KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Angela

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It’s officially winter, and the weather hasn’t missed that fact this past week. The barometer is cooling around the country now, putting paid to bare feet for outdoor endeavours. This of course, means going on the hunt for cool new shoes and gumboots, but also for that most essential of winter undergarments: socks!

I have been on a major expedition around the web in search of the best socks for my kids, and thought I’d share my findings with you.

My criteria for socks are: quality construction – robust fabric weave and stitching, a high percentage cotton composition, or wool blend, with elastane to make them easy to get on and off, the ability to be ruthlessly washed and tumble-dried if necessary, and great looking!

The top 10 find are listed below: everything from baby socks for little feet, to ski socks for outdoor adventures, to purposely mismatched socks in odd numbers, to Japanese gems.

For the record, I have purchased the Annabel Trends Tippy Toes socks, in every available design, for countless friends, snapped up no less than 6 pair of over-the-knee socks from Monkey Do for my own kids (4 pair stripe, 2 pair yellow dot design – and I am loving these Aussie designed, NZ made sockies!), and couldn’t resist the Boo Foo Woo’s as I was researching last night.

I must say that it has taken me most of my life to realise the importance of quality socks: if your feet are cold, your entire body feels cold. Good socks can improve your whole outlook on life, so why not share that gift with your kids?

Note that I’ve just covered ‘designer’ socks here: for plain dress socks, school, sports, or character socks, hit up your local supermarket, or chain-store. Brands like Bonds and Rio, as well as in-house brands have it covered for you.

1. Annabel Trends Tippy Toe Socks Box of 6 Pairs $19.95 per box from Chic Kids

2. Ouch Knee-high Socks $7.95 $4.95 per pair from 5 Little Monkeys

3. Toe Socks $6.40 per pair from Charlipop Kids

4. Little Mismatched Socks in Zany Puzzle Pice/Rainbow $11.95 $7.95 from Gifted

5. United Oddsocks (sizes up top 12 mths) pack of 10 mismatched socks $29.95 from Millie Molly Moo

6. Oobi Baby & Kids Pack of 3 Pair $12.95 at Baby’s Got Style

7. Monkey Do Over the Knee Socks $15.00 per pair at Monkey Do

8. Boo Foo Woo Socks $24.95 $15.00 at Cradle Rock

9. Bootsies 100% wool socks from $24.09 Puddle Beach

10. XTM Kids Thermal Heater Ski Socks Two Pack Blue/Red $27.95 from Outdoor Kids

Please check individual stores for postage charges and delivery details. Swing by the KidStyleFile Current Deals page to see if you are eligible for any further discounts on prices quoted.

Today, I’m going to let you in on one of my little secrets. It just doesn’t seem fair to keep it under wraps with Christmas coming up

Beloved KSF readers, please meet the delightful, the exuberant, the very very cool, Millie Molly Moo – www.milliemollymoo.com.au.

Stacked to the heavens with delicious baby and kids clothing, toys and accessories, from birth to 16 years (parents of older kids alert), the MMM website is so bright, breezy and easy to use, and owner Kerri is so  friendly and helpful, you’ll be heading back again and again.

I’m going to lay all the brands available at Millie Molly Moo, so you can head over educated, and ready – deep breath now!

