With the continued annihilation of the arts, creativity and all the skills that accompany them - it is a relief to discover some home-grown talent.  Laney is designed, made and customised in Brixton by Laurie Delaney.  A unisex kidswear brand that offers unique, functional pieces that not only allow children to do all the things children need to do, but look effortlessly cool whilst doing it!

  

Garments are simplistic in style, but the customisation of cuffs / colour etc creates something new.  Laney is a brand that enables kids to develop their own style from only a few garments, which is unusual in today’s market and can only be a great string to their bow.  It is going to be interesting to see how Laney develops and moves forward.

All Images & Rights Reserved to   LANEY 

Jigsaw Junior

Over the past few years the tide has begun to turn with regards to girlswear.  There is no doubt that Scandinavian 'unisex' styling has had an effect and born out of this trend new independent brands have emerged, such as Beau loves.  However, we expect this from more forward thinking fashion labels, so imagine my surprise when I saw the AW14 photoshoot for Jigsaw Junior.  Now, don't get me wrong, Jigsaw Junior have designed some beautiful ranges in the past, but they were definitely more girlie, traditional and far away from anything 'cool'.  

It's great to see a British brand embracing the images of  'proper' little girls skateboarding, hanging out and generally looking like kids rather than prancing around in a pink fluffy outfit!   I also happen to know the little girl featured in all photographs and she is one of the coolest kids around!  

Image & Rights reserved Jigsaw

Image & Rights Reserved Jigsaw

Image & Rights Reserved Jigsaw

Let's here it for the boys.....

I think an image can speak a thousand words  (Click here for amazing inspirational childrenswear)  

I just love this image....the desert boots, the casual turn-up mixed with that gorgeous teal and yellow stripe. It is taken from the Californian based company  'Richer Poorer' which makes everyday ordinary items a little more exciting!  I think it is the epitome of cool kidswear.

Image & Rights Reserved Richer Poorer

Spring Summer 2014 Wedding Trends for Little Girls

I have quite a few loves, but hair and fashion are firm favourites!  My mum was a hairdresser in the sixties and I always adored the backcombed creations she produced, as well as the hood hair dryer we had in pride of place on our Danish teak sideboard.  My sister and I would spend our lives in rollers and it led me down the path of experimentation with my hair.  I have had it most colours, though red is always a firm favourite and the colour I come back to.  I have always been 'diy' when it comes to hair with a bit of a carefree attitude and have inflicted this on many a friend!  However, I have recently put all these diy skills into proper training and I am now a qualified wedding hairstylist!  

I am currently putting all my ideas together to create a photoshoot and website for this new venture.  Although it is quite different to designing clothes it is not a million miles away, but I am hoping it will fit more happily with having a family.  I will still be posting on Dilly Foxtrot and I think these two projects will sit side by side cheerfully.

Therefore, I have decided to put together some great flower girl/bridesmaid or guest ideas that have been trending for Spring summer 2014.  Expect to see lots of real flower crowns, shorter length dresses, messy updos, braids & an overall bohemian feel.

I have started with Dolce & Gabbana who have a lovely Spring Summer 2014 campaign.  You will find bright coloured lace and floral prints teamed with beautiful floral headwear and even  bands with golden buttons.

Image & Rights reserved Dolce & Gabbana

Image & Rights Reserved Dolce & Gabbana

Bonpoint's SS14 Campaign feature beautiful ditsy prints, ethereal dresses and flower crowns, however, I particularly love the block colour dresses with cut out lace detailing.  Really simple, clean design which has be accessorised with underdone hair and fresh flower crowns.  I also love the contrasting pretty delicate dress with knee high ribbed socks!

Image & Rights reserved Bonpoint

Image & Rights Reserved Bonpoint

Finally, I wanted to show you some beautiful styling from jujubunnyshop (A gorgeous online store offering childrenswear from Korea & europe).   Delicate coloured tulle shirts, ditsy florals, accessorised with leaf crowns & braids.  Really simple, laid back styling but perfect for any wedding. (All Images & rights Reserved jujubunnyshop)

BOOkidswear

I have been a little bit quiet of late, the usual disillusion mixed with the constant nagging of 'what am I going to do now!!!'  Sprinkled with lots of other projects, but then something always grabs me and I am compelled to share. BOO by BOOkidswear is the most innovative girlswear I have seen for sometime.  Really quirky, with geometric, graphic detailing and detachable adornments such as baby animals.  I love the photography and the beautifully illustrated backdrops.  Plus a great use of colour.           

