gives you daily information on unique and fabulous childrens products from around the globe. We also provide a place for you to discuss kids gear with other parents and help you choose and compare major products.
If ever there's a time in your life when comfortable clothing matters, it's when you're pregnant. Unfortunately when I see maternity wear, so often the comfort factor comes at the cost of any style. So if you (or someone you know) want your maternity wardrobe to be a comfortable version of your non-pregnancy wardrobe, look no further than Isabella Oliver.
Isabella Oliver's maternity collection is simply outstanding. There's plenty of tops, dresses, skirts, jumpers, and everything you ever needed to cater for the every day or any occasion. Fabulous for black tie, and skirts and tops that would work well in the office if you're working right through your pregnancy (or just growing fast!).
Every mother can tell you that pregnancy, together with the hormones, can leave you feeling quite flat. But if you look good, you feel good. So if a complete wardrobe overhaul is out of the question, it could be well worth investing in just a couple of pieces so you can mix and match and extend your existing maternity wear. The Geisha wrap top, for instance, works for both casual with jeans and dressed up with a black skirt and heels - talk about getting value for money!
Based in the UK, the Isabella Oliver webstore carries clothing that's opposite in season to us here in Australia, however there are some warmer weather items in the clearance section. The whole webstore is worth a good look through - I can see many of the clothes being worn in those months post child birth when the body is springing back to shape... and for easy breastfeeding!
Delivery to Australia is only £20 so quite reasonable, especially if you have a friend who's also pregnant and can share an order! With sizes from 6 to 22, the complete range from tights to bridal wear is available from the webstore that is Isabella Oliver.
Miljo is stocking a stunning selection of Marimekko children's gear. So with a physical store relatively close to me at Bondi Junction Westfield, my bank balance is in dire danger right now. A sister store to one of my all-time favourites
Funkis, Miljo scrupulously selects the very best products coming out of Sweden, Scandinavia and Australia, and presents it all elegantly within the chic space of the shop.
Miljo always stocks Marimekko's classically striped 'Tasaraita' range
of children's wear. In addition, the one-off collection for
Spring/Summer 08 from some of Marimekko's most popular and well known
designers, Mika Piirainen & Samu-Jussi Koski, is in store.
The facility to order from Marimekko's extensive catalogue is an option if what you want isn't currently in stock. Organic cotton is used for the baby range, and all Marimekko fashion is still made in Finland today. Also available is the range of bibs by Tio Gruppen, which use child-safe plastic for a waterproof coating - they're $28 each.
This is one shop I'm saving for my kid-free time, especially after
my last attempt at taking them both shopping! My bank account would
probably thank me for the distraction that children provide from
purchasing, but when it comes to Marrimekko and Scandinavian
design, I just want the head space to soak it all up.
Miljo currently accept orders via phone or email, and there are plans for an
online store. Watch out for this one!
We reviewed ABC3D back in April this year, for a detailed description including YouTube video, check it out.
Marion Bataille's amazing work is no ordinary alphabet book, but a 3D pop-up spectacular. When I discovered this back in April I ordered one from Amazon and forgot all about it. A few weeks ago after I blamed my husband for spending more money on unwanted books from Amazon I opened the package and all I can say is WOW!
I would love to put it on the coffee table for everyone to enjoy but am worried little people might destroy it. This one is more for adults or older children to enjoy, I know my little ones are not touching it until their teens.
You can order for only US$13.57 plus shipping through Amazon right now. I would have ordered them for everyone I know for Christmas but am sure sure they will arrive on time. If you order one, please let us know what you think when it arrives.
Child-focused, cutting edge design is exploding right now - never
before has there been the choice that modern parents now have. Think
of a design classic and there's bound to be a version especially for
kids. The mind simply boggles with the options available.
The debut of sites such as
Kids Love Design is adding to the glee of design-conscious
breeders. The French site features a plethora of beauties with which to
fill your homes, your hearts, and your future memories of
these precious days while your offspring are little.
Pint-sized ball chairs and a cradle attached to a rocking chair - well just how ingenious is that?! Nestled comfortably in your own chair, you can rock baby to sleep, patting as you go with her right beside you, secure and safe. Now why didn't I think of it?
I sit here wondering what next to direct you to - the prototype Eclipse Cradle by Thierry Bataille takes my fancy with its futuristic lines. It has just started production and Kids Love Design can let you know when it's available. I also have a thing for decor with humour - the Mushroom Pouffe more than fits this bill, as does the
mouse play table.
The very best thing you can do at this point is have a mosey around the site yourself. It's all available to Australia as
Kids Love Design happily ship internationally - and not just
the small items either! Email Séverine Herbeth Limon, the owner, for a quote, she is lovely and will be more than happy to help.
right now. I would have ordered them for everyone I know for Christmas but am sure sure they will arrive on time. If you order one, please let us know what you think when it arrives.
