This article also featured in NI4Kids Magazine & www.NI4kids.co.uk
The new season is here, and with it, a spring in its fashionable step. In this week’s blog I talk prepping your littleuns’ wardrobes for some serious summer fun.
I’m sure, like me, many of you are in Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger chats with other parents who share stories as well as parenting tips and life hacks. Mine are quite often hilarious, but also offer some serious tit-bits of info and advice that I have found to be invaluable at certain times.
One thing we’re all talking about at the minute is summer schemes, Easter activities and February half term to-dos. And as it’s my first year of Valentina having a school uniform, I have all of a sudden found that her wardrobe is full of clothes which don’t get worn so much anymore and are getting a wee bit small, so I am longing for occasions to actually wear all her pretty clothes before they just don’t fit anymore. Or just sell those ones on eBay and buy more - which is my usual strategy.
So while I sat last weekend with a whole myriad of leaflets, flyers - and even spreadsheets - planning, let’s face it, a better social life for my daughter than my own, I digressed to a few online shops and created a bit of a best-buy list for SS17 for this blog. Be it a lunch date with Nana or a week long summer camp full of activities, these top picks should help you cover all bases.
For me, there’s one children’s brand out there that nails all things fashion for kids, and that’s Boden. Season after season they score all the goals with the perfect mix of practical and pretty; and I for one have dressed Valentina in their clothes almost exclusively since she was a tot.
I’m a big lover of colour for kids, so I’m always delighted to flick through the Boden catalogue and see vibrant colour blocking and bright prints abound alongside frills and florals for little princesses - with rockets, stars and animal appliques that are sure to make the little men in our lives stand out in the crowd too.
Already in my online basket is the cutest Blue and Yellow Heart Pocket Jersey Dress, £20, with spots, stripes and little contrasting heart pockets, perfect for stashing treats, it’s bang-on-trend and, when paired with the yellow and white Spot Fun Leggings, (£14), it makes for an adorable ensemble. I also couldn’t go past these canvas high-tops, £35, exactly what I was looking for for Valentina’s boyfriend’s birthday present - yes, she has a boyfriend. At age 5. In bright white these shoes will go with every outfit in any mini man’s wardrobe and the contrast pop art hues give them a super cool edge. With run-faster stripes and shouty slogans, the kids will love them too.
Canvas High Tops £35 at Boden
Swimming lessons and beach days are sure to be in the mix come summertime, and I’ve completely fallen in love with the Rainbow Frill Swimsuit from Marks & Spencer, an absolute bargain at £10 and available for ages 0-5, perfect for my little mermaid. And even though I’ve no boys, I am sure any boy will feel every bit the superhero with this Spiderman Sunsafe suit, £14, a purchase that’s both super cool and super practical, ideal for summer sunshine holidays.
Rainbow Frill Swimsuit £10 at M&S
Something a little sweeter for a day of picnics and tea parties with the grandparents is this pretty and pink disco sparkle swan dress, £36. Crafted with a jersey bodice and a twinkly tulle skirt - so it’s not only bang-on-trend, but the embellished neckline and sparkly waistband gives her the gift of girly glitter. All that’s missing is a tiny tiara!
Disco Sparkle Swan Dress £36 at Monsoon
If your little dude is too cool for school, let him rock it out in this cute denim shirt from Zara, a bargain at only £12 and easily dressed up or down. Button it up with a pair of chinos on bottom and some cool booties to boot, or style it out with shorts, open shirt, white tee and Converse; taking him from day to disco.
Denim Shirt, £13 at Zara
Discos aren’t the only partying that tiny tots seem to have lined up these days; let’s not forget the utopian idea of a pyjama party - as long as it’s at someone else’s house, thanks to that mummy in your friends’ group who swoops in with the suggestion of an overnight stay. At last, a BREAK!
Gingham is one of my favourite trends this season, it’s practical and easy to wear for all, so when I spotted these pink gingham pyjamas in Next, £13, 100% cotton and with a cute collar in tow, it was straight into the shopping basket. A similar offering for the boys comes from Marks & Spencer this season, in a traditional grey and white print, keeping him on trend from only £14.
And on the subject of pyjamas, I think it’s time for bed for me. Goodnight!