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Traditional Spring 2009 Collections at the ENK Children's Club and Bubble Exhibitions A woman's basic wardrobe contains a few classics: a trench coat, a simple black dress (this season especially), a crisp white blouse, and a well fitting pair of jeans. Men can omit the dress and add a beautifully made suit or two and feel confident that they look stylish. Like their parents, children's wardrobes demand a backbone of dependable pieces - a special dress, maybe with smocking, in a pretty fabric; something seersucker for a party; a simple sweater in a go-with-everything color; a classic coat - to build on. The collections below, from Bubble - The Kids Trade Show and Children's Club (August 3-5, 2008), offer children traditional garments that reflect a timeless, always correct style.
BELLA BLISS Homebase: Lexington, KY DESIGNER: Lisa McLean Sizes: Layette to 12 years; Wholesale prices: $9-$55 Seersucker, whimsical embroidery, rounded collars and starched shirts define the Bella Bliss collection.
Outstanding offering: What better way to celebrate warm weather than these darling pique bubbles each embroidered with a host of friendly sea life. Tel: 866-846-5295 E-mail: Blisscollection@speedbeam.com
FLORET BY SIMONE KAPLAN Homebase: Brooklyn, NY DESIGNER: Simone Kaplan Sizes: 3 months to 4T; Wholesale prices: $32-$50 Kaplan sourced elegant linen and fanciful cotton prints for her collection of unique traditional dresses.
Outstanding offering: This dress is for the birds and I mean that in the most flattering way. The print of happy yellow sparrows is a find and that deep mid-chest to waist smocking resembles a lacey birdcage. Lovely. Tel: 718-301-6820 E-mail: Simone@floretnyc.com
FRANCES JOHNSTON Homebase: Dallas, TX DESIGNER: Fran Johnston Sizes: 3 to 12 months; Average wholesale price: $40 Old fashioned doesn't mean stodgy, not when the items are as fresh, the embroidery as charming, and the workmanship as precise as what you find in the Frances Johnston collection.
Outstanding offering: Before slogan tees and tutus hit the market, there was one garment that everyone gave as a shower gift. This innocent little bubble with the hand-smocked ducks is a perfect example. Tel: 214-939-1760 E-mail: Richard@francesjohnston.com
MARIE CHANTAL Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Marie-Chantal Crown Princess Pavlos of Greece Sizes: Girls NB to 16 years, boys NB to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $11-$148 Marie Chantal's collection harkens back to a time when a bell would jangle when you entered a children's store, and a girl (always well behaved) held her mother's hand while a sales woman with a nametag (always Mrs. Something) found the correct size and made suggestions.
Outstanding offering: The designer employed the season's newest color trio: navy, peach, and white, to freshen classic girls' and boys' pieces. The look is traditional with a twist, the trademark style of this company. Tel: 212-274-1100 E-mail: Alexandria@mariechantal.com
NOA LILY Homebase: Bloomfield, NJ DESIGNER: Renata Worob Sizes: 6 months to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $25-$58 Can't get enough of sweet prints and ladylike party dress styling? Check out this collection.
Outstanding offering: This dress with the valentine pattern and unusual back detail is a sweetheart coming and going. Tel: 973-743-1400 E-mail: Rentika@aol.com
OLD WORLD CHILDREN Homebase: Stamford, CT DESIGNER: Guida de Carvalhosa Sizes: Girls preemie to 14, boys preemie to 20; Wholesale prices: $35-$110 Old World Children offers gorgeous fabrications, couture tailoring and finishing and just enough trend-conscience details to keep the line from looking staid.
Outstanding offering: Here's a dress that captures the freshness of the season with the fashion forward, all important blue and white combination and blends it with traditional details such as the Peter Pan collar, heavily smocked bodice and full skirt. Tel: 203-461-8260 E-mail: Guida@oldworldchildren.com
PEACHES 'N CREAM / BOYS 'N BERRIES Homebase: Burlington, NC DESIGNER: Cherie Martin Sizes: Girls NB to 10 years, Boys NB to 4 years; Wholesale prices: $21-$36 Peaches 'n Cream and the boys' collection Boys 'n Berries takes traditional seersucker in classic shapes and updates it with shots of vivid color and whimsical embroidery.
Outstanding offering: Time honored without stuffiness, this sister/brother look is sure to delight the grandparents. Janis Millstein Sales (Janis Millstein) Tel: 212-239-4660 E-mail: Janisales@aol.com jamesgirone.com/janismillsteinsales
PAPO D'ANJO Homebase: Lisbon, Spain DESIGNER: Catherine Connor Sizes: 6 months to 16 years, Average wholesale price for dresses: $89 This multi-piece collection sports unusual colors for a traditional line, impeccable craftsmanship and more Liberty prints than you'll find in your local fabric store (if you can find a fabric store).
Outstanding offering: Peter Pan collar, cinched waist and full skirt. All the details one expects to find in a classic dress. The offbeat rust and teal colorway and the bold white details push the garment into a newer realm. Tel: 651-294-3900 E-mail: Stephanie@papodanjo.com
SOPHIE DESS Homebase: Pembroke Park, FL DESIGNER: The Sophie Dess design team Sizes: NB to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $20-$40 Sophie Dess dresses are the kind of beautifully colored and detailed pieces that become family heirlooms.
Outstanding offering: The pretty watercolor print and tucked detail make this dress as refreshing as a walk a through a flower garden after a spring rain. It's an ideal, not too formal Easter or Passover piece. Tel: 800-327-7971 E-mail: info@SophieDessUSA.com
SOLE A POIS Homebase: Milan, Italy DESIGNER: The Sole A Pois design team Sizes: Infant to toddler; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer The Sole A Pois designers exhibited a collection of cleanly tailored separates that are spare on detail yet pack a bold hit of style.
Outstanding offering: Both the navy and white knit and the jacket ensemble are the types of pared down looks that work for casual occasions and, with a change of shoes and legwear, move comfortably into dressier occasions. Tel: 39.0236.55.05.27 E-mail: Info@soleapois.com
Originally published September 16, 2008
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