So Sorry...

So sorry, there will be no post this week... I have an important delivery on Monday and must concentrate on that all week. I promise some new exciting things to come and some changes too... In the meantime leave me some comments, let me know what you like best and don't forget to tell your friends about me!!!
Good week...
P.S. send me some pics of your kids too...

What's in your closet: Miss E & Mister M

 

So, yesterday I posted Miss E's outfit of the day and to my surprise, it was one of the posts that was the most looked at... So, I figured why not add a new feature: What's in my closet? and What's in your closet? If you have kids and would like me to post some "street style" pics, just e-mail me and I will gladly show off what your children are wearing.

Today is such a beautiful day in Montreal, mother nature has treated us with some sunshine and high temperatures of 9 C. So I give you, Miss E and Mister M, at home and out & about. Mister M was not being so cooperative as you can probably see! 

Miss E is wearing: Joe Fresh grey knitted pants (I wish I had a pair!), a Mexx blouse, Bout'chou sweater (thank you Taty Mimi) and hand me down hot pink Converse (Merci Lavinia). Outside: a khaki parka from H&M, a ever so Sonia Rykiel beret from the Gap and hand me down scarf and gloves from April Cornell (thank you Taty Eva).

Mister M is wearing: H&M jeans from that are getting to small, a hand me down Gap Shirt and Zara rain boots (thanks Taty Eva). Outside: a Mexx neck warmer, H&M coat, some Wallmart gloves and once again hand me down hat (unknown brand)...

The best way to make your bed...

I saw this yesterday, on the Ohdeedoh website, and it made my day... So I wanted to share it with you. Have you ever seen a better way to make your bed? My favorite part is the sticking out tongue! What a great excuse not to make your bed perfectly anymore... The masterminds behind this idea are HolaMurray and DaveChimp. I hope this brightens your day too...

Miss E: Outfit of the day

I just wanted to share with you what Miss E is wearing today. Lucky her she gets all of Laïla b's samples. So today she is wearing some grey leggings and a "marinière" top...  all from this summers collection. Now you have an idea on what I've been working on these days! Ok, got to go back to my sewing machine, or I'll never be done on time!!! Promise I'll show you the complete collection real soon...

Copy Cat Wednesday: Is Stella McCartney a fraud?

Wovenplay

I know, I know, I am supposed to be sewing... But I was reading my e-mails and taking a small break when I came across Stella McCartney's  Spring 2011 kids clothing line. If you know me, then you know I am a HUGE Stella McCartney fan... I've loved her designs since she first started at Chloé. And when she came out with her kids line for the Gap, I was one of first to go check it out and even got Miss E a few pieces. So as you might have guessed, I was really excited to check out the new collection. One item just jumped right at me. I couldn't believe it! I had to look twice! Could she have really done this? I was so disappointed! There it was, a really cute body suit with wings. But I had seen this little number somewhere else... Yes at one of my favorite New York Designers: WOVENPLAY. If Zara or H&M had copied this item I wouldn't have talked about it, but a designer copying another! Shame!!! I just had to get this out of my mind... Am I crazy? Do you see the resemblance?

Wovenplay

Stella McCartney Kids

Copy cat saturdays: Little Lovely!

Do your kids love to dress up? I know mine do! Mister M is obsessed, one day his a fireman, the next a cowboy and always a superhero. Miss E is a little small, but she is already obsessed with wearing hats ( I really think that it is a genetic trait!).

So, there is this really great blog called Little Lovely, it's written by Khali a mom of two from australia. I love reading her blog, it's another one of my daily reads. Her sense of aesthetics is great and she always has something interesting to share. This week I particularly loved her selection of clothing that acts as dress up, but for daywear. She has gathered all the key pieces from all the great designers following this trend. So if your kids are like mine and you want to know where all these fun items came from check out Little Lovely... And if, like me, you like to read and discover great things for your little ones go and read Little Lovely!

P.S. If you love those cowboy p.j. they are on sale at Stella McCartney... grab them fast!

Random Fridays: more sweatpants... this time for MOMS!

