Ottie update

My third little munchkin has turned six months if you can believe it. Nothing beats having a little cuddle in the morning before the day starts.

Mini is really embracing being an older sister. She's been a little forceful at times, however today she gently pushed Ottilie on her first time on the swings.

Like Mini i can't help but dress Ottilie up. She has received so many great clothes as well as all Mini's great hand me downs. Here she is in her heart peplum sweater from The Gap with star print leggings from Kids Case and Mini's old red baby Bloch ballet slippers

Here Ottilie is in another great Bonpoint gift, a beautiful linen dress with front panel embroidery

Mini is sooooo excited to be a big sis. And what could be better than wearing matching outfits. Here Ottilie is wearing Mini's old sweater crochet dress from Stella McCartney for Gap, whilst Mini still fits the top.

Here's Mini in the same dress when she was little but with a bow of course!

Its party time and to celebrate Ottilie attending her first birthday party she wears Minis old Angel's Face tutu but with a Grandma Eve hand knit.

And here is Mini in the same tutu. Just as frothy, just as fun!

And here Ottilie is sitting on her 94 year old great grandma's lap in Germany. We went for the weekend and it was such a treat for me to see the oldest in our family embrace the youngest.

Guitar Hero

Rock on Mini! Our little performer was testing her guitar skills today, strumming and plucking chords to a rocking rendition of baa baa black sheep. Minster is sporting her Dandy tshirt dress again adorned with a big bow with stars and her little gold ballet pumps from Baby Bloch. A perfect showcase for those squidgy thighs. Delicious.

Purple Pantaloon

My plump princess is sporting her purple pantaloons like someone out of a Shakespearian play. Her namesake Hermione from a Winters Tale may not have worn these herringbone shorts festooned with bows from Zara nor a knitted doublet from Bonton and footless tights from Stella for Gap but it's a perfect layered look for doing battle with the british weather.

Daisy Chain

Wistful Mini in her red and white Daisy print dress from Bonton and her quilted Daisy chain string necklace by Cos. A cool gift from Carolyn - The Times Fashionista who also happens to have the most fashionable daughter Decca, always decked out in off beat kids wear with bucket loads of style. Like mother like daughter I suppose. Ive added an Yves Klein blue cardigan from Caramel. A cardigan Phin wore at four months old, it now works brilliantly as a bolero and matches her new big blue bow perfectly.
I'm off to Turkey tomorrow shooting Red's August cover story so you may get a posting from Tom or you may be without a fashion file for a few days. Who knows. Until next week xx

Go Get'em Cowgirl

Yee Hah Cowgirl! Phin and Mini were invited to Alex's wild west party so we obviously went checked shirt crazy. There is nothing our household loves more than a good old soft brushed cotton checked shirt reeking of the rugged outdoors. But of course they're more fashion than that. Tom has a penchant for RRL by Ralph Lauren and Uniqlo does a great low cost range in a whole host of colours. I of course am obsessed with Isabel Marant's form fitting ones in off beat colours, while Phin's generally come from Bonton or The Gap. Mini's back in her red gingham sundress this time accessorized with a cowboy hat and sheriff's badge to kick some fashion butt. 

And here is Phin's pal Jagger rocking her red cowboy boots like a true professional. We only wish she wore them more. She's paired them with a cherry red cowgirl hat and fuschia and navy checked sundress from Caramel. Heavenly.

Best Friend

We're normally super strict about friends. And big Enid is a friend that normally never sees daylight. Sometimes she's allowed on a plane or a long car journey but mainly Big Enid's place is behind bars. That said mini is in the throws of teething and if anyone is going to calm her down it's the unbridled love of a giant grey elephant.
Today mini has gone all patriotic. Maybe it's because her uncle Piggle is running the marathon on behalf of Bernardo's but she's flexing her red White and blue with a Liberty print floral dress from Bonton (thank u emma) and a new addition to her grandma eve home knit range with this slate blue and red ribbon Cardigan and her delectable red ballerinas from Baby Bloch. Good luck uncle Piggle screams Phin from the sidelines and well done from us!

Little Diva

Mini looks like she is casting for a part in her favourite soap opera. She may only be able to say hi but with so many expressions she never fails to convey what she's feeling. On the last day of our heat wave Mini is wearing a pale blue gingham sundress with puffed sleeves and a mini pelmet from The Gap worn with her john Lewis lace edged socks and gold ballerinas from Baby Bloch. I think she's ready for her close up.

Double Trouble

Talk about the spitting image. Phin and Mini really do mirror each other's movements and gestures - its uncanny. Here they are sitting on the step, ready to go out on an adventure to Oxfordshire to celebrate their friend Ava's birthday. Smart as ever in their party clothes, Mini is wearing the most divine dress from the Belgian label Maan. A gift from the discerning and ever elegant Elaine, it has a kooky print of owls and foxes in slate grey and cream with emerald and fuschia accents. The unusual print paired with its retro 50's shape makes for an original and standout dress. Mini is wearing it with cream lace edged socks from The Gap and her brushed gold ballet slippers from Red's Fashion Director Nicola to finish off the outfit with a pop. Phin is resplendent in paired down French style a la Bonton. He is wearing their elasticated pinstripe beige shorts (well over 2 years old - cant believe they still fit!) with his new slate coloured light weight shirt, dove grey ribbed socks and new Spring Court mushroom tennis shoes picked up in Paris.

Mum! Do i have to smile?! Enough already.

Party Time

Mini and Phin are in the throes of party season and today was Phin's mate Alalstair's 3rd birthday bash. Mini, keen as ever to showcase a new look, was out and about in her new Makie seventies sunflower print sundress and matching bloomers. Bought on our last trip to NYC,  i fell in love with the cool faded colours of iced pink and blue and the retro print. We paired it with her mauve ribbed cardigan from Bonton and ballet slipper socks and gold shoes from Baby Bloch

The theme may have been knights and dragons but phin was flexing his little drummer boy meets Elton John vibe. A look that definitely says medieval rock star. His jacket is by Stella for Gap, t-shirt Marc Jacobs and denim cargo shorts from H&M

En Pointe

Mini is flexing her own Black Swan today with her new ballet shoes from Baby Bloch. These gorgeous burnished gold ballerinas were a gift from Red's Fashion Director Nicola, so its no wonder they are the height of style. Finally Mini fits them, so expect many more outings on her blog. Today we've paired them with a stone linen pinafore dress and claret ribbed cashmere poloneck both from Caramel worn with her bark coloured tights from Zara and a burgundy bow from Marie-Chantal. 

Boy this tastes good! cant stop chewing...

Also check out the new collection from Caramel on www.caramel-shop.co.uk and to see Phin doing a spot of modelling!

Bow Baby

Mini's tresses are growing, albeit rather slowly. Still at least there's enough hair for her to sport her large array of bows. Most of which come from either Marie-Chantal or ilovegorgeous. We've gotten so used to her wearing them that without she looks almost naked or at the very least underdressed! They have a simple metal slide concealed by a grosgrain or cotton coloured bow and simply slide into the hair. There's no clicking so you don't have to worry about pressing too hard against their soft skulls. And they come in three different sizes. Mini mostly has the smallest but also has four mediums like today. The largest are absolutely glorious but really do need more hair! We keep Mini's locks in shape with her natural bristle hand painted hair brush from Nursery Window, a beautifully practical gift from our lovely friend Natalie. Today Mini has been preparing for her Papoo's 82nd birthday and she's chosen a Liberty print dress and gunmetal grey cardigan from Bonton with her red Baby Bloch ballet shoes 

Catch me if you can

Mini might not be crawling quite yet but her twist and turn technique is being honed daily. Soon she'll be off and running and then where will our daily fashion fix be? I'm trying to get as much use out of her winter woollies as possible. Unlike us they won't be relegated to the back of the wardrobe until next Christmas and need to get maximum use. so while its still super chilly Mini will be flexing her festive knits. This divine dress is by Ralph Lauren worn with her cream tights from The Gap and red ballet slippers (almost too small now - boo hoo) from Baby Bloch.

Almost there...

Christmas is almost upon us. Mini is excited and upping the festive ante with her tartan bonton dress and ruby red tights and slippers.

Little Elf

Yes, yes, its not December yet but we're getting into the spirit with Mini's Christmas sweater look. I'm afraid i'm a sucker for seasonal sweaters and chunky knits, so you'll see a fair few in the coming months. Today Mini is looking mightily festive in a stone and red cardigan with matching tassel hat, cherry red cords and white frilled shirt from Bonpoint with red ballet shoes from Baby Bloch

Tiny Tartan

I love a bit of tartan come winter. I never understood why the Americans call it plaid nor why thy then pronounce it plad. But there you go. This little number is from Bonton and has a front pocket, not that there's much for mini to stash in there. Gap tights and her favourite red ballerinas from Baby Bloch. 

There's no place like home...

Today mini finally fits her godmummy Emma's gift. A delectable Liberty print dress from Bonton. It has beautiful scalloped sleeves and a square neckline and is in red, duck egg blue and slate. Worn with a hand knitted cardigan from Grandma Eve, aqua bow from Marie Chantal, Gap cream tights and red leather ballet flats.

We've already been out and about today and these ballet flats from Baby Bloch have been garnering quite a few gasps. I don't know whether its a Wizard of Oz Dorothy Red shoe thing but they are causing quite a sensation. We got ours from Petit Aime however Fenwick stocks them too and the great thing is they are easy to slip on and the elastic band keeps them firmly in place.