Whilst
Stephanie Schell
assumed her wardrobe would change along with her advancing pregnancy,
she was shocked to discover how
difficult dressing became in the months after giving birth to her son.
Indeed, many of us find ourselves in post-partum fashion purgatory,
with a whole new set of requirements and no clothes to suit. Many
maternity clothes do not facilitate breastfeeding, yet
most of us cannot spring back into pre-pregnancy clothes either.
Maternally Beautiful is a range of maternity clothing that enables
breastfeeding after baby is born, and is made from exclusive fabrics
such as silk jersey, stretch silk satin, cotton jersey and chiffon.
Mums can be fashion-forward at any stage in pregnancy and beyond, and
not have to sacrifice quality or comfort. The garments are designed to
be dressed up or down, providing maximum versatility when your
wardrobe is likely at its most limited.
Ingeniously designed, the Silk Jersey Boat Neck Mini & Black
Silk Sash 2-way dress has two invisible side zippers for fast access
when baby
needs to be fed. It can be worn two ways just like in the pictures
below!
I adore the neckline on the Silk Gorgette V-Neck Maxi and the way the
entire dress is elegantly outlined in black.
My personal pick is the Cotton & Silk Jersey V-Tie Maxi - anyone who knows
me, knows that black and white with a splash of red
is totally my thing! It comes with a suprise too - the underbust opens
out via invisible zippers. Now you can attend all those
upcoming summer parties and breastfeed without missing any of the
action!
This exciting new label is destined to become synonomous with
'fresh, luxurious' style, and the Summer '08/'09 collection will be
available within the month, from
Cedar Leaf. That stunning model you see is Stephanie herself -
beauty, brains and talent all rolled into one, and just look at her lush little bub! Perfection.
I just received my lush little package, full of goodies by baby fashion label
and the little dog laughed for tots from 0-2. I'm like a kid in a candy shop!
Available locally from
Shophouse,
the entire shopping experience was just delightful, from the super-easy menus to the no-fuss checkout.
The clothing for my 'smallest' son (he's actually huge) arrived in next to no time after ordering,
and I eagerly opened the package, and discovered each item contained in a reusable
zippered bag. These bags invite all kinds
of uses - I'll be carrying various creams for my little one in them.
As you can imagine, I'm thrilled before I've even gotten to the clothing!
He wore the whole outfit today - it's described by Shophouse
owner, Bronwyn O'Loan as 'loungewear for babies' and the concept is to
buy several pieces to make up a basic ‘lounge’ wardrobe.
We got the vanilla cream World romper, with cornflower blue pants and
matching King hoodie. He's just so mobile these days and I have
to say how perfect this kind of fashion is for babies and active
toddlers. Soft and stretchy, the outfit moved with him, never
restraining or limiting - he even had a go at pulling himself up to
stand for the first time, a milestone I'll always remember - the
beginnings of trying to walk.
Sentimentality aside, the colours are swoonworthy. The blue is
clean and paired with a stunning grey trim or in the case of the pants,
contrast stitching. Best of all, the outfit made my boy look well put
together - co-ordinated, chic, comfortable. He's a kid who has
gotten around in a lot of hand-me-downs from his brother, so it is
wonderful to see him in something a little
different.
My favourite for the girls is the tea rose tutu romper -
this garment will be invaluable when the hot weather hits but
you need baby to look well dressed. Pink
pants with grey ruffled side stripes add a rare dimension - grey is one
of my favourite colours in decor and apparel, but it's often hard
to find.
I could go on and on, but I'm sure you're waiting on the nitty
gritty - the prices. It'll come as great news then, that
the rompers are just $26 (yes, even including the tutu design!), pants
are $21, and hoodies $33. Shorts, tees, bloomers, blankets and
the most adorable soft toys complete the range. You simply must jot
over to
Shophouse to see them!
Good things do come in small packages. Just take a look at the range of Small Paul clobber for kids. I am loving this range of casually cool clothes for littlies, with its funky monkey motif and fun designs. And top of my list is this hipper-than-hip formal tee from Small Paul’s new spring/summer collection. We’ve got a wedding to go to this summer and I’m sure my Jack will be a lot more comfortable in this than in any real tie-jacket combo! It’s also just the thing for Sunday lunch at grandmas, kinder graduations and any number of occasions when you want your kid all zhoozhed up without the angst or the fidgeting that more formal attire usually brings.
Another sure-fire favourite is the multi-purpose beach stripe set that’s available with blue shorts for boys or pink for girls. We love them not just because Julian’s cheery monkey face makes them so darned cute, but because it’s impossible not to love an outfit that can do quadruple duty as summer pjs, underwear, beachwear or as super-cool, super-comfy loungewear for around the house.
Minifashionista carries an extensive range of new season Small Paul, including tees, hoodies, hats, bags, socks and toys, with more summer styles expected to arrive any day now. Prices range from a tick under $20 for an uber-cool signature sock money or cap to $90 for a lightweight summer jacket. The formal tee is sub-$30 and the beach sets are $34.95. One of our favourite online stores is also about to become the first in the country to stock Small Paul in infant sizes. Itsy-bitsy Small Paul? Yes, please.
Minifashionista will deliver free anywhere in Australia to anyone who spends more than $130, with very reasonable postage charges for everyone else.
Navigating through the
Townmouse
site is like stepping back in time to
a place where little boys wore high pants and crisp shirts and little
girls wore the prettiest of dresses and tailored skirts.
Melbourne-based Kristine Lempriere is a professional patternmaker and
dressmaker who takes great pride in making clothes for children
that are derived from classic French designs.
All clothing is made from the most comfortable of natural fabrics and
great attention has been paid to sizing and fit,
making sure that each garment is as true as possible. They're made to
move with your child so they're comfortable no matter what kind
of play they're engaged in!
As a mum of two boys, I was instantly enamoured by the traditional monogrammed pyjamas and shortalls. They have that old-school charm and
pureness
of spirit that really is the essence of childhood itself. Townmouse
selects smaller amounts of fabrics and makes only limited numbers
of each design so that they're "not seen too often on other children".
You'll know you're investing in some rare pieces that aren't
doing the fashion rounds.
Townmouse
has a studio in Malvern,
open to the public every
Wednesday from 9am-12midday. If you're not in Melbourne, the beautiful
garments are available online. Shortalls are $59.95, pyjamas
$54.90, with girl's clothing starting at $25.90 plus post.
We discovered Gucio Toddler Shoes earlier this year in April and I am happy to report they are now available in Australia just in time for summer.
Ultra-funky and super comfortable, Gucio shoes are handmade in Poland
with a fusion of both style and ergonomics.
Gucio shoes are available in 11 colour combinations and all also come
in a summer version, which has small holes on the top and inside of the
shoe to allow for ventilation.
