Even with a cool cotton dress, she was still uncomfortable in the 30++ degree weather.  All the energy was zapped out of her and she fell asleep in her dress that afternoon.  When she woke up, we decided to go to Regent’s Park so she could feed the ducks and cool off.

I got her the size 3-4 which was still big for her although the cut is a bit short.  Mind you, I had to tuck the straps in a bit as they fall of her shoulders if I didn’t.  The best part about this dress?  It’s got pockets!!!  Not that a 3-year-old has any use for them but I still thought it cute.  Haha!

The look is finished with our favorite beige Zara Girl Ballerina flats.  I’ve gotten lots of compliments on this pair of shoes and I know a few who were able to get a pair in the same color.  I don’t see them anymore at the Vancouver Zara stores but their website (and I assume some stores) have them in blue denim.

Head on to Zara for more great summer dresses that you can get your girl to wear to weddings, parties, reunions and afternoon tea!  When I have the time, I’ll see if I can round up other brands to check out for girl’s dresses!

Haha!  Anyway, here’s a closer look at Mikka’s Joe Fresh Style denim dress.  I love the personality of this dress.  I saw similar denim/chambray dresses at H&M and Zara but found them to be boring or the denim material used (color and wash) was bland so I was so thrilled when I found  this one from Joe’s.  So much detail on this dress from the sleeves, the breast pockets, the piping and the faux drawstring!  With Mikka’s slim build, I’m sure we’ll see this in her closet for more than a year.  For fall/winter, add a pair of leggings for warmth.

Zara Girl grey studded shoes complete the look!

Here’s Mikka playing with her soccer ball.  She’s wearing a hand-me-down Old Navy quilted jacket, grey H&M shirt, Zara leggings and blue Zara mary janes.

We left Vancouver with summer nowhere in sight and landed right smack in the middle of a heatwave here in London (although I’ve learned that home is actually enjoying pretty gorgeous weather!).  Exhaustion from the flurry of activities in the past 2 weeks, the flight and the change in weather did me in.  I spent the entire day Monday in bed after coming down with a full blown cold.  Tuesday, I dragged myself out of bed and together with my mom, my dad, hubby and Mikka, we hit Trafalgar Square, walked along the parliament buildings down to Westminster Abbey and checked out Buckingham Palace.  The area was teeming with tourists and it wasn’t easy taking transit in peak hours with a three year old and my parents in 30-degree weather!

When I asked Mikka what she wanted to wear, she automatically cried “a blue dress!”  So the blue & white striped dress from Zara Girl Spring/Summer 2010 was the outfit for the day.

Her favorite activity is “catching the birds”.  This dress is made of 100% viscose which made it easy for her her to run around Trafalgar Square.  I got her a size 3-4 which was a bit loose around her upper body which is why you’ll notice the neckline falls off her shoulder.  The drawstring around the waist is actually NOT adjustable.  The ribbon is sewed in but the garter that pulls the dress around her waist sits just right.

The skirt is shaped like a loose tulip skirt with two side pockets.  The length could’ve been shorter but it might just be her size.  She’ll definitely get mileage out of this dress for about a year or so unless she gets a growth spurt.

We paired up her dress with a Fall/Winter 09 blue satin mary janes which I got on sale for $9 CDN.

Chillin’ out before we headed for Buckingham Palace.  We had to trick her into thinking that as a “princess” she’ll be visiting the “Queen’s castle” as she got quite irritable.

Anyone want to share their take on the Breton stripes this summer?

Anyhoo, we are currently on vacation in London, England and I hope to blog as often as I can during this trip.  Let me start off with our flight from Vancouver to London…

Mikka has only been on the plane once before this trip.  Technically, it was 4 takeoffs and 4 landings when we flew to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic to shoot a wedding in 2009.  My biggest concern then was whether Mikka can manage the change in ear pressure especially during landing.  At the time, I gave her a lollipop to encourage her to swallow constantly during landing.  It turned out OK that time as she handled equalizing the ear pressure really well.

