Kid Style Junkie's Top 5 Bubble Signings

Suzanne Peters is the fashion addict behind popular blog Kid Style Junkie. When she's not posting about clothes, food, spaces and fun, you'll find her writing for Gurgle and The Huffington Post, creating content for retailers, and freelancing as a retail consultant. This stylish mum-of-two knows what she likes - which is why we invited her to put together an exclusive edit of new Bubble brands...

Bubble London have a host of new signings for S/S16 that are totally worth getting very excited about. They have asked me to pick my favourites, as they know that I'm a fussy little so and so who just loves to impart her opinion. So, to that end, let's get going. I bring you my Top 6 New Bubble Signings. 

1. Bakker Made with Love. This brand is a well established, commercial kids fashion and accessories line that is exhibiting in the UK for the first time.

   

2. Le Mu is an occasionwear and accessories brand for girls aged 2-9 years. All garments are beautifully packaged in gift/dress bags so as to keep them special.

   

3. East End Highlanders is a Japanese boyswear brand that specialises in high quality shirts.   

 

4. Mr Wolf is a British brand with vibrant and bold colour palettes and eye-catching, playful prints.

   

 4. I saw The Little Shoemaker at Dot to Dot last year. Love it.

   

 5. Where's that Bear? This brand has been created by the very person who reviews and writes about kids fashion for The Sunday Times. Bold. Bright. Playful. Well priced.

 

There are so many decisions for you to face as buyers - hopefully I have helped make some of them easier, as that is what Kid Style Junkie is all about. Have a great show! Follow Kid Style Junkie on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for more more MORE.

You can catch Bakker Made With Love, Le Mu, East End Highlanders, Mr Wolf, The Little Shoemaker and Where's That Bear? at Bubble this season. Register for your free ticket here...

Festive Fashion With YCW

By Amanda Evans, owner of Your Children's Wardrobe

Christmas is just around the corner (gulp) - and, rather than tackle the weighty subject of festive fashion ourselves, we thought we'd call in the experts! 

Former Rising Star judge Amanda Evans owns Your Children's Wardrobe, an online childrenswear boutique and luxury clothes shop based in Denby Dale, West Yorkshire. We asked her to choose three Christmas party outfits from YCW's current offer, and she duly raided her rails. Take it away, Amanda! 

With the festive party season fast approaching, I’m bringing you a round-up of some of the cutest Christmassy outfits around. We've got a host of stylish and smart selections at YCW, and to ensure your kids sparkle and shine in their party attire in the run up to December 25, I’ve picked out three gorgeous outfits – one for a baby, one for a toddler or slightly older girl, and one for a young boy.

Ilovegorgeous Baby Wee Lassie Dress, £55, Big Tartan Hairbow, £19

A lovely choice for your baby, this tartan printed ‘Wee Lassie’ chiffon dress from ilovegorgeous has a round neckline, shirred chest detail and long sleeves. Available up to 24 months, it can be paired with black tights and party shoes, or worn over leggings and furry boots, and will make a really striking festive outfit for your little angel.

Also a great dress for Christmas day, this ilovegorgeous number is bound to stand out on your festive photos.  The long sleeves ensure your little one’s arms are covered up, and the simple style of the dress means it can be dressed up or down to create two different looks. Team with this big, floppy, chiffon hairbow in matching tartan print to add a cute finishing touch to the outfit.

Mayoral Cream Floral Lace Dress, £37

For girls, this Mayoral cream floral dress is simply stunning. Featuring a dainty glittery belt, it's fully lined and has a zip fastening to the back. A gorgeous party outfit, this will look even more beautiful paired with a faux fur coat or teamed with a red cardigan. Why not team the dress with some cream tights and patent shoes for a pretty party look, topped off with a huge red bow for the hair, too? (Don’t forget to look for accessories, too - they’ll really help finish off an otherwise simple outfit.)

