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SPRING/SUMMER 2012 CHILDREN'S CLUB REPORT: SPORTSWEAR COLLECTIONS: A-N
Homebase: France DESIGNERS: The 3 Pommes design team Sizes: Girls: Girls and boys: NB to 16 years; Wholesale prices: $3.50-$40
3 Pommes is one of my - and so many buyers' - favorite collections for its elegant palettes, fashion forward shapes and sense of whimsy. One especially successful group offers pale, warm gray and leaf green adding a playful note to the neutral and a timely touch to the cool tone.
Outstanding Pieces: A picture doesn't do this lovely little dress justice: you can't feel the silky, light hand of the goods, or appreciate the pretty gray shade or how lovely that band of lace looks near the hemline.
Shades of gray and leaf update a classic Western shirt. The coordinating tee announces a Jazz festival. So grown up! . Groupe Zannier U.S.A. www.jamesgirone.com/groupezannierusa East Coast contact: Bianca Ramos (212) 279-7672; bramos@zannierusa.com West Coast contact: Fernanda Goldschmit (213) 627-2779; fgoldschmidt@zannierusa.com
Homebase: San Francisco, CA DESIGNER: Amanda Boyd Sizes: Girls and boys 6 months to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $11-$32
Adore La Vie isn't just a dress line anymore. For spring, Boyd added a boys' group that coordinates perfectly to the girls' line.
Outstanding Pieces: The dynamic Safari group blends fearless pattern mixing and go-for-broke colors.
Tel: 630-240-1757 E-mail: Amanda@adorelaviedesigns.com
Homebase: New York, NY Sizes: NB to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $14-$60 DESIGNER: Harald Husum
From a tiny T-shirt line to a lifestyle brand, Appaman continues to get bigger and better. They're even producing swimsuits and sunglasses.
Outstanding Piece: Appaman's new swimsuit collection is definitely hip with a look-at-me palette and cool graphics.
Tel: 212-460-5480 E-mail: Info@appaman.com
Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Carolina Zapf Sizes: Girls: NB to 12 years, boys: NB to 20; Wholesale prices: $ 72-$130 for dresses
Baby CZ is a luxury line with clean, classic looks and unexpected fabrications.
Outstanding Piece: Everything about this silk dress - its iridescent shimmer, the tone-on-tone smocking, the flutter sleeves and full skirt - make it a show-stopper. It's gorgeous in sparkling teal, too.
Tel: 212 580-5190 E-mail: Db@babycz.com
Homebase: Ross, CA DESIGNER: Maryam Barrett Sizes for Busy B collection: 7 to 16 years; Wholesale Prices: Average wholesale price: $45
Barrett's new Miss B collection for girls and tweens offers the same great fabrications, clean lines and classic colors as her groups for smaller sizes, with a touch of sweetly sexy sophistication.
Outstanding Pieces: Barrett keeps the lines simple and the details to zero so this special allover-embroidered daisy fabric (it's washable!) - and the pretty girl wearing the dress - shine.
Tel: 917-796-9771 E-mail: Maryam@busybees-kids.com
Homebase: Scottsdale, AZ DESIGNERS: The Eliane et Lena design team Sizes: Girls and boys: NB to 14 years, boys NB to 10T; Wholesale prices: $11-$44.50
Eliane et Lena is the booth I hit first, just to get a feel for the season. Among great bright palettes, there's an elegant navy and white group and many "must-have" pieces.
Outstanding Pieces: Navy is as important to spring collections as dyed eggs are to Easter. But to keep the color fresh, designers change its cast - one year the tone leans toward green, the next season it's closer to royal. For spring/summer 2012, navy has a purply richness that looks exciting paired with warm pimento and yellow, and, of course, great with white. Here, the designers use the new navy with white to color a sophisticated floral flounce dress paired with a cute bonnet and bow-tied pants.
This dress doesn't need a lot of exposition. It's simply unlike any other tulle dress in the market, and there are a lot of them.
