Kids Couture Fashions from Matooka

Shopping for a little girl is an entirely different experience…one that I’m thoroughly enjoying.  Hardly a day goes by that I don’t see a dress or an outfit I’d like to buy for my daughter.  There seems to be this abundance of adorable clothing for little girls.  I only wish I had that many options for my son.

Matooka is a new line of couture clothing for girls, created by two moms who wanted a contemporary, edgy look while maintaining youth and sweetness.  Many of the styles have a European feel to them.  The company uses quality fabrics to design unique pieces you won’t find in conventional stores.  The styles are bold and many of the outfits would most likely be used for special occasions and outings.  I particularly like their creative use of color schemes and accoutrements, which make the line stand out.  I was happy to see that their Spring ’10 line offers a nice mix of both dressy and casual clothing.

The creators sought to make a fashionable, affordable line and I definitely think they’ve succeeded.  Matooka also donates 10% of all profits to research in infertility and to families undergoing costly assisted reproductive treatments.  Right now, the line is sold in select retailers nationwide but it looks like online ordering will be available shortly.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  A product sample was provided to facilitate this review.

All About Baby: Zootie Patootie

Little girls are so much easier to shop for than little boys.  I remember going into store after store in the mall, in search of an outfit for an event, holiday, or other special occasion…particularly when my son was a baby.  There is no shortage of adorable, little-girl themed clothing in stores today.

Zootie Patootie is one such boutique offering fashionable mix and match ensembles for girls and boys.  If you were to shop at any number of stores offering baby clothes, you’d find no shortage of onesies.  But it’s very rare to find an entire outfit with a onesie.  Zootie Patootie offers complete, matching outfits, sans pants.  This mother/daughter team started the company after struggling to find children’s clothing that actually matched.

At Zootie Patootie, you’ll find leg warmers in place of pants.  Pair them with a long-sleeved onesie and a flower-topped hat and you’ve got yourself the most fashion-forward baby around.  I chose the Groovy Heart long-sleeved onesie ($26), Pink Sunshine leg warmers ($12) and a light pink hat ($20).  The hat and leg warmers come in one size, so they were a bit big on our daughter.  But I think it’s neat to be able to mix and match onesies, leg warmers, and hats.  You could get a few of each and mix and match to get numerous outfits.  I like that the site suggests coordinating pieces.

I had never thought about using leg warmers in place of pants, however, I really like the convenience of not having to take pants off in order to change our little girl’s diaper.  If you’ve got a crawler or a new walker, leg warmers are ideal for protecting their knees and  preventing tears and fading on their pants.   They’re a cotton/polyester, spandex blend so they’re warmer that you would think.  I only wish they came in different sizes because they were definitely big on our little girl.  I would say the same thing about the hats.  You can purchase the same sets for boys, although I had never heard of putting leg warmers on a boy.

The onesies are 100% cotton and are super soft and cozy.  The company offers short and long-sleeved versions and they’re available in sizes 0-3 months up to 12-18 months.  The entire outfit is adorable, complete with the flowered hat.  However, my children were never fond of hats (my daughter screams when we try to put one on her) so I’m content to mix and match the leg warmers and onesies. For more information, just visit their site.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  Product samples were provided to facilitate this review.

All About Baby: The Precious Club

I fully admit that I’m having so much fun dressing and shopping for our sweet baby girl.  If you’ve ever shopped for baby and children’s clothing, than you know that the plethora of adorable attire for girls is never-ending.  It’s boys that I have a difficult time with!  But I think I’ve managed to find some nice pieces for my son over the past two years.

The Precious Club is an adorable little line of baby and kid’s clothing with unique, fun (and slightly cheeky) sayings.  You might have noticed a celeb or two’s baby wearing a piece from this line.  Their onesies and tees are soft and made from 100% cotton.  I received the Best Gift Ever onesie (and she truly is the best gift ever!).  I washed it (because I wash everything before it goes on my children) and it didn’t fade or shrink (which is nice!).  Sizing goes from 6 month onesies to size 4 tees and everything is $16.00.  I’d love to see the company expand their line to include more designs and sayings, onesies in smaller sizes, and even long-sleeved items (for the winter!). Overall I was impressed with the design and quality but think they could maybe lower the price of their onesies a bit. For more information, just visit their website.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

Eco-Friendly Clothing From Earth Creations

Many companies are striving to ensure their products are eco-friendly, recognizing that families care as much about environmental impact as they do about quality.   If I could outfit both of my children in clothing made from renewable, sustainable fabrics and dyes, I would.  For now I’m content to purchase pieces here and there when we can.

Earth Creations offers organic T-shirts for men, women, and children dyed with natural clay. The company was started after one of the founders inadvertently discovered the strength of red clay and its ability to dye fabrics on a mountain bike ride.  While organic cotton is the primary fabric used in their t-shirts, the company also offers hemp and bamboo fabrics.  Their clothing is primarily sold in retail locations but their site does contain some monthly specials and sale items.  Earth Creations uses sustainable fabrics such as hemp and organic cotton and the clay dyes used are natural and biodegradable.

My son received the Owl Be Green 100% organic cotton t-shirt.  I like organic cotton because it’s soft and comfortable.  Understandably, the color options available are all earth tones (which I actually like, particularly on boys).  Right now many of their items are on sale.  You can get children’s t-shirts for $10! The company also offers a complete line of clay-dyed, sustainable women’s apparel.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

191 Unlimited

I have to admit that I’m really enjoying shopping for our baby girl.  It’s just so much easier to find cute, girly clothing for her.  There is no shortage of options like there is for little boys.  Shopping for my son, as much as I enjoy it, has always been a challenge.  The clothes I want for him are either difficult to find or very expensive.

Enter 191 Unlimited,  a company offering fashionable shirts for men and boys.  The company was built with four principles in mind: awesome fit, extreme comfort, innovative detailing, and affordability.  If you visit their site, you’ll notice that all of the boys look smart and dressed to a T.  I would dress my son like that all the time if I could!

Earlier this week, my husband pulled out the camera and took some informal pictures of us.  We dressed my son in the Stage Dive Boys shirt with a pair of jeans.  I’m so biased because he’s my son, but I think he looks so adorable and so much more like a little boy than a baby.  You can dress these shirts up for a special occasion with a nice pair of pants, or use them for more casual days out with a pair of jeans.

The shirts are made from a cotton/polyester blend and are detailed with an embroidered design on the front (both sides).  Boys’ shirts retail for $54 and are available on the site and at major department stores like Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

The Precious Club

I have to admit that I absolutely love dressing my babies up.  And because I’m all about finding the best deals, I thought I’d share one with you that I found!

In a short time, I’ll be reviewing an adorable onesie from The Precious Club.  This new line of baby and kid’s clothing is trendy, fun, and somewhat cheeky.  The company’s goal is to offer soft, comfortable, high-quality clothing that parents and kids will enjoy wearing.  

Through Christmas, you can order from the site and receive free overnight shipping.  If you’re looking for a last minute gift, this just might be the perfect option!

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Hooray by Cynthia Rowley Holiday Collection

I just love dressing my son up (and I can’t wait to dress our little girl up!).  And now that the holidays are coming, it’s the perfect time to find the most fashion-forward baby and toddler clothes for pictures, parties, and family gatherings.  I will admit that while I have purchased several high-end outfits for special occasions, it’s not something I make a habit of.

In September, Babies R Us launched an exclusive new line of designer baby clothes by Cynthia Rowley.  Hooray by Cynthia Rowley offers parents chic and trendy clothing at affordable prices.  Some of the items offered include bodysuits, coveralls, dresses, playwear, bibs, baby blankets, and diaper bags. And perfectly timed for the season is her holiday line.  Here is a little more information from the site:

The Hooray collection, inspired by Cynthia’s love of unique details and color combinations that can be mixed and matched, marks her debut in the baby products market. And, with layette and playwear ranging from $7.99 to $29.99, and bibs, blankets and diaper bags ranging from $5.99 to $39.99, the line will surely appeal to style- and value-conscious shoppers alike.

We received an adorable holiday outfit which included a gray and black plaid vest (Grandpa Vest), a pair of velvet pants (Dress Up Pants), and a matching velvet cap (Velvet Newsboy Cap).  The entire outfit retails for under $40.  From the look and feel of the outfit, I would expect to pay much more.  The fabric is high quality and the intricacies of an elastic waistband on the pants and a sweater back on the vest make the clothing comfortable for children.  The nicest, most expensive outfit is going to sit in a closet gathering dust if it’s itchy, stiff, or uncomfortable for a child to wear (particularly a toddler who now knows how to take his clothes off).

Some of the highlights of the line include “signature prints, plaids, and striped and dotted patterns.”  Only high quality fabrics are used including soft-corduroy and sweater knits.  I like the fact that the line expands all the way to 48 months and that the pieces are so affordable.  I only wish more of the items were offered online as I now do a majority of my shopping online (venturing out with a toddler to a mall at 7 1/2 months pregnant is NOT FUN!).

Babies R Us will continue to expand it’s Hooray by Cynthia Rowley line in 2010.  Look for specialty items such as bedding, soft bath, room decor, and more.  And I highly recommend going into a physical store for the most diverse choices!

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

My Little Super Hero

Do your children like to dress up and pretend play?  My little two year old can be found asking Mr. Bear if he’s ready to eat (or go to school, or go night night), “making eggs” or “washing dishes” in his play kitchen, or making up new words to the song Twinkle Twinkle Wittle Little Star.  My two year old is imaginative and inquisitive!  One of the things he’s started to enjoy is dressing up.

Thanks to Bodemi, we received an impeccably designed I Am My Own Hero Cape & Mask.  We were able to customize it with my son’s first initial and his favorite colors: blue and red!  I love how soft the material (100% cotton) is.  It’s well-made and doesn’t have that itchy feel that some capes at the toy store have.  The cape snaps on and off easily and the mask has a soft elastic band on it.  Ok…so my son hasn’t quite gotten accustomed to wearing anything over his eyes.  He’s not crazy about sunglasses or hats or masks.  But, it does make the outfit!

Halloween is a month away!  If you’re looking for a costume idea (for boys and girls) that will last beyond the 31st of October, check out Bodemi!  Your children will love dressing up all year long.

Bodemi embraces the lifestyle of children through its innovative designs in apparel and accessories. Timeless comfort, chic simplicity, durable fun and hopeful discoveries are the key ingredients in our products.

Here are some of my favorites from Bodemi:

For more fabulous fun summer products, visit Mommy Mandy & Mommy Goggles!