This Week's Best Bits

Merry Christmas from Bubble and Speak! We hope the big day was full of food, festivities, and family fun. Put your feet up and grab the remaining Quality Street - here are some of this week's best links...

Did we mention that we'll be launching a new feature at our February 2015 edition? Yes? Well, it can't hurt to tell you about it again! Perfect Pitch will see up-and-coming Bubble designers present their collections directly to retailers, discussing their stories, collections, and plans for the future. Sound good? You can read more over at the wonderful CWB Magazine (and register for a free ticket to the show here).

Earlier this week, we introduced you to new Bubble brand Holly Hastie, which creates elegant, quintessentially British girlswear. The label has shared more images from its A/W15 photo-shoot here - and they're every bit as charming as you'd expect. We love that red cape!

Looking to keep little ones amused over the festive period? Then don't miss Cool Mom Tech's guide to the best Christmas apps - including a wonderfully nostalgic Peanuts storybook. 

And, on the subject of keeping children entertained - how about festive baking? Babyccino Kids raided their archive to bring readers some mouth-watering Christmas recipes this week. Danish pancakes, chocolate mint patties and cinnamon rolls? Don't mind if we do!

How was your Christmas? let us know! 

Oh Christmas Tree!

London has played host to some truly spectacular Christmas trees this year...

1. St James' beautiful Christmas tree presides over Jermyn Street, the home of shirt-makers Turnbull and Asser and gentleman's outfitters Hackett (image via timeout.com). 

2. We loved St Paul's traditional tree, but were even more excited to spot Paddington Bear beside it! The wooden statue was created by photographer Rankin, and is part of the London Paddington trail. He'll be hanging around until December 30th!

3. Covent Garden's red-and-white Christmas tree must be one of the biggest (and brightest) in London. Standing in its own, over-sized tub, it shares the limelight with a 22-foot-tall silver reindeer. 

4. Trafalgar Square's stately tree was a gift from Norway, to thank Britain for its support during World War II. It was lit by the Mayor of London, the Norwegian Ambassador and the governing Mayor of Oslo - a tradition dating back to 1947. 

Which tree is your favourite?

The Magic Door Store

Team Bubble and Speak can't resist a little magic, festive or otherwise - which is why we just had to share this new Bubble brand with you!

The Magic Door Store was founded by former events manager Sarah, who kept her two young children entertained with stories about the fairies at the bottom of their garden. 

When winter came, she realised that they might like to come inside - and created a 'fairy door' to make it possible. 

Her children loved their miniature doors so much that Sarah decided to share them with the world - and the rest is history!

Each 20cm high My Elf Door and Mr Fairy Door comes with putty to attach it to the wall - as well as a small vial of 'magic dust'. 

A range of accessories - including deckchairs, welcome mats, milk bottles and 'magic footstep' stencils - are also available. We love this miniature Christmas wreath!

Ultimately, the doors encourage little ones to be creative and use their imaginations - though we suspect that parents could get caught up in the fun, too!

Catch The Magic Door Store at Bubble London in February (you can register for a free ticket here). 

Bursting With Brands

If you've visited Bubble London before, you'll know that the show is a platform for innovative, up-and-coming brands - many of which can be found in our curated Bubble Gum area. 

This season is no exception; in fact, we're all set to unveil one of the best Gum line-ups yet! Here's a sneak peek at what's in store...

1. Family-run brand 2H Handknits creates unique, artisan hats and sweaters, which are knitted to order in Northern Thailand. Founders Todd Berry and Puttachard Tanomrat strive to support women in the region, establishing knitting bases and living alongside their craftspeople. Each garment is knitted from 100% cotton yarn, and finished with mother of pearl and coconut shell buttons. 

2. By turns edgy, charming and fun, Saints & Bullies' unique clothing is designed and produced exclusively in Europe. Expect unusual prints, elegant cuts, and quirky, vintage-inspired details - like the braces on this skater skirt. Perfect for twirling!

3. Portugese brand Gloop! creates organic, 100% cotton baby products. Its bibs, swaddles, sleeping bags and towels are available in a range of original prints - from pink butterflies, to soft blue anchors and fishes. 