So I haven't been able to get the whole sweatpant thing out of my head! As I was doing the research for my boys will be boys tuesday post, what I didn't tell you is how this whole trend started. Really the trend started when Isabel Marant, up and coming french designer of the hip and cool, put a pair in her spring collection of 2010. And then every body followed... Have you heard of Garance Doré, she's a Parisan blogger and now trend setter. She first blogged about the Marant pants and then she went and did something "crazy"... she got herself a pair of sweatpants and cut them of at the knees matched it with a pair of heels, a striped shirt and a blazer. Now everybody has copied the look. Now what I am trying to say is, if you want to be the coolest and trendiest mom when you pick up your little one at daycare, go ahead and copy her, or all the other designers who have sweatpants in their collections. PLEASE give up your Lulu Lemons, get yourself a pair of american apparel sweatpants, cut them off at the knee and cuff them. But don't forget the heels and the blazer to complete look...

Here are a few designer look to inspire you.

Try this look for the whole family!

DIY WEDNESDAY: Made by Joel...

 Since I am still pretty busy producing my Laïla b. spring collection, I did not get a chance to post a do it yourself project of my own! So, instead I will refer you to another blog called Made by Joel. And let me tell you, it's just about as cool as DIY can get... Joel Henriques has the greatest art projects, toys and crafts. The site has beautiful pictures and easy to follow instructions. So simple, yet so effective!
Really, it's going to be hard for me to top anything he does!!!! Here are a few projects posted on his blog... Have fun!!!

madebyjoel.blogspot.com

BOYS WILL BE BOYS Tuesdays: What's the deal with sweatpants!

I don't know if you are like me, but I don't believe in putting Mister M in sweatpants every day. First, I think they look sloppy and baggy in all the wrong place. I understand that they are really comfortable, but I think it's important, even at a young age, to get your children used to dressing up a little. Don't get me wrong, Mister M wears sweatpants, usually on wednesdays because he has gym at his daycare and on tuesdays, he usually wears some kind of track pant because he has swimming and it's a lot easier for him to get dressed on his own.

So what do you do when Spring 2011 trends are all about the sweatpants? Gaulthier, Victor & Rolf, Rick Owens and so many others are showing the slouchy grey sweatpants on the runways for the mens summer collections. Oh! well, i guess you look for some cool jogging pants, that fit better than your regular ones and you pair them with some great shirts and accessories. This trend is being called Street Sport Smart!
Some of my favorite sweatpants are from Appaman or Imps & Elfs. If you are looking for a less expensive solution,  Zara and H&M always have the latest trends at great prices. And if you are looking for the designer sweatpants, then Diesel, Gucci, or Fendi will have something for you!
If you want to get this little boys look, then you can get it at Sarabanda an italian brand for kids. Or you can get the look at Zara (on the right) for a lot less!

And to complete the look here are a few items you should get as well: the denim shirt, the blazer, the cardigan, the trilby, the scarf and the oxford shoes. Now you are all set and SWEATPANTS are permitted!!!!

GIRLY GIRL Mondays: Chloé... to die for!

Chloé has been one of my favorite designer brands for the longest time... I guess since Stella McCartney first started designing and then when Phoebe Philo followed ( by the way, these two must be like the coolest moms out there!!!!), they made this french brand the hippest of all the designer brand. The most fashionable stars are spotted wearing the collection, fashionistas such as Natalie Portman, Sophia Coppola, and Chloe Sevigny.

For a couple of seasons now, they have a little girls collection and let me tell you it's to die for! It's one of my favorite kids DESIGNER collections. If you can afford it, there are some really great pieces. Personally I love the denim dress, the grey dress with the bow at the back neckline and white printed tunic .

If you live in europe, you can get the collection online at Little Fashion Gallery ( just the greatest online kid store in the world!). If you live in canada you can get some items online at Neiman Marcus.

It's worth taking a look at the collection and getting inspired and it doesn't hurt to dream... So to see the full collection visit: http://www.chloe.com/#/collections/childrens-wear/spring-summer-2011/en

DADDY COOL Sundays

Daddy Cool sundays will be the day I spend with my family... so there will be no postings! Unless, Daddy Cool, Miss E and Mister M decide to all take a nap at the same time.
Happy Sunday!

COPY CAT Saturdays: She did it first!

So let me tell you a little about saturdays and what I am hoping to do... Saturday will be copy cat day! So what might you find on my blog on saturdays?

1. During the week I usually read many other cool blogs, so what I was thinking of doing was showing you some of my favorites posts. The kinda posts that make me think: "why didn't I think of that" or "too cool, everybody has got to see this".

2. (I did not have time to do this this week!) I hope to find some really fun street looks, or editors picks from famous magazines or some awesome outfit a celebrity was wearing. And then copy the look ( for kids) and tell you where you can buy the clothes to get the look! Sounds complicated... trust me, it will be complicated for me, but easy breezy for you!

