Gap Cargo Jacket (12 months-5 years)
You know how much I love an army jacket, but this boys’ one is a particularly good one. It’s literally a scaled down version of my favourite Zara one. Marlow already has one (from DPAM) that I love on him, but it is getting a bit small now, so I think this one might be coming his way any day now…
£29.95 gap.co.uk
Vertbaudet Baby Boy Denim Hooded Parka (1-18 months)
Another post, another rubbish weather day (apologies if you don’t live in South-East England, but I hope you’re having better weather where you are?). You daren’t leave the house without some kind of hood these days, but you don’t necessarily want a really warm, Wintery coat attached to it. And if you feel like giving your (yellow, obviously) rainmac the day off, here’s a great option. It looks like denim, but it’s actually a lighter weight, and 100% cotton. I love the little pockets, and the fact that the hood is detachable (if you’re feeling particularly brave!). And you may not be able to see it, but the lining is marl grey. How much more perfect does this get? It might as well have been designed for Little Spree!
£21.00 laredoute.co.uk
Zara Military Parka (9-36 months)
I dug out Marlow’s parka (very similar to this one) today because he had a warm, cosy jumper on, and we had one of those days where we were going from house-car-house-car-shops-house, so no need for his super-warm Winter coat (which frankly, I am sick of the sight of now). I’d forgottten how much I love it on him. I bought it in DPAM when I was in Paris once for Fashion Week when I was still at Glamour (so it’s quite old now, but amazingly, still fits him). Anyway, it may still be too cold to ditch the Winter coat just yet, but there’s certainly no harm in thinking ahead and making a few calculated Spring purchases. I never tire of an army jacket (and have at least three in my own wardrobe that I always wear), and they look great with most things. Every little boy (and girl) should have one in their (little) wardrobe.
£29.99 zara.com
Mothercare Quilted Hooded Jacket (12-24 months)
This is a great little baby boy’s jacket. Cool, but still classic. Marlow has a very similar one that I bought him from M&S (which he chooses over his Bonpoint charcoal duffle coat every time!) that he lives in. It’s snug and cosy, and goes with everything (well I guess the rest of his wardrobe is mostly just grey and navy, so it was never going to be much of a struggle…). I love the parka style, and the corduroy patches are a cute detail (and is that a grey lining I see?). And let’s face it, you’re barely going to notice the £11.00 coming out of your bank account…
£11.00 (was £22.00) mothercare.com
Gap Striped Knit Moto Jacket (6 months-5 years)
We love a Breton, and we love a biker jacket, right? So how genius is this little number? Super-cool. Love it. I want one (do you think I could squeeze into a five year old size?).
£22.95 gap.eu
ps: I’m still waiting for a couple of the Mini Boden giveaway winners to email me with their addresses. Sarah (you were in labour when you entered, so I am guessing that you are probably a little busy right now, but please get in touch if you see this so that Boden can send you the gorgeous printed blouse (one of my favourites). Also, Nicola Reddy – contact me at the Little Spree email shown at the top of the site when you can. Boden want to send you your alphabet print t-shirt (and so do I!)…. Sx
Mothercare Baseball Jacket (18 months-8 years)
Now as we all know, varsity jackets had a bit of a moment a few seasons ago (mostly due to Isabel Marant), but for kids they are still around (and let’s be honest – we may want our kids to look cool and stylish, but do we really want them to be rocking the very latest catwalk trends?). I love this one because it’s quite subdued colour-wise (many of them are brightly coloured, which would feel too gimmicky and garish for my liking). This one is denim with grey sweatshirt-style jersey sleeves. I like the striped trim too. My nephew, Baby James (almost one) was rocking a black and white one from Ralph Lauren at the weekend and he looked so sweet. This one might just be coming Marlow’s way soon. Cosy and cool.
£18.00-£19.00 mothercare.com
ps: it would also look really cool on a girl with a little dress and knitted tights. Tomboy-chic.
Cos Hooded Cotton Parka (2-8 years)
I don’t want to get carried away here, but my spirits lifted today when I didn’t have to bundle myself and two toddlers up in hats, gloves and scarves (mostly cashmere of course!) for the first time in months. I even went as far as letting Marlow wear his coat unbuttoned when we went to swimming classes this afternoon (admittedly, in the car…). I’m not saying that the cold weather is behind us (it’s not even February after all!), but today certainly put a spring in my step, and got me thinking about less Wintery coats. This is my favourite so far. I love a parka, and I love Cos, so this was always going to turn out well. But what I particularly love about this one is its simplicity. It’s just so cool, but not in that trying too hard to be way. I might be a bit ahead of myself, but come Spring, this will be the perfect in-between seasons coat. Also, the extra details are worth paying that little extra for. It has a removable quilted lining, removable hood, is 100% cotton, and machine washable. So there you have it.
