Monthly Archives: March 2010

Boy’s Ties for Easter

Boys, Kiddo Style: Modern, Retro Modern, ,

Source: Belle & the Beau

With Easter hip hopping its way towards us, we are seeing new spring party clothes in stores that are begging to be worn. Of course, girls are just swimming in wonderful choices with all of those simply delicious sherbet-colored dresses.  So many choices for a little girl to find just the right dress for their personality.

But what about the boys? I know it’s going to be all about khakis and the blue or white button down shirt–which is a classic staple for boys around the world. But there is a chance for a bit of whimsy in boys in ties. These ties are a a bit sassier than the average rep tie, and what little boy doesn’t have a bit of sass!

Of course, our dear Wolfie has sass aplenty and is sporting a gingham tie from our BFF, Target. What I love about this is that he is sporting a tie and wee sports coat with jeans and sneakers. You see, ties can be pulled out for Easter and beyond–just for fun!

Here are some fun ties that would stop the Easter bunny and everyone else in their tracks from our friends at Etsy:

Me and Matilda has created some of the most adorable springy ties ever!

Etsy Seller, ButteredToast has created this insanely charming little bow tie that would easily make the Easter Bunny leave him a little extra chocolate.

I personally can’t get over how adorable this gold tie looks on a simple denim shirt! What a great idea! And Etsy seller, Emilee Irwin created a matching bow for a little girl’s hair.  What a good big brother!

And speaking of matching, the Belle and the Beau has taken it to the next step and offering father and son matching ties.  I think this might be so adorable that I  have to look away for a moment.  But only a moment, because is crazytown cute!

I’ll look back at the other adorable Belle and the Beau ties, like this one and this one.

Hint–don’t be shy about choosing the bow tie! They are a snap to tie. Really!

And there are some great bow ties for boys. Like these from the Cordial Churchman bow tie designer Ellie LaVeer Stager, who summarizes boys on bow ties best:

“It was a little tricky trying to keep him still long enough to get it tied, but it also clips in the back so I don’t have to re-tie it every time.  Doesn’t he look so cute?  Like he’s just come home from a dinner party.”

Oh, and one last note:  for you lucky people in L.A.–leave the PAAS  at Walgreens honey,  and take this tie-dying Easter eggs class with the dreamy Robert Mahar!

Vintage Kiddo Monday: Retro Roundup!

Kiddo Style: Vintage, , , ,

Happy Monday, everyone! Did you have a good weekend? I hope you got some extra sleep.  Did you get that thing done you wanted to do? Oh, I’m so glad!  I know, Mondays can be rough, but darlings, we’ll try to make it extra delightful today with some good ole fashion e-thrifting as Miss Alix likes to call it.

Let’s start off with this little girl’s Jackie Kennedy-in-training  matching dress and coat set. Unbelievably cute!

Next is one of my favorite things EVER. Red shoes. Really, what girl didn’t grow up with a desire to own a pair of red shoes? And I love this sturdy pair of red oxfords.  They are size 2-D, which sounds like it might work for a wide footed girl, like my Peach–who the doctor said has feet like little irons. I’m assuming that’s good…

Although you prolly won’t have your little girl riding a Vespa any time soon, she can at least look the part with this adorable plaid scooter dress. Just darling, eh? From Etsy seller Thegetup Vintage.

And plaid also works nicely for boys, don’t you think?  Particularly if it has permanent press involved like in this dashing little two piece of sixties goodness.  Quite brilliant, Etsy seller SleepyOwlVintage!

Any little girl would have a WHALE of a time in this little number, don’t you think? OK, I need a minute to discuss the whale. I think all whales should be as cute as this one with its eyelashes and a bow around its water spout?  Oh and to sweeten the deal, this is actually a three piece set–bloomer and little baby bonnet included. Yes please, Corey7433! Yes please, indeed.

I know we live in a (thankfully) political correct era and let me first say that I am part Native American (Okaneechee band of the Saponi tribe to be exact) but this little injun showing off his tomahawk on this romper is killing me with the cuteness.  This made my day,  Etsy seller, Giggleboss!

Ahoy Polloi with this little Lacoste number from Robot Parade for Kids.  (Bonus points  for all of you Caddyshack fans out there who got the reference!)

Check out this cockadoodle doosie! I am in love with this vintage orange checkered little dress. Even the rooster is well dressed! From Bradley and Jessa over at Ebay.

I started out with accessories and I’d like to end with accessories–like this very fashionable fedora for the young dandy. Geniune milanette weave. And genius fashion too!

Happy Monday, ya’ll!

Pssst! A secret vintage book giveaway.

