LITTLE'S STYLE SERIES – HUCK'S NEW YORK STYLE

Do you know Natalie Holbrook? If you don't, you should. Head on over to her blog and prepare to be inspired. That girl's writing will bring you to tears. And her little boy, Henry (better known as Huck), will kill you with cuteness. And since he always looks like he just stepped out of a magazine, I'm pretty sure this momma knows what she's doing. Trust her.  

Tell us a little about Huck!
Huck is the world's biggest sweetheart. He loves to please his mama and he is very sociable. He's really easy to hang out with, and he's got a funny little sense of humor already. He's a total dude.

How would you describe his personal style and how does his style reflect his personality? 
Huck looks really good in minimal, classic, European style androgynous clothes. He has such a sweet personality and such a cherubic, pretty face, so I avoid sporty clothes for him at all costs. It just looks cartoonish on him. He's too cool for that ;). The colors we've come up agains that don't work for him are pastel blues and burnt orange. That's, like, the entire boys section right there. ;)

What is Huck's go-to outfit?
I love Huck in leggings, a tee shirt, and a cardigan. I want him as snuggly as I can get him, and these pieces are easy to swap out if something gets dirty, and lightweight enough that you can pack a change of clothes with you at all times in case you need them (boys get messy so fast!).

Where is your favorite place to shop for him? 
I've had really good luck with American Apparel and Zara Kids.

And what is your philosophy when buying pieces for him?
I buy pieces that are classics, mostly neutral, non gender-specific colors, so his whole wardrobe is mix-and-matchable and most anything he wears now could theoretically be passed down to a someday little sister or brother. I'm not opposed to spending a little more on something if I know I'll get a lot of use out of it. That said, I buy a ton of white onesies every season and always plan to throw them out in a few months. Those suckers get stained and abused so bad...

What would you say are the three must have pieces for little boys?
A pair of moccasins, a striped top, and a cardigan. Oh! And skinny jeans. We wear at least one if not all four of these things every day.

What pieces are you always willing to splurge on?
Sweaters. Especially cardigans or zip up hoodies. We wear those like crazy.

And what is the one fashion tip you would give to mother with boys?
We don't need to beat it over everyone's heads that our boys are "boys." Clothes don't need to have trucks or dinosaurs or footballs on them. Think outside the boy stereotypes!

Genius, right?! So simple and perfect, you can easily recreate Huck's wardrobe for your little one. Here are a few tips to help you snag his look and links to the pieces featured above.

Just like Natalie said, when you fill your little one's wardrobe with classic pieces in neutral colors, it's easy to mix and match the pieces. Find what pieces, colors, and styles look good on your little one and wear the heck out of them!

button up / warm coat / basic tank / boots / beanie

This month's Little Style Series posts are sponsored by thredUP, an online children's consignment shop and the place you're bound to buy 90% of your child's clothing from this moment on. You can get $10 off your first order by clicking here.

Little's Style Series – Hawk & Cole's Classic Style

Have you met Heather Mildenstein? She's the face behind the wonderful Coterie blog and the lady behind the lens of amazing shoots like this one and this one. So, you know, you might want to keep an eye on this one. She also has two of the cutest boys on the planet and they're the epitome of classic, cool style. Don't worry, we'll wait for you to grab a pen and paper.  

Tell us a little about Hawk and Cole!

Cole and Hawk are very different, but are the best of friends! Cole is 4 and Hawk is 18 months. Cole loves baseball, cars and quesadillas. He likes to be clean and organized, but isn't afraid to get his hand dirty every so often. Hawk on the other hand, well, we call him Big Baby around our house. He is the cutest little destroyer I've ever seen. He loves getting crazy with spaghetti and knocking over anything that Cole makes. Hawk is really the sweetest baby you'll meet though. He loves to cuddle, too. 

How would you describe their personal styles and how do their styles reflect their personalities? 

I usually dress them somewhat similar, but I think that their personalities come off more in how they wear their clothes. Hawk is a lot more laid back, and so usually around the house he never matches and loves sweats. Cole on the other hand, as much as he loves his "comfy pants", has no problem wearing his superhero shirts and cowboy boots because I'm pretty sure they make him feel like a really cool big boy. 

What are their go-to outfits?

Their go-to outfits are cardigans with a white tee under, skinny jeans (from the girl's department..shhh), and shoes that are easy to slip on. Usually Freshly Picked moccasins for Hawk, and cowboy boots or Toms for Cole. 

