The Best Dressed Kid

WARNING: If you do not have young children nor do you care about holiday attire for said young children, then be prepared for me to bore the pants off of you with the following post if you opt to continue reading.

We all know the holidays are literally right around the corner. And if you guys are anything like me, you’re not only focused and losing sleep over what to do about your holiday cards, but also finding suitable holiday attire for your kids. And usually, I am much more prepared than I am this year. It has sort of crept up on me out of nowhere and I admit, I am not prepared. I have gone back and forth about what I’m going to put the boys in and yes, I *think* I have finally decided. While I bought these beautiful candlelight silk dupioni litte heirloom outfits for formal portraits, I don’t think I will put them on the boys for Christmas (I really hope Mr. Monogram is not reading this part). If we were still in Atlanta, then yes. But the fact is, where I live it’s a good bit less formal so while my children will still look nice, I don’t think I’ll put them in silk again. So this year they will be wearing navy and white pinwale corduroy in coordinating outfits. Mini #2 will, be in an age appropriate longall with a white peter pan collared shirt, and mini #1 will be in matching trousers, a navy vest and white peter pan collared shirt as well. They will both, of course be wearing the classic white saddle. I don’t know what it is about the little saddles, but I can never get enough of them at Christmas and Easter. Being the traditionalist that I am, my boys are usually in shortalls or button-ons with saddle oxfords and knee-socks too.

And let me tell you I have taken a lot of flack from my friends who don’t have children and don’t understand the importance of traditional holiday attire for young children. Especially traditional Southern attire where the shortalls are either smocked or monogrammed. You can see a small sampling of the mini’s better dress attire in the inset. And no, you can not send me a “LOL” comment or email that my children have a rather large collection of smocked attire. You see, I am very big on age appropriate dressing. I don’t want to put my 3 year old in a suit, or even my 4 year old in a suit for the holidays because well, unless they’re getting up and going to work in corporate America and have a paycheck to show for it, then really my children have no business wearing a suit. But hey, that’s just my opinion because I’m sure lots of people will think it’s “sissy” the way I formally dress the mini’s. They’re toddlers, after all, so I want to dress them to reflect their age, and this is just very commonplace in the South. This is the same reason why I don’t dress them in the baggy pant “skater” look a lot of these stores think is so “cute” on 3 and 4 year olds. I do not find that amusing, in case anyone from the Old Navy is reading.

But getting back to holiday attire, if you too are searching and hunting around for nice holiday and portrait attire, then I’ve laid out a few of my favorite resources for you. Of course, don’t forget ebay too because we all know there are some fabulous deals to be had on ebay! So if you hop online (which really shouldn’t be difficult since you’re already there), click over to One of a Kind Kid, where I have been shopping for years. They’ve got a huge selection of better clothing (read: holiday wear) for children, and gobs of brother-sister outfits as well, which let me tell you, can be pretty difficult to find. A few of the brands they carry that I personally really like include Absorba, Anavini, Carriage Boutique, & Feltman Brothers just to name a few. You can search by brand or by category whether you’re looking for every day wear or special occasion wear. Okay, so a few of the brands are a tad pricey. I mean, if I had a little girl you can bet your bottom dollar she would be wearing this Isabel Garreton Hand Smocked Mint Green Silk Infant Dress (I think it’s already been established on this blog how much I adore fine silks and that goes beyond dressing my windows and pillows and onto the mini monograms as well). But if you want to buy nice holiday or special occasion wear for you children, you’re pretty much going to have to be prepared to spend a pretty penny to keep your own mini’s looking pretty for the holidays so just brace yourself.

Another store I really like to check out at the Holidays is Childrens Cottage. Now you know I am all about supporting the South, and located in Mobile, AL where they aim to dress “…your children beautifully and traditionally,” this store must know that is exactly what monogram momma is looking for. Over the past year or two, they have really increased their product line, because when I first started shopping there (4 years ago), there was a very small selection of hand-made button-on and jon-jons and lovely monogrammed portrait collars for boys (and girls), so I am pleased to see they are growing and love their new stuff! It almost makes me want to have another baby (but then again, maybe not, now that both of mine are potty trained!).

