Written by Angela

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Continuing with our tradition each season, I sat down with the irrepressible, and always inspirational, Alex Riggs, designer of  Oobi Baby & Kids – www.oobi.com.au -  to get the back story on the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. I am honoured to be able to share this with you today, together with the news that Oobi will be launching their very own online store at the end of February 2012. The Oobi store will carry the full AW12 range, pieces from past seasons as well as ephemera that Oobi loves. Can’t wait!

Winter 2012 is for boys and girls ages 0 to 8 years (selected pieces). Oobi is sold in boutiques and online. Please visit oobi.com.au for stockists information or email Oobi at info@oobi.com.au to find your nearest supplier.

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Introduction & Inspiration ~ Little Red Riding Hood

Hi everyone, and thanks Ange for our Winter 2012 Sneak Peek. I’m always so excited to share the new season with you and give you a bit of  “behind the scenes” on the range.

This season the collection is inspired by Little Red Riding Hood. The beautiful mossy greens and chocolate colours of a dark forest, bunnies, wolves and woodland creatures, and the bright blush of winter fruit, their bold colours and, finally, the bright blue of a crisp winter sky.

The range this season began with the deep desire that I’ve had to do a beautiful hooded cape. And of course it must be a Red Riding Hood! Ours is really beautiful, I couldn’t have imagined that it would turn out any better ­ I’m so happy with the outcome. The bright, vibrant red wool of the cloak, warm and cosy and fun. The added feature of a silk-satin tie and the sweet vintage lining makes this piece a classic. The Red Riding Hood would be beautiful dressed down over jeans or leggings or dressed up over a skirt or dress. It could be styled in a multitude of ways. We’ve styled the coat over our beautiful Claudia dress which is a jersey stripe bodiced dress with a pretty tulle and cotton Broderie Anglaise skirt. The dress comes with a fun velvet sash (not shown).

Oobi Little Red Riding Hood Cape worn over Oobi Claudia Dress

Minnie Pinnie

I adore a little girl in a pinnie and Minnie is a sweet little version of the classic pinnie. I love the criss-cross back and the oversized pocket on the front. Of course I should have just done two colours but I couldn’t so I’ve done Minnie in pink, red and navy. Too hard to choose! Minnie is designed to be a play dress so it’s got some stretch in the fabric and it’s not too long. It’ll look so cute over tights or leggings too. It’s very robust and durable cotton/spandex like a mid-weight denim but with the comfort of cotton and the stretch added. Fab!

Oobi Minnie Pinafore shown in red and navy; also available in pink

Mouse Aviator Jacket & Whoosh! Tee

For boys I’ve done a sweet jersey Aviator style jacket with a furry collar. To me it has that real “Biggles” look, the 1930s adventurer-aviator from the old fashioned books. I loved Biggles as a kid, he was like Indiana Jones mixed with George Clooney… Suave AND flies a plane! Along with the aviator jersey jacket (Mouse) I’ve done “Whoosh!” a little plane-print tee shirt. The long-sleeved tee is cool and fun and, best of all, comes with an aeroplane badge!

Oobi Mouse Avaiator Jacket & Oobi Whoosh! Tee

Emma Duffel Coat

Ohhhhh Emma! I’m so in love with this pink duffel coat with bunny print lining in the body, sleeves and hood. Roll up the sleeves to show the print off. The pink is so, so, so delicious. Like musk sticks mixed with chocolate mixed with hundreds and thousands (the biscuit) pink and sweet and delicious! The dress underneath is Rebecca in chocolate Bunny print. Yummy!

Saskia Skirt

It’s hard to go past the Saskia skirts for a perfectly sweet version of the famous tu-tu. I love our Saskia because of the lovely satin bow and the rosettes (an Oobi signature). What I also love is the way we’ve styled the skirt for our shoot. It shows that you can really make it fun and playful with the addition of a sweet appliqué tee shirt or you can really go all-out into fairy land and style it with pearls and diamantes (as we have with the blackberry version).

Oobi Saskia Tutu Skirt in Blackberry and Raspberry; also available in Lime

Rebecca

I love the retro styling of the Rebecca Dress, with it’s sweet little Peter Pan collar and delicious smocking and waist ties at the back. I’ve already done a sneak peek of the Chocolate Bunnies dress so here is the Navy Bunnies. Bunnies are a big feature for Oobi’s winter and in preparation for Easter of course. Rebecca also comes in vintage Blue Strawberry print which is super-sweet and retro.

Oobi Rebecca Bunnies Dress in Red & Navy; also available in Chocolate & Pink

Oobi Rebecca Dress in Blue Strawberries print

Christopher Pea Coat in Olive

Our little Woodsman is wearing my pea-coat (Christopher) in olive but I’ve also done it in a warm French Navy. I love a toggle coat with a hood and the wool-blend will keep your little (woods)man warm this winter. The lining is a reprint of a classic British check from the 1950s which has been modernised with some fresh new colours. I’ve made the sleeves a little too long so that you can roll them up and see the funky lining.

Christopher Pea Coat in Olive; also available in French Navy

 Laura

Laura is a beautiful brushed cotton check skirt so it’s warm and cosy. It’s also a very full skirt so the layers and volume of fabric will be lovely for winter. Laura is gorgeous over tights and would look really sweet with the Emma coat. I’ve styled it with Maxine which is a chocolate jersey cardigan with a sweet ruffly pink collar.

Pip

I love Pip! Pip is our sweet little button scarf in our fabrics this season. On the other side is yummy warm fleece, soft as a lamb! There’s a Pip scarf to go back with every outfit this season. The photo I’ve included shows our sweet little Misha vest and also our Tweed George hat. Warm and fuzzy!