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Fall 2009: The Fine Art of Editing - Established Collections at Children's Club - Part III
TEA COLLECTION Homebase: San Francisco, CA DESIGNER: Emily Meyer Daily Tea sizes: Girls and boys NB to 5 years; Daily Tea wholesale prices: $6-$14.50 I'm a fan of Tea's Daily Tea line. Not only is it fashionable with great prints and interesting color palettes, but its prices reflect retailers and consumers need to stretch a buck. The principals' understanding of the market as well as market trends is the reason Tea has become a staple in boutiques worldwide.
Outstanding pieces: What do I love about both outfits? They're tasteful, vibrant, and bold. They look like they cost a bundle too, but don't break the bank. Isn't that what everyone wants? Tel: 415-621-9400 E-mail: Info@teacollection.com
ZUTANO Homebase: Cabot, VT DESIGNER: Uli Belenky Sizes: Preemie to 4T; Wholesale prices: $2-$25 Who doesn't love Zutano? The collection is full of unique prints, a spicy color palette, and the materials allow for interesting textural layering.
Outstanding pieces: Green clothing took a novel direction for fall with work-the-land themed graphics and shapes made for the country farmer. The look gets a bump upscale with the mix of carefully orchestrated patterns and comfortable, not sloppy shapes. Tel: 800-287-5139 E-mail: Zutano@zutano.com
PEARL Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNERS: John and Shelley Blye Sizes: Girls Infant to 16 years, boys infant to 20; Wholesale prices: $16-$30 The Blye's have added a corduroy group to their collection of great fitting, jeans and jackets.
Outstanding piece: The narrow cut, interesting cuff details and dusty pigment-dyed fine wale corduroy makes for an elegant piece that works well with pants, skirts, or over a dress. Tel: 914-844-4651 E-mail: Lovetillyinc@aol.com
TODDLER AND UP: LE FROMAGE ET L'ORANGE Homebase: Stamford, CT DESIGNER: Sachin Batra Sizes: Girls and boys 2 to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $16-$38 It's a wildly inventive, hippy happy, Indian influenced Taj Mahal of a collection. Outstanding pieces: No way can I narrow it down to one, so here are two:
Such colors, so much detail, so much charm: I want to dive into this kaleidoscope of a dress.
Various textures and a rich mix of deep neutrals, blend comfortably into one another without looking like matched pieces. Tel: 203-329-0719 E-mail: Info@fromage-lorange.com
BIG GIRLS: CHERISE Homebase: Stamford, CT DESIGNER: Sachin Batra Sizes: 4 to 16 years; Wholesale prices: $24-$40 Like L'Orange, Batra's tween to teen collection is a study in controlled opulence.
Outstanding piece: The color doesn't scream, "Look at me!" yet with the subtle textural differences in the bodice and skirt, and the jeweled neckline and waist detail, that's what you'll want to do. Tel: 203-329-0719 E-mail: info@cheriseinc.com
DRESSES: WATI DESIGN Homebase: Palo Alto, CA DESIGNER: Wati Grossman Sizes: 4 to 14 years; Wholesale prices: $15-$44 Grossman channels the dreamlike work of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in her collection of jewel-toned, frilled, and embroidered pieces. The shapes in her plaid groups are equally romantic yet the pattern gives them a grungier, edgier appeal.
Outstanding piece: There's just enough frills going to lend the Maya Voile's Dress a rich, exotic note. (It's also available in navy with sky blue ruffles). Tel: 650-224-7478 E-mail: Wati@watidesign.com
ZOE LTD. Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Susan Mandel Sizes: 7 to 14 years; Wholesale prices: $12-$130 The dresses - streamlined, solid or color-blocked, with details like mod zippers and nailheads - look new again, especially in this season of opulence.
Outstanding piece: The subtle A-line shape of the dress serves as a canvas for the carefully composed color blocking. The back view, with the bold zipper detail, is almost as compelling. Tel: 212-967-2279 E-mail: sales@zoeltd.com
BISCOTTI Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Bernadette Reiss Sizes: 9 months to 16 years; Wholesale prices: $15-$60 Biscotti always offers lots of pretty, feminine dress and separate groups, yet it was one standout of a coat that caught my eye.
Outstanding piece: With its generous, face-framing fluff of faux fur and a Baroque inspired pattern, this coat could be too much of a good thing. But the unexpected and wearable color combination, and the narrow lines make it modern. Tel: 212-947-4040 E-mail: Mariav@biscottiinc.com
KNITWEAR: RENATTONI Homebase: Philadelphia, PA DESIGNER: Maribel Beas Sizes: Girls NB to 6X, boys NB to 7 years; Wholesale prices: $16-$61 Beas isn't concerned with producing funky, edgy pieces. Her collection of hand-knit baby alpaca items are as soft as clouds and, with their lavish details, a gift-giver's dream.
Outstanding piece: It's hard to resist delicate details like the vintage style hand-crocheted lace trim and basket of pale pink blossoms. (Also available in pink/white and pink/light cocoa.) Tel: 215-915-7893 E-mail: Wholesale@renattoni.com
BOYS: KAPITAL K Homebase: Astoria, NY DESIGNER: Spencer Sujjaporamest Sizes: Girls and boys 12 months to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $9-$34 This collection keeps getting more interesting. The attention to fabric choice and combination, quirky colorations and details, and unique screen prints, make it a must-have for boutiques.
Outstanding pieces: If a good prince had a brother who, let's say, appreciated a good time, he'd wear this French terry hoodie with the decomposing royalty motifs. Ditto for the much-adorned yarn-dyed Henley. Tel: 917-656-0270 E-mail: Spencers@kapital-k.com
Originally published April 21, 2009
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