I miss my Farlows!!

If the skinny leg jean trend has not made you reminisce about your younger days, you must have never owned a pair of Farlow jeans.  Remember the tie-dyed ones...paired with a matching tie-dyed Champion sweatshirt and tie-dyed EG's??  Well, the Gap is bringing our childhood back into style with flare.  Check out these tie-dyed skinny jeans for baby, toddler, and little girls ($29.50 for baby and toddler, $34.50 on sale for $24.15 as of 1/9/11 for little girls).  They are available in blue and pink for baby and toddler and add on purple for little girls.

I want the light blue ones for Liv in the picture above - adorable for spring!  They also have denim tie-dyed jackets available in pink and blue ($34.95) for baby and toddler and only in blue ($36.50) for little girls.  I think Liv will look so adorable and so eighties in the pink one (below).

Grab some cute slouchy boots ($34.95) and ruffle top ($16.50) and your fashionista will be starting out the new year in style.

I can't seem to pay full price at the Gap any more because there is always some sort of sale or coupon so I am holding out a little to buy these but you can be sure her mama has started planning her spring wardrobe.  (If you shop at any of the three stores, Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic, I highly recommend looking into a credit card at one of them.  I get TONS of coupons, free shipping and alterations, and other things with my Banana Republic card).

If you can't even think of warmer days ahead, the cure is spring shopping!!  The stores are starting to put cruise wear and winter merchandise on sale to make room for the new stuff...my favorite time of the year is when all the styles start coming out for the new season so even 8 months pregnant, I am on top of the trends!

Fun for travel

If you still try to pack stuff for your fashionista with your stuff when you travel, you may have realized that your child has more clothes than you!!  When I travel with Olivia, I know we will be seeing family and friends and she has to look her best so I travel with almost every pair of shoes she owns and 3 times the amount of clothes she will need.  Since I don't travel that much in the air, I usually just take my LeSportsac Weekender bags and throw them in the trunk.  For those of you that know me well, you know that I have a weird obsession with luggage...always have.  I personally have a thing for Tumi but even I have limits.  My 2 and a half year old does NOT need a Tumi suitcase.  But I have found a great option that is functional and shows off her style.

Pottery Barn Teen is not really geared towards the little ones but why not??  I needed a bag for Liv to bring her stuff to dance class so I ordered Dark Coffee Berkeley Jet-Set Tote (pictured below) from PB Teen.  It arrived today and while it is bigger than I envisioned, it is so cute and now I want a matching suitcase!

It might be cutting it close to order for the holidays but your fashionista will not grow out of this purchase in 6 months.  They can use their trendy suitcase or duffle for years to come!!

Check out the whole collection at PBTeen.

They also have funky headphones, bean bag chairs, sleeping bags, and so many more cool ideas in fun prints.  The prints for boys are camo, plaid, and sports and for girls they have peace signs, flowers, and polka dots (to name a few).

Travel in style.  Pottery Barn is always known for their quality but who knew they were so trendy??

Buy a Pair and Give a Pair

I saw these shoes at Nordstrom a few months back and it took me a minute or two to process.  They are simple, canvas, and otherwise nondescript.  But since then, I have become more and more obsessed.  When I read a little bit about the company and the man behind these shoes, I was sold (and so were some shoes for Liv).

The brand is called TOMS and for every pair sold, a pair is donated to underprivileged adults and kids who cannot afford shoes.  If you read about their movement on their website, you can get a better idea of what they are about.

www.toms.com

They are available in a lot of different colors and designs and can be found in kids and adults' sizes.  The Classic style (pictured below for women), comes in a few different fabrics and range from the $40s to the $60s (they even have gold metallic ones).

For Olivia, I thought about doing a simple style but of course, I took a very simple shoe, and had to get the funkiest version of it.  So I found these at NeimanMarcus.com ($40 and free shipping until 12/6):

If you google TOMS, you will find a lot of different websites that carry them but they definitely can be found at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and of course, the TOMS website (www.toms.com).

So, this holiday season, you can get a little fashion for your little one and give a little holiday cheer to someone a lot less fortunate!!

I love coupon codes - Lil' Swanky!!

