5 Trends for Kids Clothes in Spring 2012

I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite finds from the Spring 2012 children's clothing collections at the ENK Show. Here are 5 trends that I noticed, too:

Trend #1: Button down shirts layered with tees for boys. Lots of designers are pairing open-front button down shirts with funkier tees for little boys.

Button-down shirt with tie-printed tee by Sierra & Julian.


Relaxed vintage style button down shirt (love the chambray contrast) with tee underneath by Hartford.


Summery button-down plus tee by Wonderboy, one of my all-time favorite designers for boys.


And while we're speaking of button-down shirts for the littlest boys, don't forget the onesie-style "shirtzies" and separates by Andy & Evan Kids.





Trend #2: Fancy dresses for girls are back. Dressy is back in style! After a few seasons of simpler, more subdued dress-up for girls (likely because of the weak economy), it seems that froth, frills, and bubbles are back in vogue. Let's hope the economy follows suit.

I spotted lots of retailers placing orders for this 2 stunning dresses by Halabaloo (once in a while you can catch this brand at Zulily).




Toddler tulle and bling matched with screenprint designs by Baby Sara.


Beaded sheath dress for 'tweens by Italian brand Dino + Lucia.



Trend $3: Long Live the Queen. All British emblems are in style ever since William & Kate's wedding ushered in a new era of Anglophila:

London double decker tee by Hartford.

Tees by Ben Sherman.


A girly interpretation of the Union Jack (and a best-selling dress) by Twirls & Twigs.



Trend #4: Ships ahoy! Just as I noticed at the National Stationery Show, designers in every category are favoring the nautical look.

Hello Sailor tee by Sundek.


Euro-flaired nautical styling by Spanish brand Losan.


Fishy onesie with orange trim by Kit + Lili.



Infant/toddler sailor dress by U.K. brand Darcy Brown.


Trend #5: Girls' swimsuits that I don't like. As the mom of an 8-year-old girl, I'm not happy to report that the vast majority of the swimsuits I saw at the ENK show were skimpy two-pieces. This is nothing new (remember the Abercrombie & Fitch padded bikini debacle?), but it was disheartening to see:

Bikinis by Sonia Rykiel.


Bikinis by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.


Fortunately, towards the end of the show, I spotted some more appropriate (in my opinion) girls' swimwear that was also very cute. These are by M.N. Bird.


I would love to hear what you all think of these trends. Would you be interested in buying any of these particular items for your own kids?