KidStyleFile

Today I’d like to bring you this very special interview with Alex Riggs, the extraordinary creator of Oobi Baby & Kids, twice voted number 1 favourite baby and kids designer by you, KidStyleFile readers, in the KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey.

The Autumn/Winter 2010 Oobi collection for boys and girls will be in stores from 12 March 2010. In the meantime enjoy this inside scoop!

- Angela.

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Hi, Alex, tell me about Oobi A/W10: what’s inspired you this season?

Boys used to pull my pigtails when I was a little girl and as an early teen I was in love with David Bowie for ages (still shocked I never married him!). That’s about all I know about boys really. They are a complete mystery to me in so many ways (try asking a man the same about women and I’m sure he’ll say they are a complete mystery to him too!).

But I know how I like a boy – or man -  to dress. Sharp little jackets, funky shirts, nice retro touches, a rugged fitted Henley Tee and buttersoft jeans. Throw in a vest and some tweed and I’m a happy camper. No bling, nothing too fancy, just a quirky touch here and there, some neat tailoring and clever cuts and colours.

This season for little boys we’ve created a sweet range of tailored jackets with superfunky stripy lining that can be mixed and matched with our new Henley Tees (check out the cool buttons I found!) and created a range that I think is pretty well-rounded. I think that no matter what your style you can mix it up and create your own look. Red cowboy with grey vest, tweed pants and navy jacket? Cool. The same look with jeans and a Henley? Sure. It all works together because I chose the entire colour palette to co-ordinate without being matchy. I think that should make any busy mum’s job way easier.

For girls I’ve been inspired by Paris (a girl can dream, right?). Fresh, crisp French navy and white with bold touches of red feature heavily (the shirt dress is so Audrey-Hepburn-in-Paris!)

On the flipside, we’ve got some really autumnal stained berry colours, rich tweeds and some really old-fashioned shapes. We are loving our little swing coats with the beautiful ribbon features. The coat is lined in really soft jersey so they’re easy to wear and the hoodie has Oobi house-designed fabric peeking out.

Our Tweed bubble dresses are very quirky and I know they are not for everyone, but they are totally for me. I am so in love with this look and I hope there will be a bunch of mums that dig it too. Little crystal buttons and some seriously impressive pleating work just finish the garment so beautifully. The pleating was done for me by a special artisan who only works in pleating and has created garments for some very famous designers.

I’m especially pleased with how our appliqué work came out this season. Oobi is pretty well known for our appliqué dresses and pants and I found some lovely vintage-y fabrics to mix-and-match with my own Oobi prints. I think that the combos are really cute and I hope that everyone else likes them too. I always try and make mixing-and-matching easy so there are some great tees, retro headscarves and clips that go with everything plus some lovely tights and leggings to keep warm over winter.

You travelled to Toyko, Japan, recently. I know Oobi has been a best-seller in Japan for a while now. How was your trip?

We were invited to Tokyo to see Oobi sold in one of the big department stores there. Oobi has sold really well in Japan for a few years, but this was a huge big deal for us – lots of excitement (and lots of eating, eating, eating!).

The Silver-Grey Smock Dress with Rosette (also available in Dusky Pink, not shown) is inspired by Japan. The pleating is all hand-made and designed to work a little like origami. The fabric is gorgeous and soft and I think our little model wears it really well with her diamanté tights.

Notes on the Tokyo Pics: The one with the spinning top is not retouched in any way, that’s a paper cut-out! Terry and I are desperately trying to import one of those pandas for the warehouse. We like the idea of Ben riding around on those collecting cartons. The band… Ummm.. Because you’re never too old? A pic of this very cool band called Polysics that we went to see one night. Loads of fun, made me feel 24 again. Our distributor took us around on an Oobi stores shopping spree and we stopped here on the way, one of the most beautiful stores I’ve ever seen. We had a ‘pop up’ store in this super-funky area called Omotosando Hills (very “The Hills” – “Omotosando Hills”). Full of Gucci and Chanel all that stuff. As I was walking I saw a guy who looked like a rock star walking a monkey on a lead. Blurry pic because he wouldn’t stop his stride. My delicious lunch. Found it hard to eat it it was so beautiful. We weren’t even anywhere fancy, just a regular restaurant. All reasons why I love Japan!