Tel: 480-619-5515 E-mail: Karen@kidexx.com
Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Jennifer Connaughton Sizes: Girls and boys: 6 months to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $24-$56
There's a lot to love about Connaughton's spring line, not the least a palette of rich spice tones that look especially fresh combined in Liberty prints and paired with neutrals.
Outstanding Pieces: The blouse's print is arresting and the subtle gather along the back and sides adds flattering shape. Combine the top with narrow shorts and she's set for a day sightseeing.
Lolligo New York Showroom Tel: 347-394-3151 E-mail: Info@lolligo.com
Homebase: France DESIGNERS: The IKKS design team Sizes: 3 months to 14 years; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer
There's a sweet mood to the IKKS girls' collection, as if the designers spent a few days in Provence with a notebook and bottle of Rosé, and their take on boys' plaid is chic.
Outstanding Pieces: The nearly weightless little sister and big sister dress is meant for a summer event.
Narrowly cut shorts and a T-shirt look pulled together when paired with a lean vest in a subdued plaid.
Groupe Zannier U.S.A. East Coast contact: Virginie Kharouby (212) 279-7672; vkharouby@zannierusa.com West Coast contact name: Annie Russell (213) 627-2779; arussell@zannierusa.com www.jamesgirone.com/groupezannierusa
Homebase: London DESIGNER: Hsin Wei Girls and boys sizes: 2 to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $37-$53.50
Wei's color choices and pleat details are inspired by artist Piet Mondrian's vibrant palette and bold line work.
Outstanding Piece: The Gina dress does a little Broadway Boogie Woogie with the horizontal pleats mimicking the artist's trademark black stripes and outlined squares. The washed linen has a soft, light hand and the construction is immaculate. On the child, the tie hits below the belly and the skirt flares creating a narrow upper silhouette with plenty of room to move below the hips. The look is softer and sweeter than Mondrian's famous later work, but I think he'd approve.
Drew NY Showroom Tel: 718-232-0012 E-mail: faigydrew@gmail.com
Homebase: Philadelphia, PA DESIGNER: Amanda Reichert Sizes: Girls: 6 months to 12 years; boys; 6 months to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $6-$45
This is a collection for buyers who shop for feminine shapes that are not demure, and appreciate a garment with changeable looks: many of the pieces reverse from one solid or print to another.
Outstanding Pieces: The Degas casual party dress comes in shimmery lavender with a full skirt and a wink of dark violet lining. Below it is the Reversible Swing Dress that switches from a delicate cherry blossom print to a similarly colored, bold stripe.
Tel: 877 774-5586 E-mail: Info@llum.com
Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: JoAnne Yamamoto Sizes: 3 months to 14 years; Wholesale prices: $17-$41
Remember when vintage hankies were all the rage? They're back and fresher than ever in Yamamoto's Nantucket Island Collection, one of several outstanding appliquéd, beaded and patched groups for spring.
Outstanding Pieces: The Vintage Handkerchief Dress, with its mix of nostalgic patterns, flower garden coloration and hanky hem just shouts "Put me in the window!"
*Playtime Dress and patterned diaper cover (not shown): Bold pieces of pure whimsy.
Tel: 323-264-0200 E-mail: Info@mimiandmaggie.com
Homebase: Closter, NJ DESIGNER: Ilana Koren and Yael Ravid-Sagi Sizes: Girls and boys: Infant to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $12-$30
Everything's coming up roses at Mish Mish - roses and bold checks, tie-dyes and boys' tees, and loose, easy shapes for maximum comfort.
Outstanding Pieces: This garment from Mish Baby looks like a snazzy checked tee and sporty navy bloomer, but it's one easy-to-put-on piece.
This dress, with the bold prints and colors, the smocking, ruffles and tulle could have gone so wrong, yet it works - beautifully.
Tel: 201-641-6991 E-mail: Info@mishmish-usa.com
Originally published September 2, 2011
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