I am very decisive.  Either I like it or I don't.  The same holds true when shopping for Liv.  I don't like to settle for something that is just ok.  There are so many cute trends for kids these days and I have found one website that has them all.  I spend more time than I care to admit browsing for the next cute item and I almost always go back to the same website...Lil' Swanky.  I have spoken about it before and with the holidays coming up, I have gotten a coupon code for my readers (scroll down)!!

So what is hot right now?  Pretty much everything Lil' Swanky carries but here are a few items to take a look at (click on the item to see it on the Lil' Swanky website).


First, let's look at outerwear.  Appaman has a great puffy coat that comes in a variety of colors for $96 -$98 (short and long).

For boys, this Appaman Denim Hoodie Jacket is the best way to make a great first impression.  At $60, it is a great price for great style.

A variety of Lola & James items like this dress ($114) that would be great for a New Year's Party.

Or this Lola & James shirt for boys that will show their inner rock star ($89).

Some of my favorite brands are represented well like this Luna Luna 2-piece set ($72) that would be great for a party or a play date.

And this adorable combo from Scotch & Soda Shrunk ($150) that will make your little man be the center of attention from all the little girls.

I LOVE this set by Little Ella for $58 for your little one.

And Splendid Littles will NEVER disappoint with comfortable materials and great color combinations like in this hoodie ($56) for boys.

Another great brand that is worth your time is Cotton Caboodle.  They make items for both boys and girls and are great staples in your little one's wardrobe.  These three items would work for any little boy and would be great for preschool or just lounging around ($28-$46).

Let your little one represent your team in this tee by Red Jacket (other teams available - $38).

There is so much more (check out the stuff on sale...you don't want to miss out) but to get the picture, you gotta just see for yourself.  And if you love the style but the prices are out of your price range, today (well Monday) is your lucky day...starting on Cyber Monday, November 29, 2010 thru Sunday, December 12, 2010, my lucky readers get 20% off.  Just enter the code cybermonday and start your holiday shopping right.

Don't be scared of these Crocs

Every summer, I get Liv a pair of basic Crocs.  They are great for the beach, easy to put on and take off, and great for a kid that can't figure out flip flops.  After a toe injury last year, Crocs were the only thing I could wear without limping and while my Manolos started shriveling up from the loneliness, my feet were happy so I did't care.

When I bring Liv to dance class, I thought it would be a good idea to get a pair of Crocs so I could just throw them on over her tights and put on her ballet slippers when we got to class.  I looked on the Crocs website a few weeks ago and was going to go for the basic style and was deciding between lined (Blitzen) and not lined.

Functional, matches a lot, no brainer...until I got sucked into Denny's with their Fall/Winter sale on Thursday...I walked into the store and immediately grabbed these Crocs for fear that they would not be there after I checked out the toddler section.

The picture from the Crocs website does NOT do them justice.  They have a silver glitter band along the bottom and a jeweled bow accessory attached on one shoe.  I tried to get a shot with my Blackberry and while the quality isn't great, you can kind of see the sparkles a little bit more.  I brought them home and let's just say Olivia wanted to wear them to sleep!!

I got a pair for my niece for Chanukah and if you want something functional for your fashionista this holiday season, check these out!!  They come with (CrocBling Mammoth) and without (CrocBling) the lining and in three colors (black, white, and pink).  This style is $35 and the ones with the lining are $40.  Sign up to receive emails from the Crocs website and you may get an online coupon or something.  Or, head over to Denny's and snatch them up before they sell out.  I just bought them yesterday and when I went back today to pick up the pair for my niece, they already sold a bunch!!

And for those of you who are sick of reading about all of the cute stuff for girls, check out these adorable ones for boys.

This style, Crocband Sneak, comes in a bunch of colors and still have that ridiculously comfy Croc fit.  At $35, they can be worn all winter and into spring and are so easy to keep clean!!

If you are trying to avoid the fact that the holidays are weeks away, snap out of it and start shopping!  Check back soon for some other fabulous holiday ideas.

Fun Fall Fashion Continued...

I like to look at a lot of different websites and in a lot of different stores to find cute items to report back to you.  There is always a point in a season when Liv's closet is fully stocked but I find something that I want to get for her.  The rational side of me knows I have to have a limit!!  So the next best outlet is to tell you about it!!