I love the illustrations you have used with the photos in this season’s collection. Reminds me of old-school Disney in the 50’s: what was it inspired by?

The idea actually came when I was looking at this gorgeous Judith Fritchman drawing of a child on a swing. I thought how beautiful pencil drawings are and I immediately thought of one of our “Oobi Babies” who could rise to the challenge of pretending to be on a swing. The idea just kind of developed from there and most of the drawings using the babies were drawn in after the shoot to correspond with their spontaneous actions. Other shots we asked the children to ‘make believe’ which they did really well. There’s a little story throughout our catalogue this season and it’s written like a children’s book from the 1950s. It was the most fun concept and shoot ever.

Oobi Autumn/Winter 2010 will be available from stockists from 12 March 2010. Boy’s wear goes up to 5 years and girl’s wear goes up to size 6 years; the new release ‘Darcy’ skirts go up to size lucky number 7. Prices for all pieces range from $17.95 – $69.95. Follow Alex on the Oobi Baby & Kids blog, and let her know you’re a fan on Facebook.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Autumn days may still feel a long way off during these last, long days of summer, but in the southern hemisphere the 1st of March marks the beginning of the new season, and already some of our favourite brands are filling the stores with their great new Autumn/Winter fashions. Autumn colours this season are rich and strong with fuchsia, charcoal, plum, navy, burnt orange and blues filing up the racks. There is a proliferation of stylish garments which are comfy and easy to wear: perfect for brightening dull days and kicking through the leaves before returning to the nest for some quality couch and cuddle time.

Click the image below to view a larger version which you can print out and pin to your own inspiration board.

Left to Right, Top to Bottom:

Baobab, Polka, Knuffle Kid, Heavenly Creatures, Fred Bare, Polka, Heavenly Creatures, Eeeni Meeni Miini Moh, Polka and Baobab.

Please see individual stores for postage and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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The Varita ‘Colour-It-Yourself’ Skirt by Finnish label Kakara is a truly remarkable way to let your little girl express herself through fashion. A combination of clothing and craft, the Varita is the perfect way to encourage imagination, improve fine motor skills and keep your child productively occupied I can only imagine after all the hard work of colouring in their masterpiece how special they will be to wear, and the ooohing and aaaahing they will receive.

The 100% cotton, fully washable Varita Skirt features a comfy elasticised waist with a swirly bell shaped skirt, and comes complete with three textile permanent marker pens at a cost of $59.95. The Varita ‘Colour-It-Yourself’ Skirt is available in sizes 4 – 7 years, and will be arriving soon at Mini Style – www.ministyle.com.au. Put your name down to be notified as soon as they arrive.

Why should kids have all the fun? Designers Berber Soepboer and Michiel Schuurman have come up with a gorgeous A-line frock that will have us relaxing afternoon away colouring in our own masterpiece.  The Colour-In Dress is available for 250 Euros and comes with its own set of markers.

Please contact individual stores for postage and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Marc Jacobs is becoming a household name for his growing celebrity as Creative Director for Louis Vuitton and head designer for his eponymous brand. As well as designing upmarket fashion collections for women and men, his company also designs a childrenswear range called Little Marc Jacobs that he was inspired to develop by friends and colleagues with children. The range reflects many of the same influences as the grown up collections and have a relaxed comfort that is important for kids clothes, and is available in sizes 2-8 years.

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Jacobs declared his approach to fashion as “straightforward and anti-intellectual…I think that children are very lucky because they don’t have any rules. With children it’s as simple as ‘yuk’ or ‘yay’ and they are not frightened to ask a million questions. I think that it’s nice to retain that childish naivety.”

The Little Marc Jacobs collection for Spring/Summer 2010 that will be heading into Northern Hemisphere stores soon, carries a lot of the same influences as the grown up Ready to Wear collections including big prints and bright colours, with toned down, more casual and relaxed shapes for kids. I love the teales, coral, sky blue and yolk yellow with some denim and florals thrown into the mix.

