Bread & Jam: Where little girls can dress like little girls!

At first glance that headline sounds a little strange. Little girls already do dress like little girls, don’t they?

Not according to mums Lisa Swerling and Sofia Dyson, who created “Bread & Jam” because they were tired of grown-up looking kids clothes.

They knew that their own daughters loved wearing dresses, but also wanted to climb trees and throw mud. Sound familiar?

To this end, they created a set of pretty vintage-inspired dresses, pledging to only charge what they themselves would be willing to pay.

The Summer 2010 collection features a range of exciting new prints including: Fireflies, Butter Blue, Kitten Party, Orange Mush, Rodeo, Space Fruit and Swimming Sisters.

Available in sizes to suit girls aged 2-8, dresses cost from £25-£29 each.

ILoveBreadAndJam.com

Little Lunalu designer clothing helps disadvantaged children

Are you keen on dressing your baby or toddler in designer clothing but have struggled to justify the cost of doing so?

If so, Little Lunalu’s collection of clothing from over forty trendy brands could be for you.

Not only is their Spring/Summer 2010 range meant to be more accessible and affordable, but 5% of all purchases made goes straight to The Little Lunalu Foundation which supports charities helping disadvantaged children.

You can see the complete collection at the Little Lunalu web site.

Labels include American Apparel’s cool baby basics and funky extras like leopard-print tights from Swedish designers Popup Shop, through to ‘mini-me’ items like Hunter wellies and Baby Bloch’s exquisite ballerina shoes for little girls.

As well as stocking a number of exclusive collections, the store also offers its very own range of stylish sunglasses, including bang-on-trend gold-rimmed aviators for just £10, plus a collection of unique stroller covers and footmuffs for Bugaboos, created by the founder of Little Lunalu – available in five different designs such as a trendy houndstooth print,
camouflage and paisley.

Little Lunalu’s founder, Adina Belloli, says, “My passion has always been working with disadvantaged children. I’ve been a volunteer since the age of 12 and it’s just part of who I am. The other thing I’ve always enjoyed is fashion and, although they’re polar opposites, I’ve found a way to combine them both through Little Lunalu. When my daughter, Luna, was born, I realised that there were other mums out there who, like me, wanted to have more urban products for their children but just didn’t know where to find them. I decided to solve that by creating the online shop. But, staying true to my real passion for helping disadvantaged children, I also opened The Lunalu Foundation and give 5% of all our sales to this entity which, in turn, provides support to charitable organisations across the world such as Global Action for Children.”

LittleLunalu.com

Advice from a Dadtrepreneur

Inspired by how much money I was spending on baby stuff, I started up my baby and nursery shop “Hello Baby” in 2007, about six months after my first daughter, Scarlett, was born. It has been an interesting experience and very hard work. Working for yourself is not for the fainthearted, but, if you can make it work, is a very satisfying experience. It also helps to have an understanding partner!

Anyway, here are a few tips I have picked up along the way:

1. It does not have to be ground breaking

TV shows such as Dragons’ Den give people the wrong impression that starting a business requires a great idea. The truth is that most successful businesses are actually rather mundane. Developing a new product is very risky and expensive where as setting up an online retailing business, taking my own example, can be done for only a few thousand pounds.

2. Be prepared to get your hands dirty

If you are not prepared to do almost everything yourself, you will end up spending a lot of money and the results will probably not be that great. Activities such as marketing and PR can be outsourced at great expense, but are fundamentally not that difficult if you are prepared to put in the time and effort.

3. Outsource to the Far East!

I employ two people in Thailand to help maintain my website. These employees cost about a third of employing someone in the UK. I have also used sites like Elance to find cheap web developers to build our blog and iPhone app.

4. eBay and Amazon are a great way to start

For selling stuff online, eBay and Amazon provide a great launching pad. These sites provide instant access to a huge, international marketplace and require very little technical knowledge. We do about 70% of our businesses through eBay and Amazon, 20% of which is from overseas.

5. Keep costs low and start small

Starting small on a low budget allows you to be flexible and make changes as you go along. If you spend a lot setting up your business only to find that the idea has no wings, you could be a bit stuck. Having been there myself, I also think that the self-reliance and attention to detail required by starting on a shoestring is a useful, though painful experience.

