Trendy Children's Clothes: Tie Dye

Spring 2010 has many fun trends for children's clothes.  I'm in favor of kids experimenting with color and print.  So it's a great time to talk about one of the more whimsical trends this spring--tie dye. 80s trends are still so cool and we think this is the perfect time to try tie-dye fashions for kids.  Let's see how a few designers are interpreting this trend. From Riley, I'm loving the Alligator Tie Dye Racer Tank ($53)

From California the collection from T bags feels fresh and California cool. In addition to fabulous ready to wear, the line includes fashions for expecting moms, and children.  How about this easy two-piece set for your little guy!

And we just love the way Ralph Lauren combines tie-dye and a classic preppy staple to this shirt.

Think you can do it yourself? We say go for it! Here is a link to a tie-dye with kids from Parents.com.  We've done it at our house and it's a blast--but messy.  Have fun making fashion this spring.

Wordless Wednesday: Warm Weather Trends

Models: Vacationing Kids
Location: Atlantis Resort, Bahamas

What models are wearing: Pink seersucker shorts from Vineyard Vines and Kiwi St. Tropez shirt our lady model is wearing the latest in pink beads.

Why I loved it: Pretty in pink is the theme for this photo essay.  Fashions for kids should be fun and colorful at the beach.  The young man looks comfortable AND stylish in his togs.  For her the pink hair beads are a fresh and flirty accessory.

ENK Show Review

As a Totsy Mom, it's my job to scout out trends and fashions.  This means heading to all the local and national trade shows to see what fashions will be hot for your family.  Last week I headed to the ENK show in New York City to look at Winter Fashions for children.

Here's my take on trends:

• Purple remains a hot color.
• Faux fur trim turns the ordinary into the extraoridnary.
• Get ready to be mad for plaid!

As I toured up and down the aisles.  These were a few standouts I spotted along the way:
One Kid--They've always made quality coats--loved to see the brand heading fashion-forward.
Oilily-The name Oilily has been sold back to Willem Olsthoorn (after a messy private equity deal) and the brand is poised for a colorful comeback.
Lassig-Moms are already keen on the kiddie packs for school lunch.  I was craving the quilted diaper bag and I adored the BellyBand--printed sashes to wear over your bump.
J.A.C.H.S.--Wonderful (and affordable) shirts for boys and girls made from funky plaids.

Go Gently--Green continues to be hot, but it's not enough to just use organic cotton.  This new brand combines chic with consciousness.

Wordless Wednesday: Parisian Style

Models: Various Chic French Kids
Location: Streets of Paris and Lyon

What models are wearing: Starting from the top.  How I loved this little boy's lady bug hat.  His mom had paired it with a thick corduroy/down puffy coat with little teddy bear appliques. The middle girl was wearing a pretty gray wool coat what caught my eye was the subtle Hello Kitty hat (Hello Kitty is HUGE in France with the preschool set) and her dusty rose scarf. The final shot was of a girl wearing a pretty gold coat.  Her hood was trimmed in fur and she had on chic leggings and flat boots in chocolate.

Why I loved it: French children seem to embrace accessories from and early age. They wear hats and scarves with ease and their accessories always seem to coordinate effortlessly with their clothing.  The first two tots were so cute it was hard to resist snapping a picture.  The last shot shows the transformation from tot to independent dresser.  I had the feeling the little girl in the gold coat dressed herself and she really pulled together a great look--she looked perfected kid-like, but also tres fashionable.

Wordless Wednesday: High Style at Scholastic Store

Model: Naima
Likes: Dance!
Location: Scholastic Flagship Store, Soho New York


What our little model is wearing: I was attending the book party for Beautiful Ballerina
the new book by Marilyn Nelson.  The book celebrates dance and hard work.  Award-winning actress Lynn Whitfield was the celebrity reader and the audience was treated to a gorgeous performance by the young dancers in from the Dance Theater of Harlem. The audience was loaded with mesmerized little girls.  Naima got dressed up a bit for the performance in a H&M gray jumper dress and navy underpinning.  She paired it with black knee-high boots that were embellished with flowers (boots are from Daffy's).

Why I loved it: Naima looked fancy, trendy and totally ready to dance. In fact, I had a hard time getting a great shot because she kept copying the moves from the performance.  Her savvy mom obviously knows how to shop in NYC. She worked key trends of the season (the color gray, tall boots)into the outfit.  It comes as no surprise that Naima is a children's model--her cuteness was contagious.

Wordless Wednesday: High Style at the Gap

Model: Luna (five months) daughter of Tatyanna Wright
Blog/Business: hautemamaonline.com (Luna's job appears to be looking adorable)
Location: 5th Avenue GAP Kids section in NYC. Tattyanna and I were both checking out Stella McCartney's new children's line.


