KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Nerida

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Three years ago I had to buy my first nappy bag - suffice to say, the choice was rather dismal. Sure the bags were practical but designs were rather ho hum and seem to shriek “I CONTAIN NAPPIES!”.

With the recent birth of my son I was delighted to see that bags had improved, and not just a little, but quite dramatically! Australian designers Storksak, il Tutto, Isoki, OiOi, GR8X, Jooki, Soon Melbourne and Vanchi have answered the call with a fine selection of bags catering for women wanting both style and utilitarianism.

Storksak’s bags are gorgeous with many made of hard wearing leather or canvas. They all contain thermal bottle warmers, changemats and lots of pockets for mobile phones, nappies and purses. And for those of us who like to keep on top of all things celebrity, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Liv Tyler and Julia Roberts are among the many celebrities that just can’t leave home without their Storksak nappy bags.

My favourite right now is the Elizabeth in cream (although also available in more practical shades of tan, grey or navy). Although gorgeous to look at, and incredibly practical for carrying around baby gear, it will also fit most laptops which makes it useful for when the kids are out of nappies.

Storksak is available through Just Ripe.

Isoki nappy bags have the added bonus of being reversible so they can change according to what you are wearing or to your mood. Don’t feel like leopard print today? Just convert to a more subtle shade of grey. In addition, each bag contains coordinating inner components including a change mat, cooler bag and double sided storage satchel.

And if you were wondering which bag Toni Collette carries around when out and about with her daughter Sage, it is more than likely an Isoki.

Isoki bags are available through Bubba Funk and Ekidna Kids.

il Tutto has a beautiful range of nappy bags, all practical and easy to clean. The Lucia bag is one that I would be happy to carry around any time of day. Available in black or red, a key feature (and rather a good idea!) is a zip out liner for easy cleaning. One of my all time favourite actors, Cate Blanchett has one which gives it the thumbs up from me. Buy il Tutto at Bubba Funk.

My husband is one that is often left holding the nappy bag (and often the baby as well!) For that reason, I just had to include a great bag that most men wouldn’t mind carrying about. Made by maternity brand Soon Melbourne, the canvas nappy bag is large enough to carry heaps of baby gear and best of all is fully washable. Check it out at Eco Child.

For quite some time a Bugaboo and a Grey Dot OiOi Hobo was the uniform for what seemed like every new mummy in inner Melbourne. The Grey Dot Hobo is still a gorgeous bag, and just one of many from these veteran nappy bag makers. OiOi produces bags in a range of materials including hard wearing leather and microfibre and all contain lots of pockets, change mat and bottle holder. OiOi bags are available from The Baby Shop.

Another brand that makes bags suitable for both mums and dads is GR8X. In addition to a wide range of innovative baby products, GR8X bags are incredibly practical and come in a wide range of shapes and prints. In addition to the change mat and bottle holder, GR8X bags also contain detachable stroller attachments and an external access wipes pocket. GR8X bags are available through The Baby Shop.

Jooki is an Australian brand that makes beautiful and baby friendly bags. Available in a range of fabrics including leather and hard wearing microfibre, Jooki bags are easy to clean and contain an insulated bottle warmer and change mat. I love the look of the Talissa bag, available from Paperartzi

Vanchi bags are available from 9 Months Waiting and La Toriana. With some cool shapes and colours, my favourite is the classic looking Hearts bag. Not only is it great to look at but it includes bottle thermos, wet pack and change mat. And best of all is one of the more affordable bags on the market.

Finally a cheeky baby bag for everyone who wants to thumb their nose at the whole designer bag scene, the “All the Baby sh!t” Bags from Aussie designers BagLadies. These bags are a mere $10, contain lots of pockets, feature an adjustable strap to fit over the pram and they’re eco-friendly.
1. Storksak Elizabeth $379 from Just Ripe
2. Isoki Vintage Floral Reversible Baby Bag $189.95 from Bubba Funk
3. il Tutto Mia Nappy Bag $449 from Bubba Funk
4. OiOi Black Hobo $134.95 from The Baby Shop
5. Soon Melbourne canvas nappy bag $149.95 from Eco Child
6. GR8X Camo Messenger $119.95 from The Baby Shop
7. Jooki Talissa $285 from Paperartzi
8. Vanchi Hearts $99.95 from La Toriana
9. “All the baby sh!t” $10 from BagLadies

Please check individual stores for shipping details.

