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The Fall 2005 Children's Club: More, More, More The promotional tag line on the ENK Children's Club Show directory might have read "Welcome to the Land of Plenty." The show was the largest in the company's children's exhibition history, with a profusion of collections selling, let's say, not so subtle designs. There was sportswear with layers, embellishment, and color. Influences met head on - vintage over rock 'n roll; pretty over punk; preppie over rebel. Some say, "Great, buy what you like. There's no 'wrong' this fall." Others might find the faux fur, appliqués and ruffles too much of a good thing. For them, a few classic lines stood their ground and designers with a cool, modern edge offered relief to fatigued eyes. Whether the collections below ran with the trends or marched to their own beat, they all exhibited focused, exciting collections.
SPORTSWEAR BEETLEJUICE LONDON DESIGNER: Beetlejuice design team Sizes: 12 months-12 years; Wholesale prices: $25-$28 For fall, everything in the Beetlejuice collection is coming up roses.
Outstanding Pieces: The puckered olive t-shirt and the pleated skirt. That wreath of roses is pure eye candy. 237 West 37th Street, Suite 702 NYC, NY 10018 Tel: 212-944-0555 E-mail: info@beetlejuice.co.uk
BLUEBIRD DESIGNER: Stephanie Scarpulla Sizes: 3 months-6 years; Wholesale prices: $13-$52 Stephanie Scarpulla won our first "Best in Show" newcomer award for her spring collection. Her fall line is just as impressive.
Outstanding Pieces: Scarpulla updates her spring jackets with dusty toned velvets. They're lovely over her tiny floral printed prairie skirts. 35 Cumberland Street San Francisco, CA 94110 Tel: 415-206-1107 E-mail: info@bluebirdcollection.com
DANICA & DYLAN DESIGNER: Margaret Flynn Sizes: 2-14 years; Wholesale prices: $11-$30.50 Tailored, trendy sportswear with an arresting mix of prints is Danica & Dylan's signature look.
Outstanding Pieces: Flynn mixes two hot trends - the novelty tweed jacket with a Western themed print - to great effect. 260 West Broadway, Suite 4C NYC, NY 10013 Tel: 908-251-4170 E-mail: customerservice@danicaanddylan.com
ELIZA GRAN DESIGNER: Eliza Gran Sizes: 12 months-6 years; Wholesale prices: $10-$48 The Sixties and Seventies continue to inspire Gran's collection.
Outstanding Piece: Gran loosens up the strict lines of the shirtdress by adding a full skirt creating one of those all-occasion items every girl should have in her closet. 667 East 18th Street Brooklyn, NY 11230 Tel: 212-226-2106 E-mail: eliza@elizagran.com
JOTTUM! DESIGNER: Anky Groothof Sizes: NB-12 years; Wholesale prices: $20-$134 The Jottum collection is loaded with frills, layered skirts and pattern-over-pattern, but the garments never look over done. I don't know how Groothof pulls it off.
Outstanding Pieces: The wine colored wrap sweater over the checked dress. One ruffled skirt covers another printed with a tiny calico. That's the kind of surprising detail buyers expect from Jottum. Children@Play, Inc. 51 Shelley Ave. Harstdale, NY 10530 Tel: 914-686-7544 New York Showroom 34 W. 33rd St. Suite 306 212.609.0029 E-mail: info@childrenatplay.com
KABOO DESIGNER: Kaboo design team Sizes: 3 months-10 years; Wholesale prices: $5-$19.50 Kaboo's huge selection of girls' and boys' sportswear only looks expensive.
Outstanding Pieces: The T-shirt sports beautifully colored stripes and fun elbow patches. There are enough pockets in the jeans to store all sorts of junk, and the zip-front sweater pulls the look together. Effigi Inc. 1155, Autoroute 13 Laval (Quebec) Canada H7W 5J8 Tel: 877-686-4848 E-mail: cguilbault@effigi.com
PINEAPPLE KISS DESIGNER: Diana Cheren Nygren Sizes: 6 months-6 years; Wholesale prices: contact manufacturer Nygren can mix it up with the best of them, yet her outfits never go over the top.
Outstanding Pieces: Sure there's a layered T-shirt, a pattern-over-pattern skirt and argyle tights, but it's the tchotchkes, pockets and patches that she didn't add that make this ensemble work. 7 Verndale Street, Suite 5 Brookline, MA 02446 Tel: 617-566-4823 E-mail: diana@pineapplekiss.com
TRAD DESIGNER: Tracy Perez Sizes: 2-16; Wholesale prices: contact manufacturer Tracy Perez has added the Trad collection of junior wear to her Porky Pies line that teens will fine irresistible.
