Picnic Days

It's almost the weekend and mini and co were soaking up the sun like everyone else in london. What a joy to have such a fantastic Indian summer and we get to max out mini's fab summer gear just that little bit longer.
Today mini wore her Stella denim cut offs from Daisy and her embroidered table cloth top from Ralph Lauren. With her hair in a little pineapple, mini looks like I did in the 70's. I'm afraid I couldn't help myself it's just too cute. We lounged in the garden in the morning and in the afternoon we all went to Holland Park playground, rolled around in the sand and then had a jolly picnic on the playing fields. Phin kept on nicking footballs and mini just kept on running off but as soon as we shouted cupcakes (thanks Katya) they were back in a jiffy. Ah the lure of coloured sugared icing.

Shana Tova

Shana Tova fashion filers. Or a happy new year! It's Roshashana, the Jewish new year today and Mini celebrated in her usual style. Of course I had planned an uber chic affair with Mama in apple green Philip lim and Phin and mini in coordinating green and White striped knitted Bonton numbers. Well the 27 degrees we had today put paid to that idea. I couldn't let the Lim shift go to waste and sweltered with style, Phin however rocked a White short and vest whilst Mini wore a new number from her Grandma Eve and Papow from ilovegorgeous. And gorgeous it was too. Very Downton I might add, with it's moss green and lilac embroidered flowers and cream lace trim, her lilac bow was immense and stayed put for the whole day.
With friends and family we ate well and enjoyed the sunshine. The perfect start to the new year.

Naughty Kitty

Mini went to Kai's fourth birthday party today all decked out in the linen shop's cherry smocked dress and cozying up to her fashion heroine Grace. She's such a social bunny she had a ball running round all the kids, saying hi and eating pizza.
Shes definitely loving her hello kitty necklace and squeals kitty every-time she glimpses it. She's a bit of a naughty kitty however, relishing in plucking the heads off her mama's newly planted cyclamen. Shame on you mini!

Playtime

Mini is becoming a real bookworm. She's discovered reading and loves sitting amongst her tomes, albeit a predilection for ones that have squishy touchy feely bits.
Today was time to just hang with mama, play on the swings and walk the balance beam in her miniature cherry print jumpsuit, H&M plum body and Zara shoes. Fun times.

When mini met kitty

Phin and mini met an idol of theirs today, Hello Kitty. A heroine of mine too from a young age. But then those were the days when kitty merchandise was a rarity. Secured through great friendships with girls whose dads did business in Japan or who knew the hot dealer in st johns wood. Today, well Kitty is everywhere. On birthday plates and banners, on hairclips and ski mittens at H&M and now she's fashioned up and decked out in Liberty print. And she looks rather gorgeous in it too I might add.
There's nothing better than a giant sized real life kitty to freak your child out on a Sunday morning brunch at Liberty's. Phin was not fazed and gave her a secure hug but mini was a little perplexed. She faired better with the giant stuffed version pictured, where she could comfortably perch her bottom and sit for a while pondering the frenetic activity of the grown women surrounding her, clambering for kitty washbags and notepaper.
I myself was tempted but feigned indifference and was rewarded when Mini came clutching her very own Hello Kitty in smart Liberty print frock and Phin begging for a hot pink kitty alarm clock.
Mini looked ever so chic in her Maan woodland print dress for the occasion A gift from Elaine it really is a fairytale outfit fit for a Grimm fairytale heroine, all quirky colours and illustrations of deer and owls. Minis wearing her new Zara antique rose leather shoes, another steal for those searching for well priced kids footwear at £17. Phin was mirroring mini's colour palette in his tangerine skinnies from Gap, star print shirt from Bonpoint and new converse trainers from cousin Cherry and Miri. Double trouble indeed. Papa can vouch for that.

Little squash

It's late September and we're still not in our winter woolies. Not a bad thing I suppose, seeing as we'll have enough bleak winter months ahead but it does seem strange to be wearing summer dresses. So to ease the style Conundrum we've gone with summer styles in sludgy squash colours like mini's Bonton mushroom sundress and squash hued cardigan and her knitted bow shoes from H&M and her new grey and orange polka dot quilted chain link necklace from Cos. Perfect for feeling on season.
Ps. The strange salamander style Tongue sticking out is a new thing. My omi strangely does it too when she's focusing on something. Funny what your kids inherit!

