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SPRING/SUMMER
2013 TINA BARRY EDITOR'S
PICKS
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Spring/Summer 2013
Petite
Parade Fashion Show:
Floatimini's
sweet as cotton candy swimsuits. Say yes to ruffles.
It takes a deft hand to
combine rich bright tones with crocheted trim, floral
appliqués, embroidery and even splashes of neon
without the pieces looking like a traveling circus.
Joanne Yamamoto at Mimi
& Maggie manages the
balancing act with garments such as the Bubbles in the
Water one-piece and the Retro Hawaiian Band Crew T-shirt
and Rainbow Trunks, from Thunder Monroe, her smaller and
more subdued group for boys. (Mimi & Maggie: 7-14
years, $14-$41 wholesale. Thunder Monroe: 12 months to
4T). For more information, call 323-264-0200, or visit
mimiandmaggie.com.
From sequins to Swarovski
crystals, Ooh!
La, La! Couture tutu
dresses have it all. Two new darlings that are sure to
please celebrity clientele, and to be a big hit with the
birthday party circuit, are the Wow Sweetheart dress with
a zebra bodice and many-tiered tulle skirt, and the Mint
Gingham Sundress that turns the humble print into a frock
with real sass (2T to 14 years, $49-$86 wholesale). For
more information, call 631-478-5641, or visit
oohlalacouture.com.
Subtle colors, brights,
tights, diaper-covers with ruffles, you name it, you can
find a sophisticated version of whatever you need in one
of the many groups at Petit
Lem. For spring/summer
2013, the company's T Collection offers soft cotton
one-pieces with highly stylized patterns - a butterfly
for girls, helicopters for boys - that turn familiar
motifs into on-trend sleepwear. (One-piece fits 3 to 24
months, $8-$11 wholesale.) For more information, call
514-748-6234, or visit petitlem.com.
Little girls often want big
dresses for big occasions. Donna Hercules at newcomer
Collection
D-Alli for DCK Royale gives
them what they want, while pleasing the parent with
sophisticated taste. For spring/summer 2013, this
newcomer offered dresses and coordinates with the right
volume and embellishment for girls, as well as a neutral
color palette and couture fabrications for mom and dad.
Win win all the way (6 months to 10, $8-$52 wholesale).
For more information, call 518-221-1083, or visit
d-alli.com.
For spring/summer 2013 Uli
Belenky at Zutano
introduced seven new patterns and coordinates, including
the Helix, a wear-with-everything print. Its colors -
yellow and gray touched with sky blue and coral - add a
touch of elegant urban chic. (Fits NB to 4T,
approximately $8-$20 wholesale). For more information,
call 802-563-2174, or visit zutano.com.
In spring/summer 2013
KidCuteTure
a girl is all but guaranteed to stand out in the crowd.
The shapes possess an architectural bent, the colors pop,
and this season designer Natasha Pantelyat adds
appliqués to the mix for great fun head to toe. (2
to 14 years; approximately $14-$41 wholesale). The Kendra
Dress, worn over leggings, sports an elegant coral and
fish tableau. For more information, call 609-216-7490, or
visit kidcuteture.com.
As dramatic as an animal
print can be, it can look tired if it's presented in the
same old brown/black/rust colorations. Norma Di Paolo at
Alessia
works two patterns for spring/summer 2013 - a zebra in an
unexpected rose and beige combination, and an alligator
skin in frothy deep pink, aqua, black and white - lending
freshness to the look as well as adding a kick to
ladylike Seventies' silhouettes. (4 to 20, $17-$70
wholesale) For more information, call 514-276-0311, or
visit alessiaclothing.com.
In the city, in the
country, at the beach, anywhere you go, City
Threads has the right
T-shirt and shorts, pajamas and swimwear for the kid
about town in spring/summer 2013. A cool new outfit for
spring is the heathered T-shirt with the
ready-for-strumming, wood-grained guitar. Funky,
guitar-printed swim trunks make the perfect partner. (3
months to 14 years.) For more information, call
213-612-3710, or visit citythreads.com.
Dipali Patwa put together a
stellar spring/summer 2013 collection for
Masala
Baby. She colors Ikat and
tile prints in clean jewel tones atop white then mixes
patterns for playful baby through kid sizes. Peacock
patterns often mimic the bird with rich blue and green
tones. The pattern is fresh again in bright pink with
lingerie like straps. Boys look chic in striped tunics
and chambray shorts. (3 months to 10 years, $14-$32
wholesale) For more information, call 917-331-1766, or
visit masalababy.com.
After a short hiatus,
Llum
returns with a vibrant spring/summer 2013 collection.
Designer Amanda Reichert works richly colored, Sixties'
inspired floral and geometric patterns into narrow
silhouettes as well as trademark full dirndl skirts. The
addition of a delicate lace bolero jacket makes for an
arresting mix of textures. (2T to 12 years, $6.50-$44.50
wholesale.) For more information, call 877-774-5586, or
visit llum.com.