Outstanding Pieces: The cocoa and teal tweed jacket with the flirty peplum paired with soft plaid pants. Who doesn't love separates that work as well with jeans or a T-shirt as the pieces do together? 112 West 9th Street, Ste. 509 Los Angeles, CA 90015 Tel: 213-612-5062 E-mail: sales@porkypiesclothing.com
ZUTANO DESIGNER: Uli Belenky Sizes: Garments: 12 months-4 years; socks: NB-12 m; Wholesale prices: Collectibles: $8-$26; socks: $2.50 Every season Belenky offers simple, whimsically patterned, beautifully colored layette and toddler sportswear.
Outstanding Pieces: Ponies prance on a sky blue field while plaid warms the picture - that's Belenky's unique take on this season's Western theme. And what else to wear when you're heading West? Mix it up with a pair of playfully patterned socks from Zutano's newest collection. 1785 Colts Pond Road Cabot, VT 05647 Tel: 800-287-5139 E-mail: zutano@zutano.com
DRESSES VAL MAX DESIGNER: Val Max design team Sizes: 12 months-20; Wholesale prices: $90-$180 Out of a collection of exquisite dresses, one shimmered like an aquamarine.
Outstanding Piece: The colors of the dusty teal silk velvet dress undulate with a glimmery, watery quality. Leopard print sleeves and collar add textural interest. The dress is as arresting as a misty day in Venice. C&C Childrenswear 12 West 32nd Street NYC, NY 10001 Tel: 212-564-3031 E-mail: sales@cc-childrenwear.com
KNITWEAR BLABLA DESIGNER: Florence Wetterwald (knits), Wetterwald and Marie de L'lle (T-shirts) Sizes: 6 months-4 years; Wholesale prices: Sweaters: $11-$31; Blankets: $29-$42 With all the hand puppets, hand-knit dolls, blankets and pillows and, of course, sweaters and now T-shirts, it's always a party in the Blabla booth.
Outstanding Pieces: The smiling animals printed on Blabla's new T-shirt collection, and embroidered on the hand-knit alpaca and acrylic boat-neck sweaters, are obviously being treated well. PETA would approve. 139 Barksdale Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30309 Tel: 404-875-6496 E-mail: info@blablakids.com
KIWI INDUSTRIES DESIGNER: Becky Grebosky Sizes: 3 months-6 years; Wholesale prices: $11.50-$26.50 If you buy one of the fun new sweaters hand-knit by women in a Peruvian co-op, your kids will stay warm and so will theirs.
Outstanding Pieces: Gray skies are gonna' clear up when you put on this happy face sweater (back is pictured). Can be ordered in an attractive gift box with the matching striped hat. 5850 Eubank, NE, Suite B-21A Albuquerque, NM 87111 Tel: 505-332-9090 E-mail: becky@kiwiindustries.com
RENATTONI DESIGNER: Maribel Beas Sizes: 2-6 years; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Beas knits each of her feminine pieces from baby alpaca, so they're as light and soft as a cloud.
Outstanding Pieces: Throw that olive coat over anything and a kid is ready for a special occasion, or any occasion when they want to feel special. Summer Place Reps LLC 1517 Wedmore Court Smyrna, GA 30080 Tel: 770-444-0776 E-mail: brittany@summerplacereps.com
SAM LITTLE DESIGNER: Sandra Constantine Sizes: 6 months-6 years; Wholesale prices: $76.50-$117.50 Constantine's hand-knit sweaters from Scotland are always attractive. For fall, they're richly colored and reference preppies, ski wear and all things warm and cozy.
Outstanding Pieces: The Fair Isle cardigan is part Mr. Rogers, part ski bum and entirely pleasing. Matching booties are available. 355 East 72nd Street NYC, NY 10021 Tel: 212-737-0141 E-mail: samelittle@aol.com
DIAPER BAGS FLEURVILLE DESIGNERS: Catherine and Steve Granville Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Baby or not, Fleurville bags are hot.
Outstanding Piece: The soft, pebble-leather bag is great for hauling baby stuff - its edges are seam-taped and it's entirely insulated - but I'd carry it and my daughter's 14. 24A Tiburon Street San Rafael, CA 94901 Tel: 415-482-8510 E-mail: info@fleurville.com
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