Zaara's Closet

Now is a great time to catch good bargains on winter clothing by those amazing children’s designers. If it’s warming up where you live (we have no such luck here in Washington DC), buy one size up for next winter. Just picture her in the Catimini Urban Red Jacket. Even better, picture her wearing the jacket and the Urban Red Tights with a grey top and orangish-red skirt. Irresistible!  Those of you who have two-year olds, make a beeline for Forest and Zoe. They are selling the jacket for US$57.99 (originally US$116!) and the tights for US$16.99 (originally US$34).

I’m all too aware of the debate about sleep sacks vs blankets. It seems like a no brainer to me. Babies wriggle a lot and can easily disappear under a blanket. Zaara was a winter baby (it was snowing the day we brought her home in early March). I was one of those mummies who check whether the baby is breathing every 15 mins. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep much. The sleepsack definitely helped quell my paranoia. I would zip her up like in a sleeping bag, so she was all warm and cozy and I could rest without worrying about whether the blanket was smothering her. If you decide to go the sleep sack way, look no further than the Catimini Spirit Couleur Dolly Sleep Sack (you know how I love all things Catimini!). This would make a lovely gift for a very special baby. US$90 in Comfy Kids (sizes 0-9 months and 4-9 months).

Catimini Spirit Couleur Dolly Turbelette_US$90

Now that Christmas is over, I am going back to basics, and singing the praises of Catimini all over again. Just take a gander at the teal, acqua, black, pink, yellow combo in the Spirit Ethnique Corduroy dress/pinafore/jumper (US$80.5 in Comfy kids; sizes 12 months, 18 months, and 4 years). Don’t miss the tiny  bird sitting on the leather applique patch on one side. The matching Anthracite tights have horizontal stripes in all of those colors (US$27 in Comfy Kids)! Really only Deux par Deux could compete with Catimini for the cutest tights. No one else. To keep the cost down, you could just layer with an off-the-rack full-sleeved black tee or what the heck, complete the outfit with the Catimini Spirit Ethnique Black T-shirt (US$43 at Comfy Kids).

I found this vintage style flower haircomb (US$33 on Etsy by SchickiMickis) and immediately became a fan. Zaara would wear it with the Catimini Bain de Soleil White dress (look for it in La Bella Flora; US$79.5 for size 4,5, and) for a dressed up look. Add the Essentiels Beaded Cardigan (US$44.25) and these off the beaten track ballet flats by Crew Cuts by J Crew (US$118). Purrrfect!

A raspberry cotton corduroy pinafore with embroidery and appliques, printed ruffled hem and contrasting long sleeves. So quintissentially Catimini! What’s not to love? The Catimini Spirit Couleur dress available at US$39 for your 12 month old on La Bella Flora.

Spirit Couleur Dress; US$39

The unbelievably cute Rainbow Shorbet Jersey Dress is down from US$40 to US$18 in Small Concept (available in size 12 months only). Just pair with a contrasting cardigan and leggings and she is good to go! I  bought this dress for much much more a few months ago but Zaara looks so sweet in it, I don’t mind. While you’re there, check out the Catimini Polka Dot Tiered dress. It’s going for US$36.8 (down 60% from the original US$92). Sizes 12 months, 18 months and 3 years.