Unfortunately, I cannot find out much about this label other than it is based in Croatia and I think the little girl in the photos is the designers daughter.  Hopefully, I will be able to find out more information and bring it to you.  But for now, check out her Etsy Store and Pinterest boards.....I think you will agree, it is a real find.  Thank you Bookidswear for restoring my faith!

Image & Rights Reserved BooKidswear

Image & Right Reserved Bookidswear

Image & Rights Reserved Bookidswear

Image & Rights Reserved Bookidswear

ZARA Kids Winter 13 Lookbook .....Boys

The styling and photography for the Winter 13 Lookbook for ZARA Kids is great!  The boys have just as much focus as the girls and look effortlessly cool.  A washed colour palette combined with a few brighter highlights, Plaids, fur and black.  Plus simple layering and casual styling equals perfect boyswear.

Image & Rights Reserved by ZARA

Image & Rights Reserved by ZARA

Image & Rights Reserved by ZARA

Image & Rights Reserved by ZARA

Image & Rights Reserved by ZARA

Marks & Spencers AW13

I popped into Marks and Spencers today and the Autumn Winter range is bursting with colour, print and style.  There was so much choice for all ages and sexes.  There were a lot of brave options and I love that there was lots of 'boyish' options for girls.  This is clever designing, often it is all too easy to go for the froufrou / pretty girl options.  Furthermore, the price point is achievable for most families.  I actually spent some money, which I wasn't intending to buy so it must be good!

Finally, it feel great to be able to talk about childrenswear that is stylish, contemporary and most importantly available/achievable for all.  I urge you to pop into store as the website doesn't really do the garments justice.  Below are our outfit picks 

All Images & Rights Reserved Marks and Spencers

Simonetta AW13

I love the colour pallette, contrast detailing, bold prints and styling of this Autumn Winter Campaign from Simonetta.  It is a real feast for the eyes and a breath of fresh air.  Delicate dresses teamed with heavy knit leg-warmers / socks and boyish style shoes.  It is still a really pretty range but with an added quirky, fun element.  Perfect styling for girlswear.....I absolutely adore the toadstool headbands!  Click on the link to see the full collection.

All Rights & Images Reserved Simonetta

The Land of Nod & Lately Lily

Writing the post on illustrator Andrew Bannecker led me to a gorgeous children's homeware website called, 'The Land of Nod'.  (They had just collaborated, resulting in fantastic Meteorite bedding - see here)  One of the many things that caught my eye was this little cardboard suitcase gift pack complete with three graphic bodysuits in by Lately Lily.  

A little investigating and I found their website.  What a discovery!  Lately Lily is a company that was created by Author/Illustrator Micah Player and Apparel Designer Erin Nichols.  Each season is based on the World travels of their character Lily and her best friend Zeborah.  Cool illustrated posters and Tees are available to buy on their website along with the notes / stories of Lily.  

It is all beautifully done, with great illustration.  A new firm favourite of ours here at Dilly HQ!

All Images & Rights Reserved Lately Lily / The Land of Nod

We are all looking East

New trends are always really interesting, even if you do not particularly like them.  I like to discover where they have originally come from and why they are suddenly so influential.  Trends can come at any time, from anywhere and can be driven by factors such as the economy/environment/ specific events etc. As a designer you are always on the look out for something new or something that catches your eye.  You get a feel for trends and are aware of all the triggers that point to a certain thing.  

One such emerging trend is fashion influence from Eastern European countries such as Poland.  I have come across great, imaginative childrenswear (such as Czesiociuch unisex range which we previously reported on here) along with creative styling / photographers and bloggers.   See below our cool round-up with all links so you can check them out further.....move over Scandinavia!

1.Pinkwings Studio   2.Latvian ZIB kidswear   3.Polish Kidswear Czesiociuch  4.Four'eMki Kidswear
5.d.j.m Studio Lithuanian   6.Cool Polish blog http://makoweczki.pl/

Sometimes you come across an image and instantly fall in love with it.....well to be honest I do this several times a day, for various reasons, hence the twenty thousand or so pins!  

If you are a regular reader you will know I have a fondness for vintage clothing and interiors.  My girls have a vintage stagecoach pram in their room, along with a whole manner of vintage toys I have picked up along the way, so this image grabbed my attention straight the way. (because of the pram)  Then the little girl with the flower head-dress/ capelet sleeve, faded colour palette, fawn in hand!  I love it!  It is so natural and nostalgic.  It represents a summer childhood I had and long for my own children.  (All be it through rose tinted glasses!) On further investigation the people responsible for this image is a website called Leuie, A beautiful Canadian Website capturing and celebrating childhood with their collections for home and living.  Dilly's recommendation is the gorgeous Rochefort Arlequin Dress, super cute with its peter pan collar and stripes.