A lot of these pieces may be more than you would pay for own clothes, but the styling, colours and shapes can still provide a little inspiration.

The Marc Jacobs childrenswear range is sold in Little Marc Jacobs flagship stores in Europe and the USA. Purchase online from Little Fashion Gallery, Alex and Alexa, Children Salon and Milkshop to name a few.

Today’s post written by Leah

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In Denmark it is not unsual for a person to go through life without ever posessing a car. Bicycles are the favored mode of transport across much of the country, and most locations are bike friendly. As a result, the bicycles that are designed in this country are quite exceptional and designed to functionally optimally with the users lifestyle. One example which is perfect for families is the new Velorbis Mobii Trike Bicycle.

With a stackhat on my head (check out Nutcase for ultra coolness), the kids in the carrier with the built-in seat belts on – click clack! – I can just imagine myself pedaling this handcrafted Trike Bicycle  around my hometown.

At USD$3,895.00 (possibly what I spend on petrol biannually), this is not a bike for the casual cyclist, but a possiblity for a family wanting to adopt a seriously green alternative. The Velorbis Mobii Trike Bicycle is distributed in Australia by Morgans Bicycles, Alexandria, NSW. Phone (02) 9519 4666 for more details.

The latest edition of  Bubble – The Kids Trade Show, was held at the Business Design Centre in Islingston, London, UK last weekend.

From 31 January-1 February over 200 of the finest designers of boutique baby and kids fashion, nursery good, accessories and toys in the world (including a fabulous Australian contingent: Cocoon Couture, Three Little Trees, Paper Wings, Munster Kids, Tea Princess, and more, were there!) displayed their Autumn/Winter 2010 collections to trend savvy buyers from around the globe. Major trends evident were the dominance of organic cotton and fairtrade, upcycling and more labels choosing to extend their ranges into tween sizes.

KidStyleFile Senior Writer Miki was our scout on the ground at the show, and today she brings you her first round of show picks, chosen for their innovation, design, and sheer charm.

Enjoy! – Angela.

Update: You can read Part 2 of our Bubble London coverage here.

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Animal Tails

One of the many organic and ethically produced brands showing at Bubble was Animal Tails.  As a brand with a conscience, they take it even further than most with all their striking screen printed designs featuring endangered animals such as the Mako shark and the Riverine rabbit.  Their range includes rompers from 0-3m to 6-12m, and tees from 2-3 right up to 9-10.  The girls’ tees have a subtle puff sleeve as an added design feature, and the collection also includes hats and baby blankets.

Animal Tails are stocked in Australia by Aurora Design Studio, although the products are not currently on their website. Please contact the store directly to enquire.

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Barbara Farber

Dutch brand Barbara Farber is ultra feminine and ultra chic.  Designed for the glamour girls among us, the collection features sumptuous fabrics, faux fur, diamantes and fine knits.  Sized from 3 years to 12 years (so a great option for tween girls looking for party pieces), the real charm of the collection is all in the detailing and fine tailoring.  The coats in particular are real standout items; they’re beautifully cut.

Barbara Farber is not currently available in Australia, but we’ll keep you posted on developments.

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Ben Sherman Kids

As a mum of boys I am constantly on the lookout for new and interesting boyswear labels, and Ben Sherman Kids is exactly that.  The brand’s inspiration is focused around the iconic 1960s Carnaby Street rock n roll fashion scene, and British music has clearly been a huge influence on the designs.  Sizing is from baby sizes all the way up to 14, making this an excellent label for tween boys.

Ben Sherman Kids is not available in Australia at this stage.  The Kids range will be launching through the Ben Sherman UK website in March ‘10, and available to buy online from there.

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Cakewalk

Cakewalk, another Dutch brand, is designed around two very simple but effective principles: cheerful and colourful.  Exclusively girlswear (the company catchphrase is ‘girly spirit’), the collection is bold and highly detailed with prints, textured fabric such as cord, and touches such as interesting buttons and stitching detail.  It is sized from baby up to 12 years, and while it isn’t yet available in Australia we will keep you updated on developments.