Where is your favorite place to shop for them? 

Gap! We love love love Gap because they have great sales and have a decent selection of boys clothes. And they have pants that will fit my tiny guys. 

And what is your philosophy when buying pieces for your boys?

Simple, classic, and no logos or embellishments on them. There's nothing that drives me more nuts than to find the PERFECT shirt, but then you flip it over and it says "MAMA'S BOY" across the back. Why?? WHY?? As much as I'm a fan of Target and Walmart plain tees for $5 (which we LOVE), I think it is worth it to have a few nice pieces like cardigans that are easy to throw on buy dress up an outfit a few notches. 

What would you say are the three must have pieces for little boys?

A good pair of skinny jeans, a cardigan (Gap and H&M have great, inexpensive ones) and a bunch of solid tees (does that count as one piece:). We wear a LOT of solid tees around this house. 

What pieces are you always willing to splurge on?

Good jeans!

And what is the one fashion tip you would give to mother with boys?
Let your boy's personality shine through what they wear. Cole loves his cowboy boots, so I let him wear his boots. When he wants to wear his baseball hat, I'll coordinate his outfit around that. I want my boys to be happy with what they wear, so make I try to make it exciting for them. It's sort of fun meeting in the middle with what they want to wear and what I have in mind that day for their outfit.

A huge thank you to Heather and her boys for sharing their secrets with us! And now, a few tips to help you snag their looks and links to the pieces featured above.

Expand the size of your little boy's wardrobe by filling it with neutral colors and patterns. Remember, that you can never go with a plain tee and cardigan. But be warned, you might just die of cuteness. It will be worth it, though.

trapper cap / striped sweater / jacket / classic tee / boat shoes / blue jeans 

This month's Little Style Series posts are sponsored by thredUP, an online children's consignment shop and the place you're bound to buy 90% of your child's clothing from this moment on. Right now, they're offering free shipping on your first order using the code "SHIPFEB13" & you can get $10 off your first order by clicking here.

Little's Style Series – Channeling Cal & Hayes

Emily Frame is the stylist behind amazing shoots like these and one of the three masterminds behind the children's lifestyle blog, Small Fry. So it's no wonder that her little ones would be among the best dressed kids on the web. P.S. Make sure to read on until the very end! Her last tip is my favorite (and so true!).

Tell us a little about your boys!
I have two sweet as honey boys, Hayes & Callum (Cal like California). They are 16 months apart and the best of friends. They fight over toys like puppies, but are each other's best customers when it comes to jokes and are constantly rooting the other on in mischief.

Hayes is sensitive, silly, caring & such a pure hearted guy. He thinks all the toys in sight are his toys. Sharing literally pains him, you can see it in his face, but he keeps working at it. His little face and tiny voice will break your heart or the bank, whichever comes first. Spoiled!

Cal is our honeyman, we always say "he's just happy to be here!" because he is so easygoing, and independent. Definitely the easiest of babies. His favorite pass-times are eating everything in sight, singing to himself, and flirting with everyone. He's a spitfire when he doesn't get his way and can wrestle his big brother to the ground already.

How would you describe their personal styles and how do their styles reflect their personalities?
They have yet to exert their independence on clothes, so I guess their personal style is whatever I want it to be! I don't like their clothes to limit them or their activity so I keep that in mind when we get dressed in the morning.

What are their go-to outfits?
Stretchy denim, super soft tees & moccasins with a backwards hat or beanie. Boys are so easy!

Where is your favorite place to shop for your boys?
I love thrifting for them. It's cost effective (my boys are so hard on their clothes!) and I've found some amazing and unique pieces.

And what is your philosophy when buying pieces for them?
I don't love anything too precious, and I hate label heavy or overly loud clothes. So they dress really simply and kind of like little adults! To me that's the cutest.

What would you say are the three must-have pieces for little boys?
Durable sneakers, a cardigan for the car so we can easily go from playtime to a nice dinner, and a belt. There is virtually nothing to a little boy's tooshie so you gotta have something to keep those trousers up! I use a neon shoelace for their belts, super easy to get on and off & they never out grow it!

What pieces are you always willing to splurge on?
Shoes! Since there's two boys in a row, I feel justified knowing they'll get double the use. You start to learn what shoes will last and what aren't worth the splurge, but even still, a splurge to me is $50.

