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Tip Toe through the Spring Show with Me Think of how boring kids' fashions would be if one style dominated and buyers adhered to it. How dull to view a classroom of little girls dressed as Jackie O mini-me's, and boys in head-to-toe preppy gear. We might as well put kids in uniforms. This season, though, conformity isn't an issue. Kids can begin their day in fresh pastel colored dresses, and later satisfy their inner disco diva in a handkerchief-hem skirt and vintage T-shirt. The designers below, who exhibited their collections at the October Children's Club Spring 2005 show in New York, represented all style factions.
INFANT PIXIE LILY DESIGNER: Leda Jackson Sizes: NB-9 months; Wholesale prices: $25-$30 Leda Jackson stays true to her old fashioned sensibility, by working in pastels and adding a bit of whimsical embroidery to her infant wear.
Outstanding Piece: Childrenswear of the 1940's and 1950's is prized for the hand embroidery mothers lavished on their children's clothing. Jackson reminds us of those innocent times with her one-piece boy's romper embroidered with pale blue bunnies on the pockets. So sweet. 48 Society Street Charleston, SC 29401 Tel: 843-579-0364 E-mail: info@pixielily.com
BOYSWEAR K. KAUFF-MEN DESIGNERS: Holly and Keith Kauffman Sizes: 6 months-20; Wholesale prices: $9-$139 Call the K. Kauff-men collection five easy pieces, or make that 50. There isn't a garment in the line that wouldn't add oomph to a boy's wardrobe.
Outstanding Pieces: The light pumpkin suede jacket is luxurious yet practical. A boy can throw it over his T-shirt on a cool spring evening, wear it to the movies when the AC's turned up full blast, and in the fall he'll look spiffy wearing it at the Thanksgiving table. 2020 West 166th Street Torrance, CA 90504 Tel: 310-323-5888 E-mail: kk@kkauff-men.com
SPORTSWEAR DANICA AND DYLAN DESIGNER: Margaret Flynn Sizes: 2-14; Wholesale prices: $11-$23 Spring is a time to loosen up, so Flynn added playful dresses to her well-tailored sportswear.
Outstanding Piece: Once you see the how the rich chocolate, hot pink and celadon complement the mix of flowers and geometrics on this sundress, you may forgo selling it to customers and hang it on the wall instead. 247 Grand Street, 3rd Floor NY, NY 10003 Tel: 212-219-0679 E-mail: customerservice@danicaanddylan.com
DEUX PER DEUX DESIGNERS: Francoise Toulotte and Axelle Prezlim Sizes: 3-16; Wholesale prices: $7.50-$42 The Deux Per Deux design team is the master of adding just the right amount of detail to complement a garment's silhouette and print.
Outstanding Pieces: The fresh pink and tomato tones that color the dress and two-piece set are as uplifting as a silly movie on a rainy day! Layette Minimome, Inc. 433 Chanabel West, Suite 1102 Montreal, Quebec H2N 2J8 Canada Tel: 514-383-3408 E-mail: deuxpardeux@deuxpardeux.com
ELIZA GRAN DESIGNER: Eliza Gran Sizes: 3 months-6; Wholesale prices: $14-$42 Eliza Gran likes tiny prints with a vintage feel. She mixes a few in each piece, adds tiers and trims, and her pieces still look simple.
Outstanding Pieces: The flounce top halter and three-tiered skirt are charming together and look just as cute with the halter over jeans and a T-shirt atop the skirt. Great mix-and-match coordinates. 667 East 18th Street Brooklyn, NY 11230 Tel: 212-226-2106 E-mail: eliza@elizagran.com
EVELYN BONNIE DESIGNER: Shelly Young Sizes: 3 months-6; Wholesale prices: $7-$30 Shelly Young loves vintage textiles, but she understands its limitations. This smart businesswoman reprints the golden oldies so she can accept orders and have enough goods to refill them.
Outstanding Piece: The one-of-a-kind print in a funky pink, cocoa and aqua colorway is pieced so the big cabbage rose frames a girl's face. Small touches like the bow beneath the bodice and the solid pink border add to the dress' charm. 2653 Orange Avenue, Suite B Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Tel: 714-345-4699 E-mail: info@evelynbonnie.com
KIWI INDUSTRIES DESIGNER: Becky Grebosky Sizes: Infant-7; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Beautifully engraved graphics define Grebosky's unique collection.
Outstanding Pieces: Little girls will love looking like their paper dolls in these clever, A-line dresses printed with dolls' costumes- tabs included. 192 Big Horn Ridge NE Albuquerque, NM 87122 Tel: 505-710-6455 E-mail: becky@kiwiindustries.com
LE PINK DESIGNER: Tina Chang Sizes: 6 months-14; Wholesale prices: $20-$68 Chang's collection is known for cutting-edge sportswear and hip dresses.
