And no, I don't mean 'mad' in a negative, derogatory way (as in angry); but mad as in joyously madcap, ("wildly gay or merry; enjoyably hilarious"). Who says it's all doom and gloom? That was what I kept thinking as I made my way through the aisles of the Javits Center, (the venue for the March ENK Children's Club, which is traditionally the largest) in search of outstanding accessories, bags, shoes, hats, scarves, leg wear, footwear, home furnishings, bedding, toys, gift sets, etc. While the show may have been a tad scaled down from seasons past, it was nonetheless sprawling, well attended, and most importantly, showcased enough items that instantly put a smile on my face (and apparently, on others). Unsurprisingly, (considering the economic downturn and the unrelentingly bad news coming at us from every direction), having a reason to smile, is not to be taken lightly; and as it turns out, this was the one key element and unifying factor, that seemed to be present in much of what caught my eye and grabbed my attention this time around. I think you'd agree that the one place you don't want too much 'dark' reality thrown at you, is within the children's arena. (FYI, during New York Fashion Week in February, Isaac Mizrahi named his exuberant, upbeat, and happy Fall/Winter 2009 runway show, 'Smile', and indeed, it had everyone in the audience leaving with a smile on their faces, so this feel good feeling is hardly reserved for the very young).

And there were many reasons I found myself repeatedly smiling. The obvious one: all the smiling faces literally staring up (or smiling up) at me from bags, pillows, stuffed animals, gloves, scarves, booties, T-shirts, etc. If it weren't a retro smiley face, it was a smiling puppy, cat, monkey, or lion; and in fact, even the 'menacing' skulls, pirates, and 'monsters' seemed to be smiling.

One Love Kids' smiling pillow.

In certain instances, it was the exhibitors themselves who made me laugh out loud (like seeing Bearhands & Buddies' Jeffrey Golden with his puppy dog scarf tied around his neck); in others, just the name of the company provided the giggle (like Oots! - which is Dutch for "Oops!").

And then of course, regardless of the fact that this is traditionally a fall show, there were all those wonderfully happy, optimistic, bright colors: an instant mood elevator if ever there were one (Fingerprints' Susan Skeels, known for her white, or natural sweaters and robes, admitted she added her bright tie dyes at the last minute because they added punch to the neutrals, and looked fresh and happy). In addition, there was certainly no shortage of playful, whimsical attention grabbing abstract patterns and graphics; or comical, witty, LOL saying, mottos, and slogans printed, hand screened, embroidered, or appliquéd onto tees, one-pieces, hats, scarves, pajamas, bibs, burp cloths, and leg wear. (The gals from L'il Sucka, a newly launched company that makes slogan tees and burp clothes, admitted that in deciding which slogans to use, if it didn't make them all smile, "it didn't happen").

Fingerprints' bright tie dyes.

Then there's the 'cute' factor. There were plenty of products and items that were just TOO cute for words (not surprisingly, many of them were animal and creature related), and they automatically elicited a smile (Elegant Baby's enormous ceramic piggy banks, decorated with oversized white circles, always do the trick). Of course, let's not forget, April is upon us, and that means April showers. What could be happier than wearing cheerfully bright, rain boots on a gray damp day; or wearing hot pink snow boots, a wonderful contrast to the pristine white snow? I found many good examples throughout the show, and of course, these, like almost everything else, can apply not only to kids of all ages, but adults too (more on that later).

Okay, so I've listed the obvious smile producing factors, but other less obvious elements that worked: happening upon products that were a perfect merging of form and function (those companies that managed to make something practical into something great looking, fabulous, and entertaining: there is nothing quite like well thought out intelligent design to put a smile on one's face); meeting with exhibitors, designers, and manufactures who creatively addressed the economic situation and factored it into their products by lowering prices or creating a lower priced line; or in the case of Elegant Baby, expanding their menagerie of ceramic piggy banks to include a giraffe, a turtle, and a bear (as Oprah Winfrey said, "The only safe place for money is in a piggy bank these days"). A good positive attitude can also be uplifting and joyful and there were plenty of exhibitors who looked the recession straight in the eye, stood tall and refused to abandon the idea of luxury or compromise on high quality (Pediped even used this show to launch their brand new 'Couture Collection').

Speaking of luxury, it was hard to miss the omnipresent bright shots of metallics, which came in the form of silver and gold, and could be found all over, whether they appeared in footwear (sneakers, ballet flats, boots, Mary janes), diaper bags, totes, or hats, among other things. And in terms of luxury…let's just say that while the recent Fall/Winter 2009 ready to wear collections may have been toned down in some instances, the idea of luxury was hardly abandoned, and in many cases, what looked best were those designers who joyfully approached fashion with all the creativity and gusto they have always been known for. This was very apparent at the Children's Club as well.

