‘I love fashion and interiors, and I love boutiques that have a bit of everything, with a unique style and atmosphere,’ said Cecile Roederer, its super-chic Parisian founder.
Others have now followed where Roederer dared to tread. Beautifully curated sites with children’s style at their heart are all around – if you know where to look. Shopping for kids has never been more fun.
Featuring everything from wallpaper to wellies and furniture to fairies, these websites will blow the minds of both little and large.
This Modern Life
Combining modern, retro and vintage-inspired items, this website is all about playfulness and colour in children’s décor. Created by parents with their own kids in mind, it is packed with stylish options for every whim.
Amid extremely rich pickings, we covet the Bamboo Dining Tableware Set most. Its Instagram feed (@thismodernlife) ought to come with a warning: man, does it make you want to shop…
Little Spree
Fashion editor Sarah Clark has magic powers when it comes to knowing about nice stuff for kids. She’s always loved clothes and pretty things for the home. Then, when she had twins in 2010, she became obsessed with finding lovely bits and bobs for them that wouldn’t break the bank. She retuned her well-trained adult eye and focused on gorgeous things in small sizes. Soon, she began to put it all in a blog. That blog (and online shop) is Little Spree.
Her thoughtful articles are called things like ‘Little Holiday Wardrobe’ and ‘The Sweetest Girls’ Dresses’ and ‘Too Cute Not To Share’. You can lose several happy hours to this site, which is half shop, half magazine and a total pleasure throughout.
Scandi Mini
The spiritual home of parents who love design, Scandi Mini has been bringing us the finest kids’ clothes, toys and homewares since 2011. The adults’ edit is dreamy, too. This clever online destination stocks over 175 fashion and interiors labels, and every one is a winner. They say: ‘We sell ‘small fashion’ that’s big on style, whether that’s a cool print or more minimalistic styling; a beautifully designed wooden toy or liberty print bed linen; we mix monotone with prints, minimalistic with bohemian and playful with subdued.’
We think the little girl in your life needs the charming Olli Ella Holdie House asap. Meanwhile, this little denim jumpsuit is bang-on-trend.
Nubie
Catering for bonny babies, cute kids and even tricky teenagers, Nubie is a children’s lifestyle store. Via their showroom in Sussex and (slightly drab) website, these guys stock all you need for the chicest kids’ interiors imaginable.
Brimming with quirky ideas and pleasing accessories, Nubie’s excellent reputation is well deserved. Perky muslins wink out at you. So does the heavenly children’s tableware. And as for the wallpaper on offer… Do splurge on the Tree House Bed and your child will love you forever.
Coco & Wolf
When she was pregnant with her daughter, former fashion buyer Amy Hemmings-Batt, tried her hand at making charming children’s clothes, homewares and bedding. It was all so lovely and popular that a thriving business was born.
This site is, simply, divine. Think handmade sheets, charming cushions for high chairs, drawstring bags for storage – all wrought in the prettiest Liberty fabric. Just you try to resist the Heirloom Quilt.
Bobo Kids
Widely used in France to describe a particular lifestyle group, the term ‘bobo’ refers to style-conscious consumers who embrace diverse fashion and interior trends to create a unique look. That’s pretty much who we want to be, right? Feast your eyes on the French site, Bobo Kids, and you might just get there.
This is a treasure trove of furniture, art, toys and clothes for kids. We’d like an Organic Cotton Suitcase, please. We urge you to pay particular heed to their inspirational party section. Plus, it’s worth knowing that Bobo Kids also offers a full interior design service.
Bows and Arrows Kids
The brainchild of two super stylish mamas, good taste exudes effortlessly from this exquisite website. Showcasing the best of kids’ toys, accessories and clothing from the high street as well as independent labels, it turns children’s wardrobes into an art form.
Co-founder, Amanda Vaughan-Lee, says: ‘With so little time and so much to choose from, we take the pain out of hitting the high street or trawling through endless websites. As busy mummys, daddys, grannys and friends, you’ll wonder what you ever did without us!’ Indeed. The boys’ Benedita Striped Tunic is almost edible. But we also love Bows and Arrows’ gift suggestions. The Conran Shop’s Cuddle Bear and the Nursery Window Hairbrush are inspired presents for newborns.
Sian Zeng
Born in China and now settled in the UK, Sian Zeng makes hand-drawn wallpapers that are pretty, fun and whimsical. We particularly like her CLASSIC DINO collection.
But the genius behind her gorgeous magnets – designed to enable storytelling on the fridge or on her magnetic wallpapers – deserves a special mention. You’ll buy them for your kids but you will want them for yourself.
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