KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Leah

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As a My Child Magazine subscriber I get to slowly peruse each and every page of the latest release an entire day before it is available in news stands. Woohoo! Luckily for the rest of you it is available to buy now, from your fave newsagent, from today

I can tell you that Issue 18, Spring 2010, is a sight to behold with the loveliest little chap gracing its front cover as the My Child/Marquise 2010 Coverstar, and within the pages you will find a wealth of information on pregnancy, birth, infancy and early childhood – there is something in here for every mum (or dad if he’s keen!).

As usual, I found an article or two quite relevant to my current situation. ‘ Taming Toddlers’ (p.128) gave me some welcome validation that the “planned ignoring” technique that I employ when a certain Missy throws herself on the ground and screams in public is appropriate (thank you!). ‘Mathematics is Child’s Play’ (p.133) offers a number of activities we can implement at home to encourage a love of numbers without our kidlets even knowing that they’re even learning (fun learning is the best, don’t you think?). And with a nephew who is allergic to a variety of everyday foods, the concepts outlined in ‘Avoiding Allergies’ (p.82) and ‘Skin Saviours’ (p. 106) were very informative and a must- read for both current and expectant parents.

Some of my favourite My Child articles are from the In Focus section. My Child is unlike other parenting magazines in that it’s not afraid to talk about the more gritty issues that parents face. I am not disappointed this issue with two articles that quickly drew my attention and had me delving into the world of ‘Absent Parent’s (p.34) and an insight into the life of child protection workers in ‘Caring for the Kids’ (p.28). I’m also a sucker for true life experiences, so enjoyed reading the birth  (p.78-80) and breastfeeding stories (p.100) especially when I spotted a familiar face (you know who you are ).

Grab the latest My Child magazine for $8.95 from your favourite newsagent and spend some time relaxing as you read through its 140+ pages with many more articles, fashion glimpses and bargains. Check out KidStyleFile on page 19 for a range of brilliant deals at some of your favourite stores. If, like me, you want to get a jump on the on-sale date in future subscribe to My Child now: you’ll save money per copy and also receive a free copy of ‘MotherWho?’, personal insights on juggling family and work featuring a number of famous faces, PLUS you’ll go into the draw to win one of 50 Brainy Baby gift packs worth $49.90 each. Nice!

Today’s post written by Leah

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I make a point of bringing my family together at the dinner table every single night. It is an opportunity for us to reconnect, chat about the day, talk about the news and begin discussion about upcoming events. As a member of a rather large, multi-generational family dinner time can become very loud and busy. Our children play centre stage, their chatter leading to their grandparents re-telling family tales. However, since the arrival of Master Chef, many dinner times have become taste testing times, with the latest recipe prepared with great enthusiasm (and eaten with great gusto).

Mini Chatterbox – www.minichatterbox.com.au- is a gorgeously robust and bright store that brings together, much like a family dinner, a wealth of different styles and tastes that sit perfectly together in the one place. Here you will find  Aden & Anais, Alimrose Design, b. box, Bebe, Bebe Jnr, Carters, Chalk n Cheese, Cocoon, Cocoon Couture, Ellani Petite, Fixoni, Gymboree UK, Jarmeez, Junior Master Chef, Mill & Mia, MiniChatterbox, Moppit, Old Soles, Olli & Pop, Polarn O. Pyret, Purebaby, Rising Star, Sooki Baby, Tommy Rocket, Woof, Two Belles and Walnut.

With Junior Master Chef hitting our screens in September, Mini Chatterbox have introduced the Junior Master Chef kits to their wares, and have them on offer at 10% off RRP until 31 August 2010. Each kit contains cooking utensils and recipes and is specifically designed for little hands. If the previews are anything to go by, kids are quick upskill in the kitchen and it is an optimal opportunity to teach healthy easting habits! (I’m actually a little apprehensive about watching the new series. Those kids look like they really *can* cook, which will put my specialty – Tuna Bake – to shame, I’m sure!).

Mini Chatterbox is also adding new Spring/Summer 2010-11 releases to their shelves each day. With a fondness for wall stickers (I love to change and redo them regularly – so fun and easy!), I love the new Little Chipipi additions.  I’m also looking forward to the release of the Mini Treasures Emily Ribbon Dress (#3) which is the perfect special occasion dress for Miss N, and for Master R, the Walnut Zip Top High Cuts (#8).