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Green Eyed Monster

On the scene for over two years now, Green Eyed Monster is focused on cool design with principles.  Design and quality come first with the brand, while ethics come a very close second; the cotton is organic and the dyes and finishes are all non-toxic.  The prints on the tees, rompers, longline tees and dresses are bright and bold, with strong musical and iconic influences; prints include The Beatles’ yellow submarine, Concorde, the chopper bicycle, pacman and Finnish icon the Moomins.  Dresses and longline tees are made more feminine with touches of Crystalline by Swarovski (TM) crystals, and the knitwear is ethically sourced alpaca wool from Peru.

In Australia Green Eyed Monsters is stocked by Cornflower Blue.

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Let Them Eat Cake for Environmental Justice Fund

Exclusive English label Let Them Eat Cake launched their new charity tees at this edition of Bubble London.  Supporting the Environmental Justice Foundation, they are printed on ethical American Apparel tees, and feature pop culture icons John & Yoko and Britney Spears respectively.  The tees were designed in collaboration with well known English artists Annie Kevans and Stella Vine, and are hand printed in Bath, where the brand is based.  Sizing is from 12 months up to 8 years.

The tees will be selling soon through the LTEC website, and we’ll keep you posted as news of more stockists comes to hand.

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Nixie Clothing

One of the most exciting and distinctive collections at Bubble this season was shown Nixie Clothing.  Designer Nicole Frobusch sources vintage and upcycled fabrics to create her distinctive ‘one of a kind’ pieces, resulting in an eclectic and colourful range for girls aged 1 to 12 years.  The collection showing at Bubble included vintage coats using beautiful heavy linen fabric sourced from retro tablecloths and curtains, knitted woollen neck warmers with beautiful lace and button details, knitted jumpers with sweetly ruffled sleeves, and floaty batwing dresses for spring/summer made from upcycled silk scarves.

Nixie Clothing is not yet available in Australia, but see the Nixie website for overseas stockists.

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Their Nibs

Prints-based English label Their Nibs has a vintage inspired collection of fairy and Russian doll printed dresses and coats for girls in chiffon, needle cord and wool.  Detailing includes miniature sequins and antique lace which render the finished pieces whimsical and nostalgic.  Boyswear includes grand prix printed 50’s style box-shaped shirts in needle cord and lumberjack flannel, and well cut woolen coats.

Also new from Their Nibs are cotton jersey pyjamas featuring Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler’s hugely popular Gruffalo in a repeating pattern (along with other favourite characters Mouse, Owl, Fox and Snake).  The pyjamas are available in background colours of blue, pink and ivory and are sized from 18 months up to 5-6 years.  Gruffalo dressing gowns and raincoats are also planned for later this year.  Their Nibs has just extended their license for The Gruffalo to Australia, meaning we can hope to see these products here soon – I predict that Their Nibs will swiftly become very sought after in the Australian market.  We’ll update on stockists as information comes to hand.

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Toby Tiger

Around for 11 years now, Brighton-based Toby Tiger is all about colour and comfort for little people.  Over the years it has grown exponentially, and they now have around 400 stockists, mostly small independent retailers, in the UK along with sales through their own website.  The range is extensive and includes, among many other items, tees, rompers, knitwear, dungarees, dresses, rainwear and gumboots.  All cotton is organic, and head designer/brand owner Zoe Mellor is working to make the entire product range organic in time.  The entire range is impressive, but my standout products are the applique tees and rompers which sport large, child-friendly designs in bold colours, and the stylish printed rainwear.

Toby Tiger currently has no Australian stockists (we’ll keep you updated), but Australian customers can buy direct through their website.

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Uttam Kids & Yumi Girls

The new tween brand from Uttam is Yumi Girls, sized from 5-6 years up to 11-12 years.  As with Uttam, Yumi Girls pieces draw their inspiration from India, Nepal and Japan.  The Autumn/Winter ‘10 Yumi Girls collection has a colourful, vibrant feel with florals, lace, bright nature-inspired prints and even a couple of pieces with a nautical stripes.