Sonia Kang's
Mixed
Up Clothing mixes it up in
the best possible way. For spring/summer 2013, Kang
employs bright floral and conversational patterns in
fanciful shapes and pairs it with streamlined dark denim.
The pattern adds oomph to the denim while the denim
subdues the intensity of the print. Great mix and match
pieces! (2T to 7 years, $19-$24 wholesale) For more
information, call or visit mixedupclothing.com.
Two words sum up Sandra
Stollar's spring/summer 2013 Igloo
Island collection: ease and
elegance. The comfortable cotton and silk jersey dresses
and separates drape beautifully, flatter the figure, and
like this tone-on-tone gray number, inspire spontaneous
bouts of air guitar. (4 to junior 5; $18-$32 wholesale.)
For more information, call 212-366-6800, or visit
iglooisland.com.
Welcome newcomer
Lindsey
Berns who debuted a girls'
sportswear collection that tapped into the Joni Mitchell
side of the Sixties. Soft, comfortable and clean, the
shapes offer ease, as well as details such as vibrant
rickrack embellishment, hand-appliqued flowers, and
delicate eyelet trim. (12 months to 5T, $16-$40
wholesale.) For more information, call 312-923-9904, or
visit lindseyberns.com.
Designer
Wen Reese at Skylar
Luna keeps
an in-stock collection of eco-friendly sleepwear. The
all-organic pieces, colored in saturated tones as well as
subtle yarn-dyes, give parents an option over mass-market
characters and patterns. The supple fabric has flat
interior seams and is cut for comfort. (Fits 12 months to
12 years, $15 wholesale for the set, comes in a reusable
linen bag). For more information call 626-353-5588, or
visit skylarluna.com.
Alexia Panza channels a
fantasy world inspired by the 70's for the
Liv
Spring/Summer 2013 Collection. Statement fabrics glisten
with sparkles, a wink to the disco balls of the era, with
ombred silk, touches of lace and a chiffon slip dress
that looks great alone or as another airy layer. (Fits 2
to 14 years, $8-$38 wholesale.) For more information,
call 212 600-1278, or visit tomanddrewboys.com.
Shawna Dalton at
Twirls
& Twigs spins out
multi-piece lines as easily as a spider spins webs. For
spring/summer 2013, two favorite groups are the peachy,
sherbet-toned Sweet Tweet, and the elegant navy, yellow
and gray Under the Sea. While the colors differ, the
spirit is, well, spirited with tiers of different
patterns, crocheted corsages, ruffles, appliqués
and plenty of ruffles. (Fits 12 months to 12 years,
$24-$38 wholesale) For more information, call
310-965-7700, ext. 222, or visit twirlsandtwigs.com.
Joy Cha, who designs the
popular Lemon Loves Lime and boys' Gnu Brand collections,
has introduced Lollipop
Twirl. The new collection
for girls ages 2 to 10, has a similar fruity color
palette and whimsical patterns as Lemon Loves Lime, but
Cha employs screen prints instead of appliques and plays
more with mixed patterns. Prices are lower too:
$12.50-$21 wholesale. For more information, call
630-260-2559, or visit lemonloveslime.com.
While Little
Threads has all the
earmarks of a traditional collection - fine fabrications,
smocking, puff sleeved dresses and the like - the motifs
and prints possess a whimsical bent. The look, like this
lobster-smocked dress, has an airy playfulness that works
for birthday parties or a day on the beach. (3 months to
12 years, $24.50 - $42 wholesale). Call 954-425-7727, or
visit littlethreadsinc.com.
Designer JoAnne Yamamoto
adds touches of neon and Guatemalan hand embroidery to
Mimi
& Maggie, her
whimsical, peace-love-and-rock-'n-roll spring/summer 2013
collection. Some of the pieces, such as this lovely,
rosette-strewn blue dress reference the softer side of
the Sixties, while the neon embellishment on the white
slip dress gives the piece a jolt of the here and now.
(Fits 3 months to 14 years; $17-$40 wholesale.) For more
information, call 323-264-0200, or visit mimiandmaggie.com.
Afton Farley at
Red
Wagon Baby strips nautical
themed motifs to their essence and arrives at a totally
modern, even edgy look for her spring/summer 2013 Ivy
& Olivia collection. Working in a palette of
traditional red, navy and white, the designer adds
glamour with a silver metallic anchor and leggings. (Fits
6 months to 10 years, $15-$22 wholesale.) For more
information, call 213-746-4905, or visit redwagonbaby.com,
yokashowroom.com.
Whether a dress is a
brightly colored or neutral, simply shaped or heaped with
tiers, when Ary at Stella
Industries works with
tulle, the dress is magic. For spring/summer 2013, she's
included new tulle designs, like the delicate Starlet in
stardust that sparkles in the light. (12 months to 16
years, $9.50-$42 wholesale) For more information, call
213-627-2676, or visit stellaindustries.com.
