Wear What When

New! Splendid at Bellevue Square

The popular knit-jersey line celebrates family style with Kimmel Kids’ Karen Kimmel.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Oct 06, 2011 at 01:00PM 0 Comments

Splendid x Karen Kimmel x Crafting Community = Vibrant color play, fun family time, cool accessories and layering elements. Create some of it for yourself at the new Splendid store in Bellevue Square on Saturday, October 22.

As of October 14, Bellevue Square has a new occupant: Splendid.

The brand is well-known to those who have found its pint-size hoodies and Modal maxis inside department and specialty stores; this is the line’s first stand-alone Northwest shop.

To introduce the less familiar and get to know fans better, Splendid is hosting an all ages craft day on Saturday, October 22 from 1 to 3 with LA hipster mom Karen Kimmel.

Thanks to similar events with the Ace Hotel, museums, art galleries, and other Splendid-sponsored spaces, the artist has a cult following of cool parents. After spending a few hours designing an all natural, super soft, on trend Splendid scarf with your six year old, you’ll likely find yourself happily drinking the legitimately cool Kool-Aid too.

Called Crafting Community, the October 22 event, and others like it, are all about fusing families through making and doing. In addition to on-trend scarves, you and your brood can craft necklaces and bracelets and other accessory items.

The event is free, and four guests will even score a $250 shopping experience at the new store.

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Tags: Eastside, Seattle Kids' Style, Art Events, New Seattle Boutiques

Shop It: West Seattle Junction Big Bonanza

Go west this weekend for savings on kids stuff, clothes, shoes, and more.

Posted by: Seattle Met Staff on Aug 18, 2011 at 04:00PM 0 Comments

Where: The West Seattle Junction.

What: A Wild West-style save-a-thon complete with a community water fight at high noon. More than 35 Junction vendors will be offering deals; included are: 30 to 60 percent off past season shoes from Edie’s Shoes, 15 percent off everything at City Mouse Studio, and 25 percent off any purchase over $100 at Curious Kidstuff.

When: Saturday, August 20 from 10 to 5.

For a full list of participating West Seattle retailers, check this list on WSJunction.org

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Tags: West Seattle, Shoes, Seattle Kids' Style, End of Summer Discounts

Introducing: City Mouse Studio and Store

Remember the name game at Donna Ryan Photography? It’s over; the West Seattle children’s shop and studio has a new name.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 31, 2011 at 02:15PM 0 Comments

Photo: Donna Ryan Photography

Back in December we shared the news that Donna Ryan Photography was crowdsourcing a new name.

The crowd supplied lots of ideas, but the winning name was actually sourced from the backstories and explanations that accompanied the submissions. The West Seattle kids stuff shop — where gorgeous images of little ones are among the items on offer — is heretofore known as City Mouse Studio and Store. mouse/info:1055/

‘The name City Mouse reminds me of my childhood growing up in Australia where my favorite story was the Aesop’s Fable, City Mouse, Country Mouse,’ says photographer and shop owner Donna Ryan. ‘It evokes feelings of resourcefulness and a modern lifestyle, two unique aspects of my business.’

On behalf of everyone who entered, the $500 gift certificate that was promised to the contest winner went to WestSide Baby, a White Center-based non-profit that provides diapers, clothing, toys and equipment to families in need.

Want to see for yourself what’s really in a name? Join city mice on Saturday February 12 from 10 to 5 for an open house.

Shoppers will enjoy 20 percent off storewide, including new products like super soft baby clothes from Babysoy, edible finger paints from Wee Can Too, and hip gear from SkipHop. Additionally, purchases put you in the running for a $300 portrait package, and, the booking of a portrait shoot ($75 sitting fee) for March or April gets you $35 credit towards any Tea clothing purchase made that day.

Cupcakes and mimosas, naturally, will be served.

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Tags: Seattle Toys, Seattle Kids' Style, Seattle Retail News, Seattle Boutique

Gift Map III: Kids’ Stuff

Because shopping for quality playthings isn’t always fun and games.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 16, 2010 at 06:30AM 0 Comments

Photo: Flora and Henri online shop

Mohair rabbits where adorable is defined, Flora and Henri on Capitol Hill.

If the kids on your shopping list are your own, you have enough to do without plotting out where to find the worthwhile, classic stuff of childhood. If the tiny people on your agenda do not belong to you, you may not be totally familiar with the lay of the fun-and-games landscape. Either way, our kids stuff shopping map makes it easy to navigate an entire city’s worth of educational objects of enjoyment, timeless toys, and apparel and accessories that appeal to both of you.

Some things to think about before you begin: At Izilla, they’re loving a board game called Dixit because it does the impossible: makes fun times for kids and adults. At Tottini, there are two options (at two budget levels) for those considering a modern take on the generations-old winter holiday dream gift, the dollhouse. (I will never forget the year my dad built me one and put it, if not exactly under the tree, at least nearby.) At Planet Happy, they’re into the timeless idea of packable, go-anywhere animal play sets; they’ve got ’em farm- and sea-themed.

That oughtta get you started. Go now among the world of math-is-fun gaming and miniature tea seats and make someone small hugely happy.

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Tags: Seattle Toys, Gift Guide, Gifts, Sustainable Such and Such, Seattle Kids' Style, Gift Maps 2010

Thaw II

This one’s for the kids; Vitamin Water Social Club on July 10

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jun 28, 2010 at 11:00AM 0 Comments

Dapper now comes in size 2T; a Seattle-made look by featured Thaw designer Littlecrow

‘Since starting the Annual thaw Fashion Show for HDSA, friends, family and strangers have told me that I should also put on a kids version of that event,’ says Liz Weber. You’re reading this now because she listened to them.

Thaw Collective’s Indie Kids Fashion Show for Huntington’s Disease Society of America is July 10 at 11 at the Vitamin Water Social Club on Capitol Hill. Tickets are available from Brown Paper Tickets.

As with the adult version of Thaw, the kids’ show puts Seattle designers on display. Expect tiny style from lines like eight3one and Littlecrow Collection.

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Tags: Locally Made, Locally Designed, Seattle Fashion Show, Seattle Kids' Style, Fundraiser, Thaw

Where to Find It: Happiest Place on Earth

Planet Happy, where socially responsible, mom-owned, and otherwise green play stuff is a good time

Posted by: Caitlin Creel on May 28, 2010 at 08:00AM 3 Comments

View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration:

Hello parents and concerned friends-of-small humans, still scarred from all those toxic toys incidents? Planet Happy to the rescue.

Find safer, organic alternatives to mass-produced plastic toys for your little ones at this Ravenna store (find the store itself tucked behind the University Village) – stuff like Max’s Mud, a non-toxic, gluten-free rice flour-based sculpting dough exclusive to Planet Happy and produced by a Seattle-based mom-owned business, backyard tree swings, and Reusies; dishwasher-proof lunch bags. Check the slideshow for images.

And check this out: Each product in the store comes with a seven criteria tag listing whether the item and its manufacturer are fair-traded, organic, socially responsible, recycled, mom-owned, green, and natural.

Now how’s this for mom-friendly: Planet Happy offers after school activities like eco-friendly science projects and drum circles. If you can’t catch one of the scheduled events, don’t worry, the fun station is always open. (And the store pet, a hedgehog called Little Foot, is always around.) Little ones can make magnets or mirrors using the button machine, and a natural beauty bar makes it easy and fun to cook up lotion, bath salts, and fragrances using essential oils, all natural lotion bases, and the shop’s special house-ground flower petals.

Check Planet Happy’s June calendar for after-school and weekend activities.

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Tags: Locally Made, Locally Designed, Sustainable Such and Such, Seattle Kids' Style, Where to Find It

Introducing …. Flora Femme

Flora and Henri launches a line that is definitely not kids’ stuff.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 25, 2010 at 06:00AM 3 Comments

Photo: Flora and Henri

Slideshow: Flora and Henri is not just for toddlers anymore (this image: Elena dress by Matta)

View Slideshow » Photo: Flora and Henri

Slideshow: Flora and Henri is not just for toddlers anymore (this image: Elena dress by Matta)

View Slideshow » Photo: Flora and Henri

Vaihbav blouse by Matta

View Slideshow » Photo: Flora and Henri

Jean skirt by Flora

View Slideshow » Photo: Flora and Henri

From the Flora collection

View Slideshow » Photo: Flora and Henri

Ring by Swallow Designs

Turns out it pays to say stuff like,“Oh, I need to have this for myself” while looking at a two-year old’s short-sleeved boat-neck sweet-cream colored sweater, because every once in a while it works.

More or less.

Not that I had anything at all to do with it, but I used those words while gazing wistfully at Flora and Henri’s tot-sized high-style pieces last August, and this past Wednesday the locally based line launched Flora Femme, a collection of French-feeling, sweet, easy, wearable women’s looks on Flora, the new big sister (or mom, aunt, friend, whatever) label to the original.

Flora Femme also includes Paul and Joe beauty products; various, assorted, and just plain gorgeous jewelry pieces; and a handful of picnic dresses and swing tops by Matta.

See the slideshow for some of our favorite examples, then visit the still-relatively-new store in the Oddfellows Building for more. The collection is available for pre-order right now – it should be in-stock by the end of April.

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Tags: new, Capitol Hill, Jewelry, Seattle Kids' Style