DFO

So on a recent girly trip to Melbourne we headed down to the new DFO at South Wharf. Now to be honest I am not a huge lover of the DFO's - too much buying a heap of on sale stuff you don't need before managing to find that one real bargain - BUT I was quite surprised....

After spending the first half hour trying to locate a pair of flat shoes I would actually wear again (note to self: do not spend a whole day of intense shopping in 10 cm high boots), I set off in search of some childrens shopping action.

Imagine my surprise when I came across Holly and Gus who had a huge range of Run Scotty Run and Scooter clothing (boys and girls) for between 30 and 50 percent off! It was so hard not to buy the whole store! I have posted a picture of Isobel in her RSR shorts and long sleeve T (sans the matching poncho and beanie). I also stocked up on some gorgeous Scooter items for Sam.

I also have to make mention of Seed whose beautiful knitwear always sucks me in and I scooped a real bargain with a gorgeous knitted dress for Biz at around 40 percent off the normal retail!

Cotton On Kids is always a must stop for great basics and wardrobe plumpers, although I can never buy pants there as the legs are always too short for my two...

Hmm DFO's huh? Maybe I have been missing out....

Red Jeans

Finally found a pair of red skinny jeans for Sam! I have been scouring the internet for weeks! Mine by Kayla (which I love) do a candy pink wash in their unisex but I really wanted red. I tried to find the 'Icon Jean' from 'Finger in the Nose' (such a cool brand!) but I couldn't find an online stockist anywhere in the world with the red jean in a size 4 - and their own website's e-store is not up yet!

Just as I was about to admit defeat I found a pair form the Ouch Winter 2010 range at www.infancy.com.au. I was soooo happy as I can be sure Ouch trousers will have a decent adjustable waist and be long enough in the leg!

I grabbed a new pair of grey con's at Faull's shoes in Launceston and yay, casual red jean look accomplished.

Now I am waiting on a pair of Oishi-M chubba jeans for Isobel. I am hoping the roll down waist will mean they might actually fit......Will keep you posted!

Sizing!

I am having a bit of a tricky time with sizing at the moment. I have bought a few pairs of trousers that are too short for both children. They are certainly on the tallish side but not giants by any stretch so I am disappointed that most trousers tend to be too short in the leg and too big in the waist??? Thank goodness for Mine, Ouch and Tommy Rocket who seem to make things a bit longer.....

As for this dress Isobel has on - (a beautiful Burberry sundress bought by Aunty Kooka who spoils her rotten) I was just moving it around as I organised wardrobes for winter and noticed that it looked quite a small size 2 (I haven't even brought 2's out yet) and decided to put it on her. Just as well as it fits her perfectly and if I'd waited till next Summer we might have missed out!

I think my daughter will spend most of her time in dresses as trousers and overalls for her are seeming impossible! I am about to investigate 'Olive's friend Pop' for overalls on a friends recommendation....

Arrived!

So the beautiful dress from Poppy Children in the UK arrived. On the website it said they were long (ankle length) so I ordered the 18 month size. Isobel is quite tall so this was not as long as I anticipated and I dare say she will grow out of it before the end of the year unfortunately! It is just beautiful though and so well made. The fabric is a gorgeous, thick, hardy cotton (lined bodice) and I have washed it in the machine on delicate and it holds up really well.

If she grows out of it - well that just means I might need to get another one and there is a beautiful red one with a white collar I am eyeing off!

www.poppychildren.co.uk

Ouch, Oobi, Mine and Tommy R (plus a ponytail!)

More gratuitous shots of new clothes as they emerge from the wardrobe.

Isobel's Ouch pinny is just so cute. I just love the self covered buttons at the back and the lovely horizontal pleat on the hem. Luckily the website advised they were on the large size as this is a size one and is really quite roomy. I have a beautiful Pure Baby denim pinny in a size 6-12 months which she has still been wearing (just the best buy) but it was getting a little too short so I am really pleased to have this lovely new Ouch one to replace it - a denim pinny is a real little girl staple for me.

Also please note the cute ponytail - not quite long enough but I'm just getting so excited at the prospect of being able to do her hair!

Sam is wearing his new Oobi Henley long sleeve (this is a small fit and I will probably go back and order the next size up as well as this won't last the winter). This is over top of his gorgeous Mine by Kayla New York Tee.

The jeans were an impulse purchase yesterday when I discovered he had grown nearly 5 centimetres and many of his long trousers were resembling capri pants! A quick trip into Mackie G and these Tommy Rocket Straight Legs were perfect!