Albetta, Alimrose Designs, Amplified Kids, Anamalz, And Me Too, Apples and Pears, Baby Hoot, Baby Legs, Bajo Wooden Toys, Big by Fiona Sanlan, Bla Bla, Blue Racoon, Bobble Art, Books To Wear, Boomshankar, Cha Cha Sam, Cheeky Little Soles, Chook Leaf, Claesen’s, Cocoon Couture, Custard Pie, David Fussenegger, Edenstar,Eeni Meeni Miini Moh, Fairy Floss Creations, fiona by Fiona Sanlan, Fish Lilly, Flat Out Bears, Fleurville Nappy Bags, Frankie Ray, Funkyds, Gaia Natural Baby, Gertie and Me, Giddy Giddy, Go Home, Haba Toys, Heavenly Creatures, Hop Skip Jump, Ikaboo, Infancy, Ish, Kaiya Eve Pettiskirts, Kalamazoo Kidz, Kipiis, Lakeland Design Mini, Lark Handmade, Lil Fraser, Little Blue Fish, Little Gems, Fairy Princess, Little Horn, Little Squirts, Live Play Create Balance Bike, Maileg, Miatom, Milestone Press, Mill and Mia, Mini Mermaid, Mini Metalius, MiniMink, Miss Metalius, Monstar Kids, Mooo, Moppit, Mum to Mum DVDs, Munster, Nordic House, Oobi, Papoose, Penny Scallan, Puddle Jumper Shoes, Pure Baby, Rock Your Baby, Smirk, Sudo, Tayla-Lu, Tea Princess, Three Little Trees, Toshi, Trunki, Two Belles, United Oddsocks, Walnut, Well Spotted Tees, Willow and Finn and Woolbabe.

Phew! Ain’t it great?! There are so many brands there that no-one else stocks, and lots of lovely discoveries to make today.

My picks for you today, and with Christmas in mind, include the great range of educational and wooden toys for little ones (the Bajo wooden ‘Porsches’ are so adorable, and perfect stocking fillers, and the Haba fabric ice-cream cones are pure magic!), the Live Play Create Tike Balance Bikes for the 2-5 year old set, the Haba soft dolls which are incredible – all their clothes are removable, they have chenille hair that is easy to “do” and when they get dirty you can just throw them in the washing machine and they come out squeaky clean, the retro inspired and truly gorgeous Mini Mermaid one-off dresses, quirky and cool United Oddsocks – 10 socks, 45 different combos, and the most amazing selection of frilly confections in the form of Kaiya Eve Pettiskirts, Little Hoot, and Little Gems Fairy Dresses; if you’re looking for the perfect tutu, princess or fairy dress for your little one then you’ve hit the mother lod at Millie Molly Moo.

To help you out with your Christmas buying, Kerri at Millie Molly Moo is giving KSF readers a 10% store-wide discount until November 30.

Enter code ‘MMM’ at the bottom of each product page on the MMM site to receive the 10% discount. You must do this for each product purchased.

The box you must fill and check on the MMM site is pictured below so you know what to look for.

PLUS, spend over $100.00 and subscribe to the Millie Molly Moo newsletter and you will go in the draw to win a Big By Fiona Scanlan Wonder Dress plus matching wings and leggings (valued at $120) OR a Mooo Large Red Wagon (valued at $75).

Also check out the sale items – some items are up to 80% off. Wooohooo!! I’m off!

From top left in rows:

Note – Discounted prices quoted are after the 10% KSF discount has been applied. The prices revert to normal on 30 November, 2008.

Live  Play  Create ‘Tike’ Balance Bike $199.95 less 10% discount = $179.95
Blue Racoon Star Hat $30.00 less 10% discount = $27.00
Baby Hoot Handmade Tutu $79.95 less 10% discount = $71.95
Haba Venezia Ice-cream Cone $24.95 less 10% discount = $22.45
Well Spotted Tee $34.95 $17.50 less 10% discount = $15.75
Bajo Wooden Toys ‘Porsche’ Sports Car $12.95 less 10% discount = $11.65
Mini Mermaid one-off dress $69.95 less 10% discount = $62.95
Kaiya Eve Pettiskirt POA less 10% discount
United Oddsocks (available in 4 different designs) $29.95 less 10% discount = $26.95
Kalamazoo Kidz Play Castle $259.95 less 10% discount = $233.95
Haba Squeak Squeak Clutching Toy $26.95 less 10% discount = $24.25
Haba Soft Doll ‘Phil’ (available in 6 different girl/boy varieties) $98.35 less 10% discount = $88.51

Millie Molly Moo charge a flat rate of $8.00 for postage, Australia-wide. Orders over $250 are posted free. International orders are welcome; MMM charge a flat rate of $16.00 postage.