|
|
Fall 2009: The Fine Art of Editing - Established Collections at Children's Club - Part I I've said it before and I'll say it again: bad times make good lines. When pocketbooks tighten, for both the manufacturer and retailer, collections do as well (as seen at Children's Club, March 8-10, 2009). Out goes all the indulgent "maybe this'll work" pieces, and in go the sure things. Lines look fresh and cohesive, palettes sharpen.
LAYETTE: FEATHER BABY Homebase: Baldwinsville, NY DESIGNER: Sude Dellinger Sizes: NB to 24 months; Wholesale prices: $9.50-$32 Dellinger's signature lilac and neutral color palette goes rich for fall with a saturated periwinkle and a wonderful taupey gray. Her delicates prints strike a calming note amongst all the folkloric and Sixty's-themed patterns at the show.
Outstanding pieces: The delicious colors and rounded shapes of the peasant blouse and knickers make a knockout infant gift. Tel: 212-730-4010 E-mail: Joe@featherbaby.com
JAXXWEAR Homebase: Greenwich, CT DESIGNER: Heather Jaffe Sizes: 3 to 24 months; Wholesale prices: $4.50-$18 Jaxxwear's Pima knit separates are silky and cool to the touch and get softer with washing. This season, Jaffe has added lots of adorable, fashion forward, mix-and-match prints for both sexes, and a great new sweater.
Outstanding piece: The bold Pima striped hoodie comes in two rich colorways, works back to all the patterns in the collection, and is priced at $18. You can't beat that. Tel: 203-252-0238 E-mail: Info@jaxxwear.com
LUCKY JADE Homebase: Hermosa Beach, CA DESIGNER: Leslie Pitts Sizes: Girls and boys 3 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $10-$42 There are so many things to admire about Lucky Jade: The bamboo and cotton blend and the cotton/cashmere (with 10 percent cashmere) feel like pure cashmere, are cool to the touch, and they drape beautifully. The lines are simple with little embellishment, and the motifs she chooses - elegant animals, a balloon, an old-fashioned plane - are engaging without being too cute.
Outstanding piece: Anyone who has ever dressed an infant welcomes the ease of a converter gown. This one has charm to spare with an adorable hot air balloon in flight and a funny owl on the back shoulder for a surprise. Tel: 310 387-0485 E-mail: Sales@luckjadeproducts.com
MILK & HONEY BABY Homebase: Huntington Beach, CA DESIGNER: Nicole Horiuchi Sizes: Girls and Boys 6 months to 7 years; Wholesale prices: $14-$29 Retailers adore this collection. It's easy to mix and match, the patterns are playful with touches of vintage charm, the shapes are easy, and it's reasonably priced.
Outstanding pieces: This comfy cotton dress gets a boost of sophistication from kimono styling and a "look-at-me" print. The leggings are velour with a playful ruffled bustle detail in back. They're adorable with the dress, or let the ruffles rule with a simple T-shirt.
A beautifully colored plaid gives this simple plaid button-down shirt a kick of high style. Pair it with rich coco corduroy cargo pants. Tel: 714-847-6844 E-mail: nicmilknhoney@hotmail.com
MOONCAKES Homebase: Coral Gables, FL DESIGNER: Mary Morrison Sizes: NB to 12 months; Wholesale prices: $4.75 to $17 Morrison's cotton layette groups offer clean, unfussy pieces with feminine touches. Her delicate patterns are neutral enough to mix and match with solids or bolder prints.
Outstanding piece: With pastel colors, delicate vintage-inspired wallpaper print and striking silk ribbon trim, Morrison's one-piece is truly Shabby Chic. Tel: 786-552-1311 E-mail: Info@moon-cakes.com
GIRLS NEWBORN AND UP: CHILDISH CLOTHING Homebase: Culver City, CA DESIGNER: Skye Hoppus Sizes: Girls NB to 6X, boys NB to 7 years; Wholesale prices: $16-$36 Always a fun, edgy collection, Childish Clothing really rocks this season. The designers' bold colors, music-themed graphics and fabrications such as stretch corduroy in look-at-me shades make it a winner.
Outstanding pieces: This group offers a great, candy colored palette, body defining shapes, and enough nailheads and cool graphics to keep any girl happy.
It's the little touches that count. Take for instance, the silver skull buttons on the western plaid shirt. What could be hipper? Add a back decorated with an eagle made of nailheads, and plaids with a washed down coloration, and you've got a shirt that will make a boy the hit of the lunchroom. Tel: 310-287-9957 E-mail: Info@childishclothing.com
CLAYEUX Homebase: Montceau-les-Mines, France DESIGNER: The Clayeux design team Sizes: NB to 12 years; Wholesale prices: $20-$44.50 Clayeux flaunts the trends in a vibrant, pattern-driven collection that is commercial yet sophisticated.
Outstanding pieces: Head to toe, there's a season's worth of pattern in this outfit. It works because the colors are carried through each piece - and such colors! Like a sunset on Viagra. RBK Imports Tel: 610-328-1986 E-mail: Rgallo@rbk-usa.com
Originally published April 21, 2009
|
|
