Swimwear Fun!

Chic Mother and Baby just got the hottest kids swimwear label, Cuddle Fish in store!

Everyone is anticipating the beach weather and particularly with kids they need to be completely sun-protected. Whilst sunscreen is super important so is the swimwear. Cuddle Fish swim suits features  specialised quick-dry and built in SPF and chic style. There's UV protected tops, shorts and bucket hats that shoppers can mix and match. With kids playing it up in the water, sand and sun you are likely to invest into more than one! 

Copy This & That

A few blogs I notice feature a 'this & that' or match this with that outfit segment. So we have thought of a mama wears this and bub wears that from the Chic Mother & Baby online store.

Mama wears Piper Lane Lioness Maxi Dress and bubba wears Alex and Ant floral onsie.

Adorable Handmade Hats

How cute are these crochet knitted hats? Some are even made from organic wool. There is the cat in the hat, little lamb for girl and there is one for boy, little lion plus many many more. These are too cute for words and ready for any themed kids party. Visit Sweetpeattoads for more unique handmade hats.

Jewellery Trees

Jewellery trees can be beautiful art sculpture for your bedroom or home decor that also holds your fashion accessories like necklaces, rings, bracelets, watches and earrings. Very stylish and practical!
For luxe, I splurged on Scandinavian designer Louise Christ's Jewellery Tree Stand from Top3 Design which was awarded in 2008 Red Dot Design in the Interior category. I love the stylish organic form of the tree. It's one of my favourite decor pieces.

For less, I think Little Bird Decor's wooden tree is a gem for holding your young ones, hair ties, bracelets and accessories! Valued at $10.

Baby Celebrity Style: Honor Marie

Ah wouldn't we love to raid celebrity mums and their kiddo's wardrobe. Jessica Alba and her darling Honor Marie Warren are always looking very urban casual chic. Ah the white denim jacket on a toddler is very brave (I wonder how long that lasted ultra clean). Think floral bold printed dress with a cheeky pair of sandals and two cute ponytails for summer. Both fashionistas look so gorgeous..always!

BOWtique - Every girl needs her accessories

BOWTique specialises in making custom hair bows, headbands, hats and tutus for little girls. Bowtique's products are perfect for birthdays, special occasions, dress up, photos and making every girl feel like a princess.

I was lucky to get to know a bit more behind the face of BOWtique, Christie Blizzard and gave her a few Chic Mother & Baby challenges.

1. How would you style Alex & Ant Print Bag L/S with Bowtique's accessories? 100% add a beanie and bow set for the winter and some huggalugs too! Keeping her warm but adding some more texture and If it is for a wee little one, I would also add some Frilly Tushies to wear underneath!

2. Little toddler wants to wear the Fresh Baked Skinny Grey Cords to a birthday party but is not a girly girl. What do you suggest? I LOVE this outfit! I think it could be dressed up and made more party friendly by adding a MASSIVE OVERSTATED bow! A beautiful black lace one would take this from tom boy to sophisticated-chic in minutes! This is one of my favourite things to do - take an everyday outfit that you child LOVES to wear and change it with one simple accessory! She will be happy and you will be snapping photos all day long!

3. What is the cutest outfit your daughter owns? I must be honest and say since we had Addi days of shopping for myself are gone! Addi's wardrobe far outweighs the calibre of mine! She has some beautiful Ralph Lauren and Wheels and Doll Baby outfits, as well as Bardot (which is one of my favourite children's labels) and her latest pieces are some stunning outfits by Tea Princess (as I could not stop at just one)!

++ BOWTIQUES STORY ++

1. How did Bowtique start? My daughter Addi was born with a full head of hair and it all fell out! I dressed her in pink and floral, but no matter how "girlie" i dressed her, people always asked me how old "he" was? I then made her a big bow to wear to a friend's christening, from there I had requests for custom pieces and it just grew and grew!