Overalls

I do love a dungaree. On a child that is. Can't bear grown women or especially pregnant ones for that matter wearing them. But kids sure look cute in overalls. Of course being a seventies child it was osh kosh all the way. But with those blue and White striped numbers well and truly gone there are others who have taken on the mantel. Boden has done a fine pair very similar to the original but these beige and cream striped ones come via Phin from the little White company and are lighter in weight and although less hard wearing they are rather fetching. Especially when worn with her Bonton polka tshirt also in shades of beige, her MC brogues and liberty print neckerchief. Who said beige was boring.

Coffee morning

With mama on her last fashion feet we decided to take a little coffee break at the electric house. Mini was obviously in her element, greeting everyone as they entered and lounging on the new sofas. For the occasion mini went high fashion with her Stella floral dress and Bonpoint brick red cardi and converse trainers.

The next day was chilled out for everyone. Mini took to her little gym class, practicing her forward rolls and balance beam in her new H&M stripy leggings and matching purple body. I love the off beat mix of mustard, purple, cobalt, grey and hot pink without them ever getting too garish and they mirror this season's hot colours perfectly.

Taking a break

Today mini's taking a break from high fashion and having a dress down day in her knitted leggings, stripey t (both from Phin's hand-me-downs) and her pillar box red Bonton cardi and gap bear slippers and all stylishly topped off with a Cos chain link necklace and hair ribbon. mama however is on day 4 of fashion week and wishing she could also bin the heels and put on her slippers. Only one more day...

LFW 3

It's london fashion week day 3. But it's a Sunday and that means it's a ok for fashionistas to show their friendly face and cart their kids/dog/pet rabbit along for the day. I'm afraid I can't quite manage the whole day with my little pocket rocket creating havoc (who knew her middle name would ring so true) but I took little min to mulberry in the morning. Decked out in her Caramel floral long sleeve dress, in off beat hues of salmon, ink and mustard worn with matching tights and giant bow and her new mushroom knitted bow ballerinas from H&M, a real steal at a fiver. She kicked some fashion ass!
The show was a riot of British seaside paraphernalia including this wall of animal balloons. Of course mini charmed her way into getting one asap. We then hotfooted it off to a quick brunch with papa and Phin at Automat and then to the launch of fashion label Bolzoni & Walsh hosted by Julia Restoin-Roitfeld. Phin coordinated perfectly with mini both in his colour palette (all down to papa I might add) and his crazy energy. With Phin sporting his Gap tangerine skinnies and blue checked shirt, Bonton grey jacket and linen boots from Pepe he too wowed the fashion crowd. What a morning!

Mini's first fashion show

Mini rocked her first fashion show with team Red today. She wore her Gap short dungarees, Marie Chantal floral shirt and neon j crew pearls to Australian label Sass and Bide's show. Whilst i slightly overdid the pom pom theme with my pompomed lanvin sandals, dana levy bracelets and tibetan bag paired with a simple grey linen jumpsuit from isabel marrant.
Mini loved all the pumping music but fell mainly in love with red fashion assistant Lucy's bling necklace and glitter bag. She's a magpie that mini.
Post show she mingled with the gorgeous Sophie E, queen of all things Aussie and her crew. And bedazzled not only singer paloma faith, fashionista Julia restoin Roitfeld but film director Tom hooper. What a first day in fashion.

Transeasonal Tike

I find dressing pre season tough work. You've been bare foot, draped in light weight clothing all summer, then September comes and you want to wear all your new gear but although mornings may be chilly it soon heats up and your sweltering. somehow chunky knits and capes don't feel right yet, so It always takes me longer to get dressed at this time of year. For mini that just means more layering. Her long sleeve t shirts worn under summer dresses or her Stella for Gap leggings and a light weight cardi do the trick. Today mini is flexing a little colour with her cobalt linen dress from Bonton, burnt orange ribbed cardi, her new Cos beads and her brand spanking new converse double Tongue trainers courtesy of cousin cherry and Miri. We love that they come with a choice of two coloured laces but the apple green are definitely our fave.