Tommy Hilfiger Scanton Skinny Jeans

Tommy Hilfiger Navy and White Checked Gingham Shirt

Tommy Hilfiger Stars and Stripes Knitted Cotton Sweater

One of the reasons I initially set up Your Children’s Wardrobe was because I really struggled to find gorgeous, trendy clothes for my now nine-year-old son, Seth. Thanks to this super cool, preppy outfit from Tommy Hilfiger, I needn’t worry anymore!

An all-american look in a classic navy, red and white colour combo, this outfit consists of mix and match separates and can be layered with a shirt for a more formal look.

The Tommy Hilfiger Stars and Stripes Knitted Cotton Sweater not only looks good but feels great too (made from a cotton mix, it’s super soft and not itchy) - so important when it comes to dressing boys. I’ve teamed it with these coloured Tommy Hilfiger Scanton Skinny Jeans, which feature internal waist adjusters and elastane to ensure a really comfortable fit for active boys. With the addition of this Tommy Hilfiger Navy and White Checked Gingham Shirt, which has a contrasting red gingham turn back on the cuff, you have a super smart – yet comfortable - look for the festive season. 

You’ll also find plenty of other cool boys’ brands online and in the shop, from IKKS to Maison Jean Bourget and Scotch Shrunk - as well as, of course, a whole host of cute and funky girls’ wear to ensure the festive season goes with a bang.

Which is your favourite look? We love that elegant dress from Mayoral, which will be returning to Bubble London in February. You might bump into Amanda at the show, too - although, if you're based in Yorkshire, you can always pop into YCW for a coffee and a chat! Get in touch with the store via www.yourchildrenswardrobe.com. 

The Cornershop: The Ultimate Shopping Experience

An old launderette in East London has been transformed into a grocery store and everybody's talking about it. 

And why is that? Well, everything in The Cornershop is made of felt.

Stitching and sewing for 8 months, Lucy Sparrow has created 4,000 items, which are all on display and on sale. 

From the till to the soup cans and pick ‘n’ mix stand, everything is handcrafted with immense precision and attention to detail. 

Not one to rest on her laurels, Super Lucy is also running sewing workshops for kids and adults until 31 August, before taking her Cornershop to Brighton. 

The Cornershop

19 Wellington Row
Bethnal Green
London
E2 7BB

Prince George's 1st Birthday: Perfect Gifts, Fit for the Little Prince

By Shoshana Kazab - Fuse Communications 

Prince George, the world's most photographed (and adorable!) baby, is reaching his first major milestone and turning the grand old age of one on July 22. We've put together a gallery of gift ideas which are fit for a little prince!

Britt

Britt, the Australian-designed and made baby & toddler accessories brand, is known for its plush faux fur bears, jackets and booties, and recently re-launched and showcased its new collection at Bubble. A special edition royal charity bear was presented to the Duchess of Cambridge during her recent tour of Australia & visit to the Bear Cottage Hospice in Sydney, complete with George's name embroidered on the bear's paw in gold silk thread! RRP $45 Australian. 

aden + anais

The Australian cotton muslin brand became a household name overnight, after the baby Prince was pictured leaving the hospital wrapped in their Jungle Jam print swaddle. Now that the Prince is a little older, we think he would love to snuggle up to one of their Jungle Jam musy mate loveys made using the brand's signature 100% cotton muslin £19.95 - or for something even more cosy, the elephant bamboo musy mate lovey in grey £24.95. 

My Little Day

You're never too young for a crown, and the Parisian party accessories brand's glitter crowns are perfect for the little Prince and his friends to celebrate his milestone in style! They come in packs of 8 and would be perfect for an intimate gathering with the 1 year old's besties. RRP £7.10. 

Patachou

The Portuguese baby & children’s brand has an adorable collection for AW14, and stand out pieces include the houndstooth padded coat which looks as if it's been designed especially for Prince George. The socially responsible brand has also launched the 'Spreading Smiles' project and has committed to donating an item of clothing to a child in need for every three purchases made by their customers. RRP £53. 

