KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Miki

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Back in July, when I was eight months pregnant with my second child, I had a problem.  I had a very dressy event to go to (it was a garden party at Buckingham Palace – I kid you not!), absolutely nothing suitable to wear that fit me, and neither the inclination nor the bank balance to spend the megabucks that stylish, dressy maternity wear seems to cost.

How I wish somebody like Nicole White had been there for me!  You see, Nicole has recently started up Glamour Mumma – www.glamourmumma.com.au – which hires out glamourous maternity wear to Melbourne-based mums-to-be.

Pregnant women can make an appointment to go to Nicole’s tranquil Glen Iris based studio and try on her almost endless range of stylish maternity clothes from designers like Szabo, Fillyboo, Picchu and Ripe, along with several brands sourced from the US and the UK.  Alternatively Nicole can bring a selection of her range to your home or office, making it blissfully easy to find that perfect outfit to wear.

The cost of hiring a Glamour Mumma garment is $100, which seems like great value to me as it includes pick up, dry cleaning and GST.  The idea of having that extensive and gorgeous wardrobe to raid almost makes me want to get pregnant again!

None of us like spending big bucks on an outfit we’ll only wear once during pregnancy, and we certainly don’t like traipsing around the shops with our big bellies and swollen feet trying desperately to find something that’s even slightly flattering and appropriate. So instead, at least if you live in Melbourne, you can call or email Nicole and she’ll immediately come to your rescue.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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My love affair with European childrens-wear stores has gone into overdrive since I discovered Monsieur Minouchet - www.minouchet.com.

Store proprietor Catherine is based in the south of Belgium, and decided to start her own online shop because she couldn’t find the children’s wares she wanted nearby. Thankfully her impetus is our reward, because the collection Monsieur Minochet is a delight.

Catherine’s philosophy is to seek out simple, beautiful and original things for happy children. The range includes clothing, toys, crafts, crayons, pillows, prints, books and more. The products are sourced from around the world and include talented and ethical designers focussed on quality and craftsmanship.

She has a special fondness for tee shirts because they symbolise her philosophy for simple design: they can be originally rendered and at an inexpensive price. In fact the range of very cool t-shirts is phenomenal and a great place to start when browsing the store.

Choose from fine design from brands including Lucky Wang, Audrey Jeane, Bobo Choses, Kice Kice, Kidslab, Kit + Lili, Minu, Monkey Do, Marie et Rose-Alice, Shampoodle, Parkhaus Berlin and more.

PS Don’t speak French? Click on the UK flag in the top right hand corner of the site to get the English version.

a. Wishful Cat Moku Hanga Hoodie by Lucky Wang 40,00E
b. Scooter by PillowPillowPillow 36,00E
c. T-Rex Shadow Puppet by Owly Shadow Puppets 10,00E
d.  White Rabbit by Little Big Pants 40,00E
e. Naked Back Dress by Marie et Rose-Alice 60,00E
f.  Bowler Hat t-shirt by Bobo Choses 15,00E
g. Polar Bear Little Kid Backpack by Dante Beatrix 28,00E
h. Crayon Rocks – Student Box of 16 colors 8,00E
i.  Flowers Organic T-shirt by Winter Water Factory 30,00E
j.  Grizzli Tee by Maison Georgette 38,00E
k. Ship T-Shirt by Kit+Lili 20,00E
l. Pacer, an Extensible & Organic Tracksuit by Shampoodle 50,00E

Please note: All prices are in Euros for current exchange rates head to xe.com
Shipping to Australia ranges from 8 – 15 Euros

Today’s post written by Angela

For me shopping is much more than a store or products: it’s about the story behind them, how they came to be, what inspires and motivates them. It’s these things that imbue the experience with warmth and meaning and make me feel good.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Vikki McIntyre, proprietor of luxe baby and kids store The Infant Boutique – www.theinfantboutique.com.au- recently, and wanted you to meet her too – she has the most exquisite taste, which makes her bricks and mortar boutique in Adelaide, and the companion online boutique, a wonderful experience to shop, as I have numerous times!

Vikki lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband Peter (fact: Peter is a former cricket pro who played for Victoria and South Australia and represented Australia in two Test matches!) their children Caitlin 6 ½ years and Jacob 20 months, Bronson the Cocker Spaniel, Molly the Russian Blue, and a pair of goldfish whose names change weekly.

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Tell us a little about your background

I pretty much travelled the country growing up as my Dad was in the RAAF (I went to 8 schools in my 12 school years), but I have been settled in Adelaide now for over 16 years.  I have a tertiary background in both Accounting and Interior Design.

