Euro Style - To scarf or not to scarf?

One of the most vexing questions as a parent, surely (?), is how, if at all to best accessorise your child. As the weather gets colder here adults throw on layers of clothing to keep our extremities warm. Hats, scarves and gloves are plentiful in the stores and are increasingly spotted in all of their stylish manifestations on the streets.

Yet despite this explosion of adult accessories, child sized equivalents are rarely seen. Instead, parents here prefer to put the very young in snowsuits which make them look like tiny versions of the Michelin Man swaddled in a pram with just a tiny red nose peeking out.

source unknown

It seems that there is one reason for this - kids will do just about anything to get themselves out of clothing, no matter how attractive it is. And despite the chilling wind (just 4 degrees celcius here today), Danish toddlers are no exception.

On the other side of the world, as you enter the warmer weather, parents are no doubt preparing for battle in the war to keep sun hats on tiny heads, sandals on tiny feet and sun shirts on tiny tummies. Stylish as many of these items are the temptation must be strong to just keep the kids in the shade...

All this is not for want of trying by canny kids designers who have created some beautiful accessories for both summer and winter. Danish brand Wheat (supported by no other than Crown Princess Mary) has some delicious creations which are enough to make me jealous. You must check out the groovy waist-coats in both the summer and winter collections. The scarves tap into the well worn adult layering trend.

Wheat

Wheat

Similarly Danish brand Escentia uses pure Alpaca wool (luxurious) to create soft cuddly items, which with a bit of luck your child will want to keep on. Mittens, mittens, mittens - but could you keep them on little fingers?

Escentia

Escentia

That's all for now,

Claire. 

Couture for Kids - worth the cost?

This weekend just passed my brilliant boyfriend organised a surprise trip from Copenhagen to Berlin. After five hours of hurtling along the German autobahn at 160km/ph, a confusing encounter with a Burger King employee called Boheme and almost making schnitzel of ourselves and an unfortunate deer, we finally arrived in one of the hippest districts of the former GDR, Friedrichshain.

Berlin has one of the youngest and most dynamic populations in all of Europe. The relatively low rent and the city's reputation as an arts and culture hub keep new inhabitants streaming in constantly, whilst the old ones grow up, get responsible and move to Munich or some such. 

Dolce & Gabbana

So it is perhaps counter intuitive that über cool Friedrichshain would also count amongst the most fertile places in Europe. The birth rate in this small area of Berlin is the highest in Europe due to the extremely high proportion of the population that is young and female (not because Berliners are more loving than everyone else).

At a local market the next morning we observed all sorts of kinder running around in the fresh autumn air. And Berlin struck me as a place where a dilemma faced by parents all over the world is being played out, highlighted by the historical contrasts of East and West. That is between an older GDR attitude based on local producers, hand me down clothes and crafty cool and a newer, flashier style more reminiscent of Parisian fashion shows. Basically, how much money is it worth splashing on the kids' wardrobe to get them in some labels?

Gucci

 All parents want to do the best for their kids and make sure they are warm, comfortable and stylishly equipped to meet the world. As they get older, obviously a child's own perceptions of chic will start to play a role in the selection of clothes as well. 

At the markets we encountered lots of local producers making good quality kids clothing. Not just knick nacks like scarves and mittens, but dresses, pants and shirts. All were beautifully sewn or recovered elsewhere and lovingly repaired or updated. Certainly there was something about these clothes (perhaps a lack of sleekness?) which suggested that they were not designed by Chloe. And yet if we consider how fast children grow and how hard they wear their clothes – does the significantly lower price tag justify the loss of the couture factor?

Galliano

A few blocks away from the market we stopped for breakfast at a trendy little cafe and whilst waiting on my muesli I flicked though a copy of German childrens' fashion mag, Luna. Unfortunately this page is only in German, but it is easy enough to navigate the different fashion features by picture.  Luna features some of the best childrens' fashion from top designers around the world. I oogled the designs of Ralph Lauren, Gucci and D & G worn by models toddling down the runway.

Il Gufo

Roberto Cavalli

There can be no doubt that the children looked gorgeous and the quality of design and fabrics is evident. But, like the inhabitants of the GDR suddenly faced with packed supermarket shelves of imported goods after the fall of the wall, I started to wonder if it was all just a bit too much. 

My question is, do kids really belong in designer duds? Maybe a nice party dress and a shiny new pair of shoes are all they need to keep them happy, at least until they hit the teen years. 

Perhaps we should be looking for inspiration in these designs rather than an actual purchase. What do you think? Are designer childrens' clothes worth the investment?

Claire. 

Melbourne Cup for Kids

Here in Melbourne, we take our Melbourne Cup Carnival pretty seriously.

It marks the start of spring, the start of the warmer weather (in theory - not always in practice!) and the start of the festive party season.

Since having children, the Cup Carnival has gone from being about; hats, marquees, champagne at 11am, picnic baskets full of goodies and heels, and more about trying to find family friendly ways to enjoy it all with kids in tow {generally impossible!}

In response to this, over the past few years Stakes Day (November 6th this year) has become a popular choice and it's now promoted as the Family Day of the Carnival. Flemington becomes family friendly for the day and includes activities and entertainment for the kids, along with the usual horse racing fun for the adults.

It seems to allow the best of both worlds.

One of the most popular features of Stakes Day is the Junior Fashions on the Field, with kids as young as 6 able to enter.

Long popular with young ladies everywhere, kids can now get in on the act - and let me tell you, these kids take it seriously! Think gorgeous dresses, headpieces, hats, little purses and lots of super cute ballet flats.

How adorable are they.... the little boys in their suits and swish little hats... awwww bless!

{Fashions on the Field photo's are courtesy of the Melbourne Cup website} 

 

If you are looking to have your own Junior Fashions on the Field, check out some of these fashions (both dresses are Big from Fiona Scanlan) from our friends at Little by Little and headpieces from Little Miss Fascinated.

Perfect for your little fashionista!

Enjoy your Cup Carnival and here's hoping your tips come up winners!