£45.00 cosstores.com
If you follow me on Twitter, I apologise, because you’re probably sick to death of me gushing over this collection already… Peter rabbit is 110 (and looking good on it!), and to celebrate Gap have collaborated with Beatrix Potter with this completely adorable collection for babies. I have to confess, I was slightly sceptical when I first got wind of it – how would such a collaboration even work? It just sounded a little gimmicky to me, and I suppose I just didn’t ‘get it’. How wrong I was. I first saw the collection on Tuesday in the Oxford Circus store when I dashed in to check it out quickly (in the name of research) on my way home. I was instantly smitten, and promptly scooped up two rabbit face jumpers (one with pink trim, one with blue) and his and hers packets of socks in the most gorgeous colours (I always find it a struggle to find good socks for toddlers…). Officially the age range is 0-24 months, but I wasn’t about to be defeated that easily, and on inspection of said items, endevoured to squeeze my two (who just turned three) into them. Bingo! Both jumpers (age 18-24 months) fitted, and the socks are perfect. Where there’s a will and all that… Fast forward to the official press launch breakfast this morning, and I arrived feeling like I had already seen the collection in its entirety. Wrong again. I had barely seen anything – this collection is huge! The colours are spot-on – lots of grey (oh yes!), navy, dusky pink, pale blue, saffron (which I’m loving at the moment – so easy to work into a neutral-ish wardrobe, and so chic) etc. It’s just the perfect mix of whimsical and cute. Stylish and so, so sweet. Here are my favourites (including the jumpers I bought for Tabarlow, and Marlow’s days of the week socks), but I also particularly loved the days of the week bodysuits for little babies (up to six months). They would make the lovelist gift for a newborn. The blue shawl-neck cardigan (or possibly jardigan?) is based on Peter Rabbit’s own ill-fated jacket (how cute is that?). Love, love, love…
from £7.95 gap.eu
ps: available online and in-store now.
French Connection Knitted Cardi-Jacket With Scalloped Trim (0-18 months)
Yes it’s another ‘jardigan’ (jacket/cradigan hybrid). Always so useful – I’m a big fan. Anyway, all you really need to know is that it’s super-cute and in the sale, so get your skates on if you want to bag one! Here’s the boring (but always useful to know) bit: it’s 100% cotton and machine washable. What’s not to like? Go!
£22.50 (was £45.00) frenchconnection.com
La Redoute Knitted Hooded Jacket (newborn-2 years)
This is such a great example of a classic French baby jacket. The ribbing, the pointed hood, the pom pom tassle… You can always spot the details. It’s just so chic. And so cosy and warm (check out the toasty sheepskin lining…). I love the chocolate brown and the sweet toggle buttons too. I found little cardigan/jackets (yes it’s a jardigan!) like this so handy when Tabarlow were babies. This is definitely one of the nicest ones I’ve seen. Would make a lovely gift (and a great price too).
£21.00 laredoute.co.uk
Gap Velvet Band Jacket (6 months-5 years)
How cool is this jacket? It has more than a whiff of Stella McCartney Kids about it (which of course, I love), yet it’s from Gap. I love the Sergeant Pepper vibe. It would be so cute for a a party or special occasion, but also just great to keep for dressing up (I would style it up with a bit of a pirate dressing up costume for a party). It’s not always easy to find decent fancy dress costumes for boys (unless they want to be Spiderman or Snow White), so this would be a great investment. I love it, and will be buying one for Marlow as soon as I’m back from Cape Town. So please leave one for me!
£24.95 gap.eu
Mini Boden Quilted Jacket (0-4 years)
Love this little jacket. It looks quite purple-y (not my favourite colour I must confess…) here, but actually it’s more of a slate-grey (according to Boden anyway, and who am I to doubt them?). The contrast trim and buttons are so sweet, and the more beady-eyed amongst you will also notice that the lining fabric is the same as one of the Boden jersey dresses from a previous post. A great simple jacket for every day, but one that just gives a little more bang for you buck. Oh Mini Boden, how I love thee this season…
£22.00-£24.00 boden.co.uk
H&M Navy Reefer Jacket (12 months-8 years)
I have had quite a few emails asking about slightly ‘smarter’ coats for boys, now that we have the whole nursery-friendly, waterproof coats covered off. I love this reefer-style jacket from H&M. It’s smarter than an anorak (sorry, hate that word, but what else to call them?), but not too formal either (I’m assuming no one was wondering where to buy a dinner suit for a toddler from??), so great for every day. And it’s really cool. I always love a pea/reefer coat, and it always has to be navy (sorry, that’s just the law). This one has the great added detail of the extra zip-up roll-neck inside the lapels. Perfect for these chilly days.
