skip to main |
skip to sidebar
WEARING: [Josephine] Gap Kids cotton polo neck // milou & pilou skirt // La Coqueta tights and bow // Clarks boots [Coralie] Next dress // La Coqueta tights // Clarks boots
As I wrote a few months ago, finding beautiful vintage and secondhand pieces for Josephine these days is getting harder and harder. And when your girl has a growth spurt and everything is suddenly two inches too short, finding clothes that we'll both love can get expensive. When it was her birthday in January, she was lucky enough to get some money from grandparents and great grandparents, which excited me much more than Phiney! I had had my eye on a few lovely pieces for a while, and now had the funds to go buy them.
I thought I'd share a few things I consider when I'm buying clothes for the girls, in case you too are finding the nice clothes/limited budget balance a tricky one.
*Firstly, I am always on the look out for secondhand and vintage - that's a given. I'm more likely to find stuff in Coralie's size these days (which takes a lot of willpower as she has plenty of Josephine's hand me downs to grow in to, and does she really need any more clothes?!) so if I do find anything in age 4 and above, I snap it up. I found the sweetest 1980s smocked dress with peter pan collar in the charity shop for £2 before Christmas and I did a happy dance right then and there. eBay still serves me well now and then too, but it takes a certain level of dedication I find.
*With the increasing amount of new clothes I'm buying, I really take my time to think about what the girls need and not just what I want to buy. I remember when Josephine was about two having a wardrobe full of beautifully patterned clothes, but none of which matched each other. I've learnt from that mistake and now invest in plain coloured pieces too, that go with everything (mostly in navy blue, denim, brown or white).
*In the summer time, I'm mostly drawn to dresses (so easy to throw on and stay cool in) and for winter I bare in mind that a lot of outdoors time will be spent in waterproof trousers, making bloomers and tights or leggings the better option.
*I buy pieces at the beginning of the season, on the whole, otherwise I find the steady trickle of clothes arriving at the front door (because online shopping still feels detached from spending actual money to me!) gets very expensive. I go through the underbed storage boxes and find the pieces the girl's will have grown into and are seasonally appropriate, and work out what is missing: more tops, more tights, a new pair of bloomers etc.
*Until now, I've bought very little on the highstreet in all honesty, so lucky (and dedicated!) have I been on the secondhand front. However, I always get excited when the new season Next catalogue arrives, and can always find a few pieces that I love in there (and quite a lot that I shudder at tbh!). Often I buy in next year's sizes for Josephine, if I think she has enough dresses etc, so I can still get it in her wardrobe somehow!
*On the whole however, I'd rather support smaller business that shop on the highstreet. They offer the quality I want, the more unusual designs and fabrics and ensures our girls aren't dressed the same as every other child in the playground. Many of these companies have higher p&p (especially those that are overseas) so it's worth factoring that cost, and considering buying multiples in one order if you know you'll be back for more soon.
*Alongside her normal clothes, Josephine also has 'messy' clothes. These are her Pre-school uniform, allotment wear etc. I buy cheap multi-packs of leggings/shorts and long/short sleeved round neck t-shirts and a pair of Phiney-friendly daps (no laces!) and honestly don't care how messy she gets them. Most are stained with stubborn paint, mud, grass and crayon, but it doesn't matter. The last thing I want is for Josephine to feel restricted in what she's wearing - both physically and mentally; I don't want her thinking about not ruining her clothes when she's having fun at nursery. The girls also wear long sleeved bibs at messy mealtimes, when we're at home and out. That way they can slurp spaghetti as much as they want and not have me grimacing at that tomato sauce splattered white top.
*Finally if a piece is more expensive than I would normally buy I always buy it for Josephine. I can justify the price more if I know it'll be handed down to Coralie and both girls will get wear out of it!
WEARING: Next dress and cardigan // La Coqueta coat, hair bow and tights // Clarks Originals boots.
Off to her little friends birthday party, and happily letting me take her picture while she shelters from the rain. She's not the biggest fan of having her photo taken right now, so when she agrees to smile and stand still for one second, I grab the opportunity and the camera. She's laughing so much because I was getting soaked, and I crouched down to take a photo and basically sat in a puddle!