Today I want to introduce you to a beautiful new store that has just opened its virtual doors. Serving clientele through their early years - primarily 0-2 years - and their stylish mamas, Just Ripe - www.justripe.com.au -  brings you a splendid range of clothing, toys, feeding equipment, and accessories from the best brands.

Choose products from Albetta, Annabel Trends, Baby Banz, BabyLegs, Boon, Clean Shopper, EcoBaby Organic Dummies, Eleganter, Eternal Creation, Fiesta Crafts, Purebaby, Vanchi, Jack & Lily, Storksak, Imse Vimse, Baobab, Monkey-DO, Blabla, Little Joey Organics, Cheeky Monkey, Aden & Anais, Itsy Bitsy, Infancy, Fish Lilly, Britt, Babymoov, The Wall Sticker Company, Infantino, Lotus Linens, Snazzy Baby, Kumquat, Heimess, Hess-Spielzeug, Gaia Skin Naturals, Hurphy Durphy, Little Tesoro, Paper Eskimo, Noo Designs, Peanut Shell, Polkadot Papoose, Pop Maternity,  Taia, and Ring O Rosey.

This list is expanding every week at the moment, so keep your eyes peeled for more to come!

There is so much that’s fab at Just Ripe, that it’s hard to pick the highlights, but two things you simply *must* know about are the lush Storksak bags (the bag of choice for Angelina and Brad, amongst other glitterati) and the, Imse Vimse swimwear, which will be a boon for parents of babes due at the end of the year; swim nappies start in newborn sizes, and tankini tops at 3-6 months.

Also of note at Just Ripe is the personalised service that Just Ripe’s owner, Dimity, offers. This goes beyond what you might normally expect, and reaches into personal shopping territory, the range of services are so detailed.

Just some of the areas that Dimity and her team can help you with include:

• Personally walking you through the store
• Taking you straight to the items most suitable for your request
• Advising you on the latest trends and unique items for something cool and different
• Making tailored gift packs to meet any budget or theme
• Gift wrapping presents and even writing on a card and sending it on your behalf if required
• Creating beautiful sets to make your little one look gorgeous
• Suggesting new additions to work with your existing wardrobe
• Corporate gifts
• Gift registries

To kick off your love affair with Just Ripe, Dimity is offering KidStyleFile readers a $10.00 gift voucher when you spend over $50.00.  Enter ‘KSF’ in the coupon code section at checkout to redeem. Offer ends on Sunday September 21, and your gift voucher is valid for 3 months from date of issue.

Clockwise from top left:

Fiesta Crafts -The Family Popovs $54.95 A contemporary and quirky take on the traditional Russian Doll set.
BlaBla Mini Doll - ‘Buzz’ $42.95 ‘Buzz’ is my fave of all the BlaBla dolls. Suitable for girls and boys in equal measure, what a great baby shower gift (and life-long buddy!) Buzz would make.
Infantino Safari Roller $19.95 Babies just love interactivity and the cause and effect relationship. This toy is guaranteed to provide hours of stimulation and giggles.
BlaBla Finger Puppets $8.95 each Available in 20 different characters these are great for collecting, and affordable enough to pop in as an extra little pressie for bigger siblings to amuse themselves, and the new baby, with.
EcoBaby Organic Dummy $9.95 No nasty hormone disrupting chemicals here. Peace of mind for parents in more ways than one!
Albetta Vintage Car Top and Pant Set $42.00 Total coolness for little boys! Also available in Cupcake design for little lasses.
Infantino 2 in 1 Activity Mirror $39.95 A great double-duty toy, I love the way this attaches to the cot, and can also be easily configured for tummy-time use. Hours of enjoyment to be found here.
Fiesta Crafts -Tooting Teddies Train $69.95 Deservedly award-winning, Tooting Teddies is an utter delight. You cannot go past this quality toy.
Boon Snack Ball $15.95 Modern design that merges form and function beautifully. Highly affordable too! Collect the set for the ultimate in aesthetic appeal, and everyday practical application.
Boon Fluid No-spill Toddler Cup $15.95
Imse Vimse Swim Nappy $23.50 Fits even the tiny newborn aqua-baby to perfection.
Imse Vimse Tankini Top $26.00 Fits from size 3-6 months and up.
Kumquat Pink Dotty Owl Lap Onesie $23.00 A sweetly uplifting design of wise owls graces this perfectly pink suit. Available in blue traffic design for boys.