£29.99 hm.com
H&M’s ‘All For Children’ Collection
I loved it last time (I scooped up so many great pieces for Tabarlow), and it’s back again – H&M’s genius collaboration with UNICEF. These are just a few of my favourite things (how cute is that bow dress?), but there is much more (including a tent, wall stickers and magicians’ hats…). This time the collection is made up of cute fashion as well as fab dress-up pieces for both boys and girls (think Halloween costumes, but way cooler). The collection will be available from 18th October (tomorrow!) from around 300 H&M stores, as well as online. H&M will donate 25% of the sale price of every piece to UNICEF’s work in Bangladesh. Through this partnership, H&M and UNICEF aim to promote education and improve the health of children in slum areas around Dhaka in Banglasdesh. So you can shop up a storm and help a great, worthwhile cause at the same time. What’s not to love about that?
hm.com
ps: sorry for the gap in posts, but I have had wifi issues in Miami. I hope all these lovely things have made up for it…
pps: please don’t buy everything! Leave some things for me! I’m not back in London until Tuesday…
John Lewis Quilted Jacket (3 months-3 years)
Autumn is most definitely here. I might be the only one, but I really love the Autumn (I don’t even mind that it’s getting darker early…). I think it’s safe to say we can pack the shorts, Summer dresses and sandals away now. So time to turn our attention to jackets, jumpers and coats. This is also another ‘nursery related obsession’ – a practical and waterproof coat to be worn outside at nursey. I panicked (to put it mildly) when I saw this on the list of things Tabarlow would need for their first day! Did they actually mean ‘an anorak’?? Oh my God. But I needn’t have worried – there are stylish, waterproof jackets out there if you look hard enough. I actually ended up finding (and buying) Marlow a really great navy quilted jacket from Autograph at M&S for £22.00 (amazing price – it looks really expensive), which I love, but I also saw this one in John Lewis which was definitely a contender. I like the quilted ‘husky’ vibe, and it’s really cosy and warm. And will look good with everything (unlike Tabitha’s Liberty-esque printed jacket that I bought her for nursery, also from M&S – it’s really cute, but only looks cute with plain things, not other prints…). Anyway, I love this one and would definitely recommend it if you do happen to be looking for an ‘anorak’…
£28.00-£30.00 johnlewis.com
Vertbaudet Boy’s Parka (2-14 years)
Military is going to be a huge trend for the Autumn (check out the September issue of Red if you want to see my Military story that I shot back in May), so get ahead of the game and snap up this great parka in the sale for your little boy (or grandson/nephew/godson etc). I love all the pockets (always handy – and kids love them), the sewn on badges, and that the hood can be tucked into the collar when it’s not needed. Super-cool.
£27.30 (was £39.00) vertbaudet.co.uk
ps: I have just finished shooting my Knits story (it will be out in the November issue of Red) in The Hamptons, and am about to head back to JFK to get my flight. See you back in London…
The Little White Company Stripe Breton Hoodie (0-24 months)
Ok, so it’s another Breton – what can I say? Guilty as charged. I just can’t get enough of them for little boys (and girls). I’m all about the cardigan/lightweight jumper, cover-up at the moment due to this ridiculous Monsoon weather we are currently experiencing. It’s not necessarily cold, but you definitely need a little something to keep the chill off when you leave the house. Hello Breton hoodie! So easy just to chuck on over anything. Cute done up or just left open and worn like a cardigan/jacket. And you know the quality is always going to be great with The Little White Company. I love that they just stick to the classics too – no gimmicks/naff surprises when you give something the once over (as I always do of course – searching for the nasty, hidden surprise – be it a ‘fun’ lining or a Peppa Pig/Thomas the tank engine emblazoned across the back or something equally alarming) in the store. This is just one of those ridiculously ‘useful’ items, that still happens to be cute and stylish. So you need to get one!
£24.00 thewhitecompany.com
Vertbaudet Baby Boy Hooded Denim Jacket (3 months-3 years)
I love that this is a little different from your average little boys’/babies’ jackets. It has that all-important combination of style and practicality – striped lining, zips in all the right places etc. And it just has those little extra details that the French always seem to nail so perfectly.
£23.00 vertbaudet.co.uk
La Redoute Baby Knitted Cardigan (1 month-2 years)
This is such a gorgeous little cardigan. Lovely and cosy, and looks expensive. I particularly love the colour, and the handmade feel. And it’s a multi-tasker! It can be a cardigan or a chic little jacket (does that make it a ‘jardigan’?), depending on the weather. And is it just me, or could you see Harper Beckham wearing this?
£19.00 laredoute.co.uk
Boden Ticking Stripe Jacket (3-14 years)
I always love a classic jean jacket, and they are having a bit of a ‘moment’ right now. This one (although not easy to see from the picture) is a little different because it comes in a ticking stripe, which is something that I always love on pretty much anything! So it’s still cute and girly, but cool and tomboy-ish at the same time. It is hailed as ‘going with everything’ and I would have to agree. Personally I would love it with a Liberty print sun-dress and sandals, but equally with jeans and a pretty cotton top. Some sizes have already sold out unfortunately, but I still wanted to share it with you because I have had my eye on it for it a while now (and Tabitha already has it in her wardrobe – naturally!).
from £19.50 boden.co.uk