8 spring fashion favorites for kids
By Jackie McGoey
Digital Editor
Springtime is probably my favorite time of year when it comes to fashion. Kids ditch the heavy winter coats in favor of floral prints, polka dots and bright rain boots. Here’s what all the cool kids are wearing this season. Plus, a little something for mom, too!
I couldn’t have discovered kidpik.com at a better time. My daughter is totally into fashion right now and, without hesitation or prompting, would describe her style as “fabulous.” But even if your girl is more sporty, glam or modest, the beauty of kidpik is that it’s completely tailored to her. Girls (sizes 4-14) can choose which colors, patterns and styles they love to wear and within a few days, a box of clothes and shoes arrives at the door. Parents with commitment phobia will love that there’s no subscription fee, shipping is free and you only pay for what you keep. However, if you do decide to keep the whole box, you get a 30 percent discount. I’d call that pretty fabulous.
The average kidpik.com box retails for $75.
Come spring, kids can’t wait to ditch the closed-toe shoes and set their piggies free. Cute sandals that are comfortable and well-made are worth their weight in gold. Add in the fact that Umi shoes are made from eco-friendly materials and genuine leather and I’m planning on my girls living in them all season long. In my house, we’re loving the Celia and Cora styles. And boys will turn heads (and still be able to play rough and tumble) in the Mason and Nolan styles.
Umi Shoes retail for $50+.
Any fashionista will tell you that if the ‘do isn’t right, nothing is. Glitzies stick-on hair jewels add a bit of shine and shimmer to everyday hairstyles. Silver sparkles accent fishtail braids, pearls add sophisticated glam to your girl’s top knot and try cheetah-print hearts for when she’s really feeling adventurous.
Glitzies hair stickers retail for $9.95.
If babies in tiny sunnies don’t make you smile, you’ve got a cold, cold heart. Beyond upping your little’s cuteness factor, Ro·Sham·Bo Baby is making sure those baby blues (or browns or greens) are protected right from the start. Their stylish kids' glasses offer 100 percent UVA and UVB protection and are light, flexible and virtually unbreakable (seriously, just check out this video). A portion of all sales benefits the Autism Research Institute in San Diego and just in case you’re not already crushing hard, the shades come in names like “Kelly Kapowski” (hot pink), “Ice Ice Baby” (bright white) and “McFly” (tomato red). Be still my ‘90s heart.
Ro·Sham·Bo Baby stylish kids' glasses and sunglasses retail for $20.
Kids seem to grow out of clothes faster than you can blink sometimes. Runchkins--a new personal shopping service based in Chicago--promises to buy back their items once your child outgrows them. Unheard of! Here's how it works: For a nominal subscription fee, hand-picked items for girls and boys (up to age six) are delivered to your door. Choose what you love and send back what you don’t. Simple! Prices are comparable to higher-end boutiques, but keep this on your radar for the future: you can soon choose to receive gently-used items in your box, which will reduce the final cost to you significantly.
The average Runchkins outfit retails for $88.
Your kiddos will have the cutest bums in Chicago in Doodle Pants leggings. And as we’ve all seen, spring in Chicago can mean snow (really, Mother Nature?), so having a few options to keep those chunky legs warm is a good idea. The 75+ designs are fun and creative, and most importantly, they’re comfy, with extra room in the seat (perfect for cloth diapers!). If you love them, you’re in good company; celebs such as Olivia Wilde, Jessica Simpson and Jenna Dewan-Tatum do, too.
Doodle Pants retail for $24.99+.
Skylar Luna organic loungewear
Nobody, kids included, wants to be uncomfortable when they’re sleeping. Skylar Luna’s short sleeve pajamas sets are perfect for warm spring nights. Wrap your kids up in softer-than-soft Turkish organic cotton as they drift off to sleep. The sets are so cozy in fact, don’t be surprised if, come morning, your kids want to stay in their jammies all day long.
Skylar Luna organic loungewear retail for $30+.
Chasing after toddlers, running behind new bike riders fresh off training wheels and walking big kids to school. Face it: moms have to be on their feet a lot. BZees line of sporty footwear aims to make that time as comfortable as possible. The lightweight slip-ons, strappy sandals and wedges (my personal favorite) are made with a special air-infused outsole and free foam footbed which make you feel like you're walking on air. Say goodbye to aching feet at the end of the day. Bonus: They're machine washable!
BZees retail for $59+.
http://www.chicagoparent.com/community/momma-knows-best/blogs/spring-fashion