New from Sophie Maarek at
Bees
& Dragons is Sophie
& Mia, a tween collection with a trendy vibe. Using
the sublimation technique, the photo-like graphics and
lean tops and dresses possess edgy appeal. (Fits 4 to 14
years, $12-$28 wholesale. For more information, call
213-489-3050, or visit beesanddragons.com.
Maryam Barrett may be the
queen of classics with a twist. Her collections:
Busy
Bees, a sportswear group
for girls and boys (3 months to 12 years, $16-$50
wholesale), and Miss
B, a girls' tween and
junior line (7 to 16 years, $24-$72), use luxurious
fabrics to work the classics in fresh, unpredictable
ways. Here a deep blue seashell print modernizes a
traditional shift dress, while a seersucker suit eases
into casual wear with lean shorts and an untucked camp
shirt. Fit is the game changer at Miss B, turning a
seersucker suit into something both practical and a tad
sexy. For more information, call 646-349-3819, or visit
busybees-kids.com,
missbtween.com.
For so many newcomers the
T-shirt is the gateway item into the kids' apparel
market. That's true for Everbloom,
Erin Barbour's collection of handcrafted bamboo tees.
Each top, in a palette of soft candy colors, sports a
nature-themed applique such as butterflies, daisies,
charming hedgehogs or a cascade of fabric rosettes, some
on a patterned background for lots of textural interest.
Hand-sewn and beaded hair accessories, necklaces and bags
sport a similar Garden of Eden aesthetic. (Tees fit sizes
9 months to 10 years, $16-$22. Accessories: $17-$42.50
wholesale) For more information, call 310-890-6244, or
visit everbloomstudio.com.
You can smell the briny
French Rivera in Coccoli's
Summer by the Sea spring/summer 2013 collection. The bold
navy and red stripes and the simple cotton and Lycra
shapes are reminiscent of a day at play on the ocean.
(Flute of champagne and buttered baguette not included.)
Fits 1 to 18 months, $13-$15. For more information, call
212-605-2300 or visit alismarket.com.
Claesen's
is known for well-made cotton knit sportswear and
underwear in fashion forward prints with lingerie-like
touches. Their Romantic group for spring/summer 2013,
lets a girl coordinate her look, from the mixed print
dress right down to the elegant camisole and panties set.
They're not forgetting boys either, with a retro car
pattern on a one-piece, T-shirt and boxers. Keeping the
color palette in shades of red, white and blue makes the
collection a breeze to merchandise. (Fits one month
to 14 years, $6-$20 wholesale.) For more information,
call 866-262-2654, or visit creationsrobo.com.
It's Shayna Samuels at
City
Threads who is feeling
positive with new butterfly and rainbow pajamas for
girls. The snug-fitting, ultra-soft pieces possess a
"back-to-the-commune" mood. Sweet dreams! (Fits 3 months
to 14 years, $16-50-$19.50 wholesale for the set.) For
more information, call 213-612-3710, or visit
citythreads.net.
Whether Pia Lofdahl at
Stella
Cove works with a
traditional anchor pattern or a "make-you-smile' rubber
ducky design, one thing stays consistent: fuss-free
shapes. She's not big on ribbons, sparkles, and, if she
uses ruffles, she does it sparingly. The look is classic
yet modern and fun. (Fits 6 months to 12 years, $20-$27
wholesale.) For more information, call the
Thread
Showroom at 212-801-2387,
or visit stellacove.com.
Block-printed South African
textiles inform Emily Meyer's spring/summer 2013
Tea
collection. She mixes bold motifs with tiny all-over
prints, goes wild with stripes, and works the entire line
into a palette of shades that are rich yet seem to have
softened in the hot African sun. (Fits NB to 12 years,
$9-$29 wholesale.) For more information, call
617-733-9183, or visit teacollection.com.
Nautical looks anything but
traditional at Mish
Mish. The spring/summer
2013 collection takes tried and true navy and white dots
and stripes and gives them a spin atop architectural,
modern shapes. For boys, blue stripes possess an
understated elegance atop a loose, boatneck tee. A cool
way to do resort! (Fits 12 months to 7 years, $11-$16.50
wholesale) For more information, call 201-641-0672, or
visit mishmish-usa.com.
It's a joyful spring/summer
2013 season at Zutano
with seven new prints, each reflecting places and
experiences kids love. One favorite is the Circus Galore
group with the beautifully drawn and colored Le Cirque
print. Always the mix master, Uli Belenky teams the
prints with ginghams and stripes that look as cute with
solids as they do with her whimsical patterns. (Fits NB
to 4T, approximately $8-$20 wholesale.) For more
information, call 802-563-2174, or visit zutano.com.
Natural fabrics that move
in the breeze and a serene palette of white and blue are
what you'll find at designer Holli Gibson's
LamanBlu
spring/summer 2013 collection. The eco-friendly line,
with sea inspired graphics, is meant for a day on the
beach or a dance on the lawn. (Girls and boys 6m-6x,
$15-$59 wholesale.) For more information, call
720-837-1452, or visit LamanBlu.com.
Originally
published September 9, 2012