I undertook a great deal of research, attended extra business courses and committed a great deal of time into developing a concept for The Infant Boutique. My daughter was 3 when the shop opened and only 7 months later I was expecting her baby brother! Fortunately I have a supportive network of family, friends and neighbours and have managed to keep my head above water!

I have concluded that there is no such thing as ‘work life balance’, but just ‘hang on tight’!

Above: Vikki and children Caitlin and Jacob

How long have you owned the Infant Boutique, and what motivated you to start the business?

The Infant Boutique celebrates its 3^rd birthday at the end of this month – the shop opened on November 1^st 2006, and the online e-boutique followed 12 months later.

My story is typical of many mums who begin their own business because they couldn’t find what they were looking for.  I had a great job and retail experience, but felt ready to move on and take the plunge to create a new shopping experience in my own local area.  Norwood is a fantastic shopping precinct, but was missing a baby and children’s shop that stocked the vast array of products that we do now.  I source brands and labels from Australia and overseas and look for products I would happily purchase for my own children.

Above: Inside The Infant Boutique store in Adelaide, South Australia

Although owning a business and raising a family is a constant challenge, the reward is being my own boss, having the flexibility to choose when I spend time at the park or work at my desk and having two little people to inspire me.  I personally select and review every product and many I take home to test so I know how they feel, look, wash, wear and stand up to normal every day use.  We have about six ride on toys at the moment so my kids are constantly zooming around the house!

It still amazes me how the store has grown and our website has developed a life of its own now too – so it’s twice as busy!  I love sharing the excitement of buying a gift for a new baby – helping dads pick out a new toy, choosing a special receiving blanket or new outfit with Grandma to bring baby home in, or just chatting to an excited new mum about their new little bundle.  There is also a sense of satisfaction too in packing up an online order and sending it out, knowing our customer will open their parcel to find a lovely Infant Boutique product of quality and style.

What are your top 5 baby and kids products right now?

1. Sophie the Giraffe – she is our best-seller!
2. Anything by DwellStudio – I especially love the Cot Sets – my son has the Choc Dots set in his nursery and the new fabrics just released are simply stunning.
3. Mae – these fabric wall stickers are just perfect for decorating a nursery or bedroom – the Critters are my favourite, plus the tree of course, oh and the Deer is divine….
4. The Magic Klorofil Tree – not a day goes by that someone doesn’t squeal in excitement at seeing this tree on display.  It seems every girl knew about this toy way back when and either had one or wanted one!  Now Mums are buying them as gifts for their own children!
5. Cuski Comforter – created to provide parents with a stylish, natural and compact alternative to dummies or bulky blankets, this little snuggle buddy is the perfect gift for a new baby.

What, or who, inspires you?

I recently read a book my husband brought back from a conference where John Maclean was a guest speaker. This man has an amazingly inspirational life story that needed to be told and his second book, Full Circle, will have you completely in awe of what the human body can do.  Not to mention how powerful your mind can be if you have the spirit to drive it.

Any hobbies?

Hobbies – what are they??  Owning and running a business doesn’t allow for a lot of spare time, so I can only dream about having the time to do more exercise, hitting the gym and getting back on my road bike.  I dabbled in triathlons a few years back and loved the challenge.  These days I try to take a long walk with the pram in the morning before or after school drop off to clear my head for the day.

If you didn’t run The Infant Boutique what would you be doing right now?

I guess I would be a very restless stay at home Mum, re-arranging the furniture everyday and looking for a new creative outlet.  If I had the talent I would love to paint, or perhaps take up photography.

Luckily for me I love what I do and hope it continues for some time yet!

Visit The Infant Boutique online or, if you’re in Adelaide, The Infant Boutique bricks and mortar
store at 6/136 The Parade, Norwood, South Australia.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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US-based Inhabitat – www.inhabitat.com – is a design blog dedicated to uncovering stylish and practical products that are designed to be sustainable and smart.

On a mission to spread the word about good design that thoughtfully considers the user, the experience, the social context, and the impact of an object on the surrounding environment, Inhabitat suceeds spectacularly with its constant feast of exceptionally beautiful and throught-provoking artefacts and ideas.

Inhabitat’s spin-off site for kids products and design Inhabitots – www.inhabitots.com – is equally (if not more!) delicious. Here are just a few products I have fallen in love with via their pages.

Amy Mohlenhoff’s Bear Hat, made from 100% organic cotton, and is pretty adorable. The Oeuf Hug-Me and Angel Sweaters are to die for, and to feed my ongoing love affair with Pandas there’s the cute Dwelling Collective Knit Pandas together with her cute friend the Baby Elephant.

