the most asked question of all…
Thank god for Tami from Ismodern. Because if it wasn’t for her generosity of sending the girls samples over the past few years, the girls would be dressed in mostly solids, neutral grays and navy blues. Tami brings the color, pop and bold patterns into their wardrobe. These photos were from the shoot that I took of her Fall collection earlier this year, but we just received boxes of the actual clothes on Friday. The girls were beyond thrilled because the clothes are so fun and Mia was especially happy to see the reappearance of the gold dress. Now, I don’t know what occasion she’ll have to wear a gold dress, but it’s already been borrowed out to a friend over the weekend who needed something fancy to wear as a last minute flower girl at a wedding. A gold dress!
Lots of people assume (and I know because they have told me) that I must spend a lot of time and money shopping for clothes, but I swear I don’t. The most popular question I get asked from readers, aside from which camera I use, is where I shop for the girls (by the way, all of these are answered in the FAQs in the sidebar). While it’s true that we’ve been extremely lucky to get sent this bounty of clothes once in while from Ismodern and some dresses from another designer friend in the neighborhood, I shop where most of you shop and I buy everything on sale. You can usually do quite well stocking up in bigger sizes at the end of season clearance sales and I can usually stretch a single item of clothing over 4 years between the 2 of them, although Claudine is catching up and they can actually share clothes now (that kid is huge).
Lately my go-to places have been the J Crew sales section online (but only when they announce the additional 20-30% off sale) or in outlet stores, Zara kids, the Mini Social (for Gilt.com like deals) and the Gap and Old Navy for jeans and sweaters (but always when they have a sale, which seems to be like every week now??). If I’m in the shopping mood I’ll check to see what’s on sale at some of the online boutiques like smallconcept.com and yes, Ismodern (I like to support my friends too, I’m not a freeloader, I swear!). I don’t feel like I spend too much money on the girls because I plan ahead, stock up on big sizes and take advantage of sales when I see them.
Now, can we talk about shoes? Shoes often can’t be handed down (though I try, lord I try). Mia’s feet didn’t seem to grow for a year, but Claudine’s been outgrowing everything and I just had to buy 7 pairs of shoes in the last 2 weeks because we discovered that we needed everything for the 2 of them for the winter – rain boots, snow boots, everyday boots and sneakers. But I think I spent a total of $180 for 7 pairs of shoes. That’s not bad, right?
By the way, I’m totally buying that rope necklace that Claudine is wearing in the photos for myself. I fell in love with it at the shoot. I want it for me….and maybe that fabulous feather headband (not for me, I don’t think it would fit).
ps. A few people brought it to my attention that babble.com named my former blog, Babygadet, #1 in their 50 Best Design Blogs for Moms. Gee, and look…a HUGE photo of me and Mia from our trip to Cannon Beach, urgh. Some people got confused when they saw that photo tied with Babyg and thought it was a misprint, and rightly so. Because even though I started the blog 6 years ago, I haven’t been involved at all in well over a year. Real congrats should go to my writers who keep that blog up: the ever prolific, Myfawny Nixon and Justine Hand. Hats off to you, ladies, especially Myf.
