Category Archives: Kiddo Style: Modern

Retro Modern: Jumping for Jumpers!

Kiddo Style: Modern, Retro Modern, ,

When I found out I was having a girl, my thoughts immediately turned to how I was going to dress the little elf. And one thing came to mind: a jumper.

To me, nothing is cuter than a little girl in a jumper. Or pinafore, or whatever people are calling simple sleeveless  little A-line dresses that are popping up everywhere with button on the shoulders. Just toss that over a onesie or plain shirt and your little girl is good to go! And as my little sweetie grows it turns from a dress into a tunic!

I found a vintage one on eBay for a song that is my FAVORITE little piece for the Peach. It is just cotton fabric featuring blue hens and a sassy red rooster pattern that makes me smile every time I look at it. Here’s the Peach modeling it in all her Peachy goodness.

As we all know, eBay can be a cruel mistress, so who knows what my chances will be for hitting jumper pay dirt there again. But fortunately, I’m not the only one who likes jumpers because they are popping up all over the place.

Like these amazing ones from Australian Website, Soda Pop Kids which are begging to be worn, aren’t they?Just look at that bird! And did you notice the mismatched button colors?? Pure KOOTNESS!



And April Scott, you had me at vintage with your very charming jumper using vintage bark cloth and a green back panel. Again, the buttons!


Check out this fancy pants version made of velveteen by New York designer Dan Dan. What can I say–I love love love it! This little sweetie is available (and on sale!) at Ele-abaant, another great online store for kid’s clothing based in Australia.


And if you are the crafty kind of lady, I would highly recommend Alicia Paulson’s delicous Bella baby dress jumper crotchet pattern.  It is blissfully easy. And just stunning to boot.

I do hope the jumper trend is here to stay….dare I say it has me jumping for joy?

Buckle Up, Buttercup : Cool Belt Buckles

Boys, Kiddo Style: Modern,

What is it about a cool belt buckle on a guy?

Well, times that by infinity for a cool belt buckle on a little guy!

Erica Gordon of Steel Toe Studios in Seattle has created some of the coolest belt buckle for kids ever thanks to her background in sculptural and architectural blacksmithing, as well as her foundation in silversmithing.  She uses using locally sourced recycled steel and other metals to up her awesomeness even more.

And then there is the actual product which is so stinky cute, I might need to leave the room for a moment. Check out this insanely cute monkey belt buckle.

Or the fishy one nicely modeled here.

And a ladybug, people. A LADY BUG. Cute for boys or girls!

But here is the real kicker–the price. Fifteen clams. That’s it for all of this handcrafted beauty. Buy Olympia (which is where I got all of these dandy photos) stocks the buckles as well as an adult-size monkeybelt buckle and actual belts. Bookmark that page for Father’s (or Mother’s) day prezzies!

Scandinavian Cool

International Kiddo, Kiddo Style: Modern

The website for ittikid says, “Cool and Modern Clothing from Scandinavia” and whooo mama, they ain’t kiddin’! I am obsessed with vintage patterns and fabrics and these goodies are right up my alley. This cool company was started by a hip set of parents right here in the Bay Area (who knew?!).

As the mommy of a little boy I have to admit I’m always bummed by the standard fare for boy’s clothing. Whereas the little girls department will have  the most whimsical, glorious prints in candy colors, little boys are stuck with blues, greens and earth tones. Then there are the “active” motifs—robots and monsters at best, but cars, trucks and sports stuff at worst. Whenever I see a cute pattern I think, “Why does this have to be for a girl? Why can’t the giraffe be orange instead of pink? Does this shirt really need to have a wee bow at the neckline??” Well, VOILA my friends. Check out these genius prints over at ittikid. It’s like someone heard my belly aching and produced the cutest line ever. Yes, there are lots of blues and yep, there are even cars and trucks—but they are all done in such a great graphic way that feels hip-yet-appropriately-childish. Check it out, you’ll see what I mean!







Lawdy but the darn little girl’s dressies really are crazy cute:

And this last little dressie….well, sign me up for the Grown Up version because I would wear it in a heart beat!!

All of these goodies and more are available at the fabulous ittikid. Be sure to check them out!

Knitting Nights

Baby Kiddo, Crafts + DIY

Brrrr!!!! All of that snow that has been falling over the past couple of weeks has made many knitting mamas pull out their needles and crank out some warm and cozy hats for their little ones.

Even celebs love to show off their babies in hand knit hats. Check out the celebtot cuteness of Bronx Wentz, Olive Baron Cohen and Zuma Rossdale.

(Credit: INF (2); Gotcha Images/Splash News Online)

How stinky cute are these little kids?  The great thing about this trend is that for the crafty Moms out there, it is an easy trend train to catch.

Here are some great hat patterns that would be perfect to knit one night while watching your Netflix movies after the wee ones have drifted off to Slumberland!  Please note that all the patterns I’ve featured are free—and super cute to boot!

Wouldn’t this Knitty pattern, Baby Tart be perfect for your little cutie PIE? Sorry—I couldn’t help myself…

Or what about Evelyn Uyemura from Lost the Thread’s Green Leaf baby hat? So simple, yet so stunning!

I don’t know about you, but my Peach loves to pull her hats off, so this Aviatrix hat by Justine Turner is stunning and includes a very clever and comfy strap.  You can download this sassy pattern on her Website Just Jussi.  I would knit it in the softest green and add a fun ladybug button for kicks!

Anyone else have some cool free knitting patterns? Share!

Tea Collection :: Sale!

Kiddo Style: Modern,

One of my favorite clothing brands, Tea Collection is having a nice post holiday sale. Up to fifty percent off some items  which is not too shabby when it comes to this wildly popular and well made brand of clothing.

Check out this sublimely cute dress—sparrow romper for newborns marked down to $19.99.

And check out this adorable Koi fish number for boys, called the Tsukiji shirt, marked down $29.50.

Then there is this charming boys top that is so Eye of the Tiger, no? And it’s only $12.50. Not too shabby. I love that built-in long sleeve look on boys! Alix, wouldn’t this be so button cute on Wolfie??

I’m also loving this Sayonara tee. A tad more at $19.50, but kawaii!

But to me Tea Collection clothing is all about the dresses. Look at this spunky, sweet number, the Butterfly Double Decker Dress, marked down to $16.50:

And then there is this darling little number:

It’s marked down to $29.00. Now I know that still sounds like a lot for a dress, but the nice thing about dresses is that they can double as tunics worn with pants if you are clever. And we are certainly into clever ways to stretch a penny here at Modern Kiddo!