Cute Dresses for Summer 2013

Colorblocked Dress $78, Crewcuts by J. Crew

We checked out some popular retailers to find some cute dresses for spring and summer 2013. Here is whats trendy this year:
Colorblocking has been in vogue for about an year now but if the latest collections are any indication, we are going to see more of it this year. This dress from Crewcuts ( J. Crew) is an excellent specimen of color-blocking ( $78). Very tasteful juxtaposition of the colors of the season makes this dress simple and elegant. Just perfect for the warmer months ahead.

Gingham Garden Dress $58, Chasing Fireflies

Chasing Fireflies is a kids clothing boutique that keeps bringing colorful and fun kids clothing. Here is a beautiful dress from their latest collection. This gingham garden dress($58) is full of classic girly details ( hello ruffles!) but still looks very unique. I do wish they had bigger pictures of each dress on the 'Dresses' page. It is so difficult to browse through their collection when the images are about the size of a postage stamp.

Ric-Rac Print Dress $52-$55 Chez Ami

If you love color you just can't go wrong with Chez Ami clothing. They seem to know their colors. I loved this ric-rac print A-line dress ($52-$55) . They took a simple and classic pattern and added such a fun print that it looks totally updated.

Ikat Print Dress $16.95 from The Children's Place

This Ikat print dress ($16.95) caught my eyes at The Children's Place for its colorful print. But The description has me rather confused. Copied from their website:

"A super cute print and one-shoulder fit make this dress a season favorite!

• Made of 100% cotton jersey
• Pre-washed for softness and to reduce shrinkage
• Pullover style
• Elasticized at shoulder and waist
• Contrast ruffle detail
• Matching panty cover included
• Designed in an above-the-knee length
• Imported"

This doesn't look a one shoulder dress to me at all. I have written to their customer service and update the post once I hear back from them.

Harajuku Mini Peplum Dress - $24.99 from Target

Here is something from target that I simply fell in love with. This Harajuku Mini Tunic Dress in Coral Blush ( $24.99) seems like a piece from Jackie-O's wardrobe. The peplum style is so difficult to find in kids clothing, even though the little girls would carry it so much better than the grown ups.

Reversible Hi Lo Dress $49.50 CWD Kids

Every once in a while I come across a design that is sheer genius. This dress from CWDKids falls in that category. The designer has picked just the right pattern to make reversible and added two colors that are not only very much in fashion but also complement each other so well. This reversible Hi-Low dress ($49.50) is just perfect for summer 2013.

Little Boys: Big Style

Chambray Windbreaker: $39.95: Gap Kids

  

Ok,I'll give it to you straight. There is no gender equality in the fashion world. While the girls get the ruffles and gathers and flowers and bows and ombre and polka dots and paisleys and butterflies and (everything under the sun basically), boys have to be content with stripes, checks and argyle ( if the designer is really adventurous).
But the injustice doesn't end here...while the girls have their pick of design elements to the moon and back, they can still totally rock stripes and checks and argyle while the boys wouldn't be caught dead in a polka dot top.
Given this disparity, the easiest way to size up a fashion label or collection is to look at what they did for the boys. If they came up with some cool dude looks in that department, there is every chance that their girls collection would be a big hit. However, getting the boys collection right is easier said than done.
With that in mind, I looked at some latest collections to see whats new in boys fashion.

Gap Kids:

Venice Beach Collection

The two things that caught my eyes were:

1. Chambray Windbreaker( featured above) : They had me at denim...but they have more fun details, like the vertical pocket flaps ( love!)

Striped Pullover: $29.95 : Gap Kids

2. Striped Pullover: Not a really new design but a very well executed one. The yellow and Navy complement each other so well. Great use of color-blocking too.

Boden USA

Graphic Shirt: $20: Boden

1. Signs Of Life - Graphic Tshirt:  This made me smile!

Stripey Pocket Shirt: $20 : Boden

2. Stripey Pocket Shirt: Great use of colors and stripes. The pocket is totally unexpected and totally fun!

H&M 

Shirt: $14.95 H&M

Shirt $14.95 H&M

I'm a big fan of H&M and they are usually my first or second stop when I go to the mall in person. This is the first time I visited their website and man! its difficult to navigate. Why wouldn't they just keep it simple?
Anyway, their boys collection was also pretty blah...The only thing that caught my eye was this shirt.  The blue is so soothing to eye. This shirt would be the perfect companion for any outing in the summer.

Hello there!

Hi from Anshu!
I'm a sewing/DIY enthusiast, blogger and a Mom of diva in the making. Not necessarily in that order. When it comes to my daughter, I'm UN-apologetically fashion conscious. I make a lot of her clothes but that doesn't mean I don't spend hours browsing trendy, cool clothing for kids. This is a place to high five the kids designs and trends that appeal to me and her. You are welcome to suggest good clothes, bad clothes and everything in between. Its time we talked fashion for kids