And what is the one fashion tip you would give to mothers with boys?
If they never see light up dinosaur shoes in the store, they'll never ask for them! I've successfully avoided the Target boys shoe aisle for two years. :)

Thank you so much, Emily, Cal and Hayes! Check out Small Fry's series, From Head to Toe, for more amazing looks and tips!

And now, a few tips to snag the looks above, plus links to the featured pieces!

Don't be afraid to shop in the girls section for jeans for your little boy. The cuts are great and no one will ever guess they are actually for girls. Blazers are great staple pieces for a little boy's wardrobe because they can easily be dressed up or down. Throw it over a tucked in button up for a more formal occasion, or leave the shirt untucked and throw on a beanie to keep it looking casual.

skinny jeans / beanie / zip-up cardigan / plaid button-up / grey cardigan / blazer

This month's Little Style Series posts are sponsored by thredUP, an online children's consignment shop and the place you're bound to buy 90% of your child's clothing from this moment on. Right now, they're offering free shipping on your first order using the code "SHIPFEB13" & you can get $10 off your first order by clicking here.

Little's Style Series – Tips From Fern Winter

I am so excited announce a new series here on TPOC! Each week I'll be featuring the most stylish kids on the web and their fashion secrets, according to their blogger mothers. Guys, these ladies know their stuff and their kids wardrobes are proof of that. So sit down, relax, and prepare to take notes. Our first momma, Lauren of The Little Things We Do, is a freelance wardrobe stylist. And her little Fern Winter is one of the cutest little ladies you will ever meet.

Tell us a little about Fern!
Fern is a pretty laid back girl and she doesn't fuss a whole lot usually. She smiles a lot but rarely laughs and can be a bit stoic at times. She often seems rather unimpressed with our attempts to make her giggle. She prefers books to toys and loves mirrors, our German Shepherd, water, being outside and anything with bananas in it.

How would you describe Fern's personal style and how does it reflect her personality?
I would say that because Fern isn't a super fussy girl her style fits her well. Nothing pink or frilly really and simple, clean lines seem to suit her best.

What is Fern's go-to outfit?
Fern's go-to outfit is a pair of leggings with a cute tunic top and a cardigan.

Where is your favorite place to shop for her?
I shop anywhere and everywhere as long as the price is right. Old Navy is probably my favorite, but I find clothes for her everywhere – she even has a cute, little stripey dress from Dollar Tree of all places!

And what is your philosophy when buying pieces for her?
I buy pieces that will be versatile and have longevity. When looking for dresses, I'll often buy shirts and tank tops in larger sizes that can be worn as dresses now and shirts later. The same goes for jeans. I stick to slim cuts in larger sizes so she can wear them cuffed now, regular later and then cut off or rolled up into shorts down the road. I almost always go up in size unless I'm buying leggings, rights or onesies. I also stick to neutrals because we want more kids one day so I hope to be able to hand down some of Fern's outfits even if we have a boy. 

What would you say are the three must-have pieces for little girls?
Jeans and leggings, cardigans, and tank dresses!

What pieces are you always willing to splurge on?
I honestly don't really splurge on Fern's clothes because I know she'll outgrow them so quickly. People probably think I spend a ton, but I really just try to get creative with what I have and refashion pieces in unexpected ways.

And what is the one fashion tip you would give to mothers with girls?
Always look in the boy's section! You'd be surprised what you can find. Some of my most favorite items in Fern's wardrobe came from the boy's section and the best part is that they can be reused if we have a little boy the next time around!

Thank you so much, Lauren and Fern! If you're like me and can't get enough of this lady's wisdom, you can read more of her style tips here and here.

And now, a few tips to snag little Fern's looks shown above, plus links to the featured pieces!

A simple graphic sweater with a classic pair of skinnies and add a feminine touch with a simple headband. Wear a boy's button up as a dress and dress it up with a lacey slip. Finish off the outfit by wrapping a belt around your little one's waist and you're set!

graphic sweater / black skinny jeans / button-up top / lacey slip 

This month's Little Style Series posts are sponsored by thredUP, an online children's consignment shop and the place you're bound to buy 90% of your child's clothing from this moment on. Right now, they're offering free shipping on your first order using the code "SHIPFEB13" & you can get $10 off your first order by clicking here.