I bought this beautiful coat (the same as her brown one, which she grew out of last winter) in the sale nearly a year ago. It's finally about fitting - although the sleeves need turning up a lot! - and we both love it. So classic and timeless. Josephine loves the velvet buttons most :)
This outfit is the perfect mix of high street and investment pieces. I know this coat will be passed down to Coralie, and is likely to be worn by Josephine for at least another winter if not two. Totally worth it (and a steal at half price in the sale).
Those last two are iPhone captures you may have seen on IG, but I just adore them. Sometimes you get the best shot once you've put the big camera away and are snapping on your phone!
My sweet friend Amy, half of the super cool Robin and Mould, gave the girls some of their awesome cushions when Coralie was born and they have become favourites in our household. Josephine takes her hedgehog cushion to bed every night, and Coralie's cat regularly takes part in tea parties, trips to the 'park' and boat journeys across the sea.
Just a little shout out for an awesome Mama (and Papa) doing such awesome things creatively. The beginning of a new series celebrating some of the brilliant designers, photographers and writers who are inspiring me right now.
Check out their shop here. Beautiful colours and prints and perfect presents for Christmas.
On the tight budget that we're on, I'm always on the lookout for pieces for our home that offer good value for money. Absolutely I'd love to shop with independent brands making handcrafted items all the time, and yes I agree with buying less rubbish and spending more on quality items; but you know what, you can find some lovely pieces in unexpected places too that, importantly, look great and won't blow the budget.
Supermarkets are one such place, where you can find a little bit of treasure amongst the milk and frozen pizza, and the new ranges at George Home are particularly nice.
As I'm sure is the case for most parents out there, when you have a spare bit of cash it tends to go on the children, and there are certainly a few lovely pieces the would be quite at home in Josephine's room (sometime soon to be 'the girl's room'!)
Firstly, in the Kid's Room section, I love this toy box. It's clean and simple style is timeless and will grow with the girls as they get older. Plus, you can never have too much storage as for as I'm concerned.
There is also a really wonderful selection of wooden toys, perfect for (dare I say it) Christmas. From farm set to pirate ships, and the sweetest shop and café stand that may well be finding it's way to our house on Christmas morning. And all at really great prices.
Finally, if you're on the look out for a stylish and contemporary bunk beds (that's a bit further down the line for us!) you should check out this one. I love the wood, the simplicity and the desk and storage on the end. What more could you ask for?
This is a sponsored post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Photos taken from the George Home website.
WHAT PHINEY WORE: Coat la coqueta // Tights john lewis // Boots clarks // Hat handmade using Dover & Madden pattern
Finding the perfect winter coat for Josephine this year took me forever, but boy was it worth the hunt. I wanted something traditional, in camel, that could be passed down to all our children; with the possibility of it becoming something of a family heirloom. I know, I don't ask for much.
Thank goodness for Instagram. I somehow found Celia's feed, which featured her beautiful children wearing the gorgeous wares of her store La Coqueta. I found the shop online and there was the perfect coat, in an array of colours, but most importantly, in camel. I bought it in age 3, to ensure it lasts this year and next at least, and while the sleeves need to be turned up a bit right now, it fits so well. Sure, it's not cheap - in fact it's the most money I've spent on one item of clothing (for me or Phiney) in about 8 years, but it is the ultimate investment piece, and is just beautiful; from the soft wool coat to the velvet covered buttons.
Once you've found the perfect winter coat, the perfect hat is a must. And for me, the bonnet is the sweetest thing for children of all ages. I have loved Vicki's designs for years now, and when I was pregnant with Josephine, one of her little knitted hats in red was a must. Last winter, Vicki so kindly sent Josephine a few new designs to try out and the mustard Clover hat and sunshine yellow bonnet became staples in her wardrobe. When Vicki told me she was going to produce a pattern to buy for the Clover hat, I was so excited and bought it as soon as she released it. With freelancing taking all my time, I passed the pattern to my expert knitter Mum, as well as some lovely lavender wool, and she produced this gorgeous piece. I love the purple and camel together, especially with her little leather boots. The perfect winter attire :)
ps. next to awesome Mama's like Celia and their independent shops, vintage and second hand pieces are a must. One of my favourite Insta buddies, Jude, found her little noodle the best vintage coat I've ever seen. Isn't it awesome? I'd happily steal it for Phiney. And about a month ago I found a lighter camel, almost identical version of Josephine's coat at the charity shop. In age 9-12 months it'll be ideal for Baby this time next year. By a French brand I've never heard of, and for the grand sum of £2.50, it was a pretty great find.