This time around, lift off from YVR went well.  However, Mikka started screaming in pain as soon as we started dropping altitude to descend on to London.  We tried to ease her pain as much as we can as we gave her chips to chew and breath mints to lick like a lollipop but to no avail.  Thank goodness, I had EarPlanes with me and even though it was a bit too late to put it on her ears, we still decided to give it a try.  No sooner than we plugged her ears did she start calming down and was back to her cheery self in no time.  We have a few more flights to take in the next three weeks and I’ll certainly use them again on her and hope they work as well.  Click here to find out where get them locally for your next trip with your little ones!  Please note that you can only use each pair for 2 takeoffs and 2 landings as the quality of the ceramic foam that controls the air pressure on the air deteriorates after 4 uses so it can get quite costly.  However, I think it’s worth it compared to the 30 minutes screaming in pain and the potential ear damage.

Mikka wearing Children's EarPlanes

For Mikka’s outfit on our flight, she would’ve preferred to wear a dress, as in most cases.  However, I thought it more practical to convince her to wear a pair of pants for a) keeping her warm and b) managing potty time in a cramped and sometimes yucky lavatory on the plane.  So, the outfit of choice is the Sonia Rykiel pour H&M girls sweater plus a 2-year-old H&M khaki/gray pants (my girl is small!) and topped with khaki Zara girls ankle-wrap flats.

The Stylish Tot’s style advice:

1. Wear them low on the legs like a faux knee high socks.
2. Wear them high under short skirts or a pair of shorts like stylin’ leggings.
3. Wear them on the arms to add some oomph on an otherwise blah dress!

Aside from the fashionable options, The Stylish Tot like them because:

• One size fits all!  Very economical and can be shared between siblings!
• They are eco-friendly, made from 100% sustainable Bamboo fibres!
• They are wearable all year round!
• And now you can get your first Leg Hugger for 1 cent!  Yes, practically free, right?

THE STYLISH DEAL ALERT

What:  Buy as many Leg Huggers you want and the first one would be 1 cent!  Standard shipping fee applies but orders over $50 qualify for free shipping!

How:  Use the code “1centleg9” at checkout.

Where:  Visit Agoo Apparel’s Leg Huggers section to purchase them online!

Even if you have girls, don’t forget to check out the selection for boys!  The Stylish Tot’s personal favorites?  The Leg Huggers Full of Fun in striped blue monochrome, Leg Huggers Blue Racer Argyle and Agoo Special Edition Leg Huggers Bulls Eye in dark brown!

The Stylish Tot: Tell us more about es + es as a brand. How did you get started and what led you to create es + es?

I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in May of 2009 knowing full and well that I had no intention of working in a cubicle, contributing to someone else’s vision. I knew that I wanted to design beautiful things that one couldn’t normally find in your average children’s shop. I decided that in order to fulfill my dream I would need to get started immediately, thus the creation of es + es.

Fiona Tank

TST: Can you define your style? What or who inspires you?

I tend to use three words when describing es + es: whimsy, confectionery and luxe. I try to add a little bit of magic to every piece by using elements that really enhance the fabrics and that particular style. I also adore anything feminine, ie: bows, tulle and beads. Every little girl wants to feel special, as if they are a princess and that is the frame of mind I am in when I’m designing. I want everything that I create to look luxurious and rich, my clients do not come to us for a basic tee, they continue to choose es + es because they know they will be receiving an item that they will be able to cherish for years.

Left:  Maggie Pearl Tee and Jane Tutu; Right:  Vera Sequined Bow Tee and Once Upon a Time Skirt

I’m inspired by a myriad of things, mainly what I see people every day on the street wearing. I’m also heavily inspired by vintage jewelry, anything silhouette-related and even interior design. It’s funny I have an entire folder of tear sheets labeled “miscellaneous.” When I am losing focus or in need of some inspiration, I run through the folder and eventually get back on track.

Maggie Pearl Tee and Jane Tutu

TST: How did Faith Wladyka found es + es? Did she know right away which dress she wanted to wear at the Cannes premiere of Blue Valentine?

