Bohemian Trends

As a kidswear designer I believe in style and attention to detail, however, I cannot stand to see children that are so overstyled they look like a mini version of their parents / person who has styled them.  I believe that children should be allowed to be children and that good designed clothes compliment this.  We express ourselves through what we wear.  I see this more than ever with my identical twin girls.  I have never dressed them the same.  To me they are individuals not one being.  Fleur is super girlie and will only ever wear dresses and skirts, preferably one that swings with lots of nets!  She loves to have things in her hair and has a bit of an obsession with high heeled shoes.  (she can't understand why I don't wear four inch heels on the school run)  Where are Nico is cool.  A little skate girl that loves to knock around in jeans with a beanie hat and hoodie.  She also has a bit of fixation with pirates.  So, essentially have all bases covered with my girls.  However, one style that I love, that never really disappears from trend for all seasons is that of the bohemian.  Its great for all kinds of kids.  From super girlie to the real tomboys, boys to girls.  Its an easy going style, that flirts with vintage and nostalgia.  The reason it appears year on year is because it is an ecclectic mix of new and old.  Therefore, it doesn't date.  It is its own thing and has a definative look.    Its about attitude, its not what you wear, but how you wear it.  See some great examples below that I have collected on my travels via Pinterest.  The links to the original source is below the picture, so you can explore more!

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829453107145/


http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829453107146/


http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829453103092/



http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829453101280/

My final image is one of my all time favourites.  I've had it some years from Junior Magazine.....bit 70's, bit rock, but easy styling and cool!

Arty & Bella

 It appears that all my recent posts start with, 'a label found on Pinterest'  well this is no acception!  Arty & Bella is a brand after my own heart.  Its something I have considered myself as I can't go back to designing within the Retail Market....flexibility and understanding of family life is not something that is tolerated!   However, not quite finding my niche i'll just research and report fantastic people that have!  Arty & Bella use Liberty print fabric to make dresses and hair treats.  Really lovely designs and colourways.  Styles compliment the fabric perfectly with well considered trims.  There is a Queen Coronation option for this year, which is fun & quintessentially English.  For more information check out their website http://www.artyandbella.com/# (All Images & Rights reserved by Arty & Bella)

Soft Gallery

Another innovative label that I have found via Pinterest is Soft Gallery. A Swedish brand that has a strong leaning towards the world of art.
Each season, the designers ask artists to animate their collections with exclusive prints and motifs that will stimulate the imagination of the child. For more information on collections see here http://www.softgallery.dk/

Misha Lulu

I Love Misha Lulu!  Its just one of those brands that don't adhere to the rules.  Ranges are bright, colourful with quirky fun graphics / patterns.  A real attention to detail with a nod to past childhood styling.  Furthermore, they're clothes that children want to wear.  Even the character collaboration they have done with Hello Kitty is great.  You can tell that it the styling and placement have really been thought about rather than just plonking a character on a tee.  See more here http://www.mishalulu.com/

Alsolete

Alsolete is a Spanish brand that really sums up the Mediterranean, especially the Spring Summer 2012 collection.  Styling is laid back, casual and slouchy with drape jersey, harem pants and scarves.  The colour palette is muted and small making this a very tight collection.  Unfortunately, prehaps not too appropriate for our British climate, but hey we can dream of sunshine and maybe just have a snippet of summer with a lovely outfit from Alsolete!  See more here http://www.alsolete.com/

Ink & Spindle

Another Austrailian brand that has caught my eye via Pinterest is 'Ink & Spindle', a boutique textile studio that produce and design hand printed fabric in a sustainable / ethical way.  They sell mainly by the metre and a lot of homeware items are made from this, however, they do produce a small range of kids clothes.  The onesies remind me of 'Winter Water Factory' with the sea / boat graphics, which isn't a bad thing!  I love the two little dresses they have available.  Beautifully simple in both style and print, perfect for the summer. 
See more here http://inkandspindle.com/index.html

ROCK YOUR BABY

Still on a Pinterest vibe, I am getting quite a few kids brands that are following me.  One such company that joined today was Rock Your Baby.  An Austrailian brand that I had not previously heard of.  They started off with graphic tees and onesies, that had a rock'n'roll edge but have since expanded into all garments.  Their Summer 2012 range has a 'on-trend' circus slant and I really love the girls spotty all-in-ones with collar.  Super cute and not overly girly.  There seems as much detail and thought in the boyswear range as well as the girls, which if you are a regular reader you will know is one of my gripes with kidswear!  (How cool does that little boy in the green/black check shirt look?)  Take a further look here http://www.rockyourbaby.com/

Pinterest

I've become a bit obsessed with Pinterest lately.....its just so quick!  And as a busy mum that fits in well with my current lifestyle.  There are just so many inspirational images out there.  As well as discovering new brands and blogs.  However, with spending my free time pinning i've been neglecting my blog, crocheting and general making!  So i'm going to try and combine some of my pins with my blog and hopefully kill two birds with the one stone.  And if that sounds like I don't really care about the blog, you couldn't be more wrong.  I'm just trying to find great kidswear and share it with you in a more economic time!  So here is the first Pinterest post.....Anais & I - a great brand, so beautiful.  Lovely prints and simple styling.  Not so keen on the boyswear, but the girls is just breathtaking.  Second is available on Big Cartel Harvest textiles.  Various handdrawn printed items.  These leggings are rather cool....raindrops or chevrons!

Aven

Aven is a new boyswear brand that was established in America just over a year ago.  It is so good to see brands that focus on boys!  There is a definite tailoring influence and lots of hardwear denim detail.  Styling is edgy and unique, prehaps a little over detail on some trousers for my liking, but pretty cool all the same.  Find our more here http://www.avenclothing.com/

Rockefella SS12

Rockefella, featured in the Junior magazine 1940's Hollywood Glamour photoshoot below is a Swedish brand that makes clothes for kids with an eye to the past.  A fifties inspired range with cherry prints, dark denim, dice is certainly on trend with the ever popular rockabilly styling.  Although the clothes are quite cool the first few pages of the lookbook are too overstyled for my liking, however, I then turned to the swimwear and it became a kidswear brand for me rather than a mini me brand.  Don't get me wrong I love vintage clothing and vintage styling for kids, however I prefer a bit of contrast!  And this is where I think this range really works, dark denim jeans with large roll ups and a sweet tee / cardi...finished off with a pair of baseball boots.  (though I prefer baseball boots to be a bit battered looking!!)  All that said its a great range see more here http://www.rockefella.se/

Junior Magazine Scandinavian Brand 1940's Hollywood Inspired Photoshoot

Scandinavian Brands have been leading the way in Kidswear for some years now and Junior Magazine back in february featured some of those key brands in a 40's Hollywood Glamour inspired photoshoot.  Great styling and clothing.  See more here (Rights and images reserved by Junior Magazine) http://www.juniormagazine.co.uk/vintage-junior/turn-back-time/12016.html