Inhabitat make it easy to shop for superbly designed, ethical and environmentally friendly products via their shop, and, happily, they ship internationally!

1. Daniel Michalik Cub Children’s Chair USD$224.00 at Inhabitat Shop
2. Dwelling Collective Baby Elephant USD$24.00 at Inhabitat Shop
3. Dwelling Collective Knit Panda USD$88.00 at Inhabitat Shop
4. Bambu Bamdino Kids Utensils USD$9.00 at Inhabitat Shop
5. Oeuf Hug Me Sweater USD$92.00 at Inhabitat Shop
6. Amy Mohlenhoff Bear Hat USD$68.00 at Inhabitat Shop
7. Green Sprouts Cornstarch Hand Teethers USD$20.00 at Inhabitat Shop
8. BabyBearShop Mama Belly Oil USD$32.00 at Inhabitat Shop

Inhabitat Shop ships internationally. Contact them for a quote.

Today’s post written by Angela

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It’s a universal truth that when someone makes something look effortlessly easy there’s a lot of skill and natural talent involved.

Hayley Blease is one such person. Her online children’s store, Little Pinwheel – www.littlepinwheel.com.au, is an examplar of both her professionally trained designer’s eye and her natural born style. The site looks fantastic (a result of the creative teamwork between Hayley’s graphic design and flair, and her husbands, who is a professional photographer) and is packed with brands that carry both credibility and a sense of fun:  Polka, mill&mia, Sudo, Three Little Trees, Tiny Mammoth, Itch, Dan300, Lark, Nature Baby, Sevi Toys, monte&tex, Heavenly Creatures, Chalk n Cheese, and Rittenhouse Kids.

Hayley herself always (always!) looks fabulous, as do her children. Take some picks from a master of class today, as Hayley styles Polka, modeled with pizzaz  by her daughter Keely and Kelly’s best friend Oliver. Read Hayley’s comments on each combo below.

PS If you’d like to get to know Hayley better, be sure to take a peek at her wonderful blog, where you’ll be treated to adventures in food, fashion, architecture and life with kids. You can also take 10% off store-wide at Little Pinwheel with with the KidStyleFile Shop 4 Kids code found in the front of the current issue of the Shop 4 Kids magazine. If you can’t make it to a newsagent, you’ll find the code within the KSF Weekly newsletter, out every Tuesday morning. Not a subscriber? Sign up now, it’s free!!

A. Polka Mee Tee Paisley $43.95 + Polka Tulle Skirt in black $49.95
Hayley says: “I love the impact of these pieces together. The black skirt grounds the vividness of the swirling purple and orange of the tee. It’s a strong and striking combination.”

B. Ivy League Sleevless Sweater $44.95 + Polka 5 Stripe Tee $49.95 + Hammer Pants Black $49.95
Hayley says: “How cool is this look for boys?! It’s both ‘Flashdance’ and ‘Kung Fu Fighter’ at the same time. Dynamic, and super comfortable!.”

C. Hammer Pants Magenta $49.95 + Racer Back Singlet Grey $34.95 + Doorag Diamond $16.95
Hayley says: “Who said U Can’t Touch This?! Polka’s ‘Hammer Pants’ are the hottest word on the street this summer for boys and girls everywhere.The racer back tee is a great cut, and the ‘doorag’ headband brings colour and is superbly designed – it stays on! – and has sweet big button detailing on the back”.

D. Bibs and Bobs Singlet Periwinkle $49.95 + Yoga Bum Diamond $49.95
Hayley says: “Every little girls ‘uniform’ for the hot summer days. The ultimate in comfort, these pieces are to easy to wear, and the Bibs and Bobs singlets can easily be dressed up”.

E.  Frou Frou Party Dress Peacock $89.95
Hayley says: “This dress has the ‘wow factor’ from top to bottom. Made of light, breezy cotton it’s perfect for the summer heat, and will go from beach to ballroom without breaking a sweat”.

F. Polka Aye Aye Cap $19.95 + Polka 5 Stripe Tee $49.95 + Polka Well Waxed Waist Coat $49.95 +  Polka Skinny Denim Short $64.95
Hayley says: “Polka really have broken the mould with boys fashion. The tee and shorts are lovely and subtly stylish on their own, but add the vest and the cap and you have a look that really breaks out. Very very cool”.

G. Polka Aztec Singlet Top $37.95 +  Scandanavian Tree Boardies $59.95
Hayley says: “Don’t be afraid of mixing prints and patterns this season – it’s where it’s at! The styling of these pieces is very Scandinavian – sophisticated, but easy at the same time”.