Uttam, Uttam Kids, Yumi and Yumi Girls are creations of Nepalese designer Uttam Nepal, who uses sequins, beads, lace and other embellishments to accentuate his eye-catching and on trend pieces.

Yumi Girls is new this season and so is not yet stocked in Australia.  A select range of Uttam Kids can be found at Babies & Kids.

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You can read Part 2 of our Bubble London coverage here.

Please check individual sites for shipping details.

Today’s post written by Angela

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New York.

These two little words have the power to conjure up fabulous visions of the cosmopolitan epicentre of the Western world; all-singing and all-dancing, and bursting with people of all nations who are there in the passionate pursuit of the American Dream.

The energy of this remarkable city, which possesses all manner of cultural treats ranging from low to highbrow, loved in equal measure, is almost impossible to quantify: to me it feels like the exuberance and positivity of this city comes up through the footpath (sidewalk!) and infects you with the genuine desire to smile big and say “Have a nice day!”.

One of my favourite things to do in New York is to visit the Musuem of Modern Art  – MoMA -www.moma.org. Jam packed with some of the finest artworks in the world – namecheck Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Warhol, Rothko, Kahlo to list but a few – a trip to the museum is a must-do, and makes for a great outing with kids. Not to mention the finery on display, there are good facilities, onsite cafes, and entry is free after 4pm on Fridays. MoMA also has two most impressive stores onsite offering up a fine collection of aesthetically pleasing designed products, including a stunning selection of goodies for kids.

If want to live vicariously then you can shop at the online MoMA Store. My top picks for kids include the Bauhaus spinning top, the Eames’ House of Cards, Alexander Girard stacking blocks, the Kikkerland Double Rainbow Maker (one of the best ‘toys’ I have ever bought, it is solar powered and sends prisms of lights dancing around the room), Peter Mayor’s ShapeScapes sculpture in a box set, and Muji’s iconic New York City in a Bag – the perfect addition to your child’s building block collection.

Click each individual image below for product details and pricing.

MoMA Store ships internationally based on weight. Click here for full postage and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Dino e Lucia – www.dinoelucia.fr – is a French childrens label founded and designed by Sieglinde de Plas. Sieglinde’s mother was a  fashion model who worked for Balenciaga, and so she grew up surrounded by fabric and creativity.

Obsessed with fashion for as long as she can remember, motherhood was the perfect impetus for Sieglinde to launch her own childrens label Dino e Lucia. (“Dino” and “Lucia” are names that de Plas fancied as a 12-year-old – she wrote a poem about them!)

The collections are inspired by the styling in contemporary women’s and men’s market providing a perfect palate for mini fashionistas. Whilst the shapes are smaller versions of chic adult wear, there are carefully chosen details and a bright colours to suit the mood of childhood. So far, so good: Malia and Sasha Obama wore Dino e Lucia dresses for their first portrait sitting for Annie Liebovitz and Vanity Fair (the store reportedly broke the law by opening on a Sunday for them to shop!)

Currently not available Australia, Dino e Lucia has a store in Paris and also one in St Tropez, so if you are in the neighbourhood, stop by for a look!   If you are like me, and are heading no further than the corner shop then sign up here to get the early word on opening of their online store.

Dino e Lucia currently do not have an online storefront. Sign up here to get the early word on opening of their online store.

Today’s post written by Annie

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Remember the hours you spent as a child building different things with blocks? I remember building houses and police stations with my brothers (or anyone else who was willing). Now whilst it was a lot of fun the shape of the blocks really restricted what I could build.

In 1997 the smart people at Valtech! Co. found a way to remove this restriction with Magna-Tiles – www.magnatiles.com. The different sized large square and triangle tiles in these sets will allow you and your children to build amazing shapes and objects you wouldn’t be able to with conventional blocks. The only limit to the endless building possibilities is your creativity and imagination.

Designed for children ages three and up, these innovative tiles are designed specifically with little hands and imaginations in mind – they are bright, colourful and incredibly easy to use. Each tile is made with small magnets on every side to ensure the pieces will always come together at the edges making construction both easy and rewarding. Start by building two-dimensional objects like boats, flowers, fish and ice-cream cones then, as your child grows and develops, move on to building three-dimensional objects like cubes, pyramids and even a soccer ball. (Check this piece at Strawberry Mountain blog to see one kid’s fab creation).