Faith is actually the daughter of a mutual friend, who introduced me to both Faith and her mother Dawn. The dress is definitely the most extravagant of any piece I have done so I knew immediately that is what Faith would want, and I was right! She looked absolutely fantastic and I am very happy for Faith as well as her family.

The Written Word Dress

TST: What’s next for es + es? What can we expect for Fall 2010?

For the Fall collection, I’ll be working with a darker, jewel-toned palette. I will be using wools, double knits and cashmere, and mixing them with cotton and silk. Also, and I don’t want to give too much away but we may see some clothes for little boys as well!

Eve Cardigan and Cluster Dress

Leila Dress

I’m SO excited for Mallory and es+es kids.  Judging from her early collections, I know that it’ll only be a matter of time until she’ll be a huge success.  We can’t wait to see where this takes her!  For more of es+es kids:

web:  http://esandeskids.etsy.com
twitter:  @esandeskids
facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/es-es/235869911460

Here are a few more photos of Faith and the beautiful dress!

If you’re wondering what her dress says, the words “Once Upon A Time, There Lived A Prince Who Wanted To Marry a Princess” are embroidered and beaded with thousands of Japanese seed beads along the hem of the silk dress. 

Naturally, I was obsessed in finding out who made the dress and through SleekStyle.com, I found out that Faith’s “Once Upon A Time” dress is by es + es kids.

Photo credit: es + es kids

I just love this dress.  It’s very whimsical and playful and fit for a modern day stylish princess, which I’m sure is what being a kid at one of the most prestigious film festival in the world made Faith feel like.  The dress is available in 3T-6X and can be purchased online via es + es kids etsy shop for $425. This got me more curious about Faith’s style and I can definitely sense that Faith would be one to watch as a future trendsetter that would give Suri a run for her money! Here’s Faith at the “Blue Valentine” photocall at Palais des Festivals.

*Update*  Thanks to our readers, I have been informed that Faith’s dress is called “Ethele” by Marilyn Tov, a French children’s fashion designer based in NYC.  Check out Marilyn’s website  for more of her gorgeous Fall 2010 collection! 

Photo credit: Marilyn Tov

I also found something similar at crewcuts, ruffled silk Rory dress: 

Photo credit: crewcuts by J. Crew

How cool is this girl? 

At the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, Faith DID wear crewcuts with a layered cake dress in sand and lei collar cardigan in champagne.

Thanks to Little Fashionista’s Closet for the ID and for the image below: 

Photo credit: Little Fashionista's Closet

Photo Credit: crewcuts by J. Crew

Blue Valentine is set for release in Australia in December and a limited release in the US.  I’m sure we’ll see more of Faith as she promotes the movie and we’re sure to keep an eye on her future red carpet appearance!

Summer Styling Tips

By Grace Sanchez MacCall, Founder/Owner of TykeThreads.com

As a mom to a three year old boy, I know all about shops where most of the store is girlswear with one picked over rack of boyswear in off-season clothes! Take heart. Boyswear selection is slowly getting better with designers like Appaman, Ben Sherman Boys, Bobinette, Knuckleheads, Wonderboy, and that new addition to the roster: Captain Monkey, pushing the ranks of fashion-forwardness for our sons.

Photo credit: TykeThreads.com

Summer is a great time to have fun with the usual boy uniform of jeans and Ts. Given the limited selection, we have to try a little harder to dress the boys, but more is not necessarily always better. Start with basic pieces and add some neat touches. Here’s a few styling tips to stretch your son’s current wardrobe while helping your son be the best-dressed guy on the block.

• Have fun with colour. Boys love colour and spring and summer is the time to indulge! By all means wear the classic summer colours – nautical red and navy, beige chinos, and crisp whites – but if you want a hit of colour, lots of choice out there. This season’s hot colour is, of course, turquoise! Our favourite? This Knuckleheads Kamikaze knit shirt.