What Luna's wearing: Makie knit scarf in lavender and Makie knit sweater. Stella McCartney for GAP cashmere footed leggings in gray ($48). Bebe Ravi hat. Hotslings sling.

Why I loved it: Mom and baby had just come from the Million Baby Crawl event in NYC. Luna couldn't have looked more scrumptious in all her knit wear.  I was thrilled to find a child wearing Stella while scoping out the brand.  Plus, I'm mad about how mom combined all the hot shades of purple and gray together. 

Jacadi Luxury Children's Clothing

Last week Jacadi invited me to visit a NYC store and preview the Holiday Collection.  It was no hardship to plan a stop into the Upper East Side location--I adore the French fashions. Jacadi is timeless and packed with the little details that parents love.

When you shop Jacadi, I would recommend two specific categories. First the outerwear.  For me tossing a puffy down coat over a gorgeous holiday dress is a travesty.  Splurging for a fashionable dress coat is a wonderful investment in style.
Did you know the duffle coat was originally conceived in 1890? These coats are perfect to pair with any dressy outfit.  For boys, I'd suggest adding a splash of color.  How about a red duffle for holiday this year!

In addition to dresses, sweaters and accessories (oh how I love the hats this season) the other item to snatch up at Jacadi are the dress shoes.  Like the duffle coat, Mary Jane’s have been around since the 1880s.  Every little girl deserves a pair of spanking new Mary Jane's to wear for special events.  The leather Estelle is my current obsession.  The strap comes high on the ankle and has an eyelet-like trim--magnificent.

Celebrity tots (Suri Cruise to Violet Affleck) are often snapped in Jacadi.  If you can afford these fashions, you'll feel good with your purchases and outfitting your little prince or princess in style.

Fall Trends for KIDS

As with most of the hottest runway trends from season to season, we see them translate very well from adult wear to children’s wear. It only seems appropriate, right? What’s being worn by moms and dads right now is going to be wanted by children, too. Fall 2009 is no different. There are so many hip and chic and fun and beautiful current trends … and they’ve made their way to children’s wear in a fashion-fast-and-forward way. Being a writer (and mom of 4 boys!) who writes about fashions for moms every day, I think it’s incredible to see a lot of what I write about make its way to smaller versions. It’s absolutely adorable. Here are my 5 favorite trends that have hit the world of children’s wear for Fall/Winter 2009.

Ruffles! Oh, my… this has to be my favorite Fall 2009 trend. Delicate and feminine and classic and oh-so-adorable. Ruffles have made their way onto tops, bottoms, shoes, socks, ribbons and bows, backpacks and even jackets. For women right now, this is a very popular trend. You’re seeing ruffles everywhere. I have always loved girls dresses with a ruffle, and it is fabulous to see this gorgeous accent so popular for girls right now.

The Color Purple. Purple is definitely the color of Fall 2009. We’re seeing it in clothing, accessories and makeup. It’s a delicate color with so many different variations in shade and tint and hue. I love seeing purple make its way into boys wear, too. With girls, it’s everywhere – skirts, tops, skinny jeans, sweaters, jackets, accessories and backpacks. I also love seeing the color purple transcend its way over into some boys clothing – there are some stunning sweaters and sweater vests and button-down shirts that are pulling in the color purple. It’s such a luxurious color for the Fall and into the winter months.

Leggings. They’re everywhere right now. Even in dropping off my two sons at preschool, the girls are loving this legging look. The best way to wear leggings for a girl is underneath a skirt or dress. It’s a chic and trendy look, very cute and really pulling back from the 80’s. Oh… remember way back then!? Madonna made leggings cool and chic back then, and now it’s more of Hannah Montana and iCarly.

Athletic Wear. Boys and girls are loving the athletic wear this season. At every age, there’s something for everyone. Girls are gravitating more towards feminine looks – terry cloth sets and hoodies with embellishments. Boys are all about the logos right now. Athletic wear is much more every day wear now than what it was when we were kids. It’s comfortable and relax-wear and very popular among children. I have to admit, I always have my 15-month old Henry in hoodies because they’re just so cozy.

Denim. Denim is something every child needs. I remember being so excited when I was pregnant with my first son and I bought his very first pair of jeans – size 0-3 months. They were the cutest things ever! Denim right now, especially dark wash denim, is very popular. And the skinny jean, which is made in a variety of sizes… even for babies. If the jean is tapered at the bottom of the leg, you’ve got a great skinny jean. Definitely bring some jeans into your child’s wardrobe.