ahoy matey....my first guest blogger post

Swagger on over to ThredUp to view my first guest blogger post, a little style for a steal!
http://blog.thredup.com

an out take from the shoot that inspired the post

Sx2....or sandals and socks

•• these are not my images

I love quirky, and I just put together a guest blog post for ThredUp, which will be out next week. But, the post got me thinking about spring. I love when people buck tradition, or uphold old tradition. Way back when, kids would wear sandals and socks. I know it looks questionable on grown ups, except on JCrew models! 

I stumbled across this image, and it made me think of Salt Water Sandals and some bright little socks. 

a little anklet sandal combo

a little salt water love

Salt Water Sandals are a BARGAIN, considering they can survive through one child after the next, can get wet, and still look great, come in a Skittles packet of colors, and come in adult sizes! But more to follow on that theme. 

Then think about socks! Well I love a site called We Love Colors. They also have just about every color one could imagine for tights, socks, you name it, and they are all so reasonable priced!

a little fuschia love for $31.95 at www.mysaltwatersandals.com

bright anklet socks $3 at www.welovecolors.com

red light special....digging deep in the trench

•• these are not my images

Look what I found! #1 a collage-a-trench....couldn't have done it better myself.

image courtesy of http://smartaesthetic.blogspot.com/2011/10/child-trench-coats.html

#2 Classic and less than a meal of a california roll and a green tea, plus tax!

www.target.com classic blue trench by french toast for a whopping $15.99

fur real!?....i think that I can do the math

I was thinking about being warm today, since it was pretty chilly this morning, and I was thinking about high fashion kids brands. You know the brands that only show haute couture during fashion week, and then spin out a luxury brand for les enfants. Ridiculously expensive, yet oh so lovely lines. Then I thought about a fur collar, I don't know why, but I did. I was thinking that a fur collar would look so cute with a simple black or white shirt.

a little faux fur made it better!

•• these are not my images below

Fur Real....spluge vs. steal-

from the top, super expensive, www.etsy.com/shop/Mclovebuddy, and www.nyandcompany.com

back in black....and when is a legging a pant?

•• these are not my images

OK, ok a legging is a legging on a girl, unless you're a baby, and a legging is considered "stretchy pants." I was pondering, the whole where does one find super cool, actually just super simple black stretchy pants, onesies, or simple t-shirts for the itty bitty set. Here you go!

sources clockwise from upper left: www.rockbottomt-shirts.com, www.oldnavy.com, www.americanapparel.com

it's all black and white to me baby

I think babies in black and white are, oh so chic, and stain free! Don't be afraid of going a little on the dark side with the wee ones. Feather Baby carries a simple fleur de lis print that is super season-less, and super easy to keep looking new!

these dapper dudes are in b&w www.featherbaby.com

fancy feet....a little DIY

Easiest DIY ever! My girls wanted tennis shoes that looked like brogues and saddle shoes. So, off we went to Payless for some plain white tennis, super simple. Stop number two, was the fabric/ craft store for 3 fabric markers; light grey, medium grey, and black. Use a pencil to sketch out the design, and voila some nifty, thrifty shoes!

load up a pair of brogues from the internet, to help you with your design.

super cute and super thrifty!!!

fab find friday....numero uni!

•• these are not my images

Japanese clothes are awesome, since they embody form and function, they are utilitarian chic. Finally an amazing Japanese retailer for all came stateside, but only on the east coast side (or San Fran). The rest of us, are left to online shopping. I'm talking about numero uni, as in Uniqlo. Their children's clothes are just that....children's clothes. Not necessarily boy or girls, but boys and girls. They have an amazing pair of pants that would be spiffy on both genders, for a whopping $14.90! You could pair it with a Uniqlo girls sweater vest, meow for $14.90, with your own plain long sleeve T, or a gender neutral cozy flannel shirt for $14.90. Check out Uniqlo for yourself too....you'll be happy you did!

oh to be a child again, and rock the kitty cat sweater vest! all pieces $14.90 at www.uniqlo.com/us

be creative....101

It’s amazing how you can take a skirt, and make a dress out of it, with little to no effort. Old lace pieces make beautiful scarves during any month. Boys blazers are adorable on girls, and can be found at second hand stores for a few dollars. Even boys formal wear pants and jeans make great pants on a girl, especially with suspenders. 

