Where To Shop: Kids Clothes & Gifts

Where To Shop: Kids Clothes & Gifts The ABC towns have you covered if you’re looking to shop for kids clothing and gifts for the holidays or any time in between. Whether your little ones are budding Euro-fashionistas, hip-kids with a social conscience or contemporary trendsetters it’s easy to stay local and find some inspired threads for the kids.

If your child’s first words were “Junior Gaultier” L.O.L. Kids is for you!

L.O.L Kids in Armonk, from Chappaqua resident Julia Rozenfeld, is the place to shop if your kid’s first words were “Junior Gaultier”. Julia acquired LOL Kids over a year ago and doubled its size last spring, using the extra space to add shoes, gifts, toys and accessories to their existing inventory of high quality Euro-wear for boys and girls ages zero to 14.

Maybe you have never heard of labels like Monnalisa, Sylvian Heach Kids, Poppy England, Naturapura, Aston Martin, or Gaudi. That’s because you won’t see them at Target, Bloomingdales or even Neiman Marcus. Okay, you can go to Neiman’s if you want to pick yourself up a long sleeve lace tunic from Jean Paul Gaultier but if you want to put your four year old in a Junior Gaultier waterproof puffer jacket you have to go to LOL Kids.

“You can’t find these labels anywhere in Westchester or Fairfield County,” Julia told us. “There’s a shop in Massachusetts and one in San Francisco like us. Otherwise you have to go directly to Europe.”

Call the photographer and say cheese!

This may all sound scary expensive – but LOL Kids carries kids Euro fashions in a wide range of price points that fit almost any budget. Consider this: You can get boys fall and winter outerwear for $36 to $150. Not bad. On the other hand, girls’ party dresses start at $120. But you will want to wear it yourself, like this Snowstorm in Grey dress from Poppy England for $125 that shouts “call the photographer and say cheese.”

For the zero agers, a Naturapura organic cotton collared onesie, suitable for selfies with the in-laws, is only $30 while a knit set with a bow or a dress run up to $80. Ragtales, a collection of soft toys and rag books from England, are great gift items that run from $17-$45. You can find other gift ideas in the accessories department from gloves, tights or pompom hats to an organic cotton lammy bib with pacifier from $20 to $68.

“We also do a lot of private shopping,” Julia told us. “We send lots of photos to people who can’t get into the shop, including items we don’t have in stock but can order from the designers we work with. Tell us what you like and we’ll find something for you.” It’s sort of like Julia’s own Genius Recommendations except she doesn’t need any fancy algorithms –she just know how to shop.

Julia also knows how to use a camera. Take a peak at her Fall and Winter Look Book featuring all her own photography. What a gal.

Kids with a social conscience shop at hip-kid in Chappaqua

In an industrial setting with brick walls, pipe and wood displays and exposed ductwork, hip-kid offers clothing with edgy aesthetics in sizes 0-12, and unique toys and accessories. hip-kid owner and Chappaqua resident, Trish Kallman also carries brands not readily found in local stores. But for Trish the labels have to demonstrate a commitment to “mindful manufacturing.”

“I carefully researched my brands,” says Kallman, “and each brand makes an effort in an area I feel passionate about. Whether they are philanthropic, all-organic, animal-free or fairly-traded, I personally connect to each of them.”

Most of the brands Kallman carries have a story; Haitibabi’s is one of her favorites.  While visiting Haiti, the company’s founder discovered many children were living in orphanages because their families didn’t have the means to support them.  She established Haitibabi to help keep these families together by training and paying Haitian mothers to crochet beautiful baby blankets and hats.

Another brand that Kallman loves is Chaboukie, a manufacturer of trendy and colorful leggings who donate a pair to a child in need for every pair they sell. This only touches the surface of the forward-thinking manufacturers that Kallman carries. The earthy and whimsical Neve/Hawk line donates a portion of their profits to support the arts in public schools. Other brands, like Uncle Goose toys, promote sustainability, eco-friendliness or social consciousness.

Trendy and fun at Armonk’s Jagger and Jade

At Jagger and Jade in Armonk Square, the store is as hip and trendy as the merchandise they sell. Armonk moms, Stephanie Auster and Elizabeth Talbot designed a decidedly urban industrial vibe into their retail space that reflects their backgrounds working in Manhattan’s Garment Center and the world of broadcasting as well as the lines they carry.

If LOL Kids is haute Euro hip, and hip-kid is hip in a social conscience kind of way than Jagger and Jade’s lines are just flat out trendy hip. Their “contemporary looks for a sophisticated and trendy customer” offer special occasion dresses, sweaters and outerwear starting at $35 for infants to size 14 for girls and up to size 10 for boys.

They carry labels like [BlankNYC], Dirtee Hollywood and Vintage Havana that feature “tween styles” straight out of the East Village, Sunset Strip and South Beach and the sweet designs of Hannah Banana and stuffed toys from Squishable and kidrobot for the younger set.

More local kids clothing options include: The Star Spangled Carousel in Armonk for affordable designer kids clothes; Squires in Chappaqua and Katonah for top active wear brands like Nike, Spyder, North Face, Timberland and Tommy Bahama; Family Britches in Chappaqua for boys suits, pants, shirts, sport jackets and accessories from Michael Kors, Hickey Freeman, DKNY and Ragazzo Uomo; & James in Katonah, a layette and children’s boutique that sells clothing, accessories, gifts and monogramming (very cute stuff); The Preppy Turtle in Bedford Hills, a popular consignment shop offering clothes and toys for infants to teens; Small Joys in Bedford Village that offers a selection of traditional baby clothing and gifts and Bubble & Tweet, also in Bedford Village, that offers a selection of cute styles for baby from Winter Water Factory and others.