WHAT PHINEY WORE: Kitipongo Dress tk maxx // Handmade Cardigan // Tights h&m // Hair Bow happy circus // Desert Boots clarks (find similar here)
This week, Josephine is wearing the sweetest dress I found while rummaging the rails at TK Maxx. I have a love/hate relationship with that store. It's awesome if they have what you want in the right size, but so often you find the perfect piece and they only have one of them, three size too small. Ben shops there a lot for work clothes so I take a look in the kids section for Phiney when we go in. The reduced, past-season prices are always so reasonable, and sometimes you can snag a real bargain. When I bought this dress (for the grand sum of £12) I also found a soft grey Petit Bateau cardigan for next winter for just £10 (reduced from £65!). If you're happy to scour the rails, it's a great shopping destination, but if bargain hunting isn't your thing, i'd stay clear!
My Mum made Phiney this beautiful cardigan from a vintage design she found in her pattern stash. It coincidentally matches this dress so perfectly and I love it's longer length; perfect for autumn. Having my Mum on hand to whip up a cardigan in a matter of days is wonderful. Thank goodness for your pro-knitter Nanny, Phiney.
Finally, Josephine is the best model for my Happy Circus hair bow clips and I have to make her some more in other colours soon. They just look so sweet buried amongst her curls.
WHAT PHINEY WORE: Bosca Dress c/o la coqueta //
Vintage Cardigan / Ribbed Tights la coqueta //
Desert Boots clarks (similar - the leather version appear to have sold out)
For many months now, I've received a lot of lovely emails and comments from you guys about the clothes Josephine wears. I'm not going to lie, dressing this girl is so much fun and searching for beautiful vintage, secondhand and unusual pieces for her is one of my absolute favourite pastimes.
It isn't always easy though. I find the majority of the shops on the high street stock small versions of (unappealing) adult styles, made poorly for a price that, in all honesty, I can't justify spending. And little girls (especially) dressed as adults is something that just doesn't sit well with me. I want traditional and classic pieces, in beautiful fabrics, prints and colours that I know I'm not going to see every other little girl wearing in the playground.
So, with so many of you asking where I find these great pieces I thought I'd start a new regular series called What Phiney Wore, in which I'll reveal some of my favourite stores (which I may later regret!) as well as some of the tricks of shopping for kiddos that I've learnt along the way.
Today, Josephine is wearing one of the most beautiful dresses in her wardrobe; The Bosca Dress from La Coqueta. If you haven't heard of this store yet, I urge you to go check out their online shop, or if you're in Hampstead in London, to drop in the store. Launched by inspirational Mama of five Celia in 2012, the brand stocks the most beautiful clothes for babies, girls and boys all proudly made in Spain. All you need to know is I could happily dress Josephine in every piece the store has on offer, and I've bought her the most fantastic winter coat too, which I have no doubt will be popping up in a What Phiney Wore post soon.
The Bosca Dress is beautifully made from a Liberty floral fabric, and I adore the little detailing of the lace trim on the lining inside and and the corduroy buttons on the front.
While Josephine's boots are Clarks Originals, if her wide little feet could squeeze into them, I'd surely be buying a pair (or two) of the desert boots from La Coqueta. And maybe a pair of Mary Janes too.
But it's not just the dresses and coats, shirts and shorts that La Coqueta have on offer. Celia has sourced the best collection of ribbed tights and long and short socks I've found, and Phiney has several pairs in her drawer. In beautiful colours, and of the highest quality, they are perfect for boys and girls alike.
Of course, I can't finish an outfit without a piece of vintage, and this chunky knit I found in a charity shop just after Josephine was born is the perfect piece to keep her warm on a crisp autumnal day.
