We have been lucky enough to get kids’ fashion advice from one of Brooklyn’s definitive experts- Amelia Gray of A Gifted Baby/Little & Good. For us exclusively, she combs through what’s shaking in the world of children’s style for the season of Summer ’16 to come….trend hints: think dessert, fruit, and color!
The days when getting dressed doesn’t mean three-layers-plus-a-fuzzy-hat are almost here! It is time to celebrate with bright summery colors and airy breathable fabrics. We have done some reconnaissance to find the cute and comfy looks that Brooklyn’s littlest stylistas will be sporting when the temperature starts to rise.
Made-in-Brooklyn stalwart Winter Water Factory is the go-to for exclusive hip-kid allover prints, and for summer their palette of aquas and cool greens feels especially fresh. Two standouts include the droll Octopus style, covered in sinuous cephalopods, weightless jellyfish and tiny bubbles, and the Geo Stripes, pattern which looks like something you would find in the Neue Galerie gift shop, featuring dots and dashes reminiscent of a Dagobert Peche wallpaper design.
This is also your chance to jump on the Mommy & Me dressing trend, because the Geo Stripes adorn the Women’s Panama Jumpsuit, which has an effortless cold-pressed-juice vibe. (Winter Water Factory organic cotton Summer Rompers $37, Women’s Panama Jumpsuit $108, all available at winterwaterfactory.com.)
You will also want to be prepared for that first unexpectedly hot day when playing in the water at Harmony Playground is really the only option. Your little will be easy to spot in the crowd around the fountains in the jaunty, neon Imse Vimse Green Fish swim diaper ($18.75), covered in line drawings of cheerful fish.
If you are bound for the Hamptons, don’t go without Oeuf’s Halter Bathing Suit ($50.00) or Trunks in classic Blue Gingham ($44.00) , The cheerful checks capture a trend as fresh as the May spread in Vogue with Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik, but are so sweetly classic at the same time. Don’t forget a sweater in case the day turns breezy. The Misha and Puff Summer Popcorm Sweater ($128.00) in Driftwood, a go-with-everything gray, has a lovably nubbly texture and is both chunky and light in 100% pima cotton.
FYI-The Oeuf Halter Bathing Suit in Blue Gingham, Oeuf Swim Trunks in Blue Gingham, and Misha and Puff Summer Popcorn Sweater in Driftwood are all available at Wild Was Mama in Park Slope, Green Point and at wildwasmama.com.
In addition to plaid, another great adult spring/summer trend that works in miniature is the bomber jacket. We spotted the Awesome Poplin Bomber by Nico Nico at Sweet William in a combination of marine blue and green that was seasonal and also appealingly 80’s. (Nico Nico Awesome Poplin Bomber in Marine $78.99 at sweetwilliamltd.com.)
Baby and child design house Rylee + Cru is just a few seasons old, but their collections are already well-known for capturing the zeitgeist as well the hearts, minds and wallets of fashion-loving parents. Their best summer looks this year reference delicious summer treats. The blush pink Popsicle Tank Top ($36) looks good enough to eat, and the funny ice blue anthropomorphic dessert who graces the Snow Cone Romper ($50) looks like he might be giving himself brain-freeze.
Kira Kids also makes a strong showing in the frozen desserts category with looks like their cotton candy-hued Ice Cream Jumpsuit ($48) printed with a duo of classic cones-the swirl and the sprinkle.
You can purchase the Rylee + Cru Popsicle Tank Top at Pink Olive, whose Brooklyn stores are in Williamsburg and Park Slope, the Rylee + Cru Snow Cone Romper at Barneys.com or on the Rylee + Cru website, and the Kira Kids Ice Cream Jumpsuit at pinkolive.com.
Rylee + Cru also designed some darling prints right on point for another yummy summer trend- fruit! Their outstanding one-piece Watermelon Jumpsuit ($68) has a great modern silhouette, with gathers across the bodice to keep it sweet.
Our favorite matching fruity separates (which are also strong enough to stand alone when paired with basics like denim trousers or a white tee) come from just-launched label Boucle D’Or. Their Boxy Shorts ($43) and Snap Tees in smiling apple, pear and our favorite lemon ($36) look good enough to eat, especially in combination with the matching head wraps ($12) that are practically de rigueur for baby ‘grams.
The exclusive patterns are hand-printed on 100% organic French terry and look and feel like the custom creations they are. The Rylee + Cru Watermelon Jumpsuit can be found on pinkolive.com, the Boucle D’Or Lemon Boxy Shorts, Lemon Snap T-shirt and Lemon Knotted Headband are all available at agiftedbaby.com.
Finally, what summer look is complete without shades? Sons and Daughters makes irresistible children’s eyewear of all kinds. If we had to choose just one look for this season, it would be the primary-colored, Matisse-inspired Bobo Choses Clark Sun Collaboration ($116.00).
Amelia Gray lives in Crown Heights with her daughter Freya, French Bulldog Magog and patient husband Yan. She owns the online baby and children’s fashion boutique A Gifted Baby/Little & Good. She loves Hawks with Babies at the Nitehawk Cinema, Xtend Barre Babies on Board classes with Susan in Brooklyn Heights, and being at the epicenter of the artisanal ice cream revolution.