This brings me to another point. As a longtime fashion editor (I am editor in chief of www.lookonline.com) one of the things I enjoy most, is linking trends in the adult market, to the children's arena (something that becomes more and more pronounced each season). I attended New York Fashion Week in February, and because the international round of Fall/Winter 2009 runway shows were winding down in Paris just as the March Children's Club began, the collections were fresh in my mind. It always puts a smile on my face when I find similarities across the board, noting the emergence of important trends that show up in both markets. This season, some of the more notable examples: metallics (especially silver and gold); plaids of all kinds (from classic tartans to unusual colorations, sometimes mixed together); the irreverent use of bold, often fluorescent color (in offbeat combinations); whimsical hats (from oversized fur, or faux fur trappers, to eccentric hand knits and everything in between); shaggy Mongolian lambs (the 'chubby' is back in a big way); leopard prints; fur or faux fur shrugs, boleros, and vests; rock and roll chic, better known as 'rocker chic', which is symbolized by the pervasive use of black; leggings and tights (often printed, patterned, or tinted in unusual shades); boots, boots, and more boots (from little ankle booties to over-the-knee versions).

Fall 2009 Trends: (Some of the important recurring themes and trends that were not only seen at the March Children's Club, but on recent runways in New York, London, Paris and Milan)

Shine On: And it's shine shine shine thanks to the abundant use of metallics especially gold and silver…I guess if you can't be rich...you might as well look rich.

Derek Lam

Isaac Mizrahi

Papillon gold and silver shoes.

Papillon silver boots.

Hat-i-tude: Whimsical hats (from oversized fur trapper styles in politically correct faux fur versions, to exuberantly knitted variations) were all over and are sure to put a smile on everyone's face.

Diane Von Furstenberg

Jean Charles de Castelbajac

Michael Kors

Peace of Cake's faux fur coat.

Zooni's assorted hats.

In the 'clutches': The makers of diaper bags are now branching out more and more and offering chic, versatile styles which can do many different things (and fit into the larger bag of course)

Louis Vuitton clutch.

Reese Li striped clutch.

Boot Camp: From ankle length booties to knee high, boots rule!

Ann Sui

Pliners Jr. suede boots.

A 'pattern' for living: Prints and patterns, often graphic and geometric, (including bold stripes), continue to make news.

Diane Von Furstenberg

Reese Li Black Genie bag.

Vincent Footwear's bold prints.

Mad for Plaid: Plaids, from traditional tartans, to recolored and unclassic, ruled the runways and were all over the Javits Center.

Isaac Mizrahi

Peace of Cake's in plaid.

Primary Colors: Strong, vibrant brights enliven everything!

Isaac Mizrahi

Fernella's Jools' bright pillows.

Oots! bold lunchboxes.

'Tulle' time girl: Frothy tulle is undeniably sweet and girlie.

Ralph Lauren

Meg Dana & Co. in tulle.

'Bank' on it: Piggy banks are no longer just piggies; the category is so big, it's been expanded to include bears, giraffes, and turtles.

From Elegant Baby

'Creature' Comfort: Stuffed animals, animal faces, and animal motifs (dogs, cats, monkeys, bears, giraffes, etc.) abounded…and what could possibly be cuter or more comforting for a child (or a grownup for that matter….as they say, "Dog is man's best friend").

Jean Charles de Castelbajac

Jean Charles de Castelbajac

Jean Charles de Castelbajac

Yikestwin's hooded monsters.

From Livie & Luca

'Spot' on: Leopard prints never disappear, and can be found on every manner of accessory.

Oscar de la Renta

From Max Daniel Baby

'Say What'? Funny humorous and witty sayings imprinted on T-shirts, one-pieces, hats, etc. were the order of the day.

Jean Charles de Castelbajac

From Funzees and Lil Sucka.

Outer Mongolia: Actually, Mongolian lamb is so in, I really should call it, 'Inner' Mongolia…and the fur chubby is back!

Ralph Lauren

From Piece of Cake

Good things come in small packages: Small fur pieces (tiny shrugs, vests, capelets) ruled the runways and look great even in faux versions.

J. Mendel fur vest.

From Piece of Cake

'Rock' On: Let's hear it for the hip, cool rocker babe (or boy)!

Alexander Wang

From Rock Star Baby

'Tight' wad: Leggings and tights, from plain to patterned continue to be popular.

Marc Jacobs

Angela Frost's leggings.

Originally published April 4, 2009

Back to Main Home