Vevian

Vevian's shoes are hand-made in London and come in a lined box, so are the perfect heirloom piece. The metallic George brogues are a must-have item for any young Prince's shopping list. The shoe box lid can also be personalised with George's full name and date of birth, making it even more special. Vevian shoes retail from £99. 

Pupe e Cavalieri

This beautiful Italian brand was one of Bubble's Rising Stars this season and we fell in love with their traditionally designed collection, with exceptional detailing. This chic ribbed pure cotton romper with striped top and silver blue pants would look simply adorable on Prince George - and the crisp peter pan collar, which is fast-coming a signature look for the young Prince, features mother of pearl buttons. RRP £58. 

The Little Tailor

British baby & toddler brand The Little Tailor is always one of Bubble's busiest stands, and it's easy to see why with its charming signature collection of cuddly knits and toys. We love their 100% cotton rocking chair print sweater with matching pants in grey. Prices RRP from £12 - £28.  

What would you buy the little prince for his first Birthday? We'd love to hear your ideas! 

Pretty as a Picture; Sarah Mason Photography

Here at Bubble and Speak, we're suckers for a pretty picture - and they don't come much lovelier than Sarah Mason's magical portraits. 

Photographer Sarah has been capturing children’s characters and personalities in her images for the past five years.  When she moved back to Yorkshire six years ago to set up her photography business, Sarah Mason Photography, she wanted to offer families an alternative to studio photographs. 

Sarah said, ‘I find that when kids are engaged in an activity, and enjoying something they are doing, they forget about me and my camera, and for me that’s when I capture the best shots.’

Sarah has taken this a step further with her Dream For Life shoots, when a child comes up with their own concept for the shoot.

‘We’ve had some amazing ideas for shoots,' she explained. 'We are planning one at the moment for a young boy who dreams of being a super hero and an explorer!’

Sarah also works with commercial clients, and is excited about expanding this area of her business. 

'We’ve always loved working with children, and this feels like a natural extension of our family portraiture,' she added. 

She has created commissioned images for brands and campaigns, including children’s bed company, Room To Grow, and Yorkshire-based Your Children’s Wardrobe.

And, this season, Sarah has a new commission; she'll be snapping pictures of Bubble London, as one of the show's on-site photographers. Look out for her on Monday July 14 - if you're lucky, you might just make it in to one of her shots!

www.sarahmasonphotography.co.uk

www.facebook.com/sarahmasonphotography

Teepee Magazine - Anorak is Growing Up

Billed as 'what would happen if Monty Python, Ralph Steadman and Renee Magritte decided to make a magazine for children', Bubble favourite, Anorak has been delighting its pint-sized readership since 2006. Now, The Anorak Press is preparing to launch Teepee, a magazine for teenagers. We caught up with Anorak founder, Cathy Olmedillas, to talk fashion, culture and silly fun...

Why are you launching Teepee, Cathy?

Two main reasons: our Anorak readers are growing up, and they have told us that they would love a more grown-up version of Anorak.

The second reason is that I realized that, even more so than with the kids magazine market, the teen magazine market is poorly served. It seems to mainly consist of celebrity-driven titles aimed at girls. There doesn't seem to be anything substantial that celebrates all aspects of being a teen. Teepee's contributors are teenagers from all around the world who have something positive to contribute to culture and their environment. That sounds a little serious but fear not, it will also have a healthy dose of silly fun!

Who will it be aimed at?

The typical Teepee reader is a boy or a girl aged 14+. They are creative, opinionated and inquisitive. They are from all walks of life, and what glues them together is a strong sense of individuality. Oh, and they love having fun!

Will it have a similar look and ethos to Anorak?

Definitely, it will undoubtedly feel part of the same family! It will draw on the crème de la crème of the illustration world to bring great stories, features and comics to life. Uniquely, it will be entirely written by teens, as it is about giving them a voice and a platform to express themselves.

What kind of content will it feature?