2. What is your workspace like? We are renovating and it has been a challenge, but finally I have a great new space! See her photos on facebook.

3. Biggest challenge you face running your own business? Juggling family and work commitments - timing making things with raising my little girl

4. Which is your favourite (sorry, you have to choose one!)? I love the new gelato headbands.

5. What is your favourite colour palette? I personally love olives and mustards, but I work a lot with pinks and reds... I love colours that get noticed!

6. Which colour has been the hardest to work with? Not so much colour, but texture. I find feathers a little challenging sometimes as they get everywhere!!!!

7. What is your solution in a scenario where at a photoshoot,  the little girl model is extremely fussy (you know how demanding toddlers can be) and won't wear the selected hair piece but its soooo fabulous and will make the outfit? I always make things a "game" with my little girl. You can always put a spin on things to make thing that are challenging fun! That is my life philosophy.

8. Have you had any custom orders for boy accessories? What kind of accessories can boys have?

This is a scoop! BEAUtique is coming very soon - bow ties and more! [mina: I am super excited about this]

9. Finally, So what's next for BOWtique? BEAUtique is a little branch I am expanding to, but I am hoping for a huge summer with great new customers and more days filled with beautiful ribbons, flowers and my daughter with me every step of the way. Working from home with her is a dream come true!

Bowtique is constantly expanding and adding in new custom made accessories on her FB page so be sure to be a fan!

Trend Alert: Hoodies

Hoodies aren't just for hoodlums - they are super urban chic for kids as modeled by the beautiful Poppy De La Vega, aged 3 who loves dancing and twirling in tutus.

A little fashion history: In the 1970's, hip hop culture emerged and the hoodie trend took off cause of the anonymity hoodies offered. It was the clothing choice for criminals but this notoriety became a fashion trend that eventually was embraced by high end fashion labels.

The popularity of hoodies spread all over becoming apart of different subcultures fashion like skateboarders, surfers, gymers and dancers. Afterall, they are the most comfortable and often warm clothes.

Check out Chic Mother and Baby's hoodie range for boys and girls.

Chic Mother & Baby Croquet Photoshoot.

Chic Mother & Baby had their first photo shoot at the Cheltenham Recreation Club to showcase the Autumn/Winter range. Croquet is a lost sport and it is unbelievably fun and fit for all ages! It is the perfect weekend activity as it doesn't require that much energy or specialised gear (as much as I love bowling, I always break a nail). The weather was extremely generous to us.

The Cheltenham Recreation Club has sufficient facilities to host your next get-together or even birthday party.

• 6 mod-grass tennis courts
  
• 2 bowling greens
• 2 croquet lawns
• clubhouse available for hire with function room, caterer, bar, kitchen, shower
• ample on site parking

We were lucky to work with some gorgeous baby and toddler models who were not shy of dressing up and posing for our photographer Kimberly Ngo. Although, the hardest part of it was to keep the kids entertained (popcorn, cupcakes, bubbles, flowers) and contained within the area, oh and also not to dirty the outfits.

You can see the shoot throughout the Chic Mother & Baby online store.

This thank you is long overdue. A big thank you to all that helped particularly Leslie from the croquet club and the mums and gave up their Saturday morning to be with us.


Credits: Fashion Stylist - Kristy Boyce. Art direction - Mina G. Photographer - Kimberly Ngo & Partner. Clothes from Chic Mother & Baby store. Location - Cheltenham Recreation Club contact Leslie.

Boot-i-licious

Bergstein Gumboots (all the way from Holland) are the ideal footwear for your toddler jumping from puddle to puddle in this wet weather. Classic and simplistic in design, these sturdy rainboots are available from a brand new online boutique store Little Elk. Bergstein Gumboots is available in a range of bright colours and retails at $49.95. A worthy investment to keeping your little ones toes warm, dry and happy!

I can't wait to see what else Little Elk brings to our Aussie shores - I can only hope more popular European and Scandanvian goodies.