable beauty is the perfect “armor” for your tiny knight and shining armor.
Stylish, warm and unique — now THAT’S a happy ending!
Seems the only time we see birds these days, they’re flying in flocks overhead. That sounds pretty, doesn’t it? It is, don’t get me wrong. But what it translates to me is kind of sad. They’re heading south for the winter. This means we won’t see them for a while. That’s right. Welcome to winter.
Although hearing their song with the sunrise isn’t something I miss, these little birdies flying the coop for warmer climates usually makes us sad. But not this season. Seems this winter, fashion for my little girl has gone to the birds. We’ve been able hold on to those lovely songbirds (minus the loud chirping at 6am) with this colorful Cotton Bird Print Dress. Designed by Simple Kids, it’s a cheerful nod to spring time.
At first glance, it looks like a pretty striped dress. But from a bird’s eye view, you realize it’s so much more. Tiny orange-crested birds face each other to create a lovely trailing pattern throughout the dress. It’s bright and beautiful, and really makes you smile. And there’s something about the friendly brown/white/orange color palette that gives it a vintage ‘70s feel.
So bye bye, birdie. See you in the spring. We’ll miss you until then. Now if only I can stop my daughter from getting up at 6am.
After two full hours or pure frustration, you were so ready to strangle the person who came up with “knit one, purl two.” Knit one and purl two, your eye! Your first foray into knitting turned into an afternoon of adult swearing and child-like tantrums. Wasn’t knitting supposed to be relaxing? After your first scarf started looking more like a shriveled lower intestine, you had officially given up. And exactly how do you start the process of casting off? It seems so convoluted, you begin to think that if you actually finished the scarf your poor child would have to walk around with two knitting needles hanging off the end of it.
It’s at this point, you throw in the towel and decide to call in the professionals. This time around, the professional is super talented New York-based Amy Bahrt. Her gorgeous Hand-Knit Kids’ Elephant Scarf is just the thing to get you back into the knitting spirit. Super soft gray wool magically (with a whole lot of help from Amy) comes together to create an adorable and completely functional scarf. This fun elephant hangs around, brings warmth, humor and a big helping of whimsical style.
They say an elephant never forgets, but this cute number helps you forget your knitting nightmare and remember just how darling knitted goods truly are.
Little Jack Horner, he’s the one who pulled out a plum and then said, “What a good boy am I!” No, Jack, you aren’t. First off, you just stuck your finger in your Christmas pie. Mom always told you not to play with your food. Then you pulled out a piece of squishy juicy that’s probably going to stain your white shirt.
Of course Little Jane would have been a little smarter about the entire process. She would have worn this adorable sweater. Rich plum color, no plum stain.
The hue of this gorgeous Plum Short-Sleeved Girls Sweater by Ketiketa is so rich it’s perfect for the holiday season. Not to mention how every little girl should have a comfy cashmere sweater to keep her toasty in this winter. The two-button is an easy-on, easy-off wrap of warmth. Its simplicity is really a bonus. With all of those fancy shmancy holiday outfits to compete with, it doesn’t detract while still adding a little bit of elegance to your little girl.
Yes, if Little Jane had her way with this Christmas pie, she probably also would have tackled it a little better. For instance, she probably would have used a spoon instead of her thumb. What a good girl is she.
You always knew it was your destiny to be a great art collector. It’s been your dream for as long as you can remember. You think it’s all Warhol’s fault and of course, you mean “fault” in the nicest possible way. Seeing that gigantic can of soup at the Art Institute, while visiting your aunt and uncle in Chicago, left quite an impression. You didn’t know what it meant, but you knew you liked it — all of it. Right then and there you vowed your home would be filled with works of art, art with a capital “A”, naturally.
Years later, the dream still lives and now that you have a home to fill and a love for all things arty, you sadly find that you have Picasso taste with a poster store budget. *Sigh* Small steps, baby, small steps. Why not fill your need for unique works of art in smaller yet just as striking ways? Acido Domingo/Mini Mioche’s Organic Kids’ Hoodie comes to the rescue and just in time for fall. Clearly, it has your boy’s name written all over it.
What boy wouldn’t be completely psyched at being a walking piece of art wearing the coolest hoodie on the block? Made with 100% organic cotton and customized by hand, Acido Domingo/Mini Mioche’s Organic Kids’ Hoodie features a duo of graphic and colorful rabbits on a black background, a zip-up front and two pockets.
Too bad you can’t frame the hoodie. These 2 Mokis are just the ticket for your art fix.
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