Flowers by Zoe is always a front runner for girls' fashion.  Their fabrics are soft, colors are rich, and they have a great sense of style.  I came across these two dresses and just fell in love.  The first one (Zebra Print Ombre Dress - $100 at Nordstrom) is probably not an every day item but would be great for holiday parties at friends' houses.

For a fancier option, check out this sparkly number (FBZ Sequin Tank Dress - $164 at Nordstrom)

You can also find a great selection of Flowers By Zoe at Neiman Marcus, Denny's, and many other retailers.

J Crew just keeps it coming...their fall/winter line for Crewcuts lives up to the expectations.  For boys and girls, you can find a huge selection of everyday play wear, special occasion outfits, shoes, outerwear, etc.  I think this combo is adorable for a toddler or little girl:

They have a huge selection of shoes.  They are not all J Crew brand.  They sell Sperry, Converse, Superga, and a lot more.  I saw these shoes a couple of months ago in my size but a 6 year old would rock them a lot better than I would (Sperry Metallic Leather Boat Shoes - $78):

And these sneakers would be great for any toddler (Spring Court Metallic Sneaker - $110):

Another item that I am in LOVE with is this plaid Burberry Tunic.  Paired with a pair of leggings/tights and some cute boots and your little one could be walking down the runway!!  Again, this is probably a special occasion item but when you are sending out those holiday cards, it will be worth the money.  (shown below in Elderberry and Gold Ochre - Nordstrom $155)

The last item for today's post are a pair of boots for boys (probably for 6 months to around 24 months although not good for walking outside) - they are a masculine trendy take on the classic "Boo" style.  (Can be found on the Ugg website, Zappos, Neiman Marcus - $50)

As I continue to "research" the trends, I will report back to you and keep your kids looking their best.  If you ever want to find something specific, just email me at mommyofafashionista@gmail.com and I would be happy to try and help!

With the holidays coming up, it is a great excuse to pick up that item you have been eyeing.  Remember that we take a lot of pics during the holidays and want our kids to be framed looking their best!

If I am swaddled and sleeping, am I still stylish?

As my fashion focus gets split between toddler trends and layette, I can't help but check both the 2T to 4T and 0-3 month sections of every store and website.  Not knowing if this next one will luckily inherit Olivia's wardrobe (if its a girl) or send my research for trendy clothes into overdrive (if it is a boy), I will definitely have fun dressing another little one.

I did not do a layette for Olivia.  I did not know if I was having a boy or a girl and not having too many other friends with kids, I was completely in the dark when it came to cute kids' clothes.  I thought Carter's and Baby Gap were it!!  I shake my head in disbelief when I think of all of those lost fashion moments.  One might argue that they grow so fast so why waste the money...Olivia was wearing size 24 months by age 1 so I get that.  So here is my approach to baby #2.  Get a few key pieces for play dates, mommy and me classes, and trips to the store and wear the pj's with ducks all over them at home.

Having immersed myself into kids' fashion, I have had a great opportunity to attend the best market show for kids' clothes in NYC.  I get to preview ALL of the best brands from Tea Collection to Flowers by Zoe. I have been paying extra attention to the brands that have the best layette and here is what I have come up with (click the logo for the company's website).

Splendid Littles - soft fabrics, functional pieces, great color combinations, priced from the high $30s to the $50s

Baby Steps - fun prints, matching blankets and hats available, cute tie-dye fabrics, functional pieces for newborns priced from the $30s to $50s

Coccoli - super soft fabric, stylish prints, matching hats and blankets, great "going home" outfits, hats around $15, rompers/sets from $30s to $50s

Petit Bateau - classic styles and prints, last a long time, wash well, priced $40+

Paige Lauren Baby - this brand is not as well known but well worth it - great fabrics, not "over designed", simple and classic, priced $13 for caps, $20s to $30s for rompers/separates, etc

Whether you are expecting a baby or trying to buy a fantastic baby gift, none of these brands will steer you wrong.  Get a matching cap or blanket with a gown or romper and the little ones in your life will look just as stylish as the bigger kids!!