So today, I will still follow through with the Rabbit Year theme. It's my last Bunny post, until Easter that is!  Bloesemkids is a really great blog... It's one of the first kids blog I've been following. If you are a design conscious parent you will love Irenes picks, her daily updates include finds, crafting, cooking and much much more... I particulary loved her chinese new year finds... all about the rabbit!  And you can find out where to buy all these adorable bunnies by visiting her site:

http://bkids.typepad.com/

RANDOM FRIDAYS: Fifi Lapin

Since the chinese new year is a 15 day celebration, I was thinking of posting some more rabbit things...

As you all have probably noticed I am a sucker for fashion, what you probably don't know yet is that I love illustrations... So if you put fashion and illustration together and throw in a really stylish rabbit, how can you not fall in love. The truth is that I am totally jealous of Fifi and secretly I sometimes wish I could be her! 

Fifi Lapin started out as a blog... I'll let you discover it for yourself. It really is worth the time! And now she has this really cute book called What Shall I Wear Today? It obviuosly has some great illustrations, but it also has great style and make-up tips and interviews with her favorite designers. I was really happy to discover this little hardcover on my last trip to Indigo... I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.

 The kids will love her too!!!

You can get the book on these following websites... Or I found mine at Indigo on Ste-Catherine in Montreal.

It's your lucky day.... the book is on special for about 15$

http://www.amazon.ca/What-Shall-Wear-Today-Fashionista/dp/1444710516/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296827528&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/What-Shall-Wear-Today-Fashionista/dp/1444710516/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296827528&sr=8-1

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/What-Shall-Wear-Today-Style-Fifi-Lapin/9781444710519-item.html?ikwid=what+shall+i+wear+today&ikwsec=Books

Happy Chinese New Year: Year of the Rabbit

 Hat from the Gap

GREEN thursdays: my latest vintage finds!

Who doesn't love moon boots? I know I do... I used to have the coolest pair, and whenever I would wear them I would get the strangest stares! I wore them so much, they finally gave up on me: they started to  rip and then my feet started to get wet and cold. But I still kept them, for a long time, until one very sad day... I had to move into a smaller apartment and there just wasn't any more room! So you can't imagine my reaction when I saw these.... RED MOON BOOTS. Too bad they weren't in my size! They are still a bit big for Mister M and I am not sure my husband would approve! I guess I'll have to wait until Miss E fits in them...

By the way this picture was taken on my balcony... The door wouldn't open, we had over 20 cm of snow fall yesterday! So, I had to open the window of the balcony door, stick the shoes in the snow and snap the picture. 

If you are wondering were I got these, I got them at my near by Value Village thrift store here in montreal. I also got Miss E a little vintage sweater. This little classic was definitely handmade, probably in the seventies... it has that metal zipper with the wide circle zipper pull... the colors are also reminiscent of the seventies as well!

And last but not least, Mister M got to chose a toy. He really behaved well at the doctors that day and as a reward he got to chose any toy he wanted, as long as it wasn't broken. I was really proud of him, I think he made a great choice.

This plane is made by Viking toys. I had never heard of them before, so I checked up on them. They are a swedish company that make great quality toys for a great value.

See their website:

http://www.vikingtoys.se/

Here is a link to where you can buy online in Canada:

http://www.intplay.com/productnav1.aspx?gid=9&prodid=9

Happy green Thursday everybody!

I'm BACK...

 Laïla b. summer 2011

I can't believe it's been a full year since I wrote on my blog!  I have to say, having a mac makes all the difference. After I spilled my coffee on my mac book ( I still cry about that!) and had to use a PC, my life just hasn't been the same. But now my wonderful sister got me ANOTHER mac (she is simply the best), and I feel inspired again... Also, knock on wood, I haven't been sick this winter. I don't know what happened last year: I ended up with 4 strep throats in a row, a new born and a wild two year old. Oh, yeah! that's what happened!!!! And, I thought life would be easy! In the summer, I decided to start a new clothing line for boys and girls 6 months to 6 years of age ( I will be posting photos shortly), that has kept me busy up until now.  As of next week I should have a little more time on my hands... so I think!
I have a bunch of new ideas for the blog, so keep on looking. I will try to post a little something every day! Look out for girly mondays, boys will be boys tuesdays, let's not forget DIY wednesday, and green thursday... as for friday, saturday and sunday you'll just have to see!
I hope you will enjoy the new format and don't forget to tell all your friends about it!!! I will be putting my heart and soul into this project and I hope to inspire you all.