Giveaways

OK, it’s not really a secret. But we’ve got a little sumpthin’ sumpthin’ going on with one of our favorite blogs around, Thompson Family Life. Danielle is SO cute and SO creative and SO sassy. She is a brilliant photographer, collects Blythe dolls (which gives her bonus points in my book), is an amazing mum AND operates her own business Kitschy Digitals (which you MUST check out! You’ll recognize the big juicy gold frames we’ve been using on our Weekly Kiddo from her shop!). But back to the not-so-secret-secret. Modern Kiddo is giving away a copy of the brilliant book, This is San Francisco by M. Sasek. Originally printed in 1965, the book has gorg illustrations (this is a new copy, so it’ll be pristine!). It’s just a little way of saying “Thank you!” (and give ya a peek at our beautiful city). To enter, skedaddle over to  Thompson Family Life! (And WELCOME to all you lovely folks that found us via Danielle!)

Weekly Kiddo: Meet Stella!

Weekly Kiddos


When we first met the fabulous Marla, we were smitten. Marla is not only sweet as can be, she has fabulous taste and runs a terrific blog called Keeping Up with Stella. After getting completely sucked in by all the fun stuff she had posted, we asked, “Wait a second….just who is this Stella?” Oh ho ho!  You’ll be so glad we asked. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the delightfully stylish and cute, two-year old fashion maven—MISS STELLA.

+ Stripey cotton dress, JCrew Crewcuts
+ Glitter tiara, Target (of course)

+ Quilted gray coat, JCrew Crewcuts
+ Flare jeans, Baby Gap
+ Snail Clippie, Etsy seller Little Chirpy Bird

+ Gray coat, JCrew Crewcuts
+ Vintage skinny jeans, J Crew Crewcuts
+ High top sneakers, Converse!


+ Retro “Sweet Ladybug” Polka Dots skirt, Janie and Jack
+ Retro Polka Dots hat, Janie and Jack
+ Grey tee, American Apparel
(Psst! That amazing skirt is on sale over at Janie and Jack!)


+ Double Serge Sweet Pea Coat, JCrew Crewcuts
+ Ruffle neck white shirt, Baby Gap

+ Glitter Star Shirt, JCrew Crewcuts
+ Flare Jean, Baby Gap


+ Ruffle neck white shirt, Baby Gap

This stylish little gal lives in Chicago with her mum and dad. Stella is full of life and is known for being a fun loving little chatterbox—entertaining her parents and everyone around her! Her favorites foods are pizza and broccoli with parmesan (YUM!). Stella is already prepping for the tents at Bryant Park and a season in Paris, so it should come as no surprise that she loves going to French class, playing dress up, shopping with mommy and picking out her own outfits! Her mommy Marla says “Stella may only be two, but she definitely has her own sense of style. She knows what she likes and what she doesn’t. We have so much fun together, she really is a pure joy!” And when you see that megawatt smile of hers, you know it has to be true. Work it, Miss Stella!

Upcycling Sweaters

Crafts + DIY, Etsy Love, , , ,

People, let’s be clear about one thing. I love a good tag sale. I was raised on them.

Saturday mornings in my childhood were spent riding shotgun in my mother’s Ford Escort careening around the backroads of Connecticut looking for tag sales, with a bagel clutched in my hand– “breakfast on the road” and quarter to go wild with at the first stop.  Who knows what treasures await?  Balls of yarn! Old books! Vintage fox stoles! Oh, adventure!  Still to this day, I can’t resist the pull of that large piece of cardboard saying “Garage Sale”.

But this weekend is the Superbowl of tag sales.  The Olympics of thrifting. People of the Bay Area–I give you–the annual Oakland Museum White Elephant sale!

It is a hullabaloo of second hand goodies that makes me break out in a sweat of shopping excitement as soon as I enter the sale.

Every year, I set my cap on a certain item–cool vintage sheets from the seventies, old knitting magazines, used board games.  This year, I’m all about the sweaters. Yup! Because I want to try that green craftiness that I’ve been hearing so much about from Martha.  You know, taking old sweaters and turning them into something just as awesome, if not more so than the original sweater.    It is even greener than recycling–upclycing.

If you are not in such a crafty mood or too busy to craft (cough cough), you should check out other people’s craftiness at Etsy.

Sesame Seed designs creates these gorgeous felted caps for babies that kills me!  I can’t decide between the deer and the dinosaur… Or the leaf.

I love the sweaters made from a sweater!  Like this bye bye Birdie sweater!

Or this ric rac rainbow cardi. People, you know how I feel about ricrac.  Both are from Etsy seller, Poppytop Sweaters.

Etsy seller Snugglepants turns the sleeves of sweaters into the cutest and warmest pants around! Like these orange stripey ones or these crazy striped ones.  Very clever indeed!

But I had to finish this post the same way I started it. With this little lady.  Joseph may have had his technicolor dream coat, but check out this very colorful patterned skirt made from old sweaters on it’s charming young model.  I’ll take the boots, the rabbit fur vest and vintage luggage too, please!  Actually, I’ll take the little girl to boot! She is working that skirt like nobody’s business!

The perfect ensemble for going to a tag sale with your Mom!