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Children's Club: Young Sophisticates for Fall 2009 The credo for new launches at the ENK Children's Club (March 8-10, 2009) appeared to be "If you're going to do it, do it right." That's the impression I got after viewing the debut collections at the show, all of which were carefully conceived right down to the hangtags. Established lines expanded their size ranges and offered hip gear at lower price points.
LAYETTE: NEIGE Homebase: Santa Ana, CA DESIGNER: Adrienne Catrina Sizes: 3 to 24 months; Wholesale prices: $13-$82 The new collection of baby basics channels Catrina's modernist aesthetic: muted colors, fine fabrics, simple shapes.
Outstanding piece: Tiny, elegant and in a flattering shade of grayed cocoa, the cotton cashmere Jeannie dress whispers good taste. Tel: 714-558-7751 E-mail: Info@neigeclothing.com
GIRLS - NEWBORN & UP: HARPER FELIX Homebase: Capistrano Beach, CA DESIGNER: Jill Harper Sizes: Girls and boys 6 months to 4T; Wholesale prices: $15-$24 Casual and cool, Harper Felix's collections offers Supima cotton knit pieces, a purple-hued palette and wonderful, graphic imagery.
Outstanding piece: Touches like a sash at the hips to tie into a flirty bow and stretchy knit "tulle" beneath the Ballet skirt take the ensemble from a play date to a birthday party or any not too formal occasion. Thread KIDS NY Showroom (Terra Fazzio) Tel: 212-801-2387 E-mail: Terra@threadshowroom.com
OKKIES Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Lauren Hines Sizes: 3 months to 12 years; Wholesale prices: $17-$52 Fans of Okkies' boys' collection shop the line for its easy shapes, muted colors and cool, graphic tees. The only problem: nothing for the sisters. With the new girls' line, the problem is solved.
Outstanding piece: The double-sleeved tee with the sweet horse graphic is just as hip as the boy's version, just a bit leaner. It's utterly chic with the flat-front plaid shorts.
Adding a bubble hem to the jumper gives it a couture touch. Yoka Showroom (Caroline Nagle) Tel: 212-594-7714 E-mail: Caroline@yokashowroom.com
ORIGANY Homebase: San Francisco, CA DESIGNER: Raj Sardesh Sizes: NB to 4T; Wholesale prices: $7-$25 Sardesh introduced a collection of organic sportswear. One group includes basic shapes with a brown and cream palette. The other, colored in bold navy and orange, blends vintage silhouettes with a touch of athletic wear.
Outstanding piece: A bold navy and orange color combination gives "The Ready for School" dress real presence. Tel: 415-738-6394 E-mail: Info@origany.com
GIRLS - TODDLER AND UP: HUDSON THREADS Homebase: Port Chester, NY DESIGNERS: Dayna Cohen and Michele Polo Sizes: 2 to 14 years; Wholesale prices: $15-$42 There's a strong 1960's Liza Minelli, jet-set quality to the modern pieces in this fashion forward new collection.
Outstanding pieces: The A-line shapes, the silky Jersey knits, the colors and the sleeve and hem details are practical and eye-catching. Both pieces can be dressed up with a jacket, vest and leggings if a girl wants to layer, or just tights and cute boots. The garments are strong enough without lots of add-ons. Tel: 917-715 3987 E-mail: Dayna@hudsonthreads.com
KIDCUTETURE Homebase: Lawrenceville, NJ DESIGNER: Natasha Pantelyat Sizes: 2 to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $18-$68 The color palette is simple: dark and light gray and bright raspberry. The assertive tones work for these ingeniously shaped pieces. Each of the seven dress styles in this disco-meets-special-occasion collection, has a fitted bodice and a wide skirt that bubbles, curves into a pleated half-moon, or gathers like a balloon shade. A big rosette finishes the look.
Outstanding pieces: The lineup.
The Harlow bells out softly, almost like a hoop skirt and curves under at the bottom for a flash of striped lining. Tel: 609-216-7490 E-mail: Info@kidcuteture.com
TRULY ME BY SARA SARA Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Amy Chang Sizes: 4 to 16 years; Wholesale prices: $9-$23 To help ease costs for retailers, the designers at Sara Sara now offer Truly Me, a recession beating collection of mostly jersey tops, dresses, leggings and a few cute jean styles. The mood is tween modern with vivid colorations and a mod, Sixty's aesthetic.
Outstanding pieces: This beautifully colored, wildly patterned dress needs nothing more than a pair of tights for an ensemble with real presence.
Another piece with real verve is this cardigan with the stylized peacock print - fabulous with jeans. Tel: 213-624-7311, ext. 103 E-mail: wayne@sarasara.com
COTTON KNIT GROUPS: OBLI ORGANICS Homebase: Sarasota, FL DESIGNER: Michelle Young Sizes: Girls 3 months to 6X, boys 3 months to 7 years; Wholesale prices: $4-$18 Young of the Obli Organic's collection promises to "turn summertime blues to green." The casual, organic tees, dresses, and yoga pants with fresh graphics and slogans such as "Green rocks" and "I only ride hybrid" scream eco-friendly.
Outstanding pieces: These serenely colored tees are ideal for a hot day at the beach. Tel: 877-674-6959 E-mail: Oblicontact@obliorganics.com
OUTERWEAR: KOOCHI KU Homebase: Brookline, MA DESIGNER: Melanie Anderson Sizes: 2 to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $19 for a hat, $73-$93 for outerwear Anderson, a former chef, cooks up a great collection with these boiled organic wool hats, vests and jackets. Her modern patterns and rich, vegetable tones are current yet too personal to be trendy, and touches like garnet red faux fur make them fun. These are special jackets that would fit comfortably in better boutiques and museum shops.
Outstanding pieces: Who wouldn't fall for the Barn Style Jacket. Just look at the colors. Yum. And even better - it reverses to pale pink pinwale corduroy.
The A-line Style Jacket is reversible and versatile. The colors and pattern are arresting and the faux fur trim makes it an ideal coordinate with any of the peasant styles and embroidered pants that are so popular this season. Tel: 617-245-3900 E-mail: Sales@koochiku.com
ROOZ KIDZ Homebase: Calgary, Canada DESIGNERS: Michelle Jones and Jane Walter Sizes: 1 to 6 years; Wholesale price: $19.95 Little ones are constantly losing their mittens. Jones' "a warm fix for cool paws" solves the problem.
Outstanding piece: A cute print in a buttery soft fabric and attached mittens that stay put. Say "so long" to cold hands. Tel: 403 982-7101 E-mail: Info@Roozkidz.com
Originally published April 3, 2009
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