I honestly think clothing is one of the most important pieces of expressing yourself. I always try and dress up more than dress down because you never know what is going to happen. One day you could step out of the house and suddenly be whisked away to an interview or meet Oprah Winfrey or something. Therefore, I think it's just as important to start dressing your kids in fashionable presentable clothing from the very beginning so that they're used to it. I can't stand the tacky bright colors of Justice (originally limited too) and other clothing companies that make shirts with the word love splattered everywhere in pink and purple and say things like "too cute" or "peace". I mean all those words are wonderful things in themselves, but we don't need to tack them on to everything we wear in rude and obtrusive colors and fonts. So I was very suprised when I discovered these stylish European brands.
Quenotte
Quenotte
From Paris, I really enjoy their simple prints in muted colors that actually remind me a more monochromatic version of stores like J. Crew and Banana Republic, but maybe that's a bit of a far stretch.
I really like this brand because it's different. It combines the mime-esqe black and white stripes with bright colors to create a fun, circus-y, yet stylish feel. The designers Mia and Louise "gets inspiration from Japanese origami mixed with cool street wear, which makes their design unique and functional"
This (French) brand is completely something I would wear if it came in adult sizes. I love the soft colors and prints that often incorporate aninal themes. It reminds of stores like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. The clothes almost have a ethereal flair to them; imagine a faerie sitting in the clouds with a bouquet of flowers talking to bird friends.
Lelui's clothes have a lot of drapping and uses mainly black, grey, and white, with an ocassional pop of color here and there. Their clothes are simple in some ways and complicated in others, but they all look comfortable and effortlessly stylish. Also a very unique (Polish) brand.
Pola & Frank
Matching clothes for kid and mother, and for the whole family in general. Some pieces are exactly the same, some aren't, but all the outfits generally go together because again, they use the same simplistic comfortable design and muted colors that Europeans love. This Polish brand has mastered extreme comfort and still looking stylish.
Pola & Frank
Matching clothes for kid and mother, and for the whole family in general. Some pieces are exactly the same, some aren't, but all the outfits generally go together because again, they use the same simplistic comfortable design and muted colors that Europeans love. This Polish brand has mastered extreme comfort and still looking stylish.
Well, there you have it. The Europeans know how to dress their children. Now I would be lying if I said I didn't invest in some Justice and The Children's Place clothing myself in my youth. But now that I know better and look back, I can't seem to find comfort in the bedazzled skulls and peace signs or the all too generic sayings in obnoxiously bright colors.
Or the too well known "all-star" sports clothes that little boys wear even though they've probably never played or even like soccer, football, baseball, etc. Girls have these too. I've probably worn one for softball but I've never even touched a softball, let alone throw one.
Actually probably my favorite brand of childrens clothing, perhaps even over the European ones. Why? Because it's so nautical and preppy. It's got those stripes I LOVE.
This one's a bit of a hit or miss, but it's a little more affordable than J.Crew. There are some really cute pieces.
This brand is for babies. It has that seaside classiness that I adore as well. It has a sophistication that makes these kids seem like they're the sons and daughters of a rich aristocrat.
This brand is actually European inspired, so I guess best of both worlds. It's colors are not as muted as European clothing but also not as bright as typical American clothing. It's a happy medium that makes me very happy.
They are creative too
Now to actually acquire a husband and kids. I still have time, but when it happens, I'll be prepared. (:
