Zaara's Closet

My take on communion dresses, the simpler the better. I know there are those among you who like pageant-style dresses (tsk tsk). While I love spring-white cotton dresses, pageant-style or bridal-type dresses make me cringe. And forking out USD200 for a dress a child will never wear again is such a waste. Here is one I like. The Ode to Love White Roses Dress by Biscotti is both stylish and budget- friendly.  The gathered tulle skirt and flowers on the bodice lend it just the right amount of formality without taking it over-the-top. Perfect as a flower girl dress too. Not exactly cheap at USD99 (add another USD12 for sizes 7 and up), but not bad for a good quality dress. Available in sizes 4-14 at Everything But the Princess.

Biscotti Ode to Love_USD99

Do I love the Josephine Putty Dress by Enchanted Enfant? Oh yes! So simple. So vintage. Would I pay US$238 for it? Of course not. You can get 35% off on the Black Friday sale at Everything But the Princess. That’s still US$154. Hmmm… I think I’ll wait. But how adorable it would look on Zaara with boots!

Enchanted Enfant Josephine Putty dress_USD238

Shopping for Thanksgiving party already? If you have a little princess at home, look no further than the Lipstik Pink Sequin Rose dress. Available in sizes 4, 5 and 6. Reduced from US$64 to US$48 in Everything But the Princess (get another 20% off on Nov. 1 with coupon Spooky). Pair with the Me Too Silver Rosette Lulu ballet flats. Now all you need is something to keep her warm and cozy as temperatures dip. I have just the thing for you. The Luna Luna Muse Jacket is down to US$54 (from US$74). Size 3T, 4T (add US$4 for 4+ sizes). You are so welcome… Come back again soon to see what else I have found for you.

Check out the Girl’s Frappe Dress by Crew Cuts. Oodles of soft cotton ruffles in various shades of cream and pink. Zaara has this dress in grey, and it never fails to elicit compliments from people (incidentally, they always seem to be shocked to hear that it is a Crew Cuts dress). The Rosalie dress in silk is a more formal version of the same dress ($49.99). Use code LOVEIT to get an extra 30% off.  

Good time to stock up on swim suits. Kate Mack makes the best for children. Grab the $50 Pink Paradise one piece ruffled swim suit for $25 (size 2T only) from Britchin’ Post. Or the two-piece tankini for $24 (originally $48).

How charming is the Joan Calabrese Satin Charmeuse Dress? Perfect for that family wedding or even the special dinner party for Thanksgiving. Love the color, love the bubble hem, love the underskirt peeking out at the hem. Only $69.99 at Everything But the Princess. Sizes available: 5 and 6.

oan Calabrese for Mon Cheri Midnight Satin Charmesue Party dress_$69.99

If you know about children’s fashion, you know that Jottum makes very simple and elegant dresses for girls. I can’t help loving the dark blue tank dress with the unusual white band at the hip. A little nautical, but more chic. I only wish they had one my size. If you have a seven year-old, I would grab this one from Everything But the Princess. The $60 is going for $46 at the online boutique. Just take a look at the pics below.

Loved the animal motifs in Mim Pi’s 2011 summer collection. Already got two of the dresses, two skirts, and two tops with the cute deer and puppy motifs for Zaara. Love the deer jumper dress in denim that is so true to Mim Pi’s bohemian style. And you know how I love a bargain. Why pay $113 (original price) for it, when you can get it for only $56.50 at My Lil Darlings Children’s Boutique.

How cute is the Kate Mack tutu skirted swimsuit (US$43.2 in Britchin’ Post for sizes 2T, 3T, 4T)? Of course you could pay only USD16.84 for the Old Navy tutu polka dot swimsuit for a similar visual effect. Or you could spend even less and get the bursting bubble pink tutu from Old Navy (US$6 for sizes 6m to 4T). Only remember, you get what you pay for. I bought this last year in yellow for Zaara and the color turned muddy after a few washes. But hey, if she can wear something that costs only US$6 four times, that’s not so bad, is it? But there’s no beating Kate Mack when it comes to tutu swimsuits. Just too cute!

There was a time when I steered clear of black outfits for Zaara. But I have bought a few and found that she can totally work the color (although I would still not put a black dress on anyone younger than 4). But black interspersed with other colors (especially white) is fine and so cool. Dutch brand Claesens, with their typical clean lines, excels at it. I love their Black Heart Zipper Dress (US$23.8 for sizes 2-14 at Britchin’ Post). I wouldn’t mind one for myself ! Also love the polka dots and stripes Sporty Tankini with hot pink details and criss-cross straps (US$27.3). Maybe I am too conservative, but I much prefer tanikinis to bikinis.