KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Miki

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I can get excited about virtually any sale on top kidswear brands, but this one made my jaw hit the floor:

Mariana at Bubba Funk – www.bubbafunk.com.au – is giving KidStyleFile readers 40% off all summer stock from Moppit, Minihaha, Tiny Mammoth, Woof!, Nature Baby and Heavenly Creatures!

I knooooow!!! I can’t remember the last time I saw such a massive discount on these amazing brands.  Mariana, you’re a legend!

You’ll need to use the code ‘KSF09′, and make sure you get in before midnight on the 28th of February 09 as that’s when the discount ends.

Now it’s not entirely for our benefit: Mariana needs room for her winter stock due in any day, and she’s expecting her second baby in just a couple of weeks so she really needs to do a clear out.  Since it serves our purposes as well, let’s get on board and snap up every bargain going – and there’s a lot of ‘em!

I’m going to start off with Nature Baby. As it’s a New Zealand brand, it’s not hugely well known in Australia but I live in Auckland and I can tell you that it’s truly divine; my son’s newborn wardrobe was full of Nature Baby pieces.  Beautiful, simple, well-cut designs and butter-soft organic cotton make for perfect baby clothes.  It’s tough enough for every day wear, but special enough to make perfect newborn gifts, and even though it’s a NZ brand I have never seen it at 40% off over here, maybe 10% if you’re lucky!  So I’m going to go a wee bit nuts on the Nature Baby today.

The other pieces that really caught my eye for babies are the Tiny Mammoth jumpsuits in the Clouds design, available in grey marle or aqua.  They’re just a little bit different, and so darn cute!

For our older boys and girls there is a huge amount to choose from, and unlike most sales almost every piece is available in a good range of sizes.  You can go nuts on adorable tees and dresses from Heavenly Creatures, funky yet smart boyswear from Woof!, and loads more from Moppit, Tiny Mammoth and huge girlswear favourite Minihaha.  Stock up for next summer!  Trust me, this stuff won’t go out of fashion.

And while you’re going happily ga-ga at Bubba Funk, please don’t miss the sale category.  Mariana has recently added a heap of new stock to it, so be sure to take a look.

All prices below include the 40% discount using the code ‘KSF09′. Prices valid until midnight 28 February 2009.

a. Heavenly Creatures Short Sleeve Peasant Top – Navy/Pale Blue, $44.95 $26.97
b. Nature Baby Organic Singlet Bodysuit – Pink Stripe, $17.50 $10.50
c. Moppit Classic Nigel T-Shirt – Radioman, $39.95 23.97
d. Tiny Mammoth Tank – Mint Green, $29.95 $17.97
e. Tiny Mammoth Cloud Jumpsuit – Grey Marle, $54.95 $32.97
f. Woof! Argyle Vest – Sky Multi, $44.95 $26.97
g. Woof! Plain Linen Blend Shorts – Cashello, $48.95 $29.37
h. Minihaha Flocked S/S Tee – Sunset, $49.95 29.37
i. Minihaha 3/4 Turnback Jeans – Antique White, $59.95 $35.97
j. Moppit Tia Bubble Dress – Navy, $59.95 $35.97

Bubba Funk ship Australia-wide starting from $7.95 per package, depending on weight. Please see here for more information.

Today’s post written by Angela

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If you haven’t heard of Tea Collection before, then it’s your lucky day, because this San Francisco-based label is really worth knowing about.

Until recently you couldn’t buy Tea Collection within Australia, but happily now that’s now changed. Sisters Toni and Melony are Tea fans from way back, and are thrilled to bring you the new season’s ‘Daily Tea‘ mix and match play-wear range for kids from birth to 2 years range, through their very cool store Where Did You Get That? – www.wheredidyougetthat.com.au.

So what’s so good about Tea Collection? Well, besides the superb quality fabrics and finishes– seriously superior — great cuts and stunning prints, and stunning collections where every piece works back with every other piece (both cost effective and easy to wear) there is a fabulous story and ethic behind the brand.

Started in 2002 by Emily Meyer, a former menswear designer for Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis and Alexander Julian, and itinerant world traveller with a family background of diversity, Tea Collection sprang from Emily’s idea to bring the beauty found in cultures around the world into the lives and homes of families in our own backyard, therefore fostering the idea of children being “little citizens of the world”.

