Sometimes you have to toss a cheap pair of socks or pants in your cart because you’re in a rush and your kid needs them. Usually, within a month the color has faded and sometimes the item even has a hole or two, which leaves you wondering why you even bothered. If this is frequently a problem for you, then you NEED to visit Eden’s Bouquet.
Welcome to your new obsession!
The clothing from Eden’s Bouquet shows such attention to detail that every single piece is unique and stunning. These items are so precious that you’ll want to make sure they last through each child, because you won’t tire of seeing them over and over.
To our delight, we were sent the Harbor Tweed Newsboy cap, Organic cotton shirt, and the Harbor Jeans to review. Henry just turned one, but the boy outfits mostly come in 2T and up. Did that stop us from putting him in the jaw-droppingly beautiful clothes? Of course not!
As you can see, the clothes may have been a little large yet, but we could put the hat on his big head now. We swooned at the color and feel of the warm and wooly cap, and the lovely contrast it made with the delicate white shirt.
The jeans were obviously ready for whatever adventures Henry could dream up for them, providing him with plenty of deep pockets for all his treasures. I have a feeling I’ll be finding all sorts of surprises in the dryer after the pants get a wash.
Simply put, we were very impressed with the clothes. Not only are they lovely, they look like they can take all the things little boys throw at their clothes: leaf-jumping, crawling, wrestling, and more.
Stay tuned for our interview with Jen, the mastermind behind the clothing, as well as a giveaway!
More great insights and inspirations from Alexia Panza and Lissette Sieholtz of Tom and Drew Boys! Enjoy :)
Was there a specific experience that caused you to partner up with Bulldog Rescue?
Obviously, as you can tell, Tom & Drew is branded off English bulldogs. My family members are bulldog fanatics and it just seemed like the perfect fit for the aesthetic of Tom & Drew. That being said, I decided to partner with bulldog rescue because it is a wonderful organization that cohesively aligns with Tom & Drew. There are so many wonderful bulldogs for adoption out there and bulldog rescue does everything they can to find them happy, loving homes. Readers: please check out their website and available bulldogs: http://www.rescuebulldogs.org/
What was the inspiration behind using Japanese denim in the latest collection?
The inspiration behind using Japanese denim was that my designer and I knew that we needed something special if we were going to enter the incredibly competitive denim market. Tom & Drew is a very unique line and attention to detail is my highest priority, especially in regards to fabric selection. Our denim is truly fantastic and something that barely anyone else has. It is perfect for children because it is so incredibly soft; it melts in your hands.
What got you started working in children’s clothing design?
I started a children’s clothing company because I have two nephews, Tommy & Andrew. While shopping for them I really felt that there was a void in the marketplace for high-end, fashion forward yet refined boys clothing. I studied the business of fashion at the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in New York City. I had amazing professors who pushed me to achieve my dreams and believe that anything is possible, no matter how young you are. I did a project in a fashion forecasting class where I was to forecast boy’s apparel and a spark lit in my mind; I can and should do this!
What sources of inspiration do you continually find yourself going back to, what are some new ones that have influenced your most recent collection?
I find myself continually going back to a classic, vintage Americana look. Recent inspiration from our spring/summer 2011 collection came from childhood memories. Of course, my nephews, Andrew and Tommy inspire me on a daily basis. I speak with my sisters and they tell me what the two of them are currently driven by. For example, I actually asked my three-year-old nephew, Andrew, to come up with the summertime animals to use in our collection. He came up with: duck, “fishy” (which we translated in a striped bass) and most importantly sharks.
Tell us a bit about your drive and purpose, your vision for your designs.
I believe that my drive comes from inside and people telling me that I couldn’t accomplish things the things I have. I have such a wonderful support system, everyone from my designer, sales reps., interns and most importantly friends and family. I always had dreams of working in the fashion industry and moving to New York City. There were times when the road was rough, and I was an intern vacuuming the floor. Deep down, I knew, one day, I was going to prove myself. I would prove myself to the world that I could run a successful company. I think being told you’re dreams are too lofty and a fantasy is one of the worst things you can ever tell to someone with a passion and inner drive. I owe most of my passion, drive and success to my father. He has been my rock throughout the entire process. He started his own business at a very young age as well and has believed in me every step of the way.
The vision for Tom & Drew is always a mix of these components: playful, practical, comfortable, durable, trend driven and most importantly creating clothing mothers love and their boys enjoy just as much.