And, last, but certainly not least, Just Ripe is stocking the esteemed Storksak bags. A triumph of design, these bags do not outwardly belie their nappy bag status in any way, but, open them up and - ta-da! - they afford every efficiency you could hope for. Head on over to Just Ripe to find out more.

Storksak ‘Jamie’ in black $299.95
Storksak ‘Elizabeth’ in cream $379.95

Just Ripe offer a flat shipping rate of $7.50 for standard size parcels Australia-wide.  Shipping is FREE for purchases over $150.00. International orders are warmly welcomed, and are shipped for a flat rate of $18.00 for standard size parcels. See the FAQ page for full details on shipping.

A new baby coming into the world is a very special event, and one to celebrate with jubilation. Prepare for the imminent arrival with a baby shower filled with love, and some very special gifts. Today, Miki shares a few of her favourite picks for baby shower pressies.

Today’s post was inspired by KidStyleFile reader Tina

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

If there’s one party I love going to every time it’s a baby shower.

There’s something about getting a gaggle of women together to cluck over the expectant mum, eat yummy nibbles and goo and ga over teeny tiny baby clothes and sweet little toys.

I also love choosing the gift to take. These days, of course, I don’t have to rush around every baby store in town to try to find the perfect gift because we have a plethora of beautiful baby boutiques at our fingertips online. Makes everything so much easier!

Now, in choosing what to give the ‘mum to be’ I have a few guidelines which I try to abide by.

The first applies to baby clothing, and it is simply to think about what season it’s going to be when the baby is most likely to fit into the outfit. A woolly hat and jumper in newborn size isn’t going to get as much use if the baby is due in January, so it might be better to go for a lightweight romper and cool muslin wrap.

I also try to get at least some baby clothes in a size bigger than newborn. In my experience, everyone gives exquisite, adorable, minuscule newborn sized clothes, but babies grow so fast that they don’t get a chance to wear all these beautiful pieces more than once or twice. Sizes 00 (3-6 months) or 0 (6-12 months) tend to get much more wear, and it’s lovely to have something there for the baby to grow into.

Next, I always try to get something for the mum as well. The baby shower is a great time to pamper mum as once bubs arrives all the attention will be on the little one! Some luscious skin products (there are some gorgeous ones featured below) or yummy chocolates will go down a treat.

Now what about if you’re the one organising the baby shower?

Well, first thing to think about are the games to play! Mummy’s Favourite - www.mummysfavourite.com.au - have a great list of baby shower games at the bottom of their ‘baby shower gifts’ category.

Then just make sure you have delicious, healthy nibbles and some funky invites to send out (I love the range of invitations at La La Baby - www.lalababy.com.au).

Before you know it you’ll be ready to go!

Here are some of my favourite gifts to take to baby showers:

ISOKI Petite Traveller - Zanzibar, $39.95 $33.95 from Ekidna Kids*
Pure Baby Puff Sleeve Bodysuit - Watermelon Stripe, $29.95 $13.95 from Urban Child (also available in Kiwi Stripe)
Grey Owl Applique Baby Romper, $21.95 from La La Baby**
Belli Pregnancy Gift Box, $84.95 from Urban Child
‘That’s Not My Tractor’ Touchy Feely Book, $14.95 from La La Baby**
Britt Design Twinkle Gift Boxed Set, $49.95 $42.45 from La Toriana*
Cuddle Mouse, $64.95 $55.20 from Kids Gift List*
i candy ‘nobody puts baby in a corner’ tee, $27.95 $23.75 from La Toriana*
aden + anais Muslin Wraps, $54.95 $41.21 for a pack of 4, from Pastel Pink***
The Hip Infant Basics Nightie - Scarlet & Aqua stripe, $29.95 $26.95 from The Hip Infant*
The Hip Infant Basics Long Eared Bunny - Scarlet & Aqua Stripe, $15.95 $14.35 from The Hip Infant*
David Fussenegger Pastel Bassinet Blanket, $49.50 $42.08 from Pastel Pink***

Also, check out new kids on the block Just Ripe - www.justripe.com.au - and 9 Months Waiting - www.9monthswaiting.com.au -  for a fabulous selection of products for newborn to two years, and Skeanie - www.skeanie.com - for perfect footwear for tiny tootsies.

Please check individual stores for shipping charges.

*Shop4Kids discount available from The Hip Infant, La Toriana and Kids Gift List.
**La La Baby: FREE gift with purchase until 19 September!
***Pastel Pink: 25% off storewide until midnight 7th September!