Later in the day Mini changed for little Alices 5th birthday bash. And in her honour (well sort of) she wore her older sister grace's peach sorbet Bonpoint party dress with super size bow. Delicious. 

Little gym

I'm back home after a fantastic shoot in Stockholm and raring to go with mini's fashion file. Today is little gym where mini gets to perfect her moves on the balance beam and contort herself into a forward roll. For this she needs clothes which max out on comfort. But then this is mini we're talking about, it's never going to be a simple pair of trackie pants. So yes to leggings but they're covered in sparkle stars from The Gap and worn with a super soft fine rib t worn under her flared babydoll cotton top both from Bonton. Never without a bow she's also sporting big bros old Nike trainers for that added athletic feel. Sporty spice indeed.

Little miss tulle

Mini celebrated her friend Mina's first birthday today and as is required wore her best party frock (or in mini's case one of her many gorgeous party outfits). Todays was a pale pink satin body with layers of jagged tulle quite monique l'huiller but actually from The Gap. She wore them with her new dusky pink suede desert boots from Clarks, not pictured. And although it may strike an odd combo pairing a bit of tough with tulle it strangely worked. Minis also discovered books, mainly the ones you can touch and scratch but Phins mr men's work just fine too. I'm off to Sweden for another fantastic shoot for Red so no fashion file for a few days but mini will be back for duty mid week and raring to flex her fashion prowess for london fashion week.

Wendy house

Mini loves nothing better than playing in her cousin's Gigi and josie's Wendy house. It's perfection. Pink and complete with flowers in the window box. Today mini wore her stella for gap crochet bow dress with coordinating poloneck and crochet leggings topped off with her j crew pearls.  Perfect transeasonal dressing. 

Back to school

There's something quietly satisfying about putting away your summer clothes and getting out all the warm and wintery pieces, especially when they're new. In Minis case that's almost everything after her giant growth spurt this summer.
Today mini is showcasing her new tartan check wool dress from Bonpoint. It's in this seasons muted spice tones and we've popped last year's Tabasco poloneck underneath, a pair of frilly White socks and Phins hand-me-down linen and leather brogues from Marie-Chantal.
Meanwhile it's back to school for Phin and he's taken to the green class like a duck to water. You'd never know he's spent the Last four weeks lounging in ibiza. Today he's sporting his skinny stella jeans, a stripe heart print T from Bonton and his ubiquitous Gap star trainers. The best sale buy at £7 ever! If he could sleep in them he would.

Barefoot and fancy free

It may be pouring outside but mini is still footloose and fancy free. Flinging off her socks and running round barefoot ibiza style, mini and Phin are both still struggling to wear clothes again after a summer of little or no attire.
We started off the new season with some golden oldies today but in bigger sizes. Gap skinny jeans worn with our favourite Bonpoint floral print, this time round mini has the blouse instead of the dress she wore last winter. That's what's so lovely about sale shopping for kids - you can stock up on all your faves without worrying it's too last season!

Minis riding on her pony

Minis riding on her pony. Well Phins pony actually, Lulu McPherson the black shetland pony to be precise. She adores her, profusely poking her in the nose and she took to her first ride with ease and confidence. Riding in her red skinny Gap jeans, Bonpoint floral blouse and slate blue cardigan by Grandma Eve.
Phin did brilliantly too with a straight back and an elegant poise he trotted round the field with glee.

Golden curls

Who'd a thought the little Eskimo baby with the black hair and slate eyes would morph into this golden curled blue eyed cherub? Her hair is growing in gorgeous ringlets at a pace her brother is yet to achieve and it's a golden corn with a hint of strawberry like her mama that no colourist could achieve.
Today mini was flexing a dolce star print vibe. It's the hot print for winter and mini's silver star leggings and grey jersey drummer boy jacket comes courtesy of the Gap with her pony T-shirt from Dandy Star.
She's been mighty busy today picking raspberries and tomorrow it's time for her first ride on Lulu McPherson. That's if lulu has forgiven her for constantly poking her in the nose.