Back to School: The Haute 5 Kid’s Clothing Stores in London
Thanks to pint-sized fashionistas such as Suri Cruise, the Beckham boys, and Madonna’s daughter Lourdes who recently launched her own clothes label, outfits have to be up to date and the envy of all classmates for today’s kids. Before your shopping trip for some back-to-school labels turns into a tantrum from either mum or the little trendsetter, Marie Teather has tracked down five stores so your kids can rule the playground in this season’s latest arrivals.
Their Nibs
Their Nibs kids boutique offers a unique and eclectic designer kids clothes collection, which combines an unconventional quirk with classic elegance. Their Nibs has developed a reputation for consistency in quality, diversity and imagination in their clothing ranges for boys, girls and babies.
From its shop in Notting Hill, Their Nibs has grown as a brand and is now stocked in Harrods, Selfridges, Le Bon Marche and other fine children’s shops worldwide. Expect real one off pieces and traditional style accessories. Good enough for Kate Moss’ little girl, Thandie Newton’s two daughters, and for Jamie and Jools Oliver’s brood, kids are guaranteed to look adorable to A-star standards.
79 Chamberlayne Road, London, NW10 3ND
020 8 964 8444
Elias & Grace
Elias & Grace is the store to be seen in for both mother and child. Offering a stylish mix of high fashion, luxury accessories, lush natural products, organic remedies and perfect gifts, Elias & Grace was designed to offer a modern and versatile approach to maternity.
Beyond maternity, Elias & Grace caters to kids fashion from age 0–10 years old, offering uber cool fashion and accessories from around the world such as Chloe, Marni and Vivienne Westwood, as well as cute quality basics from Petit Bateau. They also carry a range of unique toys, books, and yummy products.
Shopping at Elias & Grace is one relaxed experience with plenty of room for pushchairs, a mini play area and friendly assistants on hand to help with sizing or gift ideas.
158 Regents Park Road, Primrose, London, NW1 8XN
020 7449 0574
Papillon
Thanks to two already career successful entrepreneurial mums who couldn’t find the type of shoes that they wanted for their children, Papillon is now a superior brand for beautiful children’s shoes.
With everything from first shoes to school shoes, pretty pumps, summer sandals and flip flop and even bridesmaids’ shoes for the shoes and cool brown suede loafers with smart side buckles, and the best-selling summer moccasins for boys, Papillon is the one stop designer shoe boutique for kids. Sizes start at 22 (English 4) up to a size 41 (English 7).
98, Marylebone Lane. London, W1U 2QA
0207 4865530
Caramel
Thanks to trained lawyer Eva Karayiannis, who could find nothing she liked to dress her children in, Caramel has been keeping the kids of fashion conscious mothers, celebrities and stylists from across the globe stylishly dressed since 1999.
Eva’s signature label, Caramel, has been picked up by Barneys New York, boutiques in Japan, and now even has a concession in Harrods. Designed in her London studio, the range encapsulates Eva’s signature mix of the traditional and contemporary, all made in luxurious and beautiful Italian, French, and British fabrics.
Each Caramel boutique is individual character—the boutique of Sloane Square for example has a hair salon while all stores stock jewelry, books, accessories, vintage clothing, and an ever-changing array of hand-picked interesting and beautiful products to keep customers coming back week after week.
291 Brompton Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 2DY
020 7589 7001
Selfridges
For all wannabee football stars or mini wags, Selfridges has all favorite designer clothes in miniature. Juicy Couture, Diesel, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein are just some of the top name brands available for little people in the famous Oxford Street store. The store caters for all ages and sizes and with so many designers to choose from there’ll be no tears on this shopping trip.
400 Oxford Street, London W1C 1AB