Learn to sew or knit...just a little. There have been times when I can’t find the right item of clothing. The right bloomers or the right colored skirt. I can’t really follow a pattern well, but I have been able to whip out a few simple elastic skirts from muslin that have cost about a dollar. Anything that has a cinched waist can be a cinch to make!

on zoe, boys jeans √, satin suspenders √, and girly t-shirt √....enough said.

worth every stinkin penny....no buyer's remorse

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Some things just cost money, and that kind of money is better saved then spent. Here are a few things that are worth the splurge. All of these pieces can be machine washed or gently machine washed. I personally, would let my kids wear the heck out of them!

From low to high:

this little cord dress from www.olivejuicekids.com is $72.50. it's a great piece to layer under sweaters and jackets when the weather is cooler, or to pair with a tennis shoe and bare legs when the weather warms up.

the walton v-neck $49.50 and freddie twill pant $59 from www.neigeclothing.com are worth the money price. both pieces are currently on sale, and would look mighty spiffy with a bright checked collared shirt or bright t-shirt underneath for the holidays. wash and wear boys, wash and wear.

this madeleine dress $105 from www.neigeclothing.com is a super multi-tasker. wear it as a dress, or when you're daughter has grown taller, it would be a great tunic over jeans and leggings. it will never be too big or too small. and with it being machine washable, you lovely little girls will probably want to wear it every day.

this gorgeous sophie dress $118 from www.marilyntov.com is just ah-mazing too. this little thing can be gently machine washed, and can really be a three season dress. it's classic, and it's pale pink, and it is just quietly stunning.

With a collection of basics and neutrals, at arms reach, it’s easy to add pops of color for an outfit that is classic, but modern, and totally international. For tweens, you may find that other kids begin asking where your kids shop, and where they’ve gotten certain items. Originality, in a classic way, can cause quite the stir in middle school. And kids want to look a little more sophisticated than they are. The majority of the girls in schools will go for classic, european, over cheap and trashy any day. Even in 6th grade, a lot kids are following some fashion someone on Tumblr, reading Teen Vogue, or blogging. Stand back and watch the creative sparks fly!

so this was a first day of school photo of one of my girls, notice the detached look in my daughter's eyes! I was completely annoying her. she took some major chances with her pattern play in 8th grade, and the look totally works. the shirt was from a local thrift store, the skirt was jcp, the flats payless.

is this real life?....thrifting virtually

•• these are not my images, but are my collages

My local Salvation Army is pretty incredible, actually it's beyond awesome. But, not everyone lives near a grade "A" second hand place. So, I did a little leg/ finger work and found a few great resources online. One that I stumbled across, Thred Up, had such a great selection of very gently used pieces. You can sort by gender, size, color, brand, you name it! I put together a holiday look for boys and girls, add some undies and socks and you're good to go. Each ensemble, including shoes was right around $50. I hope I see some 6 year old fashion blogger out there wearing the jumper/ fuzzy coat/ pink clog look, and maybe some hipster dude will be looking awesome in his monochromatic/ fire flame tennis shoe ensemble.

all pieces were rounded up to the nearest dollar, and clothing, minus shoes are size 6 kids. take a look at www.thredup.com!

fab find friday

So this little number below is one super duper, multi-tasker. Not only is it an awesome color, and super classic, it has a funky side too. It's easy on the eyes and the wallet. I found this little beauty for a whopping $2.75 at the local thrift store. I loved the color, the moment I saw it, and I was inspired, because with just the right pieces, it would't look like a uniform at all.

So, I dressed my little friend J-Rae in it, and she looks so hip and way too cool for school. What do you think?

j. rae in her own striped/ sparkly shirt and her own funky jeggings with the school sweater. she also has her own silver converse on too.

thrifting....101

Thrift shopping is the basis for my styling with kids. Most kids items in thrift stores max out at $2.98, and half of the time, it’s buy one, get one free. So, buying second hand is economical, and I think, really fun! Some people think, that the only people who shop in the Salvation Army, have to shop there. But, I can assure you that there are stylists, prop stylists, vintage resale shops, and total fashionistas there as well. It's like digging for buried treasure!

Second hand stores can have enormously long rows of racks, and it can get a dizzying. I’ve found that the "good" items, really do stand out from the crowd. High quality fabrics tend to draw my eye, as do more neutral colors. My girls handed down all the trendy, sparkly, very pink items, and that’s the majority of what I see in the second hand shops. But, high quality sweaters, cashmere, wool, and cotton seem to be begging to go home with someone. Also, grey’s, blacks, and pale beautiful pastels almost have arrows pointing down from the ceiling at them. Many times, I see a great pale pink shirt, and pick it up to find a very expensive European label. I’ve also found plain, never worn, basic Petite Bateau shirts in grey, navy, and white on the racks. Not to mention, occasionally, I score a one of a kind, hand sewn by some incredible seamstress article, and inside my head all I hear is "OMG did I really just find that here"!