The Wooden Soldier is another classic old-school catalog for dress apparel for your little ones as well. I have literally called them every single holiday for the past 4 years that I've been a mom to see if they were online. Alas, I noticed in the new catalog 3 weeks ago that while they FINALLY decided to join the 21st century and secure a website, they are not yet offering online shopping. I’m hoping this is going to change in the near future (perhaps by Easter?). Anyhow, their things are really beautiful and last year I fell in love with a brown velvet jon-jon with baby blue peter pan collar for the mini's but it sold out. I have frequently found this to be the case in fact, that they tend to sell out quickly so I have not had good luck with the Wooden Soldier. Here's hoping you have better luck. Also, for some reason they keep their brand names under lock and key and will also not reveal to you the brand on a particular outfit you may like no matter how much you bribe them. For me, I like to know this because different brands fit better and are made better than others. I think we all know this little fact though. So since my boys are on the larger and taller side, I really need to know a brand so I can determine myself how it's going to fit my children. Measurements just aren't accurate as you never know who is taking them and jotting them down. And call me crazy, but if I’m going to spend $200+ on a couple of children’s outfits, then I think I have the right to know what it is exactly I’m buying.

Another company worth checking out if you’ve got a large wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket, is Best & Co. Their holiday attire, particularly for girls, is truly gorgeous. Lots of silks and pretty silk smocked numbers so it’s a good thing I don’t have a little girl or I can tell you I would be in quite a lot of trouble with Mr. Monogram keeping her dressed in this finery. Now, after you stop drooling over there, you must check out Olive Juice Kids if you haven’t already. I am picking up those tartan plaid wool trousers for sure! They have the mini monogram’s names all over them. In fact, Mr. Monogram even has a similar pair of pants so how cute would that look? Very cute, indeed!

If you happen to be looking for beautiful traditional Southern smocked and monogrammed outfits, jon-jons, button-ons and peter pan collars for truly remarkable prices, I can't recommend Orient Expressed enough. I have bought loads of things from them and love their products. It’s well made and very affordable and I have been really happy with everything I’ve purchased from them so rush on over there as quickly as you can. But another small company that offers unique and beautiful better children’s wear is Rachel Riley. Her things are much different than what’s offered at Orient Expressed and also a good bit more expensive, but it’s very traditional and classic. Rachel Riley is a Brit and her designs are very pretty and conservative so you know I must really love her things. She has a good assortment of everyday casual wear too.

And while I am not a big fan of hitting the concrete corridors of the mall, I do recommend running into Neiman's. Case in point, included in the special occasion apparel collection that my boys have is a red velvet with white peter pan collar jon-jon that mini #1 wore when he was 10 months old at Christmas. And I also have a gorgeous black watch plaid silk dupioni outfit mini monogram #1 wore for Christmas when he was 22 months old (his baby brother and cousin matched also, as we have all the children match at the holiday's). They have always had beautiful children’s wear, especially at the holiday's. I can even remember going dress shopping there when I was a little girl myself, sporting my white rabbit fur coat and patent leather mary janes. Now, if you find the prices a little steep for your budget, then I really recommend setting aside some time EARLY the day after Christmas to go through the Holiday attire sale racks (and by early I do mean, you'd better be the first one there when the door opens, hot cocoa in hand for the nice saleslady you expect to schlep your things around for you). Buy larger sizes for the following year for you children and I promise you won't be disappointed. Plus, that's one less thing you've got to worry about come next holiday season, right?

Now, I know you're all wondering what my own personal preference is for holiday dressing and because of that, I’ve saved what I feel is the best for last. Say it with me STRASBURG. Again, I grew up wearing the impeccably smocked Strasburg day gowns and bishops dresses, so this is a true staple in the mini’s closets. Pricey? A little. But you have to remember, this is true heirloom clothing so no I quite honestly don't mind spending a few hundred dollars on Strasburg. It is worth every penny when I see it on my boys, creating a little angelic glow around their faces and see their portraits (ok, so I am imagining the angelic glow, but just humor me).

Finishing up, I think we can all agree there are a lot of additional resources for children's holiday attire. And some of you may prefer to stick with the less formal but still traditional Brooks Brothers for boys, Talbots Kids, Hanna Anderson (big Thanksgiving sale right now, BTW) or even Mini Boden might have something that will work for you. Even popping your head into everyday stores like The Gap or Gymboree or Childrens Place might offer you the exact sweater and cords or sweet little dress you are looking for. So keep your eyes open and wherever you decide to purchase your mini's holiday attire from, they will surely be the best dressed kids around.