The 2009 Jolly Holiday Guide: Wearables

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Maria Pilar Clark
Cosmotot

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Skip the Santa look this year and invest in clothing that will still look great in 2010 and beyond.

Kids know wh 120109_PeaceLoveEtc at the holidays are really about - peace, love … and presents. Massachusetts-based Peace Love Etc. encourages kids to express whatever makes them happy, be it cows, trains (my son's personal favorite), sprinkles or recess, with impossibly soft, premium ringspun pigment-dyed tees designed by a mom t 120109_WoosterStreetMeats o three.

Home is where the heart is, and during the holidays, families are all about eating, drinking and making merry under one roof. Take that idea of togetherness even further with Italian meat- and treat-inspired onesies from Wooster Street Meats. Originally started as an inside joke, each Brooklyn-made, 100% super-soft cotton pima design (think Lil Proscuitto, Lil Cannoli and Lil Gabagool) is a simple tribute to the best parts of the holiday season - humor and a love of time-honored food. No gift wrap is needed either, since orders are wrapped and shipped in white butcher paper that's been stamped with the Wooster Street Meats logo.

Get throug 120109_PolarynOPryet h all the inevitable spills and thrills of the season with Polaryn O. Pryet's line up of functional stripe- and folklore-print wash-and-wear tops, bottoms and everything in between (think helmet hats, sock-top moccasins, tights, eco blankets and more). The Sweden-based collective is all about environmental and social responsibility, and it's their little details like adjustable waistbands (even in leggings), thumb holes in fleece wear, and non-chafe seams that make for good-looking, comfortable clothes that let kids be kids, no matter how many brothers, sisters or cousins share them throughout the years.

More often than not, novelty trumps quality in the kids outerwear department, giving parents no other choice than to bundle their kids up Randy style. And, while we all get a kick out of A Christmas Story, in real life, kids really do like to put their arms down. Turn to L.L. Bean for practical solutions, starting with their Trail Model Fleece Hooded Jacket. Pill-resistant polyester fabric is specially finished to absorb very little moisture, so kids stay warm and dry, and a chin guard prevents zipper pinch. Need more coverage? Go for their Hi-Loft Fleece Coveralls, made from plush polyester fibers that trap heat better tha 120109_FootstepsClothing n traditional fleece for extra warmth on chilly days. Get a free $10 gift card with your purchase of $25 or more through Dec. 24.

This time of year, it's all relative as families go nomad to get jolly in one place. Celebrate your own mixed bag with family-friendly I Play Reindeer Games sets from Footsteps Clothing. Designed to outfit everybody in the family, each set is made from super soft, 100% cotton and cotton flannel.

120109_EmTanner Em Tanner Designs is the place to shop for all things personalized and customized. Help kids create their own elf-inspired self (Santa boy and girl styles, too) with the me2atee holiday collection. And, while there's plenty of other personalized goodies to browse, like their new Dear Santa cookies and milk melamine set, make sure to click quickly since order turnaround takes about 10-14 days.

Kids are fi 120109_MyPerennial ckle. You know it and I know it, but somehow, they seem oblivious to the fact that after searching for their latest obsession in jammies, shirt and sippy cup form at six different stores, the last thing we want to find out is that the latest love has been replaced by a new one. My Perennial came up with a way to embrace the little mind-changers we love with high-quality Snappy Kids tees and headbands featuring hand-made felt animals that are interchangable, collectible and backed with a chunky snap, letting little fingers snap and unsnap their way to style satisfaction ... at least for one afternoon. Enjoy free shipping through Dec. 5.

You want clothing that'll set your kids apart this year and next, and Lil Swanky delivers with hand-picked premium children's brands that bring together a sampling 120109_LilSwanky of all things classic, funky and cutting-edge from a mix of established and newbie designers. Choose from one-of-a kind finds like Morfs' layer-look Cookie Monster applique top featuring hand-sewn, recycled fabric patchwork and knit legwarmer-style sleeves (Super Grover, Oscar, Ernie, Big Bird and Zoe, too) or upcycled concert tees, nostalgia print tees and more.

For some kids, Christmas is all about fancy frocks and shiny shoes, while for others, it's the perfect excuse, er, ocassion for wearing nothing but tulle, tulle 120109_cutiepatutus and more tulle. Make your little girl's dream of being a Nutcracker-style prima ballerina-fairy princess combo come true with help from Cutie Patutus. Their mom-created collection of impossibly fluffy, custom-made tutus comes with everything from sparkling pompoms to themed embellishments (think mermaid, Cinderella, diva and more) and ribbon accents in a range of richly hued colors to potentially match all areas of your little gal's wardrobe. No tutu is complete without a magic wand to go with it. Choose one to match - they're all made with the same tulle and pompoms used in the wearable line. Need something equally cool for a boy? Cutie Patutus makes personalized Super Hero Capes, too. Get $8 off personalized super hero capes and 10% off everything else until Dec. 15. Email info@cutiepatutus.com with Cosmotot in the subject line to get in on the savings.