Right now until 31 August 2010, Jamey of Mini Chatterbox, is offering all KSF readers 20% off all full priced items in-store plus FREE postage, Australia-wide, when you spend $150+. To take advantage of this offer, load up your cart with your choices and use coupon code ‘style‘ at check out.

P.S. Make sure you check out the on sale section at Mini Chatterbox for up to 50% off end of sale stock; you’ll be very glad you did

Discounted prices quoted below are vaalid with code (read above for details) until 31 August 2010.

1. Little Chipipi Moveables Outer Space $59.95 less 20% = $47.96
2. Cocoon Couture Dreamy Owl Pink $99.95 less 20% = $79.96
3. Mini Treasures Emily Ribbon Dress $129.80 less 20% = $103.84
4. Bebe Alice sleeveless Dress $42.95 less 20% = $34.36
5. Tommy Rocket Robot Warrior Tee $39.95 less 20% = $31.96
6. Bobble Art Dinosaur Backpack $29.95 less 20%= $23.96
7. Old Soles Hip Hop jogger $49.95 less 20%= $39.96
8. Walnut Zip Top high Cuts $34.95 less 20% =$27.96
9. Walnut Mary Jane Coral $29.95 less 20% = $23.96
10. Junior Master Chef kits – all 10% below RRP (prices as marked) until 31 August 2010.

At Mini Chatterbox orders placed before 12pm are generally dispatched within 24 hours. Delivery is via Express Post and starts at $7.95 Australia wide. Click here for full rates and information.

Today’s post written by Anna; photography by Edwina.

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The Life InStyle trade-only event, incorporating Kids InStyle, the baby and kids component of the show, was held at the Flemington Racecourse Grandstand in Melbourne, Australia from 10– 13 August 2010.

Showcasing 95 baby and kids brands, and over 180 lifestyle and homewares brands, the event delivered on its promise to “bring style to life”, with a universal high standard of product and display evident.

Angela, Edwina and I attended the show, and we have put together our top 20 picks – in no particular order; they are all number 1 for their own merits – from this edition of Kids InStyle for you. We also video interviewed select brands – please click here to view.

For your viewing pleasure, please click on each numbered image to view larger versions. Use your browser’s ‘Back’ button to get back to this page.

1. Mamas & Papas, represented by Childsmart, presented their newest product the Morph baby carrier. Due for release in Australia from October, Morph features space age looks and a revolutionary harness system and is able to be used for babies from birth up to 12kg. View a fantastic demonstration of Morph in action here.

2. Baobab, represented by Sales by Jo and Laura, captured our attention with their collection for AW2011 collection for babies and boys and girls to 10 years. Bold prints and colours against deep backgrounds, attention to detail – contrast studs and stunning tulle – and trademark quirky cuts project a thoughtful and simplified sense of sophistication and a fun-filled childhood. The Baobab AW2011 collection will be available in stores from March 2011.

3. Adri, represented by My Little Closet, makes seriously fun underwear for boys and girls. Designed in France and made in Portugal from 100% organic cotton,  we fell head over heels with the quirky and loveable prints from this label. As well as being uber cool for kids, each pair comes in its own special 100% recycled box with matching mask! Who would have thought we could fall so hard for a pair of undies?!

4. Little Rivet Jeans Shown for the first time at this Kids InStyle, Little Rivet Jeans are a great new introduction to the market. Australian designed and made from high quality denim with particular attention to the finer finishing details – the stressed finishes for boys and the heart shaped back pockets for girls – there’s a lot to love about these jeans for boys and girls in sizes 1-14. The stand out feature of this range has to be the extraordinary and comprehensive range of colours – soft grey, yellow, aqua, lime green, not to mention a selection of different denims. The hardest part will be choosing which one you can’t live without because they’re all so darn cute!

5. Mister Mista Specialising in limited edition tees for boys, it was great to meet the clever duo behind this funky label. Travis is a brilliant illustrator, and together with partner Renee and their newfound experience as young parents, they bring a unique set of skills and insight to Mister Mista. As well as the limited edition tees, Mister Mista also make fabulous boyish wall decals in varying sizes, wall decal clocks, a range of prints and greeting cards. A new development launched at Kids InStyle, and a true highlight of the show for me, are their new Spooky Eggs. We brought a few home and trialed them on our own children with brilliant results. A simple toy designed to trick anyone who dares upon the little envelope containing the ‘spooky eggs’ is bound to be a hit with older kids and adults alike. We are convinced Mister Mista have a winner on their hands with this delightful little idea!