zoe showing off her skills in a thrifted tunic and shorts from salvation army , and huarache sandals from olvera st. in downtown los angeles. the hula hoop and white duct tape cost more than the enitre outfit.

ahhh blundstones....how do I love thee, let me count the ways

1- you're so easy going....you go with everything in a girl's wardrobe
2- you're so much fun....we can run and play all day long
3- you're simple....but in the best kind of way, because you just slip on
4- you're so good looking and rugged....such a timeless classic
5- you never seem to age....see photo #2 below
5- you have the cutest australian accent!

kyla looking adorable in a vintage neige dress and shorts www.neigeclothing.com, black knee socks and blunnies, www.blundstoneusa.com. 

Ok, now guess how old these are, come on, just try! Oh, ok, I'll go ahead and tell you. They're 11 years old, they were purchased for $90, which may seem a little pricey. Until, you figure that they were worn by one child through 1.5 years in Canada with sleet, snow and rain, then passed down to the next child for 1.5 years, then used on numerous photo shoots for the past 6 years or so. So, factoring the $90 purchase price over the past 11 years, that's roughly $8 a year. Total bargain!

uniform policy....just not like everyone else

•• these are not my off figure images, but collages are mine.

So, here are a few little ensembles that start with a pretty basic uniform piece. I love a bargain, and a classic (I'm sure that you couldn't tell), but these outfits rock! Prep school-school of rock, it's all the same!

and it all started with a basic white peter pan collar uniform shirt.

don't want to spend major $$ on a basic grey crew neck sweatshirt? buy one from a school uniform supplier.

this outfits uses a varsity sweater as it's base, and some awesome school shoes, and of course kitty cat ears, meow. my youngest wore her cat ears for years, and they do add a little somethin, somethin to an outfit.

awesome uniform shops online: www.flynnohara.com, schooluniforms.com

p.s. uniforms are made to fit high schoolers, which means that they fit you too!

uniforms....101

Uniform supply stores and websites are an underutilized resource for most parents. It’s also amazing at how many uniform pieces are recycled back into thrift stores. Whether you're private or public, school that is, there is something for everyone.

Shirts that don’t wrinkle, with sturdy collars are a great foundation for any outfit. There is a uniform supplier on the east coast that offers a varsity sweater cardigan, with two stripes on the arm, with the addition of a few patches, it looks just like a RL sweater. Also, I’ve found gym tunics and peter pan collar dresses for girls, as well as grey shorts and classic pants for boys.

Uniforms are made to endure daily use and washings, and are such a good buy!

pretty and basic....white peter pan collared shirt, grey pleated skirt and a men's tie as a belt.

vintage....101

Vintage finds at thrift stores and flea markets are a great way to enhance a child’s wardrobe. Vintage now includes the 60’s and 70’s when some kids clothes were indestructible, and the cuts were more true to size. The shorts and pants are not low rise, but they have a great classic fit without loads of pleating. I’ve found vintage dresses that look like Missoni and Gucci from the 60’s. I’ve also been able discover really basic navy wool capes (which you see frequently in my personal work), and gorgeous wool jackets, that look very much Burberry kids line. 

Many designers buy vintage pieces as their inspiration for the lines now. But, it is great fun when you pay $5 for something that would retail for 20 times that! You do want to make sure that the vintage pieces work with the edit in your closet, and they’re just not an impulse buy for the “aaah” factor. If the item is the right fit, and your child will wear it, and the colors work, and it’s in good condition, buy it! 

a sweet little thing, in a few sweet little things. vintage 70's buckle shoes (my ex. wore these on his parents wedding day and his mom kept them), vintage wool cape from a local kids resale shop, www.kidstockla.com/, it was a steal....no one wanted it!

all I need is two minutes of your time....DIY

•• these are not my images. they are from prudent baby

This is, for real, a DIY 2 minute t-shirt dress. Use an adult shirt, a sewing machine, and well, click on the link below. How awesome!

click here to follow the tutorial http://prudentbaby.com/2011/03/baby-kid/two-minute-t-shirt-dress-2/

scrappy.....um fabric scraps that is

•• this is not my image

So, in the vain of repurposing, and reusing, and mixing things up. For those crafty people out there, it's super easy to whip together a peter pan collar necklace to add over a sweater or plain basic t-shirt. How super cute is this collar on Etsy. I love the monochromatic look of the black and white, and it transforms a simple shirt into a machine washable, something special.

image source, and source for this awesome piece....http://www.etsy.com/shop/RitaVanTassel