4. Designed by two American mums, the innovative Yumbox helps to promote healthy eating. Each colourful lunchbox houses a bento-style tray, enabling parents to pack nutritionally balanced meals-on-the-go. We love this green version, which has sections for fruit, grains, protein and vegetables. 

See the full Bubble Gum exhibitor list here! 

Little Spree's Winter Edit

Little Spree is an insider's guide to dressing your kids in a beautiful and stylish way, without maxing your credit card. With their impeccable taste and eye for quality and original style, Richmond mums, Sarah Clark and Nicky Hornby-Clifton uncover their tips and ideas for everything you need to know in kids fashion and style.

Creating daily mini features on only the pieces they genuinely love, Little Spree's posts are a mixture of cool, stylish and practical baby, toddler and older kids clothes and outfits - as well as toys, gifts and bedroom/nursery ideas. They have developed a loyal following of stylish mums, many of whom won't buy anything for their kids unless it has the Little Spree stamp of approval. They do the legwork so their readers can just shop their specialist edit - in fact, if you subscribe to their posts at www.littlespree.com, their edits come straight to you. 

After huge demand, they added Mama Spree - a weekly post dedicated entirely to fashion concious mums - to the site in February. Sarah is also a Fashion Editor and Art Director, and is currently Contributing Senior Fashion Editor at Red magazine.

Here are two outfits Sarah and Nicky have put together for Bubble and Speak, mixing some of their favourite Bubble brands with the best from the high street.

Boys Outfit

1. COS Cashmere Jumper, £49.00

2. Zara Cable Knit Bobble Hat, £7.99

3. Zara Fleece Lined Pea Coat, £27.99

4. Mini A Ture Bordeaux Pant, £35.00

5. Petit Bateau Silver Hi-Top, £61.00

Girls Outfit

  

1. Zara Shimmer Hat, £7.99

2. Mango Hooded Parka, £34.99

3. Beau Loves Dress, £43.00

4. Zara Maryjane Flat, £17.99

We love their winter edits - especially that dress-and-parka combo! How about you? 

This Week's Best Bits

What have you been reading on the web this week? In between planning a few exciting seasonal posts (stay tuned!) and shopping for Christmas jumpers, we've spotted some great links.

We loved Let's Do Something Crafty's handmade Christmas angels, which would look great at the top of the tree. Pipe cleaners, glitter...what's not to like? 

Things had taken a similarly festive turn over at Kid Style Junkie, where cool-hunter Suzanne was talking children's advent calendars (our favourite is number three!) 

This article, from CWB Magazine, got us thinking about the importance of good customer service. 

And finally, new Bubble brand Magnus & Mouse has launched its website - head over and take a look! 

Poppy's Pop-Up

Poppy's Shoreditch pop-up store is open for business!

The Bubble brand has set up shop at Number 20 Cheshire Street - and, on Tuesday evening, it held a special launch party to celebrate. 

There were beautiful dresses, fun stocking fillers and a few familiar faces (including this handsome fellow - it's Fred himself!)

Visitors enjoyed a glass of 'poppy fizz', and admired the goodies - from girls and women's dresses, to cushions, bags and socks - on offer. 

The shop (which is open until Sunday 23rd) will be hosting a range of special events - including a Christmas shopping evening this Saturday! Tickets are £5, and there'll be fizz, canapes and Poppy goody-bags for all. Pop along and see for yourself! 

Spring/Summer Loving With Fuse

The nights are drawing in and the weather's taken a turn for the worse - but our London correspondent enjoyed a welcome respite from winter at Fuse Communications' press day last week. 


As the heavens opened outside, brands were gathering in Soho House's Dining room to display their Spring/Summer 2015 collections.  

Our roving reporter spotted plenty of fresh spring prints - including these pretty florals from Patachou. The Portuguese label specialises in luxury clothing for 0 - 12 year olds, and will be returning to Bubble next February. 

My Little Day (which you may remember from July's Bubble London - or our Rising Star display - or this wonderful post!) had brought along some of its ultra-chic children's party supplies. We love those monochrome plates and napkins!

