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Children's Club Spring 2007: It's All About Timing A funny thing happened at the ENK Children's Club Show (October 15-17, 2006). On the Vogue Bambini runway, I noticed models wearing classic puffed-sleeved, full-skirted dresses. In the booths, too, there were more smocked items, the kind of frocks that are usually paired with a cardigan sweater and Mary Janes. For the first time in many seasons, these tried-and-true frocks looked, well, fashion forward. Why a dress that is beloved by traditionalists and eschewed by trendier buyers should be making a comeback, is, as is all things in fashion, about timing. We've had years of belly-baring tank tops and jeans that scarcely covered the necessities. Naturally, after one look reaches its saturation point, fashion swings in the opposite direction. With the new longer T-shirts that not only hide the stomach but sometimes conceal the hips as well, and waistbands slowly climbing north, it's not surprising that a garment that celebrates the innocence of children is being rediscovered. While plenty of manufacturers exhibited classic pink and white or rich red, navy and Kelly green pieces, some chose to freshen the dress with offbeat color combinations, modern embroidered motifs on bodices in lieu of rosebuds and prints normally reserved for casual sportswear.
SPECIAL OCCASION SMITHERMAN & BARNWELL DESIGNER: Smitherman & Barnwell design team Sizes: 18 months to 6T; Wholesale prices: $9-$225 Vondra Barnwell-Williams is a junkie for gorgeous textiles. Her dresses' silhouettes stay true to the classics, yet the prints and richly embellished fabrics make each piece an event.
Outstanding piece: This sophisticated frock is like a flute of champagne: Fresh, effervescent and perfect for the special occasion. Tel: 212-201-1309 E-mail: clientservices@smithermanandbarnwell.com
SUSAN FLYNN BARKSDALE DESIGNER: Susan Flynn Barksdale Sizes: 2-16; average wholesale price: $130 Barksdale has added rich color to her classic whites and ivories.
Outstanding piece: Pink and green can sometimes send a garment into sweet overload. Here, the combination is tamed with a charcoal sash for a touch of sophistication. Tel: 508-337-2983 E-mail: info@sfbdesigns.com
CASSIE'S CREATIONS DESIGNER: Yolanda Powers Sizes: 6 months-16; Wholesale prices: $70-$86 In a collection of heart stopping dresses, one stood out.
Outstanding piece: This exquisite iris embroidered silk and taffeta dress looks like a bloom just picked from Monet's garden. Lovely. Tel: 818-998-3324 E-mail: seanmarie3@aol.com
LADY BUG COLLECTION DESIGNER: Bill Jupitz Sizes: 1-4; plus sizes up to 10W; Wholesale prices: $59-$500 Jupitz specializes in really special special occasion wear for big time events. Kudos to Jupitz for understanding that larger children want to wear the same styles as their smaller friends.
Outstanding piece: Black dresses can be too severe for a little girl. Not this one. The bodice's high neckline is demure and that skirt falls to the ankles in cascades of the softest flutters. Tel: 717-761-2344 E-mail: info@ladybugcollection.com
PIPPA & JULIE DESIGNER: Frances Arazi Sizes: 12 months-10 years; Wholesale prices: $28.50-$44.50 Arazi's filmy, intricately detailed dresses look as if they've been plucked from the pages of a fairy tale.
Outstanding piece: This dress, with its gossamer layers and butterfly appliqués, is as ethereal as the delicate insect that served as Arazi's inspiration. Tel: 212-594-7400 E-mail: Franarazi@marmellatacorp.com
SMOCKED DRESSES FLEURISSE DESIGNER: Cynthia Moureto Sizes: NB-12 years; Wholesale prices: $11-$130 Liberty and French print cottons used in intriguing pattern mixes lend a modern sensibility to Moureto's appealing collection.
Outstanding piece: What little girl wouldn't enjoy spending the day in this mock apron dress with its mix of happy animals and a garden in bloom? Tel: 917-981-4892 E-mail: cynthia@fleurisse.com
MERCATORE DESIGNER: Maria and Cecilia Fernandes Sizes: 3 months to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $58-$70 Retailers count on Maria and Cecilia Fernandes to offer fine dresses with unexpected touches.
Outstanding piece: Employing a sportswear print in the sky and tomato combination and extending the smocking from the bodice to the waist, makes this dress a bit more sophisticated than the usual sweet, high-waisted style. Tel: 415-345-8900 E-mail: belezakids@yahoo.com
Originally published November 6, 2006
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