*I’m now going to turn the rest of the questions to my fantastic designer, Lissette Siesholtz, who deserves much more credit for the design aspect of the brand than she is given.
What makes you tick as a designer, what direction to you find yourself returning to time and time again?
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a designer is realizing how in tune you are with the rest of the world. I love it when I pull a concept out of thin air, think it’s so unique, and then see that same concept used by another designer. It baffles me for a moment, sometimes even annoys me, and then I’m just like, “well, of course!” We are all experiencing the same events, the same art and the same music. We are all experiencing it at the same time, and moments like that really emphasize how alike we are as human beings!
What current trends are you keeping track of? Any that you just can’t stand?
I’m so excited that trends are moving towards a more form-fitting, classic direction. At the same time, I think “skinny” jeans are never appropriate for a young boy. There is a huge difference between form-fitting and form-hugging.
How do you feel that current trend affects your design?
I tend to use trends as the finishing touch to my designs, rather than the main focus. I like to take timeless ideas and garnish them with modern infatuations to give a final product that can be forever relevant, yet still reminiscent of their period.
What do you feel makes your work unique?
I was a menswear designer before working in boys wear, which I feel has helped me to understand who it is that young boys idolize. Whether it be their father, brother, friend, or a celebrity, I try to give boys the opportunity to be just as stylish as the grown men around them, without abandoning their youth.
You may have noticed that we have kind of a thing for Mudslinger. It was only last week that we were tipped off to their new line and store, and we couldn’t wait to share them with you. So we spoke with Carolyn, the creator of the Mudslinger line, about Boys Fashion Month and she was awesome enough to contribute a giveaway and this interview. So read up and enjoy a peek into the mind behind this awesome line!
There is some debate behind slim fitting vs. loose in boys clothing these days, what inspired you to go the slim route?
I love both cuts for boy’s wear. I have a loose fitting corduroy pant this fall that is verging on baggy, but my track pant and my denim are slim. I guess for the denim the slim fit just had more of an urban feel, which I prefer for denim. For the track pant, I wanted something that looked fantastic, but was as cozy as a pair of warm pajama pants, and my toddler sons seem to be happiest when they are wrapped, almost swaddled in their active wear– hence the super slim, legging-like cut. Also, while I realize that my collection is predominately a boy’s wear collection, I wanted it to be a little more unisex — I have seen a bunch of little girls look absolutely adorable in our line– and I felt the slim was a nice balance.
Was there any particular inspiration behind the coveralls in your FW10 collection?
I have always thought mechanics coveralls were the ideal clothing for boys. You have a one piece garment that is roomy enough to layer underneath if you need to, but can have sharp details that keep it from looking sloppy. I guess there is a little subversiveness in my coveralls because I really don’t like trying to dress little kids like adults, but I have always thought that coveralls make adults look like rolly polly kids.
What got you started working in children’s clothing design?
Nearly all my life I have designed and made clothes in some form or another, but my 2 sons sealed the deal for me and making children’s/boy’s clothing.
What sources of inspiration do you continually find yourself going back to, what are some new ones that have influenced your most recent collection?
I love the old world style of dressing children wherein children are not subject as much to the usual adult rules of gender dressing, but instead there are lots of child-specific clothing styles, like rompers and jon boys for example. I keep going back to classic pieces that I can tweak into more modern, sporty, and less fussy. I love beach trips and the sea and am always inspired by things nautical and stormy days. For my new collection, I think I was most inspired by my son’s imagination and his love of color. If I asked him to draw a sailor, he would paint him wearing a purple and green suit. And seriously, his favorite adjective is cozy. Thats sort of how I operate too.
Tell us a bit about your drive and purpose, your vision for your designs.
I just want to make beautiful, colorful clothes for kids that they feel cozy wearing. My 2 sons/my family are my drive and purpose. I want to have a family business.
What makes you tick as a designer, what direction do you find yourself returning to time and time again?
As a designer I sort of work in reverse. It’s like first I envision an ideal campaign shoot at the end and then I take it backwards until I reach the small picture of what I really want to create and start form there. It is kind of crazy, but I think it results in a collection that is cohesive but that maybe would have been a little more boring had I just started all together. This is my first *formal* season, so I can’t say I keep going back to things with Mudslinger, just yet– we’ll see what happens.
What current trends are you keeping track of? Any that you just can’t stand?
I like that more and more designers are making clothing that inspires children to play and be comfortable, instead of dress them up like little men and women. My absolute favorite right now is anything and everything by Wovenplay. They really create entire play worlds with their beautiful designs. I know this is a little passé but I seriously can’t stand skulls and other morbid/adult things on children’s clothing.
