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Manicure Must-Haves; Pint-Sized Fashion Forecast; Shopping in Pound Ridge; and more.
(page 5 of 5)
pint-sized fashion trends // Togs for Tots
When Laurie O’Neal couldn't find fashionable clothing for her two children nearby, she didn’t whine but opened a kids’ clothing shop in her hometown of Rye Brook. O’Neal, who ran a high-end layette business from her home, launched My Lily Pad a year ago. We chatted with her recently for her insider¹s take on kids’ fashions.
What do new parents ask for most?
Sleep! It would be nice if we could sell it to them. Many come in looking for good, stylish socks that will actually stay on their baby's feet. Trumpette makes great trendy baby socks that stay on and come in an assortment pack of six cool designs for either boys or girls for $24.
What layette item should no new mom be without?
A fabric baby-wipe holder ($40), personalized with her baby’s name, to throw into the diaper bag; we offer lots of great fabrics to choose from.
What are the coolest girls wearing this summer?
Submarine bathing suits‹a trendy line with really fun styles and designs, like a fake leather, two-piece with boy shorts and a tankini top ($72) - and pink or black Rhinestone Roxy flip-flops customized with letter charms spelling out a child’s name ($15+). Also big are custom airbrushed hooded sweatshirts and pants ($56 each) that are personalized with the name of the child’s camp or school.
And the hippest little guys?
JB Original Vintage¹s two-toned, screen-printed T-shirts ($52) and vintage jeans ($55).
What won’t you carry in your shop?
For girls, I won’t carry anything too revealing, like tops that bare the midriff, skirts that are too short, or backless dresses. And I don¹t carry clothing for boys past about age seven because, when they are older than that, all they want to wear are the sports brands like Adidas and Nike and that's not what I want to focus on.
What hot new clothing trends are on the horizon for fall?
Everything you love in women’s fashions is shrunk down for girls: bright, vibrant colors and belted or long, heavy knit sweaters with big buttons worn with leggings or jeans. Stripes are big and so are purples and grays. For boys, it¹s denim in all kinds of funky washes, and ripped jeans.
What's the one item every sleep-away camper shouldn’t leave home without?
The Boo brand of shampoo and spray-on conditioner - it helps prevent lice ($12 each). And kids really like the Made With Love & Kisses brand pillows with the soft "camp" appliqué ($42). They come in all different colors and are very comfy.
Who are kids’ popular fashion idols?
Hannah Montana for girls; there’s not even a close second. Her style is funky, casual, and trendy. There’s really no comparable celebrity for boys; anything with a superhero logo is trendy for them.
What's your favorite item?
I love the Cool Kicks Birkenstock-like sandals ($60) for summer and clogs ($70) for fall; they come tie-dyed in bright colors or shades of denim.
How have kids’ fashion trends evolved over the years?
They’ve evolved from clothes that were more sweet-looking and doll-like to grown up fashions shrunk down for little kids. It’s so much fun now because you can dress your kids like you dress yourself, where the son and daughter can now mirror mom and dad.
What looks are big with your own kids?
My seven-year-old daughter, Lily, after whom the shop is named, will wear anything and everything in the store; she looks at it as her own personal closet. My four-year-old son, Brayden, loves the cool Lola & James T-shirts ($68) made from fabric from actual vintage rock 'n roll band T-shirts.
Do you ever dress your kids in hand-me-downs?
No.
// LY
Extended Interview
What’s the fashion credo guiding your choice of merchandise?
Fashion forward and trendy comes first, with great quality and great price points. We don’t carry any imported lines so we can keep our average price point around $40.
Who is your favorite kids clothing designer?
I like the Vince line. It specializes in sweaters—wool, blends, and cashmere—in every conceivable style: cardigans, long, belted, even sweater dresses. They’re pricey, though; about $250 on average.
What kids’ fashion trends would you like to see fall out of favor?
Kids fashion is constantly changing so I really don’t get tired of anything.
Do kids’ fashion trends mirror or mimic those of adults?
They definitely do, one hundred percent—especially like trendy styles for fall such as belted or long sweaters with leggings.
Who are kids’ popular fashion idols?
Hanna Montana for girls—there’s not even a close second. Her style is funky, casual, and trendy. There’s really no comparable celebrity for boys; anything with a superhero logo is trendy for them.
How do you respond to parent concerns that younger and younger kids are looking more and more like Britney and Paris?
It’s really not a concern for me because I don’t buy like that; I won’t carry anything I wouldn’t put my own child in. The styles are trendy but nothing is too revealing—no bare midriffs or really short skirts and dresses.
What labels and styles would you steer parents to who are looking for a more innocent look?
This fall sweater companies like Fast Forward are doing a lot of classic styles and their knits appeal to every body and personality type.
How have kids’ fashion trends evolved over the years?
They’ve evolved from clothes that were more sweet-looking and doll-like to grown up fashions shrunk down for little kids. It’s so much fun now because you can dress your kids like you dress yourself, where the son and daughter can now mirror mom and dad.
How has our celeb-obsessed culture affected kids’ fashion trends?
My business focus only goes up to size seven boys and size 12 in girls, so the moms still have much more of a say, as opposed to junior sizes where kids exert more of their own opinions.
What’s your all-time favorite baby gift?
I love the custom fabric-trimmed chenille baby blanket embroidered with the baby’s name ($80) from Shoots & Ladders.
Let’s say a friend’s twins—a boy and a girl—just turned one. What would you recommend getting them for their birthday?
Staying under $50 each, I’d choose coordinating Junk Food T-shirts, selecting from such sayings as Little Miss Giggles or Little Miss Chatterbox for the girl and Little Mr. Mischief or Little Mr. Happy for the boy. I’d pair it with leggings ($22) for the girl and mesh shorts ($22) for the boy.
What are the least and most expensive items you carry?
Our croc shoe charms are $2.50 each; a four-piece crib bedding set from House, Inc. is $450.
What’s your shop’s biggest-selling item?
Right now it’s our personalized camp tank tops.
How would you describe your own fashion style? And what do you usually wear when you’re at work?
I’m definitely trendy. And I usually wear jeans, a sweater, and ballet slippers, or a dress and leggings, when I’m at the store.
