Snow drops have pushed through the ground which means that spring is on the way.  In a few weeks families will be getting together to celebrate Passover or Easter.  It’s a time to give thanks for our blessings and spend time with our loved one.  Many will take pictures so you may want to take a few minutes and select something a little extra special for your children to wear.   I still have a fabulous picture of me and my sister resplendent in matching lime green polyester pantsuits. The outfits included a white plastic belt which closed in the shape of a butterfly.  I smile every time I see the picture even if the fashion statement makes me cringe. What can I say…It was the 70s and I was 7!

Nowadays, I prefer something traditional so it can be saved for younger siblings when my older daughter grows out of the outfit. Little girls are easy to shop for.  There are many traditional girls special occasion dresses with peter pan collars and sashes at the waist that will look charming both in person and in photographs. I love the dress in the picture above but then again I designed the dress and had the fabric woven to my specifications.  The dress looks timeless and ensures your children don’t ask the dreaded: “Mother, what were you thinking?”

Unfortunately, many brands only go up to a size 8 for traditional dresses.  But what happens to girls that don’t want to wear a “baby” dress, yet aren’t quite mature enough for an older style.  I’ve found that skirts help bridge the gap quite nicely.  You can pair the skirt with a turtleneck or a cardigan and receive a begrudging nod of approval from the tween in question.  Pants in a plaid or velvet material also look dressy enough for the occasion.  If your heart is set on a dress, I’ve had good success with the Contessa tween dress from A Little Indulgence (my company just to come clear).  The lines are simple and feel grown up. There isn’t a dreaded bow in the back of the dress to turn it into a “baby dress.”  The style is so popular, that I’ve had mothers beg me to start making it in adult sizes.  Whatever outfits you and children decide upon don’t forget to take plenty of pictures.  After all, that’s part of the fun of getting dressed up.

Contributed by

Tracy Young, Chief Princess Mom of A Little Indulgence who wonders if you need Passover or Easter Dresses?

Apparently kids were THE fashion accessory at many New York Fashion Week shows.    Maybe designers have run out of inspiration?  Maybe it’s because people are following the blog of a 13 year old? Maybe people brought their kids because they were off from school for winter break?  Whatever the reason, I asked myself if I would bring my child to a few fashion shows?

As with most things, there’s a lot to consider.  The time of day, the designer in question, the type of fashion clothes being shown, would my daughter enjoy it and would it bother other people?  I asked myself why I was even considering bringing my daughter to some shows.  What am I trying to accomplish?  First of all, I would only consider taking my youngest daughter to see some fashion shows.  She loves fashion.  She is learning to sew.   She loves the creative process and might enjoy the experience of seeing a few fashion shows in person.  Of course, the fashion shows couldn’t interfere with school, they would have to be during the day and I would have to feel comfortable with her being able to handle the noise and the crowds.  So just as I was thinking that I might consider taking my daughter to a fashion show another thought popped into my head.

If she experiences Fashion Week when she is 7 years old, what can she aspire to at 13?  At 20?  At 35?  And that to me is what it all boils down to.  I think I would rather talk about the fashion shows, share pictures with my daughter and take her once she turns 20.  It’s nice to have something to dream about, plan and look forward to.   What do you think?  Would you take your daughter to Fashion Week?  At what age?  Post a comment and let us know your thoughts.

contributed by Chief Princess Mom, someone who loves girls special occasion dresses

image from thephotoholic

If it hasn’t already happened, pretty soon your Classy Girl is going to be talking to you about having her first sleep over with her BF.  As a Mom, your first thought will probably be excitement because your daughter is starting to develop her independence.  Your second thought: “Wow, my husband and I can go out that night to a movie and/or dinner–and we don’t need a baby sitter. The third thought: “Is she going to make it through the night?”

Well, I don’t know the answers to any of these questions, but I can help you add a little fun to her send off.  Try an adorable overnight bag from Sassafrass.  You know your classy girl is going to need something to carry all the stuff she will need to get her through the night: her favorite night gown, her favorite bear, puppy, bunny, etc.,  her slippers, tooth brush, her favorite tooth paste, hair brush, hopefully her Ottilie & Lulu Clean Skin Face Wipes, and of course, a complete change of clothes for the morning. Luggage seems too drastic; after all, it’s only for over night. But a cute overnight bag…well, it sort of reinforces that it is only for one night.  The mermaid is only one of the soft, washable fantasy bags that come in everything from princesses, to dragons, to elephants.   Your classy girl can have her own signature overnight bag for $24.95. And believe me, it’s not a bad idea for your daughter to have a signature bag when the sleep overs grow to include 3 or 4 girls.  She has a somewhat better chance of coming home with her own stuff!

A few months ago my daughter chose the hermit crab for her overnight bag.  She takes ownership of her bag and the responsibility of packing for herself.  (Of course, I check.)  There is something that makes me smile when I see her walking out the door with her hermit crab bag.  But it doesn’t come close to the smile on my face when she comes home the next morning.

Healthful Mom, Deborah Hernan

Founder, Ottilie & Lulu

As parents we want what is best for our children.  We make them wear seat belts in the car, gloves and mittens when it’s cold outside and most of us probably limit the amount of TV that they watch.  After all, many of the programs on today are violent in nature, contain mature subject matter and bad language.  Just look at the Grammys and how many of the songs had to be bleeped.  So it might seem strange that I’m actually suggesting that you watch TV.

I’ve found that watching TV with my daughter allows me to be familiar with the content of the program.  I’ve nixed shows because they’re not appropriate for her age.  Just recently, my daughter and I started watching Project Runway together.  It’s fun to see how different people conceptualize an idea into a finished garment.  We tape the show and watch it on the weekend because there’s a “No TV During the Week” rule in our household.  On the weekend, my daughter and I curl up on the sofa and press play on the remote control.  My daughter enjoys the challenge that the contestants face each week. We have our own judging and voice our opinions on each outfit as it’s being created and shown down the runway.   It’s a time for us to share our love of fashion together and have some fun.   Tell us about other shows that you like to watch as a family.

contributed by Chief Princess Mom, offering girls special occasion dresses

photo by Tagtraum

Fashion is something that lets children express themselves, be creative and begin to assimilate who they want to be in the world. Unfortunately, in today’s day and age, a lot of the young fashion role models set aside for our children are sporting anything skimpy, short and see-through. If you want a positive, fun role model for your Classy Girl, try looking no further than our own First Classy Daughters (Sasha and Malia Obama).

Regardless of your political stance, these young ladies are always just that… young ladies. They enjoy expressing themselves through clothing (with fun boots, comfortable hats and pops of color), but never cross the line between appropriate and “asking-for-it”.

You Say: What other moderate dress role models do you provide for your children?

Contributed By: Chic Mom