6. Aunty Ollie Beautiful as always, and all the more so with her pregnant halo, designer Jodie Hampshire from Aunty Ollie was on hand to personally show us through her new collection for autumn/winter 2011. The upcoming collection for babies and boys and girls right up to size 12, sees the introduction of some sweet new prints on quality fabrics and some very lovely raincoats. We were all especially taken by the pieces – jeans, skirts, coats and dresses – Jodie has developed using denim. The added touches of hand embroidery and some new cuts in dresses are bound to delight you, and we believe signals a denim revival. The Aunty Ollie AW11 collection will be available in-store at Aunty Ollie from October 2010.

7. Studio Skinky In addition to their already established and versatile Tortellini Cushions which can be used for breastfeeding, then for resting babies head when lying down, then around baby’s back for early sitting; Studio Skinky showcased for the first time at Kid InStyle their brand new baby crayons. Their bright colours had me eyeing off the display from across the room. The crayons handle nicely, can be stacked on top of one another easily, are beautifully boxed and still at a great price point (rrp $12.00). These will make handy stocking filler and gift for toddlers this Christmas.

8. Left Hand Make showcased their handcrafted Small One table and chair set and Soar swing, together with their new line of coat hooks, aptly named ‘Into The Pines’ and ‘Twiggy’. Suitable for use in kids’ rooms, hallways, or anywhere in the house really, these pieces offer beautiful design with practical function. In a lovely range of sizes, these are a wonderful useable piece of art.

9. Little Bubble and Tree’s stand was bright, fun and fresh – like what many of my summer childhood memories feel like when I relive them. In an array of bright colours, Little Bubble and Tree offer summer kaftans, as well as beautifully constructed hand made necklaces made of a mixture of crochet flowers and painted wood pieces.

10. Miller & Harry Made from organic, sustainable and natural fibers Miller & Harry make clothing for boys and girls ages 0-24 months. This was the first time we had felt a textile combining both wool and soy fibre and it was a revelation. Comprising the luxuriance, hard wearing nature, lightness and warmth of cashmere, keep your eye out for Miller & Harry pieces for your little ones.

11. Sweet Little Things Kids InStyle saw the launch of brand new (edible!) label Sweet Little Things. Sweet Little Things’ edible cake decorations are sure to come to the rescue of many a parent with their fantastic range of cake toppers for boys and girls, with gorgeous baking packs and retro aprons also on offer to complete the experience.

12. Live Play Create On display at Kids InStyle was Live Play Create who are creators of some very unique, sustainable and stylish toys and homewares. We loved their Fruut Tree and sacks the most, which is an ingenious system for storing your little ones’ collections of little things. To use the canvas sacks simply lay on floor, cover with items of choice, pull closed and then hang on the tree, which is mounted on the wall. The Fruut Tree not only offers a superb storage solution, but is a very appealing décor feature for your home.

13. Terry Rich For Children In a great range of gelato coloured stripes for boys and girls as well as a beautiful white waffle style, or lightweight cotton for slipping on in summer, Terry Rich’s quality towels and robes will add a touch of luxury at the beach or poolside this year.

14. Ubabub It was a joy to meet the clever minds behind Ubabub. Creators Natasha and Daniel Dumais are utterly delightful, and their modern, ultra-stylish and ultra-safe cots design have revolutionised cot design in one fell swoop. Stay tuned for further additions to this exciting brand coming soon.

15. Mae Fabric Wall Stickers The girls at Mae have not rested in their enthusiasm to create and a bounty of beautiful new repositionable fabric wall sticker designs were unveiled at the show. Mae fabric wall stickers come in a range of sizes, both large and mini and able to handle all the ‘love’ your little ones can throw their way, scrunching a specialty! Watch for the new nature inspired designs which include an Australian animal themed collection, as well as range of Christmas stickers for you to deck the halls with when the time comes.