All Rights & Images Reserved by Leuie

Summer continues

Another sunny day here in the UK, highly unusual!  So we made the most of it by heading down to a local festival by the riverside.   Much fun was had by all.  Fleur chose a navy/red/silver lurex jersey / woven cotton mix dress with corsage teamed with maroon/pink knee high socks and silver Birkenstocks.  Whereas Nico opted for an all over floral print tee from Polarn O Pyret and dark denim sailor style flares from Zara.

All over floral print tee by Polarn O Pyret

Silver Birkenstocks & Maroon/pink knee high socks by Joules

Bristol....Upfest

This weekend I travelled down to Bristol to visit my lovely friend Emma (Editor of Fashion Blog No Debutante) thankfully the artic temperature from Friday disappeared and the sun shined....all weekend! As always there was lots of fun things happening in the city and we chose to visit Upfest, which was a festival at a skate park with lots of live graffiti and a loud sound system.

It was a great, chilled out weekend with lots of great wine, food and conversation.  Plus Emma has three cool kids that dress perfectly....the boys are uber cool with a nod to skate fashion and little Sylvie Belle is the cutest thing ever!  It was really hard not to try and steal her!

Little Sylvie Belle wearing cute Japanese inspired graphic top, patterned bloomers & heart knee patch leggings

Emma & myself wearing 1950's style prints

Marks and Spencers AW13

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829455486042/ (All Rights & Images Reserved Marks and Spencers)

Wow!  I have just seen a sneak preview of Marks and Spencers Autumn Winter 2013 Range and it looks fantastic.  The colours, prints, styling all create a contemporary finish, even in babywear.  Furthermore, this new look kidswear will be available at old prices!  For a full sneak peak click here (Smudgetikka Kidswear blog) 

Sweetheart Knits

I am lucky enough to have a super talented auntie that can knit me most things, but many people do not have that option...in step Sweetheart Knits.  A group of grannies that hand knit a range of baby to adult garments and toys.   Led by Cath, who set the company up hoping to promote the end disposable clothing by showing us products that have been created with love and care.  They believe that garments should then be passed on to others to enjoy or pulled apart to make something else.  Each item comes wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine...just some of my favourite things!  Talking of which I love these little skull 'n' crossbone booties, I love the colours and would be a great little present for any baby and the loopy bolero is just so gorgeous, I had many a loopy knit coat when I was a child.  It is a real 70's style and would look great with a boho inspired summer outfit.  See the rest of what the knitters have to offer here   

It is a really lovely little find with a great message, well done ladies! (All Rights & Images Reserved to Sweetheart Knits)

milkPOP

Today I pinned a childrenswear tank top (or vest as we call them here in England) with a great graphic, so I decided to investigate further and discovered it was by lifestyle brand milkPOP.   If you click on the name it will take you to their website, which is really cool (so do!) and tells you all about the milkPOP's - yummy little creatures who live in the land of milk and Hunny.  They also inspire you to follow your dreams through art and imagination!  All the things we here at Dilly Foxtrot love and stand-by!   I love the diy and interchangeable aspects of the products as well as the unisex appeal.  Aside from the fashion/Product element, I really admire and respect this Label for their workshops with charities.   Read all about it here  (All Images & Rights Reserved milkPOP)

Unisex Julian Tee complete with diy embellishment box

milkPOP for Converse

Farrah Black Tank with detachable bow & pearl necklace

Corby Tindersticks Part 2

It was a lovely warm sunny day so we decided to throw on our gorgeous Corby Tindersticks outfits, pack a picnic basket and a few of  favourite toys before heading into the garden.  It was a fun day of lounging about on the blanket, listening to the radio, reading Twinkle annuals and feasting on our delicious picnic.  Plus a bit of skateboarding thrown in for good measure! 

The kids and I love the Corby Tindersticks range.  The kids favour the  feel of the fabric and the ease of wearing the garments as well as the quirky graphics, but what I really love is the detailing.  The appliqués,  the label, the topstiching, the racer back styling - all these aspects make a great garment.  I also love the quirky illustrations, that really are the foundation of this Label and offer a range of toys with these characters, so click on the named link above and check out the whole range.

Ribbed, racer back dress with robot print & appliqué

White Smiley T-shirt

Orange Line-up T-shirt with Topstiching detail