Footwear came courtesy of Step2wo and Hug and Hatch, which showcased its quirky boots, shoes and sandals at the event. 

Spanish brand Mon Marcel was also on hand to unveil its Mediterranean-inspired baby clothes and accessories, while Muddy Puddles had brought along some colourful, onesie-style coats. 

Finally, Bubble favourite aden + anais showcased a selection of its colourful muslin swaddles and bibs. How cool is that pink fluro star print? 

We love winter fashion - but, after seeing all those floral prints and pretty pastels, we can't help feeling rather excited about Spring!

Catch aden + anais and Patachou at Bubble London in February. 

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. 

Introducing Oh...My!

What's in a name? We were wondering how hot new girlswear label Oh...My! got its moniker - until we saw these shots of its stunning A/W14 collection, and were a little lost for words ourselves! 

The all-new Bubble brand specialises in high-quality occassionwear for 5 - 11 year olds; think unique garments that are as practical and wearable as they are elegant. 

Its first collection features jewelled tones, high-end fabrics and statement prints - like this oh-so-chic metallic motif. 

Designer Anna Davies has also created a more playful capsule collection, comprising full-skirted dresses and peplum tops. 

We're head over heels - how about you?

Catch Oh...My! at Bubble London in February...

Halloween Chic

Who says Halloween can't be a stylish affair? Forget wonky witches' hats and bin-bag capes; these Bubble brands make spooky look seriously chic...

Gnu Brand

Gnu Brand creates fun, imaginative boyswear in durable fabrics. We love this 'Lizard-attack' jacket, from its AW14/15 collection. There's a dinosaur version available, too!

Little Titans by Braveling

Created from colourful combed-cotton, Braveling's Little Titans tights are fun and quirky (not to mention wonderfully comfortable!) They come in a range of original designs - including this 'party monster' print, which would be perfect for a Halloween bash. 

Ace&Me

New to Bubble this season, Ace&Me specialises in traditional Scandinavian slipper-socks with an edgy twist. Each pair is handmade from 100% recyclable materials - making them eco-friendly, as well as comfy and cool. We've got a feeling this skull design will prove seriously popular...

La Pitchoune

La Pitchoune's exquisite couture dresses are designed and made in Britain. Its limited edition Halloween collection features a range of typically elegant pieces - including this paper silk 'bad fairy' dress, complete with feather collar. 

Catch Gnu Brand, Braveling, Ace&Me and La Pitchoune at Bubble London in February (you can apply for a ticket here.) 

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Masks From Opposite of Far

Earlier this year, we introduced you to American brand Opposite of Far, which specialises in exquisite children's play-masks - and, when we saw its latest offerings, we couldn't resist sharing them!

Each mask is the work of play-enthusiast and animal lover Jessica Near, who hand-crafts her creations from Eco-Fi Felt.

Customers can choose from a huge range of animals, including foxes, rabbits, giraffes, walruses and hippos. Jessica and her team (that's husband Mike and right-hand woman Christine - Opposite of Far is a family affair) have even introduced some spooky new designs for Halloween.

A former pre-school teacher, Jessica is keen help children engage in imaginative play - and these creepy masks are wonderfully detailed. We love the pirate beard!

Each design can be made in babies', children's and adult's sizes, while tails are also available to complete the look. 

This trio would be perfect for a Halloween party - or a seasonal window display! See the whole menagerie over at Opposite of Far's website. 

This Week's Best Bits

Happy Friday, folks! What's caught your eye on the web this week? Here are some of our favourite links..

Bubble brand Braveling has released a new Autumn/Winter look-book. We love all its Little Titans tights - but this 'Wild Thing' pair might just be our favourite. 

Elsewhere, Scandinavian Minimall has launched its own online Halloween shop, stocked to the brim with creepy clothing, toys and accessories. We're big fans of the My Little Day party supplies - perfect for a spooky get-together!

And, on the subject of seasonal inspiration, we've been swooning over these pictures from Blake Lively's autumn-themed baby shower all week. The sparkly apples would look great in an A/W window display. 

Finally, Raegan Moya Jones (founder of Bubble favourite aden + anais) demonstrated how to create the perfect swaddle on youtube. You could give it a go yourself with their new merino-muslin blankets! 