Magna-Tiles will enhance your child’s fine motor skills, shape recognition, magnetic principles, building skills, 3D thinking and patterning and the best part is the kids will be having so much fun they won’t even realise they are learning!

You can buy Magna-Tiles here in Australia from Educational Experience – www.edex.com.au. Available in either standard or crystal colours. Each set contains 32 pieces but if you don’t think that will be enough of a challenge, or if you have a few children to occupy, buy a couple of sets – they are all compatible. The largest piece in each set is 15cm x 15cm and all sets come with an instruction sheet and ideas guide to get you started.

Top left, Magna-Tiles 32 piece standard set – $98.89
Other pictures, Magna-Tiles 32 piece Crystal Colours – $109.89

Educational Experience charge from $12.10 postage within Australia. Please check the full postage and delivery charges schedule here.

Today’s post written by Leah

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My annual trip to Victoria this past Christmas was full of sightseeing galore (two zoos in two days!), a trip to what I’m labelling the best ‘free’ playground ever (Woodend), family events and a visit to Lark in the township of Daylesford, Victoria.

You may already be aware of Lark as their lovely products have been featured many times on KidStyleFile. I am a huge fan, so you can imagine my delight when I discovered that Lark had opened their very own store only minutes from my childhood home! As it was the holidays, my whole little family joined me on my trip to check out the store at 4a Duke Street, Daylesford.

My husband was quick to note that the store felt like it was originally a petrol station, which was confirmed by owner Allison. This quirky environ enhances the ambience of the Lark store which is decidedly retro. I was quickly in love. Shelves, and shelves of delights – I just didn’t know where to start. Everywhere I looked there was something to remind me of my own childhood.

Firstly, the Lark handmade products. There is a wealth of gorgeous products to choose from – my eye was drawn to the gorgeous Lambie, so soft and cuddly – and although reminiscent of the toys my grandmother once made for me, much more trendy! They also have an abundance of pretend play toys such as knitted teapots, cups, cakes, vegetable rattles, fruit rattles, and donuts. Feast your eyes on them here.

I also came across My Sister Pat swimwear – perfect for any mother if you ask me, with sizing from 8 to 20! The collection is designed by Margie Dlahunty Spencer and handmade in the loveliest retro and vintage materials. Modelled on the 1950s era, these swimsuits have full back shirring which ensures they are flattering on all figures.

On the shelves I found a Sushi Train set. We are well known at our local Sushi Train, and I know this wooden box of felt and magnetic sushi pieces that can be places of a rounded wooden track would be perfect for the kidlets pretend play sessions.  Isn’t it delightful?

This is a shop for kids – there are no signs saying “don’t touch!”. Both Miss N and Master R loved Lark. The reception children receive when they walk through the door makes them welcome from the very start. Stringed balloons were quickly provided, which kept both kidlets amused whilst I browsed the shelves and Dear Husband chatted with Allison about the building, and when we left each child was gifted with a sweet little goodie bag with papercraft items and a whistle inside.

If you’re in the Daylesford area be sure to stop in at Lark. if you’re not in the area you can visit the online store here. Be sure to check out the sale Allison has running until 12 January 2010: you can save up to 50% off on some delightful gear!

Lark stocks products from Arthur’s Circus, Beci Orpin, Belle & Boo, byGraziela, Clothkits, Darling Clementine, Dumpling Dynasty, Engel, Frankie, I Like, Jurianne Matter, Vintage Ladybird, Lark, Lisa Jones, My Sister Pat, Miller Goodman, MT Tape, Ozowiezo, Paumes Books, Peggy, Rosie Flo’s Colouring Books, Solitaire, Sparrowkids, Sukie, Two Little Boys and Umpen Editions, all which will remind you of your own childhood.

Lark charge $5.95-$9.95 postage Australia wide, and international orders are welcome. Click here for full postage and delivery information.