Spring/Summer
2007: Dressing Up
The
fall and winter months are all about dressing in layers,
as much for necessity as style. In the spring and summer
though, there's nothing like throwing on a dress and a
pair of sandals and skipping out the door. This column
celebrates the ease of spring with a roundup of special
occasion as well as casual dresses made for the great
months ahead.
Walking the spring and summer trade
shows last October, I noticed many designers showing
nautically inspired pieces. Some of the looks were
traditional; others put a spin on the classic look. On
the flip side were exotic creations in color-steeped
palettes. Examples of both key trends are included in
this shopping story.
AHOY BABY. The most
important trend for the season is clean, classic,
nautical styles. To tap into the look in its purest form,
log onto Duck
Duck Goose. There
you'll find Hartstring's navy sailor dress
crisscrossed with white trim and paired with a matching
diaper cover. The garment ($36, fits NB to 12 months) can
be teamed with impeccably crafted leather Mary Jane's
adorned with a bow ($35, fits NB to 5) from
Pazitos.
You love sailor styling but you
like the look with a twist. Gracie
Kat features
Remember Nguyen's red gingham A-line ($39, fits 2
to 4) with clowns tumbling across the smocked bodice.
Keep the look simple by pairing the frock with Kid
Express' "Leslie" red leather sandals with a
removable butterfly ornament ($27.29, fits 4 to 12).
"I've always been inspired by
anything vintage and I love the feel of the beach. The
Hamptons is one of my favorite places to visit. I wanted
to capture all of that in one look," says Lisa
Bacon, owner and designer, of the Iza
Bella Collection. "As
with all my designs, I strive to create child friendly
clothing with coordinating mix-and-match pieces. And
being a mom myself, I want every piece to be easy to
clean and care for."
Bacon's jaunty striped "Fina Dress"
reflects easy days at the shore ($56, fits 12 months to
5T). For a special touch, add the grosgrain "Fina Couture
Bow" ($8, one size), that picks up the dress's shades of
blue. The accessory can be ordered affixed to either an
alligator clip or French barrette.
The Easter and Passover holidays
call for nostalgic designs that remind us of our own
childhoods. Somewhere in your photo albums is a frock
like the Blue Tulip Easter Dress ($28, 3 to 6
months) at Anna
Bean. The charming pale
blue and white tiny floral print, the bit of smocking
along the bodice and the sweet white collar add up to
old-fashioned charm. Bonus points include matching
bloomer shorts and a white sunhat.
Neige dresses always
straddle a line between sweet vintage styling and modern
looks. Aggie
Hill carries the
company's "Alexa" ($112 for 18 months; $114 for sizes 4
and 5) in a crisp Liberty print with the designer's
signature petticoat trim. The dress is ideal for playing
in the garden, and works just as well for casual evenings
out.
DRESS ME UP BABY. For
occasions when only real dress up clothes will do,
there's this gem from C'est Chouette Couture at
Little
Fashions Boutique. The
"Crinkle Silk Strappy Dress," says designer Amanda
Azadi, "is inspired by the two-tone combinations I'm
seeing on everything from bed sheets at Neiman Marcus to
clothing all over Europe." The item ($92 for sizes 18-24
months; $96 for size 2T) is colored in an unusual grayed
olive and violet enhanced by a stunning purple silk sash.
Atop the ribbon are purple and gold velvet pansies and in
back a big, purple edged rose. The icing on this glorious
little cake is a tulle hem that peeks from beneath the
crinkled top skirt. So lovely.
TODDLER. The Palm
Springs Shirred Dress works three important trends:
The gathered bodice, mixed prints and clean, oceanic
blues. Look for this fresh as a dip in the pool item on
Loto
Blu Couture ($46, fits
12 months to 8 years).
Retailers say the Tea
Collection is just their cup of Joe. Designer
Emily Meyer looks to different cultures for
inspiration, pulling a color combination from one and
teaming it with a silhouette from another. Her references
may be global, but her bold, simple styles are decidedly
American.
Istanbul may not be the first
locale you think of when you spot the Topkapi Palace
Dress ($46, fits sizes 2 to 4) at Aggie
Hill. Take a second
look at the print though, and you'll notice repeating
tile motifs.
On the flip side of nautical style,
is a color-drenched take on exotica. Mimi &
Maggie nailed the look with their "Rainforest
Sundress" ($68, fits sizes 4 to 6X) seen at
Trendy
Togs. The dress
reflects all the light-dappled shades of the jungle with
its play of fuchsia, papaya, and teal and its layers of
tie-dye and hand-stitched detail. What a beauty!
Each season, the designers at the
Dutch company Oilily create a fairy tale that they
base their collection on. One season it was the story of
a swan; for fall their theme is "Dreams of a Midnight
Garden." Below is the company's fantasy garden setting I
spotted on my recent trip to the Pitti Bimbo trade show
in Florence, Italy.
The rich pink footwear references a
floral theme, and, as in all of Oilily's pieces,
it has surprise details like the polka dot leather
lining. Find it at Trendy
Togs ($95, fits sizes 6
to 10). The sandals works as beautifully with the Mimi
& Maggie garment above, as they do with the Chatti
Patti sundress below.
This dress from Chatti Patti
has it all: A great mix of French provincial patterns
and a simple, easy to move in A-line shape. Look for the
"Sweet Pea Dress" ($70, fits sizes 4 to 8) at
So
Sweet Boutique.
You've got the dress and shoes, why
not top it with just the right hair accessory? You'll
find the Bella Bling "Belle Fleur Orchid" ($8) at
Jen
Klair Kids. The hair
clip is available in several soft shades.
The "Obladi Melon Dress" by Deux
par Deux ($29, fits sizes 2 to 7), at
Countessina,
is as luscious as the ripe fruit and almost as sweet. The
colors are a sprightly alternative to the cool blues of
the season.
Malley Gaulding and
Teresa Helms, who design the Malley
& Co. collections,
had ice cream on their minds when they served up the
"Pistachio Pink Parfait" dress (from their Malley Too
line) embroidered with soft pink dots and festooned with
a flowered sash ($98, fits sizes 4 to 16). All you need
is a spoon.
A lovely neckline like the one seen
on the Malley Too dress above, calls for a
beguiling necklace. Mindy
Harris's 14KT gold
diamond-studded heart with rice pearls ($49.99) adds just
the right delicate touch.
ACCESSORIES. One of
the prettiest flowers in any garden is the ranunculus.
Meg Dana brings the lush three-inch bloom to life
with a sprinkle of morning "dew." The ornament is
available in red, white and pink at Mistyjean
& Company.
Andrea Chafetz of
Andrea's
Beau
is the right hair accessory
designer to seek out when you're looking for a graceful
ornament. "Like a fresh flower, every girl possesses
innate, natural beauty. These pastel organza headbands
($19.50), delicately decorated with sparkling sequin
flowers and beaded leaves, complement but never overwhelm
what is already lovely about her. We never use pedestrian
ribbon; we only employ materials that are special because
I believe girls are special," Chafetz says. Pair the
accessory with any softly colored garment for a striking
summer look.
The folks at Darling
Shoes have been in the
footwear business for six decades, so they know a thing
or two about fitting and quality. Their
go-with-everything "Spring Picnic" shoe ($19.95, fits
sizes 6 to 10) is sturdy but light looking thanks to the
charming butterfly detail. A simple Velcro closing means
no struggling with tricky buckles.
Originally published March 10,
2007
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