Out comes the new stuff...

It is a little strange when inclement weather is a cause for joy, but the slightly cooler weather today gave me a chance to bring out some of the items I have been gathering over the last month or so. Isobel has on her new Jean Bourget Shirt, Heavenly Creatures Denim Rara Tutu, Lili Gaufrette tights (with the cutest little velvet ribbons at the back) and her new Rasberry Clarks shoes.

I have, for most of my adult life, avoided clothes which need to be ironed. I am the expert at hanging washing carefully or drying items flat on a towel - but in general I just don't buy things that need ironing. Little girls clothes have been a massive reality check. If I am to continue my obsession with all things girly it appears as though I will be ironing a lot more than I anticipated....

BTW - I have commenced knitting again so my very gorgeous 'Bizzy Beanies' will find their way onto the blog soon....

Now to find a pair of skinny coloured jeans for Sam......

Divine Dress

I love beautiful dresses and this one from www.poppychildren.co.uk is so lovely! They ship internationally and I have ordered a size larger than normal so I can layer underneath for winter and wear it on it's own in summer.

The dresses come with a little book about the character Poppy (who features on all their custom printed and designed fabrics). There is knitwear and manchester as well.

This site was a dangerous discovery!

Tea Princess

As I've said before, I like my little girl dressed classically. I also don't mind a bit of just plain cute and pretty and nothing is sweeter and cuter than Tea Princess. The picture is of Isobel last winter in a Tea Princess beanie. She also had trousers, a cardigan and a dress which were simple beautiful. The new winter range has just come out and I am waiting for pieces to arrive in the mail as we speak (or blog as the case may be).

A gorgeous mix of crochet and lace and all things lovely, the Tea Princess range is just so beautiful. When I first bought it I was determined it would be for special occasions but it just became staples because the quality is good and the clothes are really easy to wear and look after.

La Toriana is a great place for Tea Princess (www.latoriana.com.au) or you can go straight to www.teaprincess.com.au (La Toriana also has Dolly Up though - a similar range with vintage touches and you may - like me - end up with a few pieces from them as well).

I am adoring shopping for Isobel's winter gear and even though I seem to be going a little overboard, the little 'angel' does like to get into mischeif and ends up with 2 or 3 outfits a day just to keep clean......

The Perfect Jeans

Finding the 'perfect' jeans for my little guy is crazy! Firstly, he is rather tall for his age and I have often had to return trousers due to them being better suited as knickerbockers or capri pants than full length trousers. Secondly, I am rather confusing in the way I dress my children; whilst my for my daughter I seek out vintage or classic inspired designs that hark back to days of liberty prints, smocking, pinafores and capelets - for my son I am channeling a rocker vibe. My little man's style is more along the lines of baby rocker than little boy blue....
And thirdly, he is really slim, has no derriere to speak of and no hips so whilst I need a size four for length, they need to have a radically effective adjustable waist!

I have been stocking up as new winter ranges come out (I like to be prepared pre season) and actually ordered a pair of jeans that was un-available when the lovely staff at www.cradlerock.com.au told me about the great crackle jeans from Mine by Kayla. Well let me just say they are fantastic, very long, very rocking and slim around the waist. I am thrilled and Sam looooves them. Teamed with one of his 'Well Spotted' T shirts and a pair of Cons he is styling the transeasonal vibe already!

And I might just say although they look great in the picture, the crackle effect is more like a modern take on black acid wash in real life. Very, very cool!
Cradlerock staff were exceptionally friendly and delivery was fast so I will definately add that site to my favourites....

bizzy and moo

My name is Rebecca and I am a working mother to 2 delicious children: Samuel, 3 and 1/2 (also known affectionately as Moo Bear) and Isobel, 18 months (christened affectionately 'Bizzy' by her brother).

Having been brought up by a by a mother who always had my sister and I well presented, whether she made the clothes herself or purchased them, I too am rather unashamedly obsessed by children's fashion. Not that I dress my children so perfectly they can't be children, but finding a mix of functionality and style that suits each of my little ones individual aesthetic is certainly a challenge.

My sewing prowess is rather dissapointing and so purchasing beautiful childrens clothing is important to me and being somewhat isolated by location, I need a mix of good physical retail shops and those online. I can however knit and applique, albeit rather simple items, and so I like to embellish and enhance my children's wardrobes with little personalised touches.

I am always asking other mother where they got certain items I see on their gorgeous little ones and am often asked in return and so I thought I'd blog my way through my childrens winter wardrobe and other little parenting things on the side - at least blogging will give me some time out from shopping......