Have a lovely weekend! 

B&S Meets...Magnus & Mouse

Launching a new children's brand can be a real roller-coaster ride, fraught with challenges and setbacks - but, in the end, hard work and perseverance pay off. No one knows this better than Penny Telford and Isobel Armstrong, the founders of new Bubble brand Magnus & Mouse. We caught up with Penny, who told us more about their journey from ambitious mums to professional fashion designers...

Penny, when and why did you decide to found Magnus & Mouse?

We started Magnus & Mouse in early 2014. Isobel and I have been friends for a long time and had spoken a lot about her idea for printed cot sheets. With both of us looking for more flexibility to work around our families, and having skill sets that complimented each other well, it felt like a 'now or never' moment to put our ideas into action.

What challenges have you faced in the process?

The biggest hurdle for us was finding the right suppliers. The quality of the organic cotton, the print quality, and also the working conditions in the suppliers we selected were all really important to us. We did lots of research online, much of which to no avail. Being a start-up we found some of the bigger suppliers weren't really interested in spending time talking to us and answering our questions. After putting in some serious legwork, we found many useful resources to help with our search and we now have a great partner who already works with some really big and trusted names in the industry. We also visited the factories first hand and were really impressed by both the quality of the goods produced and the conditions. All the factories we work with have extremely high standards and adhere to very stringent regulations. The care for their employees was also clear, which really made us confident in our selection.

How would you sum up your brand’s philosophy?

Fun, stylish and parent-friendly.

Could you tell us a bit about your first collection?

It was important all our products were suitable for boys and girls, so that was a great starting point. With the idea being born in Sweden, where Isobel noticed the range of cot sheets was much more stylish than anything we had over here, unsurprisingly they all have a real ‘Scandi’ feel to them.

All the prints are really fun (our kids loved identifying the animals!), simple and bright. We wanted them to have personality and inject colour into the cot space, which we think can be quite bare with many infants now using baby sleeping bags (including our own babies).

Why have you chosen to launch Magnus & Mouse at Bubble London? 

We attended the last edition of Bubble London and we were really impressed with the quality of the venue and the brands that attended. It was important to us to exhibit somewhere that attracted the right audience and fitted with our own design ethos. We also noticed how many of the exhibitors were offering organic and eco-friendly products and we were very encouraged by that.

We hope that people love the designs and the idea as much as we do, and of course we’d welcome speaking to anyone interested in stocking Magnus & Mouse.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking to start a baby brand, what would it be?

Take time to do your research properly. Finding the right partner, and someone you can trust is key. Whilst the Internet is obviously a great resource, never underestimate the value of getting out there and meeting people first hand. Things that can take weeks over email can be solved in just a few minutes of face-to-face time. Going out to Turkey and spending time with people was the most useful thing that we did.

Catch Magnus & Mouse at Bubble London on February 1 and 2, 2015. 

Catching Up With Darlo

If you attended the SS15 edition of Bubble London, there's a good chance you'll remember Rising Star finalist, Darlo. 

The ethical babywear brand launched at July's show - and, when we heard that it would be returning in February 2015, we couldn't wait to catch up with founders Chloe and Jim!

Darlo's organic cotton leggings, vests and babygrows were a big hit at Bubble - not least because each garment provides a week's worth of meals for a child in India. 

The brand is partnered with Mumbai-based charity, Project Crayons, which provides education, shelter, food and hope for children and youths in marginalised communities. Darlo's 'A Little Giving Changes Lives' food programme is just one of its ambitious charitable projects. 

Chloe and Jim decided to found their own social enterprise after being struck by the lack of support available for children in developing countries. 

Since exhibiting at Bubble in July, they've secured their first order, been invited to the Houses of Parliament, and (most excitingly, if you ask us) organised their first lifestyle photo-shoot! Their mini-models, Henry and Willow, are some of the cutest we've ever seen...

Colourful organic comfies for a good cause! What could be better? 

You can catch up with Darlo at the February 2015 edition of Bubble London, where they'll be showcasing a range of new styles and colourways.