16. Bluebird & Honey presented a departure from their iconic appliquéd denim dresses and tees with their spring/summer 2010-11 collection focusing on fresh light cotton printed sundresses, hats, singlet’s, bloomers and shorts plus accessories and beautifully presented gifts that will make summer shopping a breeze. Santa take note!

17. Agoo displayed all of their active-wear, outerwear and their gorgeous socks and leg warmers at Kids InStyle. The brand new Agoo Tushie Huggers really grabbed our attention for their cuteness and ease of use. Consisting of two inseparable layers – a pair of leggings with skirt over the top for girls and leggings and shorts for boys – with cute prints on the tushie, this is an innovative product that will be a boon for mums of little kids.

18. Dandelion Kids has imported three award winning German toy brands, Nic, Walter and Sterntaler, into the Australian market and created a veritable playground with their display. Nic wooden toy’s quality German craftsmanship was a particular standout, with marble runs, pull-along, and ride-on toys available at both the entry level and investment level.

19. ZAMO Melbourne-based ethical fashion, toy, shoe and accessory brand ZAMO launched their AW11 collection at the show. Inspired by the landscape and customs of Mongolia, with many pieces handcrafted by artisans of the region, ZAMO (an acronym of the designers’ children) caught the eye and captured the imagination with a display of rich fluorescent colours and vivid patterns. As much art as fashion, ZAMO has a brief to visit a new world region with each collection. Next stop: Haight-Ashbury, USA.

20. Jetti Spaghetti Designs presented their wares in a most vibrant display that we could not walk past. Particularly of note is their new girls’ range ‘Living Like Lulu’, which includes, among other beautiful things, storage baskets in the shape of an apple and toy dinosaurs by the name of ‘Stellasorous’. This label has gorgeous interiors seriously sussed for girls.

Special mentions go to:

• Forwalls, who have expanded their ever-popular wall sticker range into sweet canvases that can be purchased individually or as triptych sets, and the cutest jungle themed canvas storage baskets; in prototype mode now, and coming soon.
• Little Miss J, and ‘brother’ label Mista Tj, brand new labels in the high-end echelon of quality fashion. Proudly designed and made in Australian all of these products demostrate the finest quality workmanship. Little Miss J offers quality occassion-wear garments for girls aged 2 to 6 years. Mista Tj offer funky street wear for boys aged 2 to 12 years, with t-shirts, long sleeve hoodies, skinny pants and the funkiest silk lined designer hats.

Today’s post written by Miki

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It’s getting hot hot hot at Little Pinwheel – www.littlepinwheel.com.au – as all the summer arrivals start to flow through the doors.  The day feels warmer just looking at the fun, summery bits and pieces which have already arrived, and there’s lots more to come too.

The new season’s fashion has kicked off to a great start with gorgeous new Cried Wolf now in-store, and – my oh my! -  is this brand fantastic: Mums of boys (yep, that’s me) rejoice!  Here’s an incredibly funky boyswear label with just the right amount of edginess which still manages to be child-appropriate.  I’m loving the Dr Seuss inspired tees (#8 below), and I’m having a hard time deciding which of the several VERY cute boardies my boys would look cutest in.  And the straw fedora!  *swoon*

You can also pre-order the next arrivals which will be fellow Aussie brands Rittenhouse, Chalk N Cheese and the gorgeous Sudo.  Little girls simply *must* have a pair of the Sudo knickerbockers this season (and layer them over tights while the weather is still chilly), while the gorgeous Rittenhouse Paint tees are going to become another summer 10/11 staple for boys and girls.  I also think the Chalk N Cheese Tier Dresses are standout pieces with their strong architectural lines and fun flippy layers.

The summer rush continues into next month too, with arrivals expected from the likes of Polka, more Cried Wolf, the *entire* Itch range, Minti and Three Little Trees up for pre-order soon.

Here’s another reason to start your summer shopping a Little Pinwheel now: all orders of $85+ will receive FREE shipping, Australia-wide, until 31 August 2010.  The code to use is ‘KSF10‘, so get shopping and buy yourself some sunshine.  And before you’re done, check out the sale section with up to 50% off!

