|
|
ENK Children's Club Spring 2009: When Tradition Fits Perfectly Two piles of cookbooks sat on my kitchen table. I pored through them, telling myself that this year I'd contribute two exciting new appetizers to the Thanksgiving feast. Before wasting hours on the endeavor, I should have acknowledged what I already know: whatever I cooked wouldn't stray too far from what my family ate last year and, to be honest, it wouldn't be noticeably different from what we consumed ten years before that. For Thanksgiving, what my family craves isn't innovation; it's the familiar. We want that cheddar cheese ball covered in crushed nuts, the beautifully bronzed turkey and the simple homeyness of pumpkin pie. The traditional collections seen at Children's Club (October 5-8, 2008) reminded me of Thanksgiving. Sure, the wink of a rhinestone can lure me in, and who among us hasn't been charmed by a quirky color combination? Yet, when shoppers look for enduring pieces that will always look correct, it's the classic styles - the sweetness of a Peter Pan collar; whimsical embroidery on a smocked bodice; a nicely tailored blazer - that seem just right.
INFANT AND UP PIXIE LILY Homebase: Charleston, SC DESIGNER: Leda Jackson Sizes: NB - 6 months; Approximate wholesale price for Baby Sack Gift Sack: $65 The Pixie Lily collection is all about good taste, timelessness and quality.
Outstanding pieces: The Jersey Collection Baby Sack Gift Set is made of the finest Pima cotton knit hand-edged with cotton tatting and embroidered with French knot rosettes in pale pink, light blue or cream. It's a gift that tells the receiver: You and your baby are special. Tel: 843-579-0364 E-mail: Info@pixielily.com
LITTLE ENGLISH Homebase: Lexington, KY DESIGNER: Shannon Latham Sizes: Girls and Boys 6 months to 6X; Wholesale prices for apparel: $9-$38 Little English offers everything a retailer wants from a traditional line: impeccable craftsmanship, a soft color palette, lots of crisp ginghams and delightful embroidery for girls and boys.
Outstanding piece: These hand embroidered brother/sister outfits will reel in the praise. Tel: 859-258-2120 E-mail: Sales@littleenglish.com
PEARS & BEARS Homebase: Nashville, TN DESIGNER: Kayce Hughes Sizes: NB to 14 years; Wholesale prices for apparel: $6-$50 I think of the young Caroline Kennedy when I peruse Hughes' collections. The garments are always in classic good taste, yet the styles are never stuffy, and the colors always look fresh and fashion-forward.
Outstanding piece: The crisp apple green hue, the soft cowl styling of the collar and the button-down back detail add up to a dress that's not only flattering but versatile: with sandals it's not too formal for the beach; slip on a jacket and she's ready for a party. Tel: 615-354-5773 E-mail: Holly@pearsandbears.com
RENNATONI Homebase: West Upsal, PA DESIGNER: Maria Beas Sizes: girls NB to 6X; Wholesale prices: $14-$59 Retailers have been enamored with Beas' Pima cotton knits for some time. They've discovered her classic separates with hand-sewn details and their admiration has deepened.
Outstanding piece: A rosebud-strewn cardigan meets its match with a pleated dress scattered with matching blooms and tiny pearls at the waist. Tel: 215-915-7893 E-mail: Wholesale@renattoni.com
MILA AND BELA Homebase: Oyster Bay, NY DESIGNER: Paula Cushman Sizes: NB to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $12-$40 Innocence, a word that doesn't come to mind often enough when I look at some kids' collections, applies to this lovely line of traditional pieces.
Outstanding piece: The classic items in the Organic Collection remind me of milk: fresh, pure, just right for an infant. Tel: 516-624-6030 E-mail: Milaandbela@gmail.com
PETIT BATEAU Homebase: France DESIGNERS: The Petit Bateau design team Sizes: Girls preemie to 14, Boys preemie to 20; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Petit Bateau masters the blend of American casual design with European nonchalance. For Spring 2009, their stripes, a staple of the company and a classic pattern if there ever were one, come in traditional tones as well as fashion forward bright orange.
Outstanding pieces: That sailor-collared sweater, the little sundress, and any of the striped tees are must-haves in a child's spring wardrobe. Tel: 212-868-7722 E-mail: Service@petitbateauusa.com
INFANT TO TODDLER KNITWEAR KAPULI Homebase: Lima, Peru DESIGNER: Rosario Puga Capelli Sizes: NB to 6X; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer While some designers find their niche by using edgy colors and graphics, Capelli's success lies in her embrace of sweet hues and rounded, made-for-a-baby shapes.
Outstanding piece: The little cloche hat, the drawstring detail and, of course, the dusty pink and cocoa combination, make the outfits as delectable as box of cream-filled chocolates. In the USA (Gabriela Mavros) Tel: 210-827-9600 E-mail: Gmavros@keratrading.com
COCCOLI Homebase: Montreal, Canada DESIGNER: Marian S. Vachon Sizes: NB to 24 months; Wholesale prices for organic collection: $12-$22 Coccoli always offers the perfect gift items for babies. Now they've made their offerings richer with a line of organic pieces.
Outstanding piece: Coccoli's organic pieces are the best way to ease an infant into spring. The soft-to-the-touch items are available in the striking charcoal, white and sky color combination, or blue and white. The blue is especially striking. NY Rep: Ali's Market (Alison Moroze) Tel: 212-695-2300 E-mail: Info@alismarket.com
CE CE CO Homebase: Holmdel, NJ DESIGNER: Daisy Lim Sizes: NB to 24 months; Wholesale prices start at $29 Clean, classic, with a candy store's worth of delicious pastel and cream tones, Ce Ce Co's designs make luscious gift items.
Outstanding piece: These little one-pieces, full of simplicity, offer an alternative to heavily patterned, embellished items. In other words, their economic design is perfect. Tel: 732-888-9988 E-mail: Info@cececo.com
Originally published November 28, 2008
|
|