Outstanding Piece: There's plenty of pretty dresses out there, but this sequined number with its delicate colorway and flirty silk bow has "Va-Va-Voom!" 3435 South Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90007 Tel: 323-234-9086 E-mail: info@littlemass.com
LE FROMAGE ET L'ORANGE DESIGNER: Sachin Batra Sizes: 2-10; Wholesale prices: $13-$32 The L'Orange booth with its luscious roses, robust reds and oranges, and spicy saffrons is like a farmers' market at the height of summer.
Outstanding Pieces: The colors of this boy's shirt are as ripe as a farm stand tomato. The red zippers on the pant's cargo pockets pull the ensemble together. 6 Baker Place Stamford, CT 06905 Tel: 203-329-0719 E-mail: info@fromage-lorange.com
MALLEY & CO. DESIGNERS: Theresa Helms and Malley Gaulding Sizes: Infant-16; Wholesale prices: $10-$120. Buyers turn to Malley & Co. when they need cute, casual dresses in fresh prints and luscious, full-blown special occasion pieces. Now they've added boys' wear and sister/brother looks. What more do you want?
Outstanding Pieces: Gaulding and Helms blow fresh sea air into these sailor pieces for tots. 2805 National Drive Garland, TX 75041 Tel: 972-840-6433 E-mail: malley@malleyandco.com www.jamesgirone.com/malleyandco
MILK & HONEY DESIGNER: Nichole Gonzalez Sizes: NB-7; Wholesale prices: $9-$24 Gonzalez' diminutive collection mixes easy shapes with cute, hip prints in understated colors.
Outstanding Pieces: Gonzalez utilizes the season's most popular fabric - sheer cotton voile - and dresses it up in soft blue and cocoa stripes. Baby will look cool and feel cool. There's less whining that way. 16601 Gothard Street, Suite H Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Tel: 714-847-6844 E-mail: nicmilknhoney@hotmail.com
TOGS 2 GO DESIGNER: Theresa Brush Sizes: 3 months-4; Wholesale prices: $4-$36 Brush's feminine collection features separates with pretty fabric trims.
Outstanding Pieces: These chic spring toppers in polished cotton with matching fedoras have an amusing Lois Lane vibe. 145 Barrington Rd. N. Horseheads, NY 14845 Tel: 607-331-4305 E-mail: tree@togs2go.com
SPECIAL OCCASION C'EST CHOUETTE COUTURE DESIGNER: Amanda Azadi Sizes: Infant-14; Wholesale prices: $13-$88 The C'est Chouette collection is all about fun sportswear in playful prints.
Outstanding Piece: This filmy, flower-strewn dress in mossy green could double as a costume for Swan Lake. 1031 South Broadway, Suite 1228 Los Angeles, CA 90015 Tel: 213-744-0707 E-mail: cchouette@earthlink.net
HELENE & HARRY IV CO. DESIGNERS: Susan Ingram and Heidi Black Sizes: Infant-14; Wholesale prices: $69-$82 Each season Ingram and Black turn out the crème de la crème of special occasion dresses. Spring is no exception.
Outstanding Piece: She'll be ready to meet Madeline at the Plaza in this lovely navy lace dress with its flattering pale pink grosgrain bow and trumpet skirt. 4949 Beeman Avenue Dallas, TX 75223 Tel: 214-828-1660 E-mail: helenaco@helenaco.com
KATIE & CO. DESIGNER: Jane Albin Sizes: 3 months-14; Wholesale prices: $48-$80 Albin produces a collection of better, classic pieces that manage to look charming, not stuffy.
Outstanding Piece: The dress' rose color is so fresh you'll want to gather it to your nose and breathe deeply. 326 Market Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 Tel: 570-523-0788 E-mail: info@katieco.com
KNITS RENATTONI DESIGNER: Maribel Beas Sizes: Preemie thru Girls 4-6x and Boys 4-7; Wholesale prices: contact manufacturer Beas' sweet knits win the "Congeniality" award for most outgoing personality.
Outstanding Pieces: Why did the chicken cross the road? To inspire Beas' richly colored chicken and egg A-line, hat and booties. Summer Place Reps LLC 1517 Wedmore Court Symrna, Georgia 30080 Tel: 770-444-0776 E-mail: brittany@summerplacereps.com
T-SHIRTS APPAMAN DESIGNER: Harald Hussum Sizes: 6 months-6; Wholesale prices: $12-$16 Ultra hip T-shirts in offbeat colors have landed Appaman T-shirts on the back of celebrity babes nationwide.
Outstanding Piece: Can't remember your kids' birth order? Hussum's bold numerical T-shirts to the rescue. 38 Wyckoff Street, Suite 1L Brooklyn, NY 11201 Tel: 718-208-5221 E-mail: info@appaman.com |
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