1. Sudo Forrest Tee, $49.00
2. Sudo Jemma Knickerbockers, $59.00
3. Rittenhouse Lucia Paint Halo Tee, $44.95
4. Rittenhouse Bloomers, $29.95
5. Chalk N Cheese Nina Jersey Dress, $63.00
6. Chalk N Cheese Tier Dress, $89.00
7. Cried Wolf ‘Brekko’ Onesie, $44.95
8. Cried Wolf ‘One More’ Tee, $44.95
9. Cried Wolf Fedora Hat, $29.95
10. Cried Wolf ‘Mick’ Tee, 44.95
11. Cried Wolf ‘Grandpa’s Couch’ Boardies, $54.95

Little Pinwheel stock items from the following designers: Ada Ada, Polka, Polka Geogami Tween, Nature Baby, Sudo, Stella Cove, Cried Wolf, Mister Mista, Minti, piroutte, Three Little Trees, Tiny Mammoth, Itch Design, Lark Design, Nature Baby, Sevi Toys, monte&tex, craft schmaft, Heavenly Creatures, Chalk n Cheese, Cocoon Couture, Nellystella and Rittenhouse Kids.

Little Pinwheel charge $8.00 flat-rate Australia wide. Orders over $150.00 are shipped free, Australia-wide. International orders are welcome. Please see the Little Pinwheel Delivery page for full information on postage and delivery.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Voted number one for the past two years in the KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey, Oobi Baby & Kids – www.oobi.com.au -  is an institution in Australian baby and kids fashion.

Continuing to defy trends and follow their own path of retro-inspired fabric design and cut, the Oobi spring/summer 2010-11 collection for babies, boys and girls in sizes from 000-6 years, with selected pieces now available to 8 years, delivers once more on the promise of a fresh, fun and affordable range that celebrates childhood.

Oobi Baby & Kids’ spring/summer 2010 – 2011 will be delivered in two drops to stockists (keep an eye on online stores Baby’s Got Style, Little Styles, ShopHouse and Ten Little Indians) with First Summer hitting stores from mid-end August, and Second Summer  landing in mid September 2010.

I spoke with designer Alex Riggs about the new collection to get the backstory on inspiration and process behind the pieces. To view the complete Oobi Baby & Kids spring/summer 2010-11 collection please visit the Oobi Baby & Kids website.

The Photo Shoot

For our first ever photo shoot we used a gorgeous shade of duck-egg blue which over the years has become my signature blue. I think when people think of Oobi they often think of that particular shade of blue just as much as they think of our boldness and pattern. This shoot I decided that the clothes would be the absolute heroes and that we wouldn’t do too much – although I love some of the slightly surreal elements we used and the quirkiness, they’re just touches that you notice after you’ve looked at the beautiful children. The shade of blue in the background really allows that.

1. Daisy Dress

I should introduce Rebekah who works with me now and is a proper “big Oobi” as we call ourselves – we all adore her, especially Ben who has worked with us for many years, (he should, she’s his wife!) Bek is the go-to girl for making sure that everything fits perfectly. She has incredible attention to detail and a fantastic eye.

You can see that this dress fits like a glove on our divine little model. This dress is all about perfect fit and shape – that needed to be 100% perfect and I am thrilled with the end-result. Getting the criss-cross back and fit details right was incredibly important for this shape to work. A great combo of fabrics in the right places and some lovely, lovely cotton lace (it’s seriously gorgeous, a great find!) make this dress a real sweetie. All the fabrics have been dyed by us so that you can mix and match.

The little model is one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen, inside and out. Her mum is amazing, her brother came on the shoot and was so supportive of his sister – they were just the most wonderful family. Am I gushing? Seriously, it’s all deserved!

2. Boo

I love, love, love a shirred dress on a little girl. I think many people who are reading this might remember having one as a little girl – they are timeless and gorgeous.

This season I did some slightly quirky twists on Oobi fabrics. I created a version of Oobi “Pop Dots” to make a bold spot that I think is sweet for an under-two. Also I developed two fabrics that feel very retro and then modernised them too. One is a little blue strawberry print which, basically, could be any nanna’s tablecloth or kitchen curtains (in a GOOD way!). Then I changed it, developed the colours, played around with it until it became a new version of something you might feel is familiar. I love that it’s familiar and different at the same time! The third print is the prettiest little “Liberty” style print which goes so incredibly well with a bold dot to become a new Oobi staple. I adore a little flower.