Stories, essays and comics, all beautifully illustrated. 

Teepee Loves: will be mostly about fashion, culture and great places to visit.

Opinion pieces on all manners of topics, ranging from politics, religion and culture. In issue 1 we are looking to explore subjects such as the power of prayers, how happiness is actually hard work, a beauty piece on the history of the eyebrow shape and much more! There will also be profiles of inspiring teens, past and present.

When can we get our hands on a copy?

It will be available in September 2014! 

We can't wait! 

How to Create the Perfect Kid's Party

By Shoshana Kazab - Fuse Communications 

Children's birthday parties have become a big business in the UK. Many parents are keen to 'keep up with the Jones's' and parties have become increasingly elaborate, starting from a baby's first birthday. Party planners like Sharky & George have become a household name in a couple of years, and are popular amongst busy parents who have less time to spend on organising parties, but still want to create something special.

I caught up with Gabriella Toscan du Plantier and Dorothée Monestier, founders of the super cool Parisian party brand, My Little Day, to ask them what their Top Tips are for creating the perfect birthday party! Here's their exclusive Top 10 List for Bubble & Speak:

1. Prepare the invitations with the birthday boy / girl and involve them in customising the cards; it will really make them feel as if it is their party! Do that 3 weeks before the party and do not forget to include your contact details for the RSVPs! (It happens...)

2. As far as the food is concerned, the simpler the better! Buy colourful and funky sweets and make the easiest cake recipe in your repertoire. Just cover the cake with a delicious chocolate fudge and stick some fun figurines on the top. This way you can transform a basic cake into a great cowboy fort, for example!

3. The day before the party, prepare a few group games and workshops to entertain the kids. Simple and easy, and try to recall the games you liked to play yourself when you were a child!

4. D-day: hide all the toys and forbid the kids from entering the room where the party is taking place. The idea is to add a sense of fun and intrigue on the day!

5. Enlist the birthday boy / girl to help you with the decorations to make him / her feel even more important! Hang up as many garlands and balloons as you feel comfortable with. Minimal or maximal! For the table, you can either lay out a sweet table or a proper dinner table, depending on the number of children who come over and the time of the party.

6. As a parent, make sure you dress up, even if it's just with an accessory: a tiara on mum's head and a cowboy hat on dad's will turn the parents into heroes for their child and for the guests!

7. With a Kohl pencil, make-up each child as they arrive: fake eye lashes on girls, fake moustaches on boys, or anything more complicated if you have make-up skills! It makes them feel welcome and at ease.

8. During the party, dance a lot! Children love it. And be sure to play with them; they love that, too!

9. Open the presents at the very end of the party. Again: save the toys!

10. Give each guest a goodie bag as they leave; that will prevent them from losing their precious gifts and having a meltdown during the party!

The My Little Day girls know so much about parties, they've put pen to paper and have even brought out their own book with a host of inspirational ideas! 

For dreamy partywear for girls check out Australian couture girlswear label, Mischka Aoki, whose dresses have become highly coveted amongst girls and their mums alike: www.mischkaaoki.com. 

And for the perfect party feet, check out British baby & kids footwear label, Step2wo, whose party shoes are not only super stylish but incredibly comfortable, too: www.step2wo.com. 

Fuse Communications is a specialist baby and kids PR agency: www.fusecommunications.co.uk. 

Introducing Xenia Joost

By Jennifer Cattaui of Babesta

Having shown on runways from Moscow to Milan, Estonian fashion designer Xenia Joost is known for her high style women’s collections, but this season she tries her hand at kidswear. From our recent chat, it’s clear Joost is having fun in this new market and eager to make her mark in children’s fashion.

Why did you decide to bring your line from adult fashion into children's fashion?

Fashion is not a job for me, rather a lifestyle—and it’s not only for me, but for my family as well. In 2008, my first daughter Aleksandra was born (she quickly hopped on the fashion train too), and came to work with me, touched the fabrics, cut and crafted. We picked fabrics together and I sewed little dresses for her. My friends saw these designs and wanted the clothes for their children also! A whole collection grew from one dress.