H. Hammer Pants Black $49.95 + Doorag peacock $16.95
Hayley says: “”Dance, jump, roll MOVE – your kids can do this, and more, in Polka”.

I. Circular Play Dress Yellow and Black $64.95 each
Hayley says: “I love the sunny yellow, with contrast circular applique. It’s very 1980’s and very now. The black version is understated and very classy. Once again the contrast appliqueing breaks it out of ’safe mode’  – black and white is always a great combination, and cuts a fresh line for summer wear. I love these dresses madly. The fabric has a slight stretch to it, and this makes the tailoring fitted and beautiful on”.

Little Pinwheel charge $7.50 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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There are few people who know style as well as Daniela Minns, owner of prestige baby and kids boutique Baby’s Got Style – www.babysgotstyle.com.au. A former stylist, Daniela is the epitome of stylish, and she has a great eye for what looks on kids.

Baby’s Got Style have just completed their photoshoot for summer styles from Polka, Big by Fiona Scanlan, Cried Wolf, Rock Your Baby, Cheeky Little Soles, Peace Street, Sooki Baby, Ivy Designs, Well Spotted, Ouch, Walnut, Oobi, Coco and Ginger and more.

Feast your eyes on the new pieces available at Baby’s Got Style, and discover Daniela’s Top 5 Picks for Summer below.

Want to get behind the scenes at the BGS summer photoshoot? You can! Head on over to the Baby’s Got Style blog to take a peek.

From top left in rows:

1. Coco and Ginger Mexican Dress (1-6yrs) – $66.00, Oobi Rosette Hairclip (set of 2) – $19.95, Walnut Mary Janes in Pink (sizes 2-10) – $29.95

2. Well Spotted Star Wars Tee (3mth- 6yrs) – $34.95 Note: Ouch hoody and shorts pictured are coming soon.

3. Sooki Baby Little Man Tee (sizes 000-2) $26.95,  Sooki Baby Short (sizes 000-2) – $26.95 and Cheeky Little Soles Natural Casual Shoes (0-18mths) – $39.95

4. Ouch Exotic Floral Mandarin Dress (0-7yrs) – $54.95, Cried Wolf Fedora Hat (OSFA) – $29.95

5. Rock Your Baby Peace Out Skirt (0-7yrs) – $39.95

Baby’s Got Style have some of the best delivery rates and standards on offer. Australia wide, next day delivery is $6.95 for small parcels and $9.50 for large.  Orders must be placed before 1pm EST for delivery next business day. For International orders and all other specific details please see the Ordering and Delivery tabs at Baby’s Got Style.

Today’s post written by Angela

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The kids fashion world is exploding with the promise of summer at the moment, as the new season’s collections are revealed like butterflies emerging from their cocoons.

The spring/summer ‘09-’10 range from TikiBoo Kids – www.tikiboo.com.au – particularly puts me in mind of this kind of beauty, with their array of both vivid and soft retro floral prints.

Designer Kathryn Hetherington resides in Queensland, in Northern Australia, where she is inspired by the abundance of flora and beautifully warm weather, and this really comes though: the colours and prints are fresh and light, and the pieces are designed simply, but precisely, from high quality materials that can be worn easily on a hot summer’s day.

In addition to their trademark dresses, TikiBoo Kids has added new skirt and singlet sets to the collection, including a new signature ‘TikiBoo Birdie’ singlet design.

The TikiBoo Kids spring/summer 2009-10 collection will be available from selected retailers from September 2009. Stores interested in stocking TikiBoo Kids can contact Kathryn at TikiBoo here.

KidStyleFile interviewed Kathryn Hetherington from TikiBoo Kids in February this year. Meet Kathryn here.

Today’s post written by Angela

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A sneak peek at more new season’s fashion today, this time from one of my all-time favourite Australian baby and kids labels, mill&mia – www.millandmia.com.

Designer Melissa Chen delivers a well-tailored and fresh summer collection of clothing for boys, girls and babies from birth up to 10 years.

The colour palette is comprised of lime green, soft and hot pink, and striking black and grey, and prints in these colour ways once again appear in mill&mia’s collection, with precise repeated floral motifs presenting a crisp, clean and breezy effect.

The attention to detail is once again exceptional, with soft frills, ruffles, smocking and rosettes for the girls, with a nod to 1970’s vintage styling, and stitch detailing on shirts, and a new take on short-sleeve shirt sleeve length for the boys. Melissa takes the sleeve length longer and has added a generous cuff – an original touch that creates a beautiful effect, which is sophisticated, while still being ‘all boy’.