The other nice thing about “Boo” is that it’s a set and I made little pants that have the sweetest little ruffles at the side, they’re just an unexpected little treat.

3. Teddy Shorts

I love this photo, it’s really just surreal. We had loads of fun putting Milo’s toys under my glass cake dome – he thought we were being so silly and could not understand it! Neither can I really but it looks pretty cool to me.

The Teddy Shorts are that excellent retro Bermuda short just like Elvis wore in “Beach Blanket Bingo”. Boy do we love Elvis in his hot beach-movie days! The addition of a classic Henley Tee just works so perfectly for that ‘50s Americana look that I love so much for boyswear. The pockets are velcro which is fun and practical and the waistband has elastic for easy up/down but you’d never guess either from the construction.

4. Sandy Beach Pants

These are a sweet casual look and I’ve included them because they’re hand printed and the colours are so cute on our sweetheart model. Obviously I had to include this shot too because Toast my dog is so handsome too. They were really cute together, every time she looked to the left, Toast looked to the left, if she stood up, he stood up. He was very protective and she was so brave with him.

I love our new little pocket tees too, they go with everything and are comfy and casual. The Sandy beach pants are all hand-dyed and hand printed which gives the fabric a lovely softness while the colours remain incredibly bright and zingy. The pants have sweet trims and are exactly the kind of thing I want to see on a little girl at the beach, comfy, cute, age-appropriate, fun casual wear.

5. Rani Dress

Some people who are “likers” on our Facebook page know that I was really inspired by a trip to India recently and talk about it quite a bit. I just adore India, the colours, smells, food, sense of humour, there’s so much to love. I stood outside my little hotel which was on a gorgeous street surrounded by parks every morning and drank my coffee in the sunshine watching a parade of women in hot pink, bright orange, greens, pinks, golds and silvers walk past taking their children to school or on their way to work. It was such a beautiful way to start every morning.

We developed a silk blend which is a really clever weaving of black and white silk-blend threads with colour dyed over it. The black and the white create a shimmer effect and then we designed some little blocks and had them all hand-printed. The fabric was so divine and then we had to decide what to do with it so I wanted to create an Indian Queen’s dress which is such a sweet old-fashioned style that hangs beautifully and looks like a vintage piece. The idea was to create something that a little girl living in India might have worn during the Raj, a lovely cross of Western and Indian cultures.

This is the perfect Christmas day or New Year’s Dress. It’d be suitable for any formal event or flower-girl. It’s the sort of dress that you notice but it lets the little girl shine in it without swamping her with embellishment.

6. Roxy Shorts

These shorts are so retro! And this photo is so cute, it’s a real ‘cupcake’ shot. We’ve done the Roxy short in two colours and as I haven’t done shorts for girls before I’m pretty excited to see how people respond. I don’t do really casual clothing, I think that when Oobi does shorts they have to be really ‘50s style and pretty. These shorts work beautifully with any of our tees and also our new Oobi Flip-Flops (yes, Oobi have done thongs to match our dresses, skirts and shorts! Wheeee!).

The thing I love about these shorts are all the fun details but they’re not fussy. They can still be pulled up or down because of the elastic at the back but the front is tailored and smart. The little bows just add to the sweetness. You can add any of our tee shirts with these shorts – any colour, any style. They all match which is wonderful! I always consider red and navy to be ‘basic’ colours (i.e. You can put them with anything, especially pink, go on!).

7. Lucy Dress

The ‘60s gets a look-in with this dress which I love! It’s a perfect, classic A-Line which is comfortable and wearable. Then, of course, it’s been detailed and worked up so that the design becomes quite intricate. First we added a knife pleat in the front and then these lovely raw-edged ruffles at the bottom and also at the top to create a bib neck. Then at the back we added a sweet keyhole with a button so that the neckline sits beautifully and the dress hangs nicely.

Again, this dress has French seams so that it’s lovely inside and out. I’ve done the Lucy in two prints. One is a really Mod-ish orange with bright blue which just ‘pops’. The other is a great quirky little heart print with a retro ‘60s rainbow feel. This is one of our first dresses ever go to up to a size 8Y – a very exciting new step for Oobi.