Tell me about the materials – they are so soft and luxurious!

Because it is so important to me that my company produces as few clothing scraps as possible, I try to use the fabrics that are left from the women´s line for the children’s collection. Then I make one-of-a-kind pieces that match the women´s clothing with very luxurious fabrics: cashmere and silk, for example. At the same time I know how important comfort is and that the fabrics have to be easy to take care of. The childrenswear main line has a lot of elastine and materials that are easy to clean.

You're a mom of two girls– how do they influence your fashion? 

My family and children influence my clothing a lot. I wear my own creations because I want to understand better how my designs feel, if they are comfortable and how I can take care of them better. The same is true with childrenswear. My kids wear my designs and give me feedback so I know what to do better in the following collection.

Last year, after I made sketches of my Charlie collection, my daughter Aleksandra drew her own interpretation of Charlie Chaplin. I loved her picture so much that I put the design on a T-shirt as a print. That design ended up on Italian Elle’s website, and as a result I was invited to Milan Fashion Week

What three words or concepts are at the heart of Xenia Joost Kids?

Mother and daughter in harmony through style, comfort and fun.

What's up for next season? How are you planning to grow the line?

Currently I am creating my a/w 14-15 collection. I am always very excited when starting a new season. I have the mentality that the best collection is the collection I am starting work on. The theme and colours are in place, and I’m choosing the fabrics that support my ideas. I plan to grow the Xenia Joost brand into a lifestyle brand. Every season I do a bit more. From the next season on, I plan to add new products to the children´s line such as knits and more elastine clothing.

Who is Xenia Joost?

Xenia Joost is a dreamer, who is fond of the concept of a journey and the people she meets on the way to her dreams. I still play with dolls in my imaginary world and invite everyone to be a part of that.

Painted Pumpkins

By Jackie Beale from chi.qui.ti.tos, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & Pinterest.

Halloween is literally just around the corner and I couldn't be more excited to be back in the States to celebrate! Of all the holidays that we Americans go all out for, this is probably one of my favourites and one that I missed dearly living abroad. 

Don't get me wrong, the Brits are starting to catch on which makes me really happy... and I did notice glimpses of Halloween here and there, but trying to find pumpkins big enough to carve in the city was a struggle. And in case you've ever tried, carving a little pumpkin is a lot more effort than it's worth. So I decided to try an alternative, so you and your little ones can join in on the festivities too! What's my easy-peasy solution you may be wondering? 

With painted pumpkin of course! This is just one way of painting your mini pumpkins, but really the sky and your imaginations are the limit so go nuts!

Supplies: 

·    Mini pumpkins (white one's work best)

·    Circle stickers (experiment with other stickers too)

·    Kid's non-toxic paint (any color you wish)

·    Paint brush

Directions: 

•  Give the mini pumpkins a good rinse and let dry for a few hours.
• Making sure the pumpkins are really dry, start placing your stickers in whatever pattern you like. There's no wrong or right way!
• Make sure to press down the edges of the stickers good to avoid paint from getting under.
• Paint the pumpkin with it's first coat of color and let dry. Don't worry about painting over the stickers.
• Paint your second coat and let dry. Feel free to do more or less coats depending on how saturated you want your pumpkin to be.
• After the paint is all dry, carefully remove the stickers to reveal unpainted polka-dots and enjoy!

Happy Halloween! 

Misha Lulu's Quirky Nautical Looks For Summer 2013

By Jeanne Omlor from Bellissima Kids

Calling all adventurers! Misha Lulu's Spring/ Summer 2013 collection harkens the kiddie inner explorer, playing with fantastic nautical prints and accessories...all with a sweet vintage nod. 

This season is very strong, as all of their seasons and we absolutely love their lookbook; the simplicity really allows the children's natural charm to really shine. 

Yes, we'd definitely want to join them on their adventures!