Each season, Emily identifies a new place for inspiration and introduces prints and patterns that reflect that culture. She says “We design beautiful lifestyle collections that introduce a subtle, but important global perspective: colors, textiles, or silhouettes that are undeniably beautiful. In that beauty, we can all find a common ground of respect, awe and inspiration….If we believe that if the foreign is familiar – it is no longer foreign. It helps us remember that we all more alike than we are different”.

Tea’s business ethic of INSPIRED, GLOBAL, WARM and MINDFUL really takes my breath away, and just goes to show that success and a conscience can work together. Tea Collection can be found in over 500 boutiques worldwide, including Bloomingdale’s, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Takashimaya, and now Where Did You Get That? in Australia.

Daily Tea at Where Did You Get That? is priced very affordably: between $25.50-$44.95 for new season’s stock, with sale pieces starting at an incredible $14.67. Check it out, and buy with confidence: you won’t look back!

Where Did You Get That? charge a flat rate of $7.95 for standard postage Australia-wide.

Over the weekend, Victoria has been devastated by terrible bushfires that have seen over 100 people dead, countless injured, and many left with nothing as the fires consumed their homes.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to those affected by this horrendous tragedy.

KidStyleFile and La Toriana have started a little initiative to help raise funds to be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. Read more, and find out about how you can help, here.

Today’s post written by Miki

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Since we’re still in the ‘back to school chaos’ that defines February for so many families, it seems only right to keep a close eye on what’s instore at that mecca of funky back to school supplies: Kinder Kaboodle – www.kinderkaboodle.com.au.

Bernice regularly gets new products in and often discounts various existing lines, so I like to pay a visit at least once a week at this time of year.  You never know what you’ll find!

Right now, for example, Bernice has some very cool new Rush products instore: funky new art smocks in new designs and adorable girls’ shoulder bags among others.

You can still find a MASSIVE range of everything else your kids and tots will need for going back to school, preschool, kinder and daycare, including lunch boxes, drink bottles, hats, sunnies, an immense variety of bags and backpacks – pretty much everything you could possibly imagine needing!  Bernice has also stocked some fabulous ranges including Rush and Tiger Tribe, which enable you to coordinate your kids’ belongings as much or as little as you like.

I also want to point out Yunginz Shoes, which Bernice has discounted by 20%!  Nice!!

And speaking of discounts, check this out: until February 28, you can take 15% off store-wide (yes, that includes sale items) by using the Shop4Kids discount code! This code has been released in the latest Shop4Kids magazine, and will also be published in this week’s KidStyleFile Deals & Steals newsletter – make sure you get your hands on at least one of the above!

1. Yunginz Boys Sandoze, $35.95 $28.95
2. Yunginz Girls Canveez, $34.95 $27.95
3. Rush Hearts & Spots Shoulder Bag, $24.95
4. Dozer Boys Surf Scene Bucket Hat, $14.95
5. Rush Pink Strawberry Flower Shoulder Bag, $24.95
6. Heidi Ho Girls Flower Print Bucket Hat, $14.95
7. Bestever Zebra Lunch Bag, 29.95 $23.95
8. Rush Baboushka Dolls Art Smock, $32.95 (these smocks are long-sleeved, despite the images)
9. Rush Traffic Art Smock, $32.95
10. Rush Paper Dolls Art Smock, $32.95

These top brands are stocked at Kinder Kaboodle: Alex & Charli, Bazoongi Kids, Bestever, Bobble Art, Boys Don’t Wear Bows, Charlie and Lola, Chelona, Chick Pea, Cocoon Couture, Crocodile Creek, Cupcakes Jewellery, Feef, Fleurville, Fruity Faces, Giddy Giddy, Goldfish Gifts, Happy Guru, Hotbods, Jam Industries, Kiddysac, Kids Cold Packs, Little Chipipi, Little Swish, Milestone Press, Mini Rhubarb, Mini Whisk, 4 My Earth, Oscar Blue, Penny Scallan, Rolly Poly Kids, Rush, Smelly Welly, Tatiri, The Bag Tag Studio, Vintage Kid, Western Chief, and Zebra Crossing Club.

