a little more salt water love

I own a pair of salt water sandals, actually I own two pairs one in red and one in brown. They are seriously comfortable, and I wear them all the time. I think my oldest daughter may be a bit annoyed that they look like kid's shoes (which they are), but for me comfort trumps everything! 

I was shooting a job for Billabong kids line, and I had on my red sandals, my little model had the exact same shoes on! We were twinsies, but she was so much cuter in her sandals!

vivi taking a break from shooting in her salt water sandals, www.mysaltwatersandals.com

Even big girls can rock some little girl wear!

lily in vintage romper and new sandals

in the trenches

The holidays have passed, the girls are back in school, my To Do List has multiplied, and I am in the trenches....in a big way. But, being in the trenches, made me think of trench coats, go figure. But I love a trench coat; on big people and on small people. Since so many places are practically giving away fall merchandise, now would be a good time to buy one a few sizes too big! Let the kids wear them, and wear them often.

Here are a few of my favorite images with Le Trench Coat; starting with a wish for the new year.

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!

caped crusader....real kids wear capes

Oh the days of the broken arms. Just as I'm about to say, "you need to settle down, or someone's going to get hurt," I stopped myself, because I didn't want to be the party pooper. Well, let me condense the story to one simple statement: I made daddy fun drive our daughter to have her arm x-rayed. I knew it was broken, my super special mom instinct, he thought it was fine.

Her purple cast looked fab with her purple cape. She wore the cape every day with the cast; looking for starfish, off to school, to church, to play at the park. The cape got a little less wear before and after the break, but it was always in heavy rotation.

serafina in her purple cape that matched her purple cast. cape by www.johnsonwoolenmills.com, boots by www.tretorn.com

an oldie but a goodie (but it's new)

I mentioned capes. I love capes, and the capes that I have are a girl’s best friend! There are manufacturers that are still producing the same capes that they produced in the 50’s and 60’s. A cape works well over any outfit and girls don’t need to worry about handbags on their shoulders. During bad weather, a child can fit their backpack under the cape. Both of my daughters have broken their arms during different times in elementary school and middle school, and the cape was worn every single day over the cast and sling. Most importantly, they are chic!

lily and friend in johnson woolen mill capes, they cost a little dough, but last forever in durability and style, http://www.johnsonwoolenmills.com/

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!