How do you feel that current trend affects your design?
I try not to let them. I feel like I have pretty classic tendencies, just like to give them a twist.
What do you feel makes your work unique?
I don’t really feel limited by a certain style or set of rules. I feel like Mudslinger clothes were designed very much in tandem with the moods and needs of my 2 sensitive, creative kids and I think it shows in my work.
What’s your favorite piece from your current line? Any all time favorite(s)?
Toss up between the coveralls and the skinny track pant. Visually, it is the coveralls, but my sons never want to take the track pants off because they love them so much, and I feel like they get a vote too.
Do you have a photo of your workspace you could share with our readers? It’s always interesting to see where the magic happens!
Yikes. I am in between spaces right now, so I just have a very crowded nook in my Brooklyn home.
If you’ve been following us on twitter lately then you probably saw our link last week to an awesome new line we were tipped off to- Mudslinger. They successfully opened my mind to slim-fitting boys’ clothing, not an easy task. Something about their styles made it feel right… I suppose they managed to create the skinny leg style without making them feel as slight. My favorite piece from their current collection are these amazing slim denim trousers with a tab front and contrast stitching. The tab front style isn’t something you see on jeans too often; it adds a certain amount of dress to the pair, while the classic indigo coloring and gold stitching are all play. All in all, another great boys line to come out of the NYC garment district, it’s a good time to be a boy with style!
Win a $75 gift certificate to their online shop!
This is almost painful to give away, but we must! That’s the best part about this whole arrangement, we find the awesome fashion, and then we hook you up. Yeah, I think this works pretty well :)
Entry Rules!
MANDATORY- Comment on this post and tell us your favorite piece from the shop, leaving your email address so we can contact you if you win.
Stack the odds in your favor Post a comment for each extra entry (ie if you post this giveaway on your blog you would comment 3x)
(1) Extra Entry – Follow us on twitter (or if you already do just let us know, it still counts!)
(1) Extra Entry – Tweet about this giveaway and link us to the tweet in your comment
(1) Extra Entry – “Like” us on facebook (or if you already do just let us know!)
(3) Extra Entries – Post about this giveaway on your blog, if you want to use a badge in your sidebar or link roll you can grab that here
(3) Extra Entries – Sign up for our fashion sharing community and post an outfit
You have 2 weeks to enter this one, so make sure to get your entries in before 6pm EST on Tuesday, September 28th! Good luck!
Like that fedora? We have three to give away!
Tom and Drew Boys, who we featured recently for their smashing take on boys fashion, was kind enough to provide us with three of their awesome fedoras to giveaway this month. As we mention in the original post, we are in love with their vintage americana styling, and this fedora takes the classic look and pulls it off with a twist. Woven in funky contrasting blue with a striped band featuring the Tom and Drew bulldog logo, this is a some seriously stylish headgear with attitude to match.
Fits 2t-4t!
Here’s your chance to get your hands on one
MANDATORY- Comment on this post, leaving your email address so we can contact you if you win.
Stack the odds in your favor Post a comment for each extra entry (ie if you post this giveaway on your blog you would comment 3x)
(1) Extra Entry – Follow us on twitter (or if you already do just let us know, it still counts!)
(1) Extra Entry – Tweet about this giveaway and link us to the tweet in your comment
(1) Extra Entry – “Like” us on facebook (or if you already do just let us know!)
(3) Extra Entries – Post about this giveaway on your blog, if you want to use a badge in your sidebar or link roll you can grab that here
(3) Extra Entries – Sign up for our fashion sharing community and post an outfit
This one runs until the end of all of our Boys Fashion Month giveaways, whenever that may be! (Looking like the end of October ;) )- We will select THREE winners using Random.org and notify them via email! US Residents only please :)
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners (commenter #6, #24, #17). You will be contacted shortly and have 48 hours to email back to verify .
For instant badass status at his next play-date, switch out your kid’s tired and stained coat for this Appaman Black Moto Jacket. Olive and cream accents paired with a mini monkey head on the zipper keep the jacket from being too adult, while giving your little guy a look that is anything but ordinary.
Picture this: a family day at the beach is winding down, the sun is setting, and it’s getting just a bit too cold for your little man, still damp from a day of swimming. Good thing you have an awesome sweater for your little dude to keep him snuggly warm on those chilly summer nights! And there really isn’t anything like a soft hoodie to warm up in after a day of swimming.
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