Kinder Kaboodle charge $6.00 for parcels up to 500gms and $9.00 for parcels 501gms-3kg, Australia wide. Orders over 4.3kg will display the charge at checkout. Orders over $120 are shipped free!

Today’s post written by Angela

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Today, I’d like to introduce you to Kathryn Hetherington from the delightful baby and kids clothing label, TikiBoo Kids – www.tikiboo.com.au.

Kathryn’s sense of style incorporates impeccable tailoring with bold colours and rich, lively prints and appliques, that is sophisticated, fun, and blissfully original. Kathryn sells her label through stockists nationally and also through her beautiful online store, All You Need – www.allyouneed.com.au (don’t miss their sale, on now!)

Kathryn lives in Brisbane, Queensland Australia, with her husband, Craig and their 3 year old daughter, Alexandra.

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What is your professional background?

Prior to having my baby I worked in IT product marketing. The best thing about that? It’s where I met my husband!

Tell us a little about your label “TikiBoo Kids”

When Alexandra was little I searched high and low for unique clothing for her that no-one else had. Enter my Mum, Christine, who has been designing and creating everything from babies booties to wedding gowns for more than 40 year. She created the most fabulous pieces for Alexandra – our little ‘TikiBoo’ – just like she made for me when I was a child, and when she retired, our long held dream of creating our own childrens designer fashion label became a reality.

We design and manufacture quality, age appropriate children’s clothing which expresses our philosophy that “kids should always be kids”. Catering for children aged between 2-6+ years, we use high quality 100% cotton fabric, contemporary colours and simple classic tailoring to create a collection that is stylish yet practical. Our collection offers a refreshingly simple, contemporary and high quality alternative for the modern and active child.

What is your favourite part about designing and what’s the hardest part?

I love selecting fabrics and matching them together, sitting on the floor surrounded by yardage, wondering whether to match or to contrast and trying to anticipate what my customers will love.  Often they will love colour combinations I wasn’t too excited about and avoid those I adored.

The hardest part would have to be trying to juggle being a stay at home mum with running a business.  A cranky child who isn’t getting enough attention will borrow my tape measure to tease the cat or scatter pins all over the floor.  It does mean a lot of late nights working while she sleeps.

What are your top 3 best-selling pieces?

1. Our Samba dresses have been incredibly popular this summer, they’re perfect for the heat and are an incredibly versatile style, transitioning through sizes and seasons.  They were designed for summer but look fabulous over leggings or jeans with a long sleeved top underneath.

2. Twirl skirts are a perennial favourite, little girls adore them.  They are perfect for dancing and prancing all year long.

3. The new personalised Kindy bags – they are the perfect size for kindy nap sheets or library books and we appliqué the name of the child on the front.  Kids seem to adore having special little personal things, we’ve had great feedback from happy little girls and boys!

If you could see your clothing on any child in the world who would it be?

Sasha Obama is utterly adorable and fits into our age group.  Did you see her give Daddy the thumbs up after his inaugural speech?  She is going to be a fashion icon, that’s for certain.  I also have a soft spot for Violet Affleck, Jennifer Garner’s little girl. Jennifer is a few months older than me, and Violet is a few months older than Alexandra, so I followed her pregnancy throughout mine.

What or who are the biggest influences on your designs?

Like most Mummy-designers, my daughter is my main influence.  I always trial our little girl designs on her, if they meet her approval then they get the green light!  Watching her play with her friends also gives a lot of inspiration, every child is so different and individual that often one of her little friends will inspire a design.

Living in Brisbane heavily influences my designs, both in style and colour.  We have such a relaxed lifestyle, having clothes that are comfortable and easy to wear is important.  The vivid hues found even in our suburban streets – Poinciana, Jacaranda (below) and Bouganvillia flowers, the equipment at our local playgrounds, all play their roles in our designs.

For our upcoming winter designs, I had to sit in the airconditioning and read a lot of books, magazines and northern hemisphere blogs to get inspiration!

Here’s a secret…we have an exciting trip to France coming up, so expect to see a lot of little Parisian touches next summer!