• Machines Rule. Until I became a mom, I did not realize boys were fascinated by machines. (Believe me, my son’s obsession with anything wheeled ain’t from my nurturing!) Graphic Ts with cool designs is a basic boy staple, but go a notch above the masses by picking stylized graphics of the non-commercial kind (no ads for toys, games, or movies!) This loader T from Appaman hits the mark for us.

• Funny Guys. Boys have a sense of humour. A bulldog with a top hat and braces is a great way to elicit a smile. Here is Ben Sherman’s version. Need I say more?

Photo Credit: TykeThreads.com

• Statement pieces. We know he’s mostly in play gear, but when going out for a weekend brunch or attending birthday parties, pick out a cool shirt for him to shine in. A Captain Monkey shirt in bold stripes or Wonderboy’s statement Western shirts with pearl buttons will not only get parent approval, but also look great!

Photo credit: TykeThreads.com

Photo credit: TykeThreads.com

• Cool Covers. A coat should do more than protect him from the elements. Whether you want to cover up his arms from the blaring sun, or a jacket to repel the rain, outerwear should provide an instant jolt of style. Check out the House of Mongrel (New York-based Dad-designed organic boyswear) hoodies with rockets and robots in fun colours and organic fabrics.

• Accessories Make the Boy. A hat protects him from the sun and gives him an instant hit of style. Put on his pub cap or his fedora and watch that smile on his face. It’s like playing dressup for him and he’d love looking a little more like his Grandpa or Dad.

Photo credit: TykeThreads.com

Finally, our personal pet peeve list or our What Not To Wear rules:

• Commercials. Would you wear a tacky T-shirt with a beer label across the chest? Then, why put a Disney character T-shirt on your kid when you’re not in Disneyland?

• “My Grandma Went to Niagara Falls and All I Got Was This T-shirt” might look cute on a drooling baby, but once he’s showing a bit of personality, drop the cutesy sayings already and invest in some cool duds.

• No Village People Here. The “soldier, cop, sailor” look is tired. Just tired. Just don’t do it.

Bottom line: Boys tend to be shortchanged in the style department, but amidst the sea of benign and boring clothes are some inspiring gems. By all means, shop for your son’s basic wardrobe wherever you can, but shop around (malls or online) and see what’s out there.

Photo credit: TykeThreads.com

Style is about putting things together your own way. At three, my son is starting to dress himself and I find it interesting how he zeroes in on favourites. He’s getting his own sense of style and I’m loving the results!

Gracci:  Thank you, Grace, for this wonderful article!  I hope that our moms with boys can get inspired for a stylish summer!  Moms, if you’re still wondering where you can get stylish threads for your tykes, look no further than TykeThreads.com.  You can also follow them on twitter via @TykeThreads for the latest news and exclusives!

When you step off of the elevator on the 7th floor of Bergdorf Goodman, you get a peek at the goods awaiting at the end of the hall.  The first section being the girls section.  I love how it feels like you’re stepping into a luxurious kids bedroom off of a Park Avenue apartment!

Just in time for summer, the swimwear!

Girls dresses, separates and sweaters.

A layette from the infant section.

Finally, we get to the boys section!

Something tells me that boys will actually look forward to coming with mom to shopping trips if they know they’re going to Little BG!

Cute booties!  Never too early to start a shoe collection!  Haha!

Another view of the girl’s section!

Cute Hello Kitty coin purses!

Little BG is on the 7th floor of Bergdorf Goodman off the 58th street elevator bank.

On another note, Little BG is hosting a trunk show for Papo d’Anjo’s Fall 2010 Collection!

Papo d'Anjo Fall 2010 Trunk Show; Photo courtesy of Papo d'Anjo

Papo D’Anjo

A Little BG Trunk Show

View the Papo D’Anjo Fall 2010 Collection
Tuesday, May 11 – Thursday, May 13
Little BG

For more details, call 212 872 2851 or visit Bergdorf Goodman’s blog

Again, thanks to Christine for these wonderful pictures!  When you get a chance, visit Little BG and experience the best fashion selection for your kids in a fabulous setting!