Stay tuned for the full mill&mia summer 2009-10 collection coming to stores soon. In the meantime, shop the current season on sale at 50% off.

If you’re in Melbourne you can visit the flagship mill&mia store in Hawthorn, which houses the full range of fine mill&mia designs including bedlinen, furniture and accessories. mill&mia don’t miss the fact that parents often come shopping with their children, and the store is set up with little people in mind: it’s replete with unique play tunnels and toys to play with, as well as story-time on Friday’s, and craft classes on the first Saturday of each month. Click here for more information.

mill & mia charge $9.00 flat delivery, Australia-wide, with orders over $101.00 shipping free of charge.Click here for full postage and delivery information. International orders are warmly welcomed, and shopping can be done in your own currency on the site.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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It is no accident that most ’shelter’ (interior, decorating, home) magazines appeal to women. I am pretty sure it has something to do with a biological imperative to decorate the cave, feather the nest and do our best to create a comfortable and beautiful home or room for our family to retreat from the world.

Decorating a home for children can bring some of the most joy. Choosing colours, fabrics and artwork for the walls can be fun and rewarding. That is why I am so excited to introduce you to L’Affiche Moderne - http://www.laffichemoderne.com.

If you haven’t already discovered this site then you are in for a treat. L’Affiche Moderne is a French fine art website that sells prints and posters from photographers, graphic designers and children’s illustrators. Each print is from a strictly limited and numbered edition of 300 and they ship worldwide – yeah!

I have found some great prints that would be suitable for kids rooms, including a great range of Alphabet Posters which would have to be a perennial favourite for little learners (also good if you want to get them started early on learning French!).

One of the hottest Children’s illustrators around would have to be Marion Billet – at a mere 27 years old, she has already illustrated a tonne of books, designed stationery, kids clothing, melamine dinner sets and even furniture! She is a freelance artist  based in Paris and you can find out more about her at her website and on her agent’s bio. Of course you can snap up some of her cute posters at L’Affiche Moderne – check out no.s 1, 8, 9 &10.

Most prints come in 2 sizes and range in price from 29 – 59 Euros (approx. $AUD50 – $AUD104) plus shipping, at the moment if you sign up to receive their newsletter, you get a 10% discount code. There is also lots of very cool artwork for grown-ups, enjoy the eye candy and maybe you will see something new for your walls.

1. Marion Billet – Cerf
2. Limoon – Mon Petit Imagier
3. Silvia Portella (aka Bukubuku) – De la A à la Z!
4. Sigrid Martinez – Animalphabet
5. Steph Baxter -  A is for …
6. Lucile Placin – La foret
7. Alice Dufay – Yum Yum
8. Marion Billet – Immeuble
9. Marion Billet – Poissons
10. Marion Billet – Transports

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Today I’d like to introduce you to Three Potato Four – www.threepotatofourshop.com – the ideal place to pass some time with a cuppa and a piece of toast and invest in some quality products.

A truly inspiring mix of vintage, new and limited edition pieces from design duo Janet Morales & Stu Eli, this delightful store is full of the kinds of desirable objects that would fill any home with cosiness and comfort.

Three Potato Four’s kids section is super cute: there are dreamy vintage toys, French money boxes, home decor and accessories to be found here.

There are also some wonderful new and vintage prints in-store and exclusive to Three Potato Four. I love the photographs by Elizabeth Soule of toy cars out on adventures – perfect for boys rooms.

I am also completely smitten by the retro feel of the Manhattan Poster by Jim Datz, the colour, the boroughs – I love it!

Also look out for some lovely 1960’s Montessori Posters with inspiring quotations, the artwork is done by Lucia Pearce, an artist who went on to work for Charles and Ray Eames.

Here are some images to get you inspired, head over and check it out for yourself. Enjoy!

From left to right in rows:

Hand Decorated Zoo Bank – USD$65.00
Tin Wind-Up Globe – USD$35.00
Bird Botanical Print – Sunflower – USD$30.00
“Missouri” by Elizabeth Soule – USD$62.00
Around The World Children’s Tin Pail – USD$25.00
Montessori Poster – USD$120.00
Plush Blue-Eyed Bunny by Shinzi Katoh – USD$32.00
French Money Box – Owl – USD$32.00
Denmark Coin Bank Kit – USD$10.00
French Money Box – Pear – USD$24.00
Manhattan Poster by Jim Datz – USD$48.00
Chubby Nutcracker Drummer Musical Wind-Up – USD$65.00

Three Potato Four ship internationally. Email the store for a quote for postage to your location.