What is your favorite childhood memory?

I grew up in Auckland, so have many memories of playing at Manly beach where we spent all our holidays.  Childhood back then was so carefree, we could go off exploring for hours and our parents just knew we would be safe, as long as we were home before sunset.

My childhood is also full of memories of mum sewing.  Being “accidentally” poked with pins while she tried to get a hem absolutely perfect.  Going to school wearing beautiful creations and being jealous of the girls with $2 nylon shorts – the horrible fire hazard type – while the mothers of the other girls were begging my mum to make dresses for their girls.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I’d love to see TikiBoo Kids grow into a recognized brand both here and overseas.  A little boutique store would be fabulous too, hopefully growing to one in each state.

Once my daughter starts school I am seriously considering formally studying fashion design…Project Runway?  I also have a hankering to buy a big old rambling Queenslander house and travel more.

Today’s post written by Miki

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I love this time of year.  I know it’s hard to believe given the weather recently, but it’s almost the turn of the season.  Give it another week or two and the deciduous trees will start changing colour, the nights will be growing crisp, and the autumn fashion has already started turning up in the shops.

Online is no different – you can see the seasons changing by the new offerings in-store at places like the divine La Toriana – www.latoriana.com.au – where new arrivals are turning up nearly every day at the moment!

Elizabeth at La T makes a real point of featuring the best of Australia’s and New Zealand’s homegrown designers.  I love to buy Aussie, and Kiwi, made items; it feels great to support local industry and the pieces tend to be of a much higher quality than many of those manufactured overseas.  Elizabeth carefully selects brands she really thinks are worth showcasing, and her taste is impeccable!

One of her latest finds is the beautiful vintage-inspired Tippie Toes, with some sweet little pieces for girls in-store now, and boyswear coming soon. The new season Three Little Trees will also be in-store any day now, as will Tea Princess among others.

If you haven’t already, it’s well worth signing up to the La Toriana newsletter to receive news on the latest arrivals in-store, along with VIP deals, incentives and discounts not available to the public.

KidStyleFile readers, listen up:  Place an order at La Toriana in the month of February, enter ‘KSF’ in the comments section at checkout, and receive a FREE mystery gift valued at $10.00. Offer valid until midnight on the 28th of February 2009.

1. Early Birds Organic Premmie Long Sleeved Bodysuit, $32.95
2. The Traveller Designer Bag by Vanchi – Graphite, $149.95
3. Huggalugs ‘Cool Spirit’ Organic Tee, $32.95 $19.77
4. Huggalugs ‘Butterflies’ Bump Hugger, $34.95 $31.95
5. The Traveller Designer Bag by Vanchi – Rust, $149.95
6. Oobi ‘A Line’ Dress, $24.95 $14.47
7. Arabella White Christening Headband, $19.95
8. Annabel Trends Jolly Roger Socks, $19.95 $15.96
9. Nest Organics Three Piece Gift Set Organic Blanket, Owl & Hat, $62.95
10. Tippie Toes Petite Singlet with Lace Motif, $22.95 and Tippie Toes Enchanted White Tutu, $49.95

La Toriana stock a big range of products from annieB, Britt, Tippie Toes, Cheeky Little Soles, Dobbin and Drum, Eternal Creation, Finnigan Finn, Hey Baby, Huggalugs, Vanchi, Kee Ka, Lambykins, Oobi, Toys Pure, BumpBuddy, Lazybones, Gertie and Me, Britt, Thurlby Farm, Kids Kitchen, Grommets, Mini Whisk, Annabel Trends, Vintage Kids, Babylicious, Penny Scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tickled Pink, Djeco, Anamlaz, Three Little Trees, Nana Huchy, Jasnor, Footprints, Tummy Bear, Tea Princess, Alimrose Designs, Fairy Floss Creations, Cuski, and Gaia, Nanny Pickle, Oopsidaisi, G&T Kids, Eco Peko, TikiBoo Kids, Wild Things of Noosa, and prem baby brands Tummy Bear and Early Birds.

La Toriana charge $7.50 postage Australia-wide.  Orders over $150.00 receive FREE express delivery.