8. Jasmine Dress

The Jasmine dress is all hand ombré dyed which means that we make the garment and then each piece is hand-dipped into dye so that they get the lovely graduated effect. Once they’re dry we overprint in luscious golds and silvers. This dress can be worn as a tunic with mini bloomers (up to 2Y the dress comes with bloomers) and for the 3-8Y age group it’s a knee-length dress.

This dress is divine thrown over a swimsuit and worn on a balmy summer’s day but it’s also pretty “boho chic” enough to wear to a party. I think it’s very Kate Moss hippy luxe, if you know what I mean. I am also wearing an 8 over my jeans and tights, I adore it!

This is probably a garment that people won’t say is instantly “Oobi” but I think that Oobi is about colour, style, summer and fun and I certainly thing that this dress ticks all those boxes.

9. The Holly Dress

How gorgeous is this little girl? She has that sweet retro look about her which really appeals to me. When I brushed her hair it felt like silk (that is not relevant I guess but I think everyone knows what I mean when I say that!). I think her old-fashioned look is one of the reasons that the Holly Dress is so pretty on her.

The Holly dress is a little different for me because I’ve used some bold block colour in two versions with the printed fabric as trims (typically for me I couldn’t just do one colour, I had to do 3). But one of the reasons I did that is because we’re hand-dying now and the colours were so rich and pretty that I just wanted to see bold swathes of it!

The dress is very retro, I mean it’s seriously old-fashioned, but I think that the nice twist is that it’s modernised, it’s wearable and it’s got an edge to the retro feel. All the girls who wore the dresses in the photo shoots looked just stunning and seemed really comfortable too which is a huge bonus. The other really lovely thing about these dresses is that they’ve all been French Seamed and the sleeves are rolled. This won’t mean much to everyone but it’s a really big deal

It’s a nice dress because we used so much ruffle at the sleeves and the hem which is bold and creates volume without overwhelming a little girl.

10. Kurta:

Just further on the India inspiration it’s really hard to go there and not be totally overwhelmed by the colours and the fabrics, I am in love with it! The kurta is so practical and perfect for a hot climate and it’s a classic style there for girls and boys, men and women. The cover-up is so important but the weight of the fabric and the loose fit is so practical. Every kid should have at least one kurta for the beach to cover-up after swimming. Why Aussies have only just started to embrace this classic design is a surprise to me since they’re so practical and attractive too!

I decided that our kurtas should be a mixture of Oobi and classic look and I think they turned out so well I think. I wear them all the time myself and I love a loose-floaty garment when it’s really hot.

11. & 12. Swimwear

I have heard a lot of mums talk about how a lot of beachwear for boys and girls is very ‘surfie’ and while that’s totally cool, it’s nice to offer something different. Our little bikini and board shorts compliment our range and have a real retro appeal.

Our cutesie bikini is a lovely cotton/lycra so it’s really soft to wear and because it’s got the cotton they can be worn all day even after they’ve been worn in the water. They will dry up nice and soft and will breathe.

Our little model is such a gorgeous guy don’t you think? I love his beautiful curls! The boardies are called “Taj” after a handsome surfer boy . The boardies have a swim-pant insert and the great thing about them is that they are extremely lightweight which means that they are fantastic for wearing in the water and that they also dry quickly. They are lots of fun and a great classic style.

Ohhhh there are so many other garments in this range that I’d love to go on and on but I’ve been talking forever!

To view the complete Oobi Baby & Kids spring/summer 2010-11 collection please visit the Oobi Baby & Kids website.

Today’s post written by Angela

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I love a party, and am happy to celebrate with the drop of a (party) hat at any time of the day or night. There is something ultra special about kids’ parties: seeing children playing pass the parcel and thrilling at the sight of the party cake before diving in with abandon always make me smile and remember the magic of my own childhood parties (thanks, Mum!).

Pink Frosting – www.pinkfrosting.com.au – specialise in party supplies for every occassion – weddings, baby showers, christenings, and birthdays, to name just a few – with everything to make the event a success in-store from balloons to party decorations to candles to party favours, boxes, bags, invites, bunting and much much more. Scope the well-stocked Kids Parties section and for bargains don’t miss the On Sale section, my fave picks from which are pictured below.

Pink Frosting charge from $9.50 for Express Courier delivery, Australia wide. International orders are welcome. Click here for full postage and delivery information.