Trevor Ginn runs Hello Baby, the baby shop for parents who care.

Pregnant? Don’t sacrifice your little black dress!

Nine months of alternative clothing decisions to make when you’re pregnant, but why should throwing aside your favourite little black dress be one of the things you have to do?

For £79 you can buy the 6 Way Dress — the ultimate little black dress that will see you through pregnancy and beyond.

Eighty quid might seem like a lot, but this dress is versatile, able to be six outfits in one: strapless dress, halterneck dress, one shoulder dress, crossover dress, cap sleeve dress, or skirt. Importantly, it has built-in bust support.

Available from Cecily Plum.

French Connection launches first babywear clothing collection

Parents who want to dress their babies in fashionable clothing may be pleased to hear that French Connection has announced its first ever babywear clothing range.

There’s a range of all-in-one and full-length bodysuits, tops, bottoms and hats, made in soft jersey and available in five sizes (0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months and 12-18 months).

Take a peek at the new collection here.

There’s no such thing as the average Joe Bloggs…

Size is a big issue for 21st Century boys

Female body shapes have long been the subject of analysis and debate, with women from all corners of the world comparing their figures to a pear, apple or string bean. Now, for the first time a boys clothing specialist aims to uncover the truth about the male physique.

Online retailer Joe Bloggs Clothing, is launching a pioneering study, that will delve into the unchartered territory of boys figures, the results of which promise to revolutionise sizing for boys aged 7-16 years old.

The iconic brand will survey 5,000 boys to discover the average height, waist and inside leg measurements for each age group, in a bid to reveal the shape of the 21st Century boys.

Joe Bloggs’ PR and Marketing Director Bushra Ahmed commented, “Joe Bloggs has been a successful boys brand for over 20 years, during that time fashion has changed as boys aged 7-16 years old have become more style conscious than ever before.

“We also know that body shapes have changed dramatically, there’s no such thing as the average Joe Bloggs anymore! As our campaign photograph demonstrates, 15 year-old boys come in all shapes and sizes, so therefore the way we size our clothes must reflect that.

“We will be the first clothing experts to survey this age group and get to the bottom of the sizing issue, making it easier for boys to buy clothes and look good.”

The Photograph

From left to right: Otis (6ft 2inches), Tim (5ft 7inches), Jordan (4ft 11inches) These three boys prove that there’s no such thing as the average Joe Bloggs, all aged 15-16, but very different in size!

The Survey

If you’re a boy aged 7-16 years old, or your son is, then you can take part in this national survey simply by logging onto joebloggsclothing.co.uk. Every boy that takes part will be entered into a free prize draw and could win one of the hundreds of Joe Bloggs prizes on offer.

Brighten up a dull winter with Aunty Ollie’s new kids collection

Aunty Ollie, the retro-inspired children’s fashion label, has unveiled its first winter collection, which will be available from www.auntyollie.com from September 2009. Like all Aunty Ollie clothes, the new collection features a gorgeous array of vivid prints not normally found on the high street, to brighten up the basics of a winter wardrobe.

The range will feature flannel, cotton and corduroy fabrics in classic, slightly nostalgic styles with a roomy cut to encourage freedom of movement when playing. Teamed up with basics like tights or polo tops, the Aunty Ollie pieces make a statement whether they’re worn around town, in the country with wellies or to birthday and Christmas parties.

For girls (aged 0–10), the range includes dresses, pinafores, coats, tops and skirts. Prints are grouped into themes:

• Geisha Girl featuring Japanese geishas, Chinese kids, Asian florals and birds, as well as spots in melanges of greens, blues, lilacs and pinks
• In the Orchard featuring cherries, apples, strawberries, spots and stripes in pink, red and black hues
• Animalia (The Cute) featuring tiny birds, deer, squirrels, spots and florals in a mix of greens, blues, purples, brown and pinks

For boys (aged 0 – 10), pieces include long sleeve shirts, cargo and lounge pants, hooded tops, coats and kaftan style tops. Print themes include:

• Old Salty Nautical with boats, anchors, fish, stripes and checks in navy, cream, and greens
• Transport with retro motorbikes, planes, cars, stripes and checks predominantly in blues and greens
• Animalia (The Not So Cute) with lizards, snakes, sharks, wild animals, dinosaurs, checks and stripes in shades of khaki, browns, blacks and greens.

“Winter can be dull and grey. We wanted to add a splash of colour and fun to the colder months,” explains Jodie Hampshire, founder of Aunty Ollie and mum of three. “I’ve purposefully created the range so that our statement pieces can be teamed up with existing wardrobe basics to create a variety of looks.

“We’ve also made a point of using a broad spectrum of colours for the girls so that they’re not shoehorned into pink, which most girls’ clothes seem to be these days. And little boys love colour and patterns just as much as girls, so we created a range for them that stands out from dull, monotone attire that is the norm,” she continues.

Prices start from around £16. All clothes are machine washable and made to withstand the rough and tumble of busy kids.

Arabella Miller launches Kids’ Organic Cotton Clothing range

Kids organic cotton clothing company, Arabella Miller, have launched their funky Summer collection. The designs debuted at Premier Kids in January 2008 where fashion trend bible WGSN selected Arabella Miller as one of the top ten brands at the show. This SummerÂ’s themes are:

Space: Just perfect for little boys looking for a friendly Alien Close Encounter

Minibeasts: the “politically correct” name for bugs! Butterflies, Ladybirds and Dragonflies

Pets: Rabbits, Dogs and Cats all feature on these tees with a twist!

Arabella Miller produces cotton clothing for babies and children certified organic by the Soil Association. They are also the first kids t-shirts to be organically printed in the UK by a Soil Association certified printer.

The designs are bold and character driven with Japanese inspired flat graphics, truly unique amongst the growing “green brands” there’s no beige in sight!

Swarovski shows off celeb-designed denim jackets, supports World Orphan Week 1-7 Oct

In support of World Orphan Week (1st-7th October), Swarovksi has unveiled a collection of celebrity-designed denim jackets which will benefit SOS Children’s Villages, the world’s largest charity for orphaned and abandoned children.

Celebrities including Jessica Alba, Laila Ali, Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart, Angie Harmon, Finola Hughes, Stacy London, Reba McEntire, Katharine McPhee, Sara Ramirez, Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood and Vanessa Williams took part in this worthwhile endeavour.

Beginning September 25, each of the fashionable creations will be featured on eBay Giving Works and can be found at www.ebay.com/swarovski. The charity auction will end on October 5.

“By 2010 there will be more than 25 million orphaned and abandoned children around the world. SOS Children’s Villages and Swarovski believe in providing the vital care these children need to grow and flourish in their communities. During World Orphan Week, I hope everyone will take a minute to make a difference in the life of a child,” says Finola Hughes, General Hospital’s” Anna Devane and host of The Style Network’s popular makeover series “How Do I Look.”

Each of the jackets was designed using a combination of Swarovski brooches and iron-crystal transfers, ranging from a celestial theme from Reba McEntire to a floral theme from Carrie Underwood.

The partnership between SOS and Swarovski dates back to the founding of SOS in the Tyrol region of Austria (also home of Swarovski’s world manufacturing headquarters) in 1949. The company’s founder, Daniel Swarovski I, was a humanitarian who personally supported the charity and the crystal maker is happy to have continued the relationship through today.

Parents warned on dangers of sun damage to children’s eyes

The sight charity Eyecare Trust is warning parents that they should protect their children’s eyes from the sun, or put them at risk of permanent damage to their sight.

A child’s eyes are at greater risk of damage from ultraviolet light because the pupils are larger and lenses clearer, which means up to 70% more UV light reaches the retina than in an adult’s eye. As it is, eyes are ten times more sensitive to UV light that skin.

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TinyBigs launches in UK: keeping toddlers’ trousers up!

The trouble with toddlers’ falling trousers could be a thing of the past, thanks to the launch of TinyBigs in the UK.

Already a hit in the US after just a year, they’re a fashionable and comfortable clip and cotton-backed magnet that